cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The dietary bioflavonoid, quercetin, selectively induces apoptosis of prostate cancer cells by down-regulating the expression of heat shock protein 90.

BACKGROUND Human and animal studies have suggested that diet-derived flavonoids, in particular quercetin may play a beneficial role by preventing or inhibiting oncogenesis, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect(s) of quercetin on normal and malignant prostate cells and to identify the target(s) of quercetin's action. METHODOLOGY We addressed this question using cells in culture and investigated whether quercetin affects key biological processes responsible for tumor cell properties such as cell proliferation and apoptosis and also studied the effect of quercetin on the proteome of prostate cancer cells using difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE) to assess changes in the expression of relevant proteins. RESULTS Our findings demonstrate that quercetin treatment of prostate cancer cells results in decreased cell proliferation and viability. Furthermore, we demonstrate that quercetin promotes cancer cell apoptosis by down-regulating the levels of heat shock protein (Hsp) 90. Depletion of Hsp90 by quercetin results in decreased cell viability, levels of surrogate markers of Hsp90 inhibition (intracellular and secreted), induced apoptosis and activation of caspases in cancer cells but not in normal prostate epithelial cells. Knockdown of Hsp90 by short interfering RNA also resulted in induction apoptosis similar to quercetin in cancer cells as indicated by annexin V staining. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that quercetin down-regulates the expression of Hsp90 which, in turn, induces inhibition of growth and cell death in prostate cancer cells while exerting no quantifiable effect on normal prostate epithelial cells. Prostate © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Quality of Service performance of the Best-M OFDMA feedback strategy

Quality of Service (QoS) is an important performance indicator for any technique intended for its inclusion in commercial systems, as the provided service must fulfil the customers minimum demands. Several indicators for QoS are available in the literature, where the Symbol Error Rate (SER) outstands as one of the most important ones due to its large relations to correct symbols detection as well as to the achieved throughput. The Best-M feedback scheme has been proposed as an interesting technique for its use in Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) systems, mainly because of its data rate and feedback performance. This paper will study its QoS performance providing the SER closed form expressions to indicate the effect of the number of users, the operating SNR and/or the available number of feedback bits on the offered QoS. The performance of the proposed scheme is also presented via computer simulations where interesting conclusions are obtained.
Structural annealing of carbon coated aligned multi-walled carbon nanotube sheets

Abstract Sheets of aligned multi-walled carbon nanotubes (AMWCNTs) were used to study the structural annealing of pyrolytic carbon (PyC) coatings with various thicknesses on MWCNTs. PyC was deposited using chemical vapor infiltration and the thickness was controlled via the infiltration time. Structural annealing of the PyC coated AMWCNT (AMWCNT/C) sheets at 2150 °C provided different results for different thickness coatings. Transmission electron microscopy images showed that the carbon deposited from acetylene formed laminar PyC coatings, resembling rough tube walls, on the CNT surfaces. Following the high temperature heat treatment, coatings from short PyC deposition times changed their structure, resulting in radial growth of the MWCNTs. Raman and X-ray diffraction measurements also revealed that the radially grown MWCNTs had graphitic quality very close to pristine nanotubes after annealing. Electrical conductivity of AMWCNT/C sheets after high temperature heat treatment was twice that of pristine AMWCNT sheets. The focus of this study was to determine the PyC coating thickness at which a rough PyC coating would no longer change its structure into new CNT walls. The samples treated longer than 30 min had much more disordered PyC deposited on the surface and the additional material did not form additional tube walls after thermal annealing.
A direct approach to Orlicz–Sobolev capacity

Abstract This paper is motivated by Federer and Ziemer's potential-free approach to Sobolev capacity. We extend their results to Orlicz–Sobolev spaces and analyze the resulting notion of Orlicz–Sobolev capacity. In particular, we explore the relationship between the Orlicz–Sobolev capacity of a set and its Hausdorff dimension and then establish the quasicontinuity of Orlicz–Sobolev functions.
The Limits of Deliberation in a Perceptual Decision Task

SUMMARY While it is commonly assumed that decisions taken slowly result in superior outcomes, is it possible thatoptimaldecisionmakingdoesnotalwaysrequire sacrificing speed? For odor categorization decisions, it was previously shown that rats use <300 ms regardless of difficulty, but these findings could be interpreted as a tradeoff of accuracy for speed. Here, by systematically manipulating the task contingencies, we demonstrate that this is the maximum time over which sampling time can improve accuracy. Furthermore, we show that decision accuracy increases at no temporal cost when rats can better anticipate either the identity of stimuli or the required timing of responses. These experiments suggest that uncertainty in odor category decisions arises from noise sources that fluctuate slowly from trial-to-trial rather than rapidly within trials and that category decisions in other species and modalities might likewise be optimally served by rapid choices.
Acellular scaffolding for vascular tissue-engineering in a canine model

