cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Liability concerns and shared use of school recreational facilities in underserved communities

BACKGROUND: In underserved communities, schools can provide the physical structure and facilities for informal and formal recreation as well as after-school, weekend, and summer programming. The importance of community access to schools is acknowledged by authoritative groups; however, fear of liability is believed to be a key barrier to community access. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate perceptions of liability risk and associated issues among school administrators in underserved communities. METHODS: A national survey of school administrators in underserved communities (n=360, response rate of 21%) was conducted in 2009 and analyzed in 2010. Liability perceptions in the context of community access were assessed through descriptive statistics. RESULTS: The majority of respondents (82.2%) indicated concern for liability should someone be injured on school property after hours while participating in a recreational activity. Among those that did not allow community access, 91% were somewhat to very concerned about liability and 86% believed that stronger legislation was needed to better protect schools from liability for after-hours recreational use. Among those who claimed familiarity with a state law that offered them limited liability protection, nearly three fourths were nevertheless concerned about liability. CONCLUSIONS: Liability concerns are prevalent among this group of school administrators, particularly if they had been involved in prior litigation, and even if they indicated they were aware of laws that provide liability protection where use occurs after hours. Reducing these concerns will be important if schools are to become locations for recreational programs that promote physical activity outside of regular school hours. Language: en
Human methionine aminopeptidase type 2 in complex with L- and D-methionine.

Abstract Human methionine aminopeptidase type 2 (hMetAP-2) was identified as the molecular target of anti-angiogenic agents such as fumagillin and its analogues. We describe here the crystal structure of hMetAP-2 in complex with l -methionine and d -methionine at 1.9 and 2.0 resolution, respectively. The comparison of the structure of the two complexes establishes the basis of enantiomer discrimination and provides some considerations for the design of selective MetAP-2 inhibitors.
Coping Strategies of Adults with Mild Intellectual Disability for Stressful Social Interactions

Adults with mild intellectual disability (ID) experience stressful social interactions and often utilize maladaptive coping strategies to manage these interactions. We investigated the specific types of Active and Avoidant coping strategies reported by 114 adults with mild ID to deal with stressful social interactions. Open-ended responses to a sentence stem task were coded into 5 dimensions of Active and Avoidant coping. Adults with mild ID used Problem-Focused coping most frequently, and this strategy was negatively correlated with psychological distress. Emotion-Focused coping was used infrequently but was also negatively related to psychological distress. Coping accounted for a significant portion of variance in psychological distress after controlling for perceptions of stressful social interactions. Findings have important implications for informing the development of interventions to enhance the ability of adults with mild ID to cope with stressful social interactions.
Loading sources for seismological investigation of asteroids and comets

There is great interest in determining the interior structure and material properties of asteroids and comets. One reason is to better understand their origin and the development of the solar system. Another reason is that asteroids and comets, such as those near the orbit of the Earth (commonly called Near-Earth Objects, NEOs) could possibly strike Earth. If a body were discovered on a collision course with Earth, the issue of mitigation arises. There are essentially two thoughts on mitigation: destroy it or move it out of the way. Both ideas rely on knowledge of the composition and internal structure of the asteroid or comet. In particular, the density, strength, and cohesiveness of the body need to be known. Seismology is a way to determine such information. This paper explores both explosives and impactors as seismic sources. In particular, the seismic source is quantified by downward momentum and the moment in the perpendicular directions or tangent plane. The values can be computed through large-scale numerical simulation. Computations were performed characterizing a particular explosive and an impactor against both a metal surface and a rock surface. It is shown how to produce equivalent seismic signals by both impacts and explosives.
Unstable DNA synthesized by polyoma virus-infected cells.

Confluent mouse embryo monolayer cultures are induced by infection with polyoma virus to synthesize DNA which behaves on columns of methylated albumin and upon band centrifugation like cellular DNA. “Pulse-chase” experiments revealed that this DNA, in contrast to normal cellular DNA, is degraded in the infected cultures to a molecular weight approximately that of viral DNA.
Modulation of Macrophage Function by Transforming Growth Factor β, Interleukin‐4, and Interleukin‐10a

