cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determinants of Laparoscopic Donor Nephrectomy Outcomes

Abstract Background Pure laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN) is a unique intervention because it carries known risks and complications, yet carries no direct benefit to the donor. Therefore, it is critical to continually examine and improve quality of care. Objective To identify factors affecting LDN outcomes and complications. Design, setting, and participants A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data for 1204 consecutive LDNs performed from March 2000 through August 2012. Intervention LDN performed at an academic training center. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis Using multivariable regression, we assessed the effect of age, sex, body mass index (BMI), laterality, and vascular variation on operative time, estimated blood loss (EBL), complications, and length of stay. Results and limitations The following variables were associated with longer operative time (data given as parameter estimate plus or minus the standard error): female sex (9.09±2.43; p p =0.001), two (7.87±2.70; p =0.004) and three or more (22.45±7.13; p =0.002) versus one renal artery, and early renal arterial branching (5.67±2.82; p =0.045), while early renal arterial branching (7.81±3.85; p =0.043) was associated with higher EBL. Overall, 8.2% of LDNs experienced complications, and by modified Clavien classification, 74 (5.9%) were grade 1, 13 (1.1%) were grade 2a, 10 (0.8%) were grade 2b, and 2 (0.2%) were grade 2c. There were no grade 3 or 4 complications. Three or more renal arteries (odds ratio [OR]: 2.74; 95% CI, 1.05–7.16; p =0.04) and late renal vein confluence (OR: 2.42; 95% CI, 1.50–3.91; p =0.0003) were associated with more complications. Finally, we did not find an association of the independent variables with length of stay. A limitation is that warm ischemia time was not assessed. Conclusions In our series, renal vascular variation prolonged operative time and was associated with more complications. While complicated donor anatomy is not a contraindication of LDN, surgical decision-making should take into consideration these results.
Vent Location Optimization Using Map-Based Exhaustive Search in Liquid Composite Molding Processes

Abstract In liquid composite molding (LCM) processes, the resin is injected into the mold cavity, which contains preplaced reinforcement fabrics, through openings known as gates, while the displaced air leaves the mold through openings called vents. Under nominal conditions, the last points to fill are chosen as vent locations. However, due to imperfect preform cutting and placement, gaps and channels may form along the edges and curvatures in a mold, offering a path with less resistance for resin flow. The faster advance of resin through these gaps and channels, a common disturbance known as racetracking, will cause the last filled regions to vary, which complicates the vent selection process. In this study, probabilistic racetracking modeling is used to capture last-filled region distribution over the mold geometry. Success criteria for mold filling are defined in terms of dry spot tolerances, and vent fitness maps, which display potential vent locations, are created. Next, exhaustive search algorithm i...
Bacteriologic culture of excised intervertebral disc from immunocompetent patients undergoing single level primary lumbar microdiscectomy.

Study DesignA consecutive case series from a single center of patients undergoing primary microdiscectomy for lumbar herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) who received microbiologic laboratory culture of excised disc material.ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of positive bacterial cultures in the disc
Infrared Dispersion in Methyl Iodide

The refractive indices of liquid methyl iodide have been measured over the 4000–600‐cm−1 range using interferometric methods. From these data the integrated intensities of most of the fundamental bands were determined and are compared with other data in the literature and with gas‐phase intensities.
Repair of combined total anomalous pulmonary venous connection and anomalous systemic connection in early infancy.

Abstract A simple intraatrial reconstruction can be utilized in infants to simultaneously correct both the systemic and pulmonary venous returns. Two infants with polysplenia syndrome treated in the first months of life are presented. One had levocardia and combined total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (type II–Cardiac) and anomalous systemic venous connection. The other had dextrocardia l-loop, l-normal great arteries, and combined total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (type II—Cardiac) and anomalous systemic venous connection. The posterior position of the systemic atrioventricular valve and systemic ventricle in both patients allowed the use of this reconstructive technique. The extensive size and transverse position of this patch when used in the infant may require both continued postoperative controlled ventilation until it stiffens and prolonged attention to postoperative cardiac care until adaptation of the infant heart to the new atria can occur. Early restudy and reoperation should be performed if signs of stenosis develop.
A model for the early universe and the connection between gravitation and the quantum nature of matter

A model for the early universe is proposed which, permits one to understand the physical nature of the symmetry-breaking transition in the evolution of matter from a single high-density form dominated by gravity to distinct hadrons and leptons. It leads to a simple relation between the gravitational constantG and the constants governing quantum phenomena as reflected in Dirac’s large-number hypothesis, but without a time variation ofG or any of the atomic constants.
Geometrically Nonlinear Parametric Vibrations of a Transversely Straightened Cylindrical Shell in the Process of Its Dynamic Interaction with a Medium

