cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical-pathologic conference in general thoracic surgery: Cardiac lymphoma.

870 The Journal of Thoracic and Cardio Case Presentation Dr Lee: The patient is a 62-year-old man who had a brief episode of substernal chest pressure while lifting a heavy object at home. The pressure was alleviated with a few minutes of rest. Because the patient immediately felt better, he decided to wait to see his primary care physician at an appointment that was previously scheduled. He had asked for the appointment because of symptoms of dizziness and nose bleeding that had occurred during the 3 weeks before the episode of chest pressure. His medical history is significant for prostate cancer, for which he underwent a prostatectomy in 1995, and new-onset hypertension that is controlled without medication. On review of systems, he reported a little bit of increased shortness of breath over the past 6 months. He was able to walk a mile on flat ground, but after 2 flights of stairs, he became dyspneic. Also, over the past 6 months, he had a morning cough, with clear, thin mucous production. He reported long-standing reflux and constipation, for which he took stool softeners. Neurologically, he mentioned having 3 episodes of dizziness over 3 weeks, but he never had syncope. He also had a history of ocular migraines for approximately 2 years. Social history consisted of working as a serviceman for a heating and airconditioning company. He had been exposed to asbestos about 35 years prior. He has a 50 pack-year smoking history but stopped smoking 12 years before presentation. He drinks an occasional glass of wine. His family history is only significant for a heart attack that his father had at the age of 61 years and a mother with dementia. His allergies include tetanus shots made from horse serum and poison ivy. The results of his physical examination were unremarkable. He had no palpable adenopathy. His neck and head were not edematous. His lungs were clear, and his heart had a regular rate and rhythm. He had no chest wall tenderness. His abdomen was soft without mass, and his extremities had no cyanosis or clubbing. After the episode of chest pressure, he was fine for the next several days. Eventually, he went to his primary care physician about the nosebleeds and dizzi-
Outcomes of preventative care in a diabetic foot specialty clinic

The purpose of the study was to report the incidence of ulceration, reulceration, and amputation in 341 patients treated in a multidisciplinary clinic over the course of 3 years. Patients enrolled were 57.8% male, with a mean age of 53.2 ± 11.8 years. All were assessed using the University of Texas Diabetic Foot Classification System. Of these patients, 118 fell into category 0 (protective sensation intact), 98 into category 1 (loss of protective sensation, LOPS), 77 into category 2 (LOPS with deformity), and 48 into category 3 (LOPS, deformity, previous history of ulcer or amputation). Outcomes assessed included any incident ulcerations or amputations. The authors stratified patients based on their compliance to follow up appointments. Non compliance was defined as missing >50% of scheduled appointments in any calendar year. Thirty of the above subjects were classified as noncompliant. Prior to analysis, the authors initially stratified subjects into compliant and noncompliant groups. If further stratified by foot category, the incidence of ulceration in the compliant group was 0 for diabetic foot categories 0 and 1, 3.5/1,000/ year for category 2, and 18/1,000/year for category 3. One category 3 patient required a partial first-ray amputation. The yearly incidence of amputation for the entire cohort was therefore 1.1/1,000/year. For categories 0-2 the incidence was 0, and for category 3, it was 9/1,000/year. Patients stratified into the noncompliant group were approximately 54 times more likely to ulcerate than patients who returned regularly for their scheduled care (81.8% ulcer prevalence vs. 5.4%, p
Propargite Metabolism in Bulb Mite (Acari: Acaridae)

When 50-mg samples of bulb mites, Rhizoglyphus echinopus (Fumouze and Robin), were placed for 1 h in glass vials coated with 0.53 μg of radiocarbon-labeled propargite, about 12% (1.27 μg/g) of the acaricide was transferred to the mites. Mites treated with propargite were kept in holding vials and the extent of metabolism was evaluated after 6, 12, 24, and 48 h. Internal levels of radiocarbon ranged from 14.8 to 17.4% of the dose and were divided about equally between the mite extract and mite residue fractions. Levels of propargite in the internal extract decreased from 5.9 at 6 h to 2.5 at 48 h when expressed as percentage of total recovered radiocarbon and from 61.5 at 6 h to 29.8 at 48 h when expressed as relative percentage of radiocarbon in the internal extract. Thus, propargite was degraded slowly by the mites. The metabolites 4- tert -butylphenol and 2-4- tert (-butylphenoxy) cyclohexanol (glycol ether) were present at low levels (<0.5%). Propargite wasdegraded in vitro by bulb mite homogenates with the 12,000 x g supernatant being about four times more active than the corresponding pellet. Exogenous NADPH and glutathione greatly enhanced propargite degradation by the supernatant fraction. However, not all of the degradation in the presence of glutathione was enzymatic; about 15% of the propargite was converted to 4- tert -butylphenol when the acaricide was incubated with this cofactor in buffer in the absence of the mite supernatant. In vitro propargite degradation products consisted mainly of unidentified polar metabolites, but low levels of 4- tert -butylphenol and glycol ether also were present.
The mean field free energy as a lower bound for the quenched free energy of magnetic systems with random interactions

