cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Combined chemotherapy and radiation improves survival for node-positive endometrial cancer

Abstract Objective To evaluate the clinical outcomes for women with node-positive endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterus Methods Records were reviewed for 66 patients with Stage IIIC endometrioid adenocarcinoma diagnosed between 1/1995 and 12/2009. Study inclusion required TAH, BSO and negative chest imaging. Papillary serous and clear cell histologies were excluded. Adjuvant treatment was external beam radiation (RT) alone in 18 patients (27%), combined chemotherapy and RT in 44 (67%), chemotherapy alone in 1 (2%), and no adjuvant therapy in 3 (5%). The median follow-up was 48 months. Results Of 66 patients, 56 (85%) had positive pelvic nodes only, 5 (8%) had positive para-aortic nodes only, and 5 (8%) had both. Of the 62 patients who received adjuvant RT, only 4 (6%) had an in-field recurrence, including 2 with residual disease after surgery. Disease-free (DFS) and overall (OS) survival rates at 5 years were 71% and 81%, respectively. By adjuvant treatment modality, 5-year DFS and OS rates were 63% and 67% for RT alone and 79% and 90% for combined modality therapy (p = 0.15 and p Conclusions Compared to RT alone, combined modality therapy decreased recurrence and improved survival in patients with node-positive endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterus. In addition, external beam RT resulted in excellent local and regional control. Future studies are needed to define the optimal chemotherapy regimen, sequencing, and radiation fields.
High Pressure Homogeneous Nucleation of Bubbles within Superheated Binary Liquid Mixtures

The limits of superheat of some binary normal paraffin mixtures were measured at pressures up to 2128 kPa using the floating droplet method. The variation of nucleation temperature with liquid phase mole fraction was found to be nearly linear for these n-paraffin solutions over the whole pressure range in which the experiments were performed. Homogeneous nucleation theory was used to predict the limits of superheat of the solutions tested. The vapor pressures of the mixtures were estimated by using the Peng-Robinson equation of state to evaluate the liquid and vapor phase fugacities, and the mixture surface tensions were calculated using an empirical adaptation of the van der Waals expression for the surface tension of a pure liquid near the critical point. The predicted and measured limits of superheat were found to be in good agreement over the entire pressure range for all liquid phase compositions. The results of the present work could be useful for predicting liquid phase temperatures and compositions at which the microexplosive or disruptive burning of droplets of fuel blends which are mixtures of volatile and nonvolatile liquids will be initiated during droplet combustion at high ambient pressures.
Mapping of the gene encoding the melanocortin-1 (alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone) receptor (MC1R) to human chromosome 16q24.3 by Fluorescence in situ hybridization.

[alpha]-Melanocyte stimulating hormone ([alpha]-MSH), a hormone originally named for its ability to regulate pigmentation of melanocytes, is a 13-amino-acid post-translational product of the pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) gene. [alpha]-MSH and the other products of POMC processing, which share the core heptapeptide amino acid sequence Met-Glu (Gly)-His-Phe-Arg-Trp-Gly (Asp), the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), [beta]-MSH, and [gamma]-MSH, are collectively referred to as melanocortins. While best known for their effects on the melanocyte (pigmentation) and adrenal cortical cells (steroidogenesis), melanocortins have been postulated to function in diverse activities, including enhancement of learning and memory, control of the cardiovascular system, analgesia, thermoregulation, immunomodulation, parturition, and neurotrophism. To identify the chromosomal band encoding the human melanocortin-1 receptor gene, 1 [mu]g of an EMBL clone coding region of the human MC1R and approximately 15 kb of surrounding DNA was labeled with biotin and hybridized to human metaphase chromosomes as previously described. The results indicate that the human MC1R gene is localized to 16q24.3. 15 refs., 1 fig.
Genetic correlations of life historical parameters and certain fitness indices in Drosophila melanogaster: r m, rs, diet breadth.

Using fifteen strains of Drosophila melanogaster which were derived from a collection made at Palm Beach, Florida we found the following:
Rapid methods and automation in food microbiology: A review

Abstract Rapid methods and automation in microbiology are dynamic fields and are constantly moving forward in helping to solve applied microbiology and food safety issues. This article is a review of the current development of this field in the areas of sample preparation, alternative methods for viable cell counts, new methods for estimation of microbial populations and biomass, and new and novel techniques. This article should be of interest to all scientists concerned with the current development of rapid methods and potential application of these techniques in their daily work. The article addresses the basic principles of rapid methods and specific applications of methods, and provides an updated reference list for further investigations by readers.
The absorptive P-wave pion-nucleus optical potential

Abstract We derive the absorptive part of the P-wave pion-nucleus optical potential from a two-body model for the absorption mechanism which involves rescattering of a pion and ϱ-meson through a Δ 33 resonant state. The model gives an adequate explanation for the fundamental π + d → pp reaction cross section and leads to values for the optical potential parameter which are in fair agreement with those obtained from pionic atom level widths.
Optimal offspring sizes in small litters