The problem on the parametric vibrations of a transversely straightened cylindrical shell contacting with a viscoelastic medium under the action of the internal pressure was solved on the basis of the variation principle in the geometrical nonlinear formulation. The influence of the environment on the indicated vibrations was estimated with the use of the Pasternak dynamic model.
Strong-Field In-Plane Triple Ionization: Model Atom Time-Dependence

Non-sequential triple ionization (NSTI) of atoms is calculated classically and shown in video format as an ultrashort multi-dimensional rescattering sequence in a linearly polarized 8-cycle 780nm laser pulse. Momentum data are compared with experiment.
Pockets in heavy-ion potentials and nucleon transfer

Abstract A schematic model is described for taking into account the effect of potential pockets (motivated by positron experiments at GSI) on sub-Coulomb nucleon transfer cross sections. Results for single-neutron transfer in 238U-238U collisions bear a remarkable resemblance to data for some bombarding energies.
Determination of Membrane Peptide Orientation by 1H-Detected 2H NMR Spectroscopy

Abstract We demonstrate the application of the proton inverse detected deuteron (PRIDE) NMR technique to the measurement of the orientation of membrane-bound peptides with enhanced sensitivity. Gramicidin D, a transmembrane peptide, and ovispirin, a surface-bound peptide, were used as model systems. The peptides were 2H-labeled by 1H/2H exchange and oriented uniaxially on glass plates. The directly detected 2H spectra of both peptides showed only a strong D2O signal and no large quadrupolar splittings. In contrast, the PRIDE spectrum of gramicidin exhibited quadrupolar splittings as large as 281 kHz, consistent with its transmembrane orientation. Moreover, the large D2O signal in the directly detected 2H spectra was cleanly suppressed in the PRIDE spectrum. For ovispirin, the 1H indirectly detected 2H spectrum revealed a 104 kHz splitting and a zero-frequency peak. The former reflects the in-plane orientation of most of the helix axis, while the latter results from residues with a magic-angle orientation of the N–D bonds. These are consistent with previous 15N NMR results on ovispirin. The combination of PRIDE and exchange labeling provides an economical and sensitive method of studying membrane peptide orientations in lipid bilayers without the influence of D2O and with the ability to detect N–D bonds at the magic angle from the bilayer normal.
Nonlinear dynamics of vortices in ultraclean type-II superconductors: Integrable wave equations in cylindrical geometry.

Due to their short coherence lengths and relatively large energy gaps, the high-transition temperature superconductors are very likely candidates as ultraclean materials at low temperature. This class of materials features significantly modified vortex dynamics, with very little dissipation at low temperature. The motion is then dominated by wave propagation, being in general nonlinear. Here two-dimensional vortex motion is investigated in the ultraclean regime for a superconductor described in cylindrical geometry. The small-amplitude limit is assumed, and the focus is on the long-wavelength limit. Results for both zero and nonzero Hall force are presented, with the effects of nonlocal vortex interaction and vortex inertia being included within London theory. Linear and nonlinear problems are studied, with a predisposition toward the more analytically tractable situations. For a nonlinear problem in 2+1 dimensions, the cylindrical Kadomtsev-Petviashvili equation is derived. Hall angle measurements on high-${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}}$ superconductors indicate the need to investigate the properties of such a completely integrable wave equation. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Striptease: Desire, Mimetic Jeopardy, and Performing Spectators

Jay Bildstein, an owner of Scores, the Manhattan sports and strip bar, presented a workshop at the exclusive St. Moritz Hotel in New York City entitled "How to Own, Manage, Run or Even Dance in a Topless Bar" (1992). His presentation was sponsored and advertised by the Learning Annex, a traditional adult education center. Early on in the session, Bildstein told his rapt and overflowing audience that female strippers can earn anywhere from $200 to $2,000 in tips per night. One of the workshop members raised his hand and blurted out that he could not understand why topless bar patrons would spend that much money "just to look at naked women." "What really goes on in those clubs?" he asked. Bildstein immediately reassured his audience that prostitution was a rare occurrence in middle-class and upscale strip establishments, specifically because most dancers earn far more than hookers and under much safer conditions. He admitted he wasn't exactly sure why his customers were willing to empty their wallets for what seemed to be relatively little in terms of traditional ideas about sexual satisfaction. "But, whatever the reason," Bildstein smiled, "it makes for good business." He and his audience then shook their heads in wonder over the mystery of the striptease industry-and the questions remained hanging in the air: What exactly are patrons buyingor buying into? What is going on between the spectators and the performers? A few years ago, I embarked on a study of white, middle-class, heterosexual (or mimetically heterosexual) female and male striptease events that took place in eight cities, and in more than 70 different strip bars, clubs, sex emporiums, and theatres in the United States and Canada.' As a former professional dancer and actor (from the Zurich Opera Ballet to OH! Calcutta! on Broadway), I have been keenly interested in live performances that center on the body, nudity, and sexual display, and in the theories that seek to explain them. During the three years of field research for this project, I attended gay, lesbian, and transsexual strip events as well.2 The eventual decision to limit the study to primarily "white, heterosexual, and mainstream" strip shows3 was the result of a provocative, reoccurring discussion that took place during the Women and Theatre Conferences from I990 to 1992. In this forum it was suggested that women who fall into the various categories of white, middle-class, and
Pediatric Fractures, Dislocations, and Sequelae