Abstract Introduction: We are presently investigating acellular venous tissue as a bioscaffold to be recellularized with the recipient’s own cells prior to implantation. This study tests the biocompatibility and mechanical stability of this construct in terms of graft patency, acute dilatation and rupture, the ability to achieve and maintain hemostasis and resist infection in a canine model. Methods: Twenty-six carotid interposition grafts were constructed using 13 mongrel dogs. Graft material was obtained from the external jugular veins of the same 13 animals (14 autografts, 4 acellular autografts, 4 allografts, and 4 acellular allografts). Decellularization was performed using 0.075% SDS. At two weeks, each graft was evaluated for evidence of gross patency and dilatation, and perfusion fixed for detailed histological and immunohistochemical analyses (H&E, Factor VIII, smooth muscle actin, and inflammatory markers). Morphometric analysis of the cells present in 20 random high-powered fields (hpf) was conducted at the graft’s midpoint. Healing response was further characterized by evaluation of graft incorporation into surrounding tissues and recellularization at the anastamotic sites. Results: All animals survived without neurologic deficit with 100% patency, and no dilatation or rupture. There were no clinically significant infections. The quantified inflammatory reaction was significantly greater in fresh allografts compared to acellular allografts, acellular autografts and fresh autografts: 59 ± 24 vs 19 ± 15, 27 ± 18 or 19 ± 8 cells/hpf, respectively, P 0.05. Fresh autografts also retained endothelial and smooth muscle cells, which were absent in decellularized grafts at implantation and at two weeks. Conclusions: We have previously shown sufficient strength, the ability to support endothelial cells, preserved extracellular collagen and elastin, and reduced allosensitization. Acellular venous scaffolding also appears to avoid acute dilatation or rupture, maintain hemostasis and remain free of infectious complications. It is our hope that this may improve the overall utility and functionality of autologous cell seeding and continue to remodel as the recipient’s new blood vessel in vivo.
Germination Inhibitor from the Cellular Slime Mould Dictyostelium discoideum

A SPORE germination inhibitor has been separated from the cellular slime mould Dictyostelium discoideum and some of its physical and chemical properties analysed. It has been previously reported that if two species of slime mould were plated out on non-nutrient agar in the presence of Escherichia coli as the food source only one of the species would grow1; the second species appeared to be completely inhibited. Using this method, the following hierarchy of inhibition was established: D. purpureum (No. 2) > Polysphondylium violaceum (No. 6) > D. discoideum (No. 1) > D. mucoroides (No. 2) > D. mucoroides (No. 6) > D. mucoroides (petite). This hierarchy of inhibition was attributed to the presence of an inhibitor which prevented the germination of the spores, because washing the spores with distilled water annulled the inhibition. Further studies indicated that the competition did result from an inhibitor and that this inhibitor was the same within the same species but that inhibition of growth of another genera of slime moulds occurred at a stage other than germination of spores2. D. purpureum (No. 2) inhibited the growth of P. violaceum (No. 6). The restriction on growth occurred at aggregation stage; the amoebae of D. purpureum prevented the aggregation of the amoebae of P. violaceum. Similar results have been reported by others3,4.
On the nonidentifiability property of Archimedean copula models under dependent censoring

Abstract In this paper, we prove a peculiar property shared by the Archimedean copula models, that is, different Archimedean copula models with distinct dependent levels can have the same crude survival functions for dependent censored data. This property directly shows the nonidentifiability property of the Archimedean copula models. The proposed procedure is then demonstrated by two examples.
Inhibition of DNA synthesis by cycloheximide and blasticidin-s is independent of their effect on protein synthesis

The effects of cycloheximide and related glutarimide antibiotics on DNA synthesis in Achlya bisexualis Coker and A. Couch were compared to those of other protein synthesis inhibitors, puromycin, p-fluorophenylalanine and blasticidin-S. The inhibitors had no significant effects on intrahyphal pool sizes of dTTP, dCTP, ATP, UTP and CTP, nor on the specific activity of the dTTP pool labelled by [3H] thymidine. DNA was the sole acid-insoluble product of [3H]-thymidine incorporation. Cycloheximide, isocycloheximide, streptimidone and blasticidin-S inhibited DNA synthesis rapidly and completely and anhydrocycloheximide was less effective. Cycloheximide acetate, puromycin and p-fluorophenylalanine did not inhibit DNA synthesis. It is concluded that the effects of the several glutarimide antibiotics and of blasticidin-S on DNA synthesis were independent of their effects on protein synthesis.
On Logarithmic Penalty in Adaptive Pointwise Estimation and Blockwise Wavelet Shrinkage

A logarithmic penalty in adaptive pointwise estimation of a nonparametric regression function is one of the most intriguing and, at the same time, poorly understood statistical phenomena. This article uses computational, visualization, and theoretical methods to shed new light on where and how the penalty strikes in popular wavelet estimates.
EFFECT OF POSTMORTEM BONING TIMES ON BEEF STORAGE QUALITY