Numerous evolutionary models explore the trade-off between offspring size and offspring number. However, such models often fail when the number of offspring is small because optimal litter size (or litter size at optimal offspring size) may fall between the necessarily integer values for real litters. This paper extends a classic model for optimal investment per offspring to the case of small litters and predicts that range in offspring size and the largest (smallest) offspring size should decline (increase) with increased litter size. Application of the model to egg size data from a poeciliid fish,Gambusia hubbsi, reveals a surprisingly close approximation to the largest offspring size and variation in offspring size at small litter sizes.
The freeon unitary group procedure and the structure of matter

There is presented a novel, coherent procedure, based on the unitary group, for the computation of the spectra of atoms, molecules, solids, nuclei, and elementary particles. These spectra cover a truly remarkable energy range from a fraction to billions of electron volts. The procedure employs freeon orbitals that are free of energetically inert orbitals; e.g., ordinary spin orbitals for electrons, isospin orbitals for nuclei, and the product of ordinary spin orbitals and color orbitals for baryons. The Pauli principle requires the freeon spaces to be conjugate to the inert spaces. The spaces are spanned by Gel'fand states that have a simple, compact, pictorial representation in the form of Gel'fand structures (tableaux). The Hamiltonian for all systems is a second degree polynomial in the generators of the unitary group with parameters that determine the spectral scale and distribution and whose matrix elements are computed Lie algebraically. The unitary group supplies the unitary group quantum number and is the head group of chains of groups that supply additional quantum numbers.
Characterization of Paraquat Resistance inSolanum americanumMill. I. Paraquat Uptake, Translocation, and Compartmentalization☆☆☆

Abstract Studies were conducted to probe the nature of paraquat resistance in Solanum americanum (American black nightshade). This initial characterization was focused on the comparative examination of paraquat uptake, translocation, and compartmentalization of a paraquat-resistant (R) biotype and a paraquat-sensitive (S) biotype. Uptake of paraquat by whole plants of both biotypes was equivalent. No paraquat was translocated out of the treated leaf of the S biotype. However, the R biotype translocated paraquat both acropetally and basipetally. As for whole plants, paraquat uptake by leaf discs did not differ with biotype. Paraquat efflux from leaf discs of both biotypes was biphasic with the rapid phase occurring during the first 10 min. Paraquat efflux occurred more rapidly in the S biotype. A compartmentalization study showed that 37 and 22% of the absorbed paraquat was located in an unbound state in the apoplast of the S and R biotypes, respectively. Although the R biotype adsorbed 15% of the paraquat compared with 12% in the S biotype, rapid sequestration of paraquat by apoplastic adsorption is not a plausible explanation of resistance in S. americanum since there was no biotypic difference in the percentage of paraquat found in the cytoplasm. Paraquat stimulated greater ethane production in the S biotype. These results support a primary mechanism of paraquat resistance in S. americanum that is located within the protoplast.
Diethylstilbestrol reversal of gonadotropin patterns in infant rhesus monkeys.

The role of sex steroids in the sexual differentiation of primates is poorly understood. The present study was designed to examine the early endocrine effects of pre and postnatal exposure of rhesus monkeys to DES and to assess the efficacy of the model to study the impact of currently used therapeutic steroids on fetal development. Pregnant female rhesus were given DES orally (0.1 or 1.0 mg/kg/day) on a sugar cube from days 25–150 of gestation. Infants of non-treated mothers were administered DES in orange-flavored drink until weaning, after which the dose was placed on a sugar cube. Dose levels examined were 0.5 and 50.0μg/kg/day from days 1–365 with day of birth designated as Day 0. Control infants were run concurrently. Blood samples (2 ml) for gonadotropin assay were obtained from all groups on Days 4 and 14 after birth, at 14-day intervals until Day 84 and at monthly intervals thereafter. Serum FSH and LH were determined by radioimraunoassay. In controls, FSH levels rose at birth and fell to low, stable levels at 4–5 months of age in male and female infants. The greatest postnatal peak in FSH was found in females (P < 0.05) which declined to a nadir at a much slower rate than in males. Immunoassayable LH levels were similar in infant male and female controls. In males prenatally exposed to DES, FSH remained elevated for at least the first 18 months of life in contrast to the fall at 4 months seen in controls. Immunoassayable LH tended to rise after 4 months of age in male and female infants exposed in utero to the highest treatment dose of DES, but did not in the controls. DES administered during the first year of life caused an unexpected increase in FSH in males throughout the treatment period after which levels declined. In females DES suppressed FSH for the first 4 months of life. This was followed by a reversal from suppressed to elevated levels after 4 months of age until dosing was discontinued. LH levels were not affected in males by postnatal exposure to DES. In females LH levels were greater than controls for the first 4 months of treatment, subsequently returning to normal. These studies have demonstrated unequivocally that exposure of rhesus monkeys to DES either in utero or during the first year of life causes profound changes in postnatal endocrine function. Thus. the rhesus infant could serve as a model for predicting the long-term reproductive effects of in utero or postnatal exposure to hormonally-active drugs and environmental agents.
Inferential time-decaying Bloom filters

