cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bringing Order to Cybermedicine: Applying the Corporate Practice of Medicine Doctrine to Tame the Wild Wild Web

The model of health care offerings via the Internet, generally known as "cybermedicine," may prove to be a significant advance in the provision of medical services. At present, however, cybermedicine presents many potential hazards to "cyberpatients" because it is virtually unregulated. This Note asserts the need for a revival of the corporate practice of medicine doctrine to address these dangers. The corporate practice of medicine doctrine prohibits corporations and other lay entities from employing physicians. This Note examines the various kinds of cybermedicine, describes the advantages and disadvantages flowing from the practice of medicine over the Internet, and advocates the application of the corporate practice of medicine doctrine to cybermedicine as an intermediate regulatory measure to stein the dangers and abuses that currently abound in cybermedicine.
Photocathode guns for single pass X-ray FELs

The present state of the art in photoinjector designs will be presented in this review. We will discuss both proposed and operational photoinjectors with operating frequencies from L-band (1.424 GHz) to X-band (11.424 GHz). Also a novel pulsed DC gun will be presented. All the RF photoinjector discussed here use an emittance compensation scheme to align the different slices of the electron beam to decrease the beams normalized rms emittance.
COST OPTIMIZATION OF STEEL STRUCTURES

While the weight of a steel structure is a major component of the total cost, the minimization of the cost should be the final objective for optimum use of available resources. The total cost of a steel structure includes (a) the material cost of structural members such as beams, columns, and bracings, (b) the fabrication cost including the material costs of connection elements, bolts, and electrodes and the labor cost, (c) the cost of transporting the fabricated pieces to the construction field, and (d) the erection cost including the material costs of connection elements, bolts, and electrodes and the labor cost. In this article, a chronological review of the journal articles on cost optimization of steel structures is presented. Articles on deterministic, reliability-based, and fuzzy logic-based optimization of steel structures are reviewed. Research on cost optimization can encourage the use of the optimization approach in structural steel design practice by providing a more realistic way of modeling ...
Comparative Studies of the Enzymatic Properties of Novo and Carlsberg Subtilisins

Abstract The activities of Carlsberg and Novo subtilisins towards a number of N-acetylamino acid esters and amino acid esters have been examined. The enzymes were also compared with respect to their efficiency in catalyzing aminolysis reactions, their rates of inactivation by certain aromatic sulfonyl halides, and the rates of deacylation of their N-trans-cinnamoyl derivatives. The enzymes were found to be qualitatively indistinguishable from the standpoint of substrate specificity. However, significant quantitative differences were observed. The results obtained suggest that the substrate-binding site of Carlsberg subtilisin is less polar than that of the Novo enzyme, and that the groups in the catalytic site of Carlsberg subtilisin show a somewhat higher reactivity than the corresponding groups in Novo subtilisin.
Cuisine and Cultural Identity in Balkans

© 2003 Cristina Bradatan All Rights Reserved The copyright for individual articles in both the print and online version of the Anthropology of East Europe Review is retained by the individual authors. They reserve all rights other than those stated here. Please contact the managing editor for details on contacting these authors. Permission is granted for reproducing these articles for scholarly and classroom use as long as only the cost of reproduction is charged to the students. Commercial reproduction of these articles requires the permission of the authors.
You’re OK Until You Misbehave: How Norm Violations Magnify the Attractiveness Devil Effect

Physical attractiveness has been known to act as a cue in determining perceptions of other individuals. Possession of a positive characteristic, such as attractiveness, results in a positive cognitive bias towards the individual. Similarly, possession of a negative characteristic, such as unattractiveness, results in the opposite effect. In addition to unattractiveness, the violation of social norms has been known to act as a cue for this negative bias. This experiment sought to examine how male facial attractiveness interacted with norm violation to alter females’ perceptions of males. Two male faces (attractive and unattractive) bearing similar features were paired with two scenarios of norm violation (high violation and low violation) while being rated on perceived personality characteristics. It was expected that halo/devil effects would occur based on facial attractiveness, and that norm violation would produce a devil effect in the men. An interaction effect between the two was also expected. Participants were 170 female college students. Results were analyzed using a repeated ANOVA and independent t tests. Findings show that a “double” devil effect occurred with the unattractive high violation condition. Norm violation also presented significant results, while facial attractiveness alone did not. Findings pose implications for online dating and jury deliberations.
Subpicosecond X-Ray Streak Camera Development For Laser-Fusion Diagnostics

