cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Survival and Cancer in Laboratory Mammals Exposed to Radiofrequency Energy

This article is a review of the effects of radiofrequency (RF) energy on (1) survival and (2) cancer in the same animal populations having survival data. The literature consisted of 18 studies with survival data, and 16 of these have information on cancer. In one study, a significant decrease in lifespan was observed at 6.8 W/kg but not at 2 W/kg. Thermal stress appears to be the causal factor for the effect on lifespan because the higher dose rate, unlike the lower dose rate, was estimated to increase body temperature significantly. The finding that the lower level was without effect is consistent with the results of a number of recent studies showing that long term, low level exposure to RF energy did not affect survival adversely. Many of these recent studies addressed the cancer issue by histopathological analysis of many organs and tissues following exposure up to 2 years, the average lifetime of rats and mice. Some investigations examined the effect of RF fields from mobile phones on brain cancer, including the progression of chemically induced brain cancer. The results demonstrate that RF exposure did not adversely affect cancer incidence at whole body specific absorption rates (SARs) ≤4 W/kg and brain SARs ≤2.3 W/kg. The weight-of-evidence of these 18 studies shows that long term, low level exposure to RF energy does not adversely affect survival and cancer in laboratory mammals. Bioelectromagnetics Supplement 6:S101–S106, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Secure password-based authenticated key exchange for web services

This paper discusses an implementation of an authenticated key-exchange method rendered on message primitives defined in the WS-Trust and WS-SecureConversation specifications. This IEEE-specified cryptographic method (AuthA) is proven-secure for password-based authentication and key exchange, while the WS-Trust and WS-SecureConversation are emerging Web Services Security specifications that extend the WS-Security specification. A prototype of the presented protocol is integrated in the WS-ResourceFramework-compliant Globus Toolkit V4. Further hardening of the implementation is expected to result in a version that will be shipped with future Globus Toolkit releases. This could help address the current unavailability of decent shared-secret-based authentication options in the Web Services and Grid world. Future work will be to integrate One-Time-Password (OTP) features in the authentication protocol.
Subpopulation of Store-operated Ca2+ Channels Regulate Ca2+-induced Ca2+ Release in Non-excitable Cells

Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release (CICR) is a well characterized activity in skeletal and cardiac muscles mediated by the ryanodine receptors. The present study demonstrates CICR in the non-excitable parotid acinar cells, which resembles the mechanism described in cardiac myocytes. Partial depletion of internal Ca2+ stores leads to a minimal activation of Ca2+ influx. Ca2+ influx through this pathway results in an explosive mobilization of Ca2+ from the majority of the stores by CICR. Thus, stimulation of parotid acinar cells in Ca2+ -free medium with 0.5 microm carbachol releases approximately 5% of the Ca2+ mobilizable by 1 mm carbachol. Addition of external Ca2+ induced the same Ca2+ release observed in maximally stimulated cells. Similar results were obtained by a short treatment with 2.5-10 microm cyclopiazonic acid, an inhibitor of the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase pump. The Ca2+ release induced by the addition of external Ca2+ was largely independent of IP(3)Rs because it was reduced by only approximately 30% by the inhibition of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors with caffeine or heparin. Measurements of Ca2+ -activated outward current and [Ca2+](i) suggested that most CICR triggered by Ca2+ influx occurred away from the plasma membrane. Measurement of the response to several concentrations of cyclopiazonic acid revealed that Ca2+ influx that regulates CICR is associated with a selective portion of the internal Ca2+ pool. The minimal activation of Ca2+ influx by partial store depletion was confirmed by the measurement of Mn2+ influx. Inhibition of Ca2+ influx with SKF96365 or 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate prevented activation of CICR observed on addition of external Ca2+. These findings provide evidence for activation of CICR by Ca2+ influx in non-excitable cells, demonstrate a previously unrecognized role for Ca2+ influx in triggering CICR, and indicate that CICR in non-excitable cells resembles CICR in cardiac myocytes with the exception that in cardiac cells Ca2+ influx is mediated by voltage-regulated Ca2+ channels whereas in non-excitable cells Ca2+ influx is mediated by store-operated channels.
Serum HSP70: a novel biomarker for early detection of pancreatic cancer.

ObjectivesHeat shock protein 70 (HSP70) is overexpressed in human pancreatic cancer cell lines. To determine if serum HSP70 levels are elevated in patients with pancreatic cancer and can function as a biomarker for early detection of pancreatic cancer.MethodsStudy subjects were divided into 3 groups
Onset of convection near a suddenly heated horizontal wire

