cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Racial and Ethnic Differences in Incidence and Disease Specific Survival of Multiple Myeloma- New Mexico Tumor Registry Based Study

Background: Multiple Myeloma is a plasma cell neoplasm which is characterized by an increase in monoclonal proteins or light chains and end-organ damage. Multiple Myeloma accounts for 1.8% of all new cancer cases in the United States, with an estimated 32,110 new cases annually. In population-based studies, African Americans have a higher incidence of Myeloma and inferior outcomes when compared to Caucasians. Disparities in the incidence of Myeloma for other races in the United States also exist but are not well studied.(1). Analyses of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program (SEER) data showed that Hispanics had poor or delayed access to novel agents and transplant, and poor overall survival.(2). Data for Native Americans was not reported due to small or insignificant numbers. New Mexico is a majority minority state, with approximately 1 million Hispanics residing in the state, constituting 49.1% of the total population and the largest statewide percentage of Hispanic residents nationally. (3) New Mexico also has a sizable population of 219,237 Native Americans, who make-up nearly 10.5% of the state's entire population. (3) Hence, the significant minority population in New Mexico allows the comparison of incidence between racial and ethnic subgroups as well as disease specific survival of Myeloma in New Mexico residents using the New Mexico Tumor Registry. Methods: We utilized data from the New Mexico Tumor Registry to study patients with a documented diagnosis of Myeloma. Descriptive statistics including the incidence rates of myeloma and Kaplan-Meier product-limit methods to assess cause-specific survival for incident myeloma cases diagnosed among New Mexico residents during the time period 2008-2017. Other variables including transplantation rates were also studied but are not reported in this abstract. Results: Men had higher incidence of Myeloma compared to females (p Conclusion: Racial-ethnic differences in incidence and disease specific survival of Multiple Myeloma were evident but were not statistically significant in New Mexico, except incidence of Multiple Myeloma among Hispanic females compared to Non-Hispanic white females. Further study of disease-related factors (high risk disease, mutational profiles, stage at diagnosis) and patient-related factors (access to standard treatments, transplantation or clinical trials) may be needed to understand these differences and better care for the patients. Download : Download high-res image (737KB) Download : Download full-size image Disclosures Andritsos: Innate Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria.
Antimicrobial carbon nanodots: photodynamic inactivation and dark antimicrobial effects on bacteria by brominated carbon nanodots

The evolving threat of antibiotic resistance development in pathogenic bacteria necessitates the continued cultivation of new technologies and agents to mitigate associated negative health impacts globally. It is no surprise that infection prevention and control are cited by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as two routes for combating this dangerous trend. One technology that has gained great research interest is antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation of bacteria, or APDI. This technique permits controllable activation of antimicrobial effects by combining specific light excitation with the photodynamic properties of a photosensitizer; when activated, the photosensitizer generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) from molecular oxygen via either a type I (electron transfer) or type II (energy transfer) pathway. These species subsequently inflict oxidative damage on nearby bacteria, resulting in suppressed growth and cell death. To date, small molecule photosensitizers have been developed, yet the scalability of these as widespread sterilization agents is limited due to complex and costly synthetic procedures. Herein we report the use of brominated carbon nanodots (BrCND) as new photosensitizers for APDI. These combustion byproducts are easily and inexpensively collected; incorporation of bromine into the nanodot permits photosensitization effects that are not inherent to the carbon nanodot structure alone-a consequence of triplet character gained by the heavy atom effect. BrCND demonstrate both type I and type II photosensitization under UV-A irradiation, and furthermore are shown to have significant antimicrobial effects against both Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes as well. A mechanism of "dark" toxicity is additionally reported; the pH-triggered release of reactive nitrogen species is detected from a carbon nanodot structure for the first time. The results described present the BrCND structure as a competitive new antimicrobial agent for controllable sterilization of bacteria.
International Context of the New Era and the Caspian Sea Region

The geopolitical importance of the Caspian region is also based on the existence of energy resources in this region. Security is a vital need for the uninterrupted and continuous transfer of Caspian oil and gas. The Caspian Sea region (South Caucasus and Central Asia) has 3–4% of the world’s oil reserves and 4–6% of the world’s gas reserves. The share of the Caspian Sea in the world’s oil and gas resources is not significant. However, in the face of uncertainty over the flow of oil production and supply from the Persian Gulf, as well as the possibility that Russia may use energy delivery as a tool of power, the transfer of energy from the Caspian Sea and Central Asia (Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan) to the West via the Caucasus has become vital.
Distinguishing craniomorphometric characteristics and severity in metopic synostosis patients