Measurements relating to appearance, bacterial populations, tenderness, and flavor were made on samples of longissmus dorsi muscle from matched hot boned and conventionally chilled halves of beef during 20 days of storage. Slower bacterial growth, higher tyrosine values, darker color, and higher creatine content were observed in hot boned meat than conventionally chilled meat throughout the storage period. Muscle fragmentation in hot boned meat increased during storage. Initially, hot boned meat had lower muscle fragmentation than did conventionally chilled meat, but by the end of storage the muscle fragmentations were approximately equal for both treatments. Creatinine and pH were approximately equal for both treatments.
The role of the nurse practitioner in autologous chondrocyte implantation of the knee

Summary This paper provides an overview of autologous chondrocyte implantation for the repair of full-thickness articular cartilage defects in the knee, the benefits and risks associated with the procedure, financial considerations, issues surrounding the surgery, and the role of the nurse practitioner. The procedure was first introduced in the United States (US) in 1995 with subsequent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval in 1997. It is one of the newest treatments available to orthopaedic patients who suffer from articular cartilage damage. When deciding on whether the procedure is appropriate for the patient a number of factors need to be considered, including the patient's financial state. The nurse practitioner plays a key role in evaluating patients, providing education, assisting in surgery, and providing post-operative care.
Lawyers, Organized Interests, and the Law of Obscenity: Agenda Setting in the Supreme Court

Each year thousands of cases and litigants come to the Supreme Court. How can the Court find the most important cases to decide? The law of obscenity illustrates particularly well the Court's problem as it constructs its plenary agenda. Using data drawn from petitions for certiorari and jurisdictional statements filed with the Supreme Court from 1955 to 1987, we formulate and test a model of case selection in which professional obscenity lawyers and organized interests figure as critical elements in the process of agenda building. We also encounter strong evidence of the Court's differential treatment of several different litigants. Moreover, the calculus of selection changed markedly over time, as the Court itself changed; the Burger Court and Warren Court weighed several of the criteria quite differently.
Sensitometric Characteristics of Hardened Dichromated-Gelatin Films

A method is described to characterize the effect of 4880-A light on a thin layer of hardened dichromated gelatin in terms of the dielectric constant of the gelatin. The light diffracted by a periodic variation of the dielectric constant of a thin layer is calculated numerically and plotted as a function of the relevant parameters of the thin layer. The change of the dielectric constant of the thin layer of gelatin after exposure to 4880-A light is obtained by comparing experimentally obtained data with the calculated data.
Selective delignification of wood by white-rot fungi

The white-rot fungi,Cerrena unicolor, Ganoderma applanatum, G. tsugae,Ischnoderma resinosum, andPerenniporia medullapanis, caused two distinct types of decay. Large areas of decayed wood were selectively delignified and a typical white-rot causing a simultaneous removal of all cell wall components was present.
Nonpharmacologic factors in the development of posttreatment nausea with adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer

A prospective, longitudinal design was used to determine the role of nonpharmacologic factors in the development of posttreatment nausea (PTN). Forty-five women with no previous chemotherapy experience who were receiving a single regimen of adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer were interviewed before and after their first six infusions. Seventy-one percent of patients developed PTN. The PTN was related to the following: patients' physical status at the onset of treatment; heightened anxiety during infusions; susceptibility to nausea and vomiting after eating certain foods; and expectations of developing chemotherapy-related nausea. Anxiety during infusions, susceptibility to nausea and vomiting, and expectations of side effects also accounted for differences in the frequency, intensity, and severity of PTN. These findings offer strong support for the view that nonpharmacologic factors contribute to individual differences in gastrointestinal responses to chemotherapy.
Fluctuation driven transport and models of molecular motors and pumps.

Non-equilibrium fluctuations can drive vectorial transport along an anisotropic structure in an isothermal medium by biasing the effect of thermal noise (k B T). Mechanisms based on this principle are often called Brownian ratchets and have been invoked as a possible explanation for the operation of biomolecular motors and pumps. We discuss the thermodynamics and kinetics for the operation of microscopic ratchet motors under conditions relevant to biology, showing how energy provided by external fluctuations or a non-equilibrium chemical reaction can cause unidirectional motion or uphill pumping of a substance. Our analysis suggests that molecular pumps such as Na,K-ATPase and molecular motors such as kinesin and myosin may share a common underlying mechanism.
Object attachment and the critical period

Well past normally accepted critical periods, social isolation and darkness appear to contribute to the process that leads to a bird-object attachment.
Cavity dark states for quantum computing

We show that two multilevel atoms can perform quantum communication with each other via interaction with an enclosing cavity containing no photons. The physical mechanism is analogous to the way populations can be exchanged between the extremal states in a three level system via adiabatic following, without populating the intermediate states. The combined system of the two atoms, the cavity, and two laser beams contains a dark state corresponding to the cavity in its ground state. Using a counter-intuitive pulse sequence, quantum information can be transferred adiabatically from one atom to the other via this cavity dark state. This process can be used to circumvent the effect of cavity decay in a quantum computer formed by cavity interconnected qubits.
An improved society of hill-climbers and its application on batch process scheduling