The findings reviewed above leave no doubt as to the complexity of actions of TGF-beta, IL-4, and IL-10 on monocytes/macrophages. Along with MDF, whose actions were recently reviewed elsewhere, TGF-beta, IL-4, and IL-10 are the only presently known, purified cytokines that have been shown to have strong macrophage-deactivating effects. However, none of them can be categorized as purely macrophage deactivating since they also exert macrophage-activating effects. In vitro, their effects, both in terms of extent and direction (activating vs. deactivating), are strongly influenced by the stimulation conditions (e.g., triggering signal, cytokine concentration, timing of cytokine addition), the species (mouse vs. human), the source (blood vs. peritoneal, alveolar, colostral) and the state of differentiation/activation of the macrophage (e.g., resting vs. inflammatory). In addition, TGF-beta, as well as IL-4 and IL-10, up- and/or downregulates the function of several cell types other than macrophages, which further hampers our ability to predict, on the basis of in vitro experiments with macrophages, possible effects during an immune response in vivo. Despite this complexity, the highly reductive approach of in vitro studies has revealed important differences in the ability of TGF-beta, IL-4, and IL-10 to modulate the phenotype of monocytes/macrophages. The disparities have been most striking with regard to the secretory function of monocytes/macrophages (see Table 2). First, TGF-beta, IL-4, and IL-10 have a different spectrum of activity. Thus, TGF-beta, but not IL-4 or IL-10, can induce resting human monocytes to produce TNF, IL-1, and IL-6. Second, they affect monokine and RNI and ROI production to a different extent. For example, IL-10 is an approximately 25-fold more potent suppressor of LPS-induced TNF production by mouse macrophages than is TGF-beta. Third, they differ in their ability to overcome additional activating stimuli, so that in the presence of LPS, IL-4, but not TGF-beta or IL-10 suppresses IFN gamma-induced RNI release. Fourth, their macrophage-deactivating effects require different stimulation conditions. Thus, IL-4, but not TGF-beta, interferes with RNI release strongly only after preincubation of the macrophages. Finally, these agents deactivate macrophages by distinct mechanisms. For example, IL-10 causes massive downregulation of TNF mRNA, whereas TGF-beta suppresses TNF release on a translational level. It will be a challenge to define clinical applications for these potent macrophage modulators on the basis of their different spectrum of activities. For TGF-beta and IL-4 such studies have already been initiated.
The ring spectrum $P(n)$ for the prime 2

This paper is a companion to the Boardman‐Wilson paper on the ring spectrum P(n). When the prime is 2, this spectrum is not commutative, which introduces several complications. Here, we supply the necessary details of the relevant Hopf algebroids and Hopf ring for this case.
Early Medieval Trade on Japan’s Southern Frontier and its Effect on Okinawan State Development: Grey Stoneware of the East China Sea

In this paper I examine the development of a particular kind of grey stoneware called kamuiyaki which was produced and traded within the Ryukyu Islands, southwestern Japan, in the eleventh to fourteenth centuries. The wares themselves, their chronology, and archaeological context are discussed. The kilns represent the first enterprise in the islands in which a commodity was made for exchange on a substantial scale. The establishment of the kilns in a remote area, with technological borrowing from both Japan and Korea, reflects social and economic trends of the beginning of the Medieval Period in Japan. Greyware production, circulation, and consumption, reconstructed from recent excavations, shows a political economy capable of fostering the development of small states on the island of Okinawa in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.
Supercritical-fluid chromatography-mass spectrometry of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with a simple capillary direct interface

Abstract Supercritical-fluid chromatography-mass spectrometry (SCF-MS) with carbon dioxide has been used to separate and identify polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heteroatom-containing PAHs with molecular weights up to 532. The capillary direct interface allowed methane chemical ionization (CI) mass spectra to be obtained without modification of a commercially available quadrupole mass spectrometer, and a single instrument can be used for SFC-MS and gas chromatography-MS with a conversion between modes requiring ca. 20 min. The interface yields good chromatographic peak shapes, and full-scan spectra were obtained at the low ng level. With selected-ion monitoring, detection limits of ca. 25 pg were achieved. SFC-MS analysis of an extract from treated wood and the methane Cl mass spectra of 29 standard PAHs and heteroatom-containing PAHs are reported.
Frequency of repeat coronary bypass or coronary angioplasty after coronary artery bypass surgery using saphenous venous grafts

Abstract This study examines the long-term frequency of reoperative coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) after CABG. The source of data was the clinical database at Emory University Hospitals. The population comprised 3,480 patients undergoing a first CABG between 1978 and 1981. Event-free survival was determined using the Kaplan-Meier method and determinants of survival with the Cox proportional-hazards model. The in-hospttal mortality was 1.0% and 5-, 10- and 12-year survival was 91, 78 and 70%. The 5-, 10- and 12-year freedom from reoperative CABG was 98, 88 and 80%. The 5-, 10- and 12-year freedom from PTCA was 98, 91 and 85%. The 5-, 10- and 12-year freedom from either CABG or PTCA was 96, 81 and 69%. Younger patients had much higher incidences of repeat procedures. The yearly incidence of repeat procedures accelerated over time. These data reveal the ultimately palliative nature of revascularization for coronary artery disease.
Sites of protein and ribonucleic acid synthesis in the cell.