In laser-fusion interactions the effectiveness of coupling laser energy into target compression can be followed by obtaining spatial and temporal information on x-radiation emitted by the target. Microballoon targets now used require temporal resolution of better than a few picoseconds to track accurately target collapse and disassembly. Instabilities of two picoseconds or less are predicted for the process. Most streak cameras are based upon a sector-focused streak tube, which in the design limit is capable of only about 10 ps x-ray resolution. Therefore, a new tube, based upon the proximity-focused or wafer intensifier was developed as a laser-fusion diagnostic capable in the design limit of delivering truly sub-picosecond x-ray resolution. A new power supply was also developed to drive the streak tube. Together, a camera has resulted with true picosecond capability, small size, high sensitivity, broad dynamic range, high spatial resolution, and very low jitter. The system has proved 98% reliable in over 300 laser shots providing data on the collapse of microballoons when irradiated by a dual beam Nd:YAG laser. Theoretical predictions of 2.5 to 3 ps resolution are consistent with experimental data. A visible variant of the design now under construction is expected to give sub-picosecond resolution with advantages similar to the x-ray system.
The ambiguity function for broadband signals with application to objects undergoing non-uniform motion

An alternative ambiguity function for broadband signals is derived and discussed. An example of the broadband waveform for a Gaussian signal that is reflected from a reflecting surface undergoing a constant acceleration is presented. The problem of reconstruction of the law of motion from the ambiguity function is considered. >
Recurrent pancreatitis induced by valproic acid. A case report and review of the literature.

Abstract Valproic acid represents a new class of anticonvulsants that are widely employed in the management of many types of seizure disorders. Compared with other anticonvulsants, it has been considered relatively free of adverse effects. Recently, acute hepatic failure has been ascribed to valproic acid. Now experience is accumulating that implicates this agent in causing pancreatitis. Contributing to this evidence, the patient described herein had well-documented, recurrent pancreatitis while he was taking valproic acid. Nonspecific vomiting and abdominal pain frequently occur with valproic acid; however, pancreatitis must be considered whenever these symptoms are severe or protracted.
Challenges and Priorities for Surveillance of Stillbirths: A Report on Two Workshops

Stillbirths, those with and without birth defects, are an important public health topic. The National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conducted two workshops during April and July 2005. Both workshops explored the challenges of conducting surveillance of stillbirths. Workshop participants considered an approach that added the surveillance of stillbirths, those with and without birth defects, as part of existing population-based birth defects surveillance programs in Iowa and Atlanta. The workshops addressed three key aspects for expanding birth defects programs to conduct active, population-based surveillance on stillbirths: (1) case identification and ascertainment, (2) data collection, and (3) data use and project evaluation. Participants included experts in pediatrics, obstetrics, epidemiology, maternal-fetal medicine, perinatology and pediatric pathology, midwifery, as well as practicing clinicians and pathologists. Expanding existing birth defects surveillance programs to include information of stillbirths could potentially enhance the data available on fetal death reports and also could benefit such programs by improving the ascertainment of birth defects.
The Shooting Cycle

The pattern is a painfully familiar one. A gunman opens fire in a public place, killing many innocent victims. After this tragedy, support for gun control surges. With a closing window for reform, politicians and activists quickly push for new gun laws. But as time elapses, support decreases. Soon enough, the passions fade, and society returns to the status quo. We call this paradigm "the shooting cycle." This article provides the first qualitative and quantitative analysis of the shooting cycle, and explains how and why people and governments react to mass shootings. This article proceeds in five parts. First, we bring empirical clarity to the debate over mass shootings, and show that contrary to popular opinion, they are fairly rare, and are not occurring more frequently. Second, relying on cognitive biases such as the availability heuristic, substitution effect, and cultural cognition theory, we demonstrate why the perception of risk and reaction to these rare and unfamiliar events are heightened. Third we chronicle the various stages of the shooting cycle: tragedy, introspection, action, divergence, and return to the status quo. During the earlier stages, emotional capture sets in, allowing politicians and activists to garner support for reform. But, after the spike, soon support for reform fades, and regresses to the mean. Fifth, with this framework, we view the year following the horrific massacre in Newtown through the lens of the shooting cycle. We conclude by addressing whether the shooting cycle can be broken.
Why Ordinary People Torture Enemy Prisoners

Accounts of prisoner abuse and other institutional violence often blame a few isolated individuals, but social psychology emphasizes social contexts, which can make almost anyone oppress, conform, and obey in abetting destructive social behavior. In this [Policy Forum][1], meta-analyses demonstrate the quantitative reliability and import of social contexts. Moreover, recent data show that initial reactions to low-status, oppositional outgroups may involve disgust and contempt, consistent with abuse. Together, social pressures and social prejudices help explain the recent abuse scandals. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/306/5701/1482
Comparison of Turkish and US Pre-Service Teachers' Web 2.0 Tools Usage Characteristics.

As the Internet and computer develop, the world is changing dramatically and fantastically. Usage of technological tools is increased day by day in daily life besides ICT. All the technological tools shape individual behavior, life style and learning style as well as individual lives. Today’s child use different tools and different way to socialize. Most of the educational institutions support their education with Web and Web 2.0 applications. Pre-service teachers are the people who use technology in their learning experience and the people who use technology in their teaching experience. In this research Web 2.0 habits of pre- service teachers from Turkey and US was studied. And results show that Turkish participants use more frequently Web 2.0 tools than US participants. Especially Turkish male participants who have blog account and who have microblog account use more frequently Web 2.0 tools in learning and entertainment activities.
Teacher Preparation and Teacher-Student Interactions at a Discovery Center of Natural History.

