cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Untreated Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Age 50–59 Years and Performance Status 2 Should Be as Eligible for Targeted Therapy as Older Patients.

Background: The early mortality rates in older patients (generally defined as those > 60 years) following standard therapy for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), has spurred numerous trials of “targeted” treatments, typically limited to this age group. Here we examine whether younger patients with Zubrod performance status (PS) 2 might also be candidates for these therapies. Patients and Methods: We reviewed the records of 1841 patients 40 years or older with newly diagnosed AML (no acute promyelocytic leukemia) who received cytarabine-containing therapy at M. D. Anderson from 1980 to 2007. We chose patients with the following pretreatment characteristics because they are conventional criteria for entry onto trials of new therapies: PS 0–2, bilirubin < 2 mg/dL, and creatinine < 2 mg/dL. We calculated death rates by age and PS at 28 and 42 days after initiation of induction therapy. Results: Induction death rates in patients with AML by age and performance status The 28-day death rates in patients age 50–59 years with PS 2 were similar to those in patients ≥ 60 years with PS 0–1, and the 42-day death rates in the patients age 50–59 years with PS 2 were similar to those in patients age 60–79 with PS 0–1. Conclusion: Because of the high death rates following AML therapy in patients age 50–59 with PS 2, these patients should be eligible for targeted treatments now limited to older patients. | Age, yrs | Performance Status | No. of Patients | Dead by day 28, % | Dead by day 42 % | |:-------- | ------------------ | --------------- | ----------------- | ---------------- | | 40–49 | 0–1 | 288 | 7 | 9 | | 40–49 | 2 | 38 | 5 | 5 | | 50–59 | 0–1 | 405 | 4 | 6 | | 50–59 | 2 | 85 | 14 | 15 | | 60–69 | 0–1 | 423 | 8 | 11 | | 60–69 | 2 | 111 | 17 | 17 | | 70–79 | 0–1 | 301 | 12 | 16 | | 70–79 | 2 | 124 | 23 | 33 | | ≥80 | 0–1 | 45 | 13 | 20 | | ≥ 80 | 2 | 21 | 38 | 43 |
An experimental study of drainage network development by surface and subsurface flow in low-gradient landscapes

Abstract. How do channel networks develop in low-gradient, poorly-drained landscapes? Rivers form elaborate drainage networks with morphologies that express the unique environments in which they developed, yet we lack an understanding of what drives channel development in low-gradient landscapes like those left behind in the wake of continental glaciation. To better understand what controls the erosional processes allowing channel growth and integration of non-contributing areas (NCA) over time, we conducted a series of experiments in a small-scale drainage basin. By varying substrate and precipitation, we could vary the partitioning of flow between the surface and subsurface, impacting erosional processes. Channels developed by overland flow and seepage erosion to varying extents depending on substrate composition, rainfall rate, and drainage basin relief. Seepage-driven erosion was favored in substrates with higher infiltration rates, while overland flow was more dominant in experiments with high precipitation rates. Overland flow channels formed at the onset of experiments and expanded over a majority of the basin area, forming broad dendritic networks. Large surface water contributing areas supported numerous first-order channels, allowing for more rapid integration of NCA than through seepage erosion. When overland flow was the dominant process, channels integrated NCA at a similar, consistent rate under all experimental conditions. Seepage erosion began later in experiments after channels had incised enough for exfiltrating subsurface flow to initiate mass wasting of headwalls. Periodic mass wasting of channel heads caused them to assume an amphitheater-shaped morphology. Seepage allowed for channel heads to expand with smaller surface water contributing areas than overland flow channels, allowing for network expansion to continue even with low CA. Seepage-driven channel heads integrated NCA more slowly than channel heads dominated by overland flow, but average erosion rates in channels extending through seepage erosion were higher. The experimental results provide insight into drainage networks that formed in glacial sediment throughout areas affected by continental glaciation, and highlight the importance of subsurface hydrologic connections in integrating and expanding drainage networks over time in these landscapes.
Teaching Old Dogs "New" Grammar Tricks with Content-based Instruction: A Course Evaluation

What do we do when we discover that a uniform body of research speaks with virtually one voice, boldly declaring that practically everything we have traditionally experienced in school and have ever been taught about teaching grammar has been consistently found to be largely ineffective? A California school teacher, continuing her professional development and studying a graduate level English course using “contextual approaches to grammar,” might feel anxious, skeptical, or perhaps even relieved for the opportunity to be able to stop “teaching the book” in favor of exploring “new” methods and approaches, content-based instruction (CBI). This paper reports on a naturalistic inquiry in which a graduate level course instructor introduced this “new” approach and its “new” methods to his class of graduate student / teachers and encouraged them to make their own innovations to grammar instruction. As a result, both the numerical ratings and comments on course evaluations as well as the work submitted during the semester, indicated strongly that the beginning teachers and pre-service teachers taking this course learned a lot about teaching grammar more contextually, in a content-based manner. Thus, they were increasingly willing to try out those ideas when engaged in literary or writing instruction by the end of the course.
An Investigation of Smart Parking Tools, Technologies, & Challenges