Abstract The localization of newly formed proteins and RNA in Neurospora hyphae was studied with the help of centrifugation and autoradiography techniques. Hyphae were fed 3 H-leucine or 3 H-uridine, centrifuged, fixed, washed in 5 per cent trichloracetic acid, and autoradiographs made. The method permitted the study of the uptake of radioactive material by cell organelles which were separated by centrifugation. The emphasis was laid on the need to keep the interval between feeding and fixation very short, to assure the detection of newly formed substances at the site of formation and not at secondary sites. When 3 H-leucine was fed for 10 to 20 seconds, newly formed proteins were detected mainly in the ergastoplasm, some in nuclei and mitochondria and none in enchylema. After 30 seconds to 1 minute feeding time, enchylema also became labeled, but ergastoplasm remained the more heavily labeled layer. After 2 minutes, all cell fractions became labeled more or less equally. When 3 H-uridine was fed for 1 to 4 minutes, only the RNA in nuclei became labeled, and the ergastoplasm, much richer in RNA, remained unlabeled. After 8 minutes, the ergastoplasm became increasingly labeled and after 1 hour, the degree of labeling of the cell fractions became proportional to their RNA content. When 3 H-uridine was fed for 1 minute and the mycelium transferred to unlabeled uridine for 3 minutes to 1 hour, the labeled substance migrated into the cytoplasm until the ergastoplasm was much more heavily labeled than the nuclei. Mitochondria also became slightly labeled, but enchylema and glycogen remained unlabeled. Centrifuged cells were unable to incorporate either leucine or uridine, but the ability to incorporate was reinstated few minutes after centrifugation, when the cell contents became partially redistributed inside the cell. It is concluded that the major part of cell proteins are made in the ergastoplasm, but some are synthesized also in nuclei and mitochondria. At least 99 per cent of the cellular RNA is, on the contrary, made in nuclei, whence it migrates into the cytoplasm. The results are discussed in connection with the problem of gene action. They support the hypothesis that RNA carries genetic information from the nucleus into the cytoplasm, where proteins are made.
Cutaneous mastocytosis without clinically obvious skin lesions

A patient with cutaneous mastocytosis had intractable pruritus but no visible skin lesions. Skin biopsies and urinary histamine and protaglandin D 2 metabolite assays confirmed the diagnosis. Adding therapy with psoralens and ultraviolet A to the antihistamine regimen markedly decreased the patient's pruritus. In patients with pruritus, flushing, syncope, or other symptoms associated with mastocytosis, this diagnosis should be considered even in the absence of specific skin lesions.
Recurrent Wegener's granulomatosis: a case report and review

Background Wegener's granulomatosis is a granulomatous systemic nercotizing vasculitis with prominent upper airway involvement. Complete remissions can be induced with aggressive management. Despite successful treatment, relapses and recurrences of active disease may occur. Objective We present a patient who presets with histologically confirmed active disease 17 years following successful therapy. Methods A case report of a 72-year-old man who initially presented at age 50 with necrotizing vasculitis of the upper and lower respiratory tract. Eighteen years following his initial therapy he presented with isolated retroorbital disease. Following re-institution of cytotoxic therapy he appears to be disease-free. Results Following re-treatment with cytoxan and prednisone, a second remission was induced. The patient is currently entirely well 1 year off therapy. Conclusion Wegener's granulomatosis may recur many years following apparent successful and aggressive cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory therapy.
Mouse brain localization of the protein kinase C-enhanced phosphatase 1 inhibitor KEPI (kinase C-enhanced PP1 inhibitor).

Abstract We recently identified the protein kinase C-enhanced protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) inhibitor KEPI based on its morphine-induced upregulation in striatum. Regulation of protein serine/threonine dephosphorylation by PP1 can modulate important brain signaling pathways. To improve understanding of KEPI’s role in the brain, we have developed anti-KEPI sera in rabbits immunized with a hemocyanin conjugate of KEPI residues 66–80, characterized the specificity that this serum provides, mapped the distribution of immunoreactive KEPI (iKEPI) in mouse brain, rat dorsal root ganglia and striatal cultures and documented KEPI binding to PP1 in vitro. Staining is found in apparently neuronal processes and, often less intensely, in neuronal perikarya in primary cultures and in neurons and neuronal elements from a number of brain regions. iKEPI fiber/terminal patterns are relatively densely distributed in striatum, nucleus accumbens, septum, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, hippocampus, paraventricular thalamus, ventromedial hypothalamus, interpeduncular nucleus, raphe nuclei, nucleus caudalis of the spinal tract of the trigeminal and dorsal horn of the spinal cord. iKEPI-positive cell bodies lie in the nucleus accumbens, striatum, lateral septal nucleus, granular layer of dentate gyrus, interpeduncular nucleus, dorsal root ganglia and cerebellar vermis. These expression patterns point to possible roles for KEPI in regulating protein dephosphorylation by inhibiting PP1 activities in a number of brain pathways likely to use several different neurotransmitters and to participate in a number of brain functions. Dense KEPI immunoreactivity in nucleus accumbens perikarya, combined with evidence for its regulation by opiates, supports possible roles for KEPI in molecular signal transduction pathways important for drug reward and addiction.
A review of microelectronic film deposition using direct and remote electron-beam-generated plasmas

Soft-vacuum-generated electron beams employed to create a large-area plasma for assisting chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of thin films are reviewed. The electron-beam plasma is used directly, where electron-impact dissociation of feedstock gases plays a dominant role, and indirectly in a downstream afterglow, where electron-impact dissociation of feedstock reactants plays no role. Photodissociation and metastable atom-molecule reactions dominate in the downstream afterglow. The transmitted beam spatial-intensity profiles are quantified from initial generation at a slotted line-shaped cold cathode through acceleration in the cathode sheath and propagation in the ambient gas. The vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) output spectrum and VUV generation efficiency from electron-beam-excited plasmas are measured. The properties of films deposited by direct electron-beam-generated plasma-assisted CVD and downstream afterglow CVD are reviewed and compared to conventional plasma-assisted CVD films. >
Managing acute hypertension: Cost considerations