The decision about which metopic synostosis patients should undergo surgery remains controversial. Multiple measures for radiographic severity have been developed in order to determine the optimal criteria for treatment. The aim of this study was to perform an extensive craniomorphometric analysis of patients who underwent surgery for metopic synostosis to validate and compare the various severity scales developed for this non-syndromic craniosynostosis. A comparative morphometric analysis was performed using computed tomography scans of preoperative metopic synostosis patients (n=167) and normal controls (n=44). Measurements included previous and newly developed metopic severity indices. Volumetric and area analyses were used to determine the degree of anterior cranial area and potential volume restrictions. Of the severity indices measured, the frontal angle, endocranial bifrontal angle (EBF), adjusted EBF (aEBF), anterior cranial fossa angle, horizontal cone angle, and bitemporal/biparietal distance ratio were significantly different in the metopic subjects relative to controls overall. However, metopic index, orbital rim angle, foramen ovale distance, and cranial volume exhibited no significant difference from controls. Only the frontal angle and aEBF correlated with the changes in anterior cranial dimensions observed in metopic synostosis. In conclusion, the frontal angle and aEBF provide the most accurate measures of severity in metopic synostosis.
Post-stroke deficits in mediolateral foot placement accuracy depend on the prescribed walking task

Abstract People with chronic stroke (PwCS) are susceptible to mediolateral losses of balance while walking, possibly due in part to inaccurate control of mediolateral paretic foot placement. We hypothesized that mediolateral foot placement errors when stepping to stationary or shifting visual targets would be larger for paretic steps than for steps taken by neurologically-intact individuals, hereby referred to as controls. Secondarily, we hypothesized that paretic foot placement errors would be correlated with previously identified deficits in isolated paretic hip abduction accuracy. 34 PwCS and 12 controls walked overground on an instrumented mat used to quantify foot placement location relative to parallel lines separated by various widths (10, 20, 30 cm). With stationary step width targets, foot placement errors were larger for paretic steps than for either non-paretic or control steps, most notably for the narrowest prescribed step width (mean absolute errors of 3.9, 2.3, and 1.9 cm, respectively). However, no differences in foot placement accuracy were observed immediately following visual target shifts, as all groups required multiple steps to achieve the new prescribed step width. Paretic hip abduction accuracy was moderately correlated with mediolateral foot placement accuracy when stepping to stationary targets (r = 0.49), but not shifting targets (r = 0.16). The present results suggest that a reduced ability to accurately abduct the paretic leg contributes to inaccurate paretic foot placement. However, the need to ensure mediolateral walking balance through mechanically-appropriate foot placement may often override the prescribed goal of stepping to visual targets, a concern of particular importance for narrow steps.
Asset depreciation method comparison: An excel-based classroom exercise

In response to research indicating a need for an increased emphasis on aspects of corporate accounting, including corporate taxation, in the accounting curriculum as well as employer expectations t...
Performance of 18F-Fluciclovine PET/CT for detection of recurrent prostate cancer, with a focus on low PSA levels (< 1 ng/mL): A single institution experience.

1246 Objectives: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the detection rate of 18F-Fluciclovine PET/CT relative to the level of PSA in patients with biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer, with a focus on low PSA levels (< 1 ng/mL). Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study of consecutive 103 male patients who underwent 18F-Fluciclovine PET/CT for biochemical recurrence of prostate cancer between February 2018 and January 2019 at our institution. Patient demographics, prior PSA, clinical information including prior treatment was recorded. Scans were deemed positive if definitive lesions were noted at the prostate bed, pelvic lymph nodes, skeleton, or other organs. Detection rate was the ratio of positive over total scans and was calculated for different PSA ranges (less than 1 ng/mL, 1 to less than 2 ng/mL, 2 to less than 5 ng/mL, and 5 or more ng/mL). The subgroup of PSA less than 1 ng/mL was subsequently analyzed separately. Results: The median PSA is 2.5 (ranging from <0.1 to 58 ng/mL). The overall detection rate for all PSA levels combined was 59.2% (n=61/103). The detection rate for different PSA ranges are detailed in table 1. The analysis of the low PSA range (< 1ng/mL) is detailed in table 2. In this subgroup, the detection rate for PSA levels less than 0.7 ng/mL is 17.4% (n=4/23) versus 62.5% for PSA levels of 0.7 to less than 1 ng/mL. Conclusions: 18F-Fluciclovine PET/CT detection rate increases with increasing PSA levels. In the low PSA range (<1 ng/mL), the detection rate is significantly higher for PSA levels of 0.7 to less than 1 ng/mL. The scan is of limited value when PSA levels are less than 0.7 ng/mL.
Hyperspectral remote sensing using Barrier InfraRed Detector Focal Plane Array (BIRD FPA)

The detector in the Hyperspectral Thermal Emission Spectrometer (HyTES) was recently upgraded to the high operating temperature InAs/InAsSb superlattice based infrared focal plane. This focal plane allows superior noise equivalent delta temperature. Calibration and validation results are presented from a recent airborne demonstration.
Sequential Treatments of Rimsulfuron, Mesotrione, Thifensulfuron, Balance Flexx, Cinch, Cinch ATZ, and Prowl H2O Mixtures for Weed Control in Irrigated Corn