THE note deals with the early transient processes which occur in a fluid surrounding a thin horizontal wire which is suddenly heated by passing an electrical current through it. Observation of the resulting temperature field with a Mach-Zehnder interferometer shows that the isotherms in a plane normal to the wire are initially concentric circles. This indicates that heat transfer is by conduction only. After a period of time the isotherms become asymmetrical as those above the wire are convected upward while those below the wire remain nearly stationary. The upward transport accelerates until finally a heated “cap” breaks away and rises to form the familiar mushroom-shaped steady state plume. in this study attention is focused on the “delay time”, t*. between the application of current to the wire and the beginning of observable convection. It is hypothesized that the onset of convection is a manifestation of instability. at least in the senSe that it occurs at a specific critical value of an appropriately defined Rayleigh number. A simple quasisteady analysis predicts the delay time as a function of the rate of energy dissipation in the wire and the transport properties of the fluid. The delay time was also determined experimentally for a wide range of heat transfer rates. The experimental data is in substantial agreement with the theoretical prediction.
Copper bioavailability and toxicity to Mytilus galloprovincialis in Shelter Island Yacht Basin, San Diego, CA

The bioavailability and toxicity of copper (Cu) in Shelter Island Yacht Basin (SIYB), San Diego, CA, USA, was assessed with simultaneous toxicological, chemical, and modeling approaches. Toxicological measurements included laboratory toxicity testing with Mytilus galloprovincialis (Mediterranean mussel) embryos added to both site water (ambient) and site water spiked with multiple Cu concentrations. Chemical assessment of ambient samples included total and dissolved Cu concentrations, and Cu complexation capacity measurements. Modeling was based on chemical speciation and predictions of bioavailability and toxicity using a marine Biotic Ligand Model (BLM). Cumulatively, these methods assessed the natural buffering capacity of Cu in SIYB during singular wet and dry season sampling events. Overall, the three approaches suggested negligible bioavailability, and isolated observed or predicted toxicity, despite an observed gradient of increasing Cu concentration, both horizontally and vertically within the water body, exceeding current water quality criteria for saltwater.
Gene-Environment Interactions and the Affected-Sib-Pair Designs

In genetic mapping of complex traits, the affected-sib-pair method (ASP) and the transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) are two methods of choice. The major appeal of both ASP and TDT is that they do not require the knowledge of mode of inheritance underlying the trait in question. The relative ease and economy for data collection also is the reason for their popularity. The basic idea of the ASP is to identify genes or chromosomal regions through identifying genetic similarity based on phenotypical similarity. TDT, on the other hand, detects susceptibility genes through detecting unusual transmission patterns in families. Since phenotypic similarity can also be caused by environmental similarity, we investigate how the presence of gene-environment interaction (GEI) affects the power of both methods. For a simple one-locus-one-risk-factor model, our results indicate that, in the presence of GEI, methods developed based on marginal penetrance functions (i.e. ignoring the risk factor) can give spurious results. The triangular restriction on allele-sharing probability may no longer be valid. If the environment effect is strong, using exposure-discordant affected sib pairs may have advantage over other designs. Above all, a genetic model involving both genetic and environmental factors behaves differently from a single-locus genetic model.
Effects of land use on bird populations and pest control services on coffee farms

Global increases in both agriculture and biodiversity awareness raise a key question: Should cropland and biodiversity habitat be separated, or integrated in mixed land uses? Ecosystem services by wildlife make this question more complex. For example, birds benefit agriculture by preying on pest insects, but other habitat is needed to maintain the birds. Resulting land use questions include what areas and arrangements of habitat support sufficient birds to control pests, whether this pest control offsets the reduced cropland, and the comparative benefits of “land sharing” (i.e., mixed cropland and habitat) vs. “land sparing” (i.e., separate areas of intensive agriculture and habitat). Such questions are difficult to answer using field studies alone, so we use a simulation model of Jamaican coffee farms, where songbirds suppress the coffee berry borer (CBB). Simulated birds select habitat and prey in five habitat types: intact forest, trees (including forest fragments), shade coffee, sun coffee, and unsuitable habitat. The trees habitat type appears to be especially important, providing efficient foraging and roosting sites near coffee plots. Small areas of trees (but not forest alone) could support a sufficient number of birds to suppress CBB in sun coffee; the degree to which trees are dispersed within coffee had little effect. In simulations without trees, shade coffee supported sufficient birds to offset its lower yield. High areas of both trees and shade coffee reduced pest control because CBB was less often profitable prey. Because of the pest control service provided by birds, land sharing was predicted to be more beneficial than land sparing in this system.
Models of horizontal electric cables and cable trays exposed to a fire plume

Abstract Models are developed to describe horizontal insulated cables and cable trays exposed to a fire plume. The models also apply to cables protected by fire-retardant coatings. A cable or coated cable can ignite when its surface is hot enough to generate flammable gas, unless the level of O 2 available is insufficient for ignition. Then the gas can often accumulate elsewhere and burn later. A first set of models predicts the delay time to the onset of gasification. Other models estimate the attainable mass flux of flammable gas generated by a tray of cables when the cables do not ignite directly. Longitudinal heat flow is identified as a factor tending to prevent direct ignition of single-conductor cables in the cool plumes encountered over cable-tray fires.
Properties and distribution of a cyclic AMP-binding protein

