cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 4232: Increased sensitivity in whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS): A novel “post-bisulfite conversion” library construction method from sub-nanogram DNA inputs.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Genome-wide analysis of 5-methylcytosines is possible with whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS), where unmethylated cytosine residues are converted to uracil. However, a major challenge in WGBS is the degradation of DNA that occurs during bisulfite conversion under conditions required for complete conversion. Typically, ∼90% of input DNA is degraded and thus, is especially problematic with limited starting amounts of DNA. Additionally, regions that are rich in unmethylated cytosines are more sensitive to strand breaks. As a consequence, a majority of DNA fragments contained in di-tagged NGS DNA libraries treated with bisulfite “post-library construction” can be rendered inactive due to strand breaks in the DNA sequence flanked by the adapter sequences. These mono-tagged templates are then excluded during library enrichment resulting in incomplete coverage and bias when performing whole genome bisulfite sequencing. Here, we describe a novel “post-bisulfite conversion” library construction method for preparing NGS libraries from genomic DNA prior to the addition of one or both adapters. This “post-bisulfite conversion” library construction method uses the resulting untagged or mono-tagged single-stranded DNA as template for the subsequent addition of adapter sequences required for NGS. Thus, single-stranded DNA fragments independent of size and position of strand breaks remain as viable templates for library construction, eliminating the loss of fragments and the selection bias associated with a “post-library construction” bisulfite conversion strategy. This novel “post-bisulfite conversion” library construction method exhibits high diversity, increased efficiency and sensitivity (500 picograms human genomic DNA input), and improved coverage required for WGBS. Citation Format: Roy Sooknanan, John Hitchen, Nick Caruccio. Increased sensitivity in whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS): A novel “post-bisulfite conversion” library construction method from sub-nanogram DNA inputs. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4232. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-4232
Non-essential Role of the Adrenal Medulla in the Hibernation of the 13-Lined Ground Squirrel

ALTHOUGH the adrenal cortical hormones are reported to be necessary for successful hibernation and arousal in European ground squirrels, Citellus citellus1, and in European hamsters, Cricetus cricetus2, the necessity and function of the adrenal medullary hormones are still in doubt. Most investigators agree, however, that these catecholamines, especially norepinephrine, are probably involved in chemical heat production by torpid and arousing hibernators3–5. Although totally adrenalectomized hibernating animals arouse in a nearly normal manner, a return to normal hibernating patterns is prevented unless adrenal cortical tissue is transplanted into the anterior chamber of the eye or unless cortisone or deoxycorticosterone acetate (DCA) is administered1,2. Presumably, then, the hormones of the adrenal medulla are not needed for at least short ‘bouts’ of hibernation or for arousal, even though the importance of the sympathetico-adrenal system in spontaneous arousal has been repeatedly emphasized4,6–8.
Gradient energy, interfacial energy and interface width

The gradient energy coefficient, χ, and interface width, δ, are estimated from data on concentration profiles across interfaces between two phases in coherent contact. Using the sigmoid function to describe the concentration profile, χ and δ are evaluated knowing only the interfacial energy and the concentrations of the phases on both sides of the interface. Coherent interfaces in Ni-base and Al–Ag alloys are examined. The values of χ and δ obtained favorably compare with those reported in the literature.
IMMUNITY IN MUMPS : VI. EXPERIMENTS ON THE VACCINATION OF HUMAN BEINGS WITH FORMOLIZED MUMPS VIRUS.

The results observed after experimental inoculation of active mumps virus into 41 vaccinated and 32 unvaccinated children,-with the consent of their parents or guardians,-indicated that formol-inactivated mumps virus obtained from the parotid gland of the infected monkey and employed as a vaccine in the manner which has been described increased the resistance of about half of those to whom it was administered.
Third-order multi-dimensional Euler/Navier-Stokes solver

A nonoscillatory multidimensional advection code is presented which is applicable to the study of very high Reynolds number steady flow, and results are obtained for the oblique advection of a step profile. The scheme is based on an exponential upwinding or linear extrapolation refinement of a previous QUICK scheme, allowing sharp monotonic resolution of the step while retaining third-order accuracy. The resulting simple flux-limiting criteria have been applied to a higher order method and a formally third-order supercompressive algorithm. Results are presented for first-order, second-order, and third-order upwinding.
Recognizing and Justifying Private Corruption

While public (or government) corruption has attracted a lot of attention, private (or business) corruption has been relatively under-addressed. A specific form of corruption, namely, paying a bribe to a public official, is easily identifiable as unethical and possibly illegal, but this is not clear in a private business context. Yet private bribery also has serious organizational consequences. This exploratory study suggests that individuals have difficulty in recognizing the ethical connotations of potential bribery, and draws attention to the need to build skills in this regard.
Ideology and Indoctrination: The Framing of Language in Twentieth-Century Introductions to Linguistics.