No treatment with less than 1.5 lb/a atrazine provided commercially acceptable Palmer amaranth control. The best level of Palmer amaranth control was produced by treatments that had good preemergence control augmented by a postemergence application with two or more modes of action that contained 0.5 lb/a atrazine. All treatments provided excellent kochia control. The best Russian thistle treatments provided from 77 to 88% control. The best foxtail or crabgrass treatments provided from 91 to 94% control. Combinations of preemergence treatments followed by a postemergence treatment achieved excellent shattercane control.
Influence of Thymine Starvation on the Integrity of Deoxyribonucleic Acid in Escherichia coli

The influence of thymine starvation on the single-strand molecular weight of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from Escherichia coli was determined by sedimentation through gradients of alkaline sucrose. Growth of cells for as long as 150 min in thymineless medium did not significantly reduce the molecular weight below the control value of 2.4 ± 0.3 × 108 daltons. Incubation of cells in thymineless medium after exposure to 500 ergs/mm2 of ultraviolet light or 20 krad of 137Cs gamma rays did not appear to block the rejoining of single-strand breaks associated with irradiation. Thus, DNA repair enzymes, presumably including DNA ligase, are not significantly inhibited by thymine starvation.
Logic Regression and Its Extensions

Logic regression is an adaptive classification and regression procedure, initially developed to reveal interacting single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genetic association studies. In general, this approach can be used in any setting with binary predictors, when the interaction of these covariates is of primary interest. Logic regression searches for Boolean (logic) combinations of binary variables that best explain the variability in the outcome variable, and thus, reveals variables and interactions that are associated with the response and/or have predictive capabilities. The logic expressions are embedded in a generalized linear regression framework, and thus, logic regression can handle a variety of outcome types, such as binary responses in case-control studies, numeric responses, and time-to-event data. In this chapter, we provide an introduction to the logic regression methodology, list some applications in public health and medicine, and summarize some of the direct extensions and modifications of logic regression that have been proposed in the literature.
Dam Safety Risk Assessment with Uncertainty Analysis

The use of uncertainty analysis in conjunction with risk assessment provides enhanced information for decision makers. Uncertainties in risk analysis inputs are propagated through the risk analysis and evaluation steps of risk assessment to obtain estimates of the level of confidence in the risk assessment outcomes. This paper presents a framework for uncertainty analysis in dam safety risk assessment, including an approach to incorporating input uncertainties into the risk analysis model. It proposes some useful formats for representing uncertainties in risk analysis results, such as expressing risk evaluation outcomes in terms of the confidence associated with meeting tolerable risk guidelines. The concepts are illustrated through an example application of uncertainty analysis for a large embankment dam. Research Assistant Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Institute for Dam Safety Risk Management, Utah Water Research Laboratory, College of Engineering, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322-8200, USA; and Senior Engineer, RAC Engineers & Economists, 1520 Canyon Road, Providence, Utah 84332-9431, USA.; +1.435.797.3202; Sanjay.Chauhan@usu.edu. Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Director, Institute for Dam Safety Risk Management, Utah Water Research Laboratory, College of Engineering, Utah State University, Logan, Utah 84322-8200, USA; and Principal, RAC Engineers & Economists, 1520 Canyon Road, Providence, Utah 84332-9431, USA.; +1.435.797.4010; David.Bowles@usu.edu.
“The goat that died for family”: Animal sacrifice and interspecies kinship in India's Central Himalayas

Animal sacrifice can be productively theorized as a practice of kindred intimacy between human and nonhuman animal. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in India's Central Himalayas, I trace how the ritual sacrifice of goats in the region's mountain villages acquires power and meaning through its anchoring in a realm of interspecies kinship. This kinship between humans and animals is created and sustained through everyday practices of intercorporeal engagement and care. I contend, in fact, that animal sacrifice is itself constitutive of interspecies kin relations. The spectacular act of violence at the heart of sacrifice—the beheading of the sacrificial animal—is crucial to the constitution of kin solidarity between human sacrificer and animal victim. From this perspective, animal sacrifice creates a world rich with the possibility of mutual response and recognition between different beings entangled in intimate and complex ways. [sacrifice, human–animal, interspecies kinship, South Asia, relations of care, religion, Himalayas]
FPGA acceleration of rigid molecule interactions

We show how an application of central importance to computational biochemistry can be implemented efficiently on an FPGA. This requires reformulating the algorithm and taking advantage of application characteristics to maximize device utilization.
Electrophysiological Properties of Uterine Smooth Muscle