Abstract 1. 1. A cyclic AMP-binding protein has been detected from the binding protein from all bovine tissues examined. 2. 2. The binding protein from bovine kidney has been partially purified and characterized. 3. 3. The chromatographic behavior of the nucleotide riboside from the binding protein was similar to that of an authentic sample of cyclic AMP. Bound cyclic AMP was not accessible to cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase. 4. 4. The binding protein, easily prepared from the bovine kidney in bulk quantities, was used successfully to assay cyclic AMP by the isotopic dilution method.
Petrography and geochemistry of the San Miguel lignite, Jackson Group (Eocene) south Texas

The San Miguel lignite deposit (late Eocene, lower Jackson Group) of south Texas consists of four or more thin (generally < 1 m thick) lignite benches that are separated by claystone and mudstone partings. The partings are composed of altered volcanic air-fall ash that has been reworked by tidal or channel processes associated with a back-barrier depositional environment. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between the ash yield and the petrographic and geochemical characteristics of the San Miguel lignite as mined. Particular attention is given to 12 of the environmentally sensitive trace elements (As, Be, Cd, Cr, Co, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, and U) that have been identified as possible hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) by the United States Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. A total of 29 rock and lignite samples were collected and characterized by geochemical and petrographic methods. The major conclusions of the study are as follows: (1) The distribution of Mn is inversely related to the ash yield of the lignite samples. This indicates an organic affinity, or an association with finely disseminated minerals in the lignite that contain this element. (2) On a whole-coal basis, the concentration of the HAPs' element Pb is positively related to ash yield in lignite samples. This indicates an inorganic affinity for Pb. (3) Average whole-coal concentrations of As, Be, Sb, and U in the San Miguel samples are greater than published averages for these elements in other U.S. lignites. (4) The upper and lower lignite benches of the San Miguel deposit are both ash- and algal-rich, indicating that these intervals were probably deposited in wetter conditions than those in which the middle intervals formed. (5) The dominance of the eugelinite maceral subgroup over the huminite subgroup indicates that the San Miguel lignites were subjected to peat-forming conditions (either biogenic or chemical) that enabled degradation of wood cellular material into matrix gels, or that the plants that formed these lignite benches were less woody and more prone to formation of matrix gels. (6) An inertinite-rich layer (top of the B bed) might have formed from widespread oxidation of the San Miguel peat as a result of a volcanic ash fall which was subsequently reworked.
A summary of experimental research on propulsive-lift concepts in the Langley 16-foot transonic tunnel

A summary of research on both conceptual and practical configurations in which the aircraft's powerplant is integrated to take advantage of propulsion-induced aerodynamics conducted in the Langley 16-foot transonic tunnel has been made. These investigations included: (1) vectoring a partial-span jet exhaust at a wing trailing edge; (2) thrust vectoring characteristics of a twin, two-dimensional variable-geometry wedge nozzle; (3) a jet exhaust/upper surface blowing concept for fighter aircraft; and (4) jets blowing over the wing. These studies indicate a potential for increasing maneuverability of fighter aircraft at high lift coefficients. With proper integration of the powerplant and the airframe, significant improvements in cruise performance of both fighter and transport aircraft are possible.
A Refined Model for the Solution Structure of Oxidized Putidaredoxin

A refined model for the solution structure of oxidized putidaredoxin (Pdxo), a Cys4Fe2S2 ferredoxin, has been determined. A previous structure (Pochapsky et al. (1994) Biochemistry 33, 6424-6432; PDB entry ) was calculated using the results of homonuclear two-dimensional NMR experiments. New data has made it possible to calculate a refinement of the original Pdxo solution structure. First, essentially complete assignments for diamagnetic 15N and 13C resonances of Pdxo have been made using multidimensional NMR methods, and 15N- and 13C-resolved NOESY experiments have permitted the identification of many new NOE restraints for structural calculations. Stereospecific assignments for leucine and valine CH3 resonances were made using biosynthetically directed fractional 13C labeling, improving the precision of NOE restraints involving these residues. Backbone dihedral angle restraints have been obtained using a combination of two-dimensional J-modulated 15N,1H HSQC and 3D (HN)CO(CO)NH experiments. Second, the solution structure of a diamagnetic form of Pdx, that of the C85S variant of gallium putidaredoxin, in which a nonligand Cys is replaced by Ser, has been determined (Pochapsky et al. (1998) J. Biomol. NMR 12, 407-415), providing information concerning structural features not observable in the native ferredoxin due to paramagnetism. Third, a crystal structure of a closely related ferredoxin, bovine adrenodoxin, has been published (Muller et al. (1998) Structure 6, 269-280). This structure has been used to model the metal binding site structure in Pdx. A family of fourteen structures is presented that exhibits an rmsd of 0.51 A for backbone heavy atoms and 0.83 A for all heavy atoms. Exclusion of the modeled metal binding loop region reduces overall the rmsd to 0.30 A for backbone atoms and 0.71 A for all heavy atoms.
A conceptual framework for emergency care planning.

