cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The legacy of the international space year

Abstract This article examines the results of International Space Year (ISY). After discussing how and why the idea was conceived, it details the actions taken to bring ISY about and the projects that were to be carried out. The author examines the achievements of the year and how they are likely to continue to influence space policy in the longer term. Successes include the creation - and continuation under another name - of SAFISY; an ongoing willingness among countries and organizations to coordinate their data and avoid wasteful redundancy; a bottom-up approach to global mission planning; and greater public perception of the significance of space.
Esperanza y Vida: A Culturally and Linguistically Customized Breast and Cervical Education Program for Diverse Latinas at Three Different United States Sites

Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among Latinas in the United States. In addition, Latinas experience a disproportionate burden of cervical cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality compared with non-Hispanic White women. Lower use of breast and cervical cancer screening services may contribute to these disparities. To address the underutilization of breast and cervical cancer screening among diverse subgroups of Latinas, a peer-led education program called Esperanza y Vida ("Hope and Life") was developed and administered at 3 sites (2 in New York and 1 in Arkansas). Immigrant Latina women and their partners were educated about the importance of breast and cervical cancer screening, with the goals of increasing their knowledge about these cancers and their screening behavior. An analysis of the intervention's findings at baseline among female participants demonstrated significant sociodemographic, interpersonal, cultural, health care system, and program variability in 3 distinct geographic regions in the United States. These data indicate the need for and feasibility of customizing cancer outreach and educational programs for diverse Latina subgroups living in various U.S. regions, with implications for informing the expansion and replication of the program in other regions of the country.
35: Frequency of FoxP3+ regulatory CD4 cells recovered in bronchoalveolar lavage does not predict acute rejection score

grown from EMB with histological signs of acute cellular rejection of five heart allograft recipients (17 – 203 days post transplantation) by culturing these EMB in IL-2-enriched medium for 2 – 3 weeks. Flowcytometric analysis was used to study FoxP3 expression. Results: After 18 – 21 days of culture, 0.5 – 1.0 10 GILs were expanded from EMB. Of the CD3 GILs, 10.6% (median, range 1.6 – 17.1%) stained positive for FoxP3. In each measurement, we determined the presence of FoxP3 in the CD4 and in the CD4subset. The GIL cultures contained 2.6% (median, range 1.6 – 8.3%) CD4 FoxP3 T cells. In addition, FoxP3 T cells were also found in the CD3 CD4T-cell population in four of the GIL cultures (range 1.2 – 11.6%). Conclusions: In conclusion, FoxP3 T cells can be grown from EMB. Besides the CD3 CD4 FoxP3 T-cell subset, also CD3 CD4FoxP3 T cells were found, suggesting that a regulatory T-cell population different from the CD4 regulatory T-cell population plays a role in the immunological processes in grafts of heart recipients. The expansion of FoxP3 T cells from EMB provides a tool to functionally characterize these cells.
Measuring catatonia: a systematic review of rating scales.

Abstract Background Despite a growing scientific and clinical interest in catatonia, its precise definition remains debated. Aim The aim of this study was to offer a systematic review of the different rating scales that have been developed to assess catatonia in clinical practice. Methods A Medline-search was performed, up to December 2010. Results Seven catatonia rating scales were retrieved: the Modified Rogers Scale, the Rogers Catatonia Scale, the Bush–Francis Catatonia Rating Scale (BFCRS), and its revision, the Northoff Catatonia Rating Scale (NCRS), the Braunig Catatonia Rating Scale (BCRS), and the Kanner Scale. Conclusion Several catatonia rating scales are proposed to detect the catatonic syndrome and to evaluate treatment response. BFCRS, NCRS and BCRS are reliable for use in variable populations in which catatonia is prevalent. The BFCRS is preferred for routine use, because of its validity and reliability, and its ease of administration.
Recent invasions of the Gulf of Maine : three contrasting ecological histories

Introduced species are common members of estuarine communities where their role as competitors and predators is of concern, This paper examines the invasion of Gulf of Maine benthic habitats by the ecologically similar alien invertebrates Styela clava, Botrylloides diegensis, and Membranipora membranacea. Styela clava increased slowly in abundance at study sites in Beverly, Massachusetts and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. We found no evidence of competitive dominance by S. clava, even though it is the competitive dominant in similar habitats elsewhere. Botrylloides diegensis rapidly became a dominant species after its arrival in the Great Bay Estuary, but this dominance was short-lived. B. diegensis persists in the estuary as an early colonist of primary space and as an epibiont on secondary substrates in established communities. Membranipora membranacea became the dominant epiphyte on laminarian kelps within two years. Although M. membranacea overgrew the native epiphytes Obelia geniculata and Electra pilosa in the overwhelming majority of encounters these native species are more common on other algal hosts. Therefore, competitive dominance is not likely a factor in the successful invasion of the Gulf of Maine by M. membranacea. These species provide evidence for opposing views of the role of competition in mediating community invasion. We show that ecological similarity among species is not an accurate criterion to predict either the mechanism of invasion or the means of persistence. In addition, these data indicate that biological invasions must be examined on broad spatial and temporal scales; short-term or narrowly focused studies can lead to incorrect conclusions.
A cellular automata model to link surface fires to firebrand lift-off and dispersal