Time-Decaying Bloom Filters are efficient, probabilistic data structures used to answer queries on recently inserted items. As new items are inserted, memory of older items decays. Incorrect query responses incur penalties borne by the application using the filter. Most existing filters may only be tuned to static penalties, and they ignore Bayesian priors and information latent in the filter.We address these issues in an integrated way by converting existing filters into inferential filters. Inferential filters combine latent filter information with Bayesian priors to make query-specific optimal decisions. Our methods are applicable to any Bloom Filter, but we focus on developing inferential time-decaying filters, which support new query types and sliding window queries with varying error penalties.We develop the inferential version of the existing Timing Bloom Filter. Through experiments on real and synthetic datasets, we show that when penalties are query-specific and prior probabilities are known, the inferential Timing Bloom Filter reduces penalties for incorrect responses to sliding-window queries by up to 70%.
Uncoupling of the Noradrenergic-Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis in Panic Disorder Patients

In this paper the authors examine the interrelationship of both the noradrenergic (NA) system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and its implications for panic disorder (PD). Seventeen PD patients and 16 healthy volunteers were challenged orally 12 weeks apart with the α2-agonist clonidine (13 healthy volunteers and 12 patients repeated the challenge). Between challenges, PD patients were treated with fluoxetine, with 10 of 12 improving at least moderately. Both during the acute phase of the illness and during the phase of pharmacological improvement, patients demonstrated a greater percentage of reductions of plasma 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) and plasma cortisol during clonidine challenge. We used correlational matrices to examine the relationship between the NA system, as reflected by plasma MHPG, and the HPA axis, as reflected by plasma cortisol measures. Healthy volunteers exhibited multiple significant “couplings” between either baseline or maximal decrease (Δmax) of plasma MHPG, with either baseline or Δmax plasma cortisol measures both within the first and second challenges and between the first and second challenges. In contrast, PD patients demonstrated “uncoupling” of the NA system and the HPA axis, with no significant correlations observed between either baseline and/or maximal decrease (δmax) measures of MHPG with the same cortisol measures for either the first or second challenge. The same uncoupling was observed for NA/HPA correlations between the first and second challenges. These data suggest that the hyperresponsivity to clonidine in PD patients persists during fluoxetine treatment. They also raise the possibility that an uncoupling of the NA system and the HPA axis may be a feature of PD patients, even following clinically significant improvement. The authors suggest suboptimal NA regulation of the HPA axis in PD patients, with pathophysiological implications particularly prominent during periods of stress-induced activation of the two systems.
Creation of a Learning Organization Laboratory in the Classroom: Expected and Unexpected Lessons

As a way to assist undergraduate students to acquire knowledge and skills necessary for meeting the challenges of a changing workplace, an experiential classroom design that adapted the learning organization laboratory concept to the classroom and introduced organization development and change as the subject matter was tried. The expected and unexpected lessons learned through creating an organization's mission, designing and developing an organization, managing change and problems, and recognizing and achieving personal growth and development suggest the usefulness of this approach for preparing future leaders to develop and change organizations.
Pressure Dependence of Weak Acid Ionization in Deuterium Oxide Solutions

The pressure dependence of solution pH for acetate, cacodylate, phosphate, and TRIS buffers in deuterium oxide solutions was measured with the optical pH indicators 2,5-dinitrophenol and p-nitrophe...
ALDH1L1 inhibits cell motility via dephosphorylation of cofilin by PP1 and PP2A

Here we report that ALDH1L1 (FDH, a folate enzyme with tumor suppressor-like properties) inhibits cell motility. The underlying mechanism involves F-actin stabilization, re-distribution of cytoplasmic actin toward strong preponderance of filamentous actin and formation of actin stress fibers. A549 cells expressing FDH showed a much slower recovery of green fluorescent protein-actin fluorescence in a fluorescence recovery after photobleaching assay, as well as an increase in G-actin polymerization and a decrease in F-actin depolymerization rates in pyren-actin fluorescence assays indicating the inhibition of actin dynamics. These effects were associated with robust dephosphorylation of the actin depolymerizing factor cofilin by PP1 and PP2A serine/threonine protein phosphatases, but not the cofilin-specific phosphatases slingshot and chronophin. In fact, the PP1/PP2A inhibitor calyculin prevented cofilin dephosphorylation and restored motility. Inhibition of FDH-induced apoptosis by the Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor SP600125 or the pan-caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk did not restore motility or levels of phosphor-cofilin, indicating that the observed effects are independent of FDH function in apoptosis. Interestingly, cofilin small interfering RNA or expression of phosphorylation-deficient S3A cofilin mutant resulted in a decrease of G-actin and the actin stress fiber formation, the effects seen upon FDH expression. In contrast, the expression of S3D mutant, mimicking constitutive phosphorylation, prevented these effects further supporting the cofilin-dependent mechanism. Dephosphorylation of cofilin and inhibition of motility in response to FDH can also be prevented by the increased folate in media. Furthermore, folate depletion itself, in the absence of FDH, resulted in cofilin dephosphorylation and inhibition of motility in several cell lines. Our experiments showed that these effects were folate specific and not a general response to nutrient starvation. Overall, this study shows the presence of distinct intracellular signaling pathways regulating motility in response to folate status and points toward mechanisms involving folates in promoting a malignant phenotype.
Lifschitz tails for the Anderson model