Abstract The free energy of the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick model of spin glasses is shown to be a lower bound for the free energy of magnetic systems with random, square-summable, pair interactions.
A Singular Advance in Conversion of Acoustic Signals to Electrical Form: The Electret Microphone [DSP History]

This column is from a symposium in tribute to Gerhard Sessler and James West on the occasion of their receiving medals of the Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, 29 April 2010. I would like to talk about one person's perception of how the practical electret microphone was created and how it became established. Today, we use them as a commodity, and they appear in nearly every device that requires changing aerial acoustic waves into electrical form. The initial incentive was telephony.
Two cholinesterase activities and genes are present in amphioxus

To obtain information about the evolution of the cholinesterases, acetylcholines-terase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) in the vertebrates, we investigated the cholinesterase (ChE) activity of the cephalochordate amphioxus (Branchiostoma floridae and Branchiostoma lanceolatum). On the basis of evidence from enzymology, pharmacology, and molecular biology, we conclude that amphioxus possesses two ChE activities and two ChE genes. Two covalent inhibitors of cholinesterases were able to pharmacologically isolate the two activities as drug-sensitive ChE and drug-resistant ChE. Kinetically, in terms of substrate specificity, the drug-sensitive ChE resembles vertebrate AChE, and the drug-resistant ChE resembles the BuChE of cartilaginous and bony fish or the intermediate ChE of protostome invertebrates. We also used the polymerase chain reaction with degenerate oligonucleotide primers and genomic DNA to obtain clones of 1,574 and 1,011 bp corresponding to two cholinesterase genes from amphioxus, which we designated as ChE1 and ChE2. ChE2 codes for an enzyme with an acyl-binding pocket sequence, a portion of the protein that plays an important role in determining substrate specificity, typical of invertebrate ChE. ChE1, which contains a 503-bp intron, encodes a protein with a novel acyl binding site. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequences suggests that the two genes are a result of a duplication event in the lineage leading to amphioxus. We discuss the relevance of our results to the evolution of the cholinesterases in the chordates. Previously, we reported that amphioxus contained a single cholinesterase activity with properties intermediate to AChE and BuChE (Pezzementi et al. [1991] In: Cholinesterases: Structure, Function, Mechanism, Genetics and Cell Biology. J. Massoulie et al., eds. ACS: Washington, D.C., pp. 24–31). J. Exp. Zool. 277:213–229, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Ghost in Scalar State

An analysis is made of $s$-wave $\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\pi}$ scattering under the assumption of the existence of an $\mathrm{SU}(3)$-symmetric scalar nonet satisfying the inverted equal-spacing rule. One finds that in the case of mixing this leads to a result that there is a ghost at negative squared mass, which couples strongly to pseudoscalars. The various implications of this result are analyzed. Specifically, one concludes that the $\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\pi}$ scattering length is negative and that the forward-backward symmetry in ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ production must change sign between 400 and 600 MeV. Scattering lengths in different isospin states are related by using a vector exchange model.
Bridging Community and Youth Development: Exploring Theory, Research, and Application

Internationally there is a growing recognition of the need for theory, research, and applied programming that contributes to our understanding of both community and youth development (Brennan, 2008...
Lack of evidence for sexual transmission of genital Candida species among women who have sex with women: a mixed methods study

Objective The contribution of sexual transmission to genital Candida infection remains unclear. This study sought to investigate whether sexual behaviours were associated with the presence of genital Candida species among a cohort of women who have sex with women (WSW) in addition to determining the genetic concordance of genital Candida spp. among WSW in sexual partnerships. Methods WSW ≥18 years of age presenting to the Mississippi State Department of Health STD Clinic during 2009–2010 completed a sexual behaviour survey. Culture of vaginal fluid was performed for Candida spp. identification; associations with participant characteristics were determined using logistic regression analysis. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) PCR was performed on DNA extracted from yeast cultures of WSW in sexual partnerships in which both partners had isolates of Candida spp. identified and among a set of age/sexual behaviour matched controls. RAPD genetic fingerprints were evaluated by hierarchical cluster analysis for concordance. Results Genital Candida spp. were isolated in 105/196 (53.6%) of women: 13/105 (12.4%) had symptomatic vulvovaginal candidiasis while 92/105 (87.6%) had asymptomatic vaginal colonisation. Bisexual identity, sex with women and men during the past 12 months and numbers of male sexual partners during the past 12 months were the only significant predictors of genital Candida spp. in bivariate analysis. 13 pairs of WSW in sexual partnerships in which both partners had genital Candida spp. and 11 WSW with genital Candida spp. not in sexual partnerships were identified. Candida spp. RAPD banding patterns were discordant for all isolates among WSW within partnerships and in controls. Conclusions This study found no evidence supporting sexual transmission of genital Candida spp. between women.
The cosmic jerk parameter in f(R) gravity