Society of Hill-Climbers (SOHC) is a kind of powerful evolutionary optimization algorithm for a large range of problems. But the performance of the algorithm is sensitive to the mutation rate, which must be determined by the user based on the problem. In this study, the performance of SOHC with different mutation rate was evaluated on a series of large numerical problems and mutation rates robust for all the problems tested were identified. Then the algorithm was applied to an important type of optimization problem, the scheduling problem of batch process. The results show that SOHC is a very versatile and powerful method for solving the batch process scheduling problems and is superior to the widely used simulated annealing.
Attitudes toward post-earthquake water and sanitation management and payment options in Leogane, Haiti

The Haitian government passed a law in 2009 to decentralize water utility management and improve cost recovery. This study identifies the attitudes of the public towards payment for and management of water and sanitation, several months after the 2010 earthquake, through a survey (N = 171) and semi-structured interviews (N = 19) in Leogane, Haiti. A majority of survey respondents were willing to pay for water and sanitation, which aligns with the fee-based approach of the 2009 law. Significant differences were found between geographic locations, suggesting that a neighbourhood-level approach to water and sanitation is appropriate.
Age-associated decline in cardiac allograft rejection

The influence of age on cardiac allograft rejection was studied in 57 consecutive recipients. Twenty-one subjects were 54 years of age or older (mean, 57.7 +/- 0.6 years [+/- SEM]; range, 54 to 63 years) and 36 subjects were 52 years of age or younger (mean, 39.9 +/- 1.8 years; range, 16 to 52 years; p less than 0.001). The older recipients had fewer rejection episodes during the first four months following cardiac transplantation (0.24 +/- 0.05 episodes per month versus 0.72 +/- 0.09 episodes per month; p less than 0.001) and during the total duration of follow-up (0.20 +/- 0.03 episodes per month versus 0.40 +/- 0.07 episodes per month; p = 0.045), and experienced their first rejection episode later (50.4 +/- 4.0 days versus 27.7 +/- 8.5 days; p = 0.008). Younger age was found to add significantly as a predictor of rejection in a multivariate analysis that controlled for sex, immunosuppressive agents, cause of heart failure, and pretransplantation lymphocyte cross-match status (r = 0.64, p less than 0.05). Decreased rejection frequency occurred without a concomitant increase in the serious infection rate (67 percent in both groups). The 12-month actuarial survival was 100 percent in the older group and 94 percent in the younger group (p = NS). Decreased rejection in the older recipients is likely a manifestation of an age-associated decline in immune function and might represent an advantage in transplantation for carefully selected older patients.
Agreement of stochastic soliton formalism with second-quantized and configuration-space models

The stochastic theory presented by Drummond, Gardiner, and Walls [Phys. Rev. A 24, 914 (1981)] is an interesting approach to problems in quantum optics. In this theory, an exact, quantum evolution is written in terms of classical functions (not operators) driven by explicit, quantum noise. We examine the origin of uncertainty in the formalism through the simple example of a single, nonlinear oscillator. We then test the stochastic theory applied to the problem of soliton propagation. We extend the linearized stochastic model by computing analytically quantum uncertainties in the four basic soliton parameters: photon number, momentum, phase, and position. Agreement with second-quantized and configuration-space soliton theories verifies the stochastic formalism.
THE KINETICS OF STARVATION

1. The loss of weight in pigeons subjected to prolonged starvation on water alone may be accurately represented by an appropriate form of the law of autocatakinesis. 2. This function, within proper limitations, gives a definite indication as to the nature and character of the fundamental reactions involved. In addition, it provides quantitative measures of the relative progress and importance of these reactions. 3. Analytically, the process of starvation consists of two nearly symmetrical cycles, corresponding chemically to the destruction of the carbohydrate-fat reserves and to the decomposition of body protein. 4. A suitable transformation overcoming certain difficulties inherent in the general form of the law is discussed and applied to the data reported.
Molecular Signatures of Enzyme−Solid Interactions: Thermodynamics of Protein Binding to α-Zr(IV) Phosphate Nanoplates

Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) was used to determine the thermodynamics of protein binding to the nanoplates of α-Zr(HPO4)2·H2O (α-ZrP). The binding constants (Kb) and ΔG, ΔH, and ΔS have been evaluated for a small set of proteins, and Kb values are in the range of 2−760 × 105 M−1. The binding of positively charged proteins to the negatively charged α-ZrP was endothermic, while the binding of negatively charged proteins was exothermic, and these are contrary to expectations based on a simple electrostatic model. The binding enthalpies of the proteins varied over a range of −24 to +25 kcal/mol, and these correlated roughly with the net charge on the protein (R2 = 0.964) but not with other properties such as the number of basic residues, polar residues, isoelectric point, surface area, or molecular mass. Linear fits to the enthalpy plots indicated that each charge on the protein contributes 1.18 kcal/mol toward the binding enthalpy. Binding entropies of positively charged proteins were favorable (>0...
The aethalometer — An instrument for the real-time measurement of optical absorption by aerosol particles

