cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In Situ proton-induced X-ray emission and auger electron spectroscopy study of titanium and niobium implantation of iron films☆

Implantation of 190 ke V titanium and niobium ions into iron films 200 nm thick electron beam deposited onto polished Si(100) substrates has been investigated. During the course of implantation of the iron films, proton-induced X-ray emission was used to measure the instantaneous film thickness and the total retained dose, whereas Auger electron spectroscopy was used to determine the surface concentrations of the implanted species and the reactive elements. Implantations were carried out both under ultrahigh vacuum conditions and with the chamber backfilled with CO to a pressure of s1 × 10−6 Torr. Elemental sputtering yields were measured for iron and the implanted element as a function of fluence. The results showed that, for titanium implantation, the addition of CO to the target chamber significantly reduced the sputtering yield of the substrate and increased the retained dose that could be achieved. For niobium implantation the addition of CO to the chamber reduced the substrate sputtering yield, but not to the same degree as observed for titanium, and did not alter the total retained dose that could be achieved.
Chaperone-mediated Cu+ delivery to cu+ transport ATPases. Requirement of nucleotide binding

Cu+-ATPases drive the efflux of Cu+ from the cell cytoplasm. During their catalytic/transport cycle, cytoplasmic Cu+-chaperones deliver the metal to the two transmembrane metal-binding sites (TM-MBSs) responsible for Cu+ translocation. Here, using Archaeoglobus fulgidus Cu+-ATPase CopA and the C-terminal Cu+-chaperone domain of CopZ (Ct-CopZ), we describe the mechanism of Cu+ transfer to both TM-MBSs. In absence of other ligands, Ct-CopZ transfers Cu+ to wild-type CopA and to various CopA constructs lacking or having mutated cytoplasmic metal-binding domains, in a fashion consistent with occupancy of a single TM-MBS. Similar experiments performed in the presence of 2.5 mm ADP-Mg2+, stabilizing an E1·ADP, lead to full occupancy of both TM-MBSs. In both cases, the transfer is largely stoichiometric, i.e. equimolar amounts of Ct-CopZ·Cu+ saturated the TM-MBSs. Experiments performed with CopA mutants lacking either TM-MBS showed that both sites are loaded independently, and nucleotide binding does not affect their availability. The nucleotide-induced E2→E1 transition is structurally characterized by a large displacement of the A and N domains opening the cytoplasmic region of P-type ATPases. Then, it is apparent that, whereas the first Cu+-chaperone can bind an ATPase form available in the absence of ligands, the second requires the E1·nucleotide intermediary to interact and deliver the metal. Interestingly, independent of TM-MBS Cu+ loading, nucleotide binding also prevents the regulatory interaction of the N-terminal cytoplasmic metal-binding domain with the nucleotide binding domain.
Management of Extremity Recurrences After Complete Responses to Isolated Limb Perfusion in Patients With Melanoma

Background: Despite high rates of complete responses (CRs) to isolated limb perfusion (ILP) for patients with in-transit melanoma (60% to 90%), extremity recurrences are common. We evaluated our experience with managing these recurrences to determine how best to treat these patients.
Early hydration and setting of oil well cement

Abstract A broad experimental study has been performed to characterize the early hydration and setting of cement pastes prepared with Class H oil well cement at water-to-cement ratios (w/c) from 0.25 to 0.40, cured at temperatures from 10 to 60 °C, and mixed with chemical additives. Chemical shrinkage during hydration was measured by a newly developed system, degree of hydration was determined by thermogravimetric analysis, and setting time was tested by Vicat and ultrasonic velocity measurements. A Boundary Nucleation and Growth model provides a good fit to the chemical shrinkage data. Temperature increase and accelerator additions expedite the rate of cement hydration by causing more rapid nucleation of hydration products, leading to earlier setting; conversely, retarder and viscosity modifying agents delay cement nucleation, causing later setting times. Lower w/c paste needs less hydration product to form a percolating solid network (i.e., to reach the initial setting point). However, for the systems evaluated, at a given w/c, the degree of hydration at setting is a constant, regardless of the effects of ambient temperature or the presence of additives.
Do we need all these graduate programs in prosthodontics

.Lhe pressure on prosthodontics as a specialty is mounting. The specter of overspecialization in dentistry has been recognized, and the Commission on Accreditation of the American Dental Association, established in January, 1975, has indicated its intention of studying “potential overspecialization. . . and promotion of the general practice of dentistry.” Such trends must clearly be matters of concern to prosthodontists, especially those involved in specialty education. Formal specialization has been a feature of our profession for the last 30 years or so and has largely been the result of the tremendous increases in knowledge and the increasing complexity of practice during this period. Specialization has been attractive, because it allowed the individual practitioner to become a real expert in his field and to develop his knowledge and skills in depth. Additional advantages have been increased income and improved status, both within the profession and in the community. Since specialization has become attractive, a substantial number of the ‘very best graduates of dental schools have taken specialty training. Until recently, competition for places in specialty and graduate programs was very keen, and only those with excellent academic records, strong recommendations, and fine personal characteristics could hope to gain acceptance.
Influenza--interpandemic as well as pandemic disease.

