cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Imipramine versus propranolol for the treatment of panic attacks: A pilot study

Abstract Thirty-eight patients agreed to participate in a preliminary crossover trial comparing imipramine to propranolol for the treatment of panic disorder and agoraphobia with panic attacks. An independent blind assessor was used as well as several standard rating scales. There was no placebo group. Twenty-three patients completed a trial of both drugs. Approximately half of the patients lost their panic attacks completely, both on imipramine and propranolol. Other patients were partially, but not completely improved. The implications and limitations of this finding and others are discussed.
International trade and agricultural development in developing countries: Significance of the Uruguay Round of GATT negotiations

Abstract Liberalization of world trade in agricultural products ranks high on the agenda of the Uruguay Round. After a period of more than six years, however, the negotiations have not been concluded. Nevertheless, an outcome seems to be in sight. The agreement will most likely not result in a move to freer trade. It seems that domestic policies will become even more regulative than in the past in an attempt to cut exportable surpluses and to ease trade tensions among the main exporting nations. This paper explores possible impacts of the GATT Round on agricultural development in developing countries. Agricultural development is more than only growth in agricultural production or productivity. However, it is argued in the paper that other variables which also indicate agricultural development are often closely correlated with growth in production and productivity. Trade in agricultural products is not always an engine for agricultural development. If internal divergences are not accounted for by appropriate domestic policies, trade may be even harmful to agricultural development. Hence, empirical research based on cross-country analysis does not provide a clear answer about the role of trade for development. Past policies in industrialized countries have most likely had a negative effect on developing countries as a group; however, the effects differ widely across countries. Liberalization policies in industrialized countries would not just reverse these negative effects for developing countries. Price reduction in industrialized countries may not result in the often-cited production decline in the short term. Present X-inefficiency in agriculture will be reduced by liberalization, leading to an outward shift of the supply curve. Hence, liberalization may not lead to higher world market prices for temperate-zone products in the short and medium term. Apart from this, empirical models differ widely in the price effects they predict. The expected outcome of the Uruguay Round — increased regulation of domestic policies — is likely both more negative for developing countries than past protectionist policies and worse than an overall liberalization. World market prices will increase, uncertainty and instability can be expected to grow, and food aid may become less available. There will be a need to react to these challenges with measures on the international and national level. Initiatives to deal with food crises in developing countries and to stimulate liberalization in developing countries should be considered. Finally, developing countries should be made aware that their own domestic policies have a much greater economic impact than policies in other countries, even if the latter are as protectionist as current agricultural policies in the industrialized world.
Collection and analysis of colloidal particles transported in the Mississippi River, U.S.A.

Abstract Sediment transport has long been recognized as an important mechanism for the transport of contaminants in surface waters. Suspended sediment has traditionally been divided into three size classes: sand-sized (> 63 μ M), silt-sized ( μ M but settleable) and clay-sized (non-settleable). The first two classes are easily collected and characterized using screens (sand) and settling (silt). The clay-sized particles, more properly called colloids, are more difficult to collect and characterize, and until recently received little attention. From the hydrologic perspective, a colloid is a particle, droplet, or gas bubble with at least one dimension between 0.001 and 1 μm. Because of their small size, colloids have large specific surface areas and high surface free energies which may facilitate sorption of hydrophobic materials. Understanding what types of colloids are present in a system, how contaminants of interest interact with these colloids, and what parameters control the transport of colloids in natural systems is critical if the relative importance of colloid-mediated transport is to be understood. This paper describes the collection, concentration and characterization of colloidal materials in the Mississippi River. Colloid concentrations, particle-size distributions, mineral composition and electrophoretic mobilities were determined. Techniques used are illustrated with samples collected at St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.
Isolation of myosin-synthesizing polysomes from cultures of embryonic chicken myoblasts before fusion.

Abstract Mononucleated myoblasts and multinucleated myotubes were obtained by culturing embryonic chicken skeletal muscle cells. Comparison of total polysomes isolated from these mononucleated and multinucleated cell cultures by density gradient centrifugation and electron microscopy revealed that mononucleated myoblasts contain polysomes similar to those contained by multinucleated myotubes and large enough to synthesize the 200,000-dalton subunit of myosin. When placed in an in vitro protein-synthesizing assay containing [3H]leucine, total polysomes from both mononucleated and multinucleated myogenic cultures were active in synthesizing polypeptides indistinguishable from myosin heavy chains as detected by measurement of radioactivity in slices through the myosin band on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gels. Fractionation of total polysomes on sucrose density gradients showed that myosin-synthesizing polysomes from mononucleated myoblasts may be slightly smaller than myosin-synthesizing polysomes from myotubes. Multinucleated myotubes contain approximately two times more myosin-synthesizing polysomes per unit of DNA than mononucleated myoblasts, and the proportion of total polysomes constituted by myosin polysomes is only 1.2 times higher in multinucleated myotubes than it is in mononucleated myoblasts. The results of this study suggest that mononucleated myoblasts contain significant amounts of myosin messenger RNA before the burst of myosin synthesis that accompanies muscle differentiation and that a portion of this messenger RNA is associated with ribosomes to form polysomes that will actively translate myosin heavy chains in an in vitro protein-synthesizing assay.
Arthrodesis techniques in the management of stage II and III acquired adult flatfoot deformity.

