cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Single-Center Comparison of Purely Laparoscopic, Hand-Assisted Laparoscopic, and Open Radical Nephrectomy in Patients at High Anesthetic Risk

Background and Purpose: The laparoscopic approach for management of high-risk patients with renal-cell carcinoma (RCC) may reduce perioperative and postoperative morbidity. The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of purely laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN), hand-assisted laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (HALRN), and open radical nephrectomy (ORN) for renal tumors in a population of patients at high risk for perioperative complications. Patients and Methods: All patients undergoing radical nephrectomy for presumed RCC between August 1999 and August 2001 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and having an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score of ≥3 were reviewed. Patients with known metastasis, local invasion, caval thrombi, or additional simultaneous surgical procedures were excluded from analysis. Thirteen patients underwent LRN, eight patients underwent HALRN, and 26 underwent ORN. The patient demographics were similar in the three groups. The groups were compared with regard ...
Pulmonary mycetoma due to Coccidioides immitis.

Pulmonary mycetoma due to Coccidioides immitis has been reported on three occasions. The present case is the fourth such report occurring in a patient with widely disseminated disease. Spherules and hyphae were found in the specimen. While the active pulmonary and extrapulmonary lesions responded well to therapy with amphotericin B, resection was required to eliminate the residual mycetoma and its attendant hemoptysis.
Statistical properties of scattering loss and mode splitting in microdisk resonators

We report an experimental observation that in high-Q silicon microdisk resonators, the intrinsic Q and mode splitting can vary significantly over the azimuthal orders. A theoretical roughness model qualitatively explains the observed results.
Quino[1,2‐c]quinazolines. II. Synthesis of 12,13‐dihydro‐11bH‐quino‐[1,2‐c]quinazolines via the versatile intermediates 2‐(2‐amino‐4,5‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐6,7‐disubstituted‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinolines

The versatile intermediates 2-(2-amino-4,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-6,7-dimethoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline (2a) and 6-(2-amino-4,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro[1,3]dioxolo[4,5-g]quinoline (2b) were used in the preparation of a wide variety of 12,13-dihydro-11bH-quino[1,2-c]quinazolines by reaction with triethyl orthoformate, cyanogen bromide, urea and carbon disulfide in pyridine. Reaction of the thio and keto products with methyl iodide and phosphorus oxychloride, respectively, gave the requisite methylthio and chloro derivatives. Novel Reissert type reactions occurred when the intermediates 2a,b were reacted with acetic anhydride or benzoyl chloride. The attempted dehydrogenation of 12,13-dihydro-2,3,9,10-tetramethoxy-11bH-quino[1,2-c]quinazoline (3a) is also reported.
Geomagnetic fluctuations reveal stable stratification at the top of the Earth/'s core

Modern observations of the geomagnetic field reveal fluctuations with a dominant period of about 60 years. These fluctuations are probably a result of waves in the liquid core, although the precise nature of the waves is uncertain. Common suggestions include a type of magnetic wave, known as a torsional oscillation, but recent studies favour periods that are too short to account for a 60-year fluctuation. Another possibility involves MAC waves, which arise from the interplay between magnetic, Archimedes and Coriolis forces. Waves with a suitable period can emerge when the top of the core is stably stratified. Here I show that MAC waves provide a good description of time-dependent zonal flow at the top of the core, as inferred from geomagnetic secular variation. The same wave motion can also account for unexplained fluctuations in the dipole field. Both of these independent predictions require a 140-kilometre-thick stratified layer with a buoyancy frequency comparable to the Earth's rotation rate. Such a stratified layer could have a thermal origin, implying a core heat flow of about 13 terawatts. Alternatively, the layer could result from chemical stratification. In either case, the existence of a stratified layer at the top of the core obscures the nature of flow deeper in the core, where the magnetic field is continually regenerated.
New Chiral Diphosphine Ligands Designed to have a Narrow Dihedral Angle in the Biaryl Backbone

A series of novel optically active diphosphine ligands, (4,4′-bi-1,3-benzodioxole)-5,5′-diylbis(diarylphosphine)s (6), which are called SEGPHOS, has been designed and synthesized with dihedral angles in the Ru complexes being less than that in the corresponding BINAP-Ru complex. The stereorecognition abilities of SEGPHOS-Ru complex catalysts in the asymmetric catalytic hydrogenation of a wide variety of carbonyl compounds are superior to those observed with BINAP-Ru complex catalysts.
Consequences of unilateral hearing loss: cortical adjustment to unilateral deprivation.

