cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A habitat risk assessment and breeding site projection for Slackwater darter (Etheostoma boschungi) (Percidae) in Alabama and Tennessee USA

Catalysts for species decline are difficult to identify and are rarely single. The use of predictive models that incorporate multiple factors have proven useful in recognizing major drivers of species declines in multiple systems. In this study, a geographic information systems model was used to evaluate factors contributing to the decline of the Slackwater Darter throughout its distributional range. The species has suffered a precipitous decline, and it is essential to understand conservation threats and to prioritize habitat for restoration and protection. Variables incorporated into the habitat model included land use/land cover, soil and geographic descriptions, hydrologic variables, and others. Habitat where the species has become extirpated or undetectable by conventional sampling was compared to extant populations to identify factors contributing to population loss. Land cover and farm pond density were identified as potential drivers of extirpation. Finally, a model of suitable habitat was used to predict spawning areas in Limestone Creek, where the species was recently discovered. This model identified eight new spawning sites for Slackwater Darter in the system where breeding sites were unknown, and was 44% accurate in its predictive capabilities; however, positive detections were noticeably clustered and indicate the likely influence of some untested variable. With the information provided by this analysis, a framework for habitat protection can be created to assist with restoration of this species.
Endothelial Microparticles, Platelet and Leukocyte Activation and Cellular Interactions in Patients with Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with a systemic pro-coagulant state. Coagulation involves complex interactions between endothelial and circulating cells, cell-derived microparticles and plasma proteins. Methods: We investigated the levels of endothelial and platelet microparticles, leukocyte and platelet activation, and cell interactions in 48 patients with non-valvular AF and compared to normal controls. We performed flow cytometry in periheral venous blood to measure (1) Platelet expression of P-selectin, (2) Platelet microparticles; (3) Platelet-leukocyte conjugates; (4) Leukocyte expression of CD11b; (5) Endothelial microparticles (EMP) positive for CD31 and negative for CD42 (EMP31+), EMP positive for E-selectin (EMP62E+), CD54 (EMP54+), or CD51 (EMP51+); (6) EMP54+- and EMP62E+-leukocyte conjugates. Atrial fibrillation was confirmed electrocardiographically and left atrial volume was estimated by echocardiography. The mean age of patients with AF was 61.3±12 years. Congestive heart failure was present in 54.2% of patients, hypertension in 72.9%, and diabetes mellitus in 22.9%. Most patients (81%) were receiving anticoagulant therapy and 62.5% were receiving antiplatelet medications. Calcium channel blockers or digoxin were given to 43.8% and 54.2% of patients, respectively. The mean ventricular rate was 85.5±17 beats per minute, and the mean left atrial volume was 97.9 ml. Results: Patients with AF had significantly higher levels of platelet P-selectin expression and platelet-leukocyte conjugates. P-selectin expression strongly correlated with platelet-leukocyte conjugate levels (r=0.77; p Conclusions: Patients with AF have increased levels of platelet and leukocyte activation, circulating endothelial microparticles, and binding of endothelial microparticles and platelets to leukocytes. Platelet activation is a determinant of platelet-leukocyte conjugate formation in AF. The formation of EMP62E-neutrophil conjugates is a major determining factor for circulating leukocyte activation in AF. Further studies are needed to assess the correlation of these markers with the risk of thromboembolism in AF.
Acceptance and Action Questionnaire II: Measurement invariance and associations with distress tolerance among an ethnically diverse university sample

Abstract The Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II) is a self-report measure proposed to assess psychological inflexibility and experiential avoidance. Empirical evidence for the measurement invariance of the scale across ethnically diverse populations as well as associations with the theoretically relevant construct of distress tolerance are scarce. This study examined factorial invariance of the AAQ-II across sex and racial/ethnic groups of university students (N = 538). It also examined the relationships between psychological inflexibility/experiential avoidance and distress tolerance, as measured by the AAQ-II and the Distress Tolerance Scale, respectively. The AAQ-II demonstrated strong factorial invariance across sex and race/ethnicity, and it displayed significant associations with distress tolerance. Findings support the unidimensional nature of AAQ-II and suggest that this self-report instrument functions equivalently across subgroups based on sex and race/ethnicity.
Cytotoxic lymphocytes use mechanosurveillance to target biophysical vulnerabilities in cancer

Immune cells identify cancer cells by recognizing characteristic biochemical features indicative of oncogenic transformation. Cancer cells have characteristic mechanical features, as well, but whether these biophysical properties also contribute to destruction by the immune system is not known. In the present study, we found that enhanced expression of myocardin related transcription factors (MRTFs), which promote migration and metastatic invasion, paradoxically compromised lung colonization by melanoma and breast carcinoma cells in an immune-mediated manner. Cancer cells with increased MRTF signaling were also more sensitive to immune checkpoint blockade therapy in mice and humans. The basis for this vulnerability was not biochemical, but biophysical. MRTF expression strengthened the actin cytoskeleton, increasing the rigidity of cancer cells and thereby making them more vulnerable to cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells. These results reveal a mechanical dimension of immunosurveillance, which we call mechanosurveillance, that is particularly relevant to the targeting of metastatic disease.
Hemiptera phylogenomic resources: tree‐based orthology prediction and conserved exon identification

