cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
P6: CIRCULATING MICRORNA PATTERN DEFINES A BIOLOGICALLY DISTINCT BREAST CANCER PATTERN IN BLACK (B) WOMEN RELATIVE TO ONE CCCURRING IN WHITE (W) WOMEN

Purpose of Study Black women with triple negative breast cancer have 46% lower survival rates attributed to differences in tumor biology. We analyzed presurgical plasma microRNA of white (W) and black (B) women with TNBC enrolled in our breast ovarian tissue bank between 2004 and 2014. Aims Detect microRNA patterns in pre-surgical plasma of TNBC W or B Analyze differences by integrated approach to detect pathways differentially activated in the two groups. Methods Used Between 2004 and 2014 we investigated patterns of plasma miRNAs collected before, after surgery, during and after chemotherapy in 67 patients presenting for surgery for breast cancer (W=44 & B=44) and 25 age and race matched normal controls. Two-sample t-test was used for all 2-sample comparison and ANOVA followed by Benjamin Hochberg post-hoc test to compare the mean response between subject factors of interest. All tests were 2-tailed and results with a p Summary of Results Mean age cancer 48 (range 35–78), control 44 (range 35–67): B patients did not express over 70% of pre-surgical plasma miRs over-expressed in the W pre-surgical plasma. Black patients had lower expression of MiRs: −16-5p, −484, −126, −150-5p, −142-3p; −30c-5p, −186-5p, 139-5p. Samples from white patients overexpressed miRs−126, −150-5p, −142-3p; −30c-5p, −186-5p, 139-5p compared to healthy controls. These miRs significantly suppressed in blacks p Coremine text mining suggests differentially regulated microRNA are involved in mitochondrial quality control and biogenesis. Conclusions Deregulation in circulating miRs between B and W patients point to pathways involved in mitochondrial fission and fusion. Aberrant mitochondria biogenesis was reported as mechanism for cancer stem cell survival and detrimental to innate immunity. Such pathways could explain the lower survival seen in black breast cancer patients.
Analysis on A Line Variation Distance Protection Misoperation and Its Solutions

This paper studies a variation distance protection misoperation which occurs on two 110 kV transmission lines in a certain regional power grid.According to the equipment waveform,experiments and theoretical analysis it is concluded that some defects of the principle design of the protection device lead to misoperation when system is instable and frequency abnormal.Based on the analysis,the rectification program is proposed for the existing protection device.
Corona Characteristics of ±800 kV UHV DC Polluted Transmission Lines

We investigated the corona inception voltage and corona current characteristics of conductor when the surface of conductor was adhered with artificial contaminations of different densities and carbon powder respectively by use of an corona cage,and predicted corona inception voltage characteristics of ±800 kV UHV DC polluted transmission lines primarily based on experimental and the results of simulation.The results show that at the level of actual surface voltage gradient of UHV DC transmission lines,corona current increases differently with the increase of contamination densities when the surface of conductor is adhered with artificial contaminations and carbon powder respectively.Corona inception voltage decreases follow the negative exponential function as the contamination densities increase in company with saturated tendency,and negative corona inception voltage is influenced most by carbon powder.Based on experimental results and the results of simulation,a function relationship is educed between corona inception voltage and surface contamination densities of ±800 kV UHV DC transmission lines primarily.
ROLE OF THE T CELL RECEPTOR ALPHA -CHAIN IN SUPERANTIGEN RECOGNITION

Superantigens bind to antigen-presenting cells on the outside of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecule and to T cells via the external face of the T cell receptor (TCR) Vβ element. As a consequence, superantigens stimulate populations of T cells in a Vβ-specific, non-MHC-restricted manner. However, accumulating evidence has shown an additional contribution of the TCR α-chain and polymorphic residues of the MHC molecule to superantigen recognition by some T cells. These data suggest that the TCR and MHC come into contact during superantigen engagement and indirectly modulate the superantigen reactivity. Thus, additional interactions between non-Vβ elements of the TCR and MHC play a role in the overall stability of the superantigen/MHC/TCR complex, explaining the influence of the TCR α-chain. It is likely that this additional interaction is of greater consequence for weakly reactive T cells. This modulation of superantigen reactivity in individual T cells may have physiological consequences, for example, in the induction of autoimmunity.
A Retrospective on the Use of Survey Methodologies in Marketing Research

From a historical perspective, the methodologies used to collect and analyze various types of data structures in marketing research have undergone a number of popular trend changes from personal interviews and simple frequency, cross-tabulation, and correlation analysis procedures to complex experimental designs and advanced statistical analysis (ANOVA, MANOVA, SEM, and PLS).
Posner–Schlossman Syndrome

Posner-Schlossman Syndrome (PSS), otherwise known as glaucomatocyclitic crisis, is an uncommon form of open angle glaucoma. This unilateral condition typically affects young to middle-aged individuals and is characterized by recurrent episodes of mild, nongranulomatous anterior uveitis with markedly elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). Some patients may have associated systemic disorders, mostly of allergic and gastrointestinal origin. A possible role of herpes simplex virus infection has also been postulated.
Patterns of palliative care utilization and end-of-life care in adult patients with cancer who died as inpatients at Mayo Clinic.