The experience of functional program planning, in addition to facilitating the planning process for a new emergency unit, has had additional benefits. It has given the staff a common conceptual framework for analyzing patient care as provided and for identifying areas where improvements can be made. Also, a new approach has been developed for communicating with other departments and with hospital administration about day-to-day operating problems which may be useful for addressing other resource allocation and operating room time schedules. By developing a planning framework, it is possible to integrate the expertise of various services, while retaining an integrated overall orientation within which the efficacy of different proposals can be judged. This approach is critically important in helping to avoid the adverse effects of fragmented planning.
Elastic Properties of Dense Organosilicate Glasses Dependent on the C/Si Ratio

Organosilicate glasses (OSG) are of great technological interest as low-k dielectrics. We use ab initio simulations to analyze the influence of the C/Si ratio in OSG on the density and elastic properties of pore-free material to gain a detailed understanding of the origins of these properties in this class of materials. We find that the addition of carbon to amorphous silica leads to a stiffening of the material by removing the bending degrees of freedom of Si-O-Si bonds. This transition in mechanisms of stiffness, leads to a distinctly nonlinear behavior of the bulk and elastic modulus over the C/Si ratio. Experimental results do not contradict our findings, however dominant pore effects impede conclusive comparison.
Flame Propagation in a One-Dimensional Liquid Fuel Spray

Abstract The conditions for upstream flame propagation from a plane heat source were used for the calculation of the laminar burning velocity in a one-dimensional liquid fuel spray. Calculations were carried out for sprays where the burning was heterogeneously controlled through the transition to premixed gas behavior. The effect of fuel concentration, droplet size, and upstream temperature on the burning velocity were examined. Agreement was satisfactory between calculated results and existing experimental and theoretical data using tetralin sprays.
Influence of secobarbital and chlorpromazine on precentral neuron activity during attentive behavior in monkeys.

Precentral motor cortex neurons were studied under non-drug and drug conditions in three trained monkeys during the performance of a go-no go visual “attention” task. The two drugs studied, secobarbital and chlorpromazine, produced differing patterns of effect on components of the motor sequence involved in reaction time. The following components were considered: The SF interval or the period from stimulus onset to change in neuronal firing; the FR interval, which is the period from change in firing to the beginning of the task response; and MT or movement time, which is the time necessary to complete the response. Secobarbital produced an increase of 80% in SF and a relatively small average change in FR although there was considerable variability in the latter. MT was decreased in most secobarbital experiments. Anatomical factors relating to the FR variability were considered, and the MT decrease was discussed in terms of possible excitatory effects of the drug.
Sustainable soil management practices and quality of potato grown on erodible lands.

Land productivity can decline when top soil is lost. In Kentucky, limited resource farmers often produce vegetable crops on erodible lands. The objectives of this study were 1) to quantify the impact of three soil management practices (SMPs) on quantity of potato produced on erodible land, 2) to evaluate the impact of pyrethrin and azadirachtin insecticides on potato tuber quality, and 3) to assess the impact of yard waste compost on the chemical composition (ascorbic acid, free sugars, phenol contents) of potato tubers. Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Kennebec) were grown in a silty loam soil of 10% slope. Plots (n=18) were 3.7 m wide and 22 m long (10% slope), with metal borders of 20 cm above ground level. Two botanical insecticides, Multi-Purpose Insecticide (containing pyrethrin 0.2%) and Neemix 4EC (containing 0.25% azadirachtin) were sprayed twice on potato foliage during each of two growing seasons (1997 and 1999) at the recommended rates of 6 lbs and 2 gallons.acre 1, respectively. The SMPs we...
A Commentary on Phytoestrogens and Disease.

On the most basic level, phytoestrogens can be defined as compounds found in plants that exhibit estrogen-like activity in the human body.1 Phytoestrogens are considered functional foods because of...
Biodiversity and ecosystems: Acid ocean cover up

The response to ocean acidification varies widely among, and even within, calcifying taxa. A study sheds light on this perplexing variability by quantifying the role of external organic layers in protecting calcified structures from corrosive sea water.
An electron paramagnetic resonance investigation of the oxygen dependence of the arterial-venous gradient of nitrosyl hemoglobin in blood circulation

Whether there is a nitrosyl hemoglobin (HbNO) gradient between the venous and the arterial parts of the circulatory system is a very controversial issue in nitric oxide research. We have carefully evaluated the measurement of HbNO concentration in blood using EPR generated in vivo by the NO donor DEANO under various oxygen tensions. We found that the absolute concentrations of HbNO in venous and arterial blood were the same within experimental error, independent of hemoglobin saturation; only the ratios of 5-coordinate and 6-coordinate HbNO differed. The HbNO concentration increased when the oxygen concentration breathed by the rats decreased in a manner that was linear in hemoglobin saturation. These results do not support the existence of an arterial-venous gradient of HbNO under our experimental conditions.
Intraoperative regional myocardial acidosis predicts the need for inotropic support in cardiac surgery