Dr. Raphael Dolin writes that children constitute both a population that is highly vulnerable to influenza infection and one of the most important links in its transmission. Control measures need to be effective and applicable to the youngest among us.
Drugs, the Law, and the Downfall of Dancer's Image at the 1968 Kentucky Derby: A Case Study on Human Conceptions of Domesticated Animals

The disqualification of Dancer's Image at the 1968 Kentucky Derby for the presence of a prohibited substance reveals much about the human–animal relationship. The horse was, on the one hand, depicted in anthropomorphic terms as an honourable competitor unjustly stripped of a victory. At the same time, Dancer's Image was treated as simply a piece of physical property. In short, human conceptions of domesticated animals are dichotomous in nature.
Filamentous algal endophytes in macrophytic Antarctic algae: prevalence in hosts and palatability to mesoherbivores

Abstract Amsler C.D., Amsler M.O., McClintock J.B. and Baker B.J. 2009. Filamentous algal endophytes in macrophytic Antarctic algae: prevalence in hosts and palatability to mesoherbivores. Phycologia 48: 324–334. DOI: 10.2216/08-79.1. Five individuals, each from 13 common species of large macroalgae (‘macrophytes’) from the western Antarctic Peninsula, were surveyed for the presence of filamentous algal endophytes both macroscopically and microscopically using dissecting and compound microscopes. Of the 13 species surveyed, endophytes were either rare or absent in five. The remaining species all supported endophytes in most or usually all individuals with maximum endophyte densities per species ranging from 3% to 75% of the thallus area. Thallus fragments from all individuals with endophytes were placed into culture, and 99 unialgal, filamentous brown algal strains were isolated. The ITS1 gene was sequenced in each strain to sort these into distinct genotypes. Brown algal endophytes grew well in culture, ...
Equal Employment Opportunity and the Early Career in Federal Employment

Using a one percent sample of federal personnel records, this article examines entry levels and advancement rates during the first eight years of the federal career for white and minority males and females who entered the civil service shortly after leaving school. Once educational levels and major fields of study are controlled for, the four groups have remarkably similar entry levels, sug gesting that race and gender have little direct impact on placement levels. Men do have markedly higher early advancement rates than women, however, pulling ahead of comparable women at the rate of better than one-tenth of a grade per year. The implications for equal employment oppor tunity policy are discussed.
Atrial Myxoma Mimicking a Collagen Disorder

A 14-year-old boy had a protracted illness characterized by bilateral tenderness and weakness of the extremities; the illness was considered to be a connective tissue disease similar to polymyositis. Not until nine months later, when the patient had new cardiac murmurs, pulmonary edema, and then a cerebrovascular accident, was the true nature of his illness suspected. The diagnosis of left atrial myxoma with the triad of constitutional, obstructive, and embolic effects was confirmed by echocardiographic studies and cardiac catheterization. The tumor was successfully removed.
Changes in body and organ weights of Japanese quail selected for 6‐week body weight 1

Synopsis Three populations of Japanese quail, selected over 13 generations for increased body weight, a randomly selected base population and reciprocal backcrosses of selected lines to the control were studied. Live body weight and weights of liver, testes, oviducts and carcasses were obtained to assess the effects of selection. At 6 weeks of age a 20 g. difference in live body weight existed between selected line and base population. Sexual dimorphism in live body weight in favour of females appeared at 3 weeks of age and increased with age. A 5 g. difference in 6‐week body weight between female backcross progeny from sires from selected lines and those sired by males from the base population suggested an influence of sex‐linked genes. At 8 weeks of age the weight of females of both reciprocal back‐cross types significantly exceeded the average of females from the selected lines suggesting that female reproductive organ weight had increased under selection as well as heterosis. Carcass weight of selecte...
Data correction methods for 3D light microscopy

A cooled or video-rate CCD camera is often used to collect optical slices from many modalities of microscopy including widefield-fluorescence (WF) and transmitted-light brightfield (TBL). Raw optical slices collected from both of these types of cameras are contaminated by imperfect performance of the CCD camera. Optical slice image data must be corrected for the bias level and nonuniformity in the photometric response of CCD elements. Fluctuation of the exposure time in a cooled CCD camera needs to be calibrated as well. Bad pixels due to the severely low sensitivity of some of the CCD elements often occur and otherwise impair the conventional schemes of correction and calibration. An adaptive median filter has been introduced by us previously to treat these bad pixels. In this study a Wiener-type regularization scheme is proposed as robust, fast, and practical alternative treatment of these bad pixels. One advantage of using this scheme is that doing so provides a nicely modularized design of the computer algorithm. As such, the correction scheme is software readily integrated as a software component in a 3D microscopy system and may operate independently without affecting the design of other software components in the system.
NGF augmentation rescues trigeminal ganglion and principalis neurons, but not brainstem or cortical whisker patterns, after infraorbital nerve injury at birth.