The effect of unilateral hearing loss on 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) uptake in the central auditory system was studied in postnatal day 21 gerbils. Three weeks following a unilateral conductive hearing loss (CHL) or cochlear ablation (CA), animals were injected with 2-DG and exposed to an alternating auditory stimulus (1 and 2 kHz tones). Uptake of 2-DG was measured in the inferior colliculus (IC), medial geniculate (MG), and auditory cortex (fields AI and AAF) of both sides of the brain in experimental animals and in anesthesia-only sham animals (SH). Significant differences in uptake, compared to SH, were found in the IC contralateral to the manipulated ear (CHL or CA) and in AAF contralateral to the CHL ear. We hypothesize that these findings may result from loss of functional inhibition in the IC contralateral to CA, but not CHL. Altered states of inhibition at the IC may affect activity in pathways ascending to auditory cortex, and ultimately activity in auditory cortex itself. Altered levels of activity in auditory cortex may explain some auditory processing deficits experienced by individuals with CHL.
School phobia: An overview

Abstract This article discusses general features of school phobia and specific clinical and familial traits and characteristics. Included are overviews of theoretical explanations, types of school phobia, suggested methods of treatment, and their efficacy.
Mechanism of acute lower extremity pain syndrome in fluoride-treated osteoporotic patients

Acute pain in the lower extremity, which has previously been attributed to synovitis or fasciitis, develops in about 15 percent of osteoporotic patients treated with sodium fluoride. This report describes 11 osteoporotic women in whom this syndrome developed while they were being treated with sodium fluoride (mean dose 78 mg per day; range, 60 to 90). [99mTc]Hydroxymethylene diphosphonate scintiscanning showed an increased number of foci of abnormal uptake in the lower extremities (p less than 0.05), when compared with results of scintiscanning in 12 nonsymptomatic osteoporotic women treated with sodium fluoride and 12 osteoporotic women treated with oral calcium carbonate only. The increased uptake was not restricted to the areas of pain. Roentgenography revealed stress microfractures in five of the 11 symptomatic patients. It is concluded that the acute lower extremity pain syndrome during fluoride therapy usually results from intense regional bone remodeling, which may be complicated by stress microfractures.
The foundations of constitutionalism: an analysis of debaathification

This article analyzes the administration of lustration—what Arthur Stinchcombe termed the “social basis of constitutionalism”—and its unintended consequences in comparative and international law and politics. It is concerned with the social function of animating ideas in the evolution of institutions. The article demonstrates that in the case of Iraq, the commitment of institutional engineers and transitional administrators to the idea of purifying the state, and their concomitant willingness to watch the institution of lustration naturally evolve in respect of that central idea, has had disastrous consequences for the foundations of constitutionalism. These consequences flowed from the institutional design of the U.S. occupation more generally. By reconstructing, for the very first time, the evolution of debaathification in contemporary Iraq, this article deepens our understanding of the foundations of constitutionalism. Aside from its contribution to the theory of institutional design, the article also speaks to the ongoing debate over the creation of governments, regimes, and states in the international system. In the context of this debate, which has important implications for the practice of institutional design, the administration of lustration—from within or from without—is an insufficiently understood phenomenon, making it a worthy subject for institutional analysis.
Seismic safety of lifelines—an optimum design method

Abstract Lifeline systems are vulnerable to two types of hazards arising from potential earthquake sources. These are the hazard of a fault-rupture strike on elements of a lifeline system and the hazard of overstress induced in different elements of the system because of the ground vibration. An optimum design method is presented in this paper for the design of a lifeline system for a maximum accepted probability of failure because of any of the two modes of failure. The method may be used to determine an optimum path between a number of fixed points which represent supply or demand stations in the system.
Radar Observations of Asteroid 1620 Geographos

Goldstone radar observations of Geographos from August 28 through September 2, 1994 yield over 400 delay-Doppler images whose linear spatial resolutions range from approximately 75 - 151 m, and 138 pairs of dual-polarization (OC, SC) spectra with one-dimensional resolution of 103 m. Each data type provides thorough rotational coverage. The images contain an intrinsic north/south ambiguity, but the equatorial view allows accurate determination of the shape of the radar-facing part of the asteroid's pole-on silhouette at any rotation phase. Sums of co-registered images that cover nearly a full rotation have defined the extremely elongated shape of that silhouette (S. J. Ostro, K. D. Rosema, R. S. Hudson, R. F. Jurgens, J. D. Giorgini, R. Winkler, D. K. Yeomans, D. Choate, R. Rose, M. A. Slade, S. D. Howard, and D. L. Mitchell 1995, Nature 375, 474-477). Here we present individual images and co-registered sums over approximately 30 deg of rotation phase that show the silhouette's structural characteristics in finer detail and also reveal numerous contrast features "inside" the silhouette. Those features include several candidate craters as well as indications of other sorts of large-scale topographic relief, including a prominent central indentation. Protuberances at the asteroid's ends may be related to the pattern of ejecta removal and deposition caused by the asteroid's gravity field. The asteroid's surface is homogeneous and displays only modest roughness at centimeter-to-meter scales. Our estimates of radar cross section and the currently available constraints on the asteroid's dimensions are consistent with a near-surface bulk density between 2 and 3 g/cc. The delay-Doppler trajectory of Geographos' center of mass has been determined to about 200 m on August 28 and to about 100 m on August 31, an improvement of two orders of magnitude over pre-observation ephemerides.
Chitosomes and chitin biogenesis