Abstract Objective To determine the impact of regional myocardial acidosis encountered during cardiac surgery on the need for inotropic and intra-aortic balloon (IAB) support. Methods Intramyocardial tissue pH 37C was measured in 247 patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Inotropic support (INO) was defined as requiring one or more of norepinephrine/epinephrine/amrinone/dobutamine/>2.5 μg/kg/min dopamine, for at least 45 minutes intraoperatively, and intraoperative or postoperative IAB use. PH (corrected to 37°C, pH 37C ) during surgery was compared in patients who needed INO versus those who did not. Multivariate logistic regression models identified the determinants of INO. Results Fifty patients (20.2%) required INO intraoperatively. pH 37C was significantly lower throughout reperfusion in patients needing INO. Preoperative ejection fraction and pH 37C during reperfusion were identified as independent predictors of INO. Conclusions This is the first study to show that intraoperative regional myocardial acidosis, a preventable condition, independently determines the need for intraoperative INO. Increased INO is associated with greater postoperative mortality and morbidity.
On the selectivity of platinum catalysts

Abstract Initial rates for the reaction of neopentane on supported platinum and platinum powder catalysts have been obtained at 300 °C, 1 atm total pressure, and a hydrogen-to-neopentane ratio of 10. Silica gel, carbon, and η- and γ-alumina were used as supports. A hydrogen-oxygen titration technique was used to measure the number of exposed platinum atoms, and the platinum dispersion, defined as the percentage of the total platinum atoms which are the surface, was calculated. Values of the dispersion varied from 3 × 10−2 for the powder to greater than 70 for the supported catalysts. Neopentane underwent two parallel reactions, isomerization to isopentane and hydrogenolysis to isobutane and methane. The selectivity for isomerization, defined as the ratio of the isomerization rate to the hydrogenolysis rate, varied by a factor of 100 for the catalysts studied. For the supported catalysts the selectivity increased with increasing catalyst pretreatment temperature, which varied from 425 ° to 900 °C. This finding is explained, following Anderson and Avery, by triadsorption of neopentane at platinum atom triplets such as occur on (111) faces and at point defects, edges, and steps on the platinum surface.
Fabrication of suspended dielectric mirror structures via xenon difluoride etching of an amorphous germanium sacrificial layer

The authors present a simplified fabrication method for the creation of free-standing dielectric mirrors for use in monolithic wavelength tunable surface-normal photonic devices, including vertical-cavity surface emitting lasers. This process utilizes a nonplasma dry etching process, based on the noble gas halide, xenon difluoride (XeF2), to remove an inorganic sacrificial film comprised of low-temperature deposited amorphous germanium (α-Ge). By utilizing nonplasma dry etching of an inorganic film, this procedure circumvents the need for critical point drying and avoids the limitations imposed by polymer-based sacrificial layers. In this procedure the authors observe remarkably rapid lateral etching, with rates in excess of 150 μm/min for electron-beam evaporated α-Ge films. The viability of this novel surface micromachining process is demonstrated by presenting the static and dynamic mechanical characteristics of electrostatically actuated suspended dielectric Bragg reflectors.
Structure-reactivity indices for the hydrolysis of diol epoxides of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Abstract Several different computational parameters have been used in an attempt to predict relative reactivity of carcinogenic bay-region diol epoxides. The correlation of experimentally observed hydrolytic reactivity with these parameters is described.
Synthesis, Isolation, and Chemical Reactivity Studies of Nanocrystalline Zinc Oxide

Nanocrystals of ZnO have been produced by an alkoxide based synthesis involving diethylzinc, tert-butyl alcohol, ethanol, and water. The resulting ZnO is in the form of a powder made up of zincite crystallites in the size range of 3−5 nm. These crystallites aggregate together to form larger spherical particles. These spherical particles have been studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Brunauer−Emmet−Teller (BET) methods and were found to contain many pores and tunnels. It is because of this that an uncharacteristically high surface area is found, averaging about 120 m2/g. As seen with other metal oxides, once they are made as nanoparticles, their reactivity is greatly enhanced. This is thought to be due to morphological differences, whereas larger crystallites have only a small percentage of reactive sites on the surface, smaller crystallites will possess much higher surface concentration of such sites. Elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction, and infrared spectroscopy have been used to chara...
A new planar injection-gated bulk switching device based upon deep impurity trapping

Under the proper conditions, double-injection (DI) diodes with partially compensated deep impurities will exhibit "S"-type switching characteristics similar to conventional silicon-controlled rectifiers (SCR's). A practical injection-gating scheme has been achieved for the first time in a planar configuration to control the switching behavior of these devices, marked by extreme sensitivity of the gate over a range of switching voltages. An experiment to demonstrate the feasibility of these devices for practical application is described. Finally, a phenomenological explanation is presented for the gate-controlled switching of these devices.
Dose-response relationship between in-hospital mortality and alcohol following acute injury