Prior studies indicate that neonatal nerve injury kills many trigeminal (V) first- and second-order cells, and interrupts pattern formation in the brainstem and cerebral cortex. Yet it is not known whether effects upon cell survival and pattern formation are causally related. To determine whether axotomized V ganglion cells can be rescued by an exogenous trophic agent, rats received 5 mg/kg of nerve growth factor (NGF) prior to, and every day after, infraorbital nerve section on the day of birth until sacrifice on postnatal day (PND) 1, 3, 5, 7, or 14. Other animals received identical lesions without NGF. Ganglion cell numbers were significantly reduced by PNDl in pups not given NGF, while NGF-treated rats displayed no significant cell loss through PND7. However, NGF did not permanently rescue V neurons because ganglion cell numbers were reliably reduced by PND14. Cell numbers in V nucleus principalis were reduced by PNDl in pups not given NGF, while NGF-treated animals displayed no cell loss through PND14. NGF's rescue of second-order cells is probably an indirect effect of NGF actions upon V ganglion cells because, in other newborns, NGF failed to maintain principalis cells after direct lesion of the left V ganglion. To determine whether preventing cell death permits whisker-related pattern formation, other rats also received NGF prior to and after infraorbital nerve section at birth. After 3–14 days, patterns were assessed in the brainstem and cortex with cytochrome oxidase histochemistry and serotonin immunocytochemistry. Whisker-related patterns failed to develop as in cases not given NGF. These data indicate that communication with the periphery is necessary for the maintenance of central whisker-related patterns. They also suggest that V ganglion cells can be rescued, albeit temporarily, from rapid injury-induced death by NGF, thereby delaying injury-induced cell death in nucleus principalis. However, the mechanism(s) responsible for injury-induced pattern alterations in the developing V system remains to be elucidated. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Rod influence on cone flicker detection: variation with retinal eccentricity

Abstract Previous studies have shown that cone flicker thresholds are influenced by the adaptation state of the rod system. We have examined how the properties of this rod-cone flicker interaction differ with retinal eccentricity. The threshold for detecting 25 Hz flicker was measured in the dark-adapted eye, against a rod-saturating Ganzfeld background and following a Ganzfeld bleach. The magnitude of the interaction, defined as the difference between light- and dark-adapted flicker thresholds, covaries with changes in rod absolute threshold across the visual field. At a given eccentricity, the magnitude of the interaction is constant for test diameters ranging from 7′ to 1.7°, indicating that variations in magnitude with eccentricity do not result from changes in spatial summation properties. The measurement of cone flicker thresholds during bleaching recovery provides evidence that variations in the magnitude of the rod-cone flicker interaction with retinal eccentricity may result from differences in the channel capacity of the pathway carrying the threshold-elevating signal from rods.
Determination of hydroxyproline polypeptides in urine and blood serum by gel filtration.

Abstract Hydroxyproline-containing polypeptides were isolated from urine by filtration on polyacrylamide gel Bio-Gel P-2. This fraction was quantitatively and qualitatively similar to the nondialysable hydroxyproline in urines of normal adult subjects, patients with chronic uremia, and with primary or secondary hyperparathyroidism. Hydroxyproline polypeptides isolated from urines of patients with extensive Paget's disease or from normal growing subjects contained a group of smaller polypeptides slightly retarded on Bio-Gel P-2 which were not retained by the dialysis membrane Spectrapor™. In these two groups of subjects the values of hydroxyproline polypeptides were 35–45 percent higher than those of dialysable hydroxyproline. Increased excretion of hydroxyproline polypeptides was found in chronic uremia, primary and secondary hyperparathyroidism, Paget's bone disease and in normal growing subjects. With the notable exception of chronic uremia the excretion of hydroxyproline polypeptides paralleled that of total and oligopeptidic hydroxyproline. In some cases of chronic uremia the polypeptidic hydroxyproline represented the predominant fraction. On long columns of Bio-Gel P-6 hydroxyproline polypeptides separated into several peaks. The chromatographic pattern was rather characteristic for chronic uremia, secondary hyperparathyroidism, Paget's bone disease and physiological growth. A hydroxyproline fraction of similar Chromatographic properties was isolated from blood serum after deproteinisation with heat or ethanol at pH 4.8. High serum levels of this hydroxyproline fraction were observed in pathological conditions with increased urinary excretion of polypeptidic and nondialysable hydroxyproline.
Thyroid hormone and breast carcinoma. Primary hypothyroidism is associated with a reduced incidence of primary breast carcinoma.