Urbanization, exceptional increase in population and advancement in technology caused the automotive industry to grow rapidly & automobiles become essential part of daily life. Consequently, finding a parking space particularly in populous zones, is a challenging task. Researchers have proposed different solutions to assist the developments in smart parking systems. In this paper, we have investigated the key tools, techniques & challenges proposed in the recent research studies. Primarily, a Systematic Literature Review is carried out, total 35 studies are explored during time interval of (2015-2019). Subsequently, five major areas are recognized where smart parking is often functional i.e. Internet of Things (IoT) (13 studies), Cloud Computing (2 studies), Model-Driven Engineering (4 studies), Fog Computing (6 studies) and Artificial Intelligence (11 studies). Furthermore, (15) primary tools and (25) algorithms are presented. This article also portray the challenges cited by different studies. The findings of this study will definitely assist the practitioners while deciding the appropriate selections.
Improved Glow Discharge Polymer Removal from Beryllium Capsules Using Ozone

Copper-doped beryllium spheres are an attractive ablator for inertial confinement fusion experiments. Beryllium spheres are made by sputtering beryllium onto spherical plastic mandrels which must t...
Clinical Implementation and Initial Experience of Real-Time Motion Tracking With Jaws and Multileaf Collimator During Helical Tomotherapy Delivery.

Abstract Purpose This work reports the clinical implementation of a real-time motion tracking and correction system using dynamic multileaf collimator and jaws during helical tomotherapy delivery (Synchrony on Radixact; Accuray, Inc). Methods and Materials The first clinical Synchrony on Radixact system was recently installed and tested at our institution. Various clinical workflows, including fiducial implantation, computed tomography simulation, treatment planning, delivery quality assurance, treatment simulation, and delivery, for both fiducial-free and fiducial-based motion tracking methods were developed. Treatment planning and delivery data from initial patients, including dosimetric benefits, real-time target detection, model building, motion tracking accuracy, delivery smoothness, and extra dose from real-time radiographic imaging, were analyzed. Results The Synchrony on Radixact system was tested to be within its performance specifications and has been used to treat 10 lung (fiducial-free) and 5 prostate (fiducial-based) patients with cancer so far in our clinic. The success of these treatments, especially for fiducial-free tracking, depends on multiple factors, including careful selection of the patient, appropriate setting of system parameters, appropriate positioning of the patient and skin markers, and use of treatment simulation. For the lung tumor cases, difficulties in model building, due primarily to the changes of target detectability or respiration patterns, were observed, which led to important system upgrades, including the addition of a treatment delivery simulation capability. Motion tracking metrics for all treated patients were within specifications, for example, (1) delivery quality assurance passing rates >95%; (2) extra dose from radiograph Conclusions Practical workflows for the use of the first clinical motion tracking and correction system in helical tomotherapy delivery have been developed, and the system has now been successfully implemented in our clinic for treating patients with lung and prostate cancer.
Can practitioners and analysts join forces to address largescale environmental challenges

Efforts to promote collaboration between practitioners and analysts in establishing and administering governance systems to address largescale environmental challenges regularly fall victim to a two cultures problem. As a popular saying has it: analysts look at issues from 30,000 feet, while practitioners are down in the weeds. This article considers prospects for overcoming this problem. Using the concept of the policy cycle as a framing device, it examines contributions practitioners and analysts can make during the stages of agenda formation, collective choice, implementation and administration, and evaluation and reform. The article then turns to practical steps for overcoming the barriers to productive engagement between the two communities caused by the lack of a common language for thinking about specific needs for governance and by the influence of negative stereotypes about each other’s contributions that color the day-to-day activities of practitioners and analysts alike. The empirical focus of the article is on efforts to create effective governance systems to address largescale environmental challenges. But many features of the two cultures problem are generic. The ideas this article articulates may apply as well to efforts to foster collaboration between practitioners and analysts in other issue domains.
Biofidelic dynamic compression of human cortical spheroids reproduces neurotrauma phenotypes.

Fundamental questions about patient heterogeneity and human-specific pathophysiology currently obstruct progress towards a therapy for traumatic brain injury (TBI). Human in vitro models have the potential to address these questions. 3D spheroidal cell culture protocols for human-origin neural cells have several important advantages over their 2D monolayer counterparts. Three dimensional spheroidal cultures may mature more quickly, develop more biofidelic electrophysiological activity and/or reproduce some aspects of brain architecture. Here, we present the first human in vitro model of non-penetrating TBI employing 3D spheroidal cultures. We used a custom-built device to traumatize these spheroids in a quantifiable, repeatable and biofidelic manner and correlated the heterogeneous, mechanical strain field with the injury phenotype. Trauma reduced cell viability, mitochondrial membrane potential and spontaneous, synchronous, electrophysiological activity in the spheroids. Electrophysiological deficits emerged at lower injury severities than changes in cell viability. Also, traumatized spheroids secreted lactate dehydrogenase, a marker of cell damage, and neurofilament light chain, a promising clinical biomarker of neurotrauma. These results demonstrate that 3D human in vitro models can reproduce important phenotypes of neurotrauma in vitro.
What is an Ophiolite