Abstract We derive the expression for the jerk parameter in f ( R ) gravity. We use the Palatini variational principle and the field equations in the Einstein conformal gauge. For the particular case f ( R ) = R − α 2 3 R , the predicted value of the jerk parameter agrees with the SNLS SNIa and X-ray galaxy cluster distance data but does not with the SNIa gold sample data.
Trends in worldwide nanotechnology patent applications: 1991 to 2008

Nanotechnology patent applications published during 1991–2008 have been examined using the “title–abstract” keyword search on esp@cenet “worldwide” database. The longitudinal evolution of the number of patent applications, their topics, and their respective patent families have been evaluated for 15 national patent offices covering 98% of the total global activity. The patent offices of the United States (USA), People’s Republic of China (PRC), Japan, and South Korea have published the largest number of nanotechnology patent applications, and experienced significant but different growth rates after 2000. In most repositories, the largest numbers of nanotechnology patent applications originated from their own countries/regions, indicating a significant “home advantage.” The top applicant institutions are from different sectors in different countries (e.g., from industry in the US and Canada patent offices, and from academe or government agencies at the PRC office). As compared to 2000, the year before the establishment of the US National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), numerous new invention topics appeared in 2008, in all 15 patent repositories. This is more pronounced in the USA and PRC. Patent families have increased among the 15 patent offices, particularly after 2005. Overlapping patent applications increased from none in 1991 to about 4% in 2000 and to about 27% in 2008. The largest share of equivalent nanotechnology patent applications (1,258) between two repositories was identified between the US and Japan patent offices.
pH modulates cAMP-induced increase in Na+ transport across frog skin epithelium.

Abstract Apical membrane potential ( V a ), fractional apical membrane resistance (FR a ), and/or intracellular pH (pH i ) were measured in principal cells of isolated frog ( Rana pipiens ) skin with microelectrodes under short-circuit conditions. Apical exposure to 0.33 mM 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)adenosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) depolarized V a , decreased FR a and increased short-circuit current ( I sc ). cAMP-induced 50% larger effects on V a and I sc at external pH (pH o ) of 8.0 than at pH o 6.4. Increasing pH o from 6.4 to 8.0 in presence of cAMP further depolarized V a and increased I sc . cAMP-induced effects on V a and I sc were observed in the absence of Cl − and HCO 3 − and in the presence of 1 mM 4,4′-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2′-disulfonic acid (DIDS) or 10 μM 5-( N -ethyl- N -isopropyl)amiloride (EIPA) or 1 μM 5-( N -methyl- N -isobutyl)amiloride (MIA). These data indicate that Na + -H + exchange, Cl − -HCO 3 − exchange, and electrogenic Na + -(HCO 3 − ) n cotransport are not involved in cAMP-induced increase in I sc . Apical exposure to 2 mM Cd 2+ or Zn 2+ depolarized V a , decreased FR a , increased I sc and increased pH i . In HCO 3 − -free solutions containing DIDS, unilateral replacement of apical Cl − by NO 3 − induced a fast transient depolarization of V a and an increase in I sc . These data suggest that potential-dependent changes in pH i are involved in increases in I sc . However, when changes in V a were minimized by pretreating the basolateral membrane with 25 or 75 mM K + , the cAMP-induced increase in I sc was not blocked. These data indicate that changes in pH i do not play a strict regulatory role but are only permissive in cAMP-induced effects on I sc .
Beyond Primary Prevention of Alcohol Use: A Culturally Specific Secondary Prevention Program for Mexican Heritage Adolescents

Classroom-based primary prevention programs with adolescents are effective in inhibiting the onset of drug use, but these programs are not designed to directly address the unique needs of adolescents at higher risk of use or already using alcohol and other drugs. This article describes the initial efficacy evaluation of a companion psychosocial small group program which aims at addressing the needs of Mexican heritage students identified by their teachers as being at higher risk for substance use or already experimenting with alcohol and other drugs. The adolescent (7th grade) small group curricula, REAL Groups, is a secondary prevention program which supplements the primary classroom-based substance use prevention program, keepin’ it REAL. Following a mutual aid approach, a total of 109 7th grade students were referred by their teachers and participated in the REAL Groups. The remaining 252 7th grade students who did not participate served as the control group. To account for biased selection into REAL Groups, propensity score matching (PSM) was employed. The estimated average treatment effect for participants’ use of alcohol was calculated at the end of the 8th grade. Results indicate that alcohol use decreased among students who participated in the REAL Groups relative to matched students who did not participate. These findings suggest that REAL Groups may be an effective secondary prevention program for higher-risk Mexican heritage adolescents.
Enol esters as potential pro-drugs II. In vitro aqueous stability and enzyme-mediated hydrolysis of several enol esters of acetophenone☆

Abstract Several α-acyloxystyrenes were synthesized and evaluated as models of enol esters which might be used in pro-drug design. Their stabilities were evaluated in aqueous buffered solutions at various pH values and temperatures, and in human and rat plasma and tissue homogenates at 37°C. The enol esters studied were relatively stable in neutral aqueous media, but most hydrolyzed rapidly and completely to yield the parent ketone (acetophenone) with the aid of enzymatic catalysis in the biological media used. The aqueous and enzymatic rates of hydrolysis were substantially affected by the nature of the acyl group. The results of this study indicate that enol esters are rather stable yet bioreversible derivatives of ketones and therefore may be useful as pro-drugs of agents containing enolizable carboxyl groups.
Nitrogen isotopic ratios in fecal pellets produced by marine zooplankton