BACKGROUND To investigate the role of primary hypothyroidism (HYPT) on breast carcinogenesis, the authors evaluated 1) the association between HYPT and a diagnosis of invasive breast carcinoma and 2) the clinicopathologic characteristics of breast carcinoma in patients with HYPT. METHODS For this retrospective chart review study, 1136 women with primary breast carcinoma (PBC) were identified from the authors' departmental data base. These women (cases) were frequency-matched for age (± 5 years) and ethnicity with 1088 healthy participants (controls) who attended a breast carcinona screening clinic. Women with HYPT who were receiving thyroid-replacement therapy before they were diagnosed with breast carcinoma or before the screening visit were identified. RESULTS The mean ages of cases and controls (51.6 years vs. 51.0 years, respectively; P = 0.30) and their menopausal status (65.4% premenopausal vs. 62% postmenopausal; P = 0.10) were comparable. Two hundred forty-two women in the case group (10.9%) with HYPT were identified. The prevalence of this condition was significantly greater the control group compared with the case group (14.9% vs. 7.0%, respectively; P < 0.001). PBC patients were 57% less likely to have HYPT compared with their healthy counterparts (odds ratio, 0.43l 95% confidence interval, 0.33–0.57). Seventy-eight white patients with PBC had HYPT and, compared with women who were euthyroid, they were older at the time of diagnosis (58.8 years vs. 51.1 years; P < 0.001), were more likely to have localized disease (95.0% vs. 85.9% clinical T1 or T2 disease, respectively; P = 0.025), and were more likely to have no pathologic lymph node involvement (62.8% vs. 54.4%; P = 0.15). CONCLUSIONS Primary HYPT was associated with a reduced risk for PBC and a more indolent invasive disease. These data suggest a possible biologic role for thyroid hormone in the etiology of breast carcinoma and indicate areas of research for the prevention and treatment of breast carcinoma. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Interactions of fast and slow waves in hyperbolic systems with two time scales

We consider certain symmetric hyperbolic systems of nonlinear partial differential equations whose solutions vary on two time scales. The large part of the spatial operator is assumed to have constant coefficients, but a nonlinear term multiplying the time derivatives is allowed. We show that if the initial data are not prepared correctly for the suppression of the fast scale motion, but contain errors of amplitude O(ϵ), then the perturbation in the solution will also be of amplitude O(ϵ). Further, if the large part of the spatial operator is nonsingular, we show that the error introduced in the slow scale motion will be of amplitude O(ϵ2), even though fast scale waves of amplitude O(ϵ) will be present in the solution.
TU-D-T-617-04: Dose Rate Constant of the Cesium-131 (model CS-1) Interstitial Brachytherapy Seeds Measured by Thermal-Luminescent Dosimeter (TLD) and by Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy

Purpose: To measure the dose rate constant of the model CS-1 low-energy interstitial brachytherapy seeds containing 131Cs. Method and Materials: Eight 131Cs seeds were obtained from the seed manufacture (IsoRay). The air-kerma strength of each seed was measured by the manufacture whose dosimeter calibration is traceable to the air-kerma strength standard established for the 131Cs seeds at NIST (1σ uncertainty 15%) was observed against a previously reported value. Additional determination of the dose rate constant may be needed to establish an AAPM recommended census value.
GoldPhish: Using Images for Content-Based Phishing Analysis

Phishing attacks continue to plague users as attackers develop new ways to fool users into submitting personal information to fraudulent sites. Many schemes claim to protect against phishing sites. Unfortunately, most do not protect against zero-day phishing sites. Those schemes that do allege to provide zero-day protection, often incorrectly label both phishing and legitimate sites. We propose a scheme that protects against zero-day phishing attacks with high accuracy. Our approach captures an image of a page, uses optical character recognition to convert the image to text, then leverages the Google PageRank algorithm to help render a decision on the validity of the site. After testing our tool on 100 legitimate sites and 100 phishing sites, we accurately reported 100% of legitimate sites and 98% of phishing sites.
Cellular and molecular chaperone fusion vaccines: targeting resistant cancer cell populations.

AbstractMolecular chaperone-based vaccines offer a number of advantages for cancer treatment. We have discussed the deployment of a vaccine prepared by gentle isolation of Hsp70 from tumour dendritic cell fusions (Hsp70 fusion vaccine). The vaccine was highly effective in triggering specific T cell immunity and in the treatment of tumour-bearing mice and the preparation was shown to retain an increased amount of tumour antigens compared to other chaperone-based isolates. This approach has the further advantage that tumour sub-populations could be used to prepare the Hsp70 fusion vaccine. Cellular fusion vaccines were made to specifically target drug-resistant cancer cells and tumour cell populations enriched in ovarian cancer stem cells (CSC). Such vaccines showed enhanced capacity to trigger T cell immunity to these resistant ovarian carcinoma populations. We have discussed the potential of using the cellular and Hsp70 fusion vaccine approaches in therapy of treatment-resistant cancer cells and its deplo...
Control of atmospheric carbon dioxide

Abstract A major part of human-induced climate change can be controlled by balancing the sources and sinks of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). Natural sinks are decreasing because coral reefs, as well as rain forests, are being destroyed at an increasing rate. To balance CO2 flows it will be necessary to restore and protect both these tropical ecosystems and/or to make drastic cuts in fossil-fuel use. If this is not done, the rural poor will have little choice but to destroy remaining forests and coral reefs. Stabilization of CO2 is technically feasible and cheaper than adapting to climate change. It is also extremely urgent because many coral reef ecosystems may already be near their upper temperature limits.
Aggregating distributed digital collections in the Mountain West Digital Library with the CONTENTdmTM multi‐site server