Arthrodesis is indicated for the management of an acquired adult flatfoot disorder with a fixed deformity or degenerative joint disease. In general, limited fusions of the hindfoot and midfoot preserve more motion than do extensive fusion procedures such as triple arthrodesis. However, full correction of the deformity is important for a durable outcome, and this may require a more extensive fusion procedure or the inclusion of adjunctive procedures. Triple arthrodesis provides the most reliable and predictable correction of a fixed deformity. Careful preoperative and intraoperative physical examination and radiographic evaluation are critical to developing an operative plan that will address all of the components of this complex deformity and to minimizing the chance of its recurrence. Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction is the most common etiology of adult acquired flatfoot deformity. The pathological process by which this dysfunction occurs varies and may be inflammatory, degenerative, or traumatic in nature. Acquired adult flatfoot deformity can occur in younger patients (thirty to forty years old) with inflammatory arthropathy, but it is more common in older women (fifty to sixty years old) with degenerative tears1. Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction with loss of the dynamic stabilizer of the medial aspect of the hindfoot can lead to a progressive valgus deformity of the hindfoot. Once the posterior tibial tendon ruptures or becomes elongated, the dynamic forces of weight-bearing contribute to attritional rupture or laxity of the static hindfoot stabilizers and collapse of the medial longitudinal arch. There is sagging of the medial column of the foot with eversion and external rotation of the calcaneus in relation to the talus. With longer-standing deformity, compensatory forefoot varus often develops (Figs. 1-A and 1-B). Johnson and Strom2 described three clinical stages of posterior tibial tendon dysfunction (Stages I, II, and III). This staging system was …
Microvascular patterns in the blubber of shallow and deep diving odontocetes.

Blubber, a specialized form of subdermal adipose tissue, surrounds marine mammal bodies. Typically, adipose tissue is perfused by capillaries but information on blubber vascularization is lacking. This study's goals were to: 1) describe and compare the microvasculature (capillaries, microarterioles, and microvenules) of blubber across odontocete species; 2) compare microvasculature of blubber to adipose tissue; and 3) examine relationships between blubber's lipid composition and its microvasculature. Percent microvascularity, distribution, branching pattern, and diameter of microvessels were determined from images of histochemically stained blubber sections from shallow-diving bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), deeper-diving pygmy sperm whales (Kogia breviceps), deep-diving beaked whales (Mesoplodon densirostris; Ziphius cavirostris), and the subdermal adipose tissue of domestic pigs (Sus scrofa). Tursiops blubber showed significant stratification in percent microvascularity among the superficial, middle, and deep layers and had a significantly higher percent microvascularity than all other animals analyzed, in which the microvasculature was more uniformly distributed. The percent microvasculature of Kogia blubber was lower than that of Tursiops but higher than that of beaked whales and the subdermal adipose tissue of domestic pigs. Tursiops had the most microvascular branching. Microvessel diameter was relatively uniform in all species. There were no clear patterns associating microvascular and lipid characteristics. The microvascular characteristics of the superficial layer of blubber resembled the adipose tissue of terrestrial mammals, suggesting some conservation of microvascular patterns in mammalian adipose tissue. The middle and deep layers of blubber, particularly in Tursiops, showed the greatest departure from typical mammalian microvascular arrangement. Factors such as metabolics or thermoregulation may be influencing the microvasculature in these layers. © J. Morphol., 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Optimizing All-to-All Collective Communication by Exploiting Concurrency in Modern Networks

The paper proposes a novel approach for optimizing performance of all-to-all collective communication by taking advantage of concurrency available in modern networks such as Infiniband or Quadrics. Using the MPI AllGather operation as an example, we describe how network concurrency can be exploited in an optimized implementation of this operation. For example, compared to leading MPI implementations for a 32-KB message on 128 processors, our new algorithm yields a 65% improvement on the Infiniband at Virginia Tech and an 89% improvement on the Quadrics cluster at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
Moral and Semantic Innocence

Moral Innocence is a term meant to describe that facts like the following obtain: that no Jews are kikes, that there are no kikes, but that there are Jews. It is the view, to be more prosaic, that the world we live in contains no such things as kikes, niggers, or chinks, but that it does contain Jews, African-Americans, and Chinese. These facts are the contents of the thoughts that no Jews are kikes, that there are no kikes, but that there are Jews; the thoughts that are expressed by the sentences:
Stochastic microgeometry for displacement mapping

