cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Regulation of hepatic lipoprotein biosynthesis by hormones

To identify key regulatory processes of hepatic lipoprotein production, we studied the effects of hormonal perturbations on lipoprotein biosynthesis in the rat. Insulin administration to cultured hepatocytes inhibits the secretion of triglycerides, and apolipoproteins B and E, but does not alter secretory rates of apoproteins A-I and C-III. Net synthesis of apoB and E is not reduced by the hormone, but the rate of transport of apoB from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi is diminished, and the association of apoB with triglyceride declines, resulting in reduced formation of nascent VLDL. Thus, intracellular transport of individual apoproteins is a specific process that can be selectively regulated by physiologic stimuli and that can affect net hepatic lipoprotein production. Thyroid hormones enhance hepatic net production of apoA-I in the rat. Twenty minutes after injection of a receptor saturating dose of T3 into euthyroid rats, apoA-I gene transcription increases, reaches a maximum of 179% of control at 3.5 hours, and remains elevated for 48 hours. Levels of nuclear and cytoplasmic apoA-I mRNA increase at 1 hour and 2 hours, respectively, and exceed the levels expected from enhanced transcription more than twofold at 24 h. Daily administration of 35 ug T3/1OO g body weight s.c. for 1 week increases the abundance of nuclear and cytoplasmic apoA-I mRNA more than threefold, but reduces the transcription of the apoA-I gene to 42% of control injected animals. Thus, thyorid hormone rapidly stimulates apoA-I gene transcription, but posttranscriptional events enhancing the stability of nuclear apoA-I RNA contribute to the acute effect of T3 on apoA-I mRNA levels. In chronic hyperthyroidism, stabilization of nuclear apoA-I RNA precursors is the principal mechanism for enhanced apoA-I gene expression and may cause feedback inhibition of apoA-I gene transcription. Our studies also imply that in euthyroid rats the majority of nuclear apoA-I mRNA precursors is degraded.
Software-based versatile video coding decoder parallelization

Versatile Video Coding (VVC) standard is currently being prepared as the latest video coding standard of the ITU-T and ISO/IEC. The primary goal of the VVC, expected to be finalized in 2020, is to further improve compression performance compared to its predecessor HEVC. The frame level, slice level or Wavefront parallel processing (WPP) existing in VTM (VVC Test Model) doesn't fully utilize the CPU capabilities available in today's multicore systems. Moreover, VTM decoder sequentially processes the decoding tasks. This design is not parallelization friendly. This paper proposes re-designed decoding tasks that parallelize the decoder using: 1. Load balanced task parallelization and 2. CTU (Coding Tree Unit) based data parallelization. The design overcomes the limitations of the existing parallelization techniques by fully utilizing the available CPU computation resource without compromising on the coding efficiency and the memory bandwidth. The parallelization of CABAC and the slice decoding tasks is based on a load sharing scheme, while parallelization of each sub-module of the slice decoding task uses CTU level data parallelization. The parallelization scheme may either remain restricted within an individual decoding task or utilize between task parallelization. Such parallelization techniques achieve real-time VVC decoding on multi-core CPUs, for bitstreams generated using VTM5.0 using Random-Access configuration. An overall average decoding time reduction of 88.97% (w.r.t. VTM5.0 decoder) is achieved for 4K sequences on a 10-core processor.
What do teachers need? Math and special education teacher educators’ perceptions of essential teacher knowledge and experience

Abstract Special education and mathematics education are becoming increasingly intertwined in inclusive classrooms. However, research and practice in these two fields are not always aligned. We discuss, in the context of extant research on pedagogical theory, concepts of access, and the findings of an exploratory study, how these two education sub-fields view teacher expertise. Teacher educators (from math and special education) were asked to rank the importance of different types of expertise for effectively posing purposeful mathematical questions. The groups differed significantly in their rankings of the importance of knowing individual students and general teaching experience. There were also notable differences between the groups’ rankings of the importance of knowing the needs of students with disabilities and mathematical content knowledge. The possible reasons for this are discussed, along with suggestions for improving professional collaboration.
Pre-charge, Discharge, and Mini-UPS Circuits in Auxiliary Power Network Architecture for 10 kV SiC-Based Power Electronics Building Block

This paper proposes the pre-charge, discharge, and mini-UPS circuits of an auxiliary power network architecture for 10kV SiC-based power electronics building block. The design and working principle of all components are given with hardware prototypes and test waveforms. This architecture proposes a simple auxiliary-power-only pre-charge method, and increase the system reliability by having a rapid discharge circuit for dc-link, and a mini-UPS backup power supply.
Valuing Quiet: An Economic Assessment of U.S. Environmental Noise as a Cardiovascular Health Hazard.