The cost-effectiveness of nifedipine for the control of acute hypertension is analyzed. The study compares routine hospital utilization of a set of patients who were administered nifedipine (the experimental group) with a set of patients who were given nitroprusside (the control group). The experimental group consists of a set of 32 patients who presented to the emergency department with acute hypertension and were treated with nifedipine. The control group is a set of 14 patients who presented with acute hypertension to the emergency departments of two other hospitals. Both experimental and control groups were seen and treated in 1983 and 1984. The patients in the control group were matched/paired with the experimental group patients. Hospital utilization was measured at four times: one, two, three, and four days after admission. For each time, utilization is classified as intensive, intermediate, or routine. In addition, intensive care is further classified according to nursing/patient ratios. Differences in both utilization levels and total costs are compared for the matched control and experimental groups.
Integrating citizen-science data with movement models to estimate the size of a migratory golden eagle population

Estimating population size is fundamental to conservation and management. Population size is typically estimated using survey data, computer models, or both. Some of the most extensive and often least expensive survey data are those collected by citizen-scientists. A challenge to citizen-scientists is that the vagility of many organisms can complicate data collection. As a result, animal-movement effects on data collection can adversely affect modeling of those data. Thus, it would be helpful to develop methods that integrate citizen-science datasets with models that account for animal movement. We used hawk-count data collected by citizen-scientists to estimate the number of golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos canadensis) migrating through Pennsylvania, USA. To do this, we designed a computer model to simulate migratory flights of eagles to estimate what proportion of the population is available (i.e., within visible range or close enough) to be counted at hawk-count sites in Pennsylvania. We then conducted a multi-state mark–recapture analysis to estimate detection probability (i.e., the rate at which birds within visible range are observed) of migrating eagles. Finally, we used availability rates and detection probabilities to adjust raw hawk-count data to produce estimates of population size. Our models suggest that 24% (±14; mean ± SE) of migrating golden eagles are available to be counted at hawk-count sites, and that 55% (±1.6) of the available eagles are detected by hawk-count observers. We estimate that 5122 (±1338) golden eagles migrate annually through Pennsylvania. Our analysis provides the first quantitative estimate of the size of the eastern golden eagle population, and we demonstrate the utility of one approach to use citizen-science data to address a pressing conservation goal—population size estimation.
Performance analysis of HPC applications with irregular tree data structures

Adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) numerical methods utilizing octree data structures are an important class of HPC applications, in particular the solution of partial differential equations. Much effort goes into the implementation of efficient versions of these types of programs, where the emphasis is often on increasing multi-node performance when utilizing GPUs and coprocessors. By contrast, our analysis aims to characterize these workloads on traditional CPUs, as we believe that single-threaded intra-node performance of critical kernels is still a key factor for achieving performance at scale. Especially irregular workloads such as AMR methods, however, exhibit severe underutilization on general purpose processors. In this paper, we analyze the single core performance of two state-of-the-art, highly scalable adaptive mesh refinement codes, one based on the Fast Multipole Method (FMM) and one based on the Finite Element Method (FEM), when running on a x86 CPU. We examined both scalar and vectorized implementations to identify performance bottlenecks. We demonstrate that vectorization can provide a significant benefit in achieving high performance. The greatest bottleneck to peak performance is the high fraction of non-floating point instructions in the kernels.
Sirolimus Is Associated With Reduced Islet Engraftment and Impaired β-Cell Function

Successful islet transplantation depends on the infusion of sufficiently large quantities of islets, but only a fraction of transplanted islets can survive and become engrafted, and yet the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we examined the effect of sirolimus, a key component of the immunosuppressive regimen in clinical islet transplantation, on islet engraftment and function. To distinguish the effect of sirolimus on immune rejection from its effect on islet engraftment, we used a syngeneic model. Diabetic mice were transplanted with 250 islets under the renal capsule, followed by treatment with sirolimus or vehicle for 14 days. Thirty days posttransplantation, islet grafts were retrieved for the determination of insulin content and vascular density. Compared with mock-treated controls, diabetic recipient mice receiving sirolimus exhibited impaired blood glucose profiles and reduced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, correlating with reduced intragraft insulin content and decreased vascular density. Islets exposed to sirolimus for 24 h in culture displayed significantly diminished glucose-stimulated insulin release, coinciding with decreased pancreas duodenum homeobox-1 and GLUT2 expression in cultured islets. Furthermore, sirolimus-treated diabetic recipient mice, as opposed to mock-treated controls, were associated with dyslipidemia. These data suggest that sirolimus, administered in the early posttransplantation phase, is a confounding factor for reduced islet engraftment and impaired β-cell function in transplants.
Chemical diffusion in mixed adlayers and wave propagation in surface reactions