Abstract There appear to be two main types of cytoplasmic vesicles associated with cell wall construction in fungi. The polymers that comprise the amorphous phase of the wall are secreted in macrovesicles (e.g. the conspicuous ‘apical’ Resides of mycelial fungi); whereas chitin synthetase, the enzyme needed to make the microfibrillar skeleton of the wall of most fungi, is delivered separately in microvesicles (chitosomes). Chitosomes carry chitin synthetase in a zymogenic form. Presumably, zymogenicity delays the onset of chitin synthesis until after the chitosome has reached its destination and the zymogen is activated by surface proteases. Chitin synthetase comprises part of the shell or ‘membrane’ of the chitosome. It exists as a complex (16S subunit; mol. wt ~ 500 000) that can be reversibly dissociated with digitonin. The chitin made by dissociated chitosomes has a short, needle-like appearance. Evidently, the spatial organization of enzyme subunits in the chitosome provides conditions conducive to the assembly of long microfibrils.
Determination of intercellular bridge resistance in smooth muscle by measurement of injury and sucrose-gap potentials

Abstract This paper presents an analytical method of determining the intercellular bridge resistance between adjacent smooth muscle cells from measurements of injury and sucrose-gap potentials. Through a quantitative evaluation of the intercellular bridge resistance, the underlying mechanism of intercellular conduction may be deduced. Two intercellular models are considered. One model depicts cells connected end-to-end in the longitudinal cell direction, and the other considers cells radially or laterally bridged. In the latter model, equations for calculating the membrane resistance and the ratio of the bridge to membrane resistances are also derived.
The herbicide linuron reduces testosterone production from the fetal rat testis during both in utero and in vitro exposures.

Abstract In utero exposure to linuron, an urea-based herbicide, results in a pattern of malformations of androgen-dependent tissues in adult male rat offspring resembling that produced by some phthalate esters which are known to decrease fetal testosterone production. This study investigated the impact of in utero linuron treatment on fetal testis gene expression and testosterone production. Timed-pregnant Sprague Dawley rats were administered corn oil vehicle, 12.5, 25, 50 or 75 mg linuron/day/kg orally from GD13 to 18. Ex vivo testosterone (T) production was significantly decreased at 50 and 75 mg/kg when analyzed on a per litter basis. Unlike the phthalate esters, linuron treatment did not affect insl3, cyp17a, cyp11a or StAR mRNA expression. Control GD18 fetal testes were then incubated with increasing concentrations of linuron (1–300 μM) to evaluate if linuron inhibited T production in vitro. T production was significantly reduced at 30 μM and above. Progesterone production was not affected in any of the studies indicating that linuron directly inhibited testosterone production in the absence of cytotoxicity. These results indicate the malformations induced by linuron and phthalate esters in male offspring are similar because both reduce fetal T levels during the critical period of sex differentiation but suggest that the mechanisms differ.
Equation of state of molecular hydrogen and deuterium from shock-wave experiments to 760 kbar

We have carried out single-shock experiments with liquid deuterium to 210 kbar ($T\ensuremath{\approx}4800$ K) and reflected experiments to 760 kbar ($T\ensuremath{\approx}7000$ K) as well as single-shock experiments with liquid hydrogen to 100 kbar ($T\ensuremath{\approx}3300$ K). These data enable us to determine a theoretical spherically symmetric, effective intermolecular pair potential. Calculated solid isotherms are compared with recent static measurements.
Few-nucleon systems at MAMI and beyond

Few-body systems provide a testing ground for models of the NN interaction, reaction mechanisms and for models of nuclei. An overview of results of coincidence experiments on the deuteron, 3He and 4He obtained in the last 20 years at MAMI and at other facilities, covering a wide range of momentum and energy transfers, is presented.
Number of helper T cells and phytohemagglutinin stimulation correlate in cancer patients.

Mononuclear cells from 12 normal controls (co), 10 advanced untreated (c1), and 6 advanced treated cancer patients (c2) have been isolated. The numbers of mononuclear cells bearing Leu1, Leu2, Leu3, Leu2/HLA-DR and LeuM3 were measured with a fluorescence-activated cell sorter. Only the quantity of helper T cells (Leu3) was decreased in cancer patients (co: 0.89, c1: 0.32, c2: 0.44 × 109/1). Expression of all other markers, including activated suppressor T cells (Leu2/HLA-DR), did not differ significantly from the control. The proliferation of the lymphocytes was determined in a phytohemagglutininculture assay. The cancer groups showed a significantly decreased response (co: 95.8 × 109, cl: 28.7 × 109, c2: 25.7 × 109 cpm). These values correlated with the number of helper T cells but not with the suppressor T cells. Monocytes of cancer patients adsorbed significantly more immunoglobulins than the monocytes of controls. The addition of indomethacin or isoprinosine to phytohemagglutinin-culture assay increased the proliferation of lymphocytes from both the cancer patients and normal controls.
Ultrasonication and Edible Coating Effects on Lipid Oxidation of Roasted Peanuts