Until recently almost all knowledge of the electrophysiological properties of the myometrium and other mammalian smooth muscles was based on descriptive observations of some natural phenomena or on modifications of such phenomena by changes in the ionic environment or produced by hormonal and pharmacological agents. Although much of value has been learned about the resting and action potentials and their relationship to contractions, the information derived from such approaches was limited because of the nature of the methods. In the previous edition of this book, substantial revisions were incorporated into this chapter to include advances then being made with the introduction of certain analytical methods for studying the electrophysiological properties of mammalian smooth muscles. For instance, basic electrical properties of some smooth muscle preparations were being unmasked by the polarization method of Abe and Tomita (1968), and the nature of the ionic currents, their equilibrium potentials, and some aspects of the ionic conductances were being identified by use of the double-sucrose-gap voltage-clamp method (Anderson, 1969; Kao and McCullough, 1975; Inomata and Kao, 1976). All that information, fulfilling a need then existing, was also flawed, because it had to be obtained on multicellular preparations, which presented formidable technical obstacles to an unambiguous understanding of the underlying cellular processes.
Weakening of atmospheric information flow in a warming climate in the Community Climate System Model

We introduce a new perspective of climate change by revealing the changing characteristics of atmospheric information flow in a warming climate. The key idea is to interpret large-scale atmospheric dynamical processes as information flow around the globe and to identify the pathways of this information flow using a climate network based on causal discovery and graphical models. We construct such networks using the daily geopotential height data from the Community Climate System Model Version 4.0 (CCSM4.0)'s 20th century climate simulation and 21st century climate projection. We show that in the CCSM4.0 model under enhanced greenhouse gases (GHGs) forcing, prominent midlatitude information pathways in the midtroposphere weaken and shift poleward, while major tropical information pathways start diminishing. Averaged over the entire Northern Hemisphere, the atmospheric information flow weakens. The implications of this weakening for the interconnectivity among different geographical locations and for the intrinsic predictability of the atmosphere are discussed.
The Role of Attention in Learning About Odorants

The goal throughout this period was to understand the neural mechanisms mediating chemosensory responses and related behavior. At the same time, it was the behavior that was providing insight to the mechanisms. The behavioral approach was an exciting game of wits [emphasis added]. It proved to be a powerful tactic, and many of its findings were subsequently shown by electrophysiology to be gratifyingly accurate. --Dethier (1990)
Regression in the construction of the immigrant other

The 2008 Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid on a Postville, Iowa, meatpacking plant revealed deep divisions within the community about local and national immigration policy. Using postings to a newspaper blog following the raid, this paper theorizes about and examines the regressive processes that are often created by the presence of the immigrant other within our communities.
N-terminally truncated WT1 protein with oncogenic properties overexpressed in leukemia

WT1 was originally identified as an inactivated gene in Wilms tumor, a childhood kidney cancer. Alternative splicing of the WT1 transcript generates four major protein isoforms, each having different functional properties. Here we characterized a short transcript originating from a second promoter located within intron 1 of WT1. This 2.3-kb sWT1 transcript encodes a protein of ∼35–37 kDa that retains intact DNA-binding and transactivation domains but lacks the 147 amino acids at the N terminus required for transcriptional repression. We found sWT1 to be a more potent transcriptional activator than WT1 for cyclin E and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor promoters, which are normally repressed by WT1. The expression patterns of the sWT1 and WT1 transcripts differed slightly in various organs; we found sWT1 protein in tissue samples from adult testis and fetal kidney, with low-level expression in adult kidney as well. The sWT1 transcript, but not the full-length transcript, was over-expressed in the leukemia samples tested. sWT1-specific small interfering RNA retarded the proliferation of leukemia cell line K562 in vitro. Finally, sWT1 cooperated with Ras in transforming primary fibroblasts in vitro. Further studies are needed to clarify the oncogenic behavior of this isoform and to determine the mechanism underlying its up-regulation in leukemia and other forms of cancer.
Epstein-Barr Virus: A Human Pathogen Inducing Lymphoproliferation in Vivo and in Vitro

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a pathogen that is associated with several diseases in humans. It causes most heterophile-positive cases of infectious mononucleosis. The virus is associated with another lymphoproliferative disease, African Burkitt's lymphoma, and with a malignancy of the nasopharynx, nasopharyngeal carcinoma. EBV appears to be a causative agent for some fatal lymphoproliferations in congenitally immunodeficient people. One proliferating cell type in infectious mononucleosis is an EBV-infected B lymphoblast. The tumor cell in African Burkitt's lymphoma is also an EBV-infected B lymphoblast. In vitro, EBV induces and maintains blast transformation of human B lymphocytes. All EBV-transformed cells, whether infected in vivo or in vitro, share many (but not all) virus-associated characteristics. Studies can now be performed in vitro that permit analysis of the various EBV-transformed cells and the host's immune responses to them.
STUDIES ON STEROID CONJUGATES: EVALUATION OF VARIOUS EXTRACTION METHODS FOR URINARY CONJUGATED CORTICOSTEROIDS.