Children (like our kids pictured above) have particular characteristics that make them special. Kids are not small adults, and pediatric fractures are different than adult fractures. Children have a propensity to injury their upper extremities. Young children inadvertently place their limbs in untoward positions, such as doors and drawers. Adolescents participate in sporting recreational events, such as skiing, bike riding, or gymnastics that frequently result in injury. Fractures can occur about the hand, wrist, forearm, and elbow. Diagnosis is complicated by the lack of ossification and the difficulties of examining a child. This issue of the Hand Clinics is devoted to pediatric fractures, dislocations, and their complicationsd an arduous task. In attempt to accomplish this enterprise, an outstanding array of experts in pediatric upper extremity was assembled. The authors possess extensive knowledge in their particular assignment. The goal was to cover fractures from the fingertips to the elbow with a focus on treatments and complications. The hand is covered by a series of articles that deals with fractures and
Adriamycin uptake in V79 and adriamycin resistant Chinese hamster cells.

Abstract Total intracellular and DNA-associated uptake of Adriamycin (ADR) was studied in V79 Chinese hamster cells and in a derived subline which is resistant to ADR killing. For both sublines, uptake of ADR was dependent on cell density with greater uptake seen with less dense cultures. Drug uptake was markedly less in the ADR-resistant cells compared to parent V79 cells. These results suggest that the resistance observed is in large part due to membrane changes that result in decreased drug uptake.
Interactions between large African browsers and thorny Acacia on a wildlife ranch in Kenya

Some plants respond to browsing with compensatory regrowth of plant tissues and with increased thorn growth. Associations between browsers and their preferred forage were examined through wandering quarter vegetation sampling and observational studies in an effort to understand how some plants respond to browsing by large African herbivores. Acacia seyal (n = 2680) A. drepanolobium (n = 1850), and Balanites glabra (n = 960) were three species of frequently browsed indigenous plants examined on Game Ranching Ltd. in Kenya. There were several statistically significant associations revealed. Individual A. seyal exposed to intensive browser utilization were observed to lose shoot tips, produce long thorns, and have relatively few flowers and fruits. Browser utilization was associated with increased lateral branching in A. drepanolobium and with an increased occurrence of short, thickened spines in B. glabra. Thorns, spines and flowers were measurable indicators of relative browser utilization, and may be useful features to monitor in the management of large African mammals and their prickly forage Resume Certaines plantes reagissent au pâturage par une repousse du tissu vegetal et une croissance accrue d’epines. Les associations entre les animaux et leur nourriture favorite ont ete examinees grâce a des echantillonnages de la vegetation par quadrats aleatoires, et par des observations specifiques afin de comprendre comment certaines plantes repondent au broutage par de grands mammiferes africains. Acacia seyal (n = 2680), A. drepanolobium (n = 1850) et Balanites glabra (n = 960) sont trois especes de plantes indigenes frequemment consommees aGame Ranching Ltd, au Kenya. On y revele plusieurs associations statistiquement significatives. On y a observe des A. seyal exposes a une consommation intensive perdre l'extremite des pousses, produire de longues epines et relativement peu de fleurs et de fruits. La consommation par les herbivores etait associee a une production accrue de branches laterales chez A. drepanolobium et a la presence accrue de piquants courts et epais chez Balanites glabra. Les piquants, les epines et les fleurs etaient des indicateurs mesurables de la consommation relative par des herbivores, et peuvent etre des caracteristiques utiles a surveiller dans le cadre de la gestion des grands mammiferes africains et de leur alimentation epineuse.
Higher Order Software&#8212;A Methodology for Defining Software

The key to software reliability is to design, develop, and manage software with a formalized methodology which can be used by computer scientists and applications engineers to describe and communicate interfaces between systems. These interfaces include: software to software; software to other systems; software to management; as well as discipline to discipline within the complete software development process. The formal methodology of Higher Order Software (HOS), specifically aimed toward large-scale multiprogrammed/multiprocessor systems, is dedicated to systems reliability. With six axioms as the basis, a given system and all of its interfaces is defined as if it were one complete and consistent computable system. Some of the derived theorems provide for: reconfiguration of real-time multiprogrammed processes, communication between functions, and prevention of data and timing conflicts.
Managing individual customer service constraints under stochastic demand

In recent years management of customer requirements has been the foremost concern of most manufacturers. In this paper, we consider a single-period problem in which the manufacturer faces stochastic demand and individual service level constraints from multiple customers. We present a formulation for the problem that utilizes the structure of the underlying allocation problem and provide an algorithm that generates the optimal procurement quantity under the optimal random allocation policy. For a special case when there are two identical customers and their demand is jointly uniform, we derive an analytical expression for the optimal procurement quantity.
Microwave spectra of eight isotopic modifications of 1-chloro-1-fluoroethylene