Lipid oxidation is an important factor affecting the quality of roasted peanuts. Coatings applied to the peanuts can enhance oxygen barriers to reduce rancidity. Ultrasonication was used to remove lipids from the peanuts prior to applying the coating to improve attachment of the coating on the peanut surface. Peanuts were roasted at 178°C for 15 min and then sonicated in hexane for 10 min. Whey protein isolate (WPI) 11%, corn protein (Zein) 15%, and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) 0.5% were used as coating materials. Sample treatments were: (1) roasted–coated with CMC (RCMC), WPI (RWPI), and Zein (RZEIN); (2) roasted–sonicated–coated with CMC (SCMC), WPI (SWPI), and Zein (SZEIN); (3) roasted–uncoated (R) as a control. Oxidative stability was investigated by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) to detect formation of volatile compounds. The GC–MS indicated an eightfold, fivefold, and fourfold increase in hexanal formation in R, RZEIN, and SZEIN samples, respectively. But there was 80%, 91%, 18%, and 66% decrease in hexanal formation in RCMC, SCMC, RWPI, and SWPI samples, respectively, as compared to R. Sonication increased capability of coatings to delay hexanal formation by 11% and 48% for CMC and WPI, respectively, as compared to nonsonicated samples. Thus, the coating in combination with ultrasonication treatment was an effective method in delaying formation of oxidative volatile compounds and hence inhibiting rancidity of roasted peanuts.
The effect of classification errors upon statistical inference: a case analysis with census data.

La pregunta acerca de la exactitud de los datos eeneales ha inquietado durante tiempo a los dem6grafos. En 1950 la Oficina de Censoe de los Estados Unidos llev6 a cabo una extensa encuesta post-censal a efectos de estudiar eete problema. El resultado mas importante fue, que aunque el error bruto de clasificacion fue muy alto en muchas categorias, la tendencia a la compensacion de los errores hizo que el error neto fuera relativamente pequeno,
Matching of structural motifs using hashing on residue labels and geometric filtering for protein function prediction.

There is an increasing number of proteins with known structure but unknown function. Determining their function would have a significant impact on understanding diseases and designing new therapeutics. However, experimental protein function determination is expensive and very time-consuming. Computational methods can facilitate function determination by identifying proteins that have high structural and chemical similarity. Our focus is on methods that determine binding site similarity. Although several such methods exist, it still remains a challenging problem to quickly find all functionally-related matches for structural motifs in large data sets with high specificity. In this context, a structural motif is a set of 3D points annotated with physicochemical information that characterize a molecular function. We propose a new method called LabelHash that creates hash tables of n-tuples of residues for a set of targets. Using these hash tables, we can quickly look up partial matches to a motif and expand those matches to complete matches. We show that by applying only very mild geometric constraints we can find statistically significant matches with extremely high specificity in very large data sets and for very general structural motifs. We demonstrate that our method requires a reasonable amount of storage when employing a simple geometric filter and further improves on the specificity of our previous work while maintaining very high sensitivity. Our algorithm is evaluated on 20 homolog classes and a non-redundant version of the Protein Data Bank as our background data set. We use cluster analysis to analyze why certain classes of homologs are more dicult to classify than others. The LabelHash algorithm is implemented on a web server at http://kavrakilab.org/labelhash/.
Interleukin 10, produced in response to biliary obstruction and hepatic infection, is protective

Abstract Background: patients with jaundice are at higher risk for infection. We study the role of Interleukin 10 in a murine model of hepatic infection with a clinically relevant pathogen, E. Coli, in the presence of jaundice caused by bile duct ligation (BDL). Methods: C57BL/6 mice were subjected to BDL with concurrent portal vein (PV) injection of various doses of E. Coli. Survival, colony counts recovered in liver at 4 and 24 hours, Interleukin 10 mRNA and protein levels were measured. BDL/PV injection was performed in Interleukin 10-/- and wildtype (WT- control) mice. Survival was monitored. Results: BDL altered the response to PV injection of E. Coli- LD100 in presence of BDL = 2 × 105 cfu; LD100 without BDL = 2 × 107cfu; survival at day 7 after PV injection of 2 × 105 cfu: BDL/PV = 18%, sham/PV0 = 100%). BDL/PV injection of 2 × 105 cfu E. Coli demonstrated increased hepatic bacterial growth production of Interleukin 10 mRNA and protein at 24 hours after infection, compared with animals that were subjected to portal venous infection without BDL. Injection of 2 × 105 cfu E. Coli into Interleukin 10-/- subjected to BDL/PV resulted in significantly decreased survival compared with WT mice ( 20% vs 80%—n = 10 in each group—see figure). Conclusions: Biliary obstruction impairs clearance of portal venous pathogen. This is associated with an increase in hepatic Interleukin 10 mRNA and protein production. Elimination of Interleukin 10 by transgenic knock-out impairs survival after portal venous infection with concurrent biliary obstruction. This finding suggests that Interleukin 10 may play a role in controlling the inflammatory response to infection and that elimination of this key regulatory cytokine may result in death from inflammation.
Analysis of an anomalous mutant of MutM DNA glycosylase leads to new insights into the catalytic mechanism