Introduction Environmental noise pollution increases the risk for hearing loss, stress, sleep disruption, annoyance, and cardiovascular disease and has other adverse health impacts. Recent (2013) estimates suggest that more than 100 million Americans are exposed to unhealthy levels of noise. Given the pervasive nature and significant health effects of environmental noise pollution, the corresponding economic impacts may be substantial. Methods This 2014 economic assessment developed a new approach to estimate the impact of environmental noise on the prevalence and cost of key components of hypertension and cardiovascular disease in the U.S. By placing environmental noise in context with comparable environmental pollutants, this approach can inform public health law, planning, and policy. The effects of hypothetical national-scale changes in environmental noise levels on the prevalence and corresponding costs of hypertension and coronary heart disease were estimated, with the caveat that the national-level U.S. noise data our exposure estimates were derived from are >30 years old. Results The analyses suggested that a 5-dB noise reduction scenario would reduce the prevalence of hypertension by 1.4% and coronary heart disease by 1.8%. The annual economic benefit was estimated at $3.9 billion. Conclusions These findings suggest significant economic impacts from environmental noise-related cardiovascular disease. Given these initial findings, noise may deserve increased priority and research as an environmental health hazard.
Antimicrobial resistance in Klebsiella species from milk specimens submitted for bovine mastitis testing at the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, 2008–2019

Abstract The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe antimicrobial resistance trends in Klebsiella isolates cultured from milk samples submitted to the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory for bovine mastitis testing. In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted in 483 Klebsiella isolates cultured from 63,841 milk samples submitted from January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2019. The Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory conducted antimicrobial susceptibility testing according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute by using a broth microdilution panel. Ten antimicrobials were tested in the panel: ampicillin, penicillin, erythromycin, oxacillin + 2% NaCl, pirlimycin, penicillin/novobiocin, tetracycline, ceftiofur, cephalothin, and sulfadimethoxine. Isolates were considered resistant to specific antimicrobials based on minimum inhibitory concentrations described in Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. No guidelines were available for sulfadimethoxine; isolates were categorized as resistant when bacterial growth was not inhibited. The proportion of isolates resistant to ceftiofur, cephalothin, or tetracycline did not increase over time. For sulfadimethoxine, the proportion of resistant isolates decreased over time. These results do not demonstrate a trend toward increasing antimicrobial resistance among Klebsiella isolates. Despite that, antimicrobial resistance should continue to be monitored.
Acute or chronic periprosthetic joint infection? Using the ESR ∕ CRP ratio to aid in determining the acuity of periprosthetic joint infections.

Abstract. Introduction: The gold standard for determining the duration of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a thorough history. Currently, there are no well-defined objective criteria to determine the duration of PJI, and little evidence exists regarding the ratio between ESR (mm/h) and CRP (mg/L) in joint arthroplasty. This study suggests the ESR / CRP ratio will help differentiate acute from chronic PJI. Methods: Retrospective review of patients with PJI was performed. Inclusion criteria: patients >18 years old who underwent surgical revision for PJI and had documented ESR and CRP values. Subjects were divided into two groups: PJI for greater (chronic) or less than (acute) 4 weeks and the ESR / CRP ratio was compared between them. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were evaluated to determine the utility of the ESR / CRP ratio in characterizing the duration of PJI. Results: 147 patients were included in the study (81 acute and 66 chronic). The mean ESR / CRP ratio in acute patients was 0.48 compared to 2.87 in chronic patients ( p ). The ESR / CRP ROC curve demonstrated an excellent area under the curve (AUC) of 0.899. The ideal cutoff value was 0.96 for ESR / CRP to predict a chronic ( >0.96 ) vs. acute ( ) PJI. The sensitivity at this value was 0.74 (95 % CI 0.62–0.83) and the specificity was 0.90 (95 % CI 0.81–0.94). Conclusions: The ESR / CRP ratio may help determine the duration of PJI in uncertain cases. This metric may give arthroplasty surgeons more confidence in defining the duration of the PJI and therefore aid in treatment selection.
Osseosurface electronics-thin, wireless, battery-free and multimodal musculoskeletal biointerfaces.

Bioelectronic interfaces have been extensively investigated in recent years and advances in technology derived from these tools, such as soft and ultrathin sensors, now offer the opportunity to interface with parts of the body that were largely unexplored due to the lack of suitable tools. The musculoskeletal system is an understudied area where these new technologies can result in advanced capabilities. Bones as a sensor and stimulation location offer tremendous advantages for chronic biointerfaces because devices can be permanently bonded and provide stable optical, electromagnetic, and mechanical impedance over the course of years. Here we introduce a new class of wireless battery-free devices, named osseosurface electronics, which feature soft mechanics, ultra-thin form factor and miniaturized multimodal biointerfaces comprised of sensors and optoelectronics directly adhered to the surface of the bone. Potential of this fully implanted device class is demonstrated via real-time recording of bone strain, millikelvin resolution thermography and delivery of optical stimulation in freely-moving small animal models. Battery-free device architecture, direct growth to the bone via surface engineered calcium phosphate ceramic particles, demonstration of operation in deep tissue in large animal models and readout with a smartphone highlight suitable characteristics for exploratory research and utility as a diagnostic and therapeutic platform. The development of high-performance implantable soft electronics as diagnostic platforms is key to realizing improved health monitoring. Here, the authors design wireless, battery-free, implantable bioelectronics that interface with the osseosurface for chronic musculoskeletal system monitoring.
Library assessment activities: Using ISO 11620 to review the assessment data of academic libraries in North America