High-throughput sequencing of transcriptomes and targeted genomic regions are advancing our knowledge of The Tree of Life. Building phylogenies with regions of the genome requires 1-to-1 orthologue resources of genes and noncoding loci. One organismal group that has received little attention in this area is the Hemiptera, the fifth largest insect order represented by ~103,590 named species. Here, we present a set of 3,872 Hemiptera 1-to-1 orthogroups based on tree-based orthology inference of eight Hemiptera species with publicly available genome sequences. We also estimate a set of 406 orthologous exons with similar mRNA splice sites that can be used for Sanger sequencing and develop enrichment probes for targeted genome sequencing for phylogenomic inference. We show this novel set of orthologues is informative at the protein, coding sequence and exon molecular levels and provides robust branch support in both gene tree-species tree methods and concatenated sequence phylogenies. In addition, we demonstrate the utility of these loci to resolve relationships in whiteflies, Bemisia tabaci, a large species complex with few phylogenomic resources. Last, we compare our Hemiptera phylogeny with previously published phylogenies and other orthologue databases, while providing suggestions on further improvement to this phylogenomic resource.
Fruit and Vegetable Vouchers in Pregnancy: Preliminary Impact on Diet & Food Security

Pregnancy is a critical time period for supporting food security and maternal nutrition because of long-term potential impacts on the developing fetus. We conducted a pre-/post-analysis of pregnant...
CAT grating alignment and testing for soft x-ray polarimetry

We present an update on our work measuring the performance and alignment of the critical-angle transmission (CAT) gratings for the proposed sounding Rocket Experiment Demonstration of a Soft X-ray Polarimeter (REDSoX) mission, as well as a possible orbital version. We built and verified a grating alignment system that could be used for REDSoX Polarimeter fabrication. The performances of the gratings were measured using the MIT polarimetry beamline. The beamline is a monochromator and has been used to measure the absolute efficiencies of not only the REDSoX prototype gratings but also the Arcus Phase A gratings. It is also capable of producing and measuring polarized soft X-rays to aid in the development and testing of future missions. Lastly, we present an update on our effort applying twisted crystals to X-ray polarimetry. Support for this work was provided in part by the NASA grant NNX15AL14G and a grant from the MIT Kavli Institute Research Investment Fund.
Cow-calf pregnancy distribution information from records collected at the time of pregnancy diagnosis

Identifying factors that influence pregnancy success is important for both veterinarians and producers to optimize management decisions. The study objective was to evaluate pregnancy diagnosis histograms, and determine if factors such as herd size, breeding season length, body condition of cow, age of cow, or the season of year affected the likelihood of pregnancy at the end of the first 21-day interval and at the end of the breeding season.
Communication and power in the global era : orders and borders

Introduction: Orders and Borders in Global Communication, Marwan Kraidy Part I Ordering Borders: The Transnational Management of Subjectivity 1. Nation-States and Transnational Attachments, Le Han 2. Nativist Liberalism and the Disciplining of Spanish Language Media, Hector Amaya 3. Transnational Nomads: Articulations of Subjectivity Across Diasporic Mediascapes , Myria Georgiou Part II Branding Nations: Re-imagining Communities in Neo-Liberal States 4. Branding Nations: Re-imagining communities in neo-liberal states, Andrew Crocco 5. Media, Modernity and Inequality: Aam Admi in India Inc, Paula Chakravartty 6. Old Nations, New Brands: Marketing Intimacy in the New Europe, Aniko Imre 7. Culture and National Border Administration in 21st Century Japan, Koichi Iwabuchi Part III Being Modern: Situating the Grand Narrative 8. Media, Modernity and Postmodernity, Piotr Szpunar 9. Being in the time of the media, Paddy Scannell 10. Towards a Vertical Hermeneutics of the Modern: On Modernness, Tarik Sabry Part IV Destabilizing Orders: Resistance and Social Transformation 11.Introduction: Sara Mourad 12. Resuscitating 'Resistance' in the Age of Global Climate Change: Notes on Media, Culture and Environmental Discourse in Latin America, Patrick Murphy 13. Power and Transgression in the Global Media Age: The Strange Case of Twitter in China, Guobin Yang
Power system stability analysis using cell to cell mapping

Cell mapping is a powerful mathematical tool that is employed in the study of dynamical systems. Synchronous generators used in power systems are dynamical systems and have a transient behavior. This paper describes cell mapping in brief and presents its application in synchronous generator stability analysis, especially transient stability. Cell maps are used to analyze the global behavior of the synchronous generators. This paper also introduces the use of matrices to make comparisons between two cell maps.
The absence of zinc in bovine liver glutamate dehydrogenase.