Utilization of scientific terms in geology has several inherent problems, particularly when contemplating both process and description. Ophiolite has had a particularly notorious history in this respect because it has been used in various ways by numerous authors (Green, 1971). Originally, Brongniart (1827) utilized ophiolite to describe serpentinites. The name is derived from the Greek root “ophi,” which means snake or serpent, because the greenish, mottled and shiny appearance of sheared serpentinite is similar to some serpents. Thus, ophiolite was employed as an alternate for serpentinite, both being more or less synonymous. Dana (1946) lists “verd antique,” “ophite,” “ophiolite,” and “ophicalcite” as varietal names for serpentinite mixed with carbonate minerals. To further confuse the situation, Fouque and Michel-Levy (1879) applied the term “ophitic” as a descriptive textural term for diabase (dolerite). Originally then, ophiolite was a poorly defined term that was used to describe various kinds of serpentinized ultramafic rocks. Serpentinization being a process that gives rise to a great variety of products thus led to perhaps the indiscriminate use of ophiolite as an all embracing term to include rocks associated with serpentinite, particularly where they had become mixed by tectonic processes.
The Great Gatsby: Income Inequality in the United States of America

This paper discussed the most striking recent research claims indicating that growing incomeinequality is seriously hurting the U.S. economy, challenging a long-standing consensus thatinequality is the price America pays for a dynamic, efficient economy. The Gini Coefficient, anindicator of income inequality, suggested that by the year 2021, the US is on track to reach asmuch income inequality as Mexico experienced in 2000. There are growing indications that it isvirtually impossible for people at the bottom of the pyramid to propel themselves out of poverty.The data suggested the US is becoming more of a caste-like society in which individuals that areborn poor will likely remain poor, while individuals born wealthy will very likely remain so.
Determination of uranium in phosphate rock and wet-process phosphoric acid by argon plasma emission spectrometry.

A method for determining uranium, based on extraction with trioctylphosphine oxide and measurement by argon plasma emission spectrometry at 424.17 nm, is described. Results from the argon plasma method compare favorably with results from other methods and are within 1 standard deviation of the composite average of all methods used in an 11-laboratory study.
Proteolysis of Submembrane Cytoskeletal Proteins Ankyrin‐G and αII‐Spectrin Following Diffuse Brain Injury: A Role in White Matter Vulnerability at Nodes of Ranvier

A high membrane-to-cytoplasm ratio makes axons particularly vulnerable to traumatic injury. Posttraumatic shifts in ionic homeostasis promote spectrin cleavage, disrupt ankyrin linkages and destabilize axolemmal proteins. This study contrasted ankyrin-G and αII-spectrin degradation in cortex and corpus callosum following diffuse axonal injury produced by fluid percussion insult. Ankyrin-G lysis occurred preferentially in white matter, with acute elevation of all fragments and long-term reduction of a low kD form. Calpain-generated αII-spectrin fragments increased in both regions. Caspase-3 lysis of αII-spectrin showed a small, acute rise in cortex but was absent in callosum. White matter displayed nodal damage, with horseradish peroxidase permeability into the submyelin space. Ankyrin-G-binding protein neurofascin and spectrin-binding protein ankyrin-B showed acute alterations in expression. These results support ankyrin-G vulnerability in white matter following trauma and suggest that ankyrin-G and αII-spectrin proteolysis disrupts Node of Ranvier integrity. The time course of such changes were comparable to previously observed functional deficits in callosal fibers.
Influence of Foreground Illumination from Headlamps on Visibility and Preference

Various lighting configurations were created with different levels of foreground uniformity and illumination in order to investigate the role of foreground uniformity and illumination level on driver visual performance and preference. Participants in the study were requested to rate the quality of the headlamp lighting level, respond to the introduction of visual targets down the road, and respond to visual targets ahead of the foreground area. Results of the experiment indicate that drivers prefer high illumination levels in the foreground, though they do not have to be uniform. However, visual detection of objects further down the road was slightly (though not at a significant level) worse when foreground illumination levels were higher.
Biosynthesis and cellular processing of the prion protein.

Publisher Summary The chapter provides a detailed picture of the biosynthesis and cellular processing of PrPC and PrPSc. PrPC is synthesized and matures along the secretory pathway much like other membrane glycoproteins. One important feature is the addition of a GPI anchor that serves to attach the polypeptide chain to the lipid bilayer without the necessity for a transmembrane domain. Once it reaches the plasma membrane, PrPC is constitutively endocytosed via clathrin-coated vesicles, and a portion of the molecules is proteolytically cleaved in a highly conserved domain before recycling to the cell surface. Efficient endocytosis depends on the structural features in the Nterminal half of the PrP molecule and may be mediated by a transmembrane “PrPC receptor”. Several important avenues for future investigation are suggested by the cell biological results are summarized in the chapter.
Argon ion pollution of the magnetosphere

Construction of a Solar Power Satellite (SPS) would require the injection of large quantities of propellant to transport material from Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to the construction site at Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO). This injection, in the form of approx 10 to the 32nd power, 2 KeV argon ions (and associated electrons) per SPS, is comparable to the content of the plasmasphere (approx 10 to the 31st power ions). In addition to the mass deposited, this represents a considerable injection of energy. The injection is examined in terms of a simple model for the expansion of the beam plasma. General features of the subsequent magnetospheric convection of the argon are also examined.
Can adaboost.m1 learn incrementally? a comparison to learn ++ under different combination rules