Creating surfaces with intricate small-scale features (microgeometry) and detail is an important task in geometric modeling and computer graphics. We present a model processing method capable of producing a wide variety of complex surface features based on displacement mapping and stochastic geometry. The latter is a branch of mathematics that analyzes and characterizes the statistical properties of spatial structures. The technique has been incorporated into an interactive modeling environment that supports the design of stochastic microgeometries. Additionally a tool has been developed that provides random exploration of the technique's entire parameter space by generating sample microgeometry over a broad range of values. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our technique by creating diverse, complex surface structures for a variety of geometric models, e.g. arrowheads, candy bars, busts, planets and coral.
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors Influence Expression of Defensive Behavior in Plains Hog-Nosed Snakes (Heterodon nasicus)

Animals failing to deter predation are eaten. Among the many deterrents to predation, antipredator behaviors are perhaps the most variable, ranging from active (fight or flight) to passive (immobility). We assessed variation in the expression of a passive defensive behavior, death-feigning, in Plains Hog-nosed Snakes (Heterodon nasicus) and predicted that intrinsic and extrinsic factors would influence the duration of this behavior and the latency to its onset. We simulated predatory attacks on 27 snakes encountered in the field, and analyzed the behavioral responses of snakes as a function of differences among individuals (sex and size) and environmental factors (temperature and microhabitat). Larger snakes death-feigned for longer durations than smaller ones; this relationship was stronger for female snakes than for males. Death feints were initiated sooner when snakes were encountered at higher temperatures. Extrinsic factors had a greater influence on latency to death-feigning behavior, whereas intrinsic factors more strongly influenced its duration. Because our results involved wild snakes, they provide an improved, highly relevant understanding of individual and environmental factors that regulate the expression of immobile defensive behavior. Furthermore, additional hypotheses can now be proposed that address the evolution of defensive behaviors that leave animals prone to attack.
On fractional Ramsey numbers

Abstract The classical Ramsey number r ( k , l ) is the smallest n such that for any red/blue coloring of the edges of K n either the red subgraph has clique number at least k , or the blue subgraph has clique number at least l . In this paper, we consider a similar parameter — the fractional Ramsey number — in which ‘clique number’ is replaced by ‘fractional clique number’. An exact formula for r f ( x , y ) is given and some extensions are considered as well.
FBN-1, a fibrillin-related protein, is required for resistance of the epidermis to mechanical deformation during C. elegans embryogenesis

During development, biomechanical forces contour the body and provide shape to internal organs. Using genetic and molecular approaches in combination with a FRET-based tension sensor, we characterized a pulling force exerted by the elongating pharynx (foregut) on the anterior epidermis during C. elegans embryogenesis. Resistance of the epidermis to this force and to actomyosin-based circumferential constricting forces is mediated by FBN-1, a ZP domain protein related to vertebrate fibrillins. fbn-1 was required specifically within the epidermis and FBN-1 was expressed in epidermal cells and secreted to the apical surface as a putative component of the embryonic sheath. Tiling array studies indicated that fbn-1 mRNA processing requires the conserved alternative splicing factor MEC-8/RBPMS. The conserved SYM-3/FAM102A and SYM-4/WDR44 proteins, which are linked to protein trafficking, function as additional components of this network. Our studies demonstrate the importance of the apical extracellular matrix in preventing mechanical deformation of the epidermis during development.
The calmodulin binding domain of the plasma membrane Ca2+ pump interacts both with calmodulin and with another part of the pump.

Abstract Synthetic peptides corresponding to the calmodulin-binding domain of the human erythrocyte Ca2+ pump were prepared representing residues 2-29 (C28W), 2-21 (C20W), 2-16 (C15W), and 16-29 (C14) of the sequence (James, P., Maeda, M., Fisher, R., Verma, A. K., Krebs, J., Penniston, J. T., and Carafoli, E. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 2905-2910). Peptides C28W, C20W, and C15W bound to calmodulin with an apparent 1:1 stoichiometry in the presence of Ca2+ and inhibited the activation of the Ca2+ pump by calmodulin, while C14 was ineffective. Substituting tyrosine (C28Y) or alanine (C28A) for the tryptophan residue lowered the affinity for calmodulin. The estimated Kd values for the calmodulin-peptide complexes were 0.1 nM for C28W, 5-15 nM for C20W, C28Y, and C28A, and 700-1700 nM for C15W. The Ca2+ pump in inside-out erythrocyte membrane vesicles was activated by proteolytic removal of the endogenous calmodulin-binding domain. Addition of C20W or C28W then inhibited calmodulin-independent Ca2+ transport, while a calmodulin-binding peptide from another enzyme had no effect. The inhibition of the pump by C20W was purely competitive with Ca2+, while C28W decreased the Vmax and increased the K1/2 for Ca2+, restoring the pump activity nearly to its low basal level. The results suggest that a calmodulin-binding peptide from any enzyme has two kinds of specificity: it shares with peptides from other enzymes the ability to bind to calmodulin, but only it has the specificity to interact with its own (proteolytically activated) enzyme.
State Environmental Protection Efforts, Women's Status, and World Polity: A Cross-National Analysis