Spatial pattern formation and wave propagation in surface reactions are often controlled by the chemical diffusion of adsorbed reactant species in mixed adlayers. We characterize the intrinsically coverage-dependent and tensorial nature of such diffusion, emphasizing that these features result from the influence of site-blocking by coadsorbed species, even in the absence of other interactions. The coverage dependence is shown to depend on the relative hop rates of the various reactants. These features are also shown to significantly influence the spatiotemporal behavior in simple, atomistic lattice-gas models of surface reactions. This is illustrated with two examples: trigger wave propagation in a bistable system characteristic of CO oxidation, and the removal of unstable NO+CO adlayers, controlled by dissociation-mediated NO reduction.
How Do the Electronic Structures of Low-Symmetry Metal−Hydride and −Alkyl Complexes Compare? Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Computational Studies of (η5-C5R5)Re(NO)(L)R‘ (L = CO, P(C6H5)3; R, R‘ = H, CH3)

The electronic structures of CpRe(NO)(L)R and Cp*Re(NO)(L)R (Cp = η5-C5H5, Cp* = η5-C5(CH3)5; L = CO, P(C6H5)3; R = H, CH3) are studied using gas-phase photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory. Separate valence ionizations from the three occupied metal-based orbitals of the d6 Re center, the Re−R σ bond orbitals, and the predominantly Cp e1‘ ‘ pπ orbitals are clearly observed. Comparison of the shapes and energies of the Cp and σ(Re−R) ionizations indicates an additional direct interaction between these orbitals that is sensitive to energy matching. This interaction results in a more delocalized σ-bonding framework for the methyl complexes than for the analogous hydrides and halides. The energy shifts and cross-sections of the metal-based ionizations provide quantitative measures of the different abilities of the nitrosyl, carbonyl, and phosphine ligands to delocalize and stabilize the metal electron density through π back-bonding. In these molecules the stabilization of a metal-based ioni...
Correction to ‘New topologically slice knots’

In (FT05, Figure 1.5) an incorrect example for (FT05, Theorem 1.3) was given. In this note we present a correct example.
A cluster-modified Poisson model for estimating defect density and yield

A simple modification of the Poisson model that accounts for defect clustering when estimating the defect density and yield of a future product is described. The Poisson yield equation is easy to use and interpret, and the composite model can be extended to a layered model without the difficulties associated with, for example, the negative binomial model. The advantage of the method is that the Poisson model, to which all yield models reduce as yields increase, can continue to be used with less effort than, more convenience than, and at least as good accuracy as other more complicated models. >
Renal handling of glycine in primary hyperuricaemia

THE recent demonstration that patients with primary hyperuricaemia are also hyperaminoacidaemic1 has suggested the possibility that the presumptive renal tubular defect in the handling of uric acid by these patients2 may be only one manifestation of a more generalized transport defect that involves other substances. The amino-acid glycine, a purine precursor, has been investigated with the view of determining whether the elevated serum level of glycine can be explained on a renal basis.
Interstitial deletion of chromosome 18[del(18)(q11.2q12.2 or q12.2q21.1].

A 27-month-old boy with mild developmental delay, growth delay, strabismus, midface hypoplasia, relative telecanthus, downslanting palpebral fissures, epicanthal folds, dental hypoplasia, and cardiac defects was found to have an interstitial deletion of chromosome 18 involving band q12.1 or q12.3.
Planar chalcogenide glass mid-infrared photonics

Chalcogenide glasses, namely the amorphous compounds containing sulfur, selenium, and/or tellurium, have emerged as a promising material candidate for mid-infrared integrated photonics given their wide optical transparency window, high linear and nonlinear indices, as well as their capacity for monolithic integration on a wide array of substrates. Exploiting these unique features of the material, we demonstrated high-index-contrast, waveguide-coupled As2Se3 chalcogenide glass resonators monolithically integrated on silicon with a high intrinsic quality factor of 2 × 10 5 at 5.2 micron wavelength, and what we believe to be the first waveguide photonic crystal cavity operating in the mid-infrared.
Metastatic Carcinoid Tumor of the Prostate