As children’s museums become increasingly popular, they serve as ideal environments to supplement school learning. This study inquires into the pre-trip preparation and interaction between elementary teachers and students during a field trip to a Discovery Center of Natural History. We found that teachers did not specifically prepare students for their visit to the center and many teachers exhibited formal school behaviors in this informal environment. Students manipulated a variety of objects with and without teacher assistance; however, teachers who initiated hands-on experiences had students who were engaged in a variety of activities for greater lengths of time.
Principles and applications of microwave and millimeter-wave NDE methodologies: an overview

Microwave and millimeter wave nondestructive testing and evaluation methods are increasingly gaining recognition as viable inspection techniques. This paper briefly describes the reasons for using these techniques as well as applications in which they may be considered useful. Several practical examples of the utility of these techniques for different applications are also provided.
Cognitions and behavior in asymmetric social dilemmas: a comparison of two cultures.

This study investigated whether cognitions and behavior in an asymmetric social dilemma can be predicted by national culture. Results indicated that, as predicted, groups of decision makers from Japan--a collectivist, hierarchical culture-were more cooperative, expected others to be more cooperative, and were more likely to adopt an equal allocation distribution rule to resolve the dilemma than were groups of decision makers from the United States-an individualist, egalitarian culture. An opportunity for communication had a greater impact on expectations of others' behavior in groups of U.S. decision makers than in groups of Japanese decision makers.
Connecting writing and language in assessment: Examining style, tone, and argument in the U.S. Common Core standards and in exemplary student writing

Abstract Writing assessment criteria often separate language and writing standards, reflecting an implicit dichotomy between “writing” and “language” in which conventions and style can appear tangential to writing categories like argument and development of ideas. This article examines U.S. Common Core standards and student writing selected as exemplifying those standards in light of discourse-level features noted in applied linguistic and composition research. In so doing, it aims to help expose connections between organization , argument / claim development , style , conventions , and tone via patterns in academic writing. In this way, the article considers assessment standards and their use as opportunities to examine and clarify connections between the arguments students are encouraged to construct and the discourse options students have.
Polar, non-centrosymmetric crystals for the generation of atmospheric pressure gas discharges

Atmospheric plasma configurations are often driven through large potentials applied to one or more electrodes. Depending on the configuration, thousands of volts are required to create breakdown in air and to initiate a discharge. To reduce the amount of potential required, inherent characteristics of certain polar non-centrosymmetric crystals are investigated to determine if they can be beneficial to discharge formation. Being non-centrosymmertic allows for mechanical, thermal, or electrical forces to alter the crystal structure to change the magnitude of the polarization within the crystal. This change in polarization can lead to rapid changes in surface potential and be used to generate a sustainable discharge. Effectively, these crystals can be used to amplify potential applied to them through the piezoelectric, pyroelectric, and ferroelectric effects. In this work, stable atmospheric pressure discharges are generated using pyroelectric and ferroelectric approaches. By thermally-cycling a pyroelectric crystal, an atmospheric pressure gas discharge was generated through the input of heat, and similarly by applying an electric field across a ferroelectric crystal, a discharge to an auxiliary electrode was generated. Systematic parametric studies were conducted to characterize the discharges and compare them to standard atmospheric pressure corona and dielectric barrier discharges.
Does sepsis treatment differ between primary and overflow intensive care units

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is a major cause of death in hospitalized patients. Early goal-directed therapy is the standard of care. When primary intensive care units (ICUs) are full, sepsis patients are cared for in overflow ICUs. OBJECTIVE: To determine if process-of-care measures in the care of sepsis patients differed between primary and overflow ICUs at our institution. DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective study of all adult patients admitted with sepsis between July 2009 and February 2010 to either the primary ICU or the overflow ICU. MEASUREMENTS: Baseline patient characteristics and multiple process-of-care measures, including diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. RESULTS: There were 141 patients admitted with sepsis to our hospital; 100 were cared for in the primary ICU and 41 in the overflow ICU. Baseline acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE II) scores were similar. Patients received similar processes-of-care in the primary ICU and overflow ICU with the exception of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and gastrointestinal (GI) prophylaxis within 24 hours of admission, which were better adhered to in the primary ICU (74% vs 49%, P = 0.004, and 68% vs 44%, P = 0.012, respectively). There were no significant differences in hospital and ICU length of stay between the 2 units (9.68 days vs 9.73 days, P = 0.98, and 4.78 days vs 4.92 days, P = 0.97, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with sepsis admitted to the primary ICU and overflow ICU at our institution were managed similarly. Overflowing sepsis patients to non-primary intensive care units may not affect guideline-concordant care delivery or length of stay. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2012; © 2012 Society of Hospital Medicine
The effect of prolactin on the seasonal cyclicity of newt forelimb regeneration.