There is a large focus at the organizational level on the importance of a link between women and the environment, yet little empirical research explores this. We examine how women's status in economic, political, educational, and health spheres affect state environmental protection efforts in the form of protected land area. Hypotheses derived from ecofeminism and empirical literature of gendered differences in individual-level attitudes and behaviors are tested using multiple regression models with a cross-national sample. We find no support for broader ecofeminist claims that the overall oppression of women and environmental degradation are linked by a common source. However, we find strong support for the idea that increasing women's political status in particular through representation in national government has a positive effect on state environmental protection efforts. We also find no evidence that connection to a world polity has a significant effect on nation-state designation of protected land area.
Membrane glycerophospholipid biosynthesis in Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae: identification, characterization, and mutagenesis of a lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) acyltransferases of Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae were identified which share homology with other prokaryotic and eukaryotic LPA acyltransferases. In Escherichia coli, the conversion of LPA to phosphatidic acid, performed by the 1-acyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase PlsC, is a critical intermediate step in the biosynthesis of membrane glycerophospholipids. A Tn916-generated mutant of a serogroup B meningococcal strain was identified that exhibited increased amounts of capsular polysaccharide, as shown by colony immunoblots, and a threefold increase in the number of assembled pili. The single, truncated 3.8 kb Tn916 insertion in the meningococcal mutant was localized within a 771 bp open reading frame, The gonococcal equivalent of this gene was identified by transformation with the cloned meningococcal mutant gene. In N. gonorrhoeae, the mutation increased piliation fivefold. The insertions were found to be within a gene that was subsequently designated nlaA (neisserial LPA acyltransferase). The predicted neisserial LPA acyltransferases were homologous (>20% identity, >40% amino acid similarity) to the family of PlsC protein homologues. A cloned copy of the meningococcal nlaA gene complemented in trans a temperature-sensitive E. coli PlsCts- mutant. Tn916 and omega-cassette insertional inactivations of the neisserial nlaA genes altered the membrane glycerophospholipid compositions of both N. meningitidis and N. gonorrhoeae but were not lethal. Therefore, the pathogenic Neisseria spp. appear to be able to utilize alternative enzyme(s) to produce phosphatidic acid. This hypothesis is supported by the observation that, although the amounts of mature glycerophospholipids were altered in the meningococcal and the gonococcal nlaA mutants, glycerophospholipid synthesis was detectable at significant levels. In addition, acyltransferase enzymatic activity, while reduced in the gonococcal nlaA mutant, was increased in the meningococcal nlaA mutant. We postulate that the pathogenic Neisseria spp. are able to utilize alternate acyltransferases to produce glycerophospholipids in the absence of nlaA enzymatic activity. Implementation of these secondary enzymes results in alterations of glycerophospholipid composition that lead to pleiotropic effects on the cell surface components, including effects on capsule and piliation.
Pore-throat sizes in sandstones, siltstones, and shales: Reply

In his discussion of my article (Nelson, 2009), W. K. Camp takes issue with the concept that buoyancy is not the dominant force in forming and maintaining the distribution of gas in tight-gas accumulations (Camp, 2011). I will restrict my response to the issues he raised regarding buoyant versus nonbuoyant drive and to a few comments regarding water saturation and production. I claim that the pressure generated in petroleum source rocks ( P g), instead of the buoyancy pressure ( P b), provides the energy to charge most tight sandstones with gas. The arguments are fourfold: (1) buoyant columns of sufficient height seldom exist in low-permeability sand-shale sequences, (2) tight-gas systems display a pressure profile that declines instead of increases upward, (3) gas is pervasive in overpressured systems, and (4) source rocks can generate pore pressures sufficiently high to charge tight sandstones. As discussed by Berg (1975), the upward migration of gas or oil is driven by buoyant pressure P b but inhibited by capillary (injection) pressure P c. Passage through an individual pore throat by a globule or stringer of gas or oil is accomplished when P b exceeds P c; the term “stringer” is used when the required hydrocarbon height is many times greater than a pore dimension. The buoyant pressure exerted by a stringer of gas of height h is ![Formula][1] where ρ w and ρ g are the specific gravities of water and gas (relative to water), respectively, and 0.433 is the density of water expressed in oil field units of pounds per square inch per foot (Schowalter, 1979). The buoyant pressure increases linearly with the density difference and the height of the stringer. The capillary pressure P c (also called injection pressure or displacement pressure) of a porous medium is ![Formula][2] where c , with a … [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif [2]: /embed/graphic-2.gif
The Situation of Black Educational Researchers: Continuation of a Crisis