Abstract The rotational spectra of eight isotopomers of 1-chloro-1-fluoroethylene in the 6–22 GHz region have been collected and analyzed. Each rotational transition is split into hyperfine components by the chlorine (either 35 Cl or 37 Cl) nuclear quadrupole coupling interaction and additionally, one or more smaller interactions such as the spin–rotation interaction due to the fluorine atom, hydrogen–hydrogen spin–spin coupling interactions, and in appropriately substituted species, the deuterium nuclear quadrupole hyperfine interaction. The rotational constants derived from these isotopomers allow the determination of average and Kraitchman substitution structures for 1-chloro-1-fluoroethylene, whereas the availability of the diagonal chlorine nuclear quadrupole coupling constants for all the isotopomers provides complete quadrupole coupling tensors for both 35 Cl and 37 Cl. In the course of this work, the rotational spectrum of an excited vibrational state of the normal isotopomer was observed, which ab initio calculations suggest should be assigned to ν 9 = 1 , an in-plane bending motion at the CFCl end of the molecule.
Lyneborgimyia magnifica gen. et sp.n. (Diptera: Syrphidae) from Tanzania, with a phylogenetic analysis of the Eumerini using new morphological characters

. Lyneborgimyia magnificagen. et sp.n. is described and placed with Merodon Meigen and Platynochaetus Wiedemann in the Merodon genus group within the tribe Eumerini. New morphological characters and terms are introduced, and precise definitions proposed for characters applied inconsistently in the literature. The species possesses several unique autapomorphies, including an additional cross-vein between R4+5 and M1, and a sclerotized connection between sternite 1 and the metepimeron, which are unknown otherwise within Diptera. A parsimony-based phylogenetic analysis including 73 characters from the adult morphology provides strong support for the monophyly of the Eumerini (Eumerus Meigen, Azpeytia Walker, Lyneborgimyia, Merodon, Platynochaetus) and the Merodon genus group, whereas no support is found for the possible monophyly of the genus Eumerus. A sister-group relationship is indicated between the Afrotropical Lyneborgimyia and the Palaearctic Platynochaetus.
Analysis of Steady-State Penetration in Viscoplastic Porous Materials

A study of the steady-state motion of a porous medium over a rigid wedge-shaped penetrator was conducted. In order to describe the combined effects of strain rate and compaction on yielding, a rigid viscoplastic constitutive equation was used. The deviatoric response was modeled with a non-homogeneous Bingam type equation with shear yield limit dependent on the current density. The system of partial differential equations consisting of the constitutive equation, the continuity equation, and the balance of momentum was solved for different interface conditions. The resistance to penetration as a function of the striking velocity, target properties (density dependent yield, locking pressure, locking density), friction coefficient as well as wedge semi-angle was obtained. The wedge semi- angle corresponding to a minimum in resistance to penetration in mortar for various impact conditions also resulted from this investigation.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Ex situ oxidation of IN713 turbine blades in situ deposited with silica layers during operation of a micro-gas turbine

The long-term stability of silica layers deposited in situ on the IN713 turbine blades was investigated by surveying an ex situ thermally cycled oxidation test in air at 1050 °C. Two types of in situ coatings were prepared by burning tetraethylorthosilicate with fuel during a 100-min operation of a 13 kgf-class gas turbine. The degradation of the blades upon the oxidation test was evaluated by monitoring the weight change and by analyzing the microscopic evolution of surface oxides. One coating, characterized by a uniform and relatively thick porous coating on the pressure side, was chipped off in the early stages of the test. The other coating was ∼4 μm thick at the region near the root, but was too thin (and transparent) at the other parts of the blade to be rendered as protective one. However, this coating was found to be more stable towards chipping than the other coating during the oxidation test. The stability of the coatings was examined in terms of the interaction between the deposited layer and the underlying thermally grown oxide or substrate during the operation of the gas turbine.
Advances in the Management of Dupuytren Disease: Collagenase

Dupuytren disease (DD) is a benign, generally painless connective tissue disorder affecting the palmar fascia that leads to progressive hand contractures. Mediated by myofibroblasts, the disease most commonly begins as a nodule in the palm or finger, and can progress where pathologic cords form leading to progressive flexion deformity of the involved fingers. The palmar skin overlying the cords may become excessively calloused and contracted and involved joints may develop periarticular fibrosis. Although there is no cure, the sequellae of this affliction can be corrected. This article focuses on the role of collagen in DD and the development of a collagen-specific enzymatic treatment for DD contractures.
Proteinuria related to hyperproteinemia in dogs following plasma given parenterally; a renal threshold for plasma proteins.