At each site and in every season studied, zooplankton in the upper ocean produced fecal pellets that were 1.3% lower in {delta}{sup 15}N than their body tissue but 2.2% higher than their apparent food source. {sup 14}N-containing molecules are evidently preferentially assimilated in zooplankton intestinal tracts, though other isotopic effects must account for the enrichment in {sup 15}N of these organisms relative to their food. These results also show zooplankton to be important modifiers of nitrogen isotopic ratios for marine particulate matter. {delta}{sup 15}N values for sinking particles and fecal pellets are similar, supporting the perspective that macrozooplankton are important factors in producing and processing particles that sink into the ocean's interior and sediments. In contrast, the relationship in {delta}{sup 15}N between fecal pellets and suspended particles in the euphotic zone is more variable. It appears that zooplankton select food particles of varying {delta}{sup 15}N from the suspended particle pool. These results suggest that both zooplankton feeding behavior and their digestive chemistry are important in determining the composition of sinking particulate matter in the ocean with respect to the suspended particle source in the euphotic zone.
Natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES): emerging trends and specifications for a virtual simulator

A virtual translumenal endoscopic surgical trainer (VTEST™) is being developed to accelerate the development of natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) procedures and devices in a safe and risk-free environment. For a rapidly developing field such as NOTES, a needs analysis must be conducted regularly to discover emerging research trends and areas of potential high impact for a virtual simulator. This paper presents a survey-based study which follows a similar study conducted by this group in 2011 (Sankaranarayanan et al. in Surg Endosc 27:1607–1616, 2013). A 32-point questionnaire was distributed at the 2012 Natural Orifice Surgery Consortium for Assessment and Research annual meeting. These data were subsequently augmented by an identical online survey, targeted at the members of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons, and analyzed. Twenty-eight NOTES experts participated in the 2012 study. Cholecystectomy (CE) procedure remained the most commonly performed NOTES technique, with 18 positive responses (64 %). In contrast to 2011, the popularity of the NOTES appendectomy (AE) was significantly lower, with only 2 (7 %) instances (CE vs. AE, p < 0.001), while the number of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM, PE) cases had increased significantly, with 11 (39 %) positive responses, respectively (PE vs. AE, p = 0.013). Strong preference toward hybrid rather than pure NOTES techniques (82 vs. 11 %, p < 0.001) was also expressed. Other responses were similar to those in the 2011 study, with the VTEST™ utility in developing and testing new techniques and instruments ranked particularly high. Based on the results of this study, a decision was made to focus exclusively on the transvaginal hybrid NOTES cholecystectomy procedure, including both rigid and flexible scope techniques. The importance of developing a virtual NOTES simulator was reaffirmed, with POEM identified as a promising candidate for future simulator development.
Chicken secretory immunoglobulin: chemical and immunological characterization of chicken IgA.

1. Chicken IgA purified from biliary fluids was chemically and immunologically characterized. 2. Chicken IgA was determined to be the only immunoglobulin class present in bile. Gel filtration studies reveal polymeric IgA e.g. 17-19S. 3. Antigenically, chicken IgA is distinct from chicken IgG, and IgM. 4. Chicken IgA does not show antigenic homology to human IgA. 5. SDS poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed IgA to possess heavy chains of 60,000 and light chains of 24,000 mol. wt, respectively. 6. Peptide mapping of tryptic digests of chicken alpha chains reveals approximately 35 peptides. The peptide map pattern is distinct from chicken gamma chains.
A cone order monotone test for the one-sided multivariate testing problem

Likelihood ratio tests for the one-sided multivariate problem have non-monotone rejection regions and non-monotone power functions when correlation is present. This paper proposes an alternative test which is cone order monotone with respect to the positive orthant.
Surface sediments of the Peru-Chile continental margin and the Nazca plate