We present, in an expository way, an elementary rigorous proof (patterned after an argument of Kirsch-Martinelli) that the Anderson model has Lifschitz tails in very great generality.
Paced puffing as a method for administering fixed doses of nicotine

Abstract Smokers' ability to regulate nicotine intake by varying topographical parameters such as depth of inhalation and number of puffs makes it difficult to administer standardized doses of nicotine as delivered from smoking. A number of studies have claimed to control these parameters without confirming the effectiveness of such procedures by measures of plasma nicotine. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether specifying onset and duration of each puff would result in accurate dosing. Plasma nicotine boosts for five “paced puffers” were compared across two sessions and with similar data for five “free smokers.” Neither between-subject consistency nor within-subject reproducibility was improved by this paced puffing procedure, despite apparent topographical control.
A physically based classification approach for identifying AE source mechanism

Identification of the source mechanism and measurement of source strength are important requirements for wider field application of the acoustic emission technique. It is difficult to relate a given source event to resulting acoustic emission waveforms in experimental results. However, it is practical to simulate such source events using numerical simulations and examine the resulting waveforms. The present paper uses such an approach to identify the patterns embedded in the waveforms and their variation with relative positions of the source and sensor. Important elements in the waveforms are shown to have strong variation with respect to the relative positions of the source and sensor. The resulting amplitude variations should be taken into account in the measurement of acoustic emission source strength. In addition, it is shown that the shear horizontal wave has a prominent component in the normal stresses in the radial direction. Acoustic emission waveforms obtained from the numerical simulations were also used to demonstrate pattern classification of these waveforms and identify the source mechanisms. The three elements of the waveforms, So, Ao, and Shear, were considered as the basic elements of the waveform. These elements have different frequency bandwidths that are directly related to the impulse duration of the incremental crack growth. Correlation coefficients between these elements and the acoustic emission waveforms were used as a means for identifying the source type.
The Dispositions and Skills of a Ph.D. in Education: Perspectives of Faculty and Graduate Students in One College of Education

Twenty-two faculty and graduate students were interviewed in one college of education in order to understand what the college and its constituents view as the skills, habits of mind, and dispositions needed to obtain a Ph.D. in Education. Analysis of the data was conducted using professional socialization as a theoretical framework, allowing for an understanding of the different perspectives of this topic as viewed through a developmental lens. Implications for theory and practice are included.
Review on the Use of Instrumented Pavement Test Data in Validating Flexible Pavement Mechanistic Load Response Models

Abstract For designing pavement structures effectively and efficiently designers are moving from the old empirical design approach to the new Mechanistic Empirical (M-E) pavement design procedure. In M-E design, the pavement responses in terms of stresses and strains have greater influence on the performance prediction. Many theoretical equations were developed by researchers in the past fifty years to predict pavement responses under different loading conditions. The overall accuracy of the models are in question while considering unbound base materials, behaviour of hot-mix asphalt and dynamic moving loads applied by traffic. Despite this, layered elastic model continue to be the state-of-the practice for most pavement design and analysis applications. To make sure that the accurate pavement response model is being used in the M-E design, this mechanistic load response model has to be validated with measured pavement responses under traffic or applied loads. In this regard, instrumented pavement testing facilities play an important role in validating the mechanistic load response models by measuring the pavement responses from the field through proper instrumentation and comparing them with theoretical responses. In this paper, a detailed review and analysis on the major research works conducted in Europe and United States over the past fifty years on flexible pavements starting from the TRRL study in 1962 to the recent research at the NCAT Test Track to use the instrumented pavement test data to validate the load response model and their outcome is presented along with the efforts needed to increase the model accuracy.
Polyphase-coded FM (PCFM) radar waveforms, part II: optimization

This paper addresses polyphase code optimization with respect to the nonlinear frequency modulation waveform generated by the continuous phase modulation implementation. A greedy search leveraging the complementary metrics of peak sidelobe level, integrated sidelobe level, and spectral content yield extremely low range sidelobes relative to waveform time-bandwidth product. Transmitter distortion is also incorporated into the optimization via modeling and actual hardware. Thus the physical radar emission can be designed to address spectrum management and enable the physical realization of advanced waveform-diverse schemes.
Anticipated changes in consumption of fresh potatoes by Northeast consumers in relation to their purchase, use, and socio-economic characteristics

Per capita consumption of fresh potatoes has decreased over the past two decades. A continuation of this trend could pose severe economic difficulties for firms involved in the production, marketing, and retailing of fresh potatoes. An understanding of the factors that will influence future fresh potato consumption is essential.
Sugar-induced potential difference and short circuit current in bullfrog small intestine: effect of UO22+.