Various extraction methods for urinary conjugated corticosteroids, including several new techniques recently developed in this laboratory, were extensively studied and evaluated using the following criteria: 1) effectiveness in extracting conjugated Porter-Silber (P-S) chromogens and interfering “background” substances; 2) recoveries of pure corticosteroid conjugates: tetrahydrocortisone-3-glucuronide (THEG), cortisol-21-sulfate (FS) and tetrahydrocortisol-3,21-disulfate (THFdiS); 3) extraction of conjugated radioactive metabolites of cortisol-4-C14, which was administered iv as a tracer. Out of 22 techniques examined, 4 proved to be superior to the others. They gave the following results: 95–99% of conjugated P-S chromogens and 97–99% of the radioactive steroid metabolites were removed by one extraction either with one vol of n-butanol (method B), or with 4 vol of an ethanol-ether (1:3) mixture (method F), or with 5 vol of ethyl-acetate (method G), provided the aqueous phase was acidified to pH 1 and sat...
Frequency and Types of Medical Emergencies Among Commercial Air Travelers

We performed a one-year prospective survey of emergency medical responses to travelers at an international airport to observe the frequency and type of emergencies experienced in flight and before and after travel. Emergency personnel evaluated a total of 1107 people; 754 (68%) were travelers, 232 (21%) were employees of the airport or airlines, and 118 (11%) were area residents. Of the 754 travelers, 190 (25%) experienced their problem during flight; the aircraft made an unscheduled landing for seven of these travelers. The frequency of in-flight emergencies was 1 per 753 inbound flights, or 1 per 39 600 inbound passengers. The most common emergency problems among all travelers were abdominal pain, chest pain, shortness of breath, syncope, and seizures; 25% of the emergencies were caused by minor trauma. The majority of emergencies among air travelers (75% [564/754]) happened on the ground within the air terminal. Most problems (84% [633/754]) were effectively handled by personnel trained as emergency medical technicians. The types of problems encountered suggest that the "doctors only" medical kit now required aboard US air carriers contains clinically useful items and should continue to be required on board. JAMA1989;261:1295-1299)
Laboratory Exercises to Teach Clinically Relevant Chemistry of Antibiotics

Objectives. To design, implement, and evaluate student performance on clinically relevant chemical and spectral laboratory exercises on antibiotics.Design. In the first of 2 exercises, second-year ...
A modified direct phosphate assay for studying ATPases.

Abstract A simple, rapid assay for purified ATPases is presented, based upon the formation of phosphomolybdate and its extraction into butyl acetate. The inclusion of imidazole makes the assay more sensitive and reproducible apparently because of the formation of an imidazole-phosphomolybdate complex. Protein (100 μg), Hepes buffer [4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid] (0.1 m ) and nucleotides (1 m m ) were all shown to cause interference. The interference by nucleotides could be counteracted by using more molybdate. Butyl acetate was shown to extract virtually all of the phosphomolybdate almost instantaneously upon vortex mixing.
Palaeoecology and diversity of endosymbionts in Palaeozoic marine invertebrates: Trace fossil evidence

Endosymbionts are organisms that live within the growing skeleton of a live host organism, producing a cavity called a bioclaustration. The endosymbiont lives inside the bioclaustration, which it forms by locally inhibiting the normal skeletal growth of the host, a behaviour given the new ethological category, impedichnia. As trace fossils, bioclaustrations are direct evidence of past symbioses and are first recognized from the Late Ordovician (Caradoc). Bioclaustrations have a wide geographic distribution and occur in various skeletal marine invertebrates, including tabulate and rugose corals, calcareous sponges, bryozoans, brachiopods, and crinoids. Ten bioclaustration ichnogenera are recognized and occur preferentially in particular host taxa, suggesting host-specificity among Palaeozoic endosymbionts. The diversity of bioclaustrations increased during the Silurian and reached a climax by the late Middle Devonian (Givetian). A collapse in bioclaustration diversity and abundance during the Late Devonian is most significant among endosymbionts of host coral and calcareous sponge taxa that were in decline leading up to the Frasnian–Famennian mass extinction.
Marxist Methodologies of History

(1984). Marxist Methodologies of History. Historical Methods: A Journal of Quantitative and Interdisciplinary History: Vol. 17, No. 4, pp. 219-228.
The origin of circulating 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F2α during delivery

Abstract All uterine tissues as well as the fetal membranes and the placenta can form prostaglandins from endogenous precursors in vitro but it is not clear which of the tissues is the main site for the increase in PGF2α production during human parturition. To examine this question, we measured plasma prostaglandin levels before and at intervals after expulsion of the fetus, placenta, and membranes. The concentration of PGFM at the beginning of the second stage of labor was significantly higher than before the onset of labor. Five minutes after the birth of the infant, the concentration had doubled. Thirty minutes after the expulsion of placenta and membranes, plasma PGFM had fallen to the levels at full dilatation; two hours postpartum it was still significantly raised over levels before labor. Since the halflife of PGFM in the circulation is about 7 minutes, these findings indicate that the uterine tissues are important sources of PGFM during labor. In contrast, endogenous oxytocin levels, which were significantly raised over control levels at the second stage of labor, did not change during the third stage, and decline postpartum to control levels. Oxytocin infusion did not influence PGFM levels at 5 and at 30 minutes postpartum, but raised them at 2 hours.
Developing A Common Language Between The Architect And Client