The numbers and proportions of Blacks gaining doctorates and entering academe have continuously declined. This decline is seen in all fields including education, particularly educational research. Coupled with this downward trend is the fact that, psychologically, Black faculty often find themselves in work environments that are not fully supportive. Prejudice and discrimination remain as obstacles, and for many the lack of mentoring, at any level, is a reality. The situation for many Black faculty in education can be described best as a predicament. For black educational researchers and the nation, this situation has long been of crisis proportions, and it demands to be addressed directly, for it relates to the common good for American education. As never before, more involvement and more Black educational researchers are needed in the efforts to address the myriad problems that beset U.S. education. Related issues and recommendations are discussed in this article.
Psychological-Hormonal Relationships in Men with Cancer

Summasy.-An exploration was made of relationships berween 3 urinary hormone metabolites (androsterone, estradiol, adrenocorticoids) and 7 aspects of personality (Kindliness, Security, Submissiveness, Hostility, Anxiety, Assertiveness, and a combination score representing stressful-nonsrressful feelings) as measured by a self-ratinl:, 60-word adjective checklist. There were 130 male Ss, 56 with lung or prostate cancer, 38 with emphysema or benign prostate hyperplasia, and 36 well individuals. Of 21 rank coefficients computed for the total group, 5 reached the .05 level of significance; among cancec patients, 2 of 21 coefficients were significant; and among noncancer Ss, 9 of the 21 were significant. There was no consistent pattern in the results for the patients with cancer. Among the noncancer Ss, stressful feelings tended to be positively associated, and nonstressful feelings negatively associated, with the hormone metabolite levels. Some aspects of personality in men with cancer were explored as one facet of a comprehensive study of clinical correlates of urinary hormone metabolites (Evans, Stern, 8: Marmorston, 1964). With the use of a self-rating adjective checklisr, it was found that cancer patients described themselves as feeling more kindly, secure, submissive, and (paradoxically) assertive than sick- and wellcontrol Ss, bur they did not differ significantly in feelings of anxiety or hostility. This is a report of some relationships between psychological and hormonal variables in men with cancer 2nd without cancer.
Towards the deployment of a mobile robot network with end-to-end performance guarantees

Communication is essential for coordination in most cooperative control and sensing paradigms. In this paper, we present an experimental study of strategies for maintaining end-to-end communication links for tasks such as surveillance and search and rescue where team connectivity is essential for providing situational awareness to a base station. We consider the differences between monitoring point-to-point signal strength versus data throughput and present experimental results with our multi-robot testbed in outdoor environments
A preliminary report on the contact-independent antagonism of Pseudogymnoascus destructans by Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain DAP96253

Background: The recently-identified causative agent of White-Nose Syndrome (WNS), Pseudogymnoascus destructans, has been responsible for the mortality of an estimated 5.5 million North American bats since its emergence in 2006. A primary focus of the National Response Plan, established by multiple state, federal and tribal agencies in 2011, was the identification of biological control options for WNS. In an effort to identify potential biological control options for WNS, multiply induced cells of Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain DAP96253 was screened for anti-P. destructans activity. Results: Conidia and mycelial plugs of P. destructans were exposed to induced R. rhodochrous in a closed air-space at 15°C, 7°C and 4°C and were evaluated for contact-independent inhibition of conidia germination and mycelial extension with positive results. Additionally, in situ application methods for induced R. rhodochrous, such as fixed-cell catalyst and fermentation cell-paste in non-growth conditions, were screened with positive results. R. rhodochrous was assayed for ex vivo activity via exposure to bat tissue explants inoculated with P. destructans conidia. Induced R. rhodochrous completely inhibited growth from conidia at 15°C and had a strong fungistatic effect at 4°C. Induced R. rhodochrous inhibited P. destructans growth from conidia when cultured in a shared air-space with bat tissue explants inoculated with P. destructans conidia. Conclusion: The identification of inducible biological agents with contact-independent anti- P. destructans activity is a major milestone in the development of viable biological control options for in situ application and provides the first example of contact-independent antagonism of this devastating wildlife pathogen.
Lip-curling in redbelly snakes ( Storeria occipitomaculata ): functional morphology and ecological significance

Redbelly snakes Storeria occipitomaculata have a characteristic agonistic display involving conspicuous lip-curling and head distortion. The lip-curling and head distortion display is similar to head shape-changes during feeding. Storeria occipitomaculata produced mouth secretions while displaying. Micrographs of maxillae and observation of changes in head configuration showed that the lip-curling behaviour of S. occipitomaculata is related to the presence of carina-bearing maxillary teeth, which are protruded from the mouth during the display. I compared the behaviour and morphology of this species to other gastropod-eating snakes and suggest that these behavioural and morphological characteristics have a two-fold role: in prey capture they aid the capture, the handling, and perhaps the digestion of prey; in predator deterrence they may act as delivery agents for mouth secretions.
Head and neck cancer as a clinical model for molecular targeting of therapy: combining EGFR blockade with radiation.

