cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
African American adolescent males living with obesity.

Objectives The objective was to explore, through the concepts of self-perception and meaning, the lived experience of obesity in African American males between the ages of 13–17 years. Design and Sample Hermeneutic phenomenological design was used to guide the study. Thirteen inner-city African American males were enrolled. All participants had a documented body mass index of >95th percentile and were actively receiving treatment at a medical obesity clinic. Measures Qualitative data were collected using in-depth semi-structured interviews. Results Self-perception and meaning are interrelated and important factors in understanding obesity uniquely from the adolescents view. If individuals do not understand that they are obese then they are unable to assign meaning to obesity within their life. Four main themes were discovered. The main themes were as follows: (1) It Don't Mean Nuthin'; (2) It's Just Me, Who I Am; (3) Something Bad Might Happen; and (4) I'm Confused and I Feel Bad. Conclusions Patterns emerged that will allow health care workers to engage adolescents on a personal level, thereby increasing the potential for treatment outcomes consistent with weight management clinic goals. To realize successful outcomes for these adolescents, health care providers must incorporate the adolescents' understanding, knowledge, and values related to obesity in treatment planning.
Optimization in integrated biochemical systems

As of yet, steady-state optimization in biochemical systems has been limited to a few studies in which networks of fluxes were optimized. These networks of fluxes are represented by linear (stoichiometric) equations that are used as constraints in a linear program, and a flux or a sum of weighted fluxes is used as the objective function. In contrast to networks of fluxes, systems of metabolic processes have not been optimized in a comparable manner. The primary reason is that these types of integrated biochemical systems are full of synergisms, antagonisms, and regulatory mechanisms that can only be captured appropriately with nonlinear models. These models are mathematically complex and difficult to analyze. In most cases it is not even possible to compute, let alone optimize, steady-state solutions analytically. Rare exceptions are S-system representations. These are nonlinear and able to represent virtually all types of dynamic behaviors, but their steady states are characterized by linear equations that can be evaluated both analytically and numerically. The steady-state equations are expressed in terms of the logarithms of the original variables, and because a function and its logarithms of the original variables, and because a function and its logarithm assume their maxima for the same argument, yields or fluxes can be optimized with linear programs expressed in terms of the logarithms of the original variables. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
"I come from a black-eyed pea background": the incorporation of history into women's discussions of diet and health.

To promote healthy eating, it is important to understand how people conceptualize diet and factors shaping notions of particular foods and dietary patterns as healthy. We present data from eight focus groups exploring dietary issues among women aged 40–64. We analyze how women referenced their history and background in accounting for current diet. We highlight three emergent themes: (1) how we ate growing up; (2) what we eat where I come from; and (3) what my people see as healthy. We conclude that in these groups, nostalgic presentations of life-course experiences and personal identity were meaningful anchors for explaining current behaviors.
A highly parameterized tool for studying performance of computer systems

A highly parameterized simulation model is described which allows experiments to be performed for computer performance evaluations studies. The results of these experiments can be used to evaluate the effect of changing the hardware configuration, the workload, the scheduling policy, the multiprogramming level, etc. The model is constructed to function either as a batch or time-sharing system, or as a combination of both. This simulation model also has the potential of providing dynamic feedback for the scheduler. A discussion of the design, implementation, and use of the model is presented. Examples are provided to illustrate some possible uses of the model and verifications of the results obtained from the model.
Non-equilibrium effects in the growth of spherical gas bubbles due to solute diffusion

Abstract A formulation and computed results are presented for the growth of a spherical gas bubble in a supersaturated liquid, due to solute diffusion. The computed results are given in a dimensionless form and the appropriate dimensionless parameters allow a more general representation of the effects of surface tension, viscosity and liquid inertia. An approximate assessment is also made of the range, over which certain asymptotic solutions are valid. The computed results were found to agree quite well with experimental data obtained in the region where liquid inertia played an important role in controlling the overall growth rate.
Drug effects on the 5-HT response of Schistosoma mansoni.

Abstract 1. 1. Several vertebrate 5-HT antagonists at concentrations around 0.1 mM reduced 5-HT-induced increases in the motor activity of the parasitic blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni . The order of potency for 5-HT response antagonism was haloperidol > cyproheptadine > mianserin > a trazodone > spiperone > methysergide. 2. 2. Nisoxetine, a 5-HT uptake inhibitor in vertebrate preparations, was also a potent antagonist of the 5-HT response in schistosomes. 3. 3. The potent antischistosomal praziquantel reduced the 5-HT response similarly to the other antiserotonergic drugs, but at much lower concentrations, beginning around 0.1 μM. 4. 4. The 5-HT agonist quipazine stimulated worm activity at 1-0.1 mM when applied alone, but reduced the 1 mM 5-HT response when quipazine and 5-HT were administered concurrently. 5. 5. Dopamine (DA) alone had no effect on the overall activity of S. mansoni . 6. 6. Although no drug was found to have absolute species specificity, quantitative differences were observed between the relative activity of drugs in schistosomes and vertebrates.
Percent surface area involvement is a predictor of lymph node metastasis in endometrial cancer.