A 38-year-old man presented with a 3-month history of sharp, intermittent left testicular pain. The patient simultaneously had severe left buttock pain radiating down the left leg, which caused him to walk with a limp. He also complained of urinary frequency and dysuria, as well as frequent bowel movements. Physical examination revealed an otherwise healthy appearing man who walked with a noticeable limp secondary to pain. A large firm, exquisitely tender prostatic mass was palpated on rectal examination. Genitourinary examination was otherwise unremarkable. Prostate specific antigen was 1.75 ng./ml. and urinalysis was normal. A 4-week course of floxacin was begun, without relief of symptoms. The patient subsequently underwent examination under general anesthesia, with cystoscopy and biopsy of the prostate mass. Pathological examination revealed a well differentiated neuroendocrine tumor with positive immunostaining for chromogranin, synaptophysin and serotonin, consistent with carcinoid tumor (fig. 1). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the pelvis revealed a nodular 2.6 3.5 cm. left prostatic mass suspicious for seminal vesicle involvement (fig. 2). Octreotide scan showed no scintigraphic evidence of somatostatin receptor positivity of the tumor. The patient next received 4 cycles of cisplatin, etoposide and estramustine. Followup MRI demonstrated a slight decrease in the size of the prostatic mass. The patient then underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy with bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection. Pathological examination revealed a well differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma involving the right posterior, left posterior and left anterior prostate with vascular and perineural invasion. The tumor exhibited left extracapsular extension without seminal vesicle involvement (pT3a). Metastatic carcinoma was present in 1 of 7 left pelvic lymph nodes and in 1 of 1 right paraprostatic lymph node. Surgical margins were negative. Postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient remains clinically and radiologically without evidence of disease 4 years later.
MO-CVD growth of InGaAs using Me 3 Ga, AsMe 3 , AsH 3 and Me 3 In or Et 3 in and analyses of adducts formed during the growth process

High quality InGaAs films have been grown using the adduct Me3In.AsMe3 to block the room temperature reaction between Me3In and AsH3 and by using a cover piece to prevent the preferential evaporation of phosphorus from the InP substrate during the warm up. Infrared spectroscopy shows that Me3Ga + AsMe3 and Me3 Ga + AsH3. form stable adducts at room temperature, Me3In + AsMe3, probably form a stable adduct, while Et3In + AsMe3 probaoly do not form a stable Lewis acid/base adduct. Poorer quality films are grown with Et3In than with Me3 In because the AsMe3 is unable to prevent by adduct formation the room temperature reaction between Et3In and AsH3. Pyrolysis studies show that the individual alkyls are stable to‒400×C and mixtures are stable to‒350×C. The problems associated with the lower vapor pressure of the adducts, adduct dissociation at room temperature and the growth temperature, and using an adduct as the starting material are discussed.
Surface-guided templating of particle assemblies inside drying sessile droplets.

The particles suspended inside evaporating sessile droplets can be assembled into microscopic objects with long-ranged ordered structure. The air−water droplet interface guides the assembly and determines the shape of the resulting micropatches. We report the results of a systematic study of the mechanism of interface-templated assembly on substrates of controlled contact angle. The kinetics of drying were examined by measurements of droplet profiles, and it was found that the rate matched diffusion-limited evaporation well. The shape of the droplets and of the resulting assemblies was correlated to the dynamics of the receding contact line. The effects of major parameters controlling the process, including contact angle, particle concentration, and electrolyte, were investigated in detail. A variety of micropatch shapes were observed and categorized within the parameter space. The in-depth characterization of the process allowed the optimization of the assembly and the formulation of protocols for the de...
Specialized transduction of recA by bacteriophage lambda.

Abstract The isolation of a plaque-forming λ phage carrying the recA locus of Escherichia coli is reported.
Utilization of noise theory and measurements in modelling electronic processes and transport phenomena in photoconductors

The combination of fluctuation analysis and solid state theory is used to study transport processes within bulk photoconductors. An evaluation of photoconductive noise spectra subject to the nonuniform absorption of light indicates a discrepancy in DeVore's classic transport model for the carrier distribution in photoconductive solids. The investigation shows that correct noise spectra can be obtained only if DeVore's solution is modified to account for the transport of both types of carriers, trapping, and ambipolar transport coefficients. Eine Kombination von Schwankungstheorie und Festkorpertheorie wird zum Studium von Transporterscheinungen inerhalb von massiven Fotoleitern benutzt. Die Ermittlung von Rauschspektren von Photoleitern in Gegenwart von nicht-gleichformiger Lichtabsorption zeigt eine Abweichung vom klassischen DeVoreschen Transportmodell fur die Tragerverteilung in photoleitenden Festkorpern. Die Untersuchung zeigt, das richtige Rauschspektren eine Anderung der DeVoreschen Losung erfordern, um den Transport von beiden Tragertypen, den Einfang und den ambipolaren Transportkoeffizienten zu erklaren.
Motor fluctuations during continuous levodopa infusions in patients with Parkinson's disease

The cause of motor fluctuations occurring during constant-rate levodopa infusions is unknown. We examined whether known pharmacokinetic factors could explain the fluctuations and looked for clues to pharmacodynamic causes. Eleven subjects with stage III-V Parkinson's disease (PD) and a fluctuating response to levodopa underwent constant-rate infusions for 36-110 h. Levodopa, 3-O-methyldopa (3-OMD), and plasma large neutral amino acids (LNAAs) were measured at 2- to 6-h intervals and PD was monitored hourly from 07:00 to 22:00 h with tapping speed. Ten subjects had motor fluctuations during the infusions. Zero to 68% of the variability of tapping speed could be explained by variation in plasma LNAA concentrations in individual subjects. Fluctuations occurred more commonly later in the day, which may be related to the tendency for LNAAs to increase during the day. Motor fluctuations were not associated with minor variations in levodopa or 3-OMD concentrations. Fluctuations during constant infusions were more marked in patients using larger daily doses of oral levodopa; severity of PD did not predict fluctuations during the infusions. There was no trend for fluctuations or dyskinesia to decrease or increase during several days of constant-rate levodopa infusion. A portion of motor fluctuations occurring during constant levodopa infusions can be explained by peripheral pharmacokinetic mechanisms. Fluctuations are more prominent in subjects who have taken larger daily doses of levodopa, implicating pharmacodynamic factors as well.
Evaluation of a balancing machine performance