Summary In summary, before the architect can begin to design, he must be capable of developing a common language between himself and his client. This common language must be able to translate the verbal descriptors of the client into identifiable cues for the architect to use in order to establish design parameters. In essence there are three specific stages that must transpire for the formation of a successful common 1. Regeneration of the sensory perceptors. 2. Development of the sensory perceptors and expansion of the scope of the verbal descriptors. 3. The insertion of the tacit communion into the common language. If the architect is proficient in making buildings that are wonderful places, and has accomplished the development of the common verbal language, it is certain that the resulting dialogue will produce a final design that fully reflects the needs of the client.
Modulation of BRAHMA expression by the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal regulated kinase pathway is associated with changes in melanoma proliferation

Brahma (BRM) and Brahma-related gene 1(BRG1) are catalytic subunits of SWItch/sucrose non-fermentable (SWI/SNF) chromatin remodeling complexes. BRM is epigenetically silenced in a wide-range of tumors. Mutations in the v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1 (BRAF) gene occur frequently in melanoma and lead to constitutive activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK1/2) pathway. We tested the hypothesis that BRM expression is modulated by oncogenic BRAF and phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in melanocytes and melanoma cells. Expression of oncogenic BRAF in melanocytes and melanoma cells that are wild-type for BRAF decreased BRM expression and increased BRG1 expression. Inhibition of mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MEK) or selective inhibition of BRAF in melanoma cells that harbor oncogenic BRAF increased BRM expression and decreased BRG1 expression. Increased BRM expression was associated with increased histone acetylation on the BRM promoter. Over-expression of BRM in melanoma cells that harbor oncogenic BRAF promoted changes in cell cycle progression and apoptosis consistent with a tumor suppressive role. Upon inhibition of BRAF(V600E) with PLX4032, BRM promoted survival. PLX4032 induced changes in BRM function were correlated with increased acetylation of the BRM protein. This study provides insights into the epigenetic consequences of inhibiting oncogenic BRAF in melanoma through modulation of SWI/SNF subunit expression and function.
Irradiation enhances cellular uptake of carboplatin

Purpose: Because radiation is known to damage cellular membranes, the purpose of this study was to determine whether irradiation of cultured cells might modify the cellular uptake of the chemotherapy agent carboplatin. Methods and materials: Total intracellular platinum was measured using atomic absorption spectrometry in cultured V79 cells and in four Chinese hasmter ovary (CHO) cell lines. Results: Intracellular carboplatin concentrations increased linearly with radiation dose (10–50 Gy) under both hypoxic and oxic irradiation conditions. Similar doses of radiation did not significantly increase the uptake of a nontoxic platinum compound [Pt(NH3)4Cl2·H2O] (p > 0.5). Compared to unirradiated controls, there was no increase in intracellular carboplatin concentrations when carboplatin was irradiated prior to administration to the cell cultures (p > 0.5). Within the 32.5 min or less required to deliver the radiation, a dose of 50 Gy produced approximately a 50% increase in intracellular platinum in V79 cells and approximately an increase of a factor of 1.3–1.6 in the CHO cell lines. Although the increase in drug uptake would be expected to be less than 10% for most cell lines at the doses of radiation used to investigate radiosensitization by carboplatin, this level of increase may play a significant role in the radioenhancement observed in UV41 cells because these excision-repair—deficient cells are much more sensitive to carboplatin as measured by cytotoxicity. Conclusion: These results suggest that some of the enhanced cell killing that results when cells are exposed to carboplatin in combination with radiation may be attributed to an increased cellular uptake. One mechanism of radiopotentiation may be an enhanced chemotoxicity resulting froma radiation-induced increase in carboplatin uptake.
Mobility in a strongly coupled dusty plasma with gas.

The mobility of a charged projectile in a strongly coupled dusty plasma is simulated. A net force $F$, opposed by a combination of collisional scattering and gas friction, causes projectiles to drift at a mobility-limited velocity ${u}_{p}$. The mobility ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{p}={u}_{p}/F$ of the projectile's motion is obtained. Two regimes depending on $F$ are identified. In the high-force regime, ${\ensuremath{\mu}}_{p}\ensuremath{\propto}{F}^{0.23}$, and the scattering cross section ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{s}$ diminishes as ${u}_{p}^{\ensuremath{-}6/5}$. Results for ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{s}$ are compared with those for a weakly coupled plasma and for two-body collisions in a Yukawa potential. The simulation parameters are based on microgravity plasma experiments.
Voting and the efficiency of airport runway investment

Abstract The median voter model is used to estimate the efficiency of three voting rules in determining runway capacity at airports. The three rules are (1) one vote per airline, (2) one vote per operation (takeoff or landing), and (3) one vote per pound of landing weight. Based on scheduled arrival and departure data from 12 U.S. airports, the rule of one vote per pound of landing weight is shown to be the best of the three rules and is quite efficient if all airlines vote and if airlines pay the full social cost of capacity.
Kondo effect in the presence of spin-orbit coupling