We had previously introduced Learn++, inspired in part by the ensemble based AdaBoost algorithm, for incrementally learning from new data, including new concept classes, without forgetting what had been previously learned. In this effort, we compare the incremental learning performance of Learn++ and AdaBoost under several combination schemes, including their native, weighted majority voting. We show on several databases that changing AdaBoost’s distribution update rule from hypothesis based update to ensemble based update allows significantly more efficient incremental learning ability, regardless of the combination rule used to combine the classifiers.
Lot vacancy and property abandonment: colonias and informal subdivisions in Texas

Property abandonment and lot vacancy are issues of growing importance given widespread demographic and economic changes in urban areas in the USA. This paper explores these issues in a different co...
Determination of Sources of Organic Matter in Solid Waste by Analysis of Phenolic Copper Oxide Oxidation Products of Lignin

AbstractThe decomposition behavior of lignocellulosic materials is related to the taxonomic classes of the parent plant tissues. Thus, methods to characterize the composition of mixtures of lignocellulosic materials such as municipal solid waste (MSW) according to different taxonomic classes of plants are useful. The copper oxide (CuO) oxidation products of lignin provide molecular markers that allow for characterization of the initial plants. The objective of this study was to determine if the chemical composition of the monomers present after CuO oxidation can be used to infer information on the content of woody angiosperms (hardwood—HW), non-woody angiosperms (leaves and grasses—LG), woody gymnosperms (softwood—SW), and non-woody gymnosperms (needles—GN). Results showed that the composition of HW and SW in synthetic mixtures can be estimated from CuO oxidation products of lignin within an error of ±60% of the expected values. The high uncertainty in the estimate of composition in synthetic mixtures can...
St and cf Augmentation for Real Turbine Roughness With Elevated Freestream Turbulence

Experimental measurements of skin friction (c f ) and heat transfer (St) augmentation are reported for low speed flow over turbine roughness models. The models were scaled from surface measurements taken on actual, in-service land-based turbine hardware. Model scaling factors ranged from 25 to 63, preserving the roughness height to boundary layer momentum thickness ratio for each case. The roughness models include samples of deposits, TBC spallation, erosion, and pitting. Measurements were made in a zero pressure gradient turbulent boundary layer at two Reynolds numbers (Re x =500,000 and 900,000) and three freestream turbulence levels (Tu=1%, 5%, and 11%). Measurements at low freestream turbulence indicate augmentation factors ranging from 1.1-1.5 for St/St o and from 1.3-3.0 for c f /c fo (St o and c fo are smooth plate values). For the range of roughness studied (average roughness height, k, less than 1/3rd the boundary layer thickness) the level of c f augmentation agrees well with accepted equivalent sandgrain (k s ) correlations when k s is determined from a roughness shape/density parameter. This finding is not repeated with heat transfer, in which case the k s -based St correlations overpredict the measurements. Both c f and St correlations severely underpredict the effect of roughness for k + < 70 (when k s , as determined by the roughness shape/density parameter, is small). A new k s correlation based on the rms surface slope angle overcomes this limitation. Comparison of data from real roughness and simulated (ordered cones or hemispheres) roughness suggests that simulated roughness is fundamentally different from real roughness. Specifically, k s values that correlate c f for both simulated and real roughness are found to correlate St for simulated roughness but overpredict St for real roughness. These findings expose limitations in the traditional equivalent sandgrain roughness model and the common use of ordered arrays of roughness elements to simulate real roughness surfaces. The elevated freestream turbulence levels produce augmentation ratios of 1.24 and 1.5 (St/St o ) and 1.07 and 1.16 (c f /c fo ) compared to the Tu=1% flow over the smooth reference plate. The combined effects of roughness and elevated freestream turbulence are greater than their added effects suggesting that some synergy occurs between the two mechanisms. Specifically, skin friction augmentation for combined turbulence and roughness is up to 20% greater than that estimated by adding their separate effects and 8% greater than compounding (multiplying) their separate effects. For heat transfer augmentation, the combined effect of turbulence and roughness is 5% higher than that estimated by compounding their separate effects at high freestream turbulence (Tu=11%). At low turbulence (Tu=5%), there is a negative synergy between the two augmentation mechanisms as the combined effect is now 13% lower than that estimated by compounding their separate effects.
Controlling urban climates: The need for local heat supply planning

(1995). Controlling urban climates: The need for local heat supply planning. Journal of Urban Technology: Vol. 2, No. 3, pp. 59-79.
Establishment of the dorsoventral axis in nemertean embryos: Evolutionary considerations of spiralian development