Surface sediment samples from 86 locations on the Peru-Chile continental margin and the Nazca plate have been analyzed for bulk chemistry and texture to evaluate the factors influencing sediment formation on continental slope and adjacent abyssal plain depositional environments. Sand-sized calcareous microfossils are abundant above the carbonate compensation depth (CCD), but their removal by dissolution leaves fine-grained deposits in the deeper basins. Terrigenous silts are found seaward of the Peru-Chile Trench, especially south of 7°S, and may be transported there by wind, mid-water turbid layers, or bottom waters flowing north through the deep ocean basins. Sediments become finer grained away from shore as coarse terrigenous particles settle out. The more humid climate of northern Peru produces finer fluvial sediments there than to the south. This textural change also appears in adjacent marine sediments. In the Peru Basin, bottom nepheloid layers are found where clay-sized terrigenous material dominates the sediments. On the adjacent Galapagos Rise, however, nepheloid layers are absent, and eolian-derived sedimentary components in the R-mode factor analysis has outlined sediment constituents from the geochemical data. Terrigenous components dominate the slowly accumulating clay-sized sediments of the Peru and Chile Basins, and the coarser, more rapidly forming margin deposits south of 14°S. Biogenic deposits form at intermediate rates on topographic highs on the Nazca plate. Very slow hydrogenous sedimentation occurs in the seaward portions of the deep basins. Sediments rich in organic components are concentrated in rapidly forming deposits along the margin north of 14°S, beneath centers of strong coastal upwelling. Several distinct sediment accumulations have been mapped on the continental shelf and upper slope. An upper-slope deposit is anomalously fine grained and organic rich; it lies between 10.5°S and 13.6°S, in the region of most intense upwelling. Preservation of this body is enhanced by the inclusion of fine inorganic material in biogenic fecal pellets, and by the impingement of the shallow-water oxygen minimum layer on the slope at the same level.
Semi-automatic staging system for rectal cancer using spatially oriented unwrapped endorectal ultrasound

Endorectal ultrasound is currently the gold standard for the staging of rectal cancer; however, the accurate staging of the disease requires extensive training and is difficult, especially for those clinicians who do not see a large number of patients per year. Therefore, there is a need for a semi-automatic staging system to assist the clinicians in the accurate staging of rectal cancer. We believe that the unwrapping of the circular ERUS images captured by a spatially tracked ERUS system is a step in this direction. The steps by which a 2D image can be unwrapped are described thereby allowing the circular layers of the rectal wall to be displayed as flat layers stacked on top of each other. We test the unwrapping process using images from a cylindrical rectal phantom and a human rectum. The process of unwrapping endorectal ultrasound images qualitatively provides good visualization of the layers of the rectal wall and rectal tumors and supports the continual study of this novel staging system.
Covalent Immobilization of Peptides on Self-Assembled Monolayer Surfaces Using Soft-Landing of Mass-Selected Ions

Controlled immobilization of peptides onto N-hydroxysuccinimidyl ester functionalized self-assembled monolayer (SAM) surfaces using reactive landing of mass-selected ions has been demonstrated. Surface characterization using time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and grazing-incidence infrared reflection−absorption spectroscopy confirmed highly efficient covalent linkage through an amide bond formed between the SAM and the free amino group of the lysine side chain. Reactive landing opens a new way for controlled preparation of peptide arrays.
Helping first-generation college students succeed

First-generation college students are traditionally defined as students whose parents did not attend college and have a high school education or less. These students, an ever increasing part of the college and university demographic, face many challenges, including educational persistence, precollege academic preparation, and financing their college education, and they are less likely to obtain a bachelor's degree compared to their non-first-generation counterparts. This article reviews the demographics and challenges of first-generation college students and makes recommendations for good practices that aid their educational persistence or retention and college success.
Toward actinide molecular magnetic materials: coordination polymers of U(IV) and the organic acceptors TCNQ and TCNE.

Molecular materials of transition metal ions and organic acceptors of the general formula M(TCNX)2 M = V, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni; X = Q = 7,7,8,8-tetracyano-p-quinodimethane, E = tetracyanoethylene, are known to exhibit magnetic ordering resulting from magnetic interactions between the 3d metal orbitals of the paramagnetic metal ion and π* orbitals of the organic radical spin centers. The reaction of THF solutions of UI3(THF)4 with neutral TCNQ and TCNE instantaneously produce insoluble coordination polymers that can be assigned a formula of [U(TCNX)2I2(THF)2]n on the basis of elemental analysis. Similar reactions between (K-18-crown-6)(TCNX) reagents and UI3(THF)4 produce materials with slightly different phase compositions that are structurally distinct from the neutral TCNQ and TCNE reaction products, as judged by infrared spectroscopy. In all cases the magnetic response of these materials is consistent with the presence of the U(IV) rather than U(III) ion. Voltammetric data obtained for all the synthetic prec...
The Mars water cycle

A model has been developed to test the hypothesis that the observed seasonal and latitudinal distribution of water on Mars is controlled by the sublimation and condensation of surface ice deposits in the Arctic and Antarctic, and the meridional transport of water vapor. Besides reproducing the observed water vapor distribution, the model correctly reproduces the presence of a large permanent ice cap in the Arctic and not in the Antarctic. No permanent ice reservoirs are predicted in the temperate or equatorial zones. Wintertime ice deposits in the Arctic are shown to be the source of the large water vapor abundances observed in the Arctic summertime, and the moderate water vapor abundances in the northern temperate region. Model calculations suggest that a year without dust storms results in very little change in the water vapor distribution. The current water distribution appears to be the equilibrium distribution for present atmospheric conditions.
Identification and estimation of polynomial errors-in-variables models

Abstract Methods of estimation of regression coefficients are proposed when the regression function includes a polynomial in a ‘true’ regressor which is measured with error. Two sources of additional information concerning the unobservable regressor are considered: either an additional indicator of the regressor (itself measured with error) or instrumental variables which characterize the systematic variation in the true regressor. In both cases, estimators are constructed by relating moments involving the unobserved variables to moments of observables; these relations lead to recursion formulae for computation of the regression coefficients and nuisance parameters (e.g., moments of the measurement error). Consistency and asymptotic normality of the estimated coefficients is demonstrated, and consistent estimators of the asymptotic covariant matrices are provided.
The reactivity of human erythrocyte membrane cholesterol with a cholesterol oxidase.