Abstract Purpose/Objective: The primary purpose of this presentation is to develop the concept that molecular blockade of specific growth factor receptors and signal transduction pathways in combination with radiation will prove a valuable cancer therapeutic strategy. More specifically, the rationale for molecular blockade of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) system in combination with ionizing radiation for epithelial tumors, such as squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the head and neck (H&N), is described. Methods and Materials: Preclinical experimentation with in vitro and in vivo model systems regarding the capacity of EGFR blockade, using the monoclonal antibody C225, to modulate SCC tumor growth behavior and response to radiation is presented. The rationale for new clinical trials that are currently exploring this concept are presented. Results: Blockade of the EGFR system in SCC cell lines with C225 induces G1 cell cycle arrest with an associated decrease in the S-phase fraction. Inhibition of tumor cell proliferation is readily measured following C225 exposure and the corresponding alterations in expression of key regulators of the G1-S cell cycle phase transition are identified. Exposure of SCCs to C225 in culture enhances radiosensitivity following single-dose radiation exposure. Profound augmentation of the in vivo radiation response of SCC tumor xenografts in athymic mice is similarly demonstrated following systemic administration of C225. Preliminary studies are presented regarding potential underlying mechanisms of action for this enhanced tumor response to the combination of C225 and radiation including: (a) proliferative growth inhibition, (b) enhancement of radiation-induced apoptosis, (c) inhibition of damage repair, and (d) downregulation of tumor angiogenic response. Preliminary observations from the Phase III multicenter clinical trial examining C225 plus radiation therapy for advanced H&N cancer patients are provided. Conclusion: Molecular inhibition of the EGFR signal transduction system in combination with radiation represents a promising investigational area in cancer therapeutics. Epithelial tumors that are rich in their expression of EGFR (e.g., SCC of the H&N) hold special promise for receptor blockade approaches. More broadly, the ultimate therapeutic effect of selected molecular agents which block specific growth factor receptors and signaling pathways may be enhanced when delivered in combination with radiation.
A lysine 73-->histidine variant of yeast iso-1-cytochrome c: evidence for a native-like intermediate in the unfolding pathway and implications for m value effects.

In this paper we report thermodynamic studies on a variant of yeast iso-1-cytochrome c in which a surface lysine residue at position 73 has been replaced with a histidine (H73). Guanidine hydrochloride denaturation studies monitored by circular dichroism spectroscopy indicated decreased thermodynamic stability (a lower ΔG°uH2O) and a smaller m value for the H73 protein as compared to the wild type (WT) protein. Further investigations to probe the causes for the thermodynamic stability differences between the two proteins involved guanidine hydrochloride and urea denaturations monitored by tryptophan fluorescence. The stability of heme ligation in the denatured state in the presence of either guanidine hydrochloride or urea was monitored by the spin-state transition of the heme iron induced by pH. None of these studies supported the hypothesis that the decreased m value was due to heme−His73 ligation in the denatured state. Guanidine hydrochloride denaturations monitored by the change in the extinction coe...
A new technique for surgical management of old unreduced elbow dislocations: Results and analysis

Background: Open reduction of neglected dislocations of elbow often leads to less than optimal results. Extensive release during reduction and early mobilization may lead to instability. Post-surgical immobilization to recover the stability leads to loss of range of motion. Arafiles described a technique of creating a cruciate ligament like structure to provide stability while early mobilization is advocated. We have modified this technique in several aspects. We report a retrospective analysis of 26 such cases where we evaluated and compared the standard immobilization technique of K-wires with this new modified technique. Materials and Methods: Twenty-six consecutive cases of dislocated elbow with duration ranging from 4 to 56 months were included in this study. We performed standard open reduction and fixation with K-wire followed by immobilization for 3 weeks for the first 12 cases. In the next 14 cases after standard release and reduction we provided extra stability by adding a cruciate ligament like structure both on the medial and lateral side using autologous semitendinosus graft. Post-operative mobilization was advised the very next day. We evaluated the results of this technique and compared it with the previous one using MEPI scores, complication rate and radiological evaluation.Results: The average follow-up duration for the 26 patients is 4.5 years (2−7 years). All patients achieved full functional ROM in both planes. The mean increase in the MEPI score was significantly more for group II (53.5) than group I (36.6). Movement, activities and stability was better for this group II. Complication rates for both were similar.Conclusion: Providing stability at the time of operation with a mediolateral cruciate ligament provides the option of immediate mobilization post-operatively in open reduction of neglected dislocations of elbow. Thus, this technique provides excellent results disregarding the duration of dislocation with minimal morbidity for the patient.
Self-homodyne measurement of a dynamic Mollow triplet in the solid state