Abstract Objective. To determine if percent surface area involvement (SAI) of tumor in endometrial cancer is predictive of lymph node metastasis. Methods. A retrospective study was performed of all patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer at Magee Women's Hospital between January 1990 and December of 1995. Papillary serous and clear cell histologic subtypes were excluded. Pathology reports were reviewed for percent SAI, myometrial invasion, grade, histologic subtype, lymphvascular space invasion, and lymph node metastasis. Percent SAI was categorized into three groups: 80%. The primary outcome variables were pelvic or periaortic lymph node metastasis. Univariate and multivariate analysis logistic regression models were used to determine predictors of nodal metastasis. Results. Of 558 patient records reviewed, 319 had lymph node dissections performed and 42 (13%) of those patients had positive lymph nodes. Two of 79 (3%) patients with 80% SAI had lymph node metastasis. The percent SAI was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis ( p 80% SAI, the odds of having lymph node metastasis were 10.8 times (CI 1.3–90.4) that for patients with similar tumor histology, grade, and invasion, but p =0.03). A subset analysis of patients with superficial myometrial invasion was performed and 16% of patients with 80% SAI had positive lymph nodes, while only 1.4% of patients with p =0.02). Conclusion. Our analysis indicates that percent SAI is an independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis. Furthermore, assessing SAI with myometrial invasion gives a more accurate prediction of lymph node metastasis than myometrial invasion alone. This becomes clinically relevant when assessing risk factors for lymph node metastasis intraoperatively.
ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE CRAYFISH GENUS PROCAMBARUS (DECAPODA: CAMBARIDAE)

ABSTRACT The ranges of the 17 subgenera of the genus Procambarus, comprising 152 species and subspecies occurring in North America and Middle America, are illustrated and briefly outlined. A graphical compilation of the distribution of these crayfishes is presented showing that the greatest number of species and subspecies occur in the southeastern United States, with a decline in numbers centrifugally to Mexico where two centers of concentration occur on the eastern versant: one north and the other south of the Cordillera Volcanica Transversal. Evidence is presented for a postulated Procambarus track extending from the eastern part of the United States southwestward through Mexico, and thence northeastward to Cuba.
Molecular dissection of ø29 scaffolding protein function in an in vitro assembly system.

Abstract An in vitro assembly system was developed to study prolate capsid assembly of phage o29 biochemically, and to identify regions of scaffolding protein required for its functions. The crowding agent polyethylene glycol can induce bacteriophage o29 monomeric capsid protein and dimeric scaffolding protein to co-assemble to form particles which have the same geometry as either prolate T = 3 Q = 5 procapsids formed in vivo or previously observed isometric particles. The formation of particles is a scaffolding-dependent reaction. The balance between the fidelity and efficiency of assembly is controlled by the concentration of crowding agent and temperature. The assembly process is salt sensitive, suggesting that the interactions between the scaffolding and coat proteins are electrostatic. Three N-terminal o29 scaffolding protein deletion mutants, Δ 1–9, Δ 1–15 and Δ 1–22, abolish the assembly activity. Circular dichroism spectra indicate that these N-terminal deletions are accompanied by a loss of helicity. The inability of these proteins to dimerize suggests that the N-terminal region of the scaffolding protein contributes to the dimer interface and maintains the structural integrity of the dimeric protein. Two C-terminal scaffolding protein deletion mutants, Δ 79–97 and Δ 62–97, also fail to promote assembly. However, the secondary structure and the dimerization ability of these mutants are unchanged relative to wild-type, which suggests that the C terminus is the likely site of interaction with the capsid protein.
Choice of autogenous conduit for lower extremity vein graft revisions

Background: Surgical revision to repair stenosis is necessary in about 20% of lower extremity vein grafts (LEVGs). Alternate conduit, especially arm vein, is often necessary to achieve a policy of all-autogenous revisions. Although basilic vein harvest necessitates deep exposure in proximity to major nerves, it typically uses a large vein unaffected by prior intravenous lines and as such appears ideally suited for revisions in which a segmental interposition conduit is needed for revision within the graft or for extension to a more proximal inflow or distal outflow site. In this report, we describe our experience with the use of the basilic vein for LEVG revisions compared with other sources of autogenous conduit. Methods: All patients who underwent LEVG were placed in a duplex scan surveillance program. LEVGs that developed a focal area of increased velocity or uniformly low velocities throughout the graft with appropriate lesions confirmed with angiography were candidates for revision. All patients who underwent graft revision with basilic vein segments from January 1, 1990, to September 1, 2001, were identified, and their courses were reviewed for subsequent adverse events (further revision or occlusion) and complications of harvest. These revisions were compared with revisions in which cephalic and saphenous vein were used. Results: One hundred thirty basilic veins were used to revise 122 LEVGs. The mean follow-up period after revision was 28 ± 27 months. Ninety-three grafts (71%) remained patent with no further revision, and 37 grafts (29%) either needed additional revisions (22 grafts) or were occluded (15 grafts). Only four of these adverse events (11%) were directly attributed to the basilic vein segment. Ten of 43 grafts revised with cephalic vein (23%) were either revised or occluded, of which three were related to the cephalic vein segment (P = not significant, compared with basilic vein). Twenty-four of 81 grafts revised with saphenous vein (30%) were either revised or occluded, of which 11 were attributed to the saphenous vein segment (P < .01, compared with basilic vein). Two patients (1.5%) had complications from basilic vein harvest (one hematoma, one arterial injury). No neurologic injuries resulted from basilic vein harvest. Conclusion: The basilic vein is a reliable and durable conduit when used to segmentally revise LEVGs. Stenoses rarely occur within interposed basilic vein segments, and excellent freedom from subsequent revision or occlusion is possible. We conclude the basilic vein can be safely harvested with minimal complications and is ideally suited for use as a short segment interposition graft for LEVG revision. (J Vasc Surg 2002;36:238-44.)
Can antioxidant vitamins materially reduce oxidative damage in humans