Abstract Although the relationship between alcohol and injury incidence is well researched, there continues to be dispute about the relationship between alcohol and mortality following an injury. Findings from past studies have varied primarily because of methodological issues and have failed to characterize the dose–response relationship. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the dose response relationship of in-hospital mortality and blood alcohol concentration (BAC). This study was a retrospective analysis of traumatic injuries occurring between 1995 and 2009 as reported by all level 1 and 2 trauma units in the State of Illinois. The study includes all patients with blood alcohol toxicological examination levels ranging from zero to 500 mg/dl ( N = 190,612). The Illinois trauma registry includes all patients sustaining traumatic injuries and admitted to a trauma center for ≥12 h. A total of 6733 patients meeting the inclusion criteria died following admission. Patients that were dead on arrival and those that died during the initial assessment within the emergency room were excluded. In the adjusted multivariable model, a decrease in in-hospital mortality was strongly associated with an increase in blood alcohol concentration (adjusted OR = 0.83 per 100 mg/dl units change in BAC; CI 95%: 0.80, 0.85; p
Differential distribution of insulin‐like growth factors and their binding proteins within bone: Relationship to bone mineral density

To evaluate the possibility that insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and their binding proteins (BPs) in bone play a role in regulating cortical bone formation in growing animals, we compared changes in IGF and IGF BP levels with changes in bone mineral density (BMD) at three different regions (proximal, middle, and distal) along the rabbit femoral shaft. BMD measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry decreased progressively from proximal to distal regions of the shaft, from 0.449 ± 0.005 to 0.354 ± 0.002 g/cm2 (mean ± SEM; n = 9), respectively; total protein concentrations also decreased toward the distal region. We extracted the IGFs and their BPs from bone by demineralization in 10% EDTA and 4 M guanidine-HCl (pH 4.5). The IGFs were then separated from their BPs by size exclusion HPLC. The pH of the extraction buffer profoundly influenced the recoveries of the IGFs and, to a lesser extent, the total protein; at least 100% more IGFs were recovered at acid (4.5) pH than at neutral (7.5) or basic (10.5) pH. The levels of IGF-I decreased markedly from proximal to distal regions, from 273 ± 27 to 100 ± 38 ng human IGF-I equivalent/g bone (or 103 ± 10 to 52 ± 11 ng human IGF-I equivalent/mg protein), respectively. IGF-II was uniformly distributed (385 ± 17 ng human IGF-II equivalent/g bone; mean of all three regions). Levels of the predominant 28–32 kD IGF BP doublet increased by about 100% from proximal to distal segments, regardless of whether the data were expressed per unit mass or protein. Thus, the differential distribution of bone-associated IGF-I paralleled that of BMD and total protein, whereas levels of the 28–32 kD bone IGF BP(s) were inversely related to cortical bone density.
Application of Food MicroModel predictive software in the development of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) systems

Abstract A practical application of the Food MicroModel (FMM) predictive software is presented. A case study on meat-based pate is used to illustrate the various requirements needed to assure the safety of this type of foodstuff when pH is reduced. Identification of hazards was obtained from a literature review and confirmed by epidemiological links between the product and foodborne disease outbreaks. For risk assessment four different zones (safe, caution, dangerous and critical) of the level of the variable under study (pH) were defined, each zone equating to a particular level of risk. Having identified the hazards, associated risks and intrinsic parameters of the pate, a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system can be more readily established using predicted outcomes from FMM. General guidance on generic uses is also discussed.
A requirements-based programming approach to developing a NASA autonomous ground control system

A new requirements-based programming approach to the engineering of computer-based systems offers not only an underlying formalism, but also full formal development from requirements capture through to the automatic generation of provably-correct code. The method, Requirements-to-Design-to-Code (R2D2C), is directly applicable to the development of autonomous systems and systems having autonomic properties. We describe both the R2D2C method and a prototype tool that embodies the method, and illustrate the applicability of the method by describing how the prototype tool could be used in the development of LOGOS, a NASA autonomous ground control system that exhibits autonomic behavior. Finally, we briefly discuss other possible areas of application of the approach.
Information, Decision-Making Procedures, and Energy Policy:

In March 1975, Senators Cranston and Johnston introduced legislation (S. 1291, Ninety-Fourth Congress, First Session) that would create a National Commission on Economic Growth and Stability, comprising nine professional economists. According to the bill, the purpose of the commission will be “to identify major changes and long-term trends in the economy of the United States and to propose public policies responsive to such changes and trends.”
Modeling and measurement of the detector presampling MTF of a variable resolution x-ray CT scanner

The detector presampling modulation transfer function (MTF) of a 576-channel variable resolution x-ray (VRX) computed tomography (CT) scanner was evaluated in this study. The scanner employs a VRX detector, which provides increased spatial resolution by matching the scanner's field of view (FOV) to the size of an object being imaged. Because spatial resolution is the parameter the scanner promises to improve, the evaluation of this resolution is important. The scanner's pre-reconstruction spatial resolution, represented by the detector presampling MTF, was evaluated using both modeling (Monte Carlo simulation) and measurement (the moving slit method). The theoretical results show the increase in the cutoff frequency of the detector presampling MTF from 1.39 to 43.38 cycles/mm as the FOV of the VRX CT scanner decreases from 32 to 1 cm. The experimental results are in reasonable agreement with the theoretical data. Some discrepancies between the measured and the modeled detector presampling MTFs can be explained by the limitations of the model. At small FOVs (1-8 cm), the MTF measurements were limited by the size of the focal spot. The obtained results are important for further development of the VRX CT scanner.
Unique environmental effects on physical activity participation: a twin study.