We study the $T=0$ Kondo physics of a spin-$1/2$ impurity in a noncentrosymmetric metal with spin-orbit interaction. Within a simple variational approach we compute ground-state properties of the system for an arbitrary form of spin-orbit coupling consistent with the crystal symmetry. This coupling produces an unscreened impurity magnetic moment and can lead to a significant change of the Kondo energy. We discuss implications of this finding both for dilute impurities and for heavy-fermion materials without inversion symmetry.
Phenylephrine-Induced Ca2+ Oscillations in Canine Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Cells

Modulation of [Ca2+]i in response to receptor activation is a critical determinant of vascular smooth muscle tone. In this study, we examined the effect of continuous stimulation of alpha 1-adrenoceptors with phenylephrine (PE) on [Ca2+]i in single pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) cultured from explants of canine intrapulmonary artery. Fura 2-loaded PASMCs pretreated with propranolol (5 mumol/L) were continuously superfused with PE at 37 degrees C on the stage of an inverted fluorescence microscope, and [Ca2+]i was measured using a dual-wavelength spectrofluorometer. Resting values of [Ca2+]i were 96 +/- 4 nmol/L. PE (10 mumol/L) stimulated oscillations in [Ca2+]i at a frequency of 1.35 +/- 0.07/min, which reached a peak [Ca2+]i of 650 +/- 26 nmol/L (n = 69 cells). The oscillations lasted for > 30 minutes and were constant in amplitude and frequency. Both the amplitude and frequency of PE-induced [Ca2+]i oscillations increased in a dose-dependent (3 x 10(-8) to 10(-4) mol/L) manner. Pretreatment with the alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin (50 nmol/L) or removal of extracellular Ca2+ abolished the repetitive [Ca2+]i oscillations induced by PE. The voltage-operated Ca2+ channel blockers nifedipine (1 mumol/L) and verapamil (1 mumol/L) had no effect on the [Ca2+]i oscillations. In contrast, inhibition of phospholipase C with U73122 (10(-7) to 10(-5) mol/L) attenuated the oscillations in a dose-dependent fashion. The nonselective protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine (10(-9) to 10(-7) mol/L) had a minimal inhibitory effect on the oscillations. Caffeine (30 mmol/L) and thapsigargin (1 mumol/L) abolished the oscillations, whereas pretreatment with ryanodine (1 to 100 mumol/L) had no effect. In freshly dispersed PASMCs, PE (10 mumol/L) induced oscillations in [Ca2+]i similar to those observed in cultured cells, and patch-clamp experiments revealed oscillations in membrane potential. These results indicate that PE induces [Ca2+]i oscillations in PASMCs via stimulation of alpha 1-adrenoceptors coupled to phospholipase C activation. Voltage-operated Ca2+ channels and protein kinases are not required for the oscillations. The requirement for extracellular Ca2+ and intracellular Ca2+ stores indicates that both Ca2+ influx and intracellular Ca2+ release play a role in the maintenance of the oscillations.
Ultrasonic model and system for measurement of corneal biomechanical properties and validation on phantoms.

Abstract Non-invasive measurement of biomechanical properties of corneas may provide important information for ocular disease management and therapeutic procedures. An ultrasonic non-destructive evaluation method with a wave propagation model was developed to determine corneal biomechanical properties in vivo. In this study, we tested the feasibility of the approach in differentiating the mechanical properties of soft contact lenses as corneal phantoms. Three material types of soft contact lenses (six samples in each group) were measured using a broadband ultrasound transducer. The ultrasonic reflections from the contact lenses were recorded by a 500 MHz/8-bit digitizer, and displayed and processed by a PC. A reference signal was recorded to compute the normalized power spectra using Fast Fourier Transformation. An inverse algorithm based on least-squares minimization was used to reconstruct three parameters of the contact lenses: density, thickness, and elastic constants λ +2 μ . The thickness of each sample was verified using an electronic thickness gauge, and the averaged density for each type of lenses was verified using Archimedes’ principle and manufacturer's report. Our results demonstrated that the ultrasonic system was able to differentiate the elastic properties of the three types of the soft contact lenses with statistical significance ( P -value
Weak alignment of biomacromolecules in collagen gels: an alternative way to yield residual dipolar couplings for NMR measurements.