UO22+ 1.3 mM added as UO2(NO3)2 to the mucosal solution consistently inhibited the P.D. and ISC evoked by 11 mM glucose and 35 mM 3-O-methyl glucose across isolated strips of bullfrog small intestine bathed by symmetrical Ringer solutions in which SO42- was the major anion. The average degree of inhibition in the presence of glucose was 42 +/- 7(SEM) percent. P.D. and ISC in the absence of transported solutes were not significatnly altered by mucosal UO22+ at this concentration. Increasing the mucosal UO22+ concentration to 2.6 mM did not significantly increase its inhibitory action on glucose-evoked P.D. and ISC. Further increasing the UO22+ concentration to 13 mM completely inhibited glucose-induced P.D. and ISC but also markedly reduced these parameters in the absence of glucose. Serosal UO22+ (1.3mM) had no effect on the P.D. and ISC evoked by glucose and 3-O-methyl glucose. It is suggested that the inhibitory action of UO22+ involves binding of this ion to anionic sites located in the apical membrane of the absorptive cells. Mucosal or serosal UO22+ (1.3 mM) had no effect on the P.D. and ISC elicited by 20 mM valine, indicating that under the conditions of these experiments UO22+ selectively inhibits sugar-induced P.D. and ISC and, by implication mucosal sugar uptake.
Chronic complement C3 gene expression in the CNS of transgenic mice with astrocyte‐targeted interleukin‐6 expression

Both cytokines and complement are thought to play significant, but poorly understood roles, in the pathogenesis of a variety of neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we examined the expression of C3, the central component of complement, in the brains of transgenic mice with constitutive astrocyte expression of the proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin-6 (IL-6). Immunohistochemistry studies demonstrated elevated deposition of C3 in the brains of transgenic animals compared with normal animals. Northern blot analysis of mRNA from brain and other tissues demonstrated an age-related increase in C3 gene expression only in the brains of transgenic animals, indicative of local synthesis. In situ hybridization studies revealed coincidence between C3 and IL-6 transgene expression, as well as areas of neuronal and white matter damage observed in cerebellum and hind brain. Furthermore, C3 mRNA expression was observed in ependymal cells, perivascular mononuclear cells, endothelial cells, and scattered cells throughout the white matter and the brain stem. The overlap in C3 mRNA expression with areas of pathology suggests that complement may contribute to the inflammation and cellular injury observed in this model. The transgenic mice used in these studies provide a novel and valuable tool for examining the role of complement in central nervous system pathobiology.
Environmental influences on the orientation of free-flying nocturnal bird migrants

Abstract Autumn nocturnal bird migration was investigated using radar and visual observations. Multivariate analyses assessed the influence of environmental variables on orientation. Two categories of birds were distinguished: (1) shorebirds and waterfowl migrating in flocks; and (2) passerine birds flying singly. These two classes of migrants employ different orientation mechanisms. Landbirds selectively flew with the wind, regardless of its direction or speed or whether the skies were clear or overcast. Shorebirds and waterfowl flew in directions independent of wind in light or moderate winds. The accuracy of passerine orientation was not correlated with any of the variables examined. The passerine orientation observed cannot be accounted for by stellar orientation, but is explicable via orientation on the basis of wind direction.
Constrained least-squares restoration of nuclear medicine images: Selecting the coarseness function

Image restoration using the constrained least-squares (CLS) method theoretically adapts to the image being processed. In addition, it only requires knowing the modulation transfer function of the imaging system when applied to nuclear medicine images. Prompted by these observations, a systematic evaluation of the effects of the form of the "coarseness function" [C(f)] used by the CLS method has been conducted. Nine C(f)'s are evaluated using an observer preference and a normalized mean-squared error (NMSE) criterion. This evaluation is conducted for three modulation transfer functions and a wide range of count levels. The results of the subjective studies support using the form of C(f) which has been most widely employed in previous studies, i.e., the form designed to minimize the energy in the second derivative of the restored image. A different form of C(f) is generally found to be optimal by the mean-squared error criterion. The CLS method is then compared to: (1) no processing, (2) count-dependent smoothing, and (3) count-dependent Metz restoration. When evaluated using objective measurements of error and contrast, the CLS method is found to be slightly inferior to the best method, Metz restoration. However, CLS restoration is found to be equal to or better than the other methods when judged by the results of observer preference studies.
Quasi-steady-state kinetics at enzyme and substrate concentrations in excess of the Michaelis–Menten constant