A cyclic seasonal variation in forelimb regeneration in the newt, Notophthalmus viridescens, was noted under controlled environmental conditions at 20°C in previous experiments. Regeneration was enhanced in the summer months and reached its maximum linear growth rate in late spring-early summer. It was suggested that this variation might be due to hormonal influences. The pituitary hormone prolactin was selected for study because it has been shown to support regeneration in hypophysectomized newts and to enhance regeneration in the intact newt, in the intact newt more effectively than growth hormone. Experiments in winter and summeri were performed to determine whether prolactin alone enhanced regeneration and what effect it might have on the seasonal variation in regeneration. The results clearly show enhancement of regeneration by intraperitoneal injections of prolactin in both summer and winter. The hormone increases the rate of linear growth and initiates early finger differentiation. The increase in linear growth rate persists throughout the 90-day observation period. Prolactin does not enhance regeneration beyond the spontaneous optimum regenerative period in late spring-early summer noted in previous experiments. Prolactin eliminates the seasonal variation in regeneration, and it is possible that the seasonal cycles are due to changes in output of this hormone.
Engaging Children With Autism in Shared Book Reading Strategies for Parents

Margot is a mother to three young children and is particularly invested in helping her children become strong readers. She makes an effort to read with her children daily, because she has been told by teachers and other professionals that reading with children is especially important in helping them develop reading skills. Sam, the youngest of her children, is a reluctant reader. He was diagnosed with autism last year when he was three years old, and he engages in challenging behaviors that make it difficult to read with him. Sam’s siblings show a natural affinity toward books and are excited to read with Margot, but when she includes Sam in book readings, he loses interest quickly and engages in behaviors that are distracting to his siblings, such as poking them or yawning loudly. When Margot asks if he would like to read a book just with her, he usually ignores her and continues playing with his trains (his favorite activity). Forceful attempts to make him read books result in screaming tantrums. Because of his challenging behaviors, Margot has stopped trying to get Sam to read with her or his siblings, but she worries that he will have difficulties reading in the future. The presence of a developmental disability has been associated with failures in learning to read (Landgren, Kjellman, & Gillberg, 2003). Given that children with disabilities are at higher risk for reading difficulties, it is especially important that they receive repeated opportunities to develop emergent literacy skills—particularly oral language, phonological awareness, and concepts about print—that can support later reading achievement (National Early Literacy Panel, 2008). A common early literacy practice valued by early childhood professionals and parents is reading aloud with children. Reading books with children gained popularity during the 1980s in large part, because early childhood policy makers publicized that reading aloud was an excellent, developmentally appropriate instructional practice (Bredekamp, 1986). The frequency of book reading at early ages has been related to children’s oral language ability and reading comprehension skills in elementary school (Wells, 1985). Reading aloud to children emerged as a key facet of family literacy programs and the central focus of several public library outreach efforts (e.g., the Carnegie Library’s Beginning to Read program, Reading is Fundamental, “
New insights into the neurofibromatoses

The two neurofibromatoses, neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and type 2 (NF2), have been greatly advanced by the cloning of their respective disease genes. Although NF1 and NF2 are clinically distinct disorders, they represent diseases caused by disruption of tumor suppressor genes. Tumor suppressor genes encode proteins involved in the proper regulation of cell differentiation and proliferation and their disruption presumably predisposes to tumor formation. This year it was demonstrated that the NF1 gene fulfills the genetic criteria for a tumor suppressor gene and that its expression is altered in a number of human malignancies unrelated to NF1. The protein product of the NF1 gene, neurofibromin, was shown to be associated with cytoplasmic microtubules and this interaction may modulate one of neurofibromin's functions. This year also witnessed the cloning of the NF2 gene and the identification of the predicted protein as a member of a family of cytoskeleton-associated proteins.
Inhibition of heat shock induction of heat shock protein 70 and enhancement of heat shock protein 27 phosphorylation by quercetin derivatives.