Bovine liver glutamate dehydrogenase has been accepted as a metalloprotein containing an essential zinc atom, based on inhibition by 1,10-phenanthroline and the detection of zinc by emission spectroscopy. In contrast, the present study shows by the more sensitive method of atomic absorption spectrophotometry that the enzyme contains only 0.02 g atom of zinc per mole of peptide chain (mol wt 50,000) after gel filtration in Tris acetate buffer. A further reduction in the zinc content to 0.002 g atom per mole of peptide is accomplished without decrease in enzymatic activity or the ability to undergo reversible association, by gel filtration in the same buffer with added EDTA or phosphate. The low, nonstoichiometric content of zinc and the lack of proportionality between metal content and enzymatic activity show that zinc is not an integral part of this enzyme. The zinc-free enzyme is inhibited 50% by 4.7 x 10-3 m 1, 10-phenanthroline, indicating that this effect is not attributable to chelation. Glutamate dehydrogenase is inhibited by extrinsic zinc (K i = 3 x 10-7 m ) and under similar conditions binds 1 g atom of zinc per peptide chain. The affinity of the enzyme for zinc is enhanced by the presence of DPNH. Apparent cooperative interaction is observed between zinc binding sites in the presence, but not the absence, of coenzyme. Although not an essential constituent of the enzyme, zinc may function as an allosteric modifier.
Waves, Currents, & Bathymetric Evolution Near An Inlet

Abstract : The long-term objective is to develop field-verified models for the wave fields, circulation patterns, and morphological evolution near inlets and river mouths. Our approach is to collect and analyze field observations of waves, currents, winds, and bathymetry to test hypotheses and to calibrate, evaluate, and improve numerical models.
Writing on Dirty Paper with Feedback

"Writing on dirty paper" refers to the communication problem over a channel with both noise and interference, where the interference is known to the encoder non-causally and unknown to the decoder. This problem is regarded as a basic building block in communication, and it has been extensively investigated by Costa and other researchers. However, little is known in the case that the encoder can have access to feedback from the decoder. In this paper, we study the dirty paper coding problem for feedback Gaussian channels without or with memory. We provide the most power efficient coding schemes for this problem, i.e., the schemes achieve lossless interference cancellation. These schemes are based on the Kalman filtering algorithm, extend the Schalkwijk-Kailath feedback codes, have low complexity and a doubly exponential reliability function, and reveal the interconnections among information, control, and estimation over dirty paper channels with feedback. This research may be found useful to, for example, power-constrained sensor network communication
Earnings Management: The Effect of Accounting Flexibility on R&D Investment Choices

This paper attempts to document the effects of accounting flexibility on managers' propensity to cut R&D expenditures. Using Barton and Simko's (2002) NOA/Sales variable as a proxy for accounting flexibility, we find that managers are more (less) likely to cut R&D when accounting flexibility is low (high), and that managers prefer the use of accrual to real earnings management given ample accounting flexibility. Our results are consistent with theoretical papers that posit substitution effects between accounting and real earnings management choices, with managers being more likely to cut R&D when the marginal costs of accounting manipulations are low relative to real earnings manipulations.
Single-particle Langevin model of particle temperature in dusty plasmas

A model of heating a particle in a dusty plasma is developed to predict the particle kinetic temperature. A Langevin approach is developed, generalizing a familiar Brownian motion model. Particles are cooled by neutral gas while being heated by one of two mechanisms: fluctuating electric fields and randomly fluctuating particle charge. Expressions are derived for the particle temperature resulting from these mechanisms. In both cases, the balance of heating and cooling leads to a particle kinetic temperature that varies inversely with gas pressure. When a particle is electrostatically suspended against gravity, the temperature is independent of particle size when heated only by electric field fluctuations, whereas it increases with size when heated only by charge fluctuations. An experiment is reported to demonstrate the use of the model in analyzing laboratory data.
231Pa/230Th ratios in sediments as a proxy for past changes in Southern Ocean productivity

THE biological productivity of the oceans is sensitive to changes in climate, which can affect essential factors such as nutrient and light availability. In turn, ocean productivity may influence climate by regulating the partitioning of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, between the ocean and the atmosphere. Investigators have attempted to link variations in atmospheric CO2 content, recorded in ice cores1,2, to the productivity of the Southern Ocean3–6, but an unambiguous means of assessing past changes in ocean productivity has been lacking. Here we exploit established relationships between 231Pa/230Th ratios and particle flux7–12 to infer, from the analysis of dated sediment cores, variability through time of fluxes of particulate biogenic material exported from surface waters. Records from two cores in the Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean indicate that ocean productivity during glacial periods was lower than at present south of the Antarctic polar front, and support earlier conclusions13–16 that the zone of maximum productivity migrated northwards during glacial conditions. Although further work at other sites is needed for an assessment of changes in total Antarctic productivity, our technique has the potential to provide this information while avoiding some of the limitations of other productivity proxies.
Fragrance material review on benzyl 2-hydroxypropionate