The Nemertea represent one of a number of invertebrate phyla that display a highly conserved pattern of cell division known as spiral cleavage. The fates of the early blastomeres are known for representatives of some spiralian phyla (i.e., molluscs and annelids) and in these species there appears to be a high degree of conservation in the ultimate fates of particular embryonic cells. The first two cleavage planes bear an invariant relationship to the symmetry properties of the future larval and adult body plan. To investigate whether these properties of spiralian embryo-genesis are shared (conserved) amongst members of other spiralian phyla, individual blastomeres in two- and four-cell embryos of the nemertean, Nemertopsis bivittata, were microinjected with bi-otinylated dextran lineage tracers. N. bivittata is a direct-developing hoplonemertean that forms a nonfeeding larva. When individual blastomeres are injected at the two-cell stage, two sets of complementary labeling patterns (a total of four different patterns) were observed in the ectoderm of the larvae. When cells were injected at the four-cell stage, four different patterns were observed that represented subsets of the four patterns observed in the previous experiment. Unlike the case in the annelids and molluscs, in which the first cleavage plane bears a strict 45° angular relationship to the future dorsoventral axis, the first cleavage plane in N. bivittata can bear one of two different relationships relative to the larval/adult dorsoventral axis. In half the cases examined, the first cleavage plane corresponded roughly to the plane of bilateral symmetry, and in the rest, it lay along a frontal plane. A similar result was observed for the embryos of the indirect-developing heteronemertean, Cerebratutus lacteus. These results indicate that the fates of the four cell quadrants in nemerteans are not directly homologous to those in other spira-lians, such as the annelids and molluscs. For instance, no single cell quadrant appears to contribute a greater share to the formation of ectoderm, as is the case in the formation of the post-trochal region by the D-cell quadrant in annelids and mol-luscs. Rather, two adjacent cell quadrants contribute nearly equally to the formation of dorsal or ventral ectoderm in the larvae. Possible explanations for the determination of dorsoventrality in nemerte-ans, as well as implications of these findings regarding the evolution of spiralian development, are discussed. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Repeated Play, Cooperation and Coordination: An Experimental Study

An experiment was conducted to test whether discounted repeated play leads to greater cooperation and coordination than one-shot play, in a public good environment with incomplete information. The experiment was designed so that, theoretically repeated play can sustain equilibria with higher group earnings than result in the one-shot Bayesian Nash equilibrium. The design varied a number of environment al parameters, including the size of the group, the marginal rate of transformation between the public and private good, and the statistical distribution of marginal rates of substitution between the public and private good. Marginal rates of substitution were private information but the statistical distribution was common knowledge. The results indicate that repetition leads to greater cooperation, and that the magnitude of these gains depends both on the ability of players to monitor each other's strategy and on the underlying environmental parameters.
Th diffusion in monazite

Abstract Diffusion of Th has been characterized in synthetic monazite under dry conditions. The synthetic monazites (either pure CePO4, NdPO4, or a mixed LREE phosphate containing Ce, Nd, and Sm) were grown via a Na2CO3–MoO3 flux method. The sources of diffusant for the experiments were either synthesized ThSiO4 or CaTh(PO4)2 powders mixed with CePO4. Experiments were performed by placing source and monazite in Pt capsules and annealing capsules in 1-atm furnaces for times ranging from 3 weeks to a few hours, at temperatures from 1350 to 1550 °C. The Th distributions in the monazite were profiled by Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS). The following Arrhenius relation was obtained for Th diffusion in monazite: D = 6.7 × 10 1 exp ( − 740 ± 63 kJ mol − 1 / R T ) m 2 s − 1 The diffusivity of Th was found to be similar for monazites containing a single REE (Ce or Nd) and the mixed LREE phosphates. Th diffusion was also similar for experiments run using the Th silicate and Ca–Th phosphate sources, suggesting that the substitutional mechanism for Th in monazite, i.e., Th+ 4 + Si+ 4 → REE+ 3 + P+ 5 for the ThSiO4 source, and Th+ 4 + Ca+ 2 → 2REE+ 3 for the CaTh(PO4)2 source, does not significantly affect Th diffusivities, and that Th is likely the rate-limiting species in diffusion. Th diffusion in monazite is about 3 orders of magnitude slower than Pb diffusion [Cherniak, D.J., Watson, E.B., Grove, M., Harrison, T.M., 2004a. Pb diffusion in monazite: a combined RBS/SIMS study. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 68, 829–840.]. This contrasts with findings of Gardes et al. [Gardes, E., Jaoul, O., Montel, J.-M., Seydoux-Guillaume, A.-M., Wirth, R., 2006. Pb diffusion in monazite: An experimental study of Pb2+ + Th4+ → 2Nd3+ interdiffusion. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 70, 2325–2336.] who determined that diffusivities measured in (Pb, Th) ↔ REE exchange (which would under most circumstances be rate-limited by the slowest-diffusing species) are comparable to those measured by Cherniak et al. [Cherniak, D.J., Watson, E.B., Grove, M., Harrison, T.M., 2004a. Pb diffusion in monazite: a combined RBS/SIMS study. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 68, 829–840.] for Pb. Th diffusion in zircon [Cherniak, D.J., Hanchar, J.M., Watson, E.B., 1997. Diffusion of tetravalent cations in zircon. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 127, 383–390.] is about an order of magnitude slower than in monazite, but with similar activation energy for diffusion. The lower diffusivities in zircon may be a consequence of the larger disparity in size between Th and the Zr site in zircon as compared with Th and the REE site in monazite. Nonetheless, Th is essentially immobile in monazite with respect to exchange by volume diffusion under most geologic conditions. These findings may also have implications for containment of high-level actinide-based nuclear waste in monazite ceramic waste forms, but it should be noted that mechanisms other than diffusive exchange (e.g., recrystallization, dissolution/reprecipitation) may be important to consider along with diffusion when evaluating the retentivity of monazite for Th and other actinide elements.
Review on polymer/graphite nanoplatelet nanocomposites

Graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) are a type of graphitic nanofillers composed of stacked 2D graphene sheets, having outstanding electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. Furthermore, owing to the abundance of naturally existing graphite as the source material for GNPs, it is considered an ideal reinforcing component to modify the properties of polymers. The 2D confinement of GNPs to the polymer matrix and the high surface area make the GNP a distinctive nanofiller, showing superiorities in modification of most properties, compared with other carbon nanofillers. This review will summarize the development of polymer/GNP nanocomposites in recent years, including the fabrication of GNPs and its nanocomposites, processing issues, viscoelastic properties, mechanical properties, electrical and dielectric properties, thermal conductivity and thermal stability. The discussion of reinforcing effect will be based on dispersion, particle geometry, concentrations, as well as the 2D structures and exfoliation of GNPs. The synergy of GNPs with other types of carbon nanofillers used as hybrid reinforcing systems shows great potential and could significantly broaden the application of GNPs. The relevant research will also be included in this review.
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF THE AUTOINHIBITION OF ETS-1 AND ITS ROLE IN PROTEIN PARTNERSHIPS

The DNA-binding activity of the eukaryotic transcription factor Ets-1 (E26 avian erythroblastosis virus oncogene-E twenty-six) is negatively regulated by inhibitory regions that flank the ETS domain. Based on the results of solution studies, these N- and C-terminal inhibitory regions have been proposed to pack against the ETS domain and form an autoinhibitory module whose N terminus partially unfolds upon binding of Ets-1 to DNA. Mutations that disrupt autoinhibition of DNA binding also cause a structural change in the inhibitory region. We report here a crystallographic study of fragments of Ets-1 that provide structural details of the inhibitory module and the structural transition that accompanies DNA binding. The structures of free and DNA-bound Ets-1 fragments containing the ETS domain and the inhibitory regions confirm that the N-terminal inhibitory region contains two alpha-helices one of which unfolds upon Ets-1 binding to DNA. The observations from the crystal structure, coupled with mutagenesis experiments, allow us to propose a model for the inhibited form of Ets-1 and lend insight into the flexible interaction between Ets-1 and the acute myeloid leukemia 1 protein, AML1 (RUNX1).
Trigeminal evoked potentials in humans

Techniques were described for recording trigeminal evoked potentials in humans in response to maxillary gum stimulation. Variations in the responses as a function of stimulating and recording electrode position and stimulus intensity were presented. A standard methodology was proposed in order to obtain the characteristic response repeatedly. The characteristic triphasic wave form consisted, primarily, of an N20, P34, N51 sequence of deflections. Average latencies of components were derived from recordings following stimulation of the asymptomatic side of the face in a patient population. Indirect tests supported the view that muscle potentials did not significantly contribute to the characteristic response. It was concluded that the techniques were suitable for electrophysiological testing of fifth nerve function in routine clinical applications.
Frequent occurrence of rapid as well as delayed gastric emptying of a corn flakes and milk meal in clinical patients with gastrointestinal symptoms.

PURPOSE Early satiety, nausea and vomiting have traditionally been associated with delayed gastric emptying (GE). A study was performed to determine the frequency of rapid/delayed GE in 100 patients sequentially referred for scintigraphic GE using a corn flakes and milk meal. METHODS AND MATERIALS A retrospective review of 100 consecutive GE studies at the University Hospital, San Antonio, Texas, was performed. Each patient received a semisolid meal containing corn flakes, milk, and sugar (200 kcal, 6 g fat, 7 g protein, and 30 g carbohydrates) and 37.0 MBq (1 mCi) of Tc-99m sulfur colloid according to a standard clinical protocol followed by dynamic 1-minute planar acquisitions for 60 minutes. Gastric emptying times were classified based on the 50% emptying time as follows: 30 to 60 minutes for normal, abnormally delayed as >60 minutes, and abnormally rapid as <30 minutes. RESULTS Twenty-eight patients demonstrated rapid GE, 25 delayed GE, and 45 normal GE. Fifteen (54%) patients with rapid GE were diabetic, 4 (14%) had impaired fasting glucose values, and 9 (32%) were normoglycemic. Fourteen (56%) patients with delayed GE were diabetic, one (4%) had impaired fasting glucose, and 10 (40%) were normoglycemic. Both patients with delayed and those with rapid GE had nausea as the most common symptom followed by early satiety (rapid GE) and vomiting (delayed GE). Of 28 patients with rapid GE, 26 were on promotility agents. CONCLUSION The number of patients with rapid GE of the corn flakes, milk, and sugar meal is appreciably greater (28%) than previously reported with other meals. This relative large number is likely related to the meal composition and the homogeneous dispersal of the label within the meal.
Some crystallographic properties of K2Ir(OH)6

Abstract The preparation and crystallographic properties of K2Ir(OH)6 are presented. The structure of the red, prismatic crystals was found to be related to that of brucite. The compound forms rhombohedral crystals, space group R 3 m , having the hexagonal unit cell parameters: a = 6.41 and c = 12.74 A . The iridium hexahydroxide derivative is isostructural with K2Sn(OH)6 and K2Pt(OH)6. A description of the structure and thermogravimetric data are presented. The crystallographic and thermal results are compared with some previously reported data.
Adenovirus encoded cyclic nucleotide-gated channels: a new methodology for monitoring cAMP in living cells