Inhibitors of heat-induced heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) expression have the potential to enhance the therapeutic effectiveness of heat-induced radiosensitization of tumors. Among known small molecule inhibitors, quercetin has the advantage of being easily modified for structure-activity studies. Herein, we report the ability of five monomethyl and five carbomethoxymethyl derivatives of quercetin to inhibit heat-induced HSP70 expression and enhance HSP27 phosphorylation in human cells. While quercetin and several derivatives inhibit HSP70 induction and enhance HSP27 phosphorylation at Ser78, other analogues selectively inhibit HSP70 induction without enhancing HSP27 phosphorylation that would otherwise aid in cell survival. We also show that good inhibitors of HSP70 induction are also good inhibitors of both CK2 and CamKII, kinases that are known to activate HSP70 expression by phosphorylation of heat shock transcription factor 1. Derivatives that show poor inhibition of either or both kinases are not goo...
Manganese exposure induces microglia activation and dystrophy in the substantia nigra of non-human primates

Chronic manganese (Mn) exposure produces neurological deficits including a form of parkinsonism that is different from Parkinson's disease (PD). In chronic Mn exposure, dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) do not degenerate but they appear to be dysfunctional. Further, previous studies have suggested that the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) is affected by Mn. In the present study, we investigated whether chronic Mn exposure induces microglia activation in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and SNr in Cynomolgus macaques. Animals were exposed to different weekly doses of Mn (3.3-5.0, 5.0-6.7, 8.3-10 mg Mn/kg body weight) and microglia were examined in the substantia nigra using LN3 immunohistochemistry. We observed that in control animals, LN3 labeled microglia were characterized by a resting phenotype. However, in Mn-treated animals, microglia increased in number and displayed reactive changes with increasing Mn exposure. This effect was more prominent in the SNr than in the SNc. In the SNr of animals administered the highest Mn dose, microglia activation was the most advanced and included dystrophic changes. Reactive microglia expressed increased iNOS, L-ferritin, and intracellular ferric iron which were particularly prominent in dystrophic compartments. Our observations indicate that moderate Mn exposure produces structural changes on microglia, which may have significant consequences on their function.
Parental investment and the secondary sex ratio in northern elephant seals

Data on northern elephant seals, Mirounga angustirostris, bearing on sex ratio theory were collected at Ano Nuevo, California, and other Californian and Mexican Islands, during the period 1967 to 1988. The mass of males exceeded that of females by 7–8% at birth and at weaning. The sex ratio was biased to males at birth (51.2%) and was near unity at weaning (49.6% males). The sex ratio did not vary as a function of maternal age or maternal mass except in 6-year-old females, who produced significantly more males. Although sons cost more to rear in energetic terms than daughters, and mothers were more successful weaning the latter, the sex of the pup reared exerted no significant effect on the mother's reproductive performance the following year or on her subsequent survival. These data suggest that parents invest equally in sons and daughters when investment is measured in terms of future reproduction (Fisher 1930) and provide no support for the theory of adaptive shifts in sex ratio (Trivers and Willard 1973). The small sex difference in mass due to maternal effort reflects the fact that females fast during lactation and all energy transferred is from limited body stores. Because of these circumstances, selection for superior condition at the end of the period of parental investment may act more strongly on pups, who have the opportunity to steal milk, than on their mothers.
Formation of Separated versus Contact Ion Triplets in Magnesium Thiolates. Synthesis and Characterization of [Mg(15-crown-5)(SCPh(3))(2)] and [Mg(15-crown-5)(THF)(2)][S-2,4,6-tBu(3)C(6)H(2))](2).

The synthesis and structural characterization of two magnesium thiolate complexes are described. Both compounds were prepared by analogous reactions routes, namely, alkane elimination and transamination, but using differently sized ligands. Utilization of the smaller HSCPh3, resulted in the formation of [Mg(15-crown-5)(SCPh3)2], 1, displaying a seven-coordinate magnesium center with two magnesium−sulfur bonds. Employment of the sterically more encumbered HS-2,4,6-tBu3C6H2 yielded a separated cation and anions as displayed in [Mg(15-crown-5)(THF)2][S-2,4,6-tBu3C6H2]2, 2. Compound 2 exhibits a seven-coordinate cation, completing its coordination environment with five metal−crown-ether interactions in addition to two tetrahydrofuran (THF) contacts. The compounds were characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopy in addition to X-ray crystallography. Crystal data with Mo Kα (λ = 0.710 73 A) are as follows: 1, C48H50MgO5S2, a = 8.4785(4) A, b = 9.3595(5) A, c = 13.8306(6) A, α = 87.332(1)°, β = 85.929(1)°, γ = 68....
CHRONIC HYPOXAEMIA AND DECOMPENSATED ERYTHROCYTOSIS IN CYANOTIC CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE

Among forty adults with cyanotic congenital heart disease there was a subset of eleven patients with especially pronounced erythrocytosis, repeatedly rising haematocrit, recurring symptoms of hyperviscosity, and little or no shift of the haemoglobin/oxygen-dissociation curve. These patients were iron deficient as a result of many therapeutic phlebotomies; nevertheless their red-cell mass was comparable to that in iron-replete patients with similar, but stable, haematocrits. Iron repletion in the deficient patients resulted in rapidly increasing haematocrit and hyperviscosity. In one extreme case, erythropoiesis remained persistently iron deficient despite normal serum iron and ferritin levels. "Decompensated erythrocytosis" is an apt term for the excessive erythrocytic response and the associated phenomena.
Vorticity induced by a moving elliptic belt

The viscous flow inside an elliptic moving belt is studied using Newton's method on a Hermite collocation approximation. The streamlines and especially the vorticity distribution are found for Reynolds number up to 1000 and aspect ratio up to five. For low Reynolds numbers vorticity diffuses from regions of high curvature. For high Reynolds numbers there exists a closed boundary layer and a core of constant vorticity. The core vorticity compares well with the estimation from the mean square law.
Review article: applying pharmacokinetics to optimise dosing of anti-TNF biologics in acute severe ulcerative colitis.