60 Background: A significant number of patients with advanced cancer die in the hospital. Examination of patterns of care and palliative care (PC) involvement may identify opportunities for process of care improvements for this vulnerable population. Methods: Patients were identified using the institutional mortality review system registry (Mayo Clinic hospitals from July, 2013-June, 2014). Within this group, patients with a diagnosis of terminal malignancy were identified by chart review and ICD-9 codes. Patient demographics, clinical characteristics, and use of PC resources were characterized in the last 60 days of life. Results: There were 159 of 924 decedents identified whose primary cause of death was advanced malignancy (Table). Ninety-two patients (57%) had PC consultation during the index admission preceding death, while 31 (19%) patients had seen PC as an outpatient or inpatient prior to index admission. Lack of inpatient PC consultation at index admission was associated with hematologic malignan...
SID-1 domains important for dsRNA import in C. elegans

In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, RNA interference (RNAi) triggered by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) spreads systemically to cause gene silencing throughout the organism and its progeny. We confirm that Caenorhabditis nematode SID-1 orthologs have dsRNA transport activity and demonstrate that the SID-1 paralog CHUP-1 does not transport dsRNA. Sequence comparison of these similar proteins, in conjunction with analysis of loss-of-function missense alleles identifies several conserved 2-7 amino acid microdomains within the extracellular domain that are important for dsRNA transport. Among these missense alleles, we identify and characterize a sid-1 allele, qt95, which causes tissue-specific silencing defects most easily explained as a systemic RNAi export defect. However, we conclude from genetic and biochemical analyses that sid-1(qt95) disrupts only import and speculate that the apparent export defect is caused by the cumulative effect of sequentially impaired dsRNA import steps. Thus, consistent with previous studies, we fail to detect a requirement for sid-1 in dsRNA export, but demonstrate for the first time that SID-1 functions in the intestine to support environmental RNAi.
Natural modes and resonance in undulatory locomotion

Natural modes of oscillations are well defined for standard linear mechanical systems where the mass and stiffness matrices are symmetric positive definite. One may expect that traveling-waves of body oscillations in undulatory locomotion (e.g. snake crawling, eel swimming) may be explained as a natural oscillation of the associated dynamics. However, body-environment interactions in undulatory locomotion give nonstandard dynamics where the stiffness matrix is asymmetric. We propose an analogous definition for natural oscillations for such nonstandard systems to explain traveling waves observed in undulatory locomotion as mode shapes. Moreover, we show that frequency and amplitude of undulation can be well defined by the resonance to maximize the gain from the bending moment to the locomotion speed. The results will be useful for motion planning for robotic locomotion systems.
Beam Dynamics of Collective Instabilities in High Energy Accelerators

This lecture attempts to give an abbreviated overview of the basic physics of collective instabilities of intense charged particle beams in accelerators.
Alpha-galactosylceramide (αGalCer) enhances vaccine-induced protection in a model of ricin intoxication

Alpha-galactosylceramide (αGalCer) is a glycolipid derived from a marine sponge that is a potent activator of both mouse and human invariant natural killer T (iNKT) cells. For that reason, αGalCer is a promising vaccine adjuvant that has been shown to improve both humoral and cellular immunity when co-administered with various vaccines, including candidate vaccines for biodefense. In the current study, we tested the effectiveness of αGalCer as an adjuvant for the clinically-relevant ricin toxin subunit vaccine, RiVax. αGalCer had a potent adjuvant effect, as shown by a rapid onset of anti-ricin IgG titers, accelerated development of serum toxin-neutralizing activity, and enhanced protection from lethal ricin challenge in a mouse model. These results underscore the potential of αGalCer to augment the protective immune response to a vaccine designed to counteract ricin toxin, a fast-acting biothreat agent.
Catalytic 1-Propanol Oxidation on Size-Controlled Platinum Nanoparticles at Solid–Gas and Solid–Liquid Interfaces: Significant Differences in Kinetics and Mechanisms

Utilizing Pt nanoparticles of varying sizes (2–7 nm), it was found that the oxidation of 1-propanol by molecular oxygen at 60 °C to propanal at the solid–gas and solid–liquid interfaces yielded significantly different results depending on Pt particle size and alcohol surface density. The reaction rate at the solid–gas interface was found to be 1 order of magnitude greater than that at the solid–liquid interface after normalizing concentration. In addition, catalytic activity increases with the size of Pt nanoparticles for both reactions. Moreover, water substantially promoted 1-propanol oxidation in the liquid phase, yet it inhibited the reaction in the gas phase. The gas phase and liquid phase reactions are believed to undergo different mechanisms due to differing kinetic results. This correlated well with different orientations of the 1-propanol species at the solid–gas interface versus the solid–liquid interface as probed by sum–frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy (SFGVS) under reaction condi...
Atmospheric Ultraviolet Radiation Scattering and Absorption