Proteinuria in normal dogs can be produced at will by parenteral injections of dog plasma. As the plasma injections are continued the plasma protein concentration rises and at some point protein begins to appear in the urine. The level of plasma protein concentration at which proteinuria appears in normal dogs ranges from 9.6 to 10.4 gm. per cent. This may be termed the renal threshold for proteinuria. Repeat experiments in the same dog show threshold levels to be practically identical. An interval of days (4 to 26 days) has been noted between the start of plasma protein injections and the appearance of the proteinuria. Larger doses of plasma shorten this interval and the critical plasma protein level is attained sooner. Considerable amounts of protein may appear in the urine—298 gm. protein during a 52 day period in one instance studied—yet the urine clears in 1 to 4 days after cessation of protein injections. Autopsy shows undamaged kidneys. Maximal levels of plasma protein concentration range from 10.0 to 11.5 gm. per cent. The highest levels are usually associated with maximal output of protein in the urine. It seems clear that plasma proteins readily pass cell barriers (or membranes) within the body, including the endothelium and epithelium of the renal glomerulus.
Motion of resonance poles with angular momentum in S-matrix theory and related topics☆

Abstract A general discussion is carried out here of resonance poles in multi-two-body channel S-matrix theory. After Regge, the poles are defined by surfaces in energy-angular-momentum space. Using the inverse of the Regge trajectory α(ν), a study is made of the poles in the energy plane arising from a given Regge trajectory and how these poles move near threshold with angular momentum. These pole motions have important similarities with conclusions recently derived by others on the basis of a picture in which the coupling strength is varied. One of our results is a unified understanding of the behavior of poles near threshold for the s-wave case and the corresponding behavior for poles of higher angular momentum. The function α(ν) is found to possess all information needed to describe a resonance including a specification of associated energy poles on a number of Riemann sheets. A number of related questions are also considered here: the general question of defining a resonance pole in the many-channel problem; the precise formulation of those conditions under which a resonance pole is “near” enough to the physical region to produce an observable peak; the meaning of a resonance near threshold; the possibility of diagonalizing the S-matrix for nonintegral angular momenta and unphysical energies; properties of α(ν) for the many-channel problem including the positive definiteness of Im α; a discussion of the possibility of Regge trajectories decoupling from certain channels and the relation of this possibility to conservation laws and their derivation. The entire discussion is kept on very general grounds in which only unitarity and plausible assumptions about the analyticity of scattering amplitudes in angular momentum and energy are employed.
Individual differences in early child phonology

Three studies are reported that deal with individual differences among children in the use of consonants during the early period of phonological development. The findings indicated that (1) children differ in their early phonologies, yet these differences do not extend beyond certain limits, (2) the linguistic environment cannot account for a number of these phonological differences, and (3) such differences are due in part to the fact that children's use of sounds varies considerably with the lexical items being produced. Modifications in theories of child phonology are suggested in order to account for these findings.
Multiobjective design of aquifer monitoring networks for optimal spatial prediction and geostatistical parameter estimation

[1] Effective sampling of hydrogeological systems is essential in guiding groundwater management practices. Optimal sampling of groundwater systems has previously been formulated based on the assumption that heterogeneous subsurface properties can be modeled using a geostatistical approach. Therefore, the monitoring schemes have been developed to concurrently minimize the uncertainty in the spatial distribution of systems' states and parameters, such as the hydraulic conductivity K and the hydraulic head H, and the uncertainty in the geostatistical model of system parameters using a single objective function that aggregates all objectives. However, it has been shown that the aggregation of possibly conflicting objective functions is sensitive to the adopted aggregation scheme and may lead to distorted results. In addition, the uncertainties in geostatistical parameters affect the uncertainty in the spatial prediction of K and H according to a complex nonlinear relationship, which has often been ineffectively evaluated using a first-order approximation. In this study, we propose a multiobjective optimization framework to assist the design of monitoring networks of K and H with the goal of optimizing their spatial predictions and estimating the geostatistical parameters of the K field. The framework stems from the combination of a data assimilation (DA) algorithm and a multiobjective evolutionary algorithm (MOEA). The DA algorithm is based on the ensemble Kalman filter, a Monte-Carlo-based Bayesian update scheme for nonlinear systems, which is employed to approximate the posterior uncertainty in K, H, and the geostatistical parameters of K obtained by collecting new measurements. Multiple MOEA experiments are used to investigate the trade-off among design objectives and identify the corresponding monitoring schemes. The methodology is applied to design a sampling network for a shallow unconfined groundwater system located in Rocky Ford, Colorado. Results indicate that the effect of uncertainties associated with the geostatistical parameters on the spatial prediction might be significantly alleviated (by up to 80% of the prior uncertainty in K and by 90% of the prior uncertainty in H) by sampling evenly distributed measurements with a spatial measurement density of more than 1 observation per 60 m × 60 m grid block. In addition, exploration of the interaction of objective functions indicates that the ability of head measurements to reduce the uncertainty associated with the correlation scale is comparable to the effect of hydraulic conductivity measurements.
Maybe It's Both of Us: Engagement and Learning.