L'A. examine, d'une part, comment le concept de cadre (frame), dans l'analyse du discours, est erige au sein du discours metalinguistique et, d'autre part, comment la maniere dont est structure le concept de langage, dans les ouvrages d'introduction a la linguistique, est revelateur d'une ideologie. Ainsi, l'A. montre que ces ouvrages introductifs vehiculent un endoctrinement theorique par le biais d'un langage metaphorique et d'un discours rhetorique. Il s'appuie sur l'etude de cinq ouvrages introductifs utilises aux Etats-Unis au cours du 20 e siecle et appartenant a trois ecoles linguistiques americaines differentes : l'Ecole d'anthropologie, l'Ecole descriptive/distributionnelle et l'Ecole generative/transformationnelle
The Consequences of Altered Somatotropic System on Reproduction

Although the primary control of gonadotropin secretion is by the hypothalamic GnRH and the gonadal function is controlled by the pituitary gonadotropins and prolactin, the emerging evidence suggests a vital role of the somatotropic axis, growth hormone (GH), and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) in the control of the pituitary and gonadal functions. It has been shown that GH deficiency, GH resistance, and experimental alterations in IGF-I secretion modify folliculogenesis, ovarian maturation, ovulation, and pregnancy, and in the male, GH/IGF-I plays an important role in spermatogenesis and the Leydig cell function. The primary focus of this review is to examine the role of GH/ IGF-I on the onset of puberty, fertility, pituitary, and gonadal endocrine functions. A number of studies have revealed that fertility is affected in GH-deficient dwarf and in IGF-I gene-ablated mice, possibly due to subnormal function of either the pituitary gland or the gonads. In the female GH receptor gene knockout (GHR-KO) mice, there was impairment in follicular development, ovulation rate, sexual maturation, production of and responsiveness to pheromonal signals, and the corpus luteum function. In IGF-I-deficient male GHR-KO mice, puberty is delayed, spermatogenesis is affected, and neuroendocrine-gonadal function is attenuated. Similarly, in some of the human Laron syndrome patients, puberty is delayed due to GH resistance. These data suggest that, in addition to GnRH and gonadotropins, GH/IGF-I influences the pituitary and gonadal functions in animals and humans.
Land Use Changes and Human–Wildlife Conflicts in the Amboseli Area, Kenya

In most of the Maasai lands in Kenya, increasing human–wildlife conflicts threaten wildlife resources and conservation. This article presents data from interviews of Kuku Group Ranch residents, which were conducted to understand residents’ relationships with, and opinions of, wildlife and land use. Respondents supported agriculture expansion, which is regarded as more profitable than pastoralism or conservation. They also supported land subdivision into individually owned property, as opposed to communal ownership. Although a majority of residents still favors wildlife conservation, they are opposed to free wildlife use of their land. Support for wildlife conservation was dependent on benefits received. Losses from problem animals, lack of compensation for these losses, and lack of community involvement in wildlife conservation were major sources of local resentment. Without an urgent redress, wildlife may be excluded from Maasai lands either by direct persecution or incompatible land use changes. The Sch...
Short Conserved Sequences of HIV-1 Are Highly Immunogenic and Shift Immunodominance

Cellular immunity is pivotal in HIV-1 pathogenesis but is hampered by viral sequence diversity. An approach to minimize this diversity is to focus immunity on conserved proteome sequences; therefore, we selected four relatively conserved regions (Gag amino acids 148 to 214 and 250 to 335, Env amino acids 521 to 606, and Nef amino acids 106 to 148), each created in three mosaics, to provide better coverage of M-group HIV-1 sequences. A conserved-region vaccine (CRV) delivering genes for these four regions as equal mixtures of three mosaics each (each region at a separate injection site) was compared to a whole-protein vaccine (WPV) delivering equimolar amounts of genes for whole Gag, Env, and Nef as clade B consensus sequences (separate injection sites). Three rhesus macaques were vaccinated via three DNA primes and a recombinant adenovirus type 5 boost (weeks 0, 4, 8, and 24, respectively). Although CRV inserts were about one-fifth that of WPV, the CRV generated comparable-magnitude blood CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte responses against Gag, Env, and Nef. WPV responses preferentially targeted proteome areas outside the selected conserved regions in direct proportion to sequence lengths, indicating similar immunogenicities for the conserved regions and the outside regions. The CRV yielded a conserved-region targeting density that was approximately 5-fold higher than that of the WPV. A similar pattern was seen for bronchoalveolar lymphocytes, but with quadruple the magnitudes seen in blood. Overall, these findings demonstrate that the selected conserved regions are highly immunogenic and that anatomically isolated vaccinations with these regions focus immunodominance compared to the case for full-length protein vaccination. IMPORTANCE HIV-1 sequence diversity is a major barrier limiting the capability of cellular immunity to contain infection and the ability of vaccines to match circulating viral sequences. To date, vaccines tested in humans have delivered whole proteins or genes for whole proteins, and it is unclear whether including only conserved sequences would yield sufficient cellular immunogenicity. We tested a vaccine delivering genes for four small conserved HIV-1 regions compared to a control vaccine with genes for whole Gag, Env, and Nef. Although the conserved regions ranged from 43 to 86 amino acids and comprised less than one-fifth of the whole Gag/Env/Nef sequence, the vaccines elicited equivalent total magnitudes of both CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte responses. These data demonstrate the immunogenicity of these small conserved regions and the potential for a vaccine to steer immunodominance toward conserved epitopes.
Responding to technological maturity: A socio-cognitive model of science and innovation in technological communities