Purpose – The balanced scorecard is gaining momentum as an assessment framework for academic libraries in North America. The purpose of this paper is to examine locally designed assessments available on Association of Research Libraries (ARL) members’ web sites and maps the data to the standard ISO 11620 – Library Performance Indicators (PIs), which is a version of the balanced scorecard. The questions are: first, does data from ARL member web sites cluster round certain ISO 11620 PIs? Second, what implications does data clustering have on internal planning and cross-institutional collaborations? Third, will future standards such as ISO 16439 complement the framework and methods in ISO 11620? Design/methodology/approach – Using the quantitative content inventory and qualitative content audit method, this research analyzes ARL members’ locally designed assessment data. The data grouped within a library category, such as collections, is mapped to PIs found in the ISO 11620. Findings – The locally designed a...
Exile and Journey in Seventeenth-Century Literature

The 'remanance' of the past: the early modern text in exile 1. Nostalgia and nationalism in New English literature 2. Exile and the semantic education of Thomas Hobbes 3. The expulsion from Paradise: Milton, epic and the Restoration exiles 4. Sybill's Leaves: Dryden and the historiography of exile Epilogue.
Trust and the Global Law Firm

My project explores the concept of trust as it relates to the lawyer’s role and explains how recent trends in the structure, operation, and regulation of law firms may make the traditionally “thick,” relational type of attorneyclient trust more elusive. At the same time, trust may become even more important to some clients given the efficiency-driven changes and corresponding uncertainty that mark the globalized economy. As such, I believe that attorneys have an opportunity to reassert their value against increasing competition from service providers from other jurisdictions and disciplines. In doing so, they can redouble their commitment to the client’s best interests, their own sense of vocation, and the public good. Or, as some have suggested, they can move past purportedly archaic notions of professionalism and face the brave new world as just another market provider of services. Deciding between these two paths comes down, in significant part, to a fundamental question: what is the nature and role of trust in the attorney-client relationship? In other words, I’m asking whether market pressures will tend to marginalize the attorney’s role as trusted advisor and normalize a conception of the attorney as technician. I don’t mean “technician” as a pejorative, for an attorney who is not technically competent cannot even aspire to be a trusted adviser; my concern is that technical competence will expand from being one dimension of the lawyer’s role to being the entirety of the lawyer’s role. Will this expansion be facilitated by trust’s marginalization? To the extent that relational trust becomes less central to corporate legal practice, lawyers themselves may increasingly struggle to find meaning in their work, and clients may discover that technicians work efficiently until a problem calls for counsel that is not strictly technical. More broadly, though, the story of trust’s marginalization should be of interest to a society that has long empowered attorneys to function as quasi-
Mobile UNITY schemas for agent coordination

Mobile UNITY refers to a notation system and proof logic initially designed to accommodate the special needs of the emerging field of mobile computing. The model allows one to define units of computation and mobility and the formal rules for coordination among them in a highly decoupled manner. In this paper, we reexamine the expressive power of the Mobile UNITY coordination constructs from a new perspective rooted in the notion that disciplined usage of a powerful formal model must rely on formally defined schemas. Several coordination schemas are introduced and formalized. They examine the relationship between Mobile UNITY and other computing models and illustrate the mechanics of employing Mobile UNITY as the basis for a formal semantic characterization of coordination models.
The S-66 Laser Satellite Tracking Experiment

S-66 optical tracking experiment consisting of satellite borne reflector with pulsed ruby laser to measure time of flight for accurate range
Margaret Thatcher, the Thatcherite intellectuals and the fate of Keynes

In the early 1970s, major political leaders of the centre-right such as Richard M. Nixon proudly declared their allegiance to the Keynesian consensus and the welfare state. By the mid-1970s, this consensus unravelled so rapidly that even the leader of Britain's Labour Party came to regard Keynesian medicine as ineffectual. Seeking to demolish several foundations of the Keynesian welfare state, Thatcherism soon attracted economists and policy pundits eager to defend its achievements, including in North America at such bygone hotbeds of Keynesianism as Harvard University. This essay seeks to probe cherished mythologies of Thatcherism that she restored Britain's economic dynamism, streamlined government and revived plucky entrepreneurship. Her intellectual admirers have largely averted their eyes from law-and-order repression and the rewards delivered to politically connected insiders, most dramatically those policies unleashing finance capitalists and extending the tentacles of the Murdoch media empire.
Missed abortion; a study with the tokodynamometer.