Endogenous oxidative damage to proteins, lipids, and DNA is thought to be an important etiologic factor in aging and the development of chronic diseases such as cancer, atherosclerosis, and cataract formation. The pathology associated with these diseases is likely to occur only after the production of reactive oxygen species has exceeded the body's or cell's capacity to protect itself and effectively repair oxidative damage. Vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene, often referred to as "antioxidant vitamins," have been suggested to limit oxidative damage in humans, thereby lowering the risk of certain chronic diseases. However, epidemiological studies and clinical trials examining the efficacy of antioxidant vitamins, either individually or in combination, to affect disease outcome rarely address possible underlying mechanisms. Thus, in these studies it is often assumed that antioxidant vitamins act by lowering oxidative damage, but evidence in support of this contention is not provided. Therefore, in this review, we examine the scientific evidence that supplementation of humans with vitamin C, vitamin E, or beta-carotene lowers in vivo oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, or DNA based on the measurement of oxidative biomarkers, not disease outcome. With the only exception of supplemental vitamin E, and possibly vitamin C, being able to significantly lower lipid oxidative damage in both smokers and nonsmokers, the current evidence is insufficient to conclude that antioxidant vitamin supplementation materially reduces oxidative damage in humans.
Self-annealing of 4 S strands from replicating simian virus 40 DNA.

Abstract The nascent short strands (4 S) isolated from replicating Simian, virus 40 DNA hybridize specifically with denatured SV40 DNA and self-anneal extensively (70 to 92%) when incubated at 68 °C in 1 m -NaCl. Since complementary genetic sequences are present in the 4 S strands, both growing chains of SV40 DNA appear to be synthesized discontinuously at each replication fork.
Circadian clocks are resounding in peripheral tissues.

Circadian rhythms are prevalent in most organisms. Even the smallest disturbances in the orchestration of circadian gene expression patterns among different tissues can result in functional asynchrony, at the organism level, and may to contribute to a wide range of physiologic disorders. It has been reported that as many as 5%–10% of transcribed genes in peripheral tissues follow a circadian expression pattern. We have conducted a comprehensive study of circadian gene expression on a large dataset representing three different peripheral tissues. The data have been produced in a large-scale microarray experiment covering replicate daily cycles in murine white and brown adipose tissues as well as in liver. We have applied three alternative algorithmic approaches to identify circadian oscillation in time series expression profiles. Analyses of our own data indicate that the expression of at least 7% to 21% of active genes in mouse liver, and in white and brown adipose tissues follow a daily oscillatory pattern. Indeed, analysis of data from other laboratories suggests that the percentage of genes with an oscillatory pattern may approach 50% in the liver. For the rest of the genes, oscillation appears to be obscured by stochastic noise. Our phase classification and computer simulation studies based on multiple datasets indicate no detectable boundary between oscillating and non-oscillating fractions of genes. We conclude that greater attention should be given to the potential influence of circadian mechanisms on any biological pathway related to metabolism and obesity.
INTERLEUKIN-10 (IL-10) PRODUCTION IN MONONUCLEAR CELLS OF NEWBORNS AND ADULTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR SUSCEPTIBILITY TO NECROTIZING ENTEROCOLITIS(NEC). • 1719

Cytokines play a crucial role in the regulation of the mucosal immune response. Several inflammatory mediators, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and platelet activating factor (PAF) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of NEC. IL-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine which downregulates the production of many proinflammatory mediators. In addition, IL-10-deficient “knockout” mice develop an inflammatory enterocolitis, indicating that IL-10 is an important modulator of the intestinal inflammatory immune response. Very little is known about the role of IL-10 in the newborn. Previously, we reported the production of mRNA for IL-10 and IL-10 receptor in intestinal epithelial cells after stimulation with TNF-α and PAF (Lasker, et al, Pediatric Research 37:312,1994). These findings suggest that the intestinal cell plays an active role in local mucosal immunity. In the present study, we investigated IL-10 protein production in newborn and adult blood mononuclear leukocytes in response to various inflammatory mediators.
A CTE matched hard solder passively cooled laser diode package combined with nXLT facet passivation enables high power, high reliability operation

