cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Commentary on Negative Numbers: Aspects of Epistemology, Cognition, and Instruction

This commentary reviews each of the three content chapters in the integers section and offers questions to promote further discussion. In addition to the themes raised in the three chapters, I introduce the role of formal mathematical structure in generalizing systems of number, from natural numbers to integers, and analogously, from real numbers to complex numbers. Integers, in particular, are structured by algebraic relations, which imply, for example, that (−1) ⋅ (−1) = 1. Historical observations and anecdotal evidence of children’s reasoning pertaining to this role raise important cognitive, pedagogical, and metaphysical questions.
A Critical Appraisal of the Dark-Triad Literature and Suggestions for Moving Forward:

Since its introduction in 2002, dark-triad research—the simultaneous study of psychopathy, narcissism, and Machiavellianism—has exploded, with the publication of hundreds of peer-reviewed articles,...
Known-component 3D image reconstruction for improved intraoperative imaging in spine surgery: A clinical pilot study

PURPOSE Intraoperative imaging plays an increased role in support of surgical guidance and quality assurance for interventional approaches. However, image quality sufficient to detect complications and provide quantitative assessment of the surgical product is often confounded by image noise and artifacts. In this work, we translated a three-dimensional model-based image reconstruction (referred to as "Known-Component Reconstruction," KC-Recon) for the first time to clinical studies with the aim of resolving both limitations. METHODS KC-Recon builds upon a penalized weighted least-squares (PWLS) method by incorporating models of surgical instrumentation ("known components") within a joint image registration-reconstruction process to improve image quality. Under IRB approval, a clinical pilot study was conducted with 17 spine surgery patients imaged under informed consent using the O-arm cone-beam CT system (Medtronic, Littleton MA) before and after spinal instrumentation. Volumetric images were generated for each patient using KC-Recon in comparison to conventional filtered backprojection (FBP). Imaging performance prior to instrumentation ("preinstrumentation") was evaluated in terms of soft-tissue contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and spatial resolution. The quality of images obtained after the instrumentation ("postinstrumentation") was assessed by quantifying the magnitude of metal artifacts (blooming and streaks) arising from pedicle screws. The potential low-dose advantages of the algorithm were tested by simulating low-dose data (down to one-tenth of the dose of standard protocols) from images acquired at normal dose. RESULTS Preinstrumentation images (at normal clinical dose and matched resolution) exhibited an average 24.0% increase in soft-tissue CNR with KC-Recon compared to FBP (N = 16, P = 0.02), improving visualization of paraspinal muscles, major vessels, and other soft-tissues about the spine and abdomen. For a total of 72 screws in postinstrumentation images, KC-Recon yielded a significant reduction in metal artifacts: 66.3% reduction in overestimation of screw shaft width due to blooming (P < 0.0001) and reduction in streaks at the screw tip (65.8% increase in attenuation accuracy, P < 0.0001), enabling clearer depiction of the screw within the pedicle and vertebral body for an assessment of breach. Depending on the imaging task, dose reduction up to an order of magnitude appeared feasible while maintaining soft-tissue visibility and metal artifact reduction. CONCLUSIONS KC-Recon offers a promising means to improve visualization in the presence of surgical instrumentation and reduce patient dose in image-guided procedures. The improved soft-tissue visibility could facilitate the use of cone-beam CT to soft-tissue surgeries, and the ability to precisely quantify and visualize instrument placement could provide a valuable check against complications in the operating room (cf., postoperative CT).
Perceived Acceptability of Sexual and Romantic Fantasizing

To better understand the social norms surrounding fantasizing behavior, the current research aimed to assess how acceptable various types of fantasizing (romantic or sexual) are perceived. Understanding and abiding by social norms helps people avoid criticism, social sanctions, and ostracism. Thus, better understanding the social norms surrounding various types of fantasies can help people better navigate their social worlds, especially with respect to sexuality, dating, and relationships. Participants (n = 828) reported how acceptable, violating, and bothersome they perceived sexual and romantic fantasizing to be towards themselves and others. Results suggest that despite the current sentiment on socially and morally unacceptable physical acts, mental acts of fantasizing are not perceived as unacceptable or violating. No gender differences arose between men and women’s perceptions of fantasy acceptability. Demographic differences in perceived fantasy acceptability by race, sexual orientation, relationship status, and age are discussed. These findings deepen the understanding of how society views fantasizing behavior and help begin to define boundaries for acceptable versus violating thoughts.
Mobility Pattern Analysis for Power Restoration Activities Using Geo-Tagged Tweets