Abstract No spontaneous uterine contractions were observed in a case of missed abortion that received no medication. Likewise, after priming with large oral doses of stilbestrol, no contractions were noted. Three unsuccessful trials to induce labor on different days with increasing dosages of subcutaneously administered Pituitrin resulted in mild and ineffectual uterine contractions. On the following day, there was no spontaneous uterine activity. With the continuation of stilbestrol medication, intravenous Pituitrin drip associated with Demerol resulted in spontaneous complete evacuation of the uterine contents and minimal bleeding.
Complete nucleotide sequence of the Azotobacter vinelandii nitrogenase structural gene cluster.

Abstract DNA fragments coding for the structural genes for Azotobacter vinelandii nitrogenase have been isolated and sequenced. These genes, nifH, nifD and nifK, code for the iron (Fe) protein and the α and β subunits of the molybdenum-iron (MoFe) protein, respectively. They are arranged in the order: promoter: nifH:nifD:nifK. There are 129 nucleotides separating nifH and nifD and 101 nucleotides separating nifD and nifK. The amino acid (aa) sequences deduced from the nucleotide sequences are discussed in relation to the prosthetic groupbinding regions of the nifHDK-eacoded polypeptides.
Trust, Betrayal, and Authorship: Plagiarism and How We Perceive Students

Emotional responses to plagiarism are rarely addressed in professional literature that focuses on ethics and good teaching practices. Yet, the emotions that are unleashed by cases of plagiarism, or suspicions of plagiarism, influence how we perceive our students and how we approach teaching them. Such responses have been complicated by online plagiarism-detection services that emphasize surveillance and detection. My opposition to such plagiarism software services grows from the conviction that if we use them we are not only poisoning classroom relationships, but also we are missing important opportunities for teaching.
Seasonal Variations in the Vertically Integrated Water Vapor Transport Fields over the Southern Hemisphere

Abstract Seasonal mean fields of precipitable water and the zonal and meridional components of the vertically integrated atmospheric water vapor transport fields are calculated from five years of Southern Hemisphere data (1 September 1973 through 31 August 1978). Data are the product of a numerical analysis procedure developed and implemented by Australian Numerical Meteorological Research Centre and are in the form of 47 × 47 matrices superimposed on a polar stereographic projection. Values of the mixing ratio and the u and v components of the wind are available at four levels between 1000 and 500 mb. Primary emphasis is directed toward examining the seasonal variations in the moisture transport fields. Large seasonal differences in precipitable water and in the zonal and meridional fluxes are found, most notably between summer and winter. Summer season, subtropical meridional water vapor fluxes exceed those in winter by a factor of 2. A seasonal asymmetry is noted in the fields of W and Qλ in which th...
Interaction of pattern orientation and lens quality on CD and overlay errors

As product error budgets continue to shrink with decreasing ground rule, more attention is being paid to the effects of exposure tool lens aberrations. Interaction of the reticle pattern with the lens can cause both image placement shifts as well as variations of critical dimensions across the exposure field. A particularly subtle effect is the interaction of the reticle pattern orientation with lens aberrations. It can be shown that there is often a large difference in aberration-driven errors for patterns oriented differently relative to the lens axis. This paper develops the physical model behind this phenomenon as a function of pattern aspect ratio and orientation. Specific examines are given in reference to line width control and overlay for typical DRAM patterns, using both simulation and experimental dat. In addition, optimization schemes for pattern orientation are explored, as well as implications for practical implementation on exposure tools .We also show that pattern orientation can be optimized on a level-by- level basis to provide great benefit in CD and overlay error performance.
Molecule capture by olfactory antennules: mantis shrimp.

A critical step in the process of olfaction is the movement of odorant molecules from the environment to the surface of a chemosensory structure. Many marine crustaceans capture odorant molecules with arrays of chemosensory sensilla (aesthetascs) on antennules that they flick through the water. We developed a model to calculate molecule flux to the surfaces of aesthetascs in order to study how the size, aesthetasc spacing, and flick kinematics of olfactory antennules affect their performance in capturing molecules from the surrounding water. Since the three-dimensional geometry of an aesthetasc-bearing antennule is complex, dynamically-scaled physical models can often provide an efficient method of determining the fluid velocity field through the array. Here we present a method to optimize the incorporation of such measured velocity vector fields into a numerical simulation of the advection and diffusion of odorants to aesthetasc surfaces. Furthermore, unlike earlier models of odorant interception by antennae, our model incorporates odorant concentration distributions that have been measured in turbulent ambient flows. By applying our model to the example of the olfactory antennules of mantis shrimp, we learned that flicking velocity can have profound effects on odorant flux to the aesthetascs if they operate in the speed range in which the leakiness of the gaps between the aesthetascs to fluid movement is sensitive to velocity. This sensitivity creates an asymmetry in molecule fluxes between outstroke and return stroke, which results in an antennule taking discrete samples in space and time, i.e. “sniffing”. As stomatopods grow and their aesthetasc Reynolds number increases, the aesthetasc arrangement on the antennule changes in a way that maintains these asymmetries in leakiness and molecule flux between the outstroke and return stroke, allowing the individual to continue to take discrete samples as it develops.
Polyurethane Elastomer As a Possible Resilient Material for Denture Protheses: A Microbiological Evaluation