This teaching note describes my multiyear experience with interventions designed to enhance student engagement and learning through various teaching techniques, most notably active and collaborative learning through local case studies. While other aspects of this course had been successful, I was disappointed in the level of engagement—the apparent level of study and practice and the excitement and interest in the project demonstrated during class meetings and through assignments—of previous students with the semester-long research project. Intervention yielded a clear increase in student engagement but did not seem to yield increased understanding, leading to a new set of questions and additional intervention. The note provides details about the specific teaching techniques centered on active and collaborative learning in local case studies and concludes with three recommendations for instructors pursuing excellence in teaching and learning.
New Therapeutic Approach to Suppress Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Using ASC-J9 via Targeting Androgen Receptor in Selective Prostate Cells

Using androgen receptor (AR) knockout mice to determine AR functions in selective prostate cancer (PCa) cells, we determined that AR might play differential roles in various cell types, either to promote or suppress PCa development/progression. These observations partially explain the failure of current androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) to reduce/prevent androgen binding to AR in every cell. Herein, we identified the AR degradation enhancer ASC-J9, which selectively degrades AR protein via interruption of the AR-AR selective coregulator interaction. Such selective interruption could, therefore, suppress AR-mediated PCa growth in the androgen-sensitive stage before ADT and in the castration-resistant stage after ADT. Mechanistic dissection suggested that ASC-J9 could activate the proteasome-dependent pathway to promote AR degradation through the enhanced association of AR-Mdm2 complex. The consequences of ASC-J9-promoted AR degradation included reduced androgen binding to AR, AR N-C terminal interaction, and AR nuclear translocation. Such inhibitory regulation could then result in suppression of AR transactivation and AR-mediated cell growth in eight different mouse models, including intact or castrated nude mice xenografted with androgen-sensitive LNCaP cells or androgen-insensitive C81 cells and castrated nude mice xenografted with castration-resistant C4-2 and CWR22Rv1 cells, and TRAMP and Pten+/− mice. These results demonstrate that ASC-J9 could serve as an AR degradation enhancer that effectively suppresses PCa development/progression in the androgen-sensitive and castration-resistant stages.
The influence of tilted source-drain implants on high-field effects in submicrometer MOSFETs

Asymmetries in MOSFET high-field effects, such as impact ionization and bipolar snapback, are used to examine the influence of tilted source-drain implants on device reliability. Several process variables, including source-drain implant conditions and anneal time, are varied to determine how they affect these asymmetries. Using two-dimensional process and devices simulations to explain the physical origins of these effects, the lightly doped drain (LDD) structure is shown to offer some immunity to tilt-angle-induced reliability problems. These results are used to suggest guidelines for the design of the LDD structure. >
Femtosecond frequency comb measurements across the optical spectrum

We describe our application of frequency comb technology to extend knowledge of absolute optical frequency for stabilized laser sources at 194 THz (1.54 /spl mu/m), 445 THz (674 nm), and 474 THz (633 nm).
Development of resistance to eCry3.1Ab-expressing transgenic maize in a laboratory-selected population of western corn rootworm (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae).

A laboratory colony of western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, was selected for resistance to transgenic maize expressing the eCry3.1Ab protein. The selected colony was developed by rearing larvae on nonelite noncommercial Bt maize expressing the eCry3.1Ab protein. After four generations, selected and control colonies were screened on eCry3.1Ab-expressing and isoline maize using greenhouse experiments. There was a significant colony × maize pedigree interaction in terms of the number of larvae recovered. There was no significant difference in the number of larvae recovered from eCry3.1Ab-expressing and isoline maize for the selected colony, whereas this difference was significant for the control colony. There was not a significant colony × maize pedigree interaction in terms of root damage, or the number of beetles recovered, but the effect of maize pedigree was significant. After four and eight generations of selection, seedling bioassays were performed. Again, there was a significant colony × maize pedigree interaction in terms of the number of larvae recovered. After 11 generations of selection, larvae from the selected colony had higher LC50 values than the control colony when exposed to increasing concentrations of the eCry3.1Ab protein. The resistance ratio of the selected colony was 2.58. These data provide necessary information for understanding the potential for Bt resistance by western corn rootworm and underscores the need for insect resistance management plans for this pest.
SEASONAL OCCURRENCE AND MOVEMENTS OF SEALS IN NORTH-WEST BRITAIN