Abstract The purpose of this study is to test the argument that a technological community responds to technological maturity by increasing its use of science in innovation. This prediction is tested via panel data analysis of 32 technology communities drawn from US manufacturing industries during 1985–1997. Results support a positive association between a community's technological maturity and its use of science in innovation three to five years later. Post-hoc analyses forecast when 23 US communities may become dominated by science-based innovation.
The Theory of Collective Action and NATO Defense Burdens: New Empirical Tests

Burden sharing has been a contentious topic from the early years of the North Atlantic alliance. Since 1966, it has also been a recurring test of the theory of collective action. Here we report the...
Evidence That Endogenous Corticotropin-Releasing Factor Suppresses Behavioral Responses of Guinea Pig Pups to Brief Isolation in Novel Surroundings

Guinea pig pups were injected subcutaneously with a corticotropin-releasing factor antagonist (CRF12-41) or saline vehicle and then placed into a novel cage for 30 or 60 min. Isolated 20- to 26-day-old pups vocalized more and exhibited more locomotor activity when given 15 to 150 micrograms of CRF12-41 than when given saline. The presence of the mother in the test cage prevented the antagonist from affecting behavior. The influence of the antagonist during isolation was not limited to guinea pigs near weaning age: CRF12-41 increased levels of vocalizing in isolated, 4- to 6-day-old pups, though no changes were seen in locomotor activity. Results support the hypothesis that endogenous corticotropin-releasing factor, perhaps acting at a peripheral binding site, suppresses the active behavioral response characteristic of pups during the early phase of isolation in novel surroundings.
Block copolymer self assembly for design and vapor phase synthesis of one-dimensional nanostructured materials

Block copolymer thin films provide a robust method for generating regular, uniform patterns with sub-100 nanometer length scales over arbitrarily large areas. A significant advantage of such block copolymer-based patterning is its ease of integration with all other aspects of traditional thin-film processing, including plasma-based etching and metallization. Such process compatibility ensures a host of application opportunities in designing material properties through control of their nanostructure. Here, we describe our use of block copolymer self assembly for design and vapor phase synthesis of quasi one-dimensional nanostructured materials made of metals, semiconductors, and insulators. The precise control of surface texture afforded by block copolymer-based patterning can influence macroscopic materials properties such as optical reflectance and hydrophobicity.
Chemiluminescent Detection of Enzymatically Produced Hydrogen Sulfide: Substrate Hydrogen Bonding Influences Selectivity for H2S over Biological Thiols

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is now recognized as an important biological regulator and signaling agent that is active in many physiological processes and diseases. Understanding the important roles of this emerging signaling molecule has remained challenging, in part due to the limited methods available for detecting endogenous H2S. Here we report two reaction-based ChemiLuminescent Sulfide Sensors, CLSS-1 and CLSS-2, with strong luminescence responses toward H2S (128- and 48-fold, respectively) and H2S detection limits (0.7 ± 0.3, 4.6 ± 2.0 μM, respectively) compatible with biological H2S levels. CLSS-2 is highly selective for H2S over other reactive sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen species (RSONS) including GSH, Cys, Hcy, S2O32–, NO2–, HNO, ONOO–, and NO. Despite its similar chemical structure, CLSS-1 displays lower selectivity toward amino acid-derived thiols than CLSS-2. The origin of this differential selectivity was investigated using both computational DFT studies and NMR experiments. Our results suggest a ...
Assessment and the Beginning Reader: Using Student Dictated Stories.

Abstract Most traditional methods of assessing reading are not effective for measuring the strengths and weaknesses of beginning readers. To fulfill the need for meaningful assessment that can be carried out with students who are in the earliest stages of reading acquisition, a procedure has been developed that makes use of the student's own dictated story. This carefully delineated procedure provides information about 1) the strategies students use in normal contextual reading when they encounter unknown words; 2) students’ understanding, or lack of understanding, of the principle that what is read must make sense … and their abilities to make use of this insight in identifying unknown words; and 3) student's mechanical orientation to a page of print. This assessment procedure also allows the teacher to determine 1) student's responses to repeated exposures to material; 2) students’ responses to words presented in isolation vs. words presented in context; and 3) students’ attitudes toward reading stories...
Evaluating forest product potential as part of planning ecological restoration treatments on forested landscapes