A polyurethane elastomer was microbiologically evaluated in vitro for its potential use in resilient denture liners. Specimens were immersed in suspensions of ten selected oral microorganisms; this was followed by viable cell counts at intervals during a 16-week period. Results indicated that the polyurethane neither supported the growth of the organisms nor was it degraded.
Correlating N2 and CH4 Adsorption on Microporous Carbon Using a New Analytical Model

A new pore size distribution (PSD) model is developed to readily describe PSDs of microporous materials with an analytical expression. Results from this model can be used to calculate the corresponding adsorption isotherm to compare the calculated isotherm to the experimental isotherm. This aspect of the model provides another check on the validity of the model's results. The model is developed on the basis of a 3-D adsorption isotherm equation that is derived from statistical mechanical principles. Least-squares error minimization is used to solve the PSD without any preassumed distribution function. In comparison with several well-accepted analytical methods from the literature, this 3-D model offers a relatively realistic PSD description for select reference materials, including activated-carbon fibers. N 2 and CH 4 adsorption is correlated using the 3-D model for commercial carbons BPL and AX-21. Predicted CH 4 adsorption isotherms at 296 K based on N 2 adsorption at 77 K are in reasonable agreement with experimental CH 4 isotherms. Use of the model is also described for characterizing PSDs of tire-derived activated carbons and coal-derived activated carbons for air-quality control applications.
Analytical Problems and Suggestions in the Analysis of Behavioral Economic Demand Curves

Behavioral economic demand curves (Hursh, Raslear, Shurtleff, Bauman, & Simmons, 1988) are innovative approaches to characterize the relationships between consumption of a substance and its price. ...
A growth of ideas: Role of calcium as activator of cardiac contraction

A role for calcium as activator of cardiac contraction was first suggested in 1883, when Ringer observed that hearts placed in a calcium-free solution ceased to beat [1]. This was an accidental discovery that occurred when Ringer’s technician used distilled water, rather than the water supplied by the New River Water Company, in studies of isolated frog hearts. Ringer analyzed the ‘pipe water’, and found that it contained ‘minute traces of various inorganic substances’. When he tested the ability of different salts to support cardiac contraction, Ringer not only identified the ability of calcium to restore cardiac contraction, but also found that this effect was antagonized by potassium [2]. As described below, the negative inotropic effect of potassium was to confuse investigators more than a half century later. It took almost 80 years before the major systems responsible for the activating effect of calcium on the heart came into focus. This brief history provides a personal view of several of the discoveries between 1883 and the 1960s that made it possible to explain Ringer’s seminal observation. The slow pace at which science moved in the early 20th century is seen in the fact that 30 years elapsed between Ringer’s first report and the next logical experiment. This experiment, reported by Mines in 1913, showed that although the heart cannot contract in a calcium-free solution, it does generate an electrical signal [3]. Mines’ study, by demonstrating that calcium is not essential for electrical signaling at the cell surface, suggested instead that this ion might serve as a direct activator of the contractile process within the cell. However, another 30 years were to pass before methods were developed that could test this hypothesis directly. Demonstration of the ability of increased cytosolic calcium to activate the contractile machinery required methods … * Address for correspondence: 1592 New Boston Road, P.O. Box 1048, Norwich, VT 05055-1048, USA. Tel.: +1-802-649-3947; fax: +1-802-649-1746
Distinguishing Mystical Religious Experience and Psychotic Experience: A Qualitative Study Interviewing Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Professionals

Mystical religious experience and psychotic disorders share non-rational experiences. Often it is difficult to distinguish one from the other. This qualitative research study interviewed 20 members of the Presbytery of Boston of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to explore what clergy consider to be mystical religious experiences and the methods they employ to distinguish such experience from psychotic experience. Results revealed that they were able to make clear distinction between these two types of experience. Considerations they used to interpret non-rational experiences included the after-effects of the experience, personal experience, Scripture, and Presbyterian beliefs. They also used the characteristics of psychotic behavior congruent with diagnostic criteria given in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual – IV, used by mental health professionals.
DNA structure-dependent requirements for yeast RAD genes in gene conversion

IN Saccharomyces cerevisiae, HO endonuclease-induced mating-type (MAT) switching is a specialized mitotic recombination event in which MAT sequences are replaced by those copied from a distant, unexpressed donor (HML or HMR1,2. The donors have a chromatin structure inaccessible for both transcription and HO cleavage1,2. Here we use physical monitoring of DNA to show that MAT switching is completely blocked at an early step in recombination in strains deleted for the DNA repair genes RAD51, RAD52, RAD54, RAD55 or RAD57. We find, however, that only RAD52 is required when the donor sequence is simultaneously not silenced and located on a plasmid. RAD51, RAD54, RAD55 and RAD57 are still required when the same transcribed donor is on the chromosome. We conclude that recombination in vivo occurs between DNA molecules in chromatin, whose structure significantly influences the outcome. RAD51, RAD54, RAD55 and RAD57 are all required to facilitate strand invasion into otherwise inaccessible donor sequences.
Pre-clinical evaluation of SN-38 and novel camptothecin analogs against human chronic B-cell lymphocytic leukemia lymphocytes.