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe the creation of the Mountain West Digital Library (MWDL), a cooperative regional program distributed throughout Utah and Nevada. Its metadata are aggregated at a single web site. Six digitization centers at the largest universities in both states digitize their own collections and support partner institutions in their geographic regions. Each center runs a CONTENTdm server, and an aggregating server at the University of Utah harvests metadata into a single searchable index. Local control and identity of collections are hallmarks of the MWDL.Design/methodology/approach – This paper describes the technical structure of the MWDL, focusing on the multi‐site server aggregating software from DiMeMa Inc.Findings – The MWDL was the first cooperative digital project to implement this software, and inspired the same infrastructure for a nine‐state project known as the Western Waters Digital Library. In 2005 the MWDL will also become the first in the nation to aggre...
Silicon photonics applications, challenges and future directions

Silicon photonics offers an opportunity for low cost opto-electronic solutions for applications ranging from telecommunications down to chip-to-chip interconnects. The presentation will give an overview of silicon photonics research at Intel and discuss some of the applications and challenges with building photonic devices from silicon.
Parental behaviors that affect junior tennis player development.

Abstract Objective: To examine the role parents played in developing professional tennis players and, specifically, the full array of positive and negative attitudes and behaviors that influenced talent development. Furthermore, this study describes how specific parental behaviors exhibited changed as a function of the stage of talent development the child experienced. Method: The athlete triad was retrospectively interviewed (player, coach, and parent). Content analysis was used to create cross-case developmental themes categorized by the early, middle, and elite years. Results: Participants discussed the positive and negative behaviors parents exhibited during the junior tennis years. Parents exhibited many positive behaviors that facilitated development including various forms of support, emotionally intelligent discussions, and developing the child psychologically and socially through tennis. Negative behaviors that inhibited development included being negative and critical, over pushing, over emphasizing winning and talent development over other domains of the child’s life, and using controlling behaviors to reach tennis goals. Looking at trends across stages of development, all parents created a positive experience in the early years. With mounting pressure in the middle years more conflicts occurred with the players and negative parenting manifested itself often in controlling and pushing behaviors. Finally, parents were less involved in the elite years. Conclusions: Results reveal positive and negative parental behaviors by developmental stage, and support Cote’s findings (1999) that parents are directly involved in the early and middle years (i.e., sampling and specializing years) and become less involved in the elite years (i.e., investment years) of athletic talent development.
NF-M Trans-activates the human DNA topoisomerase IIα promoter independently of C-MYB in HL-60 cells

Identifying transcriptional regulators of DNA topoisomerase II alpha (topo II alpha) is essential to decipher the mechanisms underlying leukemia cell resistance to topo II-directed antitumor drugs. We have previously reported that the proto-oncogene transcription factor c-Myb transactivates the topo II alpha promoter in several hematopoietic cell lines. Currently, we investigate whether NF-M, a C/EBP beta family member, cooperates with c-Myb in activating topo II alpha transcription. Although NF-M is the most efficacious trans-activator of topo II alpha that we have examined (approximately 38-fold over basal), NF-M does not appear to be involved in the endogenous transcriptional regulation of topo II alpha. Interestingly, we report that the sodium butyrate-dependent induction of the topo II alpha promoter observed previously appears to be mediated by c-Myb, independent of NF-M.
The free energy of vacancy pairs in the cubic close‐packed lattice

The configurational free energy change associated with the introduction of pairs of vacancy defects into a cubic close‐packed lattice with nearest neighbor harmonic interactions is calculated by lattice dynamics techniques in the classical high temperature limit. A comparison is made with the cell cluster calculations of Garza and Huckaby. (AIP)
THE INFLUENCE OF ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE ON THE UTILITY OF AN ENTREPRENEURIAL TOP MANAGEMENT STYLE

This study examined the influence of organization structure on the relationship between top management's entrepreneurial orientation and financial performance. Moderated regression analysis was used to analyse data collected from 80 business organizations. the findings suggest that an entrepreneurial top management style has a positive effect on the performance of organically-structured firms and a negative effect on the performance of mechanistically-structured firms.
Growth graphs for the clinical assesment of infants of varying gestational age

Two graphs are presented showing means and 1 and 2 SD for growth in weight, length, and head circumference: (1) a fetal-infant graph with lines of growth from 26 weeks of gestational age until one year of age after ""term'' has been reached: and (2) a similarly constructed graph for children ages one through ten years. The standards of growth were obtained from published data in which the subjects received optimal health care. The graphs allow comparisons of infants of varying gestational age with standards for that age. Normal and abnormal deviations in growth are easily identified. Some examples of common variations in physical growth are described.
Seasonal effects of leached mirex on selected estuarine animals.