A conductively cooled laser diode package design with hard AuSn solder and CTE matched sub mount is presented. We discuss how this platform eliminates the failure mechanisms associated with indium solder. We present the problem of catastrophic optical mirror damage (COMD) and show that nLight's nXLTTM facet passivation technology effectively eliminates facet defect initiated COMD as a failure mechanism for both single emitter and bar format laser diodes. By combining these technologies we have developed a product that has high reliability at high powers, even at increased operation temperatures. We present early results from on-going accelerated life testing of this configuration that suggests an 808nm, 30% fill factor device will have a MTTF of more than 21khrs at 60W CW, 25°C operating conditions and a MTTF of more than 6.4khrs when operated under hard pulsed (1 second on, 1 second off) conditions.
In situ TEM observations of heavy ion damage in gallium arsenide

Transmission electron microscopy experiments have been performed to investigate the lattice damage created by heavy-ion bombardments in GaAs. These experiments have been performed in situ by using the HVEM - Ion Accelerator Facility at Argonne National Laboratory. The ion bombardments (50 keV Ar/sup +/ and Kr/sup +/) and the microscopy have been carried out at temperatures ranging from 30 to 300/sup 0/K. Ion fluences ranged from 2 x 10/sup 11/ to 5 x 10/sup 13/ ions cm/sup -2/. Direct-impact amorphization is observed to occur in both n-type and semi-insulating GaAs irradiated to low ion doses at 30/sup 0/K and room temperature. The probability of forming a visible defect is higher for low temperature irradiations than for room temperature irradiations. The amorphous zones formed at low temperature are stable to temperatures above 250/sup 0/K. Post-implantation annealing is seen to occur at room temperature for all samples irradiated to low doses until eventually all visible damage disappears. 14 refs., 3 figs., 1 tab.
Interrelationship between Anaerobic Power Output, Anaerobic Capacity and Aerobic Power

Abstract The present experiment examined the interrelationship between performance estimates of anaerobic power-output, anaerobic capacity, and aerobic power (Vo2max)A performance test on the cycle ergometer (24 kpm pedal revolution− for 120s duration) using an all-out effort was used to estimate anaerobic power-output and capacity. Partial correlations between the three estimates, holding body weight statistically constant, were r= -0.57 between Vo2maxmax and anaerobic power-output; r = 0-27 between Vo2maxmax anaerobic capacity, and r =0.42 between anaerobic capacity and anaerobic power-output. The data supports a specificity hypothesis of energy utilization during exercise.
Nafion-H catalysed isomerization of epoxides to aldehydes and ketones

Abstract Nafion-H, a perfluorinated resin sulphonic acid was found to be an efficient and simple catalyst for the isomerization of epoxides to ketones or aldehydes depending on the nature of the substituents on the epoxide carbons. The reaction is very straightforward giving the products in high yield. Isoamylene oxide (5) gave isopropyl methyl ketone (3) and styrene oxide and its derivatives (7a–g) gave phenylacetaldehyde and its derivatives (8a–g).
Assessment of low light tolerance of seashore paspalum and bermudagrass

Low light (LL) stress is a major problem that influences turfgrass quality. Low light tolerance of seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum Swartz) has not been assessed and information is needed to develop management strategies and to maximize turf performance. The objectives of this study were to: (i) evaluate responses of seashore paspalum to reduced light intensity and to identify the most tolerant entries; (ii) compare low light responses between paspalum and hybrid bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.× C. transvaalensis Burtt Davy) cultivars. Eight entries of seashore paspalum and two hybrid bermudagrass cultivars were evaluated under full sunlight control (FL), and constant 70% and 90% LL provided by shade shelters in the field from August to October in 2001 and July to September in 2002 at Griffin, GA. Significant differences in turf quality, color, density, canopy photosynthetic rate (Pn), canopy chlorophyll index (Chl), canopy spectral reflectance, and leaf dry weight were observed in paspalum entries and hybrid bermudagrass cultivars under 70 and 90% LL treatments. Among all grasses, turf quality declined 9 (the best) to 22% (the worst) under 70% LL and 13 to 28% under 90% LL, respectively, compared with the control with FL. Canopy photosynthetic rate was reduced 10 to 43% under 70% LL and 27 to 67% under 90% LL; and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) decreased 14 to 31% and 20 to 45% for 70% LL and 90% LL treatments, respectively. Most paspalum entries exhibited better low light tolerance than hybrid bermudagrasses under 70 and 90% LL, and 'Sea Isle 1' paspalum ranked as the most tolerant cultivar under both LL conditions. The ranking for the most low light tolerant entries under two LL conditions were: 'Sea Isle 1' paspalum (best) > Cloister paspalum = 'Sea Isle 2000' paspalum > Temple 1 paspalum = 'Salam' paspalum > Q 36313 paspalum = 561-79 paspalum = Hybrid 5 paspalum > 'TifSport' bermudagrass = 'TifEagle' bermudagrass (worst). Large variations observed among paspalum entries and bermudagrass cultivars in response to LL conditions could potentially be used for enhancing management practices.
Debit or credit