This paper describes a systematic approach for the characterization of a balancing machine performance. The objective of this study is to determine the achievable accuracy in balancing similar rigid rotating machines. Along with the theoretical work, experimental examples are presented for the identification of calibration, random and systematic inaccuracies. The method has been applied here for a rigid rotor only, but it is of general nature and can be extended to more general problems.
Comparing systems via stochastic simulation: selection-of-the-best procedures for optimization via simulation

We propose fully sequential indifference-zone selection procedures that are specifically for use within an optimization-via-simulation algorithm when simulation is costly and partial or complete information on solutions previously visited is maintained. Sequential Selection with Memory guarantees to select the best or near-best alternative with a user-specified probability when some solutions have already been sampled and their previous samples are retained. For the case when only summary information is retained, we derive a modified procedure. We illustrate how our procedure can be applied to optimization-via-simulation problems and compare its performance with other methods by numerical examples.
Cultural Values Associated With Substance Use Among Hispanic Adolescents in Southern California

Cultural values can shape people's attitudes toward substance use and influence their risk of experimentation with drugs. This article examines the relationships between cultural values (familism, respeto, and machismo), fatalism (a culturally encouraged personality disposition), and substance use among Hispanic adolescents. In 2005, cross-sectional data were collected from 1,616 Hispanic ninth grade students in Los Angeles. Each cultural value was associated with lifetime substance use; however, these relationships depended on the type of substance and gender. Our findings suggest that it might be useful to incorporate the cultural values and address the personality trait of fatalism in prevention programs for Hispanic adolescents. The study's limitations are noted.
The thickness of noncrystalline surface layers of polyethylene single crystals

Abstract An estimate of the maximum thickness l of the “amorphous” surface layer of a polymer single crystal can be obtained from the minimum of free energy of the crystal-surface layer system if one assumes that the deviations of surface and bulk free energy of the surface layer from the corresponding data of the melt decreases with the thickness of the layer. The deviations are maximum if the chain folds are perfectly regular with the shortest possible length and disappear completely if the layer has infinite thickness. The transition between these two limits can be described by any continuously decreasing function as for instance 1 l or exp(−l). For these two cases the values l are calculated as functions of supercooling. One obtains data which are between 1 2 and 1 3 of the data derived from the density defect of single crystals. One is tempted to conclude that the density defect is only partially caused by an “amorphous” surface layer and that a substantial contribution comes from the disordered boundaries between the mosaic blocks of the crystal lamellae.
Muscle From Mice Heterozygous For A Mutation That Abolishes FKBP12 Binding To RyR1 Fatigue More Slowly Than Wildtype Muscle

We created mice with a V2462D mutation in RyR1 to abolish FKBP12 binding. The soleus and diaphragm muscles of the V2462D heterozygous mice are more resistant to fatigue than the corresponding muscles from wildtype mice. There are, however, no differences in twitch force and maximal force at stimulation frequency range (15–300Hz) in the soleus and diaphragm between groups. Ca2+ transients from V2462D heterozygous myotubes show a smaller fractional decrease in the Ca2+ transient with repetitive stimulation than WT myotubes. Maximal voltage-gated Ca2+ release in V2462D heterozygous myotubes is smaller than that of WT myotubes. The homozygous V2462D mutation is late embryonic or birth lethal and myotubes from 18.5 day embryos show markedly reduced Ca2+ currents, voltage-gated Ca2+ transients and Ca2+ stores. Our data suggest that FKBP12 modulates the gain of E-C coupling in skeletal muscle and a small reduction in E-C coupling gain slows muscle fatigue. This work was supported by grants from NIH (AR41802) and MDA to SLH.
Immobilization of porcupines with tiletamine hydrochloride and zolazepam hydrochloride (Telazol).

Immobilization of North American porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum) with tiletamine hydrochloride (HCl) and zolazepam HCl (Telazol®) was evaluated in central Massachusetts (USA) during 1991 and 1992. Doses between 9 and 11 mg/kg resulted in a mean (±SD) induction time of 3.2 ±1.3 min and a mean (±SD) immobilization time of 44.2 ± 19.5 min. Induction time did not differ by dose, sex, capture method, or porcupine weight. Immobilization time differed by dose and porcupine weight but not by sex or capture method. Tiletamine HCl and zolazepam HCl seems to be an effective combination of drugs for immobilizing porcupines as long as sufficient time is allowed for recovery.
Vitamin a transport between retina and pigment epithelium—an interstitial protein carrying endogenous retinol (interstitial retinol-binding protein)