Molecular scattering and absorption by atmospheric gases generally is a wavelength-dependent process. In the UV-B region of the solar spectrum the main gases of the atmosphere, composed primarily of Nitrogen, Oxygen, and some of the rare noble gases are non-absorbing. They do, however, scatter radiation in a process that is named after Lord Rayleigh. The term elastic scattering is often used to indicate that all of the incident radiation intercepted by a non-absorbing molecule is redirected into other directions i.e. there is no loss of radiation to the molecule. The process is wavelength-dependent and goes as the reciprocal of the fourth power of the wavelength. This means that the scattering becomes stronger at the shorter wavelengths. Hence, the reason for a blue sky because the visible wavelengths of the rainbow colors in the sun’s spectrum are so weakly scattered that they are obscured by the strong blue color. However, aerosols (dust) are composed of much larger particles on the order of the wavelength of light compared to the size of air molecules and these particles do not possess strong wavelength-dependent scattering characteristics. Therefore, when aerosols or clouds are present, one often sees a whitish haze or a white cloud because the rainbow colors are mixed more equally. A strongly absorbing haze, however, may take on a darker appearance and might be seen as a brown cloud.
Decentralized Demand Side Management Optimization for Residential and Commercial Load

In smart grid, the demand side management techniques need to be designed to process a large number of controllable loads of several types, this results in increased sustainability of the grid, as well as reduced the operational cost. In this paper, we proposed a framework to study decentralized demand side management in a distributed network which contains a variety of loads of two demand types; residential load and commercial load. Specifically, each of residential load and commercial load has local renewable generation such as rooftop PV and flexible appliances and by making an optimum individual scheduling will reduce the electricity bill with a manageable sacrifice of customers convenience and comfort according time-of-using (TOU) prices. In our simulation model commercial load bus on bus seventeenth, with twenty-nine households employed to demonstrate the performance of the proposed DSM for large number of appliances. Using the developed simulation model we examine the performance of decentralized DSM and study their impact on the distribution network operation and renewable generation, overall voltage deviation, real power loss, and possible problems such as reverse power flows, voltage rise have examined and compared.
Polymer stress growth in viscoelastic fluids in oscillating extensional flows with applications to micro-organism locomotion

Abstract Simulations of undulatory swimming in viscoelastic fluids with large amplitude gaits show concentration of polymer elastic stress at the tips of the swimmers. We use a series of related theoretical investigations to probe the origin of these concentrated stresses. First the polymer stress is computed analytically at a given oscillating extensional stagnation point in a viscoelastic fluid. The analysis identifies a Deborah number (De) dependent Weissenberg number (Wi) transition below which the stress is linear in Wi, and above which the stress grows exponentially in Wi. Next, stress and velocity are found from numerical simulations in an oscillating 4-roll mill geometry. The stress from these simulations is compared with the theoretical calculation of stress in the decoupled (given flow) case, and similar stress behavior is observed. The flow around tips of a time-reversible flexing filament in a viscoelastic fluid is shown to exhibit an oscillating extension along particle trajectories, and the stress response exhibits similar transitions. However in the high amplitude, high De regime the stress feedback on the flow leads to non time-reversible particle trajectories that experience asymmetric stretching and compression, and the stress grows more significantly in this regime. These results help explain past observations of large stress concentration for large amplitude swimmers and non-monotonic dependence on De of swimming speeds.
Rodent and Human Models For the Analysis of Intestinal Tumor Development

In recent years, new approaches to the detection of early lesions associated with large bowel neoplasia have been explored. These approaches have led to the identification of a series of progressive stages of abnormal cell development, both in rodents exposed to carcinogens and in humans with hereditary predisposition to colorectal cancer.
Platelet-Rich Plasma and Stem Cells for Hair Growth: A Review of the Literature

The prevalence of hair loss, its psychological consequences, and historically subpar treatments present a unique challenge to the physician. The current Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments for hair loss are plagued by ineffectiveness, noncompliance, and adverse effects. Recent advances in our understanding of hair physiology have fueled the development of more efficacious, minimally invasive, and safer treatment options for hair restoration including plasma-rich protein and stem cell therapy. Platelet-rich plasma, the autologous preparation of concentrated platelets in plasma, when injected into the scalp of patients with both androgenetic alopecia (AGA) and alopecia areata (AA), has been shown to increase hair count and density. The clinical findings have been supported by histologic evaluation of the scalp skin. These findings have been recapitulated in numerous randomized controlled trials. Stem cell therapy, although newer in its application in hair restoration, has also been effective for treating both AGA and AA. The isolation techniques for stem cells are varied, but regardless have shown promising results in early prospective and retrospective studies.
Contextual Responses to Affirmative and/or Reversed-Worded Items.