The topoisomerase I inhibitor camptothecin and its analogs have potent activity against a wide range of solid tumors and several hematologic malignancies. Previous studies with these compounds using the MTT metabolic inhibition assay have shown significant cytotoxicity against lymphocytes from patients with chronic B-cell lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). Yet the water soluble analogue, topotecan, which was inhibitory at \1 mM in vitro, had no clinical activity in vivo. In the present study, we evaluated the in vitro cytotoxicities of SN-38, the active form of irinotecan, and two newer water soluble camptothecin derivatives 10,11-methylenedioxy-20(S)-camptothecin glycinate (MDCG) and 7-chloromethyl-10,11-methylenedioxy-20(S)-camptothecin glycinate (CMMDCG). These two glycinate esters are prodrugs for 10,11-methylenedioxy-20(S)-camptothecin (MDC) and 7chloromethyl-10,11-methylenedioxy-20(S)-camptothecin (CMMDC), respectively. Effects on cellular metabolism, induction of apoptosis, and overall cell survival were used to evaluate chemosensitivity. We report that the relative cytotoxic potency for these compounds is MDC]CMMDC]SN-38TPT\CPT-11, where MDC, CMMDC, and SN-38 were over an order of magnitude more cytotoxic than TPT and CPT-11. We also investigated potential mechanisms underlying the unexpected cytotoxicity of these camptothecin derivatives in B-CLL cells that are known to be arrested in G0:G1 of the cell cycle, and found that this class of compounds inhibited [ 3 H]uridine incorporation. We therefore postulate that the inhibition of RNA rather than DNA synthesis may be responsible for the observed cytotoxicity in non-cycling B-CLL cells. © 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Contrasting continuous quality improvement, Six Sigma, and lean management for enhanced outcomes in US hospitals

Purpose – Rapidly rising healthcare costs, partially due to preventable medical errors, have led hospitals to redouble their process improvement (PI) efforts. The purpose of this paper is to examine how PI initiatives mediate the effect of medical error sources to enhance three hospital outcomes (patient safety, operational effectiveness, and competitiveness).Design/methodology/approach – Drawing from Dynamic Capabilities Theory, the authors develop a framework to explore three PI initiatives: Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), Six Sigma Initiatives (SSI), and Lean Management Initiatives (LMI). Hierarchical regression analysis is employed to test the proposed model, using data from a nationwide survey of 210 US hospitals.Findings – For enhancing patient safety outcomes, it was found that CQI and LMI were significant in mediating hospital error sources; however, SSI was not significant after accounting for the other two PI types. For improving organizational effectiveness, CQI and SSI were significant; ...
Prenatal alcohol exposure and the effects of environmental enrichment on hippocampal dendritic spine density

Abstract The effects of environmental enrichment on synaptic spine density in hippocampal area CAI were examined in rats exposed prenatally to alcohol. Pregnant dams were given ethanol via intragastric intubation (6 g/kg/day) from gestational days 8 through 19, or given isocaloric sucrose. An untreated control group was also used. After weaning, offspring from the three groups were then reared for 10 weeks in either isolated (caged alone, not handled) or enriched (group housed with “toys,” handled) conditions. Animals were then sacrificed, the brains Golgi impregnated, and CA1 pyramidal cell apical and basilar spine densities quantified. Among isolated animals there were no significant differences between control and alcohol-exposed groups. In general, environmental enrichment increased apical or basilar spine densities in untreated and sucrose controls. However, in prenatal alcohol-exposed animals, environmental enrichment did not increase spine densities. Because the environmental enrichment acted postnatally, these findings suggest that the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure include decreased neural plasticity enduring into early adulthood. Such a reduction in neuroanatomical plasticity in Hppocampus may be associated with cognitive impairments found following prenatal alcohol exposure.
Interpreting the Bill of Rights and the Nature of Federalism: Barron v. City of Baltimore

In 1833, a mere forty-five years after the Constitution of the United States took effect, the young republic was striving to establish the form its constitutional government would take. For while the Constitution and its first ten amendments had set forth many principles regarding the rights of individual citizens with respect to the actions of their government, the precise nature of these relations would be determined in large part by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of entomopathogens for the management of wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) on spring wheat