To determine the factors involved in the specific recognition function of a bacterial 8-oxoguanine (oxoG) DNA glycosylase MutM, a series of potentials of mean force and thermodynamic integration simulations were performed with the wild type and a single-point E3Q mutant of MutM bound to oxoG and G-containing DNA, respectively. Interestingly, the mutation of the catalytically important Glu3 (E3) residue to Gln (Q) significantly changes the free-energy surface so that oxoG can bind stably in the active site of the enzyme. Free-energy simulations with the protonated and deprotonated E3 residue further showed that the protonation of the catalytically important E3 residue plays a key role in distinguishing oxoG versus G in the active site by lowering the free energy of oxoG preferentially in the active site. The results suggest that MutM utilizes the thermodynamic recognition mechanism for stable binding of the lesion base in the active site of the enzyme in addition to kinetic discrimination at the early stage of the base extrusion for facilitated extrusion of oxoG.
NSF's role in optical information processing

In this presentation the topic surrounding NSF's role in the growing research area of Optical Information Processing (Lightwave Technology, Photonics, Optoelectronics, Optical Communications, and Optical Computing), is discussed. In particular, the interaction of university research and industrial participation is explored. Opportunities for joint projects, information exchange, sharing of equipment, expertise, and facilities among research partners are discussed. The changing posture of NSF in terms of emphasis on education, cross- disciplinary activities, human resources and interaction with government labs and industry is introduced.
Engineering the Bioeconomy

The bioeconomy is most associated with renewable bio-based fuels for meeting transportation and stationary energy needs. At the federal level, the U.S. Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 set a target of 36 billion gallons of bio-based fuel production by the year 2022. Of this, 16 billion gallons are to be produced from nonstarch sources of sugars such as agricultural and forestry biomass. State governments are also participating as over half have enacted renewable electricity standards that promote the use of bio-based energy sources. Market forces are beginning to drive the bioeconomy as the private sector becomes increasingly aware of the beneficial uses of by-products from biofuel production, as animal feeds, neutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, and other valuable chemicals. Engineering a sustainable and efficient bioeconomy requires a monumental research effort. Systems analysis, including the tools of life-cycle assessment and economics, is needed to transparently quantify the economic, environmental, and social costs as well as benefits of adopting bio-based supply chains and technologies. Profitability is now computed not only from the sale of products and by-products but also by carbon and renewable energy credits. Considering environmental and social qualitative impacts, both positive and negative, is essential to avoid unintended consequences. Research in agriculture, silviculture, and biomass conversion is actively being pursued to support the burgeoning bioeconomy. Biomass sources such as energy crops and cellulosic residues that can be economically and sustainably converted into bio-based products are being developed. Traditional agricultural research is again needed, not on food production, but instead on growing,
Beneficial effects of pharmacotherapy on weight loss, depressive symptoms, and eating patterns in obese binge eaters and non-binge eaters.

ALGER, SHARON A., MARGARET MALONE, JENNIFER CERULLI, STEVEN FEIN, LYN HOWARD. Beneficial effects of pharmacotherapy on weight loss, depressive symptoms, and eating patterns in obese binge eaters and non-binge eaters. Obes Res. Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the impact of drug therapy on weight loss, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores, and binge eating patterns (BES) between obese binge eaters and non-binge eaters. Research Methods and Procedures: 22 severe binge eaters, 17 moderate binge eaters, and 16 non-binge eaters received phentermine resin 15mg/day and dl-fenfluramine 20mg three times daily over a 6 month period for weight loss. All data are reported as mean±S. Results: The percent weight loss compared to baseline within the 3 groups ranged from 8. 9% to 11. 3% at 3 months and 10. 6% to 14. 9% at 6 months. After 6 months, 73% of the severe binge eaters, 59% of moderate binge eaters and 69% of non-binge eaters had experienced more than 10% weight loss. BDI scores were significantly higher in the severe group at baseline when compared to non-binge eaters (p<0. 006). After 3 and 6 months BDI scores improved in all groups but remained significantly different between the severe and non-binge eaters until the 6-month assessment. BES scores declined in all groups over the 6-month period. Echocardiograms were performed in 35 of 55 subjects following reports of a possible association between fenfluramine and valvular changes. Fifteen (43%) of subjects had no abnormal findings and 20 (57%) had evidence of valvular insufficiency occurring in one or more valves. Seven patients (20%) had significant valve damage according to the DHHS and FDA criteria. Conclusion: After 24 weeks of treatment severe binge eaters improved their eating pattern, depression scores, and achieved weight loss similar to non-binge eaters. These data suggest that pharmacologic intervention for weight loss and subsequent weight maintenance can be as successful in binge eaters as non-binge eaters. A relationship was seen between duration of drug treatment and valvular insufficiency in subjects treated for an average of 52 weeks. These findings validate the FDA requirement for studies of at least 1 year duration to evaluate both the safety and efficacy of pharmacologic treatment for obesity.
The K Spectra of Element 61

The ${K}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}1}$, ${K}_{\ensuremath{\alpha}2}$, ${K}_{\ensuremath{\beta}1}$, and ${K}_{\ensuremath{\beta}2}$ lines of the x-ray spectra of element 61 were obtained from 1.5 mg of sample of the chloride salt. The sample was fused on a copper target and bombarded with electrons from a 70-kv source. Wave-length measurements were made from a microphotometer tracing of the film. After one exposure of the sample, neodymium and samarium were added to the target and the spectrum of the three elements was recorded to show the position of element 61 in the periodic table.
Examining intra-urban variation in fine particle mass constituents using GIS and constrained factor analysis