Abstract We describe an instrument that measures the concentration of optically absorbing aerosol particles in real time. This absorption is normally due to black carbon, which is a good tracer for combustion emission. The minimum resolving times range from seconds in urban environments to minutes in remote locations. We present results obtained during operation on an aircraft. Due to the time resolution capability, we can determine the spatial distributions of absorbing aerosol. From the Greek word “αιϑλoυν,” “to blacken with soot,” we have named this instrument the aethalometer .
Inhibition of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression in tubular epithelium attenuates tubulointerstitial alteration in rat Goodpasture syndrome

Inhibition of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression in tubular epithelium attenuates tubulointerstitial alteration in rat Goodpasture syndrome. Background To examine the role of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expressed by tubular epithelium in tubulointerstitial alterations in situ, the level of MCP-1 mRNA in tubular epithelium was lowered selectively in the rat model of Goodpasture syndrome (GPS). Methods Intravenously administered antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) is taken up by renal tubular epithelium and has been found to block expression of target genes in rats. MCP-1 antisense ODN was injected into GPS rats every second day from days 27 to 35 after immunization (this represents the time when renal MCP-1 mRNA level was increased and interstitial mononuclear cell infiltration was aggravated). Results In addition to a reduction in the level of tubular MCP-1 mRNA, antisense ODN treatment attenuated monocyte infiltration significantly and preserved renal function in GPS rats. However, ODN injection did not affect glomerular MCP-1 expression and glomerular histopathology, and there were no significant changes in the urinary protein excretion rate. Conclusion Our findings provide direct evidence that MCP-1, expressed by tubular epithelium, plays a pivotal role in mediating secondary tubulointerstitial alterations in the GPS model.
Does Kierkegaard think beliefs can be directly willed

In a recent book, Religious Belief and the Will1 Louis Pojman has analyzed and criticized several forms of what he terms volitionalism, which is a position which regards beliefs as under the control of the will. Pojman distinguishes several kinds of volitionalism.2 First, he distinguishes prescriptive from descriptive volitionalism. Prescriptive volitionalism is a normative doctrine which holds that it is permissible, perhaps even obligatory, to will to hold certain beliefs. Descriptive volitionalism is a psychological theory which holds that the will actually does have the power to do this. Pojman also distinguishes direct from indirect volitionalism. Direct volitionalism treats the action by which a belief is formed as a basic action which can simply be willed. Indirect volitionalism regards the formation of a belief as an outcome of doing other actions. Both prescriptive and descriptive volitionalism can be either direct or indirect. In his book Pojman analyzes Kierkegaard as a classic example of volitionalism. He sees Kierkegaard as a direct volitionalist who accepts both descriptive and prescriptive volitionalism. Indeed, Kierkegaard is said to hold the extreme position that all of our beliefs are acquired by direct acts of will.3 Kierkegaard and volitionalists in general are strongly criticized by Pojman on several counts. Direct, descriptive volitionalism is said to run afoul of psychological laws and to involve a conceptual confusion as well.4 While Pojman allows that we can and do modify beliefs indirectly, and thus concedes the truth of indirect, descriptive volitionalism, he claims that prescriptive volitionalism, direct or indirect, is subject to censure. A plausible ethics of belief must see truth-seeking as a strong, prima facie duty,5 but forming a belief through an act of will, which Pojman insists must mean forming it independently of evidential considerations,6 shows a lack of concern for truth. It is in fact a kind of lying to oneself.7
Numerical studies of inversion formulas for diffusion tomography: effects of boundary conditions

We consider the inverse scattering problem for the diffusion equation with general boundary conditions. Computer simulations are used to illustrate our approach in model systems.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Experimental and theoretical study of wave propagation phenomena in drop-on-demand ink jet devices

This paper presents experimental observations and a theoretical analysis of the operation of drop-on-demand piezoelectric ink jet devices. By studying experimentally the dependence of several operating characteristics on the length of the cavity in the nozzle of an ink jet device, we have gained insight into the physical phenomena underlying the operation of such a device. It is concluded that drop-on-demand ink jet phenomena are related to the propagation and reflection of acoustic waves within the ink jet cavity. A simple analysis is carried out on the basis of linear acoustics which is in good agreement with the experimental observations.
Electron impact ionization efficiency curves of van der Waals clusters

The study of van der Waals clusters is an area of growing interest and is being widely studied for a number of reasons. The measurement of the ionization efficiency (IE) curves have yielded a wealth of information by enabling ionization and appearance energies of ions to be determined which are essential for the calculation of thermochemical data. In the case of van der Waals clusters, the measurement ofIE curves enables one to determine the qualitative trends in the ionization potentials as a function of cluster size. In additionIE curves have also offered valuable insight into ionization related processes occurring in clusters. This paper will cover some of the more recent studies of Penning ionization, exciton induced decay and Coulomb explosion in van der Waals clusters through the use of electron impactIE curves.
A Comparison of the Safety and Efficacy of Twice Daily Brimonidine 0.2% Versus Betaxolol 0.25% in Subjects with Elevated Intraocular Pressure