Abstract A toxicologic and dermatologic review of benzyl 2-hydroxypropionate when used as a fragrance ingredient is presented. Benzyl 2-hydroxypropionate is a member of the fragrance structural group Aryl Alkyl Alcohol Simple Acid Esters (AAASAE). The AAASAE fragrance ingredients are prepared by reacting an aryl alkyl alcohol with a simple carboxylic acid (a chain of 1–4 carbons) to generate formate, acetate, propionate, butyrate, isobutyrate and carbonate esters. This review contains a detailed summary of all available toxicology and dermatology papers that are related to this individual fragrance ingredient and is not intended as a stand-alone document. Available data for benzyl 2-hydroxypropionate were evaluated, then summarized, and includes: physical properties and acute toxicity data. A safety assessment of the entire AAASAE will be published simultaneously with this document. Please refer to Belsito et al. (2012) for an overall assessment of the safe use of this material and all AAASAE in fragrances. Belsito, D., Bickers, D., Bruze, M., Calow, P., Dagli, M., Fryer, A.D., Greim, H., Hanifin, J.H., Miyachi, Y., Saurat, J.H., Sipes, I.G., 2012. A toxicologic and dermatologic assessment of aryl alkyl alcohol simple acid esters when used as fragrance ingredients.
The effect of ionic strength on the kinetics of fluoride binding to cytochrome c peroxidase.

Abstract The kinetics of the reaction between cytochrome c peroxidase and fluoride was investigated as a function of ionic strength over the pH range 4 to 8. The ionic strength was varied between 0.01 and 0.10 m . At 0.01 m ionic strength, the reaction rates were determined between pH 2.7 and 9.2. A consideration of the ionic strength and pH dependence of the association rate constant for the fluoride-cytochrome c peroxidase reaction leads to the conclusion that hydrofluoric acid is the only significant reactive form of the ligand between pH 2.5 and 8. Above pH 8, binding of fluoride anion contributes to the apparent association rate even though the pH-independent rate constant for fluoride anion binding is more than 3 × 10 5 times smaller than the rate constant for hydrofluoric acid binding.
The effect of DHEAS on influenza vaccination in aging adults.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether simultaneous administration of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) exhibits adjuvant activity in the immune response of aging humans by supplementing influenza vaccination with the maximum single dose of DHEAS that could be practically injected subcutaneously (approximately 7.5 mg). DESIGN: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of DHEAS injection with 1993–94 and 1994–95 influenza vaccine in older subjects. In addition, initial safety, tolerability, and control testing with 1993–94 influenza vaccine was conducted in young subjects. SETTING: An urban primary care geriatrics clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-eight older adult volunteers (mean age 78.61 ± 3.43 years, range 73–90 years) and 20 younger controls (<40 years, means age 32.76 ± 5.39 years) were recruited from clinic and community advertising. Subjects were free of disease or medication known to affect immune function. MEASUREMENTS: Immune responses to vaccine at 0, 2, and 4 weeks were measured by vaccine antigen-induced lymphoproliferation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and serum antibody response by hemagglutination inhibition (HI). RESULTS: The maximum DHEAS dose that could be practically administered subcutaneously was 7.5 mg. Baseline DHEAS levels were significantly lower in older adults (52.1 vs 236.4 μg/dL, P < .001). The 1993 old adult DHEAS group HI response tended to be higher for the H3N2 Beijing antigen but not for the H1N1 or B antigen. In subjects with HI titers less then 1:40 for the H3N2 Beijing antigen (n = 29), the post-vaccination titer response tended to be higher among the 16 subjects who received DHEAS (P = .06). The peak response for the H3N2 antigen was associated with the initial DHEAS serum concentration in the DHEAS and placebo groups (R2 =.22, P = .04 and R2 = .21, P = .06, respectively). No significant differences were found for antibody responses to the H1N1 and B antigens or vaccine-antigen induced lymphoproliferation. CONCLUSION: A one-time supplemental dose of DHEAS with influenza vaccination appeared to enhance the specific HI antibody response to the 1993–94 H3N2 antigen in a small group of older adults. These findings were limited to those with lower prevaccination titers and lower DHEAS concentrations. Although clinical implications of these findings for influenza vaccine are uncertain, these results suggest additional detailed immunologic investigations on the role of DHEAS in the aging human immune response are warranted.
MATERNAL SELF-PERCEPTIONS AND REACTIONS TO INFANT CRYING AMONG INTRUSIVE AND WITHDRAWN DEPRESSED MOTHERS

ABSTRACT: This study compared intrusive ( N15) and withdrawn ( 10) mothers’ ratings of theirown interaction styles with their infants and the behaviors of videotaped models of intrusive and with-drawn mothers. Withdrawn mothers rated themselves as less withdrawn thanthemodelwithdrawnmother.Intrusive mothers viewed themselves as more intrusive than the model intrusive mother. Both groupsviewed their own infants as more outgoing than the infants of the model intrusive and withdrawnmothers.The withdrawn mothers reported feeling more distressed when they observed an infant (of an intrusiveor withdrawn mother) crying, suggesting that they feel more empathy than the intrusive mothers. RESUMEN: Este estudio compara las evaluaciones que 15 madres intrusas y 10 madres ensimismadasllevaron a cabo entre su propia interaccio ´n con sus infantes, y la conducta de modelos videograbados demadres intrusas y ensimismadas. Las madres ensimismadas se evaluaron a si ´ mismas como menos en-simismadas que el modelo de madres ensimismadas del vi ´deo. Las madres intrusas se vieron a si ´ mismascomo ma ´s intrusas que las madres intrusas del modelo en el vi ´deo. Ambos grupos vieron a sus propiosinfantes como ma ´s sociables que los infantes del modelo videograbado. Las madres ensimismadas re-portaron sentirse ma ´s angustiadas cuando ellas observaron a un infante (tanto de madres ensimismadascomo de madres intrusas) llorando, lo cual sugiere que ellas sienten ma ´s empati ´a que las madres intrusas.
Generation of low frequency sound in turbulent jets