Abstract We have demonstrated and partially characterized an interstitial retinol-binding protein (IRBP) confined to bovine interphotoreceptor matrix (IPM). The native protein is a concanavalin A-binding glycoprotein with a mol. wt of 260 k as measured by gel-filtration and size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography. On SDS-gels, its mol. wt is 140–145 k. Since the protein is glycosylated, this value is probably too high. Hence the native protein may be a dimer consisting of two identical subunits. The endogenous ligand has been analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography—it consists mainly of all- trans retinol. Occasionally, retinal and 11- cis retinol are also associated with it. The amount of retinol bound to IRBP increases when the eyes are illuminated. The total binding capacity was estimated to represent 4–5% of the retinol released from a total rhodopsin bleach. We have established that, like serum retinol-binding protein, IRBP can also bind retinoic acid, although it has not been established that retinoic acid is an endogenous ligand. The fluorescence emission λ max for IRBP with its native ligand is at 470 nm and the excitation λ max for this fluorescence is at 333 nm. Other retinoid carriers in the interphotoreceptor matrix have molecular weights of about 15 and 33 k. These probably correspond to cellular retinol- and retinal-binding proteins, respectively. Since both proteins have been identified in the pigment epithelium and retina cytosols, their presence in the IPM could be a result of cell damage. We conclude that interstitial retinol-binding protein is the best candidate for a transport protein carrying retinol between the rod outer segments and the pigment epithelium.
Neurocognitive deficits and neuroimaging abnormalities are prevalent in children with lupus: clinical and research experiences at a US pediatric institution:

Neurocognitive impairments and neuroimaging abnormalities are frequently observed in adults with systemic lupus erythematosus. There is a paucity of similar data in childhood-onset disease. We hypothesized that neurocognitive and neuroimaging abnormalities would be prevalent in children undergoing neuropsychological evaluations. We reviewed patient neurocognitive evaluations performed at a large United States pediatric institution during the period 2001 to 2008. Records were retrieved from 24 children referred to neuropsychology due to clinical indications. Data from 15 children enrolled in a prospective structure-function association study were also analyzed. Subjects were predominantly African-American and Hispanic adolescent girls of average intelligence. aPL positivity and aspirin use was prevalent. Neurocognitive impairment was designated in 70.8% of retrospective, and 46.7% of prospective cohort patients. Deficits were seen at times of wellness, without previous neuropsychiatric lupus, and early in disease courses. Scores >1.5 standard deviations below published age-matched norms were common in tests of executive functioning, visual memory and visual-spatial planning. Features of depression were seen in 33.3% of the children in the retrospective cohort (clinical referrals). Cerebral and cerebellar volume loss was observed in a majority of blinded prospective cohort research magnetic resonance images (73.3% and 67.7% respectively). White matter hyperintensities were observed in retrospective and prospective cohort magnetic resonance images (36.6% and 46.7% respectively). Larger prospective studies that elucidate structure-function associations in children with systemic lupus erythematosus are planned.
Adverse reactions to ivermectin treatment for onchocerciasis. Results of a placebo-controlled, double-blind trial in Malawi

A three-year placebo-controlled, double-blind trial involving 7148 persons was conducted to determine adverse reactions to ivermectin given annually for treatment of onchocerciasis by mass distribution. Musculoskeletal pains, oedema of the face or extremities, itching and papular rash were statistically associated with ivermectin treatment in the first year. In the second year of treatment these reactions were less frequently reported, although still more prevalent in ivermectin recipients. During the third year of treatment all persons received ivermectin. Persons who had missed ivermectin treatment in the second year did not have significantly more adverse reactions after treatment in the third year. Those who had received placebo during the first 2 years reported some adverse reactions more frequently following ivermectin than did those who had received ivermectin from the beginning of the study. Oedema was the adverse reaction of greatest concern to patients and this involved the face most commonly. A single episode of bullous skin lesions developed in 5 persons who had received ivermectin. These lesions did not reoccur with subsequent treatment. No episode of hypotension after treatment was observed.
Reactive extensions (Rx): curing your asynchronous programming blues

Asynchronous, event-driven "reactive" programming is way too hard in today's world of development tools and frameworks. The huge amount of manual and error-prone plumbing leads to incomprehensible and hard to maintain code. As we reach out to services in the cloud, the desire for asynchronous computation is ever increasing, requiring a fresh look on the problems imposed by reactive programming. Centered around the concept of observable data sources, Rx provides a framework that takes care of the hard parts of reactive programming. Instead of focusing on the hard parts, you now can start dreaming about the endless possibilities of composing queries over asynchronous data sources, piggybacking on convenient LINQ syntax. In this session, we'll cover the design philosophy of Rx, rooted on the deep duality between the interactive IEnumerable interface and the new reactive IObservable interface in .NET 4. From this core understanding, we'll start looking at various combinators and operators defined over observable collections, as provided by Rx, driving concepts home by a bunch of samples. Finally, if time permits, we'll look at the Reactive Extensions for JavaScript which allows us to take the concepts we already know from Rx and apply them to JavaScript and have deep integration with libraries such as jQuery. Democratizing asynchronous programming starts today. Don't miss out on it!