In spite of considerable effort to predict wildland fire behaviour, the effects of firebrand lift-off, the ignition of resulting spot fires and their effects on fire spread, remain poorly understood. We developed a cellular automata model integrating key mathematical models governing current fire spread models with a recently developed model that estimates firebrand landing patterns. Using our model we simulated a wildfire in an idealised Pinus ponderosa ecosystem. Varying values of wind speed, surface fuel loading, surface fuel moisture content and canopy base height, we investigated two scenarios: (i) the probability of a spot fire igniting beyond fuelbreaks of various widths and (ii) how spot fires directly affect the overall surface fire's rate of spread. Results were averages across 2500 stochastic simulations. In both scenarios, canopy base height and surface fuel loading had a greater influence than wind speed and surface fuel moisture content. The expected rate of spread with spot fires occurring approached a constant value over time, which ranged between 6 and 931% higher than the predicted surface fire rate of spread. Incorporation of the role of spot fires in wildland fire spread should be an important thrust of future decision-support technologies. Language: en
Human androgen insensitivity mutation does not alter oligonucleotide recognition by the androgen receptor-dht complex☆

Abstract We studied the binding of dihydrotestosterone-receptor complexes (DHT-R) from human genital skin fibroblasts to oligodeoxyribonucleotides and DNA. Following incubation of fibroblasts with 2 nM [ 3 H]DHT (45 min, 37°C), DHT-R were prepared as total fibroblast sonicates (sonication of cells in 0.5 M KCl), intact fibroblast cytosol (100000 × g supernatant) or intact fibroblast nuclear extract (sonication of nuclei in 0.5 M KC1). DHT-R were also prepared by incubation of fractionated fibroblast cytosol with 4 nM [ 3H ]DHT (4 h, 0°C). Optimal conditions were established for binding of DHT-R from total fibroblast sonicates to oligo-dT cellulose: 60 nun, 0°C, low salt (0.05–0.10 M KC1), linearity with DHT-R concentration, and nucleotide saturation. With total fibroblast sonicates the rank order of DHT-R binding was oligo-dT ≈ -dG > DNA > -dC >- -dA ≈ -dl. Intact fibroblast cytosol displayed a similar preference of DHT-R binding to oligo-dT and -dG but the binding was quantitatively higher than for total fibroblast sonicates, the binding for fractionated fibroblast cytosolic DHT-R formed at 0°C being quantitatively lower. However, binding of DHT-R from eytosol (0°C) to DNA-cellulose was equal to that for DHT-R from cytosol (37°C). Binding of DHT-R from intact fibroblast nuclear extracts was lower than for total fibroblast sonicates. Preparations from cells of patients with receptor-negative, complete androgen insensitivity lacked both DHT-R formation and specific oligonucleotide binding. Binding of oligonucleotides to DHT-R from cells of patients with receptor-positive, complete androgen insensitivity could not be distinguished from that of normal cells. These results suggest: (a) androgen receptor-steroid complexes recognize and bind to certain preferred deoxyribonucleotides; (b) various factors affect the quantitative binding of DHT-R from different cellular preparations to deoxyribonucleotides; and (c) neither qualitative nor quantitative abnormalities for DHT-R of complete androgen-insensitive patients were detectable from oligonucleotide or DNA binding.
Concerning bent-crystal spectrometer measurements ofKαx-rays from radioactive sources

The wavelengths of severalKα x-rays emitted from elements in and neighboring the rare earth region which were contained in radioactive sources have been determined with the two-meter quartz bent-crystal spectrometer at the California Institute of Technology. The results of the measurements in XU are the following: SmKα2, 313·043; SmKα1, 308·390; EuKα2, 302·477; EuKα1, 297·824; GdKα2, 292·432; GdKα1, 287·746; TmKα2, 248·592; TmKα1, 243·859; YbKα2, 240·934; YbKα1, 236·184; LuKα2, 233·610; LuKα1, 228·834; HfKα2, 226·605; HfKα1, 221·805. The estimated maximal error for each measurement is ±0·015 XU. From comparing the present measurements with precise measurements of the corresponding x-rays from the naturally occurring elements, it can be concluded that there are no observable shifts in the x-rays from the radioactive sources within 0·017 XU. An upper limit of 2·5 eV is obtained for an observable shift due to the isotope shift or the isomeric shift in the GdKα x-rays from a radioactive Eu source. Upper limits for the observation of shifts due to the isomeric shift in theKα x-rays of 2·5 eV for Sm and of 4 eV for Tm and Lu are also obtained.
Mechanism of nitrite oxidation and oxidoreductase systems inNitrobacter agilis