This paper presents a systematic investigation of how affirmative and polar-opposite items presented either jointly or separately affect yea-saying tendencies. We measure these yea-saying tendencies with item response models that estimate a respondent’s tendency to give a “yea”-response that may be unrelated to the target trait. In a re-analysis of the Zhang et al. (PLoS ONE, 11:1–15, 2016) data, we find that yea-saying tendencies depend on whether items are presented as part of a scale that contains affirmative and/or polar-opposite items. Yea-saying tendencies are stronger for affirmative than for polar-opposite items. Moreover, presenting polar-opposite items together with affirmative items creates lower yea-saying tendencies for polar-opposite items than when presented in isolation. IRT models that do not account for these yea-saying effects arrive at a two-dimensional representation of the target trait. These findings demonstrate that the contextual information provided by an item scale can serve as a determinant of differential item functioning.
Undergraduate Student Success and Library Use: A Multimethod Approach

How libraries affect student success has become an increasingly important question to many academic librarians. To investigate this phenomenon, we explored student success via two approaches in this multimethod study: 1) through individual student interviews to capture the student voice; and 2) through hierarchical linear and logistic modeling of institutional data to capture the institutional perspective. Through the qualitative component, students articulated how they define success and how the library contributes to their success, especially in terms of providing a sense of belonging and facilitating the work of a community of scholars. The quantitative data provides additional context by demonstrating a small positive correlation between use of library resources and student persistence, further highlighting the community building impact of the libraries.
Survival impact of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage IIA colon cancer: Analysis of the National Cancer Database.

Utility of adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II cancer remains a matter of debate. Clinical guidelines suggest adjuvant chemotherapy for stage II tumors with high-risk features, in particular T4 tumors. However, limited consensus exists regarding the importance of other high-risk features (lymphovascular or perineural invasion, microsatellite instability). Our study aimed to investigate the impact of adjuvant chemotherapy for stage IIA (T3N0) colon cancer patients. Patients who underwent colectomy for stage IIA colon adenocarcinoma (2010-2015) were identified in the National Cancer Database (NCDB) and divided in two groups based on receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy vs observation. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW)-adjusted Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were performed to compare overall survival between the two groups. Subgroup analysis of patients with specific high-risk features LVI, PNI and MSI was performed. Among 46 688 surgical patients with stage IIA colon adenocarcinoma 5937 (12.7%) received adjuvant chemotherapy, while 40 751 (87.3%) were observed. Five-year IPTW-adjusted survival was higher in the adjuvant chemotherapy group (79.7% [95% CI 79.1, 80.2]) compared to the observation group (70.3% [95% CI 69.7, 70.9]). Patients with high-risk pathological features showed an estimated 5-year survival benefit of 11.3% (78.2% [95% CI 77.4, 79.1] vs 66.9% [95% CI 65.9, 67.8]) when treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. This NCDB analysis revealed a survival benefit for patients with stage IIA colon adenocarcinoma and high-risk features that were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy.
Discrepancies between actual weight, weight perception and weight loss intention amongst persons with NAFLD.

BACKGROUND Currently, weight loss remains the main management strategy for NAFLD, but the weight loss intention and methods remain poorly characterized. METHODS We analysed data about the perception of weight status, intention and methods to lose weight amongst 3,822 persons with NAFLD (United States Fatty Liver Index ≥ 30) from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001-2014. RESULTS Only 53.9% of people with NAFLD intended to lose weight, 91.8% with perception of overweight and 8.2% with normal weight perception. Persons with perception of overweight or overweight/obese status were four times more likely to try to lose weight (adjusted odds ratios 3.9 and 4.2, respectively, both P < 0.0001). Younger age, women, higher educational level, Hispanic and blacks (versus whites) were significant independent factors associated with weight loss intention. Notably, ≤10% attended weight loss programme. Metabolic equivalent of task hours per week was significantly higher in whites who exercised to lose weight (vs. no exercise, P = 0.003) but not in other racial/ethnic groups. Interestingly, calorie intake was similar between those who dieted versus not (2056 vs. 1970 kcal/day, P = 0.11). About 30% reported ≥ 10-lb weight loss, with 50% higher odds of success for men but there was no difference by race/ethnicity. CONCLUSION Overweight or obese perception was a key driver in weight loss activities but was inconsistent with actual weight status and varied by race/ethnicity and other sociodemographic factors. Weight loss programme is under-utilized and should take in account of weight perception training and culturally appropriate approach.
Naturalism, Religion, and Mental Disorders