In this study, we analyzed mobility patterns of at-risk populations affected by an extreme event using geotagged tweets to geo-target power restoration efforts. Unlike other studies that have used tweets to facilitate emergency management activities, we used 1.5 million geotagged tweets generated during Hurricane Sandy (2012) to determine the mobility patterns and geospatial distribution of impacted populations who experienced power outage before, during and after the hurricane. We implemented a three-step analytical framework to: (i) analyze tweet contents with visual methods, including dendrograms, word clouds to identify common keywords pertaining to power outage; (ii) identify target users whose tweets contained information about power outages; and (iii) create a user-tweet locations matrix and an origin-destination matrix to examine clusters of target users and their mobility patterns. Preliminary results indicate that potential clusters were present in and around New York city, Philadelphia, Washington D.C. and Baltimore, which were used as potential evacuation destination cities after hurricane Sandy. The travel pattern and destination information can be used to (i) mobilize restoration efforts by utility companies and (ii) address resource allocation needs both in impacted and destination cities. Future work will focus on analyzing potential destinations for different origins and travel-time to identify evacuation routing patterns.
Accelerated aging of fast pyrolysis bio-oil: a new method based on carbonyl titration

Fast pyrolysis bio-oils are known to age upon storage at room temperature, resulting in changes to both physical properties (increase in viscosity) and chemical composition (decrease in carbonyl content). A widely used accelerated aging test consists of holding samples at 80 °C for 24 hours, with viscosity measurement before and after heat treatment. Unfortunately, the viscosity measurement has high variability, and cannot be applied to samples that have phase separated. Here, we show that carbonyl content is a much better metric for tracking bio-oil aging. Furthermore, results from different accelerated aging protocols (for varying times at both 40 °C and 80 °C) are compared to actual room temperature storage for over 3 years. Based on this, we show that the accepted accelerated aging test (80 °C for 24 hours) is too severe a treatment, and results in more extensive aging than would occur with over 3 years of storage at room temperature. A new aging protocol is proposed: heat treatment at 80 °C for 2 hours, with carbonyl quantification before and after. This protocol correlates to room temperature storage for 1–3 months. Finally, samples were also kept in cold storage (at both 9 °C and −17 °C) for over 3 years. Unexpectedly, these samples also showed a substantial reduction in carbonyl content (by up to 25%), indicating that bio-oil aging still progresses at low temperatures. Both physical and chemical changes will occur in samples in cold storage, which has implications for the archiving of bio-oil samples.
3 – Descriptive Statistics

The mean is the arithmetic average of the data. Outliers pull the mean toward the outliers. A trimmed mean is calculated by discarding data at the extremes. The median is the middle value when the data are arranged in numerical order. One measure of dispersion in the data is the average absolute deviation from the mean. A more popular measure is the variance, the average squared deviation from the mean (or its square root, the standard deviation). A boxplot shows the median, the middle 50 percent of the data, and the maximum and minimum values. The geometric mean is calculated by multiplying the numbers and taking the nth root, and is often used for calculating annual rates of change or annual returns. The covariance and correlation both gauge whether when one variable is above its mean, the other variable tends to be above or below its mean. The correlation coefficient does not depend on the units in which the variables are measured and ranges between −1 and +1.
Veridical causal inference using propensity score methods for comparative effectiveness research with medical claims

Medical insurance claims are becoming increasingly common data sources to answer a variety of questions in biomedical research. Although comprehensive in terms of longitudinal characterization of disease development and progression for a potentially large number of patients, population-based inference using these datasets require thoughtful modifications to sample selection and analytic strategies relative to other types of studies. Along with complex selection bias and missing data issues, claims-based studies are purely observational, which limits effective understanding and characterization of the treatment differences between groups being compared. All these issues contribute to a crisis in reproducibility and replication of comparative findings using medical claims. This paper offers practical guidance to the analytical process, demonstrates methods for estimating causal treatment effects with propensity score methods for several types of outcomes common to such studies, such as binary, count, time to event and longitudinally-varying measures, and also aims to increase transparency and reproducibility of reporting of results from these investigations. We provide an online version of the paper with readily implementable code for the entire analysis pipeline to serve as a guided tutorial for practitioners. The online version can be accessed at https://rydaro.github.io/. The analytic pipeline is illustrated using a sub-cohort of patients with advanced prostate cancer from the large Clinformatics TM Data Mart Database (OptumInsight, Eden Prairie, Minnesota), consisting of 73 million distinct private payer insurees from 2001-2016.
Wilted: Pathogens, Chemicals, and the Fragile Future of the Strawberry Industry: Julie Guthman. Oakland, CA: University of California Press, 2019. vii and 308 pp., maps, figures, notes, references, index. $85.00 cloth (ISBN 978-0520305274); $29.95 paper (ISBN 978-0520305281).