In vitro enzyme reactions are traditionally conducted under conditions of pronounced substrate excess since this guarantees that the bound enzyme is at quasi-steady-state (QSS) with respect to the free substrate, thereby justifying the Briggs-Haldane approximation (BHA). In contrast, intracellular reactions, amplification assays, allergen digestion assays and industrial applications span a range of enzyme-to-substrate ratios for which the BHA is invalid, including the extreme of enzyme excess. The quasi-equilibrium approximation (QEA) is valid for a subset of enzyme excess states. Previously, we showed that the total QSSA (tQSSA) overlaps and extends the validity of the BHA and the QEA, and that it is at least roughly valid for any total substrate and enzyme concentrations. The analysis of the tQSSA is hampered by square root nonlinearity. Previous simplifications of the tQSSA rate law are valid in a parameter domain that overlaps the validity domains of the BHA and the QEA and only slightly extends them. We now integrate the tQSSA rate equation in closed form, without resorting to further approximations. Moreover, we introduce a complimentary simplification of the tQSSA rate law that is valid in states of enzyme excess when the absolute difference between total enzyme and substrate concentrations greatly exceeds the Michaelis-Menten constant. This includes a wide range of enzyme and substrate concentrations where both the BHA and the QEA are invalid and allows us to define precisely the conditions for zero-order and first-order product formation. Remarkably, analytical approximations provided by the tQSSA closely match the expected stochastic kinetics for as few as 15 reactant molecules, suggesting that the conditions for the validity of the tQSSA and for its various simplifications are also of relevance at low molecule numbers.
Regeneration and clonality in Metazoa. The price to pay for evolving complexity

Explaining the high variability of regenerative ability across metazoan taxa is one of the major challenges in modern biology. Although common and widespread, regeneration shows a heterogeneous distribution and most authors consider regeneration capacity to be an ancestral trait that has been restricted or completely lost over the course of metazoan evolution. Basal Metazoans show the highest capacity for regeneration. By contrast, this feature is highly variable within bilaterians, with many taxa limited in their capacity for regeneration or not regenerating at all. The causes of the loss and/or maintenance of regeneration remain poorly understood, with most explanations invoking adaptive mechanisms. In the present study Metazoan regeneration is discussed with reference to stem cell biology, tissue plasticity, evolution of tissue complexity, cell turnover and lifespan. The presence or absence of regenerative ability cannot be seen only as an adaptation to a particular environment but can also be a conseq...
High-dose therapy for amyloidosis: the end of the beginning?

TRANSPLANTATION The perception that the outcome of AL amyloidosis patients subjected to high-dose chemotherapy and autotransplantation is superior to the disappointing fate of those treated conventionally[1][1] was questioned by a retrospective study from the Mayo Clinic suggesting that eligibility
Effects of Canavanine on Arginine Utilization in Plants with Special Reference to Mitotic Activity

Excised primary roots of Phaseolus vulgaris L. were treated with canavanine and the effect on arginine utilization was studied. Arginine utilization was observed to be depressed to a low level by canavanine (1.8 × 10−4M) in rapidly dividing and growing tissues. In addition, canavanine inhibited arginine utilization to a lesser degree in root sections composed of mature and non-dividing tissues. This demonstrated that canavanine inhibition is not limited to those tissues where active DNA synthesis occurs. Canavanine was observed to inhibit the onset of mitosis in primary roots as evidenced by a significant reduction of the frequency of mitotic figures. In addition, this amino acid was found to affect the course of mitosis once it was initiated by altering the relative frequency of mitotic stages, decreasing the percentage of prophase figures and increasing the percentage observed in the telophase. An influence on the rate of spiralization and despiralization of the chromosomes is suggested. The effects on mitosis are probably related to growth-inhibitory and toxic effects of canavanine. The possible function of canavine as an allelopathic substance is hypothesized.
Vacuum ultraviolet mcd and absorption spectra of zinc phthalocyanine isolated in an ar matrix using synchrotron radiation

Abstract The magnetic circular dichroism and absorption spectra of zinc phthalocyanine in an Ar matrix have been measured between ≈ 37000 and 74000 cm −1 with far better resolution than in previous absorption work on this or related systems. The spectral features beyond ≈ 45000 cm −1 can be roughly correlated with those of the isolated benzene molecule.
Birth weight outcomes for repeat teenage pregnancy

Abstract To investigate the outcomes for repeat teenage pregnancy and the effect of interpregnancy interval on birth weight, birth certificate data were reviewed from all mothers under 26 years delivering their second baby during 1981–1983 at an urban teaching hospital. Initially, 409 mothers who had delivered their first baby at the same hospital were identified. Mothers were divided into three groups: mothers under 20 years for both births; mothers under 20 years for the first birth, with the second birth delayed until 20 to 25 years; and mothers 20–25 years for both births. Group 1 mothers had high but identical rates of low birth weight (17.5%) for both parities, high rates of very low birth weight infants (
Synthesis and characterization of κ-2-bis-N-heterocyclic carbene rhodium(I) catalysts: Application in enantioselective arylboronic acid addition to cyclohex-2-enones