Wireworms, the larval stage of click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae), are serious soil dwelling pests of small grains, corn, sugar beets, and potatoes. Limonius californicus and Hypnoidus bicolor are the predominant wireworm species infesting wheat in Montana, particularly in the 'Golden Triangle' area of north-central Montana. Wireworm populations in field crops are increasing, but currently available insecticides provide only partial control, and no alternative management tools exist. In our study, three entomopathogenic fungi were tested for their efficacy against wireworms in spring wheat at two field locations (Ledger and Conrad, Montana, USA) in 2013. The three fungi (Metarhizium brunneum F52, Beauveria bassiana GHA, and Metarhizium robertsii DWR 346) were evaluated as seed-coat, in-furrow granular, and soil band-over-row drench applications in addition to imidacloprid (Gaucho 600) seed treatment (as a chemical check), the approach currently being used by growers. Wireworm damage in these treatments was evaluated as standing plant counts, wireworm population surveys, and yield. The three fungi, applied as formulated granules or soil drenches, and the imidacloprid seed treatment all resulted in significantly higher plant stand counts and yields at both locations than the fungus-coated seed treatments or the untreated control. Significant differences were detected among the application methods but not among the species of fungi within each application method. All three fungi, when applied as granules in furrow or as soil drenches, were more effective than when used as seed-coating treatments for wireworm control, and provided an efficacy comparable or superior to imidacloprid. The fungi used in this study provided significant plant and yield protection under moderate wireworm pressure, supporting their value in the management of this pest.
Transportation and recreation: a case study of visitors driving for pleasure at Acadia National Park

Automobiles and roads are as much of a way of experiencing national parks as they are a means of conveyance. This study examines experiential aspects of transportation on Acadia National Park's primary scenic road - Ocean Drive. Interviews with vehicle-based road users were conducted to identify indicators to measure and manage experiential quality on Ocean Drive. Also, a survey was conducted to make comparisons with important variables identified on "transportation-only" urban roads. Results suggest that (1) Ocean Drive is important to park visitors' experience; (2) experiential indicators for Ocean Drive include vehicle crowding, scenery, and travel freedom/convenience; and (3) experiential aspects of transportation on scenic roads in parks may differ substantially from urban roads. Study findings suggest a need to deliberately and thoughtfully plan and manage for quality recreational experiences on roads in national parks and related areas.
Late neogene biostratigraphy and stable isotope stratigraphy of a drilled core from the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract Late Neogene stable isotope stratigraphy and planktonic foraminiferal biostratigraphy have been examined in a high sedimentation rate core (E67-135, Shell Oil Co.) drilled at 725 m water depth in the De Soto Canyon, Gulf of Mexico. The 305 m core contains sections that are Late Miocene, Early Pliocene, Late Pliocene, and Quaternary in age, and is rich in well-preserved assemblages of planktonic foraminifera. A biostratigraphy has been established based on the ranges of 34 selected species of foraminifera. The core 3orrelates with sections from the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and the subtropical North and South Atlantic Oceans using, as datums, the evolutionary appearances of Globorotalia miocenica Palmer and Globorotalia margaritae evoluta Cita, the extinction of Globorotalia miocenica and the first appearance of Globorotalia truncatulinoides (d'Orbigny). Oxygen and carbon isotope stratigraphy is based on analysis of the benthonic foraminifer, Uvigerina d'Orbigny. Isotopic trends are similar to those observed in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. From Early Pliocene to Late Pleistocene time, average δ18O values increase (2.42‰ to 3.36‰) and exhibit a wider range of values (0.71‰ in Early Pliocene compared to 1.65‰ in Late Pleistocene sediments), probably reflecting Late Neogene climatic deterioration. The ratio 13 C 12 C decreases significantly by −0.21‰ from the Late Miocene to the Early Pliocene. A decrease in δ13C is observed in other cores and is probably related to changing oceanic circulation patterns in Late Miocene time.
Stellar Accretion and X-ray Emission

Shklovsky has suggested that the Scorpius X-ray source is a binary pair and that the X-radiation arises from the collision of material from a giant star with a neutron star. The theoretical complications of such a model are now found not to match actual measurements and it is suggested that the bremsstrahlung effect occurs between a giant star and a white dwarf.
Crystallographically-Oriented Electrochemically-Deposited Bismuth Nanowires

Bismuth nanowires 200 nm in diameter were synthesized via electrochemical deposition into the pores of anodic alumina templates. A near neutral pH solution and a special sample holder were employed. Both polycrystalline and (012) oriented bismuth nanowire arrays were prepared. The electrical resistance of the samples versus temperature was measured in the range 2-300 K, and the results were fitted to a transport model. Despite the crystallographic alignment of the nanowire array, the model calculations suggest the dominance of a temperature independent scattering mechanism (such as grain boundary or nanowire boundary scattering). The results are compared to the electrical resistance of nanowires formed by impregnation techniques.
Development of a Treatment Algorithm for Staphylococcal Pyoderma in the Emergency Department

The incidence of culture-confirmed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been increasingly reported in the community. The number of patients presenting with pyoderma that were not responding to first-line agents with a corresponding increase of MRSA isolates was seen in our Emergency Department (ED). After evaluation of the literature and review of recent cases, the infectious diseases team developed a treatment algorithm for use by ED personnel in order to identify patients that are more likely to have an MRSA infection and to facilitate the provision of effective therapy with the initial visit. Three months after the algorithm implementation, 12 of 13 patients seen in the ED with MRSA pyoderma had cultures done, and 10 were appropriately treated with non-beta-lactam agents on initial visit. Monitoring of infections seen in the ED can help clinicians identify trends in resistance that warrant a change in treatment guideline recommendations with the ultimate aim of improving patient care ...
Telomeres Are Double-Strand DNA Breaks Hidden from DNA Damage Responses