Background Acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC), the most aggressive presentation ulcerative colitis (UC), occurs in 15 percent of adults and children with UC. First line therapy with intravenous corticosteroids is ineffective in half of adults and one third of children. Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies against TNF (anti-TNF therapy) are emerging as a common treatment for ASUC due to their similar efficacy to calcineurin inhibitors and more favorable adverse effect profile.
The effect of androgen on canine prostatic secretion.

The volume and acid phosphatase concentration of and the zinc–65 output in stimulated prostatic fluid were significantly increased by testosterone treatment of intact dogs. The alkaline phosphatase, glucose, fructose, total protein, sodium, potassium, chloride and citric acid concentration were not statistically significantly changed. The cholesterol concentration in the fluid was significantly decreased by androgen therapy. The finding that bilateral vasectomy caused a significant decrease of the alkaline phosphatase concentration of prostatic fluid of intact control dogs suggests that the vasa deferentia contribute alkaline phosphatase to canine prostatic fluid. The results furthermore indicate that the dog prostate not only secretes small quantities of fructose and glucose but also increases the concentration of fructose in stimulated prostatic fluid on testosterone treatment.
Earning through learning in legislatures

This inquiry applies Gary Becker’s theoretical notions of general and specific training to the experiential learning that occurs within political institutions, in particular the U.S. Congress. In the process, we isolate economic facets of these legislative experiences that influence the rental-value of human capital derived from congressional training. We identify four factors that structure legislators’ post-elective wages: pre-congressional salary, year of entry, tenure, and variables closely related to general training in Congress—specifically, assignment to powerful legislative committees, acquisition of broad skill packages, investment in expanding skill-set proficiencies, and to a lesser extent, life-cycle driven declines in such investments.
PROMOTIONAL EFFECTS OF ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION ON HUMAN BASAL AND SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

— Recent data on the incidence of basal and squamous cell skin cancer among Caucasians in eight regions of the United States have been analyzed. Principal conclusions are that (1) ultraviolet radiation is an effective promoter of non-melanoma skin tumors; (2) the probability of a skin tumor becoming observable in an individual of some given age is well described by the log-normal distribution: (3) the fluence-response relation for both basal and squamous cell tumors is linear with a positive intercept, although the parameter values are clearly different for the two types; (4) a 1% ozone layer depletion would lead to an eventual 1.7% increase in basal cell carcinoma, and a 2.3% increase in squamous cell carcinoma.
Simulation as an alternative to linear programming

It is commonly accepted that general classes of problems are best solved using particular techniques. For example, critical path scheduling problems can often be formulated for solution by linear programming, but this approach would not recommend itself for cost reasons to the vast majority of those having access to a PERT or CPM heuristic package. Likewise, the classic product mix or blending problem which pervades the end-of-chapter exercises following a discussion of linear programming is assumed to be "best" solved using graphical methods or the Simplex algorithm. Simulation might offer a reasonable alternative solution vehicle in many circumstances like these, yet some operations research analysts tend to consider its use only "when all else fails". That is, simulation is the technique of last resort.
Encapsulation of Protein-Polysaccharide HIP Complex in Polymeric Nanoparticles

The objective of the present study is to formulate and characterize a nanoparticulate-based formulation of a macromolecule in a hydrophobic ion pairing (HIP) complex form. So far, HIP complexation approach has been studied only for proteins with molecular weight of 10–20 kDa. Hence, we have selected bovine serum albumin (BSA) having higher molecular weight (66.3 kDa) as a model protein and dextran sulphate (DS) as a complexing polymer to generate HIP complex. We have prepared and optimized the HIP complex formation process of BSA with DS. Ionic interactions between basic amino acids of BSA with sulphate groups of DS were confirmed by FTIR analysis. Further, nanoparticles were prepared and characterized with respect to size and surface morphology. We observed significant entrapment of BSA in nanoparticles prepared with minimal amounts of PLGA polymer. Finally, results of circular dichroism and intrinsic fluorescence assay have clearly indicated that HIP complexation and method of nanoparticle preparation did not alter the secondary and tertiary structures of BSA.
Uncoupling of protein kinase D from suppression of EGF-dependent c-Jun phosphorylation in cancer cells