Introduction by Rebecca Lave, Department of Geography, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN. Any new book from Julie Guthman sparks broad and immediate interest across a wide range of fi...
A new variety of Montia parvifolia (Montiaceae) in the high Idaho Batholith of central Idaho and adjacent Montana

Montia parvifolia (Moc. ex DC.) Greene var. batholithica Ertter & C.A.M. Prent. (Montiaceae) is described as a new variety from high elevations (2100–2800 m) in central Idaho and adjacent Montana, based on an overview of variation within the species using a combination of standard taxonomic analysis of herbarium specimens, morphometric analysis, fieldwork, and common garden studies. Taxonomic history of the species is summarized, morphology and life history are clarified, and variation elsewhere in the species is also briefly addressed.
Playing the Field: Competing Bids for Anadarko Petroleum Corp.

On April 8, 2019, Occidental’s Hollub made a private offer to buy Anadarko Petroleum Corporation for $72 in cash and stock. Anadarko's CEO Walker said he would consider the offer, yet three days later, on April 11, he signed a merger agreement with Chevron in a deal worth $65 per share in cash and stock. This agreement included a $1 billion “break-up" (termination) fee payable to Chevron if Anadarko accepted another offer. To avoid losing the deal, Hollub then made an initial public offer to buy Anadarko for $76 per share in cash and stock on April 24. When Anadarko failed to respond, Hollub, revised her offer on May 5. Although the revised offer had the same stated value of $76 per share, it included substantially more cash ($59 per share instead of the original $38 per share). With competing offers on the table, Walker now had to decide whether to accept Chevron’s $65 offer or pay the break-up fee and accept Occidental’s $76 offer? Of course, once he had made up his mind, he would have to convince his board that it was the right offer to accept and the right price. This case has four pedagogical objectives. It shows how to: 1) value a complex acquisition offer with equity consideration; 2) assess and value merger synergies; and 3) test whether acquisition funding is zero NPV and address the situation if it is not; 4) analyze deal completion risk and measures taken to increase deal certainty. The case also highlights several governance issues including the merits of requiring shareholder approval for large equity-financed, but not debt-financed, acquisitions, and the motivations for granting new "change in control" compensation to senior executives while they are negotiating a merger agreement.
Carleman estimates and the contraction principle for an inverse source problem for nonlinear hyperbolic equation.

The main aim of this paper is to solve an inverse source problem for a general nonlinear hyperbolic equation. Combining the quasi-reversibility method and a suitable Carleman weight function, we define a map of which fixed point is the solution to the inverse problem. To find this fixed point, we define a recursive sequence with an arbitrary initial term by the same manner as in the classical proof of the contraction principle. Applying a Carleman estimate, we show that the sequence above converges to the desired solution with the exponential rate. Therefore, our new method can be considered as an analog of the contraction principle. We rigorously study the stability of our method with respect to noise. Numerical examples are presented.
Translational regulation of viral RNA in the type I interferon response

Abstract The innate immune response serves as a robust first line of defense against pathogens, protecting the host from infectious organisms in a rapid and antigen-independent manner. Viral infection activates the type I interferon (IFN-I) response, leading to the production of hundreds of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). Many of these ISG-encoded proteins restrict viral infection by a variety of mechanisms that inhibit different stages of the virus life cycle. Translation inhibition, which restricts the production of viral proteins and host factors required for viral replication, is a common cellular response to viral infection. The IFN-I response induces translation inhibition primarily through the expression of ISG-encoded proteins. These proteins employ a variety of mechanisms to inhibit either global or virus-specific translation, resulting in restriction of viral replication and dissemination. In this graphical review, we provide an overview of the critical role of ISG-encoded proteins in translational regulation during the IFN-I response and viral infection. We focus on the molecular mechanisms by which ISG-encoded proteins restrict viral translation, including blocking the assembly of the translation machinery and inducing RNA degradation.
The Political Economy of State Owned Enterprises