Chemiosmotic coupling mechanisms operate in the electron transfer reactions from: nitrite to O2, NO2 − to NAD+, ascorbate to O2, NADH to O2, and NADH to NO3 −. The enzyme systems catalyzing these reactions are named NO2 −:O2 oxidoreductase, ATP-dependent NO2 −:NAD+ oxidoreductase, ascorbate:O2 oxidoreductase, NADH:O2 oxidoreductase, and NADH:NO3 − oxidoreductase, respectively. All of the oxidoreduction reactions are exergonic with the exception of the ATP-dependent NO2 −:NAD+ oxidoreductase system, which involves reversed electron flow against the thermodynamic gradients. The mechanism for nitrite oxidation was found to be quite different from that of ascorbate oxidation; both systems were insensitive, however, to rotenone, amytal, antimycin A, and 2-n-heptyl 4-hydroxyquinolineN-oxide. These compounds, on the other hand, severely inhibited the electron transfer reactions catalyzed by NADH:O2 oxidoreductase, NADH:NO3 − oxidoreductase, and the ATP-dependent NO2 −:NAD+ oxidoreductase, indicating a common pathway of electron transport in these oxidoreductase systems. Cyanide inhibited all systems except the NADH:NO3 − oxidoredctase. The uncoupler carbonyl cyanide-m-chlorophenyl hydrazone strongly inhibited NO2 −:O2 oxidoreductase and ATP-dependent NO2 −:NAD+ oxidoreductase, which indicates the involvement of energy-linked reactions in both systems; the uncoupler caused a marked stimulation of the NADH:O2 oxidoreductase and NADH:NO3 − oxidoreductase without affecting the ascorbate:O2 oxidoreductase activities.
TAIRO: Trust-Aware Automatic Incremental Routing for Opportunistic Resource Utilization Networks

Oppnets, or Opportunistic Resource Utilization Networks, are a kind of ad hoc computer network that grows by discovering and integrating previously unencountered devices or systems with desirable resources (Oppnets are a predecessor and a generalization of opportunistic networks proposed by others). We present work in progress on TAIRO or Trust-aware Automatic Incremental Routing for Oppnets. TAIRO is based on the innovative AIR routing scheme. AIR uses specially designed prefix labels to manage routing in an ad hoc network, which is especially well-suited for meeting the goals of Oppnets.
A note on estimating the height of the convective internal boundary layer near shore

When cool air flows from the sea over a warm coast, the air is thermally modified. It is shown that h = cX1/2, where h is the height (in meters) of this thermal or convective internal boundary layer (CIBL) over the coast, X is the distance downwind (in meters) from the shoreline (i.e., the fetch), and c is a coefficient that relates to the shear velocity and wind speed inside the CIBL, potential temperature difference and entrainment coefficient across the CIBL, and the lapse rate outside the CIBL. This equation is a simplification of a theoretical equation and is supported by three similar formulations based on thermodynamic and dimensional analyses. Pertinent field experiments conducted near shorelines in France, Sweden, and Japan indicate that c is approximately 1.91, with a standard deviation of 0.38. All observations are within 95% confidence limits.
Swine influenza (H1N1) and acute appendicitis.

Background During the swine influenza (H1N1) pandemic that began in 2009, many hospitalized adults had gastrointestinal symptoms. The most common symptoms associated with swine influenza (H1N1) were nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. In the experience of the authors, swine influenza was not complicated by abdominal pain. There are a wide variety of infectious and non-infectious disorders that may present with a pain in the right lower quadrant, mimicking appendicitis, ie, pseudoappendicitis. Influenza predisposes to some types of bacterial infection, eg, influenza pneumonia may be complicated by simultaneous Staphylococcus aureus community-acquired pneumonia or subsequent community-acquired pneumonia due to Haemophilus influenzae or Streptococcus pneumoniae. It remains unclear if there is direct involvement of the appendix, ie, pseudoappendicitis as occurs with measles or if influenza itself somehow predisposes to increased frequency/severity of bacterial appendicitis. German clinicians first noted an increased incidence of acute appendicitis in children/young adults with influenza. The American and British cases of influenza and acute appendicitis compared to age-matched controls with more severe and of delayed onset/complicated by appendicial perforation/abscess. These reports noted an increased incidence/severity of acute appendicitis during influenza. Methods and results A 15-year-old girl presented to the hospital with an influenza-like illness and right lower quadrant abdominal pain. Acute appendicitis was diagnosed by a computed tomography scan and the patient underwent emergency appendectomy. Subsequently, it was noted that she did not have leukocytosis and, in fact, had borderline leukopenia. Her differential white blood cell count also revealed relative lymphopenia. Neither leukopenia nor relative lymphopenia are features of acute bacterial appendicitis. These two findings in the setting of an influenza-like illness indicate the underlying presence of influenza. Post-operatively, respiratory secretion samples were sent for swine influenza (H1N1) testing. Both her respiratory florescent antibody (FA viral panel) was positive for influenza A, as was her RT-PCR for swine influenza (H1N1). The authors believe that this is the first case of swine influenza (H1N1) and acute bacterial appendicitis. Direct involvement of the appendix by swine influenza (H1N1) virus could not be demonstrated. Conclusions The authors conclude that during the swine influenza (H1N1) pandemic clinicians should be alert to the possibility of an increased incidence/severity of acute bacterial appendicitis in patients with swine influenza (H1N1) infection.
Orthokinetic agglomeration in an intense acoustic field