This article explores the analysis developed in the book, Hearing Voices and Other Matters of the Mind: What Mental Abnormalities Can Teach Us about Religions, by Robert N. McCauley and George Graham. In the book, the authors develop a model of the relationship between religious cognition and cognition associated with mental illness. Their model is based on the longstanding consensus that many classical mystical experiences appear to overlap phenomenologically with pathological states. This article argues that the model presented in the book, while compelling, could be strengthened by extending it to include discussion not only of the cognitive association between religious experiences and mental disorders, but also about how religious cognitions can similarly be associated with mental wellness. Such occurrences are seen, for example, in the positive mental health outcomes that can be associated with the religious/spiritual experiences of mystics, in contrast to the negative outcomes experienced by psychotics.
Bulmer and the historical sensibility

Martin Bulmer made distinguished and groundbreaking contributions to the history of sociology, particularly in his classic study of the Chicago School, which spanned the era of personal memory and ...
Instrumental conditioning of blood pressure elevations in the baboon

Two adult male baboons were surgically prepared with arterial catheters which provided a continuous measure of blood pressure and heart rate. Environmental consequences (food and electric shock) were made contingent upon prespecified increases in diastolic blood pressure levels. Continued exposure to these contingencies resulted in substantial increases in both diastolic and systolic pressures. The results demonstrated that blood pressure changes are highly susceptible to both operant“shaping” and stimulus control procedures and extend the range of instrumental conditioning effects upon the cardiovascular system.
Tissue-specific expansion of uridine pools in mice: Effects of benzylacyclouridine, dipyridamole and exogenous uridine

The concentration of uridine (Urd) in murine tissues appears to be controlled by Urd catabolism, concentrative Urd transport, and the non-concentrative, facilitated diffusion of Urd. Previous reports document the tissue-specific disruption of these processes, and subsequently intracellular pools of free Urd in mice, by the administration of exogenous Urd (250 mg/kg) or the Urd phosphorylase (EC 2.4.2.3; uracil:ribose-1-phosphate phosphotransferase) inhibitor 5-benzylacyclouridine (BAU) (240 mg/kg). We now report the effect of combinations of BAU (120 mg/kg, p.o.), the nucleoside transport inhibitor dipyridamole (DP) (25 mg/kg, i.p.), and exogenous Urd (250 mg/kg, i.v.) on Urd pools in mice. This dose of BAU increased Urd pools 2- to 6-fold, in a tissue-specific manner, for up to 5 hr. DP increased Urd pools 3-fold in spleen, over a 4-hr period, but did not affect other tissues. Administration of BAU 1 hr prior to exogenous Urd resulted in a 50- to 100-fold expansion of tissue normal after 6 hr. Administration of DP 1 hr prior to exogenous Urd caused a tissue-specific 40- to 100-fold increase in Urd pools which, except in spleen, returned to normal within 2 hr. The marked additive effects of these combinations were in contrast to those obtained following the administration of BAU 1 hr prior to DP. This regimen increased Urd pools from 4- to 9-fold, in a tissue-specific manner. In addition, Urd pools remained elevated for up to 9 hr, except in spleen where the Urd concentration was elevated for up to 15 hr. Analysis of enzyme activities indicated that DP does not enhance the inhibitory effect of BAU against murine liver Urd phosphorylase. However, DP did inhibit plasma clearance of BAU, and this effect may partially explain the apparent synergistic effect of this combination. In spite of the prolonged and dramatic expansion of tissue Urd pools produced by BAU + DP, the total Ura nucleotide content in spleen, gut and colon tumor 38 (CT38) increased by less than 70% over a 12-hr period following administration of this combination. These findings are discussed in light of their biochemical and therapeutic implications.
Peeling the Onion: Legacy Lawsuit Litigation and Act 779 of 2012

The oil and gas industry has a long history in Louisiana, beginning with the first production well drilled in the state in 1901. However, the first comprehensive environmental regulations for oil and gas exploration and production in Louisiana did not appear until 1986. During the intervening years, production and exploration activity led to environmental damage of surface land and underground water sources that production companies are hesitant to remediate. Landowners, with little other alternative, are forced to seek redress for the environmental damage in the courts through litigation labeled by some, somewhat pejoratively, as legacy lawsuits. This paper discusses the statutory and jurisprudential underpinnings of environmental remediation actions for damages resulting from this production and exploration activity and examines the procedural changes made by Act 779 of the 2012 Regular Legislative Session. This act, codified as Louisiana Revised Statutes 30:29(B)(6), includes provisions that supplant the ordinary pretrial procedure that has hitherto governed these environmental remediation actions. The statute makes available a preliminary hearing procedure for defendants in such suits that amounts to an extra procedural defense. The preliminary hearing procedure is cumulative to existing procedure and enables a defendant to bifurcate the action without the plaintiff’s consent. As new law, appellate review of dismissals under the new procedure remains speculative at best. The new pretrial procedure thus represents a further shift against the property rights of plaintiffs in environmental remediation actions originating from oil and gas operations.
Mechanical properties of gastrointestinal smooth muscle