As landscape scale assessments and modeling become a more common method for evaluating alternatives in integrated resource management, new techniques are needed to display and evaluate outcomes for large numbers of stands over long periods. In this proof of concept, we evaluate the potential to provide financial support for silvicultural treatments by selling timber harvested during treatments designed to achieve non-timber objectives such as fire hazard reduction or wildlife habitat improvement. We introduce the concept of dimensionless indices to describe and compare physical accessibility, harvest and hauling costs, and potential revenue from wood products. These indices are combined into a composite utilization index that portrays the relative potential of each polygon for wood utilization and associated cost offsets from integrated resource management activities. To illustrate these concepts, we simulate vegetation dynamics, management interventions, and natural disturbances over a 100-year period and summarize results into both tabular outputs and maps for a 178,000 ha landscape with more than 50,000 stands.
DEWEY'S THEORY OF THE DEMOCRATIC PUBLIC AND THE PUBLIC CHARACTER OF CHARTER SCHOOLS

In this essay, Leonard Waks reconsiders the issue of the public character of charter schools, that is, schools funded through public taxation but operated by non-state organizations such as nonprofit and for-profit educational corporations and nongovernmental public interest organizations. Using John Dewey's conception of a democratic public as a framework, Waks examines the following questions: (1) Are schools chartered and funded by government, but operated by nonprofit nongovernmental organizations, ever appropriate instruments of a democratic public? (2) If so, what criteria might distinguish those that are appropriate from those that are not? (3) How might public education be re-institutionalized so as to include the charter schools that are appropriate? Waks concludes that Dewey's theory of democratic publics can play a useful role in thinking about how to balance the democratic benefits of charter schools for the various subcommunities of our society with the democratic requirement of broad public discourse and intergroup education.
Determinants of Domain Swapping in Staphylococcal Nuclease

Previous studies have shown that the deletion of residues 114-119 (comprising Val-114, Tyr-115, Lys-116, Gly-117, Asn-118, and Asn-119) in wild type staphylococcal nuclease (SNase) results in a C-terminal domain swapped dimer. The 114-119 segment constitutes the loop that precedes that C-terminal helix that is swapped. In the crystal structure of the domain swapped state the dimers make a well-packed interface. The domain swapped dimer is identifiable as a dimer crystallographically, by native gel electrophoresis, by light scattering, by analytical ultracentrifugation, and by NMR spectroscopy. Chemical denaturation of the domain swapped dimer leads to a single transition between folded and unfolded states, suggesting that the monomeric form is unstable. This is consistent with the effect of the 114-119 truncation on the midpoints of the thermal and acid unfolding transitions, which show that the domain swapped dimer is considerably less stable than the parent protein. In the highly stable Δ+PHS form of SNase, which is 6.4 kcal/mol more stable than the wild type, the 114-119 truncation also leads to a domain swapped state, suggesting that the tendency to swap is governed more by the local conformational properties of the 114-119 turn than by the propensity of the swappable helix to exist in the “open” conformation necessary for swapping. The 114-119 truncation is less destabilizing in Δ+PHS SNase than in the wild type SNase. A series of constructs in which residues 114 to 119 were removed systematically suggest that swapping is promoted by shortening of this segment, regardless of which residues are removed, and that only 2 to 3 residues need to be removed for swapping to be possible. However, so long as flexibility in the loop is retained through the presence of Gly-117, the protein appears to be capable of populating the monomeric state.
The influence of infection on hospital mortality for patients requiring > 48 h of intensive care.

Objective: To determine the influence of microbiologically confirmed infection on hospital mortality among patients requiring intensive care for > 48 h. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Medical ICU of the Barnes-Jewish Hospital, an urban teaching hospital. Patients: A total of 893 patients requiring intensive care for > 48 h. Interventions: Prospective patient surveillance and data collection. Measurements and main results: Three hundred seventy-two patients (41.7%) requiring intensive care for > 48 h had a microbiologically confirmed infection. Only six patients (0.7% [1.6% of patients with microbiologically confirmed infections]) received inadequate antimicrobial therapy during the first 24 h of treatment, and 248 patients (27.8%) died during hospitalization. Compared to hospital survivors, hospital nonsurvivors were significantly more likely to have a microbiologically confirmed infection (53.2% vs 37.2%, respectively; p 38.3°C (AOR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.47 to 2.02), severe sepsis (AOR, 2.78; 95% CI, 1.94 to 3.98), positive culture for vancomycin-resistant enterococci (AOR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.51 to 2.09), and the presence of multiple infections (AOR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.28 to 2.14) were independently associated with the requirement for therapy with vasopressors. Conclusions: Microbiologically confirmed infections are common among patients requiring medical intensive care for > 48 h. Despite the administration of adequate antimicrobial therapy, microbiologically confirmed infections appear to be an important cause of hemodynamic instability and increased hospital mortality. These data suggest that clinical efforts aimed at the prevention of infections and improvements in the medical management of patients with severe infections, especially those associated with hemodynamic instability and the need for vasopressors, are required to achieve further improvements in patient outcomes.
COLORIMETRIC DETERMINATION OF CRYSTALLINE AND URINARY KETOSTEROIDS CLINICAL USEFULNESS OF THIS METHOD12