Abstract This manuscript describes the synthesis and characterization of new derivatives of di- N -heterocyclic carbene (diNHC) ligands derived from trans-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,12-diylmethanediyl (DEAM) and trans-9,10-dihydro-9,10-ethanoanthracene-11,12-diyl (DEA). Synthesized as the diazolium salts, the new ligands are employed, in conjunction with known derivatives, to examine specific properties than influence the chiral induction in rhodium-catalyzed arylboronic acid addition to cyclohex-2-enones. Three properties of the diNHC ligands are modified and include: 1) the size and composition of the N-heterocyclic substituent (Me, i Pr, Bn, CHPh 2 , o -MeBn, and R -CHMePh), 2) the type of N-heterocycle (benzimidazole versus imidazole), and 3) the size of the chiral pocket (DEAM versus DEA). Results from the catalytic studies indicate the DEAM ligand, which contains an extra CH 2 group compared to DEA, is too flexible to induce enantiomeric excess. The DEA derivatives containing an imidazole or benzimidazole provide distinctly different results despite relatively small differences between the heterocyclic carbene donors. An unexpected source of chiral induction is rationalized using results from catalytic data (% e.e.) and complemented by X-ray structural data and DFT calculations.
Interfacial debonding and sliding in brittle-matrix composites measured using an improved fiber pullout technique

A modified fiber pullout technique has been developed which allows direct experimental evaluation of the force-displacement relation for a crack-bridging fiber. The technique allows a continuous, accurate measurement of stable, progressive interfacial debonding and frictional sliding. Coupled with an appropriate analysis, the test provides a quantitative determination of interfacial properties relevant to the toughening of brittle materials through fiber-reinforcement. The technique has been used to measure interfacial debonding and sliding in three SiC fiber/glass composite systems. The fibers differ primarily in diameter and surface roughness characteristics allowing a unique evaluation of the effects of these parameters. The results indicate that fiber surface roughness plays a significant role in the interfacial debonding and sliding behavior. Load fluctuations observed during both monotonic and cyclic loading are explained by invoking the concept of asperity-asperity interaction during sliding at a rough interface.
Opportunistic network coding: Competitive analysis

It was recently shown that the reverse carpooling technique can realize the benefits of network coding while requiring only a simple coding scheme that can be efficiently implemented in practice. However, when no opportunity for coding exists at an intermediate (relay) node, it needs to decide whether to transmit an uncoded packet or wait for the next opportunity to create a coded packet. While the decision to wait for the next coding opportunity can reduce the number of transmissions, it incurs a penalty in terms of packet delay. In this paper we present an on-line algorithm for making transmit/wait decisions at the relay nodes. The algorithm minimizes the total system cost that includes both the number of transmissions as well as packet delay. Our algorithm is based on the primal-dual approach and achieves the competitive ratio of e/(e − 1).
The Most Cherished Myth: Puritanism and Liberty Reconsidered and Revised

This paper revisits and reconsiders the prevailing assumption or conventional wisdom about the association or affinity between Puritanism and liberty in historically Puritan societies, especially America and to a lesser extent Great Britain. It argues and elaborates on that the “Puritanism and liberty” equation or link is a naive assumption, speculative explanation or cherished liberal-democratic mythology analogous and related to, as well as even more enduring and prevalent than, what contemporary sociologists call the “beloved myth” of an elective affinity or connection between Calvinism and modern capitalism. The paper aims to fill in a void in the current sociological literature in which attempts to question and reveal the Puritanism and liberty equivalence as a myth are relatively infrequent. Overall, the paper aims to contribute to the existing literature on the relationships between Puritanism, Calvinism and other ascetic Protestantism on the one hand and modern democratic society on the other.
Multivariate analysis of the population structure of Sitona hispidulus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in alfalfa field soil.

The multivariate statistical techniques of canonical correlation and canonical redundancy analyses were used to assess the population structure of larvae of Sitona hispidulus (F.) in alfalfa field soil. A series of rhizosphere variables was correlated with a series of insect variables that represented the developmental stages of the insect to identify relationships between the insect and rhizosphere. Results indicated that 1st and 2nd-instar larvae were correlated with small root nodules and soil moisture, but not with taproot biomass. Third- and 4th-instar larvae and pupae were not correlated with any of the rhizosphere components measured. Fifth-instar larvae were associated with taproot biomass.
SU-FF-T-77: Measurement of the Average Seed Strength in a Mick Cartridge