Abstract Recent studies have used land use regression (LUR) techniques to explain spatial variability in exposures to PM2.5 and traffic-related pollutants. Factor analysis has been used to determine source contributions to measured concentrations. Few studies have combined these methods, however, to construct and explain latent source effects. In this study, we derive latent source factors using confirmatory factor analysis constrained to non-negative loadings, and develop LUR models to predict the influence of outdoor sources on latent source factors using GIS-based measures of traffic and other local sources, central site monitoring data, and meteorology. We collected 3–4 day samples of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and PM2.5 outside of 44 homes in summer and winter, from 2003 to 2005 in and around Boston, Massachusetts. Reflectance analysis, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), and high-resolution inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) were performed on particle filters to estimate elemental carbon (EC), trace element, and water-soluble metals concentrations. Within our constrained factor analysis, a five-factor model was optimal, balancing statistical robustness and physical interpretability. This model produced loadings indicating long-range transport, brake wear/traffic exhaust, diesel exhaust, fuel oil combustion, and resuspended road dust. LUR models largely corroborated factor interpretations through covariate significance. For example, ‘long-range transport’ was predicted by central site PM2.5 and season; ‘brake wear/traffic exhaust’ and ‘resuspended road dust’ by traffic and residential density; ‘diesel exhaust’ by percent diesel traffic on nearest major road; and ‘fuel oil combustion’ by population density. Results suggest that outdoor residential PM2.5 source contributions can be partially predicted using GIS-based terms, and that LUR techniques can support factor interpretation for source apportionment. Together, LUR and factor analysis facilitate source identification, assessment of spatial and temporal variability, and more refined source exposure assignment for evaluation of source contributions to health outcomes in epidemiological studies.
Circadian rhythm of rat liver and lung collagenase activity.

Abstract Heart and liver collagenase activity displayed circadian rhythmicity with maxima in the early morning and minima during the afternoon and early evening. The daily variation of this enzyme may have profound effects on urinary hydroxyproline excretion. These data are important in view of the use of urinary hydroxyproline levels as a parameter of collagen metabolism in animals and as a clinical diagnostic tool.
Ag-Cu and As-Sb exchange energies in tetrahedrite-tennantite fahlores

Fahlerz group sulfosalts having the general structural formula (Ag, Cu){sup III}{sub 6}((Ag, Cu){sub 2/3}(Fe, Zn){sub 1/3}){sup IV}{sub 6}(As, Sb){sub 4}S{sub 13} have been equilibrated with the assemblage electrum + pyrite + chalocopyrite in reversed exchange experiments. Control of log (a{sub s}) at {minus}6.0 was maintained by abundant FeS{sub 2} + (Fe{sub .05}Zn{sub .95})S and minimum vapor space. Reversal brackets demonstrate that the Ag/(Ag + Cu) and As/(As + Sb) ratios in this sulfosalt are strongly correlated, at a fixed composition of coexisting electrum. Evaluated in the context of the thermochemical model of Sack et al. (1987), these results indicate that the molar Gibbs energy of the reciprocal reaction Ag{sub 10}Fe{sub 2}Sb{sub 4}S{sub 13} + Cu{sub 10}Fe{sub 2}As{sub 4}S{sub 13} {r equilibrium} Ag{sub 10}Fe{sub 2}As{sub 4}S{sub 13} + Cu{sub 10}Fe{sub 2}Sb{sub 4}S{sub 13}, ({Delta}{bar G}{sup 0}{sub 34}) is 12.25 {plus minus} 1.92 kilocalories. This provides a crucial missing parameter for the thermodynamic calculations the authors have developed earlier. This model is applied to calculation of end-member activities; integration with studies of hydrothermal fluids in ore-forming systems is planned.
Immediate carbon monoxide estimates and self-reported smoking.

Because carbon monoxide (CO) is an easily understood danger of cigarette smoking, new breath CO analyzers may be useful in cessation programs. Self-reported cigarette consumption and breath CO correlated .70 using a 90-sec. CO-determination method. Smokers averaging 17 daily cigarettes had average breath CO of 24 parts per million (ppm), falling to 7.71 ppm for smokers claiming at least 24-hr. abstinence. Corresponding carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) estimates were 4.34% (slightly above World Health Organization 4% safety limit) and 1.39%. Smoking clinics can use CO-monitoring devices for feedback or surveillance, although feedback would provide the most benefits for participants.
A tutorial on laser interferometry for precision measurements

Laser interferometers have found wide usage in a variety of precision measurement applications. The ability to gain precise position information with minimal change to the dynamics of the device being measured has a large set of advantages. This allows interferometer systems to be used in feedback loops for precision systems. This paper presents a tutorial on laser interferometers, their use in precision motion feedback systems, the issues faced by such systems, and some of the solutions that have been applied to these issues.
Delivery of CSF-1R to the lumen of macropinosomes promotes its destruction in macrophages