BackgroundThe health benefits of regular physical activity are well established. However, the relative contribution of heritable and environmental factors to physical activity participation remains controversial. Using a cut-point of 60 minutes of total activity per week, data from the GenomEUtwin project revealed consistent genetic influence on physical activity participation in 37,051 twin pairs from seven countries. We hypothesized that the heritability of physical activity participation would be attenuated using the CDC/ACSM recommended minimum threshold of 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity per week.MethodsData were obtained from 1,389 twin pairs from the community-based University of Washington Twin Registry. Twin similarity in physical activity participation using both cut-points was analyzed using tetrachoric correlations and structural equation modeling in all same-sex pairs.ResultsCorrelations were higher in monozygotic (rMZ = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.33–0.54) than dizygotic pairs (rDZ = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.12–0.47) using the 60 minute cut-point. However, differences were attenuated using the 150 minute standard (rMZ = 0.30, 95% CI = 0.20–0.40; rDZ = 0.25, 95% CI = 0.07–0.42). Using the lower cut-point, the best fitting model of twin resemblance only included additive genetics and unique environment, with a heritability of 45%. In contrast, using the higher threshold, the best fitting model included the common and unique environment, with the unique environment contributing 72% of the variance.ConclusionUnique environment factors provide the strongest influence on physical activity participation at levels recommended for health benefits.
Abstract 2364: Pancreatic cancer stem-like cells display aggressive behavior mediated through the activation of FoxQ1

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Pancreatic cancer (PC) remains as one of the most aggressive and deadly malignant diseases with poorest clinical outcome, and it is the 4th leading cause of cancer-related death in the USA. Higher mortality of patients diagnosed with PC is in part attributed to treatment resistance and early metastatic disease. Sub-populations of cancer cells commonly known as cancer stem cells (CSCs) or cancer stem-like cells (CSLCs) have been identified from most tumors including PC, and the existence of these cells are being recognized to be clinically relevant. Emerging evidence suggests that CSLCs are responsible for many cellular functions including their propensity of increased cell growth/proliferation, migration/invasion, metastasis, and chemo-radio-therapy resistance, all of these attributes lead to poor clinical outcome. However, the pathogenesis and biological significance of CSLCs in PC has not been well characterized. In the present study, we found that triple-marker positive cells (CD44+/CD133+/EpCAM+ cells) cells isolated from human PC cell lines behave like CSCs. These CSLCs exhibit aggressive behavior such as increased cell growth, migration, clonogenicity, and self-renewal capacity. The mRNA expression profiling analysis showed that CSLCs (triple-marker positive cells) exhibit differential expression of more than 1600 mRNAs including Bmi1, BMP4, BST2, BTG1, FOLR1, FoxQ1, PRKAR1A, Sox2, TACSTD2 and Wnt3a, compared to the cells that are triple-marker negative (CD44-/CD133-/EpCAM- cells). The knock-down of FoxQ1 by its siRNA in CSLCs resulted in the inhibition of aggressive behavior, consistent with reduced expression of EpCAM and Snail. These data clearly suggest the role of differentially expressed genes in the regulation of CSLC characteristics, which further suggest that targeting some of these genes in order to eliminate CSLCs could be important for the development of novel therapies for achieving better treatment outcome of patients diagnosed with PC. Citation Format: Bin Bao, Asfar Azmi, Aamir Ahmad, Shadan Ali, Yiwei Li, Fazlul H. Sarkar. Pancreatic cancer stem-like cells display aggressive behavior mediated through the activation of FoxQ1. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2364. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2364
COMPLEX-ANALYTIC AND MATRIX-ANALYTIC SOLUTIONS FOR A QUEUEING SYSTEM WITH GROUP SERVICE CONTROLLED BY ARRIVALS

creases) of the queue during the service act by alternating between two service modes. The switching rule is based on two "up" and "down" thresholds for total arrivals over the service act. A necessary and sufficient condition for the ergodicity of a Markov chain embedded into the main queueing process is found. Both complex-analytic and matrix-analytic solutions are obtained for the steady-state distribution. Under the assumption of the same service time distribution in both modes, a combined complex-matrix-analytic method is introduced. The technique of "matrix unfolding" is used, which reduces the problem to a matrix iteration process with the block size much smaller than in the direct application of the matrix-analytic method.
Circular dichroism of polynucleotides: A general method applied to dimers

A method is described which relates the circular dichroism of a polymer to its conformation. The method takes into account near and accidental degeneracies and eliminates the artificial distinction between degenerate and nondegenerate systems. Comparison of this method with perturbation theory indicates that the errors inherent in nondegenerate perturbation theory tend to cancel when a circular dichroism spectrum is calculated. The method is applied to dinucleoside phosphates.
OVEREXPRESSION OF γ-GLUTAMYLCYSTEINE SYNTHETASE HEAVY CHAIN cDNA DOES NOT PROTECT CHINESE HAMSTER OVARY (CHO) CELLS FROM GROWTH INHIBITION IN HYPEROXIA. † 873