Abstract Empirical consumer payment price sensitivity has implications for theory, optimal regulation of payment card networks, and business strategy. A critical margin is the price of a credit card charge. A revolver who did not pay her most recent balance in full pays interest; other credit card users do not. I find that revolvers are substantially less likely to incur credit card charges and substantially more likely to use a debit card, conditional on several proxies for transaction demand and tastes. Debit use also increases with credit limit constraints and decreases with credit card possession. Additional results suggest that debit is becoming a stronger substitute for credit over time.
IS THERE A SEASON FOR HOMICIDE

A “thermic law” postulating a relationship between violent crime and hot weather or southern climates is one of the oldest propositions in criminology. On the question of homicide and seasonality, modern research produces contradictory findings—some studies support a seasonal pattern of homicide but others reject such a pattern. A review of studies on the seasonality of homicide and an analysis of Uniform Crime Reports data and data on homicide in Baltimore from 1974 to 1984 are undertaken in order to resolve the issue. The contradictory results are not explained by differences in definitions nor by differences in data or methodology; nor are they explained on the bases of regional differences or an urban bias present in most studies. The nature of the question asked, however, is critical to the results obtained. The conclusion reached is that there is no season to homicide. The months of December, July, and August are significantly more likely to be among the months in which homicide is high for any given year, but the number of homicides during those months may not be significantly higher than in other months.
Link your company's hedging to raising your stock price

Abstract All companies hedge currency, interest rate, or commodity price exposure, using natural or contractual hedges. But traditional defensive hedging is restrictive and yet, greater flexibility appears to bring problems of control. Ashok Rao and John Edmunds solve this dilemma in a simple model which can be run on Microsoft Excel software. The model monitors a company's hedging on a daily basis, to measure how much each hedge is contributing to shareholder value, and to assess how much the set of hedges that are in place add to shareholder value. Various extensions of the model are possible.
Actively paranoid patients with schizophrenia over attribute anger to neutral faces

Previous investigations of the influence of paranoia on facial affect recognition in schizophrenia have been inconclusive as some studies demonstrate better performance for paranoid relative to non-paranoid patients and others show that paranoid patients display greater impairments. These studies have been limited by small sample sizes and inconsistencies in the criteria used to define groups. Here, we utilized an established emotion recognition task and a large sample to examine differential performance in emotion recognition ability between patients who were actively paranoid (AP) and those who were not actively paranoid (NAP). Accuracy and error patterns on the Penn Emotion Recognition test (ER40) were examined in 132 patients (64 NAP and 68 AP). Groups were defined based on the presence of paranoid ideation at the time of testing rather than diagnostic subtype. AP and NAP patients did not differ in overall task accuracy; however, an emotion by group interaction indicated that AP patients were significantly worse than NAP patients at correctly labeling neutral faces. A comparison of error patterns on neutral stimuli revealed that the groups differed only in misattributions of anger expressions, with AP patients being significantly more likely to misidentify a neutral expression as angry. The present findings suggest that paranoia is associated with a tendency to over attribute threat to ambiguous stimuli and also lend support to emerging hypotheses of amygdala hyperactivation as a potential neural mechanism for paranoid ideation.
Utilization of Pore-Size Distributions to Predict Performance of Biporous Wick Evaporators

Sintered copper porous media has found many uses in the electronics cooling industry as it effectively transfers energy while maintaining low heater side temperatures. Evaporator wicks of this type transfer heat through sensible and latent heat as the liquid evaporates. A biporous wick is particularly effective for this application as there are two distinct size distributions of pores; small pores to provide ample capillary pressure in order to drive flow through the wick and large pores to provide high permeability for escaping vapor. The modeling proposed in this work was inspired by the work by Kovalev (1987), which used a pore size distribution in order to determine the most probably pore size at a given position. The model distinguishes phases by choosing a “cutoff” pore size, above which all pores were assumed to be filled with vapor and below which filled with liquid. For a given thickness and thermophysical properties of the liquid, this 1-D model predicts a temperature difference across the wick for a given input heat flux. The modeling proposed in this work was compared to experimental data collected on biporous evaporators at UCLA for validation. It is hoped that this modeling is the starting point for more extensive modeling and optimization of biporous evaporators for phase change heat transfer devices.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
A degrees-of-freedom approximation for a t-statistic with heterogeneous variance

Summary. Ordinary least squares is a commonly used method for obtaining parameter estimates for a linear model. When the variance is heterogeneous, the ordinary least squares estimate is unbiased, but the ordinary least squares variance estimate may be biased. Various jackknife estimators of variance have been shown to be consistent for the asymptotic variance of the ordinary least squares estimator of the parameters. In small samples, simulations have shown that the coverage probabilities of confidence intervals using the jackknife variance estimators are often low. We propose a finite sample degrees-of-freedom approximation to use with the t-distribution, which, in simulations, appears to raise the coverage probabilities closer to the nominal level. We also discuss an ‘estimated generalized least squares estimator’, in which we model and estimate the variance, and use the estimated variance in a weighted regression. Even when the variance is modelled correctly, the coverage can be low in small samples, and, in terms of the coverage probability, one appears better off using ordinary least squares with a robust variance and our degrees-of-freedom approximation. An example with real data is given to demonstrate how potentially misleading conclusions may arise when the degrees-of-freedom approximation is not used.
Generation of Micrometer-Sized Patterns for Microanalytical Applications Using a Laser Direct-Write Method and Microcontact Printing