The safety and ocular hypotensive efficacy of twice-daily administration of brimonidine 0.2% solution or betaxolol 0.25% suspension were compared in subjects with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. A total of 206 adult patients were enrolled in a prospective, 3-month, multicentered, randomized, double-masked, parallel-group study. Both drugs significantly (p < 0.001) reduced peak and trough intraocular pressure (IOP) at every scheduled follow-up visit over the 3-month study. At peak, the overall mean decrease from baseline IOP was greater (p = 0.004) in the brimonidine-treated group (5.8 mm Hg) than in the betaxolol-treated group (3.8 mm Hg). At trough, the overall mean decrease from baseline (p < 0.001) was 3.9 mm Hg in the brimonidine-treated group and 3.2 mm Hg in the betaxolol-treated group. The IOP-lowering effect of brimonidine was sustained throughout the 3-month study period. Terminations from the study due to lack of efficacy included 2.9% (3/103) of patients in the brimonidine group and 4.2% (4/96) of those in the betaxolol group. The overall incidence of adverse events was similar in both treatment groups, with the only significant (p = 0.027) between-group difference being that ocular blurring was reported more often by patients receiving betaxolol suspension than by those receiving brimonidine treatment. Instillation of drug was reported to be comfortable (p = 0.036) by more brimonidine-treated patients than betaxolol-treated patients. Overall, brimonidine 0.2% solution was well-tolerated, safe and clinically and statistically more effective than betaxolol 0.25% suspension in lowering intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
A coloring problem

(1991). A Coloring Problem. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 98, No. 6, pp. 530-533.
Incidence of Increased Intraocular Pressure after Keratoplasty

We analyzed the incidence of early and long-term increases in intraocular pressure in 137 eyes that underwent keratoplasty. The overall incidence of early increases in intraocular pressure in aphakic eyes was only slightly less than those found in earlier studies. However, when these aphakic eyes were separated into two groups, one with and one without preoperative glaucoma, 20 of 30 eyes with preoperative glaucoma had early increases whereas only three of 30 without preoperative glaucoma did. The results were similar in eyes that underwent combined procedures.
The Association Between Neighborhood Characteristics and Body Size and Physical Activity in the California Teachers Study Cohort

Objectives. We considered interactions between physical activity and body mass index (BMI) and neighborhood factors.Methods. We used recursive partitioning to identify predictors of low recreational physical activity (< 2.5 hours/week) and overweight and obesity (BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m2) among 118 315 women in the California Teachers Study. Neighborhood characteristics were based on 2000 US Census data and Reference US business listings.Results. Low physical activity and being overweight or obese were associated with individual sociodemographic characteristics, including race/ethnicity and age. Among White women aged 36 to 75 years, living in neighborhoods with more household crowding was associated with a higher probability of low physical activity (54% vs 45% to 51%). In less crowded neighborhoods where more people worked outside the home, the existence of fewer neighborhood amenities was associated with a higher probability of low physical activity (51% vs 46%). Among non–African American middle-aged women, l...
Radiative recombination at low energies

Abstract An exact calculation of the direct radiative recombination (RR) cross section is carried out for the hydrogenic system with one electron, and the result is used to improve Kramers' semiclassical formula, with emphasis on low energies and high Rydberg states. The formula is then extended to include explicitly the angular momentum dependence. The corresponding RR rate coefficient is evaluated at scaled electron temperatures Θ ranging 0≤ Θ ≤1, where Θ = k B T /( Z 2 Ry ), but again emphasizing the low temperature region. The interesting feature of the RR rates is that at low T and high n the capture to high l is important; the l -distribution for given n is approximately Gaussian in shape, with the maximum near l ≃ n /3. This can affect the field ionization of the recombined ions.
Whipple’s disease

The primary aim in treating Whipple’s disease is the eradication of Tropheryma whippelii, a bacillus that infects the small bowel, brain, synovial membranes, heart valves, and many other tissues in patients afflicted with this disease. Antibiotic therapy tends to be prolonged, 1 year or more in duration. If symptoms are primarily gastrointestinal, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is the drug of choice. For patients who are allergic to or intolerant of this medication, a third-generation cephalosporin is used. If presentation also suggests central nervous system involvement, an initial 2-week course of intravenous ceftriaxone, or alternatively a combination of intramuscular benzathine penicillin and streptomycin, should be prescribed prior to a yearlong course with an oral antibiotic. In endocarditis, duration of parental treatment is prolonged to a 6-week course, followed by an oral antibiotic. In rare cases of intolerance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and cephalosporins, oral combination with tetracycline and rifampicin is reasonable. However, close follow-up and monitoring of T. whippelii eradication should be performed with a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based test if tetracycline is used. Knowing whether T. whippelii has been eradicated is also important in a relapse, especially one that involves the central nervous system. Surgery may be performed to remove infected heart valves and joints in rare complicated cases. The role of immunomodulatory treatment is promising but is limited by experience. Nutritional support is a critical part of treatment, especially in patients with diarrhea and weight loss due to malabsorption.
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Pharmacologic treatments and prediction of outcome.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a progressive disorder of the lungs of newborn infants initially involving distal airways, but followed in weeks by the development of abnormalities in all parts of the lung architecture. BPD develops primarily but not exclusively in premature infants. The incidence in the general population has never been assessed accurately in a prospective manner. One retrospectively calculated incidence figure is 1.2 infants per 1,000 total live births per year in the United States (17). With approximately 4 million births annually in North America, there are about 5,000 babies each year who develop BPD. The additional weeks, months, and, in some cases, years of hospitalization, the frequent rehospitalizations, and the mortality of 20–50% beyond 1 month of age (17) underscore the disproportionate financial and emotional toll of BPD not only on patients and families but caregivers as well. The glacial rates of improvement in the illness, the frequent setbacks, and the profound disruption to family life all support the contention that BPD is a major public health problem.
Sources and biogeochemical cycling of particulate selenium in the San Francisco Bay estuary