Four 28-day seasonal experiments were conducted using selected estuarine animals in outdoor tanks that received continuous flow of mirex-laden water. Mirex (dodecachlorooctahydro-1,3,4-metheno-2H-cyclobuta [cd] pentalene) leached from fire ant bait (0.3% mirex) by fresh water and then mixed with salt water was toxic to blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus), pink shrimp (Penaeus duorarum), and grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio) but not to sheepshead minnows (Cyprinodon variegatus), at concentrations less than 0.53μg/L in water. The amount of leaching was greatest in summer and least in spring. Greatest mortality occurred in summer at the highest water temperature and concentration of mirex; least mortality occurred in spring at next to the lowest temperature and at the lowest concentration. Earliest deaths of blue crabs occurred after six days of exposure and shrimps after two days. Small juvenile crabs were more sensitive to leached mirex than were large juveniles. Mirex did not appear to affect growth or frequency of molting in crabs. All exposed animals concentrated mirex. Among animals that survived for 28 days, sheepshead minnows concentrated mirex 40,800X above the concentration in the water, blue crabs 2,300X, pink shrimp 10,000X, and grass shrimp 10,800X. Sand substrata contained mirex up to 770X that in the water. Most control and exposed animals in samples examined histologically had normal tissues, but alteration in gills of some exposed fish and natural pathogens in some exposed and control crabs and shrimp were observed. The experiments demonstrated that mirex can be leached from bait by fresh water, concentrated by estuarine organisms, and can be toxic to crabs and shrimps.
Patient-reported acute gastrointestinal toxicity in men receiving 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy for prostate cancer with or without neoadjuvant androgen suppression therapy.

Abstract Objective To investigate the impact of 2 months of neoadjuvant and 2 months of concurrent hormonal therapy on the acute gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities associated with 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy (3D-CRT) for prostate adenocarcinoma. Methods The study cohort consisted of 80 men who underwent 3D-CRT with ( n = 40) or without ( n = 40) neoadjuvant and concurrent hormonal therapy. Computerized tomography-based planning occurred after neoadjuvant hormonal therapy. All patients completed a previously validated, quality-of-life self-assessment tool on 7 GI symptoms, including diarrhea, urgency, pain, rectal bleeding, cramping, mucus, and tenesmus, at baseline and weekly during radiation therapy. Results Patients who received hormonal therapy were more likely to have T2b, T2c, T3a, or T3b ( P P = 0.02) disease compared to those that did not. The dose delivered to the planning target volume was 70 Gy for both groups. Median radiation treatment volume was numerically smaller for the hormone group but not to a statistically significant degree (949 vs. 1043 cc, P = 0.30). Patients who received hormonal therapy had less rectal pain ( P P = 0.02) but more rectal mucus ( P = 0.03) compared to those who did not. Conclusions Prostate gland volume reduction after androgen suppression therapy may reduce patient-reported acute GI toxicities associated with 3D-CRT for prostate cancer.
Rescuing Wolves from Politics: Wildlife as a Public Trust Resource

impacts on domestic livestock and wild game, have tility toward wolves. We examine the wildlife trust doctrine as a tool for promoting of wolves and imperiled species under state management. We argue that this
Treatment package to reduce SIB in a Lesch-Nyhan patient.

Self-destructive behaviour in LNS children results in a tremendous burden to parents, teachers, staff members, and other responsible for their care. As constant vigilance is not always feasible, developing alternate methods of managing SIB becomes imperative. This report presents our efforts to improve the care of an LNS child and to ease the burden on staff members and parents by obtaining special devices (e.g. the custom-made mouthguard and the gloves) to prevent him from injuring himself. Others (e.g. Letts & Hobson, 1975) have likewise reported success in fabricating custom-designed chairs and devices in an effort to manage SIB in LNS children. Their devices were, however, more elaborate and much more expensive than the ones used in this report. The cost of obtaining a mouthguard similar to the one used with K. is estimated at between $20-$30 (US), while the gloves cost only $14.00. The major advantages of using such devices are that they safely allow employment of the extinction procedure along with allowing the child to participate more fully in activities of daily living. It is recognized that K. was in some ways an atypical Lesch-Nyhan child in that he possessed low normal receptive intelligence and scored fairly high (relative to most LNS children) on a test of verbal intelligence. His cognitive and verbal abilities made him a unique case in that he responded favourably to therapeutic instructions regarding relaxation and self-control tactics. The therapists were able to rely on K.'s verbalizations and feelings about his biting in structuring the treatment approach.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Evaluations of combination MDR-1 gene silencing and paclitaxel administration in biodegradable polymeric nanoparticle formulations to overcome multidrug resistance in cancer cells

In this study, the effect of MDR-1 gene silencing, using small interfering RNA (siRNA), and paclitaxel (PTX) co-therapy in overcoming tumor multidrug resistance was examined. Poly(ethylene oxide)-modified poly(beta-amino ester) (PEO-PbAE) and PEO-modified poly(epsilon-caprolactone) (PEO-PCL) nanoparticles were formulated to efficiently encapsulate MDR-1 silencing siRNA and PTX, respectively. Upon administration in multidrug resistant SKOV3TR human ovarian adenocarcinoma cells, siRNA-mediated MDR-1 gene silencing was evident at 100 nM dose. Combination of MDR-1 gene silencing and nanoparticle-mediated delivery significantly influenced the cytotoxic activity of PTX in SKOV3TR cells similar to what was observed in drug sensitive SKOV3 cells. We speculate that the enhancement in cytotoxicity was due to an increase in intracellular drug accumulation upon MDR-1 gene silencing leading to an apoptotic cell-kill effect. Taken together, these preliminary results are highly encouraging for the development of combination nano-therapeutic strategies that combine gene silencing and drug delivery to provide more potent therapeutic effect, especially in refractory tumors.
Which book will win the caldecott