Abstract Experimental investigations of acoustic agglomeration were performed with sound pressure levels ranging from 145 to 155 db (re 20 μPa) and frequencies from 600 to 3000 Hz under traveling-wave conditions. The temporal variations of mass distribution were measured with Berner's impactors. The mass distribution function of the agglomerated aerosols was found to be bimodal and agree with the orthokinetic acoustic agglomeration theory. The numerical simulation of the agglomeration was conducted using sound pressure level, frequency, particle size, and mass loading as the parameters. The discrepancy in the comparison between the theoretical and experimental results was reduced by modifying the refilling factor.
Selective esterifications and acyl rearrangements in vitamin B6.

Abstract After our work involving the acyl migration and selective esterification of pyridoxol, we investigated similar phenomena in pyridoxal and pyridoxamine. Esterification of pyridoxal under various conditions gave esters with the hemiacetal structure. In pyridoxal, acyl migration could not be detected, possibly because of inability to form the ortho acid intermediate, hence permitting selective esterification of the phenolic hydroxyl. In pyridoxamine, O → N acyl migration takes place very readily from both the 3-O and α 5 -O positions, but the reverse migration could not be observed. 3-O, α 4 -N and α 4 -N, α 5 -O diesters of pyridoxamine have been prepared. Thus it is now possible to obtain selectively esterified derivatives of pyridoxal and pyridoxamine by taking advantage of either the absence or the presence of acyl migration. 5-Thiol esters of pyridoxol have been obtained, but no acyl migration in the direction 5-S → 4-O could be detected. Factors that determine acyl migration are discussed.
A Search for Discrete Cholinergic Nuclei in the Human Ventral Forebrain

Slices cut from five frozen human brains were dissected into 2-mm cubes and assayed for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) activity and protein content. A pattern of enrichment of ChAT activity was found ventral to the anterior commissure; this finding is consistent with the location of the enzyme in the cells of the nucleus basalis of Meynert. The region beneath the anterior commissure was the only place a discrete enrichment of activity could be found, and the precise topography of the enrichment was somewhat variable from brain to brain. The results are discussed in the light of recent knowledge concerning the source of the cortical cholinergic innervation.
Herpesvirus microRNAs: phenotypes and functions

Recently, it has become clear that herpesviruses are unique among pathogenic virus families in that they express multiple virally-encoded microRNAs in latently and/or lytically infected cells. The large size of herpesvirus genomes, combined with the inability of most human herpesviruses to replicate in animals, has until recently limited our ability to examine the contribution of viral miRNAs to herpesvirus replication and pathogenesis in vivo. However, recent data, primarily obtained using model animal herpesviruses, suggest that viral miRNAs, while not required for lytic replication in culture, can nevertheless strongly enhance viral pathogenesis, including oncogenesis, in vivo and also promote the establishment of a reservoir of latently infected cells.
Proton relaxation rates of water in dilute solutions of β-lactoglobulin determination of cross relaxation and correlation with structural changes by the use of two genetic variants of a self-associating globular protein

Abstract In order to relate resonance relaxation behavior to protein structural states, pulse Fourier transform NMR was employed to obtain water proton longitudinal and transverse relaxation rate ( R 1 and R 1 ϱ = R 2 ) of bovine β-lactoglobulins A and B in buffered solutions. Measurements at concentrations from 5 to 100 mg/ml were made at pH 4.65, 6.2 and 8.0, at 30 and 2°C, to monitor specific structural changes. The parameters characterizing the concentration dependence of the observed R 1 and R 2 were used to derive a number of quantities relating to protein-influenced water, including a hydration parameter h . Changes in h under the different sets of conditions were correlated with (a) the irreversible denaturation of this protein at pH 8.0, 2°C and (b) the dimer ⇄ octamer association at pH 4.65, 2°C. Corresponding correlation times, however, were low, indicating cross relaxation which had not manifested itself as nonexponential relaxation because of the large amount of water present. Differences in the extent of the ⇄ octamer association between genetic variants A and B allowed an evaluation of dynamics and extent of hydration from R 2 alone, assuming the absence of intermolecular interactions. Derived parameters were in agreement with hydrodynamic and X-ray values in the literature. Cross relaxation was likewise evaluated and was found to contribute to R 1 to a large extent. The results show that changes in proton relaxation rates in solutions of a globular protein occuring as genetic variants with different physical properties (such as β-lactoglobulin) can be utilized to detect variations in hydration corresponding to changes in molecular association and conformation, as well as to obtain cross relaxation and structural data.
Computational systems biology and in silico modeling of the human microbiome