Abstract Cholesterol oxidase (EC 1.1.3.6, Brevibacterium sp.), which catalyzes the reaction: cholesterol + O2 → Δ4-cholestenone + H2O2, has no effect on the cholesterol of intact (human) erythrocytes and of “resealed” ghosts, when it is present only outside these ghosts. The cholesterol of “leaky” ghosts, of “resealed” ghosts with enzyme trapped within, and of “inside-out” vesicles, was completely oxidized. This pattern indicates that the inner (cytoplasmic) membrane surface must be exposed to the enzyme for the reaction to occur, and that outer surface cholesterol only becomes reactive after the membrane has been degraded by the oxidation of inner surface cholesterol. The enzymatic oxidations followed monotonic first-order kinetics, and hence gave no evidence to support the two states of cholesterol in the membrane that had been postulated earlier from studies on the plasma lipoprotein extraction of cholesterol from the membrane.
Continuous-flow NMR culture system for mammalian cells

Abstract A continuous-flow NMR culture system for mammalian cells has been developed on which 31 P-NMR experiments under complete and strictly physiologic conditions have been performed. Observations on the response of the cellular metabolism to stresses such as starvation, low temperature and changes in environmental pH monitored by 31 P-NMR are reported. The response of the intracellular pH relative to the external pH of the growth medium is studied. We find that under the experimental conditions used there exists a ΔpH varying between less than 0.2 and more than 0.6 pH units. These results are compatible with those obtained using other techniques.
Quasiperiodic Motion in the Hamiltonian Systems of the Billiard Type

It is shown that two-degree-of-freedom Hamiltonian systems of the billiard type are equivalent to adiabatically varying one-degree-of-freedom Hamiltonian systems for solutions staying near the boundary. Under some nondegeneracy conditions such systems possess a large set of quasiperiodic solutions filling out two-dimensional invariant tori. The latter separate the extended phase space into layers providing stability for all time. The result is illustrated on a few examples. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
Computer resources for learning

America's most significant invention, the computer, is a powerful tool that can help improve both teaching and learning. Computer tools, along with the contributions of cognitive instructional psychology, can help bring about some of the improvements needed in our schools. This paper describes some of the ways in which computers can be important learning resources. It reviews the special contributions that computers can make to education today and discusses capabilities expected in the future. Specifically, background is presented on the classroom computers of the future-intelligent expert systems.
The human p73 promoter: characterization and identification of functional E2F binding sites.

p73, a member of the p53 family, is overexpressed in many cancers. To understand the mechanism(s) underlying this overexpression, we have undertaken a detailed characterization of the human p73 promoter. The promoter is strongly activated in cells expressing exogenous E2F1 and suppressed by exogenous Rb. At least three functional E2F binding sites, located immediately upstream of exon 1 (at -284, -155 and -132) mediate this induction. 5′ serially deleted promoter constructs and constructs harboring mutated E2F sites were analyzed for their response to exogenously expressed E2F1 or Rb to establish functionality of these sites. Authenticity of E2F sites was further confirmed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) using E2F1/DP1 heterodimers synthesized in vitro, followed by competition assays with unlabeled wild-type or mutant oligonucleotides and supershift analysis using anti-E2F1 antibodies. In vivo binding of E2F1 to the p73 promoter was demonstrated using nuclear extracts prepared from E2F1-inducible Saos2 cells. The region conferring the highest promoter activity was found to reside between -113 to -217 of the p73 gene. Two of the three functional E2F sites (at -155 and -132) reside within this region. Our results suggest that regulation of p73 expression is primarily mediated through binding of E2F1 to target sites at -155 and -132.
A space–time model for seasonal hurricane prediction

A space–time count process model is explained and applied to annual North Atlantic hurricane activity. The model uses the best-track data set of historical hurricane positions and intensities, together with climate variables, to determine local space–time coefficients of a right-truncated Poisson process. The truncated Poisson space–time autoregressive (TPSTAR) model is motivated by first examining a time-series model for the entire domain. Then a Poisson generalized linear model is considered that uses grid boxes within the domain and adds offset factors for latitude and longitude. A natural extension is then made that includes instantaneous local and autoregressive coupling between the grids. A final version of the model is found by backward selection of the predictors based on values of Bayesian and Akiake information criteria. The final model has five nearest neighbours and statistically significant couplings. Hindcasts are performed on the hurricane seasons from 1994 to 1997. Results show that, on average, model forecast probabilities are larger in regions in which hurricanes occurred. Quantitative skill assessment indicates some useful skill above climatology—currently the default leading candidate. The TPSTAR model could be a valuable guidance product when issuing seasonal hurricane forecasts. Copyright © 2002 Royal Meteorological Society.
What's there and what's not?: focused crawling for missing documents in digital libraries