Do reviews of picture books provide any clues to the likely winner of the Caldecott Medal? Carol Doll examines reviews of books that subsequently won the Caldecott Medal by using analytical techniques that researchers have applied to reviews of picture books generally. Reviews of Caldecott winners differ in a few ways, including frequency and length of reviews.
AltarNation: interface design for meditative communities

AltarNation allows physically isolated individuals to participate in communities of meditation and tailor thier own meditative practices. By lighting candles, users enter a shared virtual community of users represented by a field of stars, each associated with a sound sample of a prayer, song, joy, or concern of another user. Existing practices of individual meditation and candlelight vigils inform this work. This paper describes implementation and design approaches of the AltarNation system.
Occurrence of identical hypervariable region 1 sequences of hepatitis C virus in transfusion recipients and their respective blood donors: Divergence over time

A total of 240 stored serum specimens from 30 transfusion recipients and 120 blood donors from the Transfusion-Transmitted Viruses Study (TTVS) were evaluated with the objective of establishing transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) by specific blood donors. Phylogenetic analysis of hypervariable region 1 (HVR1) and HCV genotyping were performed on the genomic region encoding amino acids 329 to 410. Amino acid distances between HVR1 sequences were calculated by the Kimura formula. Bootstrap analysis of HVR1 sequences provided support for linking recipients to specific donors. Linear regression analysis showed no differences between donor and recipient HVR1 sequences 7.9 weeks posttransfusion, but donor and recipient sequences diverged thereafter (r = 0.690). The initial lag phase in the evolution of HVR1 in the infected recipient was attributed to the time required to mount host immunologic defenses against the virus. Within-recipient divergence in HVR1 was determined from analyses of serial specimens collected within 2 weeks after the alanine transaminase peak, at the end of the original study (1974-1979), and in the follow-up study (1987-present). HVR1 remained invariant over a period of 6.7 to 9.5 days (95% CI) during acute infection. Within-patient divergence in HVR1 increased over a period of 11 to 15 years (r = 0.771), reaching the degree of divergence observed between unlinked subjects. In cases in which transfusion involved more than one HCV subtype, only one of the HCV subtypes established infection in the recipient. Subtype-specific differences in HVR1 were shown.
Experimental Observation of a Large Excess Quantum Noise Factor in the Linewidth of a Laser Oscillator Having Nonorthogonal Modes.

Several authors have predicted a substantial excess noise factor ${K}_{p}$ multiplying the quantum-limited Schawlow-Townes linewidth for laser oscillators having nonorthogonal spatial modes, such as unstable-resonator lasers. Experimental observations of this factor have to date, however, been limited in both number and detail. We report here a detailed experimental measurement of this factor in a diode-pumped hard-edged unstable-resonator Nd:YV${\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ laser. The measured excess noise factor ${K}_{p}\ensuremath{\simeq}330$ is in reasonable agreement with the theoretically predicted value.
Food Security: Achieving the Potential

(2008). Food Security: Achieving the Potential. Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development: Vol. 50, No. 5, pp. 48-61.
Stability of apigeninidin and its methoxylated derivatives in the presence of sulfites.

3-Deoxyanthocyanin pigments are more stable than anthocyanins and show promising bioactive properties. However, little is known about their stability in the presence of food additives such as sulfites. This work investigates the stability of apigeninidin and its derivatives in the presence of sulfites. Pigment (apigeninidin, 5-mono-, and 5,7-dimethoxyapigeninidin) stability at pH 1.8, 3.0, and 5.0, in the presence of sodium metabisulfite (molar ratio ∼ 1:40, pigment/SO2) was monitored over 21 days at room temperature. The structure of sulfite complexation products was monitored using HPLC-MS and NMR spectroscopy. All pigments were significantly bleached within 30 min in the presence of sulfites; the bleaching effect was more severe at pH 5.0 and 3.0 compared to pH 1.8. Apigeninidin was more resistant to bleaching than its methoxylated derivatives. However, all pigments regained some or all of the bleached color within 14−21 days at pH 3.0 and 1.8 in the presence of sulfites, indicating equilibrium favored...
Enumeration of Aeromonas for verification of the hygienic adequacy of swine carcass dressing processes.

Populations of Aeromonas spp. and aerobic bacteria from dehairing equipment and from carcasses passing through different processing steps in a swine slaughtering plant were evaluated to identify the hygienic risks of each operation. Sponge samples were taken from the scraper flails in dehairing machines and the surface of the shackling table at pre- and post-operation times, with 20 samples from each location being collected at each time. Increased post-operation levels of Aeromonas spp. indicated a buildup and possible spread of these bacteria to carcasses. The belly skins of 40 dehaired carcasses were each sampled at five points along the process line which were after the shackling, after the final singeing, after the final polishing, after the final wash and after chilling. The levels of microbial contaminants on carcasses varied at each processing step. The heaviest contamination of carcasses with Aeromonas (1.88 log CFU/cm 2 ) and aerobic bacteria (2.66 log CFU/cm 2 ) occurred after shackling. Counts were reduced at other steps as a result of singeing, washing and chilling operations. However, singed carcasses were recontaminated with Aeromonas and aerobic bacteria during the polishing operation. Aeromonas hydrophila were the most prominent motile aeromonads (74.1%) recovered at the plant. The findings for Aeromonas spp. were similar to those for aerobic bacteria (r2 = 0.9995) which suggested that Aeromonas spp. are appropriate indicators for assessing carcass dressing processes.
Oxidation study of a polycrystalline Ni/Cr alloy IV. 400 °C anneal in air