Activation of the macrophage colony stimulating factor-1 receptor (CSF-1R) by CSF-1 stimulates pronounced macropinocytosis and drives proliferation of macrophages. Although the role of macropinocytosis in CSF-1R signaling remains unknown, we show here that, despite internalizing large quantities of plasma membrane, macropinosomes contribute little to the internalization of the CSF-1–CSF-1R complex. Rather, internalization of the CSF-1R in small endocytic vesicles that are sensitive to clathrin disruption, outcompetes macropinosomes for CSF-1R endocytosis. Following internalization, small vesicles carrying the CSF-1R underwent homotypic fusion and then trafficked to newly formed macropinosomes bearing Rab5. As these macropinosomes matured, acquiring Rab7, the CSF-1R was transported into their lumen and degraded. Inhibition of macropinocytosis delayed receptor degradation despite no disruption to CSF-1R endocytosis. These data indicate that CSF-1-stimulated macropinosomes are sites of multivesicular body formation and accelerate CSF-1R degradation. Furthermore, we demonstrate that macropinocytosis and cell growth have a matching dose dependence on CSF-1, suggesting that macropinosomes might be a central mechanism coupling CSF-1R signaling and macrophage growth.
The Sedimentary Record of Sea-Level Change

Angela L. Coe (Editor), 2003, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 288 p. (Soft Cover, US $50.00) ISBN: 0-521-53842-4. My first serious exposure to sequence stratigraphy was in a graduate seminar over 10 years ago. To be honest, it was pretty hard going; I had to read papers many times over and often still was not sure that I fully understood them. For one thing, the jargon of sequence stratigraphy is remarkably dense (despite its usefulness once basic concepts are grasped). Also, many papers that are now regarded as canonical because they clarify certain theoretical or practical issues had not yet appeared or had only recently been published and had not yet been digested by the broader stratigraphic community (to say nothing of a very green graduate student). Despite the familiarity of many of the concepts, the fundamental connections were difficult to grasp and weave into an integrated whole. Nevertheless, reading about and discussing these ideas was exciting because, as they came together, I felt like I was learning something genuinely new (at least to me). Since that time, sequence stratigraphy has become a fundamental part of my research as a paleontologist–to a large degree because I still find the challenge of using these ideas exciting. From my personal point of view, I see sequence stratigraphy as fundamentally related to paleontology: after all, it aims to understand rock in a temporal framework just as paleontology aims to understand past life in a temporal framework. This connection, hinted at very early by Cisne and Rabe (1978), was largely overlooked except by taphonomists (e.g., Kidwell, 1984). However, as paleontologists have begun seeing past the veil of jargon, the relevance of sequence stratigraphy has become increasingly evident (e.g., Patzkowsky and Holland, 1999; Holland et al., 2001; Babcock, 2001; Olszewski and …
Auto-Graphics Impact/ILL: A Tutorial

The interlibrary loan network, the Oklahoma Telecommunications Interlibrary System was a hierarchical arrangement of local libraries. Without direct access to holdings statewide, these libraries funneled their requests to regional transmission sites. They wanted to become more involved in their process and would be equipped with access to the state's holdings of other libraries
Uncertainty estimation of historical bathymetric data from Bayesian networks

We have developed a Bayesian network to aid estimation of uncertainty for gridded bathymetry data sets in the Digital Bathymetrie Data Base — Variable Resolution, maintained at the Naval Oceanographie Office. These estimates did not previously exist and are now needed so that these data can be stored in the Bathymetrie Attributed Grid files, which require both bathymetry and uncertainty. Monte Carlo simulations have been used in the literature to calculate how navigation error, sensor error, and bottom gradient propagates into bathymetrie uncertainty. This procedure, however, requires the use of original soundings data. Attempting this approach for all soundings used to make the data base is not pragmatic due to the vast quantity of data used. Bayesian networks can be a pragmatic alternative, however, as this approach propagates probability densities of the inputs to calculate probabilities of the end result, resulting in computations that are simpler and more rapid than direct simulations. Valid application of the technique relies on the assumption that measurement errors and bottom slope propagate into bathymetrie uncertainty independent of actual measurement location. We discuss how we used the published Monte Carlo techniques on representative sets of soundings data to train the network and implemented the network to estimate the propagation of navigation error and bottom slope to bathymetrie uncertainty in historic data. We also test the validity of applying this approach to estimate bathymetrie uncertainty through comparisons of these estimates from the Bayesian net and Monte Carlo techniques.
Naloxone antagonism of hyperactivity in morphine-treated hamsters

Two experiments investigated the effects of amount of exposure to morphine on naloxone (0.4 mg/kg)-induced changes in hamster running-wheel activity. Naloxone injections were given on the first, fifth, or ninth test day of morphine administration. In Experiment 1, naloxone was given 2 h after a 15-mg/kg dose of morphine. The results indicated that naloxone-precipitated hypoactivity increased across test days. In Experiment 2, naloxone was given 10 min after a 2.5-mg/kg dose of morphine. The results indicated that naloxone antagonized morphine-elicited hyperactivity and that naloxone’s effects increased across test days. These findings are discussed in terms of several hypotheses of naloxone-induced changes in morphine-treated hamsters.
Effect of red blood cells from patients with sickle cell disease on platelet factor 3 release.