Abstract As part of a study of estuarine selenium cycling, we measured the concentration, chemical form (speciation), and distribution of particulate selenium under various river flow conditions in the North San Francisco Bay (from the Golden Gate to the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers). We also conducted laboratory studies on the accumulation of selenium by phytoplankton, the critical first step in the transformation of dissolved to particulate selenium. Total particulate selenium concentration in the North SF Bay was relatively constant between high and low flow periods, ranging spatially from 0.05 to 0.35 nmol l−1 and comprising between 5 and 12% of the total water column selenium inventory. Mean concentrations were generally highest in the Carquinez Strait–Suisun Bay region (salinity 0–17) and lowest in Central Bay. However, selenium content of suspended particles varied with river flow, with higher content during low flow (9.76 ± 4.17 nmol g−1; mean ± sd; n = 67) compared to high flow (7.10 ± 4.24 nmol g−1; n = 39). Speciation analyses showed that most particulate selenium is organic selenide (45 ± 27%), with a smaller proportion (typically 0.4 μm) is relatively unenriched compared to phytoplankton (13.6–155 nmol g−1 dry weight) on a mass basis, when normalized to carbon or nitrogen, seston contains a similar selenium concentration to SF Bay sediments or phytoplankton cultures. SF Bay seston is thus comprised of selenium-rich phytoplankton and phyto-detritus, but also inorganic clay mineral particles that effectively “dilute” total particulate selenium. Selenium concentrations in algal cultures (11 species) exposed to 90 nmol l−1 selenite show relatively large differences in selenium accumulation, with the diatoms, chlorophytes and cryptophytes generally having lower selenium cell content (3.8 ± 2.7 × 10−9 nmol selenium cell−1) compared to the dinoflagellates (193 ± 73 × 10−9 nmol selenium cell−1). Because phytoplankton are such a rich (but variable) source of selenium, their dynamics could have a profound effect on the particulate selenium inventory in the North SF Bay.
A Review and Critique of the Sexual Experiences Questionnaire (SEQ)

This paper reviews and critiques the Sexual Experiences Questionnaire (SEQ), "... a self-report inventory representing the first attempt to assess the prevalence of sexual harassment in a manner that met traditional psychometric standards" (Fitzgerald, Gelfand, & Drasgow, 1995, p. 427). Widely used by its developers and others as a measure of sexual harassment, the SEQ is not a finished product, has a number of problems, and has weak psychometric properties. Because of inconsistencies (e.g., in time frame, number of items, wording of items), the SEQ lacks the advantages of standardized measures, such as the ability to assess changes over time. It defines sexual harassment very broadly, having the effect of distorting findings about sexual harassment. Most importantly, it is not clear what or whose definition of sexual harassment the SEQ assesses.
The Relationship Between Antecedent Antibiotic Use and Resistance to Extended-Spectrum Cephalosporins in Group I β-Lactamase-Producing Organisms

Gram-negative pathogens are increasingly resistant to extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESCs). Using a prospective, case-controlled observational study, we examined the prevalence and the risk factors for development of resistance to ESCs in group I beta-lactamase-producing organisms. Of the 386 isolates of Enterobacter species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Citrobacter species, and Serratia marsescens from 340 consecutive patients, 70 (18.1%) were resistant to ESCs; the highest rates of resistance were found among Citrobacter freundii (40.9%), Enterobacter cloacae (31.1%), and Enterobacter aerogenes isolates (18.9%). Patients' prior antibiotic use and the mean number of antibiotics used were significantly greater in association with resistant vs. susceptible isolates. Resistance was associated with prior use of ceftizoxime or cefotaxime (P = .008), ceftazidime (P = .004), and piperacillin (P = .001). Other antibiotics were not associated with resistance. Resistance was less frequent in patients receiving ESCs and an aminoglycoside. We conclude that prior use of ESCs is associated with the isolation of resistant group I beta-lactamase-producing organisms. Concomitant use of an aminoglycoside may decrease this risk.
Biomarkers of ovarian function in girls and women with classic galactosemia.