Protein kinase D (PKD) has been established as a negative modulator of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway. We previously demonstrated that induced expression of constitutively active PKD (PKD-S744/748E) that mimics phosphorylation by PKC is sufficient to attenuate epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulated c-Jun Ser 63 phosphorylation, a natural substrate of JNK, in HEK 293 cells. Because the JNK pathway has been implicated in sustaining both lung and pancreatic cancerous phenotypes, we have utilized stable inducible expression of PKD-S744/748E in clones of A549 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and Panc1, pancreatic cancer cells to determine its effects on JNK signaling in the context of the cancerous phenotype. In contrast to HEK 293 cells, induced expression of PKD-S744/748E in either A549 NSCLC or Panc1 cells failed to attenuate EGF dependent phosphorylation of c-Jun, indicating that EGF stimulated JNK phosphorylation of c-Jun is uncoupled from PKD suppression in these cancer cells.
Anomalous surface phonons of the reconstructed Au(111): A molecular-dynamics simulation.

The dynamical behavior of the reconstructed Au(111) surface is studied by a molecular-dynamics simulation based on a well-tested many-body force model for gold. By calculating the surface spectral densities through time-dependent correlations of molecular-dynamics trajectories, we have constructed the surface-phonon dispersion curve of the reconstructed Au(111) surface. The results are in excellent agreement with the measured surface vibrational spectra, and yield important information on the erect of surface reconstruction on the observed anomalous surface phonons
The effects of complexity on the perception of vibrotactile patterns

Vibrotactile patterns were presented to subjects’ left index fmgerpads using the array from the Optacon. A set of simple (one-line) patterns and a set of complex (two-line) patterns were constructed so that they were equally identifiable when presented individually. In Experiment 1, discrimination performance was lower for two-line patterns than for one-line patterns. Communality, the number of lines that two patterns share in common, appeared to be the major factor in reducing discrimination performance for two-line patterns. Experiment 2 measured the time required to identify individual patterns. There was no significant difference in identification times for one- and two-line patterns, suggesting that features within a pattern were processed simultaneously. In the presence of a temporal masking stimulus (Experiment 3), two-line patterns were more difficult to identify than one-line patterns, but reaction times were similar for the two sets of patterns. The results suggest that varying complexity affects perception of patterns at later stages of processing.
Encapsulation of TiO2 in zeolite Y

Abstract A new method of incorporating TiO2 into zeolite cavities through ion exchange of zeolites Y with an aqueous solution of ammonium titanyl oxalate oxalate monohydrate, (NH4)2TiO(C2O4)2H2O, has been developed. Characterization of the products clearly demonstrates that (1) ion exchange between the Ti species present in the solution and the cations in the zeolites takes place; (2) the Ti species are located inside the zeolite cavities, but not on the external surface of the zeolite; and (3) the Ti-species encapsulated are TiO2 clusters of various small particles sizes and have characteristics of the TiO2 semiconductor.
Green tea polyphenol (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate treatment of human skin inhibits ultraviolet radiation-induced oxidative stress

The use of naturally occurring botanicals with substantial antioxidant activity to afford protection to human skin against UV damage is receiving increasing attention. The green tea constituent (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is a potent antioxidant and has shown remarkable preventive effects against photocarcinogenesis and phototoxicity in mouse models. In this study we have investigated the effects of topical application of EGCG, the major polyphenol present in green tea, to human skin before UV irradiation on UV-induced markers of oxidative stress and antioxidant enzymes. Using immunohistochemistry and analytical enzyme assays, we found that application of EGCG (mg/cm(2) skin) before a single UV exposure of 4x minimal erythema dose (MED) markedly decreases UV-induced production of hydrogen peroxide (68-90%, P < 0.025-0.005) and nitric oxide (30-100%, P < 0.025-0.005) in both epidermis and dermis in a time-dependent manner. EGCG pretreatment also inhibits UV-induced infiltration of inflammatory leukocytes, particularly CD11b(+) cells (a surface marker of monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils), into the skin, which are considered to be the major producers of reactive oxygen species. EGCG treatment was also found to inhibit UV-induced epidermal lipid peroxidation at each time point studied (41-84%, P < 0.05). A single UV exposure of 4x MED to human skin was found to increase catalase activity (109-145%) and decrease glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity (36-54%) and total glutathione (GSH) level (13-36%) at different time points studied. Pretreatment with EGCG was found to restore the UV-induced decrease in GSH level and afforded protection to the antioxidant enzyme GPx. Further studies are warranted to study the preventive effects of EGCG against multiple exposures to UV light of human skin.
Electrical switching of two-phase ZnOPrCoO3 threshold switching materials