An analysis of the sound radiated by three turbulent, high speed jets is conducted using Lighthill’s acoustic analogy [Proc. Royal Soc. London A, Vol. 211, 1952]. Computed by large-eddy simulation the three jets are at different operating points: a Mach 0.9 cold jet, a Mach 2.0 cold jet, and a Mach 1.0 heated jet. The last two jets have the same jet velocity and differ only by temperature. All three jets correspond to conditions originally investigated by Tanna [J. Sound Vib., Vol. 50, No. 3, 1977]. Comparisons between the jet LES predictions and experimental data show reasonable agreement: the simulations demonstrate all of the expected trends with changes in jet velocity and/or heated but have slightly higher, by roughly 0.01 U j, fluctuation levels. In the far-field the LES sound fields are low-pass filtered versions o f their experimental counterparts, having similar OASPL predictions but with limited high frequency sound in their spectra. From these jets the comparison between the Lighthill-predicted sound and the directly computed sound is excellent for all jets and for the two angles (30 ◦ and 90 ◦ , measured from the downstream jet axis) considered. The momentum (�uiu j) and so-called entropy ( p− p∞− a 2 (�− �∞)) contributions are examined in both the far-field acoustic spectra and in their near-field source distribution. It is found that significant phase cancellation exists in the source and that, in the far-field, additional cancellation occurs between the m omentum and entropy components. Connections are made between the present results and the quieting of high-speed jets with heating.
Marital adjustment in heart transplantation patients and their spouses: A longitudinal perspective

(1998). Marital adjustment in heart transplantation patients and their spouses: A longitudinal perspective. The American Journal of Family Therapy: Vol. 26, No. 2, pp. 147-158.
The psychophysics of imagery

A series of experiments considers the extent to which the interrelations among subjective magnitudes aroused by images corresponds to those for subjective magnitudes aroused by physical stimuli. In Experiment 1,68 undergraduates typed phrases in response to graded categories regarding the imagined magnitude of lights, sounds, and smells. In Experiment 2,5 undergraduates and, in Experiment 3, 3 graduate students then magnitude estimated the image intensity aroused by each of these stimulus phrases. In Experiments 4 and 5, the same subjects performed cross-modality matches between phrases arousing images for different attributes (light, sound, and smell). Statistical analysis indicates that estimates based on images display many of the same patterns as those based on physical stimuli. The major exception involves sequence effects, present for actual stimuli but not for images.
Multiple recombinant adeno-associated viral vector serotypes display persistent in vivo gene expression in vector-transduced rat stifle joints.

Abstract Our aim was to investigate serotype-specific cell and tissue-transduction tropisms, transgene expression levels and longevity, and immunogenicity of candidate rAAV serotypes in rat osteochondral cells, tissues, and stifle joints. In vitro, we used six rAAV serotypes and two promoters to transduce synoviocytes and chondrocytes. Serotypes rAAV2/5 and 2/2 yielded the highest transduction efficiency 4 days after transduction. No differences were detected between cytomegalovirus and chicken β-actin promoters. In vivo, intra-articular injection was used to introduce four rAAV serotypes into 4-month-old rats in the left stifle joint. Eleven months later, serotype 2/5 vector, diluted with saline or surfactant, was injected into the right stifle joint of the same rats. Rats were analyzed up to 12 months after initial injection. Bioluminescence was detected at 7 days and all serotypes tested displayed bioluminescence above controls after 1 year in the left stifle. Gene expression was detected in the right ...
A Procedural, Pragmatist Account of Ethical Objectivity

This article offers a procedural, pragmatist account of objectivity in the domain of the good that is inspired by pragmatic and feminist critiques of objectivity in philosophy of science and epistemology. I begin by asking first what we want to capture--or ought to want to capture--with a notion of ethical objectivity and in answer to this question I identify four "points" to ethical objectivity: undergirding the possibility of mistakenness, making genuine disagreement possible, making sense of our appreciation of the ethical perspectives of others, and making possible a sense of ethical improvement or learning. I then lay out a process-based account of objectivity in ethics that makes good on the four points I have identified. Finally, I consider worries related to convergence, bias, and ontology and defend the procedural, pragmatist account in light of those potential objections.
Tumor diameter as a predictor in endometrial cancer surgery: Yanazume et al