This paper describes a procedure that allows the rapid generation of elastomeric masters for microcontact printing (μCP) and for a new variant of this technique: controlled sagging microcontact printing (CSμCP). Using a low-power laser (10 mW) operating at 532 nm, the desired pattern is ablated in a thin poly(methyl methacrylate) film doped with a dye (rhodamine B base). Subsequent pattern transfer into poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) produces an elastomeric stamp for either μCP or CSμCP. Printing on the surface of gold gives patterns (wires or trenches) with feature sizes as small as 5 μm (μCP) and trenches (but not wires) as smalll as 1 μm (CSμCP). The ability of this technique to generate functional systems was demonstrated with an array of gold minielectrodes printed on a silicon wafer and an array of chemical microreactors molded in PDMS. The performance of the electrode array was characterized using cyclic voltammetry with Ru(III)(NH3)6Cl3, as the substrate. Microreactors were used as vessels to grow...
Differentiation of hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatic metastasis from cysts and hemangiomas with calculated T2 relaxation times and the T1/T2 relaxation times ratio.

PURPOSE To determine the diagnostic capability of the T1 and T2 relaxation times and the T1/T2 relaxation times ratio generated with the mixed turbo spin echo (mixed-TSE) pulse sequence, in order to discriminate between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)/metastases and hemangiomas/cysts. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective review of 36 MR examinations implementing the mixed-TSE pulse sequence demonstrated 70 focal hepatic lesions. Quantitative MR algorithms were used to generate T1 and T2 relaxation times, and the T1/T2 relaxation times ratio for each lesion. A two-sample t-test compared mean T1 and T2 relaxation times, and the T1/T2 relaxation times ratio, by lesion type: carcinoma/metastases and hemangiomas/cysts. Sensitivity and specificity for discriminating carcinoma/metastases from hemangiomas/cysts with T2 relaxation time thresholds of 112 and 125 msec, as well as a ratio of T1/T2 relaxation times of 5.8, were calculated. RESULTS Using a T2 relaxation time threshold of 112 msec, 92% sensitivity and 100% specificity discriminating cysts/hemangiomas from HCC/liver metastasis was demonstrated. With a threshold of 125 msec, 96% sensitivity and 98% specificity was demonstrated. There was no correlation between calculated T1 relaxation times and type of lesion. Using a T1/T2 relaxation times ratio of 5.8, 100% sensitivity and specificity were demonstrated. CONCLUSION Although there is high sensitivity and specificity associated with the use of T2 relaxation times alone to discriminate carcinoma/metastases from hemangiomas/cysts, using the T1/T2 relaxation times ratio threshold of 5.8 allowed proper classification of all lesions.
Dual defensin strategy for targeting Enterococcus faecalis

A leading cause of antibiotic-resistant hospital infection (1), Enterococcus faecalis, decorates its surface with proteins that contribute to its ability to colonize and survive. Several proteins, including Esp (2), aggregation substance (3), a collagen adhesin (4), and a pilin (5), correlate with a particular disease or exacerbate the course of infection in a model system. In PNAS, Kandaswamy et al. (6) describe the targeting by human β-defensin 2 (hBD2) and resulting disorganization of the cellular machinery used by E. faecalis to secrete and anchor these proteins to the cell surface.
Microwave spectrum, structural parameters, and quadrupole coupling for 1,2-dihydro-1,2-azaborine.

The first microwave spectrum for 1,2-dihydro-1,2-azaborine has been measured in the frequency range 7−18 GHz, providing accurate rotational constants and nitrogen and boron quadrupole coupling strengths for three isotopomers, H6C411B14N, H6C410B14N, and H5DC411B14N. The measured rotational constants were used to accurately determine coordinates for the substituted atoms and provide sufficient data to determine most of the important structural parameters for this molecule. The spectra were obtained using a pulsed beam Fourier transform microwave spectrometer, with sufficient resolution to allow accurate measurements of 14N, 11B, and 10B nuclear quadrupole hyperfine interactions. High-level ab initio calculations provided structural parameters and quadrupole coupling strengths that are in very good agreement with measured values. The rotational constants for the parent compound are A = 5657.335(1), B = 5349.2807(5), and C = 2749.1281(4) MHz, yielding the inertial defect Δ0 = 0.02 amu·A2 for the ground-state...
Filopodia, spines, and the generation of synaptic diversity.