Intrinsic Fano interference in a strongly coupled quantum dot/photonic crystal cavity system is controlled to remove most of the coherently scattered light. This result leads to the first experimental observation of the dynamic Mollow triplet. The study of the light–matter interaction at the quantum scale has been enabled by the cavity quantum electrodynamics (CQED) architecture1, in which a quantum two-level system strongly couples to a single cavity mode. Originally implemented with atoms in optical cavities2,3, CQED effects are now also observed with artificial atoms in solid-state environments4,5,6. Such realizations of these systems exhibit fast dynamics, making them attractive candidates for devices including modulators and sources in high-throughput communications. However, these systems possess large photon out-coupling rates that obscure any quantum behaviour at large excitation powers. Here, we have used a self-homodyning7 interferometric technique that fully employs the complex mode structure of our nanofabricated cavity8,9,10 to observe a quantum phenomenon known as the dynamic Mollow triplet11. We expect this interference to facilitate the development of arbitrary on-chip quantum state generators, thereby strongly influencing quantum lithography, metrology and imaging.
Extension Entomology Test Demonstration Program in Virginia

Extension Entomology began on a farm near Terrell, Texas, in 1903. The cotton boll weevil and the inflexible farm practices followed by Texas farmers inspired Seaman A. Knapp to demonstrate a new and improved method of cotton boll weevil control. Recognition of these improved practices in pest control pointed the way to cooperative extension work as we now know it.
A disarmed binary vector from Agrobacterium tumefaciens functions in Agrobacterium rhizogenes : Frequent co-transformation of two distinct T-DNAs.

Binary Ti plasmid vector systems consist of two plasmids in Agrobacterium, where one plasmid contains the DNA that can be transferred to plant cells and the other contains the virulence (vir) genes which are necessary for the DNA transfer but are not themselves stably transferred. We have constructed two nononcogenic vectors (pARC4 and pARC8) based on the binary Ti plasmid system of Agrobacterium tumefaciens for plant transformation. Each vector contains the left and right termini sequences from pTiT37. These sequences, which determine the extent of DNA transferred to plant cells, flank unique restriction enzyme sites and a marker gene that functions in the plant (nopaline synthase in pARC4 or neomycin phosphotransferase in pARC8). After construction in vitro, the vectors can be conjugatively transferred from E. coli to any of several Agrobacterium strains containing vir genes. Using A. rhizogenes strain A4 containing the resident Ri plasmid plus a vector with the nopaline synthase marker, we found that up to 50% of the hairy roots resulting from the infection of alfalfa or tomato synthesized nopaline. Thus, vector DNA encoding an unselected marker was frequently co-transferred with Ri plasmid DNA to an alfalfa or a tomato cell. In contrast, the frequency of co-transfer to soybean cells was difficult to estimate because we encountered a high background of non-transformed roots using this species. Up to five copies of the vector DNA between the termini sequences were faithfully transferred and maintained in most cases suggesting that the termini sequences and the vir genes from the Ri and Ti plasmids are functionally equivalent.
Sumiala, J. (2013), Media and ritual: Death, community and everyday life

Whether or not you are a fan, the chances are that you heard about the death of Michael Jackson. His death was inescapable; he was elevated to the status of cultural icon by the media during his li...
Determinants and consequences of the diurnal rhythm of blood pressure

The diurnal rhythm of blood pressure (BP) is influenced by both extrinsic and intrinsic factors, with the former usually being of greater significance. Non-dippers, in whom the normal nocturnal fall of pressure is diminished, have been reported to show more target organ damage (left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH)) than dippers, which may be explained by a higher average 24 h BP. Whether or not the pattern of BP (as opposed to the level) also is prognostically important is probable but unproven, given the known morning surge of the incidence of many acute cardiovascular events. The pathological significance of different diurnal patterns of BP change may depend both on the method of analysis and on the outcome measure used
Migraine and Menstruation

Abstract Although the association between menstruation and migraine is commonly noted, understanding of the nature of the relationship is limited. Many treatment recommendations are based on anecdote and opinion rather than on careful scientific study. Lack of agreement on definitions and terms, retrospective studies, and cultural attitudes about menstruation may also influence diagnosis and treatment of migraine associated with menstruation. The limitations of current knowledge about migraine associated with menstruation are reviewed and suggestions made for future study.
Improving organizational effectiveness through meaningful involvement of municipal purchasing departments - case studies from ontario canada

This paper could have implications for both public service managers and academics alike. Some of the most difficult challenges facing public purchasers, including those associated with public sector procurement, purchasing consulting services, and purchasing department involvement are discussed. This paper presents insight into the beliefs of municipal purchasing department managers as they relate to meaningful involvement of their departments in consulting service acquisition processes. These research findings may assist others with developing the strategies necessary for increasing municipal purchasing department involvement in these acquisition processes in order to improve organizational effectiveness.
Multivariable output feedback MRAC for a quadrotor UAV