Abstract The surface of a polycrystalline Ni/Cr alloy has been examined using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), ion scattering spectroscopy (ISS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) before and after a 1 h, 400 °C anneal in air. The use of these three techniques provides depth-sensitive information as a result of their different sampling depths. The outermost surface layer contains mostly O and some Ni, and the near-surface region consists primarily of NiO. Using sputter depth profiling coupled with AES and XPS, a Cr-rich region is observed between 130 and 175 min of sputtering which consists of two layers. The upper portion of this region contains Ni and Cr metals as well as a mixture of CrO and Cr2O3. The lower portion of this region contains a larger Cr oxide concentration compared with the upper layer, and the Cr oxide consists mostly of CrO and CrO3. Below this region only Ni metal, Cr metal, and a small amount of Cr oxide species are present. The Cr-oxide-rich layer may be responsible for the passivation of Ni/Crsurfaces toward oxidation.
A potentiometric and kinetic study on the respiratory chain of ferrous-iron-grown Thiobacillus ferrooxidans

The type and number of respiratory chain components present in membranes of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans have been investigated. These redox components were resolved potentiometrically and kinetically. Using optical techniques two cytochromes a1, multiple cytochromes c and two cytochromes b were detected. By using electron paramagnetic resonance, two copper-containing centres, high and low spin ferric haems and a ferredoxin centre were detected. Based on the combination of a potentiometric resolution and a kinetic study a model for the sequence of the respiratory chain components in the Fe2+ to O2 branch of the T. ferrooxidans respiratory chain is proposed.
Tao-1 Phosphorylates Hippo/MST Kinases to Regulate the Hippo-Salvador-Warts Tumor Suppressor Pathway

Recent studies have shown that the Hippo-Salvador-Warts (HSW) pathway restrains tissue growth by phosphorylating and inactivating the oncoprotein Yorkie. How growth-suppressive signals are transduced upstream of Hippo remains unclear. We show that the Sterile 20 family kinase, Tao-1, directly phosphorylates T195 in the Hippo activation loop and that, like other HSW pathway genes, Tao-1 functions to restrict cell proliferation in developing imaginal epithelia. This relationship appears to be evolutionarily conserved, because mammalian Tao-1 similarly affects MST kinases. In S2 cells, Tao-1 mediates the effects of the upstream HSW components Merlin and Expanded, consistent with the idea that Tao-1 functions in tissues to regulate Hippo phosphorylation. These results demonstrate that one family of Ste20 kinases can activate another and identify Tao-1 as a component of the regulatory network controlling HSW pathway signaling, and therefore tissue growth, during development.
Structural relaxation effects in nanomagnetism

In viewing layer-resolved components of physical properties as a function of multiples of the interlayer spacing and by using a Taylor expansion structural relaxation effects can be described not only for the free-energy part of the magnetic anisotropy energy but directly also for electric and magneto-optical transport properties. Examples for such a procedure are shown for the anisotropy energy of free surfaces and magnetic tunneling junctions, for tunneling currents and for permittivities, which in turn determine Kerr angles. Considered as a test case, the already well-studied magnetic anisotropy energy of ${\text{Co}}_{2}/\text{Cu}(111)$ turns out to be in excellent agreement with very recent experiment data.
Multimodel Estimation of Snow Microwave Emission during CLPX 2003 Using Operational Parameterization of Microphysical Snow Characteristics

Existing forward snow emission models (SEMs) are limited by knowledge of both the temporal and spatial variability of snow microphysical parameters, with grain size being the most difficult to measure or estimate. This is due to the sparseness of in situ data and the lack of simple operational parameterizations for the evolution of snowpack properties. This paper compares snow brightness temperatures predicted by three SEMs using, as inputs, predicted snowpack characteristics from the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model. The latter is augmented by a new parameterization for the evolution of snow grain morphology and density. The grain size dynamics are described using a crystal growth equation. The three SEMs used in the study are the Land Surface Microwave Emission Model (LSMEM), the Dense Media Radiative Transfer (DMRT) model, and the Microwave Emission Model of Layered Snowpacks (MEMLS). Estimated brightness temperature is validated against the satellite [Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for Earth Observing System (AMSR-E)] data at two sites from the Cold Land Processes Experiment (CLPX), conducted in Colorado in the winter of 2003. In addition, a merged multimodel estimate, based on Bayesian model averaging, is developed and compared to the measured brightness temperatures. The advantages of the Bayesian approach include the increase in the mean prediction accuracy as well as providing a nonparametric estimate of the error distributions for the brightness temperature estimates.