IN A PRELIMINARY COMMUNICATION (i) we considered in some detail the disadvantages for clinical purposes of the method of bioassay for the determination of urinary androgens.3 It was concluded that a quantitative colorimetric technic would be distinctly advantageous over that of the bioassay. In view of the latter, adetailed study was made of the various modifications of the Zimmermann reaction which had been employed for the colorimetric assay of crystalline and urinary androgens (2, 3). The Wu and Chou (4) and Callow (5) modifications could not be used with the Oesting colorimeter because the colors developed with androgens by those procedures differ significantly from those of the discs of the instrument. Subsequent examination of Oesting's modification (6) by spectrophotometric and other methods disclosed that the results obtained by his technic are not sufficiently reliable (1, 2,). The factors which control the rate and depth of color development in the Zimmer
Nanoparticle-mediated p53 gene therapy for tumor inhibition

The p53 tumor suppressor gene is mutated in 50% of human cancers, resulting in more aggressive disease with greater resistance to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Advances in gene therapy technologies offer a promising approach to restoring p53 function. We have developed polymeric nanoparticles (NPs), based on poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid), that provide sustained intracellular delivery of plasmid DNA, resulting in sustained gene expression without vector-associated toxicity. Our previous studies with p53 gene-loaded NPs (p53NPs) demonstrated sustained antiproliferative effects in cancer cells in vitro. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of p53NPs in vivo. Tumor xenografts in mice were established with human p53-null prostate cancer cells. Animals were treated with p53NPs by either local (intratumoral injection) or systemic (intravenous) administration. Controls included saline, p53 DNA alone, and control NPs. Mice treated with local injections of p53NPs demonstrated significant tumor inhibition and improved animal survival compared with controls. Tumor inhibition corresponded to sustained and greater p53 gene and protein expression in tumors treated with p53NPs than with p53 DNA alone. A single intravenous dose of p53NPs was successful in reducing tumor growth and improving animal survival, although not to the same extent as with local injections. Imaging studies showed that NPs accumulate in tumor tissue after intravenous injection; however, further improvement in tumor targeting efficiency of p53NPs may be needed for better outcome. In conclusion, the NP-mediated p53 gene therapy is effective in tumor growth inhibition. NPs may be developed as nonviral vectors for cancer and other genetic diseases.
The Lived Experience of Feeling Sad

The purpose of this study was to enhance understanding of the lived experience of feeling sad. Parse's phenomenological-hermeneutic research method was used to answer the research question: What is the structure of the lived experience of feeling sad? Participants were 7 elders who had lost a pet. Data were collected with dialogical engagement. The major finding of the study is the structure: Feeling sad is penetrating anguish surfacing with contemplating absent-yet present intimacies, while prevailing amid misfortune. Feeling sad is discussed in relation to the principles of humanbecoming and in relation to how it can inform future nursing research and nursing practice.
CMOS-MEMS variable capacitors with low parasitic capacitance for frequency-reconfigurable RF circuits

The design and characterization of a CMOS-MEMS variable capacitor is presented. Measured results demonstrate a tuning ratio of 6.9:1, a quality factor of 28 at 3 GHz, and a self-resonant frequency of 11 GHz, with sub-50 fF parasitic capacitance. Simulations of two frequency-reconfigurable circuits, a low-noise amplifier and a power amplifier, show the importance of low parasitic capacitance for practical reconfigurable front-end designs.
Single mode connector options for sensor networks

Understanding complete behavior of a system during testing may require many- perhaps hundreds- of sensors. Wavelength division multiplexing using single mode fiber can help simplify this. Three decisions assist with the selection of connection methods.
KINETICS OF NITROGEN MINERALIZATION IN SOILS AMENDED WITH SUGAR BEET PROCESSING BY-PRODUCTS

Application of sugar beet processing by-products to agricultural land has become a common practice to reduce disposal costs. This study was conducted to estimate N mineralization in soils amended with sugar beet processing by-products. Field moist Bearden and Angus soils adjusted to 80% field capacity water content and amended with beet pulp, beet tailings, spoiled and fresh sugar beet roots or biosolids (standard) were incubated at 30°C for 120 days. A non-amended control was also included. Periodically, soil samples were removed and analyzed for mineral nitrogen (N) {\rm({ NH _{4} ^{ + } }\hyphen N + { NO _{3} ^{ - } }\hyphen N). } Addition of sugar beet by-products resulted in N immobilization before the start of net N mineralization for both soils. In contrast the biosolids showed net N mineralization over the entire incubation period. The data on N immobilization and mineralization were fitted by a double exponential model. This model allowed the estimation of both potential N mineralization and pote...
Radiation, pool size and incorporation studies in mice with 5-chloro-2′-deoxycytidine