See related article, page 531 Endometrial cancer, a postmenopausal disease often linked to obesity, is the most common gynecologic cancer in the United States. In 2010, 43,000 new cases were diagnosed and 7900 deaths occurred. The majority of endometrioid adenocarcinomas are confined to the uterus, and many patients do not require adjuvant treatment after surgery. However, nonendometrioid adenocarcinomas—papillary serous and clear cell adenocarcinomas—are associated with a worse prognosis and disease progression is unlike that of the more common endometrioid adenocarcinomas. In the United States, endometrial cancers are staged surgically; this is not the case in many European countries. Yet, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) issued updated recommendations in 2009 for the staging of endometrial malignancies (and other cancers), and these continue to incorporate prognostic factors found at surgery. Pelvic and periaortic lymph node assessment remain important aspects of staging. However, surgical staging can be associated with increased surgical morbidity, including injury to vessels, ureters, and nerves and lymphocyst formation. Additionally, because many women who develop endometrial cancer tend to be obese, the task of surgical staging can be technically challenging, although the robotic approach has remedied some of these technical difficulties. Nonetheless, it would be beneficial if recommendations for lymphadenectomy could be further refined to spare some patients the need for lymph node dissection.
Nonsafety Loads on Class 1E Power Sources, Revisited

The supply of some nonsafety loads from class 1E power sources is allowed by industry standards (IEEE Standards 308 and 384) and by US Nuclear Regulatory Commission Regulatory Guides 1.32 and 1.75. This has been questioned as a possible source of degradation of the class 1E system, and this power deals with assessment of the effects of this practice on the reliability of the power supply for engineered safety features (ESF) systems.
A novel multiple FISH array for the detection of genetic aberrations in cancer

Interphase multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (IM-FISH) has great promise for improving cancer diagnosis because it can directly visualize multiple changes in chromosomes and gene copy number on a cell-to-cell basis. However, no more than four targets can be detected simultaneously by current commercially available IM-FISH protocols, and the DNA probes used are too large to detect the single-gene aberrations that characterize tumorigenesis. As a result, multiple FISH has a low sensitivity in detecting cancer cells. To overcome such limitations, we first developed specific genomic probes for the genes relevant to primary lung cancer. We next designed a multiple FISH array by arranging four different compositions of cocktails of four probes for each gene on a coverslip, which allowed four four-color FISH experiments to be performed in parallel on a single slide. We then tested the multiple FISH array on bronchial brushing samples from lung cancer patients to determine its ability to detect genetic abnormalities. A comparison of the data with the results of cytology and commercial four-color FISH suggested that the multiple FISH array had the highest sensitivity for cancer detection. The technique may thus be a powerful laboratory strategy for cancer prevention and early detection and for improved patient management.
Everyday technologies for Alzheimer's disease care: Research findings, directions, and challenges

Abstract The Everyday Technologies for Alzheimer's Care initiative was launched by the Alzheimer's Association and Intel Corporation in 2003 to identify and fund promising research in the use of technology—especially information and communication technologies—for monitoring, diagnosing, and treating Alzheimer's disease. At the last two progress meetings, scientific leaders of the two partners, together with aging health technology academic scientists, met to review the most recent research and discuss how current and developing technologies can address growing needs in Alzheimer care.
Congenital Abnormalities of the Urachus

In connection with 2 cases, authors deal with the diagnostic difficulties and therapeutic measures encountered in congenital urachus anomalies.
Evidence that Eggs Do Not Transmit Leucosis

Abstract THE persistent claim by Waters (Waters and Prickett, 1944; Waters, 1945; 1947) that avian leucosis is spread by transmission through the egg to the chick has now been extended to include a theory that chicks are infected in the incubator by dissemination there of the causative virus (Waters and Bywaters, 1949). These themes have received so much attention by the world’s poultry press that many poultrymen are now hoping to be able eventually to control the disease by the detection and elimination of hens carrying the virus or by disinfection of the incubator. In our opinion, the data presented hereunder show (1) that it is very unlikely that the disease is transmitted through the egg, (2) that any such transmission that may occur is of no significance whatever in the practical control of leucosis, and (3) that the all-important factors in determining the severity of this disease in a flock . . .
Fluctuations of populations of Lygus hesperus in alfalfa in Arizona.

Logarithmic transformations of estimates of populations of adults of Lygus hesperus Knight in alfalfa hay fields in Arizona provided a good indication of seasonal fluctuations. The populations generally increased in the spring at a relatively uniform rate and decreased at a similar rate during the late summer and fall.
High resolution CT findings in miliary lung disease

High-resolution CT (HRCT) and chest radiographs were compared in nine patients with miliary lung disease. In all cases, miliary disease was documented to be infectious in etiology; six of these patients proved to be human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive. A mixture of both sharply and poorly defined 1-3 mm nodules was seen in all cases, many of the latter having an appearance indistinguishable from airspace nodules. Other features attributable to the presence of nodules included nodular interlobular septae, nodular irregularity of vessels, subpleural dots, and studded fissures. Diffuse intra- and interlobular septal thickening also proved common, seen in all but one case (91%). Based on limited HRCT-pathologic correlation, CT findings appear primarily to be due to granulomatous foci developing in a seemingly random distribution involving both pulmonary airspaces as well as the interstitium. It is concluded that in the appropriate clinical setting this constellation of findings is characteristic of miliary disease; the role of HRCT especially in the early diagnosis of miliary disease in HIV positive patients remains to be determined prospectively.
Regional interactions of opioid peptides at μ and δ sites in rat brain