Abstract Electrical switching of ZnOPr 6 O 11 Co 3 O 4 ceramics was investigated. The roles of individual grains and interphase boundaries in the electrical switching behavior of bulk two-phase threshold switching material based on ZnOPr 6 O 11 Co 3 O 4 were studied using microelectrodes deposited photolithographically on a thin section of the material. The materials consists of Co-doped ZnO and Zn-doped PrCoO 3 phases. Pristine Co-doped ZnO grains showed high “off” state resistance and a high threshold switching voltage for the initial voltage sweep and were permanently conductive for subsequent sweeps. “Damage traces” were observed in these grains after initial switching. Zn-doped PrCoO 3 grains exhibited stable and reproducible threshold switching behavior. Through the study of the electrical characteristics of single-phase polycrystalline undoped and Co-doped ZnO materials and undoped and Zn-doped PrCoO 3 materials, the microelectrode observations of the switching behavior of the two-phase material were confirmed. Undoped ZnO showed n-type semiconductivity with a resistivity of around 1 Ω-cm. Doping ZnO with Co increased this resistivity. Evidence was obtained that the resistivity increase in ZnO accompanying doping with Co was not due to blocking contacts. Undoped and Zn-doped PrCoO 3 showed p-type semiconductivity with a resistivity of around 100 Ω-cm. Doping PrCoO 3 with Zn decreased the resistivity. A blocking contact was observed between PrCoO 3 and electrode metals having low work function. A microstructural model of the switching behavior of two-phase ZnOPrCoO 3 material is proposed on the basis of this study.
Fixed points for extrema of contractions

Abstract We consider a family of order-preserving contractions on a complete metric space equipped with a compatible, complete partial order. If an extremum (infimum or supremum) of the contractions exists as an order-preserving contraction, we show that the fixed point of the extremum contraction is less than or equal to the extremum of the fixed points of the individual contractions. We also give reasonable sufficient conditions for equality to hold. Given suitable starting points in the metric space, we show that the fixed point of the extremum can be monotonically approximated from above and below, thus yielding an algorithm for approximating this fixed point within a prescribed tolerance. We conclude by showing how our results may be applied to Markov decision models and families of integral equations.
Regulation of apoptosis in Drosophila

Insects have made major contributions to understanding the regulation of cell death, dating back to the pioneering work of Lockshin and Williams on death of muscle cells during postembryonic development of Manduca. A physically smaller cousin of moths, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, offers unique advantages for studying the regulation of cell death in response to different apoptotic stimuli in situ. Different signaling pathways converge in Drosophila to activate a common death program through transcriptional activation of reaper, hid and grim. Reaper-family proteins induce apoptosis by binding to and antagonizing inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs), which in turn inhibit caspases. This switch from life to death relies extensively on targeted degradation of cell death proteins by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Drosophila IAP-1 (Diap1) functions as an E3-ubiquitin ligase to protect cells from unwanted death by promoting the degradation of the initiator caspase Dronc. However, in response to apoptotic signals, Reaper-family proteins are produced, which promote the auto-ubiquitination and degradation of Diap1, thereby removing the 'brakes on death' in cells that are doomed to die. More recently, several other ubiquitin pathway proteins were found to play important roles for caspase regulation, indicating that the control of cell survival and death relies extensively on targeted degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway.
Synergistic effect of intratumoral IL-12 and TNF-α microspheres: systemic anti-tumor immunity is mediated by both CD8+ CTL and NK cells

Neoadjuvant immunotherapy with the combination of intratumoral IL-12 and TNF-alpha encapsulated in poly-lactic acid microspheres (PLAM) generate a greater systemic immune response than either cytokine alone. We sought to examine the effector cells responsible for this synergy using the poorly immunogenic B16 melanoma and MCA205 sarcoma cell lines. Splenocytes from MCA205 bearing mice treated with IL-12 and TNF-alpha PLAM contained significantly more tumor-specific IFN-gamma secreting cells than IL-12 alone. Adoptive transfer of lymphocytes from mice treated by the combination mediated significant tumor regression in mice bearing established pulmonary metastases. In mice bearing bilateral tumors, treatment of the primary with IL-12 and TNF-alpha PLAM, resulted in suppression of contralateral tumor growth. Both the local and distant effects were absent in mice depleted of CD8+ T-cells. In B16 bearing mice with established pulmonary disease, only the combination of intratumoral IL-12 and TNF-alpha resulted in a significant reduction of lung nodules. Both the local and distant effects were eradicated in mice depleted of either CD8+ T-cells or NK cells. The local and sustained release of IL-12 and TNF-alpha using PLAM synergistically activate both a cytotoxic T-cell and NK cell response, although their impact varies with MHC class I expression.
Estimating the VA total health care cost using a semi-parametric heteroscedastic two-part model

To appropriately assess the impact of the establishment of community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) on the total health care costs in a VA study, we need to deal with three methodological problems inherent in the data. The first problem is skewness of the data. The second one is zero costs for some patients. The third one is heteroscedasticity. We proposed a semi-parametric heteroscedastic two-part transformation regression model to deal with these problems, and the proposed model would allow us to explicit model heteroscedasticity.