Abstract Bolus doses of 5-chlorodeoxycytidine (CldC) administered with modulators of pyrimidine metabolism, followed by X-irradiation, resulted in a 2-fold dose increase effect against RIF-1 tumors in C3H mice. Pool size studies of the fate of [ 14 -C]-CldC in BDF 1 mice bearing Sarcoma-180 tumors, which demonstrated the rapid formation of 5-chlorodeoxycytidylate (CldCMP), and incorporation of CldC as such in RIF-1 tumor DNA, indicate that CldC is a substrate for deoxycytidine kinase, as our past Km studies have shown. Our data indicate that 5-chlorodeoxyuridine triphosphate (CldUTP) accumulates from both the cytidine deaminase-thymidine kinase pathway, as well as from the deoxycytidine kinase-dCMP deaminase pathway, in tumor tissue. As shown in a previous study, tetrahydrouridine (H 4 U), a potent inhibitor of cytidine deaminase, can effectively inhibit the enzyme in the normal tissues of BDF 1 mice. When H 4 U was administered with the modulators N-(phosphonacetyl)-L-aspartic acid (PALA) and 5-fluorodeoxycytidine (FdC), the levels of CldC-derived RNA and DNA directed metabolites increased in tumor and decreased in normal tissues compared to when CIdC was administered alone. These modulators inhibit the de novo pathway of thymidine biosynthesis, lowering thymidine triphosphate (TTP) levels, which compete with CldUTP for incorporation into DNA. 5-Benzylacyclouridine (BAU), an inhibitor of uridine phosphorylase, was also utilized. DNA incorporation studies using C3H mice bearing RIF-1 tumors showed that the extent of incorporation of 5-chlorodeoxyuridine (CldU) into DNA correlates with the levels of cytidine and dCMP deaminases; this is encouraging in view of their high activity in many human malignancies and the low activities in normal tissues, including those undergoing active replication. Up to 3.9% replacement of thymidine by CldU took place in RIF-1 tumors, whereas incorporation into bone marrow was below our limit of detection. CldC did not result in photosensitization under conditions in cell culture in which radiosensitization to X rays was obtained. Thus, the combination of CldC with modulators of its metabolism has potential as a modality of selective radiosensitization for ultimate clinical use in a wider range of tumors than those of the brain.
Anaerobic Degradation of Chloroaromatic Compounds in Aquatic Sediments under a Variety of Enrichment Conditions

Anaerobic degradation of monochlorophenols and monochlorobenzoates in a variety of aquatic sediments was compared under four enrichment conditions. A broader range of compounds was degraded in enrichments inoculated with sediment exposed to industrial effluents. Degradation of chloroaromatic compounds was observed most often in methanogenic enrichments and in enrichments amended with 1 mM bromoethane sulfonic acid. Degradation was observed least often in enrichments with added nitrate or sulfate. The presence of 10 mM bromoethane sulfonic acid prevented or inhibited degradation of most compounds tested. Primary enrichments in which KNO3 was periodically replenished to maintain enrichment characteristics degraded chlorobenzoates, but not chlorophenols. In contrast, primary enrichments in which Na2SO4 was periodically replenished failed to degrade any chloroaromatic compounds. Upon transfer to fresh medium, none of the sulfate enrichments required the presence of Na2SO4 for degradation, while only two nitrate enrichments required the presence of KNO3 for degradation. As a class of compounds, chlorophenols were degraded more readily than chlorobenzoates. However, as individual compounds 3-chlorobenzoate, 2-chlorophenol, and 3-chlorophenol degradation was observed most often and with an equal frequency. Within the chlorophenol class, the relative order of degradability was ortho > meta > para, while that of chlorobenzoates was meta > ortho > para, In laboratory transfers, 2-chlorobenzoate, 3-chlorobenzoate, and 2-chlorophenol degradation was most easily maintained, while degradation of para-chlorinated compounds was very difficult to maintain.
Primary antiphospholipid syndrome evolving into systemic lupus erythematosus

A young woman had a history of spontaneous venous thromboembolic disease which recurred on several occasions after cessation of treatment with oral anticoagulants. The presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (lupus anticoagulant and a high titre of lgG class anticardiolipin antibodies) in the absence of other clinical and serological features of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) confirmed a diagnosis of primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS). Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were positive (1:1280; speckled pattern). Twelve years after the first thrombotic episode she fulfilled criteria for the classification of SLE (antinuclear antibodies, platelet count < 100 x 10(9)/l, anti-dsDNA antibodies, Coombs' positive haemolytic anaemia). She suffered a myocardial infarction while adequately anticoagulated and developed polyarthritis and immune complex-mediated nephritis over the next 3 years. This case history supports suggestions made by others that a strongly positive ANA test in a patient diagnosed with PAPS may be a harbinger for the development of SLE. Such evolution can take place over more than 10 years.
The I Days of Christmas: A Model for Competitive Advertising Over An Intensive Campaign

During a pre-Christmas campaign in which daily sales are generally increasing, it is important to achieve a proper balance in advertising allocation between the final days of heavy sales and the earlier days of the campaign when sales are lighter but advertising might affect sales farther into the future. This paper presents a model of such a problem for two competing firms, an algorithm for solution of the model, numerical examples, and a proof of the algorithm. An equilibrium solution is found in which each firm applies the same proportioning vector to distribute its total advertising budget over the N days.
A Study of the Radiant Heat Exchange within a Controlled-Atmosphere Furnace