The current, static methodologies for measuring cyclic AMP (cAMP) may underestimate its regulatory properties. Here, we have exploited the Ca2+-conducting properties of cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels to measure cAMP in live cells, in response to various stimuli. We placed a mutated CNG channel with high sensitivity to cAMP in adenovirus to maximize and render facile its expression in numerous cell types. The ready, continuous nature of the readout contrasted with the traditional approach, which yielded similar static information, but lacked any continuous or interactive qualities. It seems fair to predict that this readily adopted approach will broaden the perception of cAMP signaling.
Components of the bovine pituitary multicatalytic proteinase complex (proteasome) cleaving bonds after hydrophobic residues.

Two catalytic components of the multicatalytic proteinase complex (MPC, proteasome) designated as chymotrypsin-like (ChT-L) and branched chain amino acid preferring (BrAAP) cleave bonds after hydrophobic amino acids. The possible involvement of the ChT-L and peptidylglutamyl-peptide hydrolyzing (PGPH) activities in the cleavage of bonds attributed to the BrAAP component was examined. Several inhibitors of the ChT-L activity containing a phenylalaninal group did not affect the BrAAP activity at concentrations that were more than 150 times higher than their Ki values for the ChT-L activity. Concentrations of lactacystin that inactivated more than 90% of the ChT-L activity had no effect on the BrAAP activity. Concentrations of 3,4-dichloroisocoumarin (DCI) that inactivated the ChT-L activity activated by up to 10-fold the BrAAP activity toward synthetic substrates and by more than 2-fold the degradation of the insulin B chain in a reaction not inhibited by Z-LGF-CHO, a selective inhibitor of the ChT-L activi...
Studies on the microsomal acylation of l-glycerol-3-phosphate II. The specificity and properties of the rat liver enzyme

Abstract The specificity of acyl-CoA : l -glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase from rat liver microsomes was determined. Acyl-CoA's containing fatty acids of 15–18 carbons were the best substrates, while longer or shorter chains were poorer substrates. AcylCoA could be efficiently replaced by MgATP, CoA and fatty acids. A high level of endogenous fatty acids existed in microsomes, but acylation of l -glycerol-3-phosphate in the presence of MgATP and CoA was stimulated by a further addition of fatty acids; those containing 14–18 carbons were the best stimulators. Although the Michaelis constant for l -glycerol-3-phosphate was 0.5 mM, the kinetics of the acyl-CoA's was complicated by the micellar nature of these molecules. On the basis of these studies, it was felt that the substrate specificity of this enzyme was not responsible for the fatty acid distributions seen in phospholipids and in triglycerides. Enzymatic activity is lost when phospholipids are split by phospholipase A, but this activity can be restored by the addition of micellar phospholipid in the presence of dithiothreitol.
Capillary Perfusion in the Occluded-Reperfused Canine Myocardium: Evidence for Slowed Reflow

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine if the no-reflow phenomenon in the occluded/reperfused dog heart was anatomical (capillary bed could not be perfused) or functional (slowed capillary perfusion). The left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery was isolated in anesthetized open-chest dogs. The LAD was occluded (2 hr) then reperfused (4 hr). A total of 14 dogs were assigned to one of two groups: The multiple pass (MP) or single pass (SP) group. Fluorescent labeled dextran (FITC) was injected and circulated either for 10 min in the MP group or for one pass of the circulation in the SP group. In the last 2 min, the MP group was asphyxiated. Hearts were excised and frozen in liquid nitrogen. The LAD and control region were isolated and frozen sections (5 μm) obtained. Sections were photographed under fluorescent light and then immunohistochemically stained. The microvessels were identified by visualizing the endothelium with a Factor VIII antibody. The specific areas photographed were relocated. The total number of capillaries, determined by stain outlining a lumen of no greater than 10 μm in diameter, were counted. This number was compared to the number of microvessels containing FITC-dextran. There was no difference in the total perfusable capillary bed in the MP group between the control and LAD regions (80 ± 4 and 82 ± 10%). In the SP group, there was a significant difference between the control and LAD regions (59 ± 25 and 46 ± 14%). The percentage of the capillary bed perfused in the SP group was less than the MP group in each region. Closest individual analysis of the perfused capillary distribution in the SP group, showed the distribution in the LAD region was random, potentially clustered and more dispersed compared to the control region. This study provides data against physical obstruction of the capillary bed secondary to ischemia. The data suggest sluggish and clustered perfusion in the occluded-reperfused myocardium during a single pass of the coronary circulation.
Rebound kinetics of β2-microglobulin after hemodialysis