Purpose: Develop an efficient method for the measurement of the average strength of brachytherapy seeds according to the 2008 recommendations of the AAPM Low Energy Brachytherapy Source Calibration Working Group. Method and Materials: The reentrant well ionization chamber is calibrated, at ADCL, for a single radioactive seed in a single‐seed holder. When the seeds, loaded in Mick cartridges, are received from the manufacturer, it is necessary, only one time, to open only one cartridge. The strength of each seed in this cartridge is measured in the reentrant well chamber using the single‐source holder and the ADCL calibration factor. As the seeds are removed from the Mick cartridge, one by one, the well chamber measurement is taken of the Mick cartridge, with the remaining seeds, in the Mick cartridge holder. Since the strength of each seed has been measured, the total strength of these remaining seeds in the Mick cartridge can be calculated. Results:Calibration coefficients have been determined for a Mick cartridge containing any number from 1 to 15 125I or 103Pd seeds. Using these coefficients the average strength of the seeds in the cartridge, with any number of seeds, can be determined with one single measurement in the reentrant well chamber. After the initial process, used to calculate the calibration coefficients, there is no more need to remove any seed from any cartridge. Typically, one‐minute measurements of the electric charge generated in the reentrant well chamber are used for each Mick cartridge. Conclusion: A time‐saving method for measurement of the average activity of 125I and 103Pd seeds has been developed. Only a one‐minute measurement of the electric charge generated in a reentrant well chamber is needed to calculate the average strength of the radioactive seeds in the Mick cartridge loaded with any number from 1 to 15 seeds.
Affordability After Subsidies: Understanding the Trajectories of Former Assisted Housing in Florida

Each year, thousands of units are lost from the assisted rental housing inventory through deterioration and default, subsidy expiration, and market-rate conversion. While a good deal of research and data collection has focused on identifying at-risk developments, less is known about what happens to former assisted developments after they exit income and rent restrictions. This article uses a survey of former assisted properties in Florida to identify their postsubsidy trajectories—that is, as to whether developments continue as rental housing, are converted to condominiums, or leave the housing stock through vacancy and demolition; and for those that continue as rental housing, whether they continue to offer affordable rents. Using logistic regression models, the article examines the property, housing market, and neighborhood characteristics that determine these trajectories. The results show that smaller properties, those that have been out of subsidy programs longer, and those in stronger neighborhood h...
Tracing the Fate of Petroleum Drilling Fluids in the Northwest Gulf of Mexico

Discharge of spent drilling fluids in the NW Gulf of Mexico has received much attention as operations move close to the coral reefs of the Texas Flower Garden Banks. Our study has addressed the problem of identifying and tracking drilling fluid components which have been discharged into the marine environment and evaluating the degree to which these components have impacted the area. Using sea-going clean lab techniques, suspended matter Ba concentrations have proven to be a sensitive indicator of dispersion pathways. Particulate Ba distribution has enabled us to: 1)identify rapid differential settling of much, but not all, of the Ba relative to other constituents upon discharge, 2)note that BaSO 4 -rich deposits, common in the sediments near a rig, are less susceptible to resuspension than normal aluminosilicate detritus and 3) distinguish normal water column particle-rich layers from drilling related lenses. At present, we find no evidence of the occurrence of drilling fluid components on the Flower Gardens, however, a several fold, non-problematic increase in suspended Ba occurs in the northern rig area.
Mexican Adolescents’ Perceptions of Parental Behaviors and Authority as Predictors of Their Self-Esteem and Sense of Familism

The influences of adolescents’ perceptions of parental behaviors and authority on the development of their self-esteem and sense of familism were examined among 534 youth living in Mexico. Results of hierarchical regression analyses suggest that boys’ perceptions of their mothers and fathers were similar in relation to their development of self-esteem and familism. Males tended to have higher self-esteem when they perceived their parents as monitoring their behavior, granting behavioral autonomy, and having the right to exercise influence over them. For boys’ sense of familism, parental influences tended to be less direct, with maternal and paternal education serving as negative predictors, while perceptions that mothers and fathers served as legitimate sources of guidance and advice were positive predictors of familism. For girls, significant predictors of familism and self-esteem varied in relation to mothers and fathers. Girls experienced higher levels of self-esteem when they perceived their mothers and fathers as facilitating connection, monitoring their behaviors, and as having the right to influence their behaviors and feelings. In addition, girls’ perceptions of their fathers’ expert authority also functioned as a significant predictor of their self-esteem. Mexican girls who perceived their mothers and fathers as having legitimate authority and as facilitating connection reported higher levels of familism. Additionally, age of adolescent, maternal education, and paternal education were significant predictors of familism for both boys and girls.
Teaching medical hypnosis: A pilot course at a University Medical School

Summary A course in medical hypnosis was offered in 1960–1961 to graduate physicians in early 1960 under the auspices of the Department of Neurology and Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Medicine. This course consisted of twelve four-hour sessions and six three-hour sessions, a total of 66 hours. It was divided into two main sections, basic hypnosis and clinical applications. Each session consisted of either one or two hours of lecture and clinical demonstration, followed by two hours of supervised practical work. Basic psychiatry was incorporated into the course in the form of twelve one-hour discussions at the beginning of each of the first twelve sessions. Problems of course content, methods of presentation, supervision, patient selection, and student selection are discussed.