Objective To determine whether premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) associated with classic galactosemia results from a true impairment of ovarian function or from aberrant FSH. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting University research laboratory. Patient(s) Study subjects included 35 girls and women with galactosemia and 43 control girls and women between the ages of Intervention(s) Blood sampling and medical and reproductive histories were obtained. Main Outcome Measurement(s) We determined FSH and anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels in subjects with and without classic galactosemia. FSH bioactivity was measured in a subset of girls and women with and without galactosemia who were not on hormone therapy. Result(s) FSH levels were significantly higher and AMH levels were significantly lower in our galactosemic cases relative to controls. FSH bioactivity did not significantly differ between cases and controls. Conclusion(s) Close to 90% of girls and women with classic galactosemia have a profound absence of ovarian function, a deficit that is evident shortly after birth, if not before. These patients have no evidence of abnormally functioning FSH. AMH levels can be assessed before menarche or after initiation of hormone therapy and may supplement FSH as a useful blood biomarker of ovarian function for patients with classic galactosemia.
Four-year response of underplanted American chestnut (Castanea dentata) and three competitors to midstory removal, root trenching, and weeding treatments in an oak-hickory forest

Abstract American chestnut ( Castanea dentata ) has been killed or reduced to recurrent stump sprouts throughout its range following the importation of multiple pathogens in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Understanding what drives chestnut growth and survival would aid the development of appropriate silvicultural guidelines for restoring the species once blight resistant stock is available. Here we compare the response of planted American and hybrid chestnut seedlings to that of important competitors, northern red oak ( Quercus rubra ), sugar maple ( Acer saccharum ) and red maple ( A. rubrum ), under treatments designed to evaluate the effects of various sources of competition on seedling growth and survival. After four years, American and hybrid chestnut was significantly taller in trenched plots (181.8 ± 12.4 cm; mean ± SE) compared to untrenched plots (127.5 ± 7.9 cm), weeded plots (174.5 ± 12.7 cm) compared to unweeded plots (130.1 ± 6.5 cm) and in midstory removal plots (156.6 ± 7.8) versus full canopy (88.8 ± 11.7 cm), and had outperformed the other species in most competitive environments. Chestnut was the only species to respond to every treatment with significant growth increases, displaying a notable ability to capture growing space when it became available. We suggest that American chestnut restoration may be more successful where early stand management provides chestnut a brief period of reduced competition. Specifically, midstory removal can increase survival and growth of underplanted American chestnut, and when combined with multi-stage shelterwood removals of the overstory and some amount of competition control, may constitute a viable restoration strategy for chestnut in many of the eastern oak-hickory forests where it was originally dominant.
Improving the performance of high voltage LiMn 1.5 Ni 0.5 O 4 cathode material by carbon coating

In this work, the high voltage LiMn1.5Ni0.5O4 cathode material has been synthesized as octadecahedron crystals with a disordered spinel structure and has been coated with a carbon layer from two different precursors (sucrose and Xerogel carbon) to improve its performance in Li-ion batteries. The effect of carbon coating on the physical and electrochemical properties of the crystals has been evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Infrared (IR) and Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), elemental and surface area (BET) analyses and battery cycling at different charge/discharge rates and temperatures. It was found that the amount of carbon, present as a thin layer (5–10 nm) and estimated at <1 w.t.%, causes an increase in electronic conductivity with no effect on crystal structure. Battery results of the cathode material in half cells show that carbon coating greatly improves the discharge capacity, rate capability at room temperature and 60 °C as well as cycling stability. Moreover, the material coated from Xerogel carbon shows the highest capacity at 10 C rate and 60 °C.
Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) binds to thyrotropin-regulated receptors in FRTL-5 cells and increases thyroglobulin mRNA

Abstract Thyrotropin (TSH) regulation of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) receptors was studied in the rat thyroid follicular cell line, FRTL-5. Exposure of FRTL-5 cells to 1 mU/ml TSH for 7 days resulted in a tenfold increase in ANF receptors ( B max = 188 fmol/mg protein) compared with control ( B max = 18 fmol/mg protein), without affecting binding affinity. An identical treatment of porcine thyrocytes with TSH resulted in a 50% decrease in ANF binding sites. Displacement binding studies indicated that > 80% of the ANF receptors in FRTL-5 cells belong to the ANF-R1 (guanylate cyclase-coupled) receptor subtype. By contrast, > 98% of the ANF receptors in porcine thyrocytes were of the ANF-R2, or clearance, receptor subtype. Intracellular cGMP content was increased thirty-sixfold in FRTL-5 cells by 1 μM ANF, but only 2.5-fold in procine thyrocytes. cAMP levels were unaffected by ANF in either cell type. Northern blot analysis of poly A mRNA extracted from FRTL-5 cells incubated 2 days in the presence of 100 nM ANF indicated a twofold increase in thyroglobulin mRNA content compared with control. These findings suggest that the ANF-R1 receptor, preferentially expressed in FRTL-5 cells and regulated by TSH, might play a role in regulating thyroid hormone production.