Abstract Opiate binding sites in five brain regions were labeled with the μ and δ markers, 3 H-morphine and 3 H-[D-Ala 2 ,D-leu 5 ]enkephalin, respectively. The highest densities of both 3 H-morphine and 3 H-DADLE labeled sites are found in striatum and frontal cortex. Hypothalamus and midbrain contain predominantly 3 H-morphine labeled sites. The selectivity of the opioid peptides [D-Ala 2 ,D-leu 5 ]enkephalin, β-endorphin and dynorphin(1–13) for the two opiate sites was investigated by comparing the potency of these unlabeled compounds against the μ and δ markers in different brain regions. This determination has the effect of controlling for the breakdown of peptides within each region. While the enkephalin analogue shows a preference for the δ binding site and β-endorphin is more nearly equipotent towards the two binding sites, dynorphin(1–13) shows a high affinity and selective preference for the μ binding site over the δ site. The potency of the opioid peptides in displacing the μ and δ markers varies from region to region according to the relative densities of the two opiate binding site populations.
Preparation and x-ray diffraction studies of compositionally modulated PbTe/Bi films

Abstract A technique is described for preparing compositionally modulated PbTe/Bi films on mica with a well-defined [111] epitaxy by evaporation. For short wavelengths or a large ratio of PbTe to bismuth, the bismuth layers of the film approached a quasi-simple-cubic structure.
Controlled/“Living” Radical Polymerization. Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization Catalyzed by Copper(I) and Picolylamine Complexes

Two picolyl structure based amines, the tridentate N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)octylamine (BPMOA) and the tetradentate tris[(2-pyridyl)methyl]amine, have been successfully synthesized and employed as new ligands in the copper-mediated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of styrene, methyl acrylate, and methyl methacrylate. Polymerizations showed a linear increase in molecular weight with conversion and relatively low polydispersities throughout the reactions. Compared with the structurally related N,N,N‘,N‘ ‘,N‘ ‘-pentamethyldiethylenetriamine, different kinetic behavior was observed when BPMOA was used as the ligand for the copper-mediated ATRP of methyl methacrylate. This is mainly attributed to the solubility difference of the catalyst in these systems. The ready availability of ligands based on the picolyl structure and their easily tunable solubilities as well as steric and electronic properties make them very attractive as new ligands in copper-mediated ATRP.
Thermal modulation spectroscopy of biological films

Abstract Thermal modulation spectroscopic techniques have been developed to study the optical properties of copper complexes of spermine and spermidine. Both pure and mixed solutions of the complexes were used to prepare films on special substrate heaters. Measurement techniques were developed to obtain approximately quantitative estimates of the composition of the mixed films from the modulation spectra. It is concluded that modulation spectroscopy is an appropriate tool for obtaining quantitative information on biologically important compounds. The spectra at 77 K and 300 K were significantly different.
Escherichia coli ribosome is inactivated by Mirabilis antiviral protein which cleaves the N-glycosidic bond at A2660 of 23 S ribosomal RNA

Abstract Ribosome-inactivating proteins (RIPs) are known to inactivate eukaryotic ribosomes, which results in the inhibition of protein synthesis, but there has been no evidence that they inactivate the ribosomes of Escherichia coli. Recently, Mirabilis antiviral protein (MAP), a RIP, has been shown to inhibit the protein synthesis of E. coli as well as eukaryotes. To elucidate its mechanism, E. coli ribosomes treated with MAP were analyzed by polyacrylamide/agarose composite gel electrophoresis and RNA sequencing using reverse transcriptase with DNA primer. The 23 S rRNAs, with an A260 value for ribosomes of 15, were completely cleaved in vitro by a 30 minute treatment with MAP at a concentration of 100 n m at 37°C and a subsequent treatment with aniline. However, they were not affected by ricin A-chain under the same conditions. The primer extension of DNA polymerization stopped before A2660 of 23 S rRNA in RNA sequencing. Furthermore, both 16 S and 23 S rRNAs were cleaved by the MAP and aniline treatments when naked E. coli rRNAs were used as substrates, and the primer extension stopped before bases A2660 and A1014, respectively, in RNA sequencing. As the A2660 region has been shown to interact with the elongation factors EF-Tu and EF-G these results indicate that MAP cleaves the N-glycosidic bond at A2660 in E. coli 23 S RNA resulting in the inactivation of the ribosome.
Issues and approaches to design of real-time database systems

Real-time database systems support applications which have severe performance constraints such as fast response time and continued operation in the face of catastrophic failures. Real-time database systems are still in the state of infancy, and issues and alternatives in their design are not very well explored. In this paper, we discuss issues in the design of real-time database systems and discuss different alternatives for resolving these issues. We discuss the aspects in which requirements and design issues of real-time database systems differ from those of conventional database systems. We discuss two approaches to design real-time database systems, viz., main memory resident databases and design by trading a feature (like serializability).We also discuss requirements in the design of real-time distributed database systems, and specifically discuss issues in the design of concurrency control and crash recovery. It is felt that long communication delays may be a factor in limiting the performance of real-time distributed database systems. We present a concurrency control algorithm for real-time distributed database systems whose performance is not limited by communication delays.
An air pollution climatology around an isolated point source using convective scaling parameters