The above studies appear to be generally consistent with the idea that dendrite dynamics and, consequently, patterns of neural connectivity are modulated by electrical activity. Given these facts, it still remains to be determined what this dynamism means to the organism. How large of a role do filopodia play in synaptogenesis in the developing brain? Is the refinement of topographic maps dependent on active dendritic filopodia? How are synapses stabilized? What are the interactions between axonal and dendritic arbors? What are the cellular and molecular differences responsible for generating a spine versus a filopodium? What are the specific functional and behavioral consequences of these cellular and molecular differences? The fundamental issue here, as elsewhere, is: What goes on in an organism when nobody is watching? Which small scale processes are important for a given large scale process and which are merely happening at the same time in a causally unrelated way? As is beginning to occur (11xJontes, J.D, Buchanan, J, and Smith, S.J. Nat. Neurosci. 2000; 3: 231–237Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (143)See all References, 13xLendvai, B, Stern, E.A, Chen, B, and Svoboda, K. Nature. 2000; 404: 876–881Crossref | PubMed | Scopus (491)See all References), such issues can be addressed by using minimally invasive techniques to watch cellular and molecular dynamics during the normal development and functioning of intact organisms.*To whom correspondence should be addressed (e-mail: sjsmith@leland.stanford.edu).
A Phase 2 study of combination therapy with arsenic trioxide and gemtuzumab ozogamicin in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes or secondary acute myeloid leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are similar pathobiologically to acute myeloid leukemia (AML), particularly in older adults. AML therapies thus may have activity in MDS. In the current study, phase 2 study data of arsenic trioxide (ATO) and gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) in CD33-positive patients with MDS and secondary AML (sAML) were presented. METHODS: Between June 2004 and February 2006, 30 patients with higher-risk MDS or sAML received ATO (at a dose of 0.25 mg/kg intravenously for 5 days during Week 1, then twice weekly during Weeks 2-12) and GO (at a dose of 3 mg/m2 on Day 8) for 1 or 2 cycles of 12 weeks each. The primary endpoint was response as per MDS or AML International Working Group (IWG) criteria. Adverse events were collected throughout treatment. Patients were followed for a minimum of 3 years for survival. RESULTS: The median patient age was 69 years. A total of 18 patients had MDS, 12 had sAML, and 19 had been previously treated. Seventeen patients (57%) completed ≥1 cycle, and 7 patients (23%) completed 2 cycles. IWG responses occurred in 9 patients (30%) according to IWG MDS criteria (including 2 of 7 patients who failed hypomethylating agents) and 3 of 12 AML patients (25%) according to IWG AML criteria. Grade 3/4 (according to National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria [version 3.0]) thrombocytopenia occurred in 47% of patients, neutropenia in 63%, and anemia in 37% of patients. The median overall survival was 9.7 months (28.6 months in responders and 7.6 months in nonresponders; P <.001). Patients who completed 2 cycles of therapy spent a median of 13 days in the hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Combination therapy with ATO and GO was found to have acceptable response rates and toxicity, and may be a viable treatment option to standard induction therapy, particularly for patients who fail therapy with hypomethylating agents. Cancer 2011. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Immunohistochemical Staining for Claudin-1 Can Help Distinguish Meningiomas From Histologic Mimics

The histologic distinction between meningiomas and other tumors of the central nervous system occasionally can be difficult. Claudin-1 is a tight junction-associated protein recently shown to be expressed in anaplastic meningiomas. The purpose of this study was to determine whether immunohistochemical staining for claudin-1 could help distinguish meningiomas from histologic mimics, compared with commonly used markers. Tissue sections from 10 meningothelial meningiomas, 20 fibrous meningiomas, 10 atypical meningiomas, 7 solitary fibrous tumors of the meninges, 5 meningeal hemangiopericytomas, and 7 vestibular schwannomas were stained immunohistochemically for claudin-1, epithelial membrane antigen, S-100 protein, CD34, and glial fibrillary acidic protein. In total, 21 (53%) of 40 meningiomas were immunoreactive for claudin-1, whereas none of the other tumors were positive. In contrast, there was considerable overlap in the distribution of the other antibodies evaluated. Claudin-1 seems to be a specific marker for meningiomas in this context. Although its sensitivity is relatively low, claudin-1 may be helpful in a panel of immunostains to distinguish meningiomas from histologic mimics.
Values and objects in programming languages

Abstract : The terms value-oriented and object-oriented are used to describe both programming languages and programming styles. This paper will describe the differences between values and objects and to show that their proper discrimination can be a valuable aid to conquering program complexity. The first section will show that values amount to timeless abstractions for which the concepts of updating, sharing and instantiation have no meaning. The second section will show that objects exist in time and, hence, can be created, destroyed, copied, shared and updated. The third section shows that proper discrimination of these concepts in programming languages will clarify problems such as the role of state in functional programming. The paper concludes by demonstrating the use of the value/object distinction as a tool for program organization. (Author)
Treatment of Ostrinia nubilalis larvae with Fumidil B to control infections caused by Perezia pyraustae

Abstract Fumidil B has the potential of substantially reducing the level of Perezia pyraustae infection in laboratory colonies of the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis. Drug levels of 200 to 12,000 ppm of prepared diet significantly reduced the level of P. pyraustae infection. Higher levels (e.g., 12,000 ppm) tend to increase the time to pupation and reduce the pupal weights, whereas levels up to 1500 ppm do not severely affect time to pupation, pupal weights, percentage survival, or egg production. Levels up to 12,000 ppm improved all aspects of adult fecundity. Fumidil B can be added to the diet at a diet temperature of 71°C (160°F) at levels as low as 200 ppm and still significantly reduce the level of P. pyraustae infection.
Reaction of Collagen-cross-linking Aldehydes with Phenylenediamines