The human microbiome is a complex biological system with numerous interacting components across multiple organizational levels. The assembly, ecology and dynamics of the microbiome and its contribution to the development, physiology and nutrition of the host are clearly affected not only by the set of genes or species in the microbiome but also by the way these genes are linked across numerous pathways and by the interactions between the various species. To date, however, most studies of the human microbiome have focused on characterizing the composition of the microbiome and on comparative analyses, whereas significantly less effort has been directed at elucidating, characterizing and modeling these interactions and on studying the microbiome as a complex, interconnected and cohesive system. Here, specifically, I highlight the pressing need for the development of predictive system-level models and for a system-level understanding of the microbiome, and discuss potential computational frameworks for metagenomic-based modeling of the microbiome at the cellular, ecological and supra-organismal level. I review some preliminary attempts at constructing such models and examine the challenges and hurdles that such modeling efforts face. I also discuss possible future applications and research avenues that such metagenomic systems biology and predictive system-level models may facilitate.
Technical Note-Duality Theory for Generalized Linear Programs with Computational Methods

This paper presents a duality theory for generalized linear programs which parallels the usual duality results for linear programming. The duals are a form of inexact linear programs and can be solved by the simplex method. Computational methods with examples and applications are given.
ompT encodes the Escherichia coli outer membrane protease that cleaves T7 RNA polymerase during purification.

Abstract Bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase is stable in Escherichia coli but very susceptible to cleavage by at least one endoprotease after cell lysis. The major source of this endoprotease activity was found to be localized to the outer membrane of the cell. A rapid whole-cell assay was developed to screen different strains for the presence of this proteolytic activity. Using this assay, we identified some common laboratory strains that totally lack the protease. Genetic and Southern analyses of these null strains allowed us to conclude that the protease that cleaves T7 RNA polymerase is OmpT (formerly termed protein a), a known outer membrane endoprotease, and that the null phenotype results from deletion of the OmpT structural gene. A recombinant plasmid carrying the ompT gene enables these deletion strains to synthesize OmpT and converts them to a protease-positive phenotype. The plasmid led to overproduction of OmpT protein and protease activity in the E. coli K-12 and B strains we used, but only weak expression in the E. coli C strain, C1757. This strain-dependent difference in ompT expression was investigated with respect to the known influence of envZ on OmpT synthesis. A small deletion in the ompT region of the plasmid greatly diminishes the amount of OmpT protein and plasmid-encoded protease present in outer membranes. Use of ompT deletion strains for production of T7 RNA polymerase from the cloned gene has made purification of intact T7 RNA polymerase routine. Such strains may be useful for purification of other proteins expressed in E. coli.
Magnificent seven: roles of G protein‐coupled receptors in extracellular sensing in fungi

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) represent the largest family of transmembrane receptors and are responsible for transducing extracellular signals into intracellular responses that involve complex intracellular-signaling networks. This review highlights recent research advances in fungal GPCRs, including classification, extracellular sensing, and G protein-signaling regulation. The involvement of GPCRs in pheromone and nutrient sensing has been studied extensively over the past decade. Following recent advances in fungal genome sequencing projects, a panoply of GPCR candidates has been revealed and some have been documented to play key roles sensing diverse extracellular signals, such as pheromones, sugars, amino acids, nitrogen sources, and even photons. Identification and deorphanization of additional putative GPCRs may require the development of new research tools. Here, we compare research on GPCRs in fungi with information derived from mammalian systems to provide a useful road map on how to better understand ligand–GPCR–G protein interactions in general. We also emphasize the utility of yeast as a discovery tool for systemic studies of GPCRs from other organisms.
What variables predict quality of text notes and are text notes related to performance on different types of tests

Summary Despite the importance of notes to test performance, very little is known about the cognitive variables related to notetaking, especially text notes. The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate the contributions of transcription fluency, reading comprehension, verbal working memory, executive attention, and background knowledge to the quality of text notes. A secondary purpose was to evaluate the relationship of all of the other aforementioned variables to three test types to determine if notes are more important to some test types than others: a free recall essay and two types of multiple choice items: memory items and inference items. Results indicated that transcription fluency was the best predictor of notes (reading comprehension was also significant predictor), which extends previous findings on the importance of transcription fluency to lecture notes. Notes' were the best predictor of the essay and the memory multiple choice items but not the inference items. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Relationship between Tumor Size and Curability of Prostatic Cancer by Combined Chemo-Hormonal Therapy in Rats