The paper sets up a simple model with three sectors to formalize the argument that the state owned enterprise sector functions as a distributive mechanism. The formalization rests on the median voter theorem and the two stylized facts concerning the enterprises under consideration, namely that they carry ``surplus labor" and pay wages higher than the marginal productivity of labor they employ.
Genetic Analysis of Flagellar Mutants in Escherichia coli

Flagellar mutants in Escherichia coli were obtained by selection for resistance to the flagellotropic phage χ. F elements covering various regions of the E. coli genome were then constructed, and, on the basis of the ability of these elements to restore flagellar function, the mutations were assigned to three regions of the E. coli chromosome. Region I is between trp and gal; region II is between uvrC and aroD; and region III is between his and uvrC. F elements carrying flagellar mutations were constructed. Stable merodiploid strains with a flagellar defect on the exogenote and another on the endogenote were then prepared. These merodiploids yielded information on the complementation behavior of mutations in a given region. Region III was shown to include at least six cistrons, A, B, C, D, E, and F. Region II was shown to include at least four cistrons, G, H, I, and J. Examination of the phenotypes of the mutants revealed that those with lesions in cistron E of region III produce “polyhooks” and lesions in cistron F of region III result in loss of ability to produce flagellin. Mutants with lesions in cistron J of region II were entirely paralyzed (mot) mutants. Genetic analysis of flagellar mutations in region III suggested that the mutations located in cistrons A, B, C, and E are closely linked and mutations in cistrons D and F are closely linked.
Commentary on “Menstrually Related Disorders: Points of Consensus, Debate, and Disagreement”

Commentary on “Menstrually Related Disorders: Points of Consensus, Debate, and Disagreement”
Key establishment in sensor networks based on triangle grid deployment model

Key establishment between neighboring nodes is a fundamental issue for securing sensor networks deployed in unattended and hostile environments. Recent research often assumed a probabilistic approach by pre-distributing a random set of secrets to each node such that any two neighboring nodes can establish a direct key with a certain probability or negotiate an indirect key through multi-hop routing after deployment. The shortcomings include poor resilience against node compromise, low secure connectivity, etc. In this paper, we present a key establishment scheme based on a triangle grid deployment model. In contrast to previous proposals, our scheme have higher resilience to node compromise attacks with much smaller memory costs, while maintaining high secure connectivity so that much less energy needs to be consumed in establishing indirect keys through multi-hop or multi-path routing
Expanded Polystyrene Board as a Standard Reference Material for Thermal Resistance Measurement Systems

Thermal conductivity measurements at room temperature are presented as the basis for certified values of Standard Reference Material 1453, Expanded Polystyrene Board. The measurements have been conducted in accordance with a randomized full factorial experimental design of two variables, bulk density and temperature, using the National Institute of Standards and Technology one-meter line-heat-source guarded hot plate. Uncertainties of the measurements, consistent with current international guidelines, have been prepared. The thermal conductivity measurements were conducted over a range of bulk density of 37.4 to 45.8 kg/m 3 and mean temperature of 281 to 313 K. Statistical analyses of the physical properties of Standard Reference Material 1453 are presented and include variations between boards, as well as within board.
Risk Management in Internet‐Based Software Projects

Internet-based projects are those that are managed through the Internet. By using the Internet as the channel of communication, project managers can pull together teams that are dispersed geographically and temporally. New software and new services are reaching the market to support Internet-based project management. It is anticipated that improved communications and better workflow management software will reduce threats to the successful completion of projects. Nonetheless, the new approaches and software introduce new complexity and possibly new risks to Internet-based projects. This chapter is an introduction to project risk and the management of project risk in Internet-based software projects. Potential risks arising from Internet-based project management, as opposed to traditional project management, are discussed. Then approaches to the management of risk are compared. An integrated approach to risk assessment and management is advocated. Keywords: Internet-based project; Internet-based project management; management of project risk; project risk; risk assessment; risk factor
Detection of Mitochondrial DNA Mutations by Temporal Temperature Gradient Gel Electrophoresis