Rebound kinetics of β 2 -microglobulin after hemodialysis. Background Evaluation of β 2 -microglobulin (β 2 m) removal during hemodialysis using predialysis and immediate postdialysis plasma concentrations is only valid in the absence of postdialysis rebound. Postdialysis rebound of β 2 m has not been studied extensively, and its importance in the determination of β 2 m clearance is unknown. Methods We evaluated the kinetics of urea and β 2 m in a crossover study of 10 chronic hemodialysis patients using dialyzers with similar urea mass transfer-area coefficients containing either low-flux cellulose acetate or high-flux cellulose triacetate membranes. Kinetics were examined during and following a 210 minute treatment by measuring plasma concentrations predialysis at regular intervals during therapy and at 0, 2, 10, 20, 30, and 60 minutes postdialysis. Clearances of urea and β 2 m were also determined directly from the arterial and venous concentration differences across the dialyzer at 60 minutes after starting dialysis. Results By design, urea removal was similar for both low-flux and high-flux dialyzers as assessed by the urea reduction ratio and Kt/V. Postdialysis urea rebound was similar for low- and high-flux dialyzers; the rebound in the plasma urea nitrogen concentration (expressed as a percentage of the intradialytic decrease in plasma concentration) was 9.2 ± 1.9% (mean ± SEM) at 30 minutes postdialysis and 13.0 ± 1.4% at 60 minutes postdialysis for a single pool urea Kt/V of 1.16 ± 0.05. The plasma β 2 m concentration increased by 11.1 ± 3.0% during the treatment using the low-flux dialyzer but decreased by 27.1 ± 4.0% during the treatment using the high-flux dialyzer. When using the high-flux dialyzer, the rebound of β 2 m was 44.8 ± 21.4% at 30 minute postdialysis and 45.9 ± 15.9% at 60 minutes postdialysis. The clearance of β 2 m for the high-flux dialyzer calculated from predialysis and immediate postdialysis plasma concentrations using a single-compartment model (28.2 ± 4.4 ml/min) was higher ( P 2 m concentration was used instead, the calculated β 2 m clearance (16.5 ± 4.8 ml/min or 15.6 ± 2.8 ml/min, respectively) was similar to that determined directly across the dialyzer. Conclusions Postdialysis rebound of β 2 m when using high-flux dialyzers is substantial; neglecting postdialysis rebound results in an overestimation of β 2 m clearance when calculated using a single-compartment model.
Effect of iron additions on β-phase stability with respect to α-martensite in V-28Al-17Ti (wt.%)

Abstract The effect of iron additions (up to 7 wt.%) on the β b.c.c.-phase stability with respect to α″ orthorhombic-martensite and the corresponding transformation volume change in V-28Al-17Ti (wt.%) alloy has been studied using optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction. It was found that iron additions stabilize the β phase while the volume change remains positive and relatively high (3–4%). Using a liquid nitrogen refrigeration treatment and introducing cracks into the materials to further test β-phase stability, and carrying out a thermodynamic analysis, it was found that an addition of 5 wt.% of iron gives rise to the optimum level of stability of the β phase. This, in turn, should ensure maximum transformation toughening effects when this alloy is used as a dispersed phase within a γ titanium aluminide matrix.
Zidovudine Transport in the Rabbit Brain during Intravenous and Intracerebroventricular Infusion

The distribution of zidovudine (AZT) between plasma, brain extracellular fluid (ECF), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was investigated in a crossover design study (n = 5) in unanesthetized rabbits. Drug was administered by intravenous (iv) and intracerebroventricular (icv) infusions at the same infusion rate (1.5 mg/h.kg). The concentrations of AZT in ECF and CSF were measured by HPLC with microdialysis sampling. Plasma concentrations of AZT were quantitated by HPLC. Following iv infusion, the ECF- and CSF-to-plasma concentration ratios at steady state (SS), were 0.19 ± 0.05 and 0.29 ± 0.06, respectively. These values were less than unity, indicating the existence of active transport processes for the transport of AZT from brain to plasma across the blood–brain barrier (BBB) or blood–CSF barrier (BCB). The transport processes were modeled by compartmental model analysis, and the results suggest that the transport efficiency of AZT across the BBB is asymmetric; that is, the efflux clearance was five times greater than the influx clearance. Similarly, the efflux clearance from CSF is three times larger than the influx clearance into CSF. The SS concentrations of AZT in brain ECF in the same animals that received an icv infusion of AZT in the crossover design study were approximately two orders of magnitude greater than those in animals following iv infusion at the same dosing rate. Nevertheless, the SS plasma concentrations of AZT were similar for both routes of administration (1.2 ± 0.19 and 1.2 ± 0.13 μg/mL for iv and icv routes, respectively), confirming that the brain is not an organ that exhibits first-pass metabolism under the present experimental conditions.
Comparison of coupled radiative flow solutions with Project Fire II flight data

A nonequilibrium, axisymmetric, Navier-Stokes flow solver with coupled radiation has been developed for use in the design or thermal protection systems for vehicles where radiation effects are important. The present method has been compared with an existing now and radiation solver and with the Project Fire 2 experimental data. Good agreement has been obtained over the entire Fire 2 trajectory with the experimentally determined values of the stagnation radiation intensity in the 0.2-6.2 eV range and with the total stagnation heating. The effects of a number of flow models are examined to determine which combination of physical models produces the best agreement with the experimental data. These models include radiation coupling, multitemperature thermal models, and finite rate chemistry. Finally, the computational efficiency of the present model is evaluated. The radiation properties model developed for this study is shown to offer significant computational savings compared to existing codes.