The breeding distribution of the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) in north-west Britain is well known. The general distribution of the common seal (Phoca vitulina) is not well known. The seasonal movements of seals in the area are unknown, though some postulates about them have been made. The work gives two sets of results: (i) an analysis of response of observers, and (ii) the analysis of the data which they reported to suggest seasonal occurence and movements of seals. A postal survey of seal occurrence in the area was carried out between June 1958 and May 1959. The co-operation of over 100 observers at different stations was obtained. The response in terms of numbers of forms returned and of their content is analysed and found to be satisfactory. Owing to factors which affected observers in different ways, only about half the response could be used in studying seasonal changes. The common seal and grey seal are both involved. Periods of three months and over of high numbers can be grouped in two distinct classes: (i) those occurring from spring to autumn associated with the summer range of the grey seal, and (ii) from autumn to winter associated with the influx of young into the common seal population. Observations from the Firth of Clyde show a predominance of common seals. There is an assembly mostly of grey seals near Innellan in spring and summer, and large assemblies of commons, particularly in autumn and winter at Ardrossan (north shore), Lady Isle and Heads of Ayr. Seasonal movements are discussed. Observations from the North Channel coast show a mixed population of greys and commone from the Copeland Islands, Maidens (Larne), Rathlin, Davaar, Sanda and Mull of Kintyre, with commons only at Inishowen and Fanad Head. Seasonal movements are discuased. Observations from the Atlantic coasts of Scotland show a predominance of grey seals. The occurrence of both species is discussed, together with movements associated with heavy seas and movements of fish. The movements of grey seals from a wide summer range to the breeding islands takes place in August and September; movement back takes from January to June. There is a peak in seal movements (both species considered) in north-west Britain in May and June. The upsurge in activity starts in March, increases greatly in April and is at maximum in May and June. Thereafter it declines gradually through summer and autumn to a minimum in winter. A subsidiary peak in September may be associated with movements of grey seals to breeding grounds. The suggested peak of movements is synchronous with the periods of finest weather in north-west Britain. No connection between movements of seals and the disposition offish throughout the range of the survey, can be made.
Sympathetic Activity and Baroreflex Sensitivity in Young Women Taking Oral Contraceptives

Background—We tested sympathetic and cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity during the placebo or “low-hormone” phase (LH) and 2 to 3 weeks later during the “high-hormone” phase (HH) of oral contraceptive (OC) use in 9 women. Methods and Results—Sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity was assessed by intravenous doses of sodium nitroprusside and phenylephrine and defined as the slope relating muscle sympathetic nerve activity (by microneurography) and diastolic blood pressure. Cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity was defined as the slope relating R-R interval and systolic blood pressure. No difference was observed for resting muscle sympathetic nerve activity or plasma norepinephrine levels. However, sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity was greater and mean arterial pressure was higher during the LH than in the HH phase. Similarly, cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity was greater in the LH than in the HH phase. Conclusions—Sympathetic and cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivities change during the 28-day course of OC use. Fu...
Mechanism of Inducible Regional Dysfunction During Dipyridamole Stress

Background— We hypothesized that increased myocardial oxygen demand resulting from hypotension and reflex tachycardia unmasking a reduced endocardial myocardial blood flow (MBF) reserve is the mechanism of dipyridamole-induced regional dysfunction in chronic coronary artery disease. Methods and Results— Ameroid constrictors were placed around the proximal coronary arteries and their major branches in 15 dogs to create chronic coronary stenosis. Seven days later, radiolabeled microsphere–derived MBF and 2-dimensional echocardiography–derived percent wall thickening (%WT) were measured at rest and after 0.56 mg/kg dipyridamole. Dipyridamole caused an increase (mean, 21%) in the rate-pressure product secondary to reflex tachycardia resulting from mild systemic hypotension. %WT in myocardial segments with an endocardial MBF reserve (dipyridamole/resting MBF) of 1.5 to 2.5 (n=35) did not change after dipyridamole, whereas it decreased in segments with an endocardial MBF reserve of <1.5 (n=30) and increased in ...
Drug Biotransformation Interactions in Man I: Mutual Inhibition in Glucuronide Formation of Salicylic Acid and Salicylamide in Man

Co-administration of salicylamide (SAM) and sodium salicylate to healthy adult humans resulted in a pronounced decrease in the formation of the glucuronides of these two drugs. This is thought to be due to a limited capacity for glucuronide conjugation in man and/or to the uncoupling action of salicylate on oxidative phosphorylation. Salicylate may inhibit also the formation of SAM sulfate; it has no effect on the excretion rate constants of SAM glucuronide and SAM sulfate in the doses used in the investigation. The results of this study indicate that concomitant use of certain drugs which are readily available to the public may lead to appreciable interactions in biotransformation and to enhanced pharmacologic effects.
The Effects of Racial and Extracurricular Friendship Diversity on Achievement

This paper finds the effect of having friends of a similar race and who are involved in similar activities. It explores data which allows a peer group to be defined openly through self nominations. Using a strategy that corrects for the endogeneity of peer effects by instrumenting using variables at the "grade within school" level, it is shown that friendship diversity can help whites increase achievement. Although not much significance was found with other races, most of the strategies pushed towards the direction of racial diversity aiding achievement. Regarding extracurricular activities, it is found that there is a benefit in having friends in common individual academic activities, conditional on the respondent only belonging to academic or scholastic clubs. There are insignificant effects in having friends in common sports, conditional on the respondent only participating in sports.
Maize Pollen Dispersal under Convective Conditions