REACTIONS of aliphatic aldehydes with amino compounds have been known for a long time1 and provide a basis not only for the manufacture of a number of commercially important materials2,3, but also for the conduct of certain biochemical and histochemical procedures4–9. Recently, it has also been shown that specific linear aliphatic aldehydes (which exist in solution as the corresponding gem-dihydroxy or aldol hydrates10) can cross-link collagen or gelatine polypeptide chains both in vitro and in vivo and thereby reproduce many of the chemical, physical and morphological features of normally ageing connective tissues11,12.
Photoresponsive Azobenzene Liquid Crystal Polymer Networks: In Situ Photogenerated Stress Measurement

Azobenzene liquid crystal polymers and polymer networks are adaptive materials capable of converting light into mechanical work. Often, the photomechanical output of the azobenzene liquid crystal network (azo-LCN) is observed as a bending cantilever. The response of these materials can be either static (e.g. a simple bending cantilever) or dynamic (e.g. oscillating cantilever of 20–270 Hz). The resulting photomechanical output is dependent upon the domain orientation of the polymer network and the wavelength and polarization of the actinic light. Polydomain azobenzene liquid crystal polymer networks, which have the capability of bending both backwards and forwards with the change of polarization angle, are of particular interest. In the current study, three azo-LCNs are compared — two of them are equivalent in all respects except for one contains pendant azobenzene mesogens (1azo, azo-monoacrylate) and the other contains crosslinked azobenzene mesogens (2azo, azo-diacrylate). The third specimen has a combination of both mesogens. The mechanical behavior at different temperatures and examination of structure-property relationships in the polymerization process, including curing temperatures and liquid crystal cell alignment rubbing methods, were explored. Using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) the mechanical properties and the photogenerated stress and strain in the polymer are examined. It is found the differences in chemistry do correlate to small variation in the speed of photodirected bending, elastic modulus, and glass transition temperature. Despite these differences, all three azo-LCNs display nearly equivalent photogenerated stresses.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
The Importance of Adaptability for the 21st Century

Aworrisome question that affects all Americans is whether we are educating a productive labor force today that will be able to compete effectively in the world economy of tomorrow. The poignancy of this question is sharpened by the grim reports that are issued in international surveys of skills. Such surveys show that both U.S. schoolchildren and adults have fallen behind many other industrialized nations, and there appears to be little progress over the last two decades. What are some of the facts?
Vorticity and velocity alignment in compressible flows: An experimental study of helicity density in turbulence and vortices

A nearly homogeneous and isotropic decaying compressible turbulence and a vortex flow have been investigated experimentally in a large-scale shock tube facility. Rectangular grids of various mesh sizes were used to generate turbulence with Reynolds numbers based on Taylor’s microscale ranging from 260 to 1300. Measurements of the three-dimensional velocity and vorticity vectors, the full velocity gradient and rate-of-strain tensors with instrumentation of high temporal and spatial resolution have been carried out. This allowed estimates of dilatation, compressible dissipation and dilatational stretching to be obtained. The time-dependent signals of enstrophy, vortex stretching/tilting vector and helicity were found to exhibit a rather strong intermittent behavior which is characterized by high amplitude bursts with values up to 8 times their r.m.s. within periods of less violent and longer lived events. Several of these bursts are evident in all the signals suggesting the existence of a dynamical flow phenomenon as a common cause. Further interpretation of the results was obtained by considering the decomposition of the velocity field into a solenoidal contribution and a potential part. The effect of the Mach number is to increase the influence of the solenoidal part of the contribution and therefore make the flow more “vortex-dominated”.
Antisense Proline-Arginine RAN Dipeptides Linked to C9ORF72-ALS/FTD Form Toxic Nuclear Aggregates that Initiate In Vitro and In Vivo Neuronal Death

Expanded GGGGCC (G4C2) nucleotide repeats within the C9ORF72 gene are the most common genetic mutation associated with both amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Sense and antisense transcripts of these expansions are translated to form five dipeptide repeat proteins (DRPs). We employed primary cortical and motor neuron cultures, live-cell imaging, and transgenic fly models and found that the arginine-rich dipeptides, in particular Proline-Arginine (PR), are potently neurotoxic. Factors that anticipated their neurotoxicity included aggregation in nucleoli, decreased number of processing bodies, and stress granule formation, implying global translational dysregulation as path accountable for toxicity. Nuclear PR aggregates were also found in human induced motor neurons and postmortem spinal cord tissues from C9ORF72 ALS and ALS/FTD patients. Intronic G4C2 transcripts, but not loss of C9ORF72 protein, are also toxic to motor and cortical neurons. Interestingly, G4C2 transcript-mediated neurotoxicity synergizes with that of PR aggregates, suggesting convergence of mechanisms.