Some large scale topical digital libraries, such as CiteSeer, harvest online academic documents by crawling open-access archives, university and author homepages, and authors' self-submissions. While these approaches have so far built reasonable size libraries, they can suffer from having only a portion of the documents from specific publishing venues. We propose to use alternative online resources and techniques that maximally exploit other resources to build the complete document collection of any given publication venue. We investigate the feasibility of using publication metadata to guide the crawler towards authors' homepages to harvest what is missing from a digital library collection. We collect a real-world dataset from two Computer Science publishing venues, involving a total of 593 unique authors over a time frame of 1998 to 2004. We then identify the missing papers that are not indexed by CiteSeer. Using a fully automatic heuristic-based system that has the capability of locating authors' homepages and then using focused crawling to download the desired papers, we demonstrate that it is practical to harvest using a focused crawler academic papers that are missing from our digital library. Our harvester achieves a performance with an average recall level of 0.82 overall and 0.75 for those missing documents. Evaluation of the crawler's performance based on the harvest rate shows definite advantages over other crawling approaches and consistently outperforms a defined baseline crawler on a number of measures
Two Class A High-Molecular-Weight Penicillin-Binding Proteins of Bacillus subtilis Play Redundant Roles in Sporulation

The four class A penicillin-binding proteins (PBPs) of Bacillus subtilis appear to play functionally redundant roles in polymerizing the peptidoglycan (PG) strands of the vegetative-cell and spore walls. The ywhE product was shown to bind penicillin, so the gene and gene product were renamed pbpG and PBP2d, respectively. Construction of mutant strains lacking multiple class A PBPs revealed that, while PBP2d plays no obvious role in vegetative-wall synthesis, it does play a role in spore PG synthesis. A pbpG null mutant produced spore PG structurally similar to that of the wild type; however, electron microscopy revealed that in a significant number of these spores the PG did not completely surround the spore core. In a pbpF pbpG double mutant this spore PG defect was apparent in every spore produced, indicating that these two gene products play partially redundant roles. A normal amount of spore PG was produced in the double mutant, but it was frequently produced in large masses on either side of the forespore. The double-mutant spore PG had structural alterations indicative of improper cortex PG synthesis, including twofold decreases in production of muramic delta-lactam and L-alanine side chains and a slight increase in cross-linking. Sporulation gene expression in the pbpF pbpG double mutant was normal, but the double-mutant spores failed to reach dormancy and subsequently degraded their spore PG. We suggest that these two forespore-synthesized PBPs are required for synthesis of the spore germ cell wall, the first layer of spore PG synthesized on the surface of the inner forespore membrane, and that in the absence of the germ cell wall the cells lack a template needed for proper synthesis of the spore cortex, the outer layers of spore PG, by proteins on the outer forespore membrane.
Building Scalable Libraries with cJ

Creating highly reusable software libraries is one of the primary software engineering goals. The ability of a library to be reused, however, depends crucially on the ease of customizing the reusable components. If customization is hard, the well-known library scalability problem by Biggerstaff, T.J. (1994) ensues: a domain contains n features, but these can produce an exponential (or super-exponential if order matters or features can be replicated) number of combinations. Hard-coding all combinations results in an unmaintainably large library. Offering features as components that are composed without any customization results in undesirable "bad-fit" solutions, either for reasons of performance or correctness.
The lbgAB Gene Cluster of Haemophilus ducreyi Encodes a β-1,4-Galactosyltransferase and an α-1,6-dd-Heptosyltransferase Involved in Lipooligosaccharide Biosynthesis

All Haemophilus ducreyi strains examined contain a lipooligosaccharide (LOS) consisting of a single but variable branch oligosaccharide that emanates off the first heptose (Hep-I) of a conserved Hep3-phosphorylated 3-deoxy-d-manno-octulosonic acid-lipid A core. In a previous report, identification of tandem genes, lbgA and lbgB, that are involved in LOS biosynthesis was described (Stevens et al., Infect. Immun. 65:651-660, 1997). In a separate study, the same gene cluster was identified and the lbgB (losB) gene was found to be required for transfer of the second sugar, d-glycero-d-manno-heptose (dd-Hep), of the major branch structure (Gibson et al., J. Bacteriol. 179:5062-5071, 1997). In this study, we identified the function of the neighboring upstream gene, lbgA, and found that it is necessary for addition of the third sugar in the dominant oligosaccharide branch, a galactose-linked β1→4, to the dd-Hep. LOS from an lbgA mutant and an lbgAB double mutant were isolated and were characterized by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, carbohydrate analysis, mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The results showed that the mutant strains synthesize truncated LOS glycoforms that terminate after addition of the first glucose (lbgAB) or the disaccharide dd-Hepα1→6Glcβ1 (lbgA) that is attached to the heptose core. Both mutants show a significant reduction in the ability to adhere to human keratinocytes. Although minor differences were observed after two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of total proteins from the wild-type and mutant strains, the expression levels of the vast majority of proteins were unchanged, suggesting that the differences in adherence and invasion are due to differences in LOS. These studies add to the mounting evidence for a role of full-length LOS structures in the pathophysiology of H. ducreyi infection.
High color-vision sensitivity in macaque and humans.