Transient three-dimensional heat transfer between a traversing, structured, and rectangular object and an enclosure is studied. This study investigates the heat transfer process that occurs in brazing an aluminum heat exchanger in a controlled-atmosphere furnace. A model's development is discussed with prescribed enclosure temperature boundary conditions. The program determines the radiant heat exchange between gray diffuse surfaces, and solves the three-dimensional conduction equation for a solid with a radiant heat flux boundary condition using an implicit finite-difference method. The structured object's conduction and radiant thermal properties are described by effective values. It was shown that radiative thermal properties of the traversing object and the enclosure's temperature have a strong impact on the object's temperature history. The effective thermal emissivity was found to influence the object's rate of temperature change. The enclosure's temperatures influenced the object's equilibrium temp...
Inkus: a freehand method of creating business process models

Business process modeling has become an industry wide practice for business transformation consulting. Tools that support business process modeling are designed for experienced users to draw a process with precision and professional appearance. These tools are not conducive to sketching quick business design ideas. In this paper, we explore a non-intrusive business process sketching tool which allows free hand sketches of process ideas and slowly brings the users to the required common business vocabulary. We also explore adding business values that support process design thinking, along with sketching. Our goal is to help unleash creativity in business designers and enrich the design process with values beyond drawing. This paper presents a design concept and an implemented prototype of such a system.
Determination of Derivatized Urea in Exhaled Breath Condensate by LC-MS

Elevation in one or more compounds in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) has been reported to be related to one or another lung disease. The increased concentration might be caused by increased chemicals in the airway surface liquid. However, it might also be due to an increased delivery of liquid samples into the airstream. Being evenly distributed throughout the body, urea is a likely candidate for a marker of such dilution. A liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed for determination of EBC urea. Urea in EBC samples was converted to 2-hydroxypyrimidine (2-HPM) through a one step reaction, along with (15)N(2)-urea added as an internal standard. The product ion m/z 97/42 was selected for quantification with m/z 99/43 from (15)N(2)-2-HPM as a standard. Concentrations of urea in EBC from five lung cancer patients were found to be 35.1, 2.2, 103.5, 19.3, and 3.6 microM, respectively. The highest values were in patients dying of respiratory distress, whose lungs were filled with fluid. Lower values were seen in patients whose conditions were improving. Lately, one of the low EBC urea values was observed in a patient whose airway status did not contribute to his poor clinical condition.
Tangled trios?: Characterizing a hybrid zone in Castilleja (Orobanchaceae).

Hybridization and polyploidization are exceedingly important processes because both infl uence the ecological envelope and evolutionary trajectory of land plants. These processes are frequently invoked for Castilleja (Indian paintbrushes) as contributors to morphological and genetic novelty and as complicating factors in species delimitations. Here, we provide a detailed analysis of morphological and genetic evidence for hybridization in a well-characterized hybrid swarm involving three broadly sympatric species ( C. miniata , C. rhexiifolia , C. sulphurea ) in western Colorado. Field-classifi ed hybrids are present at high frequencies at these sites and show morphological intermediacy to and segregate for chloroplast DNA haplotypes with C. rhexiifolia and C. sulphurea . Contrarily, DNA content and AFLP variation show that fi eld-classifi ed hybrids are not recent hybrids but a distinctive fourth taxon. Actual hybrids (plants showing admixture ≥ 10% for two genotypic groups) comprised 13% of our sample, with most admixture involving C. rhexiifolia , C. sulphurea , and the unknown taxon. The identity of the fi eld-classifi ed “ hybrids ” remains unknown; they either represent a stabilized hybrid species or a species with uncharacteristically high diversity for color alleles. This study highlights the importance of examining concordance and discordance between morphology, cytology, and genetic criteria to understand the complex evolutionary history of diverse groups such as Castilleja .
Comparison of outcomes after laparoscopic versus open appendectomy for acute appendicitis at 222 ACS NSQIP hospitals.