Premature birth and its medical management subjects human infants to oxygen gas tensions far in excess of the intrauterine environment for which they are prepared developmentally. Glutathione (GSH) is important in cellular protection against oxidants and premature infants have low plasma GSH concentrations, suggesting a possible functional deficit. To determine whether enhanced GSH synthetic capacities would augment antioxidant defense functions and protect cells, CHO cell lines with stably enhanced GGCS activities(GGCS-h) were developed by transfection with vectors containing the cDNA for the rat GGCS heavy subunit and hygromycin/neomycin resistance genes. Southern analyses indicate the presence of the heavy chain cDNA in the genomic DNA of the GGCS-h cells, and Northern analyses indicate transcription of the transfected GGCS gene. Native CHO and GGCS-h cells (4.5 × 105 per plate) were seeded and grown initially in room air for 18 h, and subsequently in room air or hyperoxia (>85% oxygen) for a period of 72 h. Cells grown in hyperoxia exhibited slower cell growth than those grown in room air, as evidenced by lower cellular protein concentrations (0.69±0.10 vs. 1.68±0.26 mg pro/plate in CHO cells, and 0.73±0.08 vs. 1.54±0.09 in GGCS-h cells; mean±SD, n=4). Despite greater GSH contents (41.7±5.2 vs. 16.8±1.6 nmol/mg pro; mean±SD, n=4) and GGCS activities (8.49±1.06 vs. 0.26±0.08 mU/mg pro) in the GGCS-h cells than in the parent CHO cells, the GGCS-h cells displayed similar growth inhibition as the CHO cells (52.88% vs. 59.23%).Conclusion: The failure of overexpression of GGCS to protect against the growth inhibitory effects of hyperoxia suggests that cellular GSH synthesis is not rate-limiting for all the toxicities that arise from exposure to elevated oxygen tensions and while enhancement of GSH synthesis may prove to be a significant component of therapies for amelioration of the adverse effects of hyperoxia, the present data suggest that additional mechanisms and therapies need to be addressed. (Supported by Wyeth Neonatology Research Grants Program and GM44263 and HD27823).
Diagnosis of cardiac rupture with the use of contrast-enhanced echocardiography

Abstract We describe 3 patients with suspected subacute cardiac rupture in whom contrast-enhanced echocardiography played a key role in the diagnosis. In 2 patients, extravasation of the contrast material into the extracardiac space provided direct evidence of subacute cardiac rupture. Absence of this feature helped to exclude cardiac rupture with active hemorrhage into the pericardial space in the third patient. These 3 cases illustrate the safety and applicability of contrast echocardiography in patients with suspected cardiac rupture. (J Am Soc Echocardiogr 2000;13:862-5.)
How the strategic context affects women's emergence and success in local legislative elections

While much scholarly attention has focused on the determinants of women's presence in state and national political offices, relatively little is known about women's descriptive representation at the local level. This study seeks to address the continuing gap in inquiry by examining where women run for and win seats on local legislative bodies throughout Louisiana. We develop hypotheses about the effects of the local strategic context on women's representation and expand on existing research by examining both place and county offices over a period of nearly three decades. Modeling candidate emergence and success endogenously, we find that more women run in localities where the strategic context is favorable to them and confirm that more women win when they have the resources necessary to propel their campaigns. The results suggest that the gender gap in local political representation can be lessened by building more robust networks of female leaders, enhancing partisan competition, and stimulating women in...
Possible Selves and Health Behaviors in Later Life

The purpose of this study was to determine whether self-regulatory processes were related to health behaviors in a sample of older adults. We hypothesized that individuals with a possible self in the domain of health would be motivated to engage in health-protective behaviors and thus score more highly on a health behaviors inventory. We also predicted that self-regulatory variables rated in relationship to health-related possible selves would explain a significant amount of variance in health behavior scores. Analyses largely supported these predictions and showed that these self-system variables were more predictive of health behaviors than were global health values. There were differential findings for positive health motivations as opposed to disease avoidance motivations. Results are discussed in reference to the literature on health behavior and aging.
Tracing and Pacing Soil Across Slopes

The conversion of rock to soil prepares Earth9s surface for erosion by wind, water, gravity, and life. Together these agents wear down hills and mountains even as the land rises up under the stress of tectonic forces in the crust. Meanwhile, weathering liberates nutrients from minerals and disaggregates rock into regolith, generating hospitable substrates for life. Over the last two decades, geochemists, geomorphologists, and soil scientists have increasingly used cosmogenic nuclides to quantify how fast soils are made, modified, and finally swept away in hilly and mountainous landscapes around the world. These studies are revolutionizing our understanding of soils and their role in feedbacks that shape Earth9s surface, influence overlying ecosystems, and modulate climate over millions of years.