Abstract A network of ATM/ATR-mediated events regulates cell cycle checkpoints and genomic integrity and contributes to the processing of DNA double-strand breaks in both genomic DNA and at telomeres. In yeast and in human cells, investigators, including Takata et al. (2004), and Herbig et al., published in this issue of Molecular Cell , are beginning to decipher the signaling pathways involved at the telomeres.
Nonlinearity tests for time series

SUMMARY This paper considers two nonlinearity tests for stationary time series. The idea of Tukey's one degree of freedom for nonadditivity test is generalized to the time series setting. The case of concurrent nonlinearity is discussed in detail. Simulation results show that the proposed tests are more powerful than that of Keenan (1985).
Studies on the Mechanism of the Inhibitory Action of Excess Iodide on the Release of Radioiodine from the Rat Thyroid Gland

Thyroid release of radioiodine was inhibited by excess iodide in rats receiving small daily dose of propylthiouracil (PTU). This inhibition by excess iodide is not due to the synthesis and release of unlabeled thyroid hormone in amounts adequate to inhibit the release of thyrotropin, for the dilution of 131I within the thyroid by newly formed organic iodine after excess iodide is the same in the groups which received either a small (5 rag) or a large (30 mg) dose of PTU. Furthermore, the amount of plasma PBI newly secreted is negligible at both levels of PTU. Demonstration of the iodide effect in thyroxine and TSH treated animals indicated further that the iodide effect was not due to inhibition of TSH secretion. Administration ofsmall dose of PTU immediately augmented release of radioiodine from the thyroid, increased blood TSH within 24 hr and produced a large goiter after 2 weeks. Large doses of PTU are less effective in these actions. Administration of a small dose of methimazole similarly augments th...
Monitoring for greenhouse gas accounting at geologic sequestration sites: Technical and policy considerations

Abstract This paper assesses the issue of monitoring to measure potential emissions from leakage at geologic sequestration (GS) sites for purposes of greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting under an emission reduction program. We find that a GHG accounting program can reasonably assume that there is no atmospheric leakage from GS sites as long as routine subsurface monitoring shows no loss of containment. If loss of containment is detected, current monitoring technology, such as hyperspectral imaging, should be able to detect and locate leakage at levels of concern at some but not all sites. If leakage can be detected, then it can be reliably quantified using existing technology. The disparities in leakage detection capability produced by geologic and ecosystem variations require a flexible GHG accounting policy for GS sites during the operations phase. The potential for leakage emissions during long-term stewardship is low, but mechanisms to account for it, such as an emissions reserve program, are important for building public support for CCS technology and supporting national emission reduction goals.
Invertase storage stability and sucrose hydrolysis in solids as affected by water activity and glass transition

Research continues to differentiate the impact of water activity (a(W)) and the glass transition temperature (T(g)) on chemical reactions. Invertase with and without sucrose was incorporated into low and high molecular weight poly(vinylpyrrolidone) model systems (PVP-LMW and PVP-K30, respectively). Invertase activity and sucrose hydrolysis were monitored during storage at a(W) = 0.32-0.75 and 30 degrees C. Pseudo-first-order rate constants for activity loss in PVP-K30 were not different, regardless of the system being glassy or rubbery. In PVP-LMW, invertase stability decreased with increasing a(W). An a(W) > 0.62 was required for sucrose hydrolysis to occur in PVP-LMW. PVP molecular weight appeared to affect invertase stability and reactivity. No dramatic change around T(g) was found in either invertase stability or sucrose hydrolysis, suggesting that T(g)-dictated mobility has a minimal effect on these reactions in amorphous solids.
The Performance of Neighbor-Joining Methods of Phylogenetic Reconstruction

We analyze the performance of the popular class of neighbor-joining methods of phylogeny reconstruction. In particular, we find conditions under which these methods will determine the correct tree topology and show that these perform as well as possible in a certain sense. We also give indications of the performance of these methods when the conditions necessary to show that they determine the entire tree topology correctly, do not hold. We use these results to demonstrate an upper bound on the amount of data necessary to reconstruct the topology with high confidence.
Bosutinib in the treatment of patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) chronic myelogenous leukemia: an overview

Bosutinib is an orally bioavailable SRC/ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor with activity against all phases of resistant chronic myeloid leukemia that do not express the T315I or V299L ABL kinase domain mutations. Bosutinib has a unique toxicity profile that is manageable. This paper provides an overview of bosutinib, covering pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetic properties, results of treatment in newly diagnosed and previously treated chronic myeloid leukemia patients, as well as common side effects.