Background The benefit of laparoscopic (LA) versus open (OA) appendectomy, particularly for complicated appendicitis, remains unclear. Our objectives were to assess 30-day outcomes after LA versus OA for acute appendicitis and complicated appendicitis, determine the incidence of specific outcomes after appendectomy, and examine factors influencing the utilization and duration of the operative approach with multi-institutional clinical data. Methods Using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) database (2005–2008), patients were identified who underwent emergency appendectomy for acute appendicitis at 222 participating hospitals. Regression models, which included propensity score adjustment to minimize the influence of treatment selection bias, were constructed. Models assessed the association between surgical approach (LA vs OA) and risk-adjusted overall morbidity, surgical site infection (SSI), serious morbidity, and serious morbidity/mortality, as well as individual complications in patients with acute appendicitis and complicated appendicitis. The relationships between operative approach, operative duration, and extended duration of stay with hospital academic affiliation were also examined. Results Of 32,683 patients, 24,969 (76.4%) underwent LA and 7,714 (23.6%) underwent OA. Patients who underwent OA were significantly older with more comorbidities compared with those who underwent LA. Patients treated with LA were less likely to experience an overall morbidity (4.5% vs 8.8%; odds ratio [OR], 0.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.54–0.68) or a SSI (3.3% vs 6.7%; OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.50–0.65) but not a serious morbidity (2.6% vs 4.2%; OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.74–1.01) or a serious morbidity/mortality (2.6% vs 4.3%; OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.74–1.01) compared with those who underwent OA. All patients treated with LA were significantly less likely to develop individual infectious complications except for organ space SSI. Among patients with complicated appendicitis, organ space SSI was significantly more common after laparoscopic appendectomy (6.3% vs 4.8%; OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.05–1.73). For all patients with acute appendicitis, those treated at academic-affiliated versus community hospitals were equally likely to undergo LA versus OA (77.0% vs 77.3%; P = .58). Operative duration at academic centers was significantly longer for both LA and OA (LA, 47 vs 38 minutes [P Conclusion Within ACS NSQIP hospitals, LA is associated with lower overall morbidity in selected patients. However, patients with complicated appendicitis may have a greater risk of organ space SSI after LA. Academic affiliation does not seem to influence the operative approach. However, LA is associated with similar durations of stay but slightly greater operative times than OA at academic versus community hospitals.
A permutation-based page interleaving scheme to reduce row-buffer conflicts and exploit data locality

DRAM row-buffer conflicts occur when a sequence of requests on different rows goes to the same memory bank, causing much higher memory access latency than requests to the same row or to different banks. We analyze the sources of row-buffer conflicts in the context of superscalar processors, and propose a permutation based page interleaving scheme to reduce row-buffer conflicts and to exploit data access locality in the row-buffer. Compared with several existing schemes, we show that the permutation based scheme dramatically increases the hit rates on DRAM row-buffers and reduces memory stall time of the SPEC95 and TPC-C workloads. The memory stall times of the workloads are reduced up to 68% and 50%, compared with the conventional cache line and page interleaving schemes, respectively.
Impact of Change From CTCAE Version 3 to CTCAE Version 4 on Urologic Toxicity Scores in Prostate Cancer

3.4%) and incontinence (nZ 1; 0.5%; 7-years actuarial risk of 1.8%). Late grade 2 or higher GU toxicity was associated with a higher bladder volume receiving 70 Gy or higher dose (p Z .02), there was no association with any of other parameters examined. Conclusions: The volume of bladder neck exposed to higher doses may possibly be related to the radiation cystitis, most common late GU toxicity in our cohort with localized prostate cancer treated to 78 grays IMRT. Author Disclosure: H. Inokuchi: None. T. Mizowaki: None. I. Ikeda: None. K. Takayama: None. Y. Norihisa: None. M. Hiraoka: None.
Effect of anisotropic grain boundary properties on grain boundary plane distributions during grain growth

Abstract The effects of anisotropic grain boundary properties on the evolution of boundary plane distributions were studied using three-dimensional finite element simulations of normal grain growth. The distribution of boundary planes was affected by energy anisotropy whereas no effect was observed for comparatively larger mobility anisotropy.
Reduced-Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells Fabricated by Screen Printing

Electrolyte films of samaria-doped ceria (SDC, are fabricated onto porous NiO-SDC substrates by a screen printing technique. A cathode layer, consisting of and 10 wt % SDC, is subsequently screen printed on the electrolyte to form a single cell, which is tested at temperatures from 400 to 600°C. When humidified (3% hydrogen or methane is used as fuel and stationary air as oxidant, the maximum power densities are 188 (or 78) and 397 (or 304) mW/cm2 at 500 and 600°C, respectively. Impedance analysis indicates that the performances of the solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) below 550°C are determined primarily by the interfacial resistance, implying that the development of catalytically active electrode materials is critical to the successful development of high-performance SOFCs to be operated at temperatures below 600°C. © 2001 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.
Educating Amid Uncertainty: The Organizational Supports Teachers Need to Serve Students in High-Poverty, Urban Schools

Purpose: We examine how uncertainty, both about students and the context in which they are taught, remains a persistent condition of teachers’ work in high-poverty, urban schools. We describe six s...
Analysis of 6 kV no-fault motor instantaneous trip protection action on asymmetrical short-circuit faults

Based on the symmetrical component method,this paper analyses the voltage vector of two asymmetrical short-circuit faults including single-phase grounding fault and two-phase grounding fault,and also analyses the operation condition of 6 kV system at different sequence voltages.The analysis results show that in the situation of asymmetrical short-circuit faults,especially in the two-phase grounding faults,the instantaneous trip protection of no-fault motors maybe falsely act because of large current which produced by negative voltage.To solve the problem,this paper presents an idea that not only the startup current,but also the negative voltage at asymmetrical short-circuit fault is needed to be considered in motor instantaneous trip protection setting and checking.