Nearly all men with metastatic prostatic cancer respond to androgen ablation, demonstrating that at least a portion of their cancer cells are androgen responsive. Unfortunately, however, individual prostatic cancers contain clones of androgen-independent, in addition to androgen-responsive, cancer cells. Due to this tumor cell heterogeneity, essentially all patients treated with androgen ablation alone eventually relapse to a state unresponsive to further antiandrogen therapy; cures are rarely produced. To produce cures, additional nonhormonal therapy targeted at the androgen-independent prostatic cancer cells within the patient should be combined with androgen ablation targeted at the androgen-dependent cancer cells. The validity of such combined chemo-hormonal therapy was tested using, as the experimental model, two members of the Dunning system of serially transplantable rat prostatic cancers. Specifically the slow growing, well differentiated H and the fast growing, poorly differentiated G Dunning sublines were used, since these cover the clinical extremes observed for human prostatic cancers. The chemotherapeutic agent used in combination with surgical androgen ablation (i.e., castration) in these studies was Cytoxan. These studies demonstrate that for both the H and G cancer-bearing rats, the mean survival following combined chemo-hormonal therapy was increased above that found for castrate or Cytoxan when either was used as monotherapy. In addition, an inverse relationship between tumor size at the time of initiation of therapy and the ability of the combined chemo-hormonal therapy to cure animal bearing either the H or G sublines was demonstrated. Such combined chemo-hormonal therapy could only cure a proportion (i.e., 30-40%) of H or G tumor-bearing animals if initiated when the tumor was less than or equal to 0.2 cm3 in size. In contrast, if the tumor was 1-2 cm3 in starting size when the chemo-hormonal therapy was initiated, no animal was cured. Neither of the monotherapies (i.e., castrates or Cytoxan alone) could cure any animals regardless of the starting size.
Mixing One Part Common Sense with Each Part Statistics in Planning the Design and Reporting the Results of Clinical Research in Physical Therapy

The purpose of this article is to discuss the importance of clinical research to improve the quality of clinical practice in physical therapy. Research is the process of posing an important, answerable question and collecting data to provide a convincing answer. Many of the manuscripts I reviewed for possible publication during the recent several years I was an Associate Editor contained one or more flaws that impaired the credibility of the study being reported. One of the flaws was inadequate identification of the research question and the measurements needed to collect the data that would answer the question; a second was insufficient rounding of the numbers used to convey the results; a third was misapplication of arithmetic operations to nominal or ordinal data; and another was the extrapolation of results from healthy young volunteers to explain why a particular treatment should or should not be effective in treating a pathological condition. I urge that physical therapy researchers learn to conduct indepth, thoughtfully guided studies to define the indicators that can be used to predict when a particular patient will respond favorably to a particular therapeutic intervention. Successful accomplishment of such studies will have a substantial and lasting impact on the efficacy and quality of physical therapy practice.
Net centric radar technology & development using an open system architecture approach

The second generation of the Radar Open Systems Architecture has been developed and put into practice. This approach consists of a layered architecture that isolates applications from underlying hardware and software elements such as operating systems, middlewares, communication fabrics, and computer platforms. The framework also consists of a set of component libraries that are being populated as the framework is applied in an expanding series of application domains. Easy swapability for the library components or newly developed components along with a high degree of hardware independence allows systems built using this infrastructure to be easily maintained and upgraded.
A Segment-Level Adaptive Data Layout Scheme for Improved Load Balance in Parallel File Systems

Parallel file systems are designed to mask the ever-increasing gap between CPU and disk speeds via parallel I/O processing. While they have become an indispensable component of modern high-end computing systems, their inadequate performance is a critical issue facing the HPC community today. Conventionally, a parallel file system stripes a file across multiple file servers with a fixed stripe size. The stripe size is a vital performance parameter, but the optimal value for it is often application dependent. How to determine the optimal stripe size is a difficult research problem. Based on the observation that many applications have different data-access clusters in one file, with each cluster having a distinguished data access pattern, we propose in this paper a segmented data layout scheme for parallel file systems. The basic idea behind the segmented approach is to divide a file logically into segments such that an optimal stripe size can be identified for each segment. A five-step method is introduced to conduct the segmentation, to identify the appropriate stripe size for each segment, and to carry out the segmented data layout scheme automatically. Experimental results show that the proposed layout scheme is feasible and effective, and it improves performance up to 163% for writing and 132% for reading on the widely used IOR and IOzone benchmarks.
Promotion of Dendritic Growth by CPG15, an Activity-Induced Signaling Molecule

Activity-independent and activity-dependent mechanisms work in concert to regulate neuronal growth, ensuring the formation of accurate synaptic connections. CPG15, a protein regulated by synaptic activity, functions as a cell-surface growth-promoting molecule in vivo. In Xenopus laevis, CPG15 enhanced dendritic arbor growth in projection neurons, with no effect on interneurons. CPG15 controlled growth of neighboring neurons through an intercellular signaling mechanism that requires its glycosylphosphatidylinositol link. CPG15 may represent a new class of activity-regulated, membrane-bound, growth-promoting proteins that permit exquisite spatial and temporal control of neuronal structure.
Serum potassium in poliomyelitis.

Summary 1. Serum sodium and serum potassium determinations were carried out on fifty-six patients with poliomyelitis. Results of thirty-two cases are presented here. 2. There did not appear to be any correlation between the serum-potassium level and the severity of the paralysis. 3. Low serum-potassium levels were found in ten patients with severe paralysis or with bulbar involvement. 4. Oral potassium chloride did not appear to cause any improvement in the paralysis; however, no definite conclusions can be drawn as there were too few patients. Further studies are possibly warranted in cases with low potassium levels.
Asymptotic Solutions for Gaseous Flow in a Three-Dimensional Rectangular Microchannel