Psychophysical (behavioral) detection thresholds and color-discrimination thresholds were determined in a macaque using a two-alternative forced-choice procedure. On a white background, detection thresholds were determined for a white increment and three spectral increments: 618, 516, and 456 nm. Intermixed with detection threshold determinations, color-discrimination thresholds were determined by presenting the white increment, and one of the spectral increments, at 1.0 log units above their respective detection thresholds and dimming both until discrimination performance fell to threshold. The monkey could discriminate the color of the increments at detection threshold because the average color-discrimination threshold was 0.98 ± 0.14 log attenuation. Because the monkey was much more sensitive to the spectral increments than the white increment, we performed an unconventional experiment. We determined the monkey's detection threshold for the white increment alone, and with broadband color filters in the white light path without adjusting the light's intensity. Insertion of several color filters in the light path lowered detection thresholds of both the macaque and six human trichromats. We believe that this improvement in detection thresholds produced by simply inserting color filters in a white light path is a threshold manifestation of the Helmholtz-Kohlrausch effect and suggests that one of color vision's important evolutionary advantages may be improved detection sensitivity.
Regulation by transcription attenuation in bacteria: how RNA provides instructions for transcription termination/antitermination decisions

Regulation of gene expression by premature termination of transcription, or transcription attenuation, is a common regulatory strategy in bacteria. Various mechanisms of regulating transcription termination have been uncovered, each can be placed in either of two broad categories of termination events. Many mechanisms involve choosing between two alternative hairpin structures in an RNA transcript, with the decision dependent on interactions between ribosome and transcript, tRNA and transcript, or protein and transcript. In other examples, modification of the transcription elongation complex is the crucial event. This article will describe and compare several of these regulatory strategies, and will cite specific examples to illustrate the different mechanisms employed.
Re: Serum Androgens as Prognostic Biomarkers in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Results from an Analysis of a Randomized Phase III Trial

Purpose In the phase III study COU-AA-301, abiraterone acetate (AA) plus prednisone (P) prolonged overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) after docetaxel administration. In this article, we investigate the relationship between baseline serum androgen (SA) levels and OS. Patients and Methods COU-AA-301 is a randomized, double-blind study of AA (1,000 mg every day) plus P (5 mg by mouth twice daily; n 797) versus P alone (n 398). Randomization was stratified by Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (0 to 1 v 2), pain (Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form over past 24 hours: 4 to 10, present; v 0 to 3, absent), prior chemotherapy (1 v 2), and progression (prostate-specific antigen v radiographic). Association of baseline SA (testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate), was measured by ultrasensitive liquid-liquid extraction or protein precipitation and two-dimensional liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, with OS determined by bivariate and multivariable Cox models. OS was examined with SA as greater than median and less than or equal to the median. Results Median survival increased with each quartile increase in testosterone level regardless of treatment arm. SA levels at baseline strongly associated with survival (P .0001) in bivariate and multivariable analyses. Longer survival was observed for patients with SA above median compared with below median in both the AA and P arms (eg, testosterone, AA; hazard ratio, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.77; P .0001). Treatment with AA led to longer survival versus P alone in the aboveor below-median group for all androgens. Conclusion SA, measured with a novel ultrasensitive assay in COU-AA-301, is prognostic for OS and may be useful for risk stratification in mCRPC clinical trials. J Clin Oncol 31:2791-2798. © 2013 by American Society of Clinical Oncology
Rhythmic chewing with oral jaws in teleost fishes: a comparison with amniotes

SUMMARY Intra-oral prey processing (chewing) using the mandibular jaws occurs more extensively among teleost fishes than previously documented. The lack of muscle spindles, γ-motoneurons and periodontal afferents in fishes makes them useful for testing hypotheses regarding the relationship between these sensorimotor components and rhythmic chewing in vertebrates. Electromyography (EMG) data from the adductor mandibulae (AM) were used to quantify variation in chew cycle duration in the bowfin Amia , three osteoglossomorphs (bony-tongues), four salmonids and one esocid (pike). All species chewed prey using their oral jaw in repetitive trains of between 3 and 30 consecutive chews, a pattern that resembles cyclic chewing in amniote vertebrates. Variance in rhythmicity was compared within and between lineages using coefficients of variation and Levene9s test for homogeneity of variance. These comparisons revealed that some teleosts exhibit degrees of rhythmicity that are comparable to mammalian mastication and higher than in lepidosaurs. Moreover, chew cycle durations in fishes, as in mammals, scale positively with mandible length. Chewing among basal teleosts may be rhythmic because it is stereotyped and inflexible, the result of patterned interactions between sensory feedback and a central pattern generator, because the lack of a fleshy tongue renders jaw–tongue coordination unnecessary and/or because stereotyped opening and closing movements are important for controlling fluid flow in the oral cavity.