Measurement of residual dipolar couplings (RDCs) between pairs of nuclei has become a routine method for macromolecular structure determinations by solution NMR spectroscopy.1 Compared to the short-range restraints derived from inter-proton distances, torsion angles, and J couplings the RDCs can provide unique long-range orientation restraints of inter-nuclear vectors to the molecular alignment frame2, and thus are very useful in improving the accuracy and quality of protein NMR structure. This type of information is essential when the molecule under study is multidomain.3 RDCs can also provide important internal dynamic information of biomolecules.4 To measure the RDCs, a weak alignment of molecule in a magnetic field is required. As such, various technologies for creating the necessary partial alignment in solution have been developed, including direct magnetic alignment,5 alignment in different liquid crystals,6 or by dissolving the protein in a highly hydrated, anisotropically compressed polyacrylamide gel.7 Recently, new detergent-compatible liquid crystals based on DNA nanotubes8 and nucleic acid G-tetrad structures9 have been successfully exploited.
Does “Out of Work” Get into the Womb? Exploring the Relationship between Unemployment and Adverse Birth Outcomes

This study uses Texas vital records from 1994 to 2003 to examine the relationship between self-reported maternal unemployment and birth outcomes, including birthweight and infant mortality. In the preferred specification, a sample containing 1,344, 605 sibling births to 604,649 mothers was used. Regression results indicated that within the same women, being unemployed was associated with lower average birthweights and higher rates of infant mortality than being engaged in market work, especially when unemployment preceded market work, and a range of hypothesized mediators did little to attenuate these relationships. Interaction models revealed that the poor average birth outcomes related to unemployment were driven by observations with at least one other indicator of health complication, such as presence of a medical risk factor. These results confirm that the relationship between unemployment and mother-child health varies across individuals, although further research is needed to understand the causal linkages connecting unemployment, health risks, and birth outcomes.
Speciation and isotopic composition of sedimentary sulfur in the Everglades, Florida, USA

Abstract We have studied the sulfur speciation and isotopic composition of two peat cores from Water Conservation Area 2A (WCA 2A) in the Florida Everglades. Core site E1 is affected by agricultural runoff from the Hillsboro Canal which drains the Everglades Agricultural Area; Core site U3 is distant from the canal and relatively unaffected by agricultural runoff. Depth profiles of the total sulfur content of both cores show fairly constant levels (∼0.7 wt.%) below about 25–30 cm depth in Core E1 and below 40–45 cm in Core U3. Above these depths, total sulfur increases to as much as 1.52 wt.% in Core E1 and 1.74 wt.% in Core U3, suggesting that more sulfur has entered the sediments and/or that more sulfur is being retained in recent times at both sampling sites. The changes in total sulfur content with depth in Core E1 correlate with changes in total phosphorus that have been observed in other studies at core sites near the Hillsboro Canal. This correlation of total sulfur with phosphorus with depth is not seen in Core U3 located away from the canal, possibly because phosphorus is more effectively retained than sulfur in the organic sediment near the canal. Organic-sulfur (OS) concentrations are at least twice as high as the disulfide-sulfur (DS) concentrations in the upper parts of both cores suggesting that iron is presently limiting the amount of disulfide minerals formed in these sediments. The degree of pyritization (DOP) in the upper parts of the cores suggest that sulfide mineralization is limited by the availability of highly reactive iron during the earliest stages of diagenesis. Positive δ 34 S values for reduced sulfur forms in both cores indicate a relatively restricted sulfate reservoir, consistent with nearly complete reduction of the sulfate available in the sediment at any given time. Differences between the two cores appear in the δ 34 S values for the near-surface sediments. The DS δ 34 S values in the upper 10.0 cm of sediment are more positive at site E1, with a mean δ 34 S value of +12.9 per mil, than at site U3, with a mean δ 34 S value of +2.9 per mil. These results may indicate that increased rates of organic deposition due to nutrient loading near the canal have increased the rate of sulfate reduction at the E1 site in recent times. Acid-volatile-sulfide (AVS) concentrations are lower than DS and OS concentrations by at least a factor of 10. Increasing δ 34 S values for AVS with increasing depth in both cores suggests ongoing reduction of a limited porewater sulfate reservoir after deposition. The disulfide and organic-sulfur δ 34 S values diverge from the δ 34 S values for AVS with depth, suggesting that most of the transformation of AVS into disulfide minerals or incorporation of sulfur into organic matter occurs in the near-surface sediments. A comparison of organic-sulfur δ 34 S values in the dominant flora at the U3 site (sawgrass leaves and periphyton) with organic-sulfur δ 34 S values at the top of the U3 core indicates that there was early incorporation of an isotopically light sulfide species into the organic matter.
Time judgment as a function of electroencephalographic activity.

Abstract Forty-eight male college students made time judgments of 2- and 8-sec intervals under four experimental conditions with photic stimulation selected to alter frequency (wave-count) of EEG activity. The results indicate that subjects with more than 50 per cent alpha in their eyes-closed resting EEG overestimated time in the eyes-open condition in contrast to those subjects with less than 50 per cent alpha. Intermittent photic stimulation resulted in underestimation of the 8-sec interval only. This was not due to changes induced in the EEG. Correlation of wave-count scores and time estimations showed the predicted inverse relation between increased relative frequency of the EEG and underestimation of temporal experience. This investigation has demonstrated that EEG activity is related to estimation of short temporal intervals.
Controlling Consumers in the Event of Future Wars

I. Introduction, 558. — II. Some alternative wars and their economic impacts, 558. — III. Alternative suggestions for an over-all expenditure ration, 563. — IV. A pessimistic but realistic program, 569. — V. Concluding comment, 572.