This paper analyzes compressible gaseous flow through a three-dimensional straight uniform rectangular microchannel, and reports a set of asymptotic solutions. This work represents an extension of previous work on compressible flows through a two-dimensional microchannel. First, we choose the ratio of Dh/L as the small expansion parameter, where Dh and L are the channel’s hydrodynamic diameter and length correspondingly. Secondly, by comparing the magnitudes of different forces in the compressible gas flow, we obtain a proper criteria to estimate the Reynolds and Mach numbers at the channel exit. We select two sets of Mach and Reynolds numbers and obtain asymptotic analytical solutions of velocities and pressure distributions of compressible gas flow inside the microchannel; and a set of the slip velocity boundary conditions are examined. The analytical results of pressure and velocities are compared with numerical simulation results of the direct simulation Monte Carlo method.
Xanthogranulomas associated with hematologic malignancy in adulthood

Although xanthogranulomatosis (XG), defined as multiple xanthogranulomas occurring simultaneously, was originally described in infants and children, a number of adult cases have been reported. Adult XG, which generally presents in the absence of hyperlipidemia, has many similarities to the childhood variant. Among the similarities are reports of the simultaneous development of XG and hematologic disorders. Herein we report a case of XG in a 45-year-old man with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and review the literature regarding the association of XG and hematologic disorders in adults. We propose that xanthogranulomas seen in children and adults bear many similarities, clinically and histopathologically, and share an association with hematologic malignancies.
Effects of short- and long-term elevated CO2 on the expression of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase genes and carbohydrate accumulation in leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh.

To investigate the proposed molecular characteristics of sugar-mediated repression of photosynthetic genes during plant acclimation to elevated CO 2 , we examined the relationship between the accumulation and metabolism of nonstructural carbohydrates and changes in ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) gene expression in leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana exposed to elevated CO 2 . Long-term growth of Arabidopsis at high CO 2 (1000 μL L −1 ) resulted in a 2-fold increase in nonstructural carbohydrates, a large decrease in the expression of Rubisco protein and in the transcript of rbcL , the gene encoding the large subunit of Rubisco (approximately 35–40%), and an even greater decline in mRNA of rbcS , the gene encoding the small subunit (approximately 60%). This differential response of protein and mRNAs suggests that transcriptional/posttranscriptional processes and protein turnover may determine the final amount of leaf Rubisco protein at high CO 2 . Analysis of mRNA levels of individual rbcS genes indicated that reduction in total rbcS transcripts was caused by decreased expression of all four rbcS genes. Short-term transfer of Arabidopsis plants grown at ambient CO 2 to high CO 2 resulted in a decrease in total rbcS mRNA by d 6, whereas Rubisco content and rbcL mRNA decreased by d 9. Transfer to high CO 2 reduced the maximum expression level of the primary rbcS genes (1A and, particularly, 3B) by limiting their normal pattern of accumulation through the night period. The decreased nighttime levels of rbcS mRNA were associated with a nocturnal increase in leaf hexoses. We suggest that prolonged nighttime hexose metabolism resulting from exposure to elevated CO 2 affects rbcS transcript accumulation and, ultimately, the level of Rubisco protein.
Invocations of Chinese Traditions in International Relations

Chinese writings on international relations increasingly invoke history. In the past Chinese and foreigners alike have seen China’s foreign policies through the lens of history, but recent Chinese stress on the “harmonious world” resulting from Confucianism has shifted the discussion. It serves as a guide to resurgent claims for leadership, a source of legitimation for why China deserves leadership, and a warning of how its leadership may be abused to the detriment of countries agreeing to regionalism or multilateralism. Claims to superiority raise tensions in Japan, South Korea, and elsewhere where hopes had existed for a shared view of history. They arouse controversy among advocates of socialist ideology who fear that Confucianism will eclipse communism. The increasingly hereditary elite of Party leaders continues to bridge the gap between these two types of memory, but they face an ideological challenge at home and a credibility challenge abroad.
Frontiers in nephrology : Tolerance

The field of transplantation has come a long way since the first successful kidney transplant performed by Murray and colleagues in 1954. Kidney, heart, lung, and liver transplantation, among other organs, is now routine, and short-term (1 yr) outcomes have steadily improved to rates of >90 to 95%
Incorporating code coverage in the reliability estimation for fault-tolerant software

Presents a technique that uses coverage measures in reliability estimation for fault-tolerant programs, particularly N-version software. This technique exploits both coverage and time measures collected during testing phases for the individual program versions and the N-version software system for reliability prediction. The application of this technique to single-version software was presented in our previous research (IEEE 3rd Int. Symp. on Software Metrics, Berlin, Germany, March 1996). In this paper, we extend this technique and apply it on the N-version programs. The results obtained from the experiment conducted on an industrial project demonstrate that our technique significantly reduces the hazard of reliability overestimation for both single-version and multi-version fault-tolerant software systems.
Modeling Review Comments

Writing comments about news articles, blogs, or reviews have become a popular activity in social media. In this paper, we analyze reader comments about reviews. Analyzing review comments is important because reviews only tell the experiences and evaluations of reviewers about the reviewed products or services. Comments, on the other hand, are readers' evaluations of reviews, their questions and concerns. Clearly, the information in comments is valuable for both future readers and brands. This paper proposes two latent variable models to simultaneously model and extract these key pieces of information. The results also enable classification of comments accurately. Experiments using Amazon review comments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed models.
Age-related changes, including synergy and suppression, in the mixed lymphocyte reaction in long-lived mice