Red cells from two SS genotype and two SA genotype patients were sampled. When the samples were deoxygenated and mixed with platelet-rich plasma, they caused the release of platelet factor 3 as recorded in a coagulometer. This phenomenon was not present in control blood samples from normal individuals. Membrane changes in abnormal red cells during hypoxia may be responsible in part for platelet activation and its role in vasoocclusive crisis. Vasoocclusive crisis could be prevented by increasing the red cell membrane fluidity and inhibiting the platelet aggregation with pentoxifylline. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Buffer block planning for interconnect-driven floorplanning

This paper studies buffer block planning for interconnect-driven floorplanning in deep submicron designs. We first introduce the concept of feasible region (FR) for buffer insertion, and derive closed-form formula for FR. We observe that the FR for a buffer is quite large in general even under fairly tight delay constraint. Therefore, FR gives us a lot of flexibility to plan for buffer locations. We then develop an effective buffer block planning (BBP) algorithm to perform buffer clustering such that the overall chip area and the buffer block number can be minimized. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first in-depth study on buffer planning for interconnect-driven floorplanning with both area and delay consideration.
Incident Syphilis among Women with Multiple Admissions to Jail in New York City

Although early syphilis morbidity in New York City (NYC) has declined to a record low, syphilis seroreactivity among women jailed in NYC is approximately 25%. By use of a retrospective cohort-type analysis of longitudinal serologic and treatment data collected at the time of each incarceration, the incidence of syphilis infection among 3579 susceptible women jailed multiple times in NYC between 23 March 1993 and 10 April 1997 was estimated. Syphilis incidence densities were estimated by use of continuous, time-homogeneous Markov models. There was a total of 289 incident infections. The overall incidence density was 6.5 infections per 100 woman-years (95% confidence interval, 5.7-7.2), which exceeds the 1997 early syphilis rate among women in NYC by>1000-fold. The persisting high incidence of syphilis in this population underscores the importance of aggressive syphilis control in correctional settings, even in the face of declining local early syphilis rates.
Simulations as a Source of Learning: Using StarPower to Teach Ethical Leadership and Management

This research examines the use simulation, StarPower, as an instrument to teach students about ethics in management and leadership. The paper begins with an overview of sources of learning in leadership and management development and later focuses specifically on the use of simulations. This is followed by a brief explanation of the StarPower simulation and the results of an exploratory study conducted. It was determined that 100% of participants found the activity educational and would recommend using it again in the future. In addition, 96% of the participants responded that StarPower is an effective activity for teaching students about ethical behavior.
Relaxed Substrate Specificity Leads to Extensive tRNA Mischarging by Streptococcus pneumoniae Class I and Class II Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases

ABSTRACT Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases provide the first step in protein synthesis quality control by discriminating cognate from noncognate amino acid and tRNA substrates. While substrate specificity is enhanced in many instances by cis- and trans -editing pathways, it has been revealed that in organisms such as Streptococcus pneumoniae some aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases display significant tRNA mischarging activity. To investigate the extent of tRNA mischarging in this pathogen, the aminoacylation profiles of class I isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase (IleRS) and class II lysyl-tRNA synthetase (LysRS) were determined. Pneumococcal IleRS mischarged tRNA Ile with both Val, as demonstrated in other bacteria, and Leu in a tRNA sequence-dependent manner. IleRS substrate specificity was achieved in an editing-independent manner, indicating that tRNA mischarging would only be significant under growth conditions where Ile is depleted. Pneumococcal LysRS was found to misaminoacylate tRNA Lys with Ala and to a lesser extent Thr and Ser, with mischarging efficiency modulated by the presence of an unusual U4:G69 wobble pair in the acceptor stems of both pneumococcal tRNA Lys isoacceptors. Addition of the trans- editing factor MurM, which also functions in peptidoglycan synthesis, reduced Ala-tRNA Lys production by LysRS, providing evidence for cross talk between the protein synthesis and cell wall biogenesis pathways. Mischarging of tRNA Lys by AlaRS was also observed, and this would provide additional potential MurM substrates. More broadly, the extensive mischarging activities now described for a number of Streptococcus pneumoniae aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases suggest that adaptive misaminoacylation may contribute significantly to the viability of this pathogen during amino acid starvation. IMPORTANCE Streptococcus pneumoniae is a common causative agent of several debilitating and potentially life-threatening infections, such as pneumonia, meningitis, and infectious endocarditis. Such infections are increasingly difficult to treat due to widespread development of penicillin resistance. High-level penicillin resistance is known to depend in part upon MurM, a protein involved in both aminoacyl-tRNA-dependent synthesis of indirect amino acid cross-linkages within cell wall peptidoglycan and in translation quality control. The involvement of MurM in both protein synthesis and antibiotic resistance identify it as a potential target for the development of new and potent antibiotics for pneumococcal infections. The goals of this work were to identify and characterize S. pneumoniae pathways that can synthesize mischarged tRNAs and to relate these activities to expected changes in protein and peptidoglycan biosynthesis during antibiotic and nutritional stress.