This paper presents a new study of adaptive control developed for a quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). It develops a multivariable output feedback model reference adaptive control (MRAC) structure from a linearized multi-input multi-output (MIMO) quadrotor UAV model. This study includes the specification of key quadrotor dynamics, accounts for system uncertainties from changing operating points, illustrates the multivariable MRAC system design and application, and presents extensive simulations. The adaptive controller employs a completely parameterized adaptive law based on an LDS decomposition of the high frequency gain matrix. This reduces the amount of information needed about the plant, and ensures system stability and asymptotic output tracking, despite system parameter uncertainties. Simulation results demonstrate desired adaptive control system performance, when applied to the nonlinear quadrotor dynamic model.
Institutional Reconfiguration: Labor Allocation Patterns and Chinese Modernization

Against the institutional background of a premodern domestic organizational structure, the PRC Government started a cautious but quickly extensive institutional reform at the end of the 1970s. The political reasoning responsible for this daring departure from Maoist policies was simple: to head-off a seemingly inevitable “dynasty change” caused by an unprecedented political, economic and ideological crisis. Beyond many CCP leaders’ expectations, however, the reform has increasingly transformed so much of the Chinese domestic organizational structure that the CCP regime, though surviving its comrades in most other socialist countries, has lost much of its grip of the nation; even the party itself has been profoundly affected by these institutional changes.
Men to Devils, Devils to Men: Japanese War Crimes and Chinese Justice

In the book Men to Devils, Devils to Men: Japanese War Crimes and Chinese Justice, Barak Kushner provides a meticulous study on the aftermath of post-WWII Chinese legal prosecution of Japanese war ...
Oral Reading Fluency and Authentic Reading Material: Criterion Validity of the Technical Features of CBM Survey-Level Assessment

This study assessed the effects of curriculum on the technical features of survey-level curriculum-based measurement (CBM) in reading. Participants were 57 students in grades 2 through 4. Survey-le...
Tunable two-dimensional interfacial coupling in molecular heterostructures

Two-dimensional van der Waals heterostructures are of considerable interest for the next generation nanoelectronics because of their unique interlayer coupling and optoelectronic properties. Here, we report a modified Langmuir–Blodgett method to organize two-dimensional molecular charge transfer crystals into arbitrarily and vertically stacked heterostructures, consisting of bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene (BEDT–TTF)/C60 and poly(3-dodecylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3DDT)/C60 nanosheets. A strong and anisotropic interfacial coupling between the charge transfer pairs is demonstrated. The van der Waals heterostructures exhibit pressure dependent sensitivity with a high piezoresistance coefficient of −4.4 × 10−6 Pa−1, and conductance and capacitance tunable by external stimuli (ferroelectric field and magnetic field). Density functional theory calculations confirm charge transfer between the n-orbitals of the S atoms in BEDT–TTF of the BEDT–TTF/C60 layer and the π* orbitals of C atoms in C60 of the P3DDT/C60 layer contribute to the inter-complex CT. The two-dimensional molecular van der Waals heterostructures with tunable optical–electronic–magnetic coupling properties are promising for flexible electronic applications. Two-dimensional van der Waals heterostructures are of interest due to their unique interlayer coupling and optoelectronic properties. Here authors develop a Langmuir-Blodgett method to organize charge transfer molecular heterostructures with externally tunable conductance and capacitance and broadband photoresponse.
Retention of Nitrogen Following Wildfire in a Chaparral Ecosystem

Wildfires alter nitrogen (N) cycling in Mediterranean-type ecosystems, resetting plant and soil microbial growth, combusting plant biomass to ash, and enhancing N availability in the upper soil layer. This ash and soil N pool (that is, wildfire N) is susceptible to loss from watersheds via runoff and leaching during post-fire rains. Plant and soil microbial recovery may mitigate these losses by sequestering N compounds in new biomass, thereby promoting landscape N retention in N-limited chaparral ecosystems. We investigated the relative balance between wildfire N loss, and plant and soil microbial N uptake and stream N export for an upland chaparral watershed in southern California that burned (61%) in a high-intensity wildfire in 2009 by using a combination of stream, vegetation, soil microbial, and remote sensing analyses. Soil N in the burn scar was 440% higher than unburned soil N in the beginning of the first post-fire wet season and returned within 66 days to pre-fire levels. Stream N export was 1480% higher than pre-fire export during the first post-fire rain and returned within 106 days over the course of the following three rainstorms to pre-fire levels. A watershed-scale N mass balance revealed that 52% of wildfire N could be accounted for in plant and soil microbial growth, whereas 1% could be accounted for in stream export of dissolved nitrogen.