The mixed lymphocyte culture reaction represents the in vitro counterpart of the recognition phase of the graft-versus-host reaction, and of allograft rejection. The mixed lymphocyte culture reactivities of lymph node and spleen cells from all strains of mice studied, including long-lived strains, and of thymus cells from most strains show a striking decline with advanced age. Furthermore, studies of “synergy” between subpopulations of T cells in the mixed lymphocyte culture reaction suggest that the cells of the recirculating lymphoid pool (T2 cells) in particular display a functional decline. Finally, spleen cells from old mice of appropriate strains inhibit or suppress the mixed lymphocyte culture reactivity of lymph node or spleen cells from young mice.—Gerbase-DeLima, M., P. Meredith and R. L. Walford. Age-related changes, including synergy and suppression, in the mixed lymphocyte reaction in long-lived mice. Federation Proc. 34: 159–161, 1975.
Cell Nonautonomy of C. elegans daf-2 Function in the Regulation of Diapause and Life Span

The insulin/IGF receptor homolog DAF-2 regulates the aging in C. elegans. Decreasing daf-2 activity causes fertile adults to remain active much longer than normal and to live more than twice as long. A more severe decrease in daf-2 function causes young larvae to enter a state of diapause rather than progressing to adulthood. We have asked which cells require daf-2 gene activity in order for the animal to develop to adulthood and to age normally. We found that daf-2 functions cell nonautonomously in both processes. Our findings imply that the life span of C. elegans is determined by a signaling cascade in which the DAF-2 receptor acts in multiple cell lineages to regulate the production or activity of a secondary signal (or signals), which, in turn, controls the growth and longevity of individual tissues in the animal.
On integrating groundwater transport models with wireless sensor networks.

The emerging technology of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is an integrated, distributed, wireless network of sensing devices. It has the potential to monitor dynamic hydrological and environmental processes more effectively than traditional monitoring and data acquisition techniques by providing environmental information at greater spatial and temporal resolutions. Furthermore, due to continuing high-performance computing development, these data may be introduced into increasingly robust and complex numerical models; for instance, the parameters of subsurface transport simulators may be automatically updated. Early field deployments and laboratory experiments conducted using in situ sensor technology and WSNs indicated significant fundamental issues concerning sensor and network hardware reliability—suggesting that investigations should first be conducted in controlled environments before field deployment. A first step in this validation process involves evaluating the predictive capability of a computational advection-dispersion transport model when incorporating concentration data from a WSN simulation. Data quality is a major concern, especially when sensor readings are automatically fed into data assimilation procedures. The appropriate employment of an independent WSN fault detection service can ensure that erroneous data (e.g., missing or anomalous values) do not mislead the model. Parameter estimation regularization techniques may then deal with remaining data noise. The primary purpose of this study is to determine the suitability of WSNs (and other in situ data delivery technologies) for use in contaminant transport modeling applications by conducting research in a realistic simulative environment.
Endolymphatic sac surgery for meniere's disease: A composite study of 339 cases

This paper analyzes 339 consecutively performed endolymphalic mastoid sac shunts. Regardless of the method used, vertigo was controlled and hearing either improved or stabilized in approximately 70% of the cases. Overall, vertigo was controlled in approximately 80% of the cases. Similar results were obtained in cases of Meniere's syndrome and vestibular Meniere's disease. It is suggested here that, regardless of the method employed, there remains a high likelihood that the symptoms will recur, and the question is raised as to whether sac surgery may merely induce a temporary remission of the disease process. Consequently, it is hereby proposed that there is a need to devise a method to permanently drain the endolymph in order to more effectively control the disease on a permanent basis. Until this is achieved, however, sac surgery would appear to be the most appropriate surgical treatment for Meniere's disease.
THE ROLE OF FOOD, NEST PREDATION, AND CLIMATE IN TIMING OF WRENTIT REPRODUCTIVE ACTIVITIES

Abstract ABSTRACT Timing of breeding activities by birds hasimportant fitness consequences, as deciding when tonest can affect nest success. For three breedingseasons, we provided supplemental food to Wrentits(Chamaeafasciata) inhabitingsemiarid shrublands. We tested the effects of foodsupplementation on timing of initial egg laying,number of nests attempted, timing of fledging, andlength of the breeding season. We also evaluatedwhether Wrentits timed nest initiation to avoidperiods of greatest predation risk. Our study wasconducted during a period of high interannualvariation in precipitation. Supplemental food didnot advance laying date in Wrentits. During adrought, even Wrentits given supplemental fooddelayed nesting, initiated fewer nesting attempts,fledged young earlier, and reduced the length ofthe breeding season. In a year of average rainfall,supplemental food allowed pairs to continuerenesting late into the summer, after repeated nestlosses from predation. Wrentits did not timenesting to avoid pe...