The sections in this article are: 1 Classic Mechanical Characterization of Muscle 1.1 Controlling the Conditions of Contraction 2 Mechanism of Contraction of Skeletal Muscle 2.1 Basic Concepts of Skeletal Muscle Contraction 3 Classic Mechanical Concepts Applied to Smooth Muscle 3.1 Isometric Mechanical Behavior 3.2 Isotonic Mechanical Behavior 3.3 Other Special Mechanical Considerations 4 Comparative Aspects of Smooth Muscle Mechanical Properties 5 Experimental Approaches to Gastrointestinal Muscle Mechanics 5.1 Direct Study of Gut Movements and Motility 5.2 Study of Isolated Muscle Preparations 5.3 Instrumentation Used to Study Smooth Muscle Mechanics 6 Mechanical Properties of Gastrointestinal Smooth Muscle 6.1 Isometric Properties 6.2 Isotonic Properties 6.3 Relaxation of Smooth Muscle 7 Appendix 7.1 Intuitive Approach to Behavior of Viscoelastic Systems
Learning to Read the Mother Tongue: On Sandra Gilbert's "Blood Pressure"

IN PERHAPS HER BEST book of poems, Adrienne Rich claims only to dream of a language common to women. I believe that Sandra Gilbert's poetry has begun to realize that language. As Gilbert and prose co-author Susan Gubar recognize, the predominantly patriarchal language of literary art attempts to establish and preserve the high seriousness of that art. In our century such a language has favored a formal, often grave tonality, what M. L. Rosenthal and Sally M. Gall have termed "elegiac fatalism." Certainly there are exceptions to this voice, but most English language poetry of the last hundred years is marked by threnody, emotional armor ing, a predilection for the morose and melancholy, and a repudiation of any language more colloquial, female, or even youthful than itself. Beyond all else the adult male writer must seem "mature," beyond childhood. He must forsake the "mother tongue," a language which editors have coun seled against in serious writing, and certainly in poetry. Consciously or not, women have struggled to adopt the long-reigning idiom of the "strong," clearly adult male in order to succeed in the literary community.
Effects of hydroxyurea and 6-mercaptopurine on growth and some aspects of carbohydrate metabolism in regenerating and neoplastic liver.

Previous observations have shown changes in several pathways of carbohydrate metabolism in a variety of hepatomas. Glycogen levels and the activities of the glycolytic enzymes causing the phosphorylation of glucose and fructose 6-phosphate were chosen as important examples of such changes, and a study was made to observe how closely the alterations were related to changes in growth rate. Growth in regenerating and neoplastic liver of rats was measured by the increase in tissue weight and by DNA synthesis. Daily administration of hydroxyurea (250 or 1000 mg/kg) and 6-mercaptopurine (10 or 45 mg/kg) had a greater effect on the inhibition of DNA synthesis than on liver weight or liver/body weight ratios for regenerating liver. The depletion of glycogen in this tissue either was not affected or was increased by administration of the two compounds. The high dose level of 6-mercaptopurine blocked the increase in the activity of low-Km hexokinase in regenerating liver. Hydroxyurea was a very effective inhibitor of thymidine-3H incorporation into DNA in four hepatoma lines (7800, 5123-D, 7777, and 3924-A). Time-course studies showed a rapid recovery from the inhibition of DNA synthesis. The administration of six injections of hydroxyurea (1000 mg/kg) at 5-hr intervals was found to cause a 30% reduction in DNA concentration and a 27% decrease in phosphofructokinase activity in hepatoma 7777. A significant reduction in low-Km hexokinase activity was also observed. Under the conditions used, no tendency was observed for a restoration of high-Km glucokinase activity in hepatomas after a decrease in growth rate.
Revisiting warfarin dosing using machine learning techniques

Determining the appropriate dosage of warfarin is an important yet challenging task. Several prediction models have been proposed to estimate a therapeutic dose for patients. The models are either clinical models which contain clinical and demographic variables or pharmacogenetic models which additionally contain the genetic variables. In this paper, a new methodology for warfarin dosing is proposed. The patients are initially classified into two classes. The first class contains patients who require doses of >30 mg/wk and the second class contains patients who require doses of ≤30 mg/wk. This phase is performed using relevance vector machines. In the second phase, the optimal dose for each patient is predicted by two clinical regression models that are customized for each class of patients. The prediction accuracy of the model was 11.6 in terms of root mean squared error (RMSE) and 8.4 in terms of mean absolute error (MAE). This was 15% and 5% lower than IWPC and Gage models (which are the most widely used models in practice), respectively, in terms of RMSE. In addition, the proposed model was compared with fixed-dose approach of 35 mg/wk, and the model proposed by Sharabiani et al. and its outperformance were proved in terms of both MAE and RMSE.
The effects of surface plasma treatment on dielectric properties of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) film