The widespread adoption of genetically modified (GM) crops has led to a need to better understand the atmospheric transport of pollen because of concerns over potential cross-pollination between GM and non-GM crops. Maize pollen concentrations were modeled by a modified Lagrangian stochastic (LS) model of the convective boundary layer (CBL) and were compared with concentrations measured by airborne remotely piloted vehicles (RPVs) flown from directly above to 2 km from source fields. The turbulence parameterization in an existing CBL LS model was modified to incorporate the effects of shear-driven turbulence, which has an especially large impact near the surface, where maize pollen is released. The modified model was used to calculate concentrations corresponding to the RPV flight tracks. For the most convective cases, when at least 95% of the pollen came from sources near the RPV flight track for which source strength measurements are available and the results are less sensitive to uncertainty in wind direction since most of the pollen came from directly beneath the flight track, the geometric mean of the ratio between the modeled and measured concentrations was 0.94. When cases with larger contributions from more distant fields were included, the overall geometric mean decreased to 0.43. The scatter of the measured concentrations about the modeled values followed a lognormal distribution. These results indicate that the modified model presented herein can substantially improve the description of the near-source dispersion of heavy particles released near the surface during convective conditions.
Validity and Reliability of the Revised California Psychological Inventory's Vector 3 Scale:

This study examined the validity and reliability of the revised California Psychological Inventory's (CPI) Vector 3 (v.3) self-realization scale by administering it and other personality questionna...
Estimating Eddy Heat Flux from Float Data in the North Atlantic: The Impact of Temporal Sampling Interval

Abstract Acoustically tracked float data from 16 experiments carried out in the North Atlantic are used to evaluate the feasibility of estimating eddy heat fluxes from floats. Daily float observations were bin averaged in 2° by 2° by 200-db-deep geographic bins, and eddy heat fluxes were estimated for each bin. Results suggest that eddy heat fluxes can be highly variable, with substantial outliers that mean that fluxes do not converge quickly. If 100 statistically independent observations are available in each bin (corresponding to 500–1000 float days of data), then results predict that 80% of bins will have eddy heat fluxes that are statistically different from zero. Pop-up floats, such as Autonomous Lagrangian Circulation Explorer (ALACE) and Argo floats, do not provide daily sampling and therefore underestimate eddy heat flux. The fraction of eddy heat flux resolved using pop-up float sampling patterns decreases linearly with increasing intervals between float mapping and can be modeled analytically. T...
Elastic Plates on a Liquid Foundation

Use of the deflection expression of an infinite plate subjected to a concentrated force in connection with the method of images permitted solutions for a wedge-shaped plate, infinite strip, semi-infinite strip, and rectangular plate simply supported along their edges. The closed-form solutions that were obtained for the semi-infinite and rectangular plate were evaluated and the results reveal that, in the rectangular corner plate, the corner reaction is negligible for λr\D0\N≥5. It was also found that, for λr\D0\N<4, in the corner area there appear negative bending moments which by far exceed the absolute maximum value of the negative moment of an infinite plate. The solutions of the infinite strip, semi-infinite strip, and rectangular plate were obtained as infinite series of fundamental deflections. It is noted that the series for deflections, moments, and shear forces converge rapidly, particularly in the vicinity of the concentrated forces. Advantages in using superpositions of fundamental deflections, as compared with using Fourier-type series, are noted in treating the infinite plate subjected to arbitrary loads.
Complete genome sequence of Methanosphaerula palustris E1-9CT, a hydrogenotrophic methanogen isolated from a minerotrophic fen peatland

Here, we report the complete genome sequence (2.92 Mb) of Methanosphaerula palustris E1-9C(T), a methanogen isolated from a minerotrophic fen. This is the first genome report of the Methanosphaerula genus, within the Methanoregulaceae family, in the Methanomicrobiales order. E1-9C(T) relatives are found in a wide range of ecological and geographical settings.
The Welfare and Allocative Impact of Targeted Advertising

We investigate the welfare implications and the allocative effects of different consumer data"handling regimes in online targeted advertisin g. We develop a three"players model that includes firms, consumers, and an intermediary " the ad exchange – and analyze three scenarios that differ in the type of consumers' data available during the targeting: a case in which only the horizontal information (consumers' brand preferences) is available; a case in which only vertical information (consumers' purchasing power) is available; a case in which both pieces of information are available. We find that there exist conditions under which the intermediary obtains the highest proportion of benefits from targeting and, in general, the intermediary's incentives regarding the type of consumer information to be used for targeting are misaligned with the incentives of firms and/or consumers. Furthermore, consumers' surplus from targeting is higher when only specific types of personal information are made available during the targeting process.