Abstract An air pollution climatology, which incorporated convective scaling parameters, is used to investigate the conditions associated with hourly SO2 concentrations from a coal-fired power plant. One year of data from the Paradise power plant in central Kentucky (U.S.A.) were analyzed. Variables which were examined included emission rate, plume rise, wind speed, wind direction, stability class, convective scaling velocity and similarity categories. The results show the meteorological conditions leading to high surface concentrations are the daytime hours having neutral/unstable atmospheric stability, light winds and effective plume height to mixing height ratios typically > 0.85. In more than half of the 30 h of highest observed concentrations, the atmospheric conditions satisfy the criteria for mixed-layer scaling.
Combined Leydig cell and Sertoli cell dysfunction in 46,XX males lacking the sex determining region Y gene

We have evaluated 3 individuals with a rare form of 46,XX sex reversal. All of them had ambiguous external genitalia and mixed wolffian and muellerian structures, indicating both Leydig cell and Sertoli cell dysfunction, similar to that of patients with true hermaphroditism. However, gonadal tissue was not ovotesticular but testicular with varying degrees of dysgenesis. SRY sequences were absent in genomic DNA from peripheral leukocytes in all 3 subjects. Y centromere sequences were also absent, indicating that testis development did not occur because of a low level mosaicism of Y-bearing cells. The subjects in this report demonstrate that there is a continuum in the extent of the testis determination in SRY-negative 46,XX sex reversal, ranging from nearly normal to minimal testicular development. 20 refs.
Single molecule fluorescence analysis in solution

Over the past five years, several groups have developed the capability to detect and identify single fluorescent molecules in solution as the molecules flow through a focused laser beam. The history of the approach to single-molecule detection in fluid solution is shown in Fig. 1. Approximately one dozen molecular species have been detected at this level of sensitivity. Fluorescence-based, single-molecule detection techniques are expected to have a significant impact in fields where fluorescence detection and quantification are broadly applied, e.g., analytical chemistry, biology, and medicine. Single-molecule detection is a new way of doing analytical chemistry, and new applications will arise. In this article, we describe our approach to single-molecule detection and explore assays that can be done at the single-species level that would be difficult or impossible with bulk measurements.
Endothelial dysfunction and inflammatory process in transfusion-dependent patients with beta-thalassemia major

Abstract Background Beta-thalassemia major is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We examined endothelial function and serum levels of inflammatory mediators in transfusion-dependent patients with beta-thalassemia major. Methods The study population consisted of 67 patients with homozygous beta-thalassemia major, (aged 24.6±0.7 years) and 71 healthy age and sex matched controls. Forearm blood flow was measured with gauge-strain plethysmography. Forearm vasodilatory response to reactive hyperemia (RH%) or to nitrate (NTG%) was expressed as the percentage change of forearm blood flow from baseline to the maximum flow during reactive hyperemia or sublingual nitroglycerin, respectively. Serum levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM-1) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM-1) were determined with ELISA. Results Patients had significantly lower levels of total cholesterol (125±4.5 vs. 207±7 mg/ml, p p p p p p p Conclusions Beta-thalassemia major is associated with impaired endothelial function and increased levels of IL-6, sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1, suggesting a potential role of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in the complications of the disease.
Syntheses of benzo[b]- and benzo[j]phenanthridines†

The isomeric lactams benzo[b]phenanthridine-5(6H)-one and benzo[j]phenanthridine-6(5H)-one were obtained in equal yields by Schmidt reaction on 11H-benzo[b]fluoren-11-one (44% total) or by Beckmann reaction on 11H-benzo[b]fluoren-11-one oxime (22% total). Reduction of the lactams with lithium aluminum hydride gave the 5, 6-dihydro-benzo[b]- and -[j]phenanthridines. Dehydrogenation of these dihydro derivatives produced the parent aromatic heterocycles benzo[b]- and benzo[j]phenanthridine in best overall yields of 20% and 12%, respectively. A few substituted benzophenanthridines were also prepared. Assignment of structures was based on ultraviolet, infrared, and n.m.r. spectra of the dihydro derivatives as well as on separate unequivocal synthesis of the isomeric benzophenanthridines.
Robustness of Dynamical Feedbacks from Radiative Forcing: 2% Solar versus 2 × CO2Experiments in an Idealized GCM

AbstractDespite the differences in the spatial patterns of the external forcing associated with a doubling CO2 and with a 2% solar variability, the final responses in the troposphere and at the surface in a three-dimensional general circulation model appear remarkably similar. Various feedback processes are diagnosed and compared using the climate feedback–response analysis method (CFRAM) to understand the mechanisms responsible.At the surface, solar radiative forcing is stronger in the tropics than at the high latitudes, whereas greenhouse radiative forcing is stronger at high latitudes compared with the tropics. Also solar forcing is positive everywhere in the troposphere and greenhouse radiative forcing is positive mainly in the lower troposphere. The water vapor feedback strengthens the upward-decreasing radiative heating profile in the tropics and the poleward-decreasing radiative heating profile in the lower troposphere. The “evaporative” and convective feedbacks play an important role only in the t...