The effects of CF/sub 4/, O/sub 2/, and CF/sub 4/(96%)-O/sub 2/(4%) gas plasmas, following exposure for 4 and 16 min, on the dielectric properties of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) films were investigated. No significant changes were observed with the exception of CF/sub 4/-O/sub 2/ plasma, where reductions in the breakdown strength ( approximately 15%), dielectric constant (6-9%), and electrical conductivity were found. Consistent with the higher content of beta phase in a clear film than in a hazy film, higher values of breakdown strength ( approximately 9%), dielectric constant (5-15%), and dissipation factor ( approximately 20%) were measured for the clear film. >
The effects of sexual harassment severity and organizational policy and response on juror damage awards

OF THE THESIS THE EFFECTS OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT SEVERITY AND ORGANIZATIONAL POLICY AND RESPONSE ON JUROR DAMAGE AWARDS
IMPACT OF SURGICAL VENTRICULAR RECONSTRUCTION ON SPHERICITY INDEX IN PATIENTS WITH ISCHEMIC CARDIOMYOPATHY: FOLLOW-UP FROM STICH TRIAL

Sphericity index (SI) is a well-known predictor for the geometrical change of the left ventricle (LV) and long-term survival. We sought to evaluate how baseline SI affected clinical outcome and was altered after coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) with or without surgical ventricular
Animal-to-man transmission of antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella: investigations of U.S. outbreaks, 1971-1983

The importance and origin of antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella infections were examined in 52 outbreaks investigated by the Centers for Disease Control between 1971 and 1983. The case fatality rate was higher for patients infected with antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella (4.2 percent) than for those with antimicrobial-sensitive infections (0.2 percent). In the 38 outbreaks with identified sources, food animals were the source of 11 (69 percent) of 16 resistant and 6 (46 percent) of 13 sensitive outbreak strains.
Identifying the best companies for leaders: does it lead to higher returns?

Since 2002, Chief Executive magazine, in conjunction with the Hay Group, has published a list of the Top 20 Companies for Leaders. In this paper, we examine the performance of those companies listed as being the best for leaders. We examine the announcement impact on share price associated with the press releases for firms included in the list and holding period returns between subsequent survey releases. While we generally do not find a significant difference in the performance of the Best Leader sample compared with either the market or the matched sample, we do find that the Best Leader sample outperforms other benchmarks on a raw and risk-adjusted basis during times of high market volatility. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Drop-weight impact tests and finite element modeling of cast acrylic plates

Abstract Low-velocity impact tests on cast acrylic (PMMA) plates were conducted using an instrumented drop-weight impact machine under various temperatures. Radial cracks were induced and the impact force histories were recorded. Results indicated that there was a glass transition temperature of cast acrylic between 185 and 200 °F. Ultrasonic assessments on the impacted acrylic plates were then performed using different transducers. Focused transducers provided more accurate results than flat ones. In addition, the higher the ultrasound frequency, the better the resolution. Finally, the drop-weight impact responses were simulated using LS-DYNA. Two node-splitting techniques, sudden releasing and stepwise releasing, based on maximum tensile stress failure criterion, were implemented for this study. The maximum tensile stress failure criterion was adopted to capture the onset of crack initiation and crack propagation. The node release methods enabled us to calculate the strain energy release rates of cast acrylic. Numerical simulations were compared with experimental results and good agreements were achieved.
Specificity of adenine binding to lima bean lectin

Abstract The interactions between lima bean lectin (LBL) and adenine were examined using a series of synthetic purine analogs. Binding was sensitive to modification at most positions of the purine ring, suggesting a high degree of specificity for adenine binding. Methylation ofthe 6 NH 2 -group to MeNH-, Me 2 N- and Me 3 N + -analogs progressively decreased the binding affinity. Compounds lacking the 6 NH 2 -group were not bound. Methylation of adenine at N 1 , N 3 or N 7 also inhibited binding, indicating specific interactions with these ring nitrogens. In contrast to the previous report that N 9 -substituted adenines, nucleosides and nucleotides were not bound [Roberts, D. D. and Goldstein, I. J. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 13820], 9-methyl- and 9-benzyl-substituted adenines were bound to LBL with high affinity. Substitutions at C-2 and C-8 were tolerated and, in some cases, increased the affinity of binding to LBL. Heterotropic interactions between the adenine and 1,8-anilinonaphthalenesulphonate binding sites were also sensitive to modification of the purine ring. 2-Methylthioadenine and 4-aminopyrazolo[3,4- d ]pyrimidine showed increased allosteric interaction with 1,8-anilinonaphthalenesulphonate binding, whereas several adenine analogs with a 9- p -nitrobenzyl substituent appeared to be negative effectors of 1,8-anilinonaphthalenesulphonate binding.
A Self-Supporting University Statistical Consulting Center

Abstract The Biometry Consulting Laboratory at the University of Minnesota is, except for rent and utilities, entirely self-supporting. This fact has led to policies and a style of management not required of a line-item academic statistical service unit. The price structure, problems of bill collecting, guidelines for scheduling and meeting deadlines, and techniques for maintaining morale of graduate student workers are given.
Deposition of Small Organic Molecules by the Displacement of Two Immiscible Supercritical Phases

A new coating process is described (deposition from two immiscible supercritical phases, or DISP) in which a solution of supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) with a desired solute is displaced by supercritical helium (scHe). After depressurization, the solute is deposited on substrates initially submerged in the coating solvent. Micron-sized particles and thin films of sucrose octaacetate (SOA) were formed on silicon wafer substrate coupons from DISP at relatively low temperatures and pressures ( or = 1.5 wt % at 4500 psi). Particle sizes decreased with increasing displacement velocity and increasing pressure. Estimates of characteristic times for diffusion and nucleation indicate that DISP is a diffusion-limited process. Optical microscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to characterize film morphology, including defect formations and film roughness. Highly uniform films with low root-mean-square (RMS) roughness (approximately 10 angstroms) were obtained at a low displacement velocity of 0.0035 cm/s, while ring-like defect structures were observed in films deposited at a higher displacement velocity of 0.035 cm/s. The film thickness and morphology of the films deposited from DISP were compared with films from normal dip coating with typical organic solvents (acetone and toluene). Films deposited from scCO2 by DISP were much thicker, more uniform, and exhibited much fewer drying defects and lower RMS roughness compared with films from the organic solvents.
Towards explicitly elastic programming frameworks

It is a widely held view that software engineers should not be "burdened" with the responsibility of making their application components elastic; and that elasticity should be either be implicit and automatic in the programming framework; or that it is the responsibility of the cloud provider's operational staff (DevOps) to make distributed applications written for dedicated clusters elastic and execute them on cloud environments.In this paper, we argue the opposite -- we present a case for explicit elasticity, where software engineers are given the flexibility to explicitly engineer elasticity into their distributed applications. We present several scenarios where elasticity retrofitted to applications by DevOps is ineffective, present preliminary empirical evidence that explicit elasticity improves efficiency, and argue for elastic programming languages and frameworks to reduce programmer effort in engineering elastic distributed applications. We also present a bird's eye view of ongoing work on two explicitly elastic programming frameworks -- ElasticThrift (based on Apache Thrift [6]) and ElasticJava, an extension of Java with support for explicit elasticity.
The effects of calcium channel blocking drugs on the thermotropic behavior of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine.

Abstract The effects of four calcium channel blocking drugs, diltiazem, verapamil, nimodipine and nisodlipine, on the main phase transition of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine have been studied by high resolution differential scanning calorimetry. In all cases, the phase transition temperature is lowered, through much more effectively by nimodipine and nisoldipine than by the other two drugs. Nimodipine and nisoldipine markedly reduce the enthalpy of transition while diltiazem and verapamil have no significant effect on the enthalpy within the drug concentration range studied. Analysis of the data in terms of ideal solution theory is presented. X-ray and neutron scattering studies indicate that nimodipine and verapamil differ significantly with respect to their location within a lipid bilayer, and this difference suggests a partial rationalization of the experimental results presented here.
Traplining by purple-throated carib hummingbirds: behavioral responses to competition and nectar availability

We examined the effects of nectar availability and competition on foraging preferences and revisit intervals of traplining female purple-throated caribs hummingbirds (Eulampis jugularis) to Heliconia patches shared by two individuals or visited solely by one individual. Birds at both shared and solitary patches preferred multiflowered to single-flowered inflorescences, but the magnitude of this preference depended on food availability and competition. During a year of low flower availability, females visited multiflowered inflorescences more frequently than single-flowered inflorescences only when nectar availability was experimentally enhanced; similarly, females at shared patches exhibited a significant preference for multiflowered inflorescences only after experimental increases in nectar availability. Experimental manipulations of nectar availability also had different effects on revisit intervals of birds at shared vs solitary patches. Birds at shared patches responded to patch-wide increases in nectar rewards by increasing the duration of their visit intervals, whereas birds at solitary patches did not. In contrast, birds at solitary patches responded to abrupt losses of nectar at flowers (simulating competition) by decreasing the duration of their visit intervals, whereas a bird at a shared patch did not alter its return interval. The contrasting results between shared vs solitary patches suggest that future studies of traplining behavior should incorporate levels of competition into their design.
Mediterranean Island Voyages

Some of the classical world's most innovative cultures developed on Mediterranean islands, but their earlier human use is poorly known. The islands, particularly those further from the mainland such as Crete and Cyprus, were thought to have been first colonized about 9000 years ago by late Neolithic agriculturalists with domesticated resources. Until about 20 years ago, claims of earlier, pre-Neolithic occupations on any of the islands did not stand up to critical scrutiny ( 1 ), but current investigations are challenging these perceptions. Discoveries on Cyprus, Crete, and some Ionian islands suggest seafaring abilities by pre-Neolithic peoples, perhaps extending back to Neanderthals or even earlier hominins. In Cyprus, Neolithic sites have been documented that are nearly as early as those on the mainland.