Background: A unique requirement for the molecular diagnosis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) disorders is the ability to detect heteroplasmic mtDNA mutations and to distinguish them from homoplasmic sequence variations before further testing (e.g., sequencing) is performed. We evaluated the potential utility of temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TTGE) for these purposes in patients with suspected mtDNA mutations. Methods: DNA samples were selected from patients with known mtDNA mutations and patients suspected of mtDNA disorders without detectable mutations by routine analysis. Six regions of mtDNA were PCR amplified and analyzed by TTGE. Electrophoresis was carried out at 145 V with a constant temperature increment of 1.2 °C/h. Mutations were identified by direct sequencing of the PCR products and confirmed by PCR/allele-specific oligonucleotide or PCR/restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Results: In the experiments using patient samples containing various amounts of mutant mtDNA, TTGE detected as little as 4% mutant heteroplasmy and identified heteroplasmy in the presence of a homoplasmic polymorphism. In 109 specimens with 15 different known mutations, TTGE detected the presence of all mutations and distinguished heteroplasmic mutations from homoplasmic polymorphisms. When 11% of the mtDNA genome was analyzed by TTGE in 104 patients with clinically suspected mitochondrial disorders, 7 cases of heteroplasmy (≈7%) were detected. Conclusions: TTGE distinguishes heteroplasmic mutation from homoplasmic polymorphisms and appears to be a sensitive tool for detection of sequence variations and heteroplasmy in patients suspected of having mtDNA disorders.
Turkish waters : Source of regional conflict or catalyst for peace?

Unlike most Middle East countries which are highly dependent on water from sources originating in other countries or on desalination, Turkey is naturally endowed with relatively abundant water resources. The Turkish government has assigned the highest priority to completing its massive $32 billion Southeastern Anatolia Project (GAP), consisting of 22 dams and 19 hydroelectric power plants on the Euphrates and Tigris rivers. Scheduled for completion in 2005, GAP will generate 27 billion kilowatt hours of hydroelectric power and will divert water from the Ataturk Dam reservoir through the two giant Sanliurfa Tunnels into a canal system to irrigate 1.7 million hectares in south-eastern Anatolia just north of the Syrian border. For Turkey, GAP will not only provide food and energy for a growing population, but is the crux of a comprehensive and sustainable economic development plan designed to end instability and reduce out-migration by radically transforming the feudal economic and social structure of this poor and largely Kurdish inhabited region of the country. Syria and Iraq, the downstream riparians in the Tigris-Euphrates Basin, also have rapidly growing populations and ambitious development plans. They contend that GAP will greatly diminish and degrade their water supply in future years. The severe current drought conditions in Syria and Iraq have added urgency to their demands for a greater share of the rivers’ flow. This article examines the legal, political, military and technological strategies employed by the parties to advance their interests. After reviewing efforts to achieve a negotiated solution, we examine various Turkish proposals to foster regional peace by exporting water from other Turkish rivers to Cyprus, Israel, the Gaza Strip, Jordan, and other Arab countries.
Gender Differences in Life-Course Theory of Recidivism: A Survival Analysis

This study of 300 women and 300 men graduates of a boot camp finds that there are noteworthy gender differences in predictors of tenure in the community without criminal recidivism in a 5-year follow-up. The Cox proportional hazards models show that urban residence, childhood and recent abuses, living with a criminal partner, selling drugs, stress, depression, fearfulness, and suicidal thoughts are stronger positive predictors of recidivism for women than for men. Men are more likely to return to prison because of criminal peer associations, carrying weapons, alcohol abuse, and aggressive feelings. Job satisfaction and education lengthen time in the community more for men than women, whereas the number of children and relationships are more important to tenure in the community for women. The implications for the findings for theory are discussed.
On the Use of Dual- Matrix Exponentials in Robotic Kinematics

This paper sets forth an approach to robotic kinematics that brings together the use of matrix exponentiation and dual numbers. Working from first principles, it is shown that a screw displacement can be represented by the exponential of a dual skew-symmetric matrix; a product of two such matri ces will suffice to specify the relationship between a pair of link coordinate frames. An example problem, dealing with the kinematics of the Rhino XR-2, illustrates how the approach immediately identifies those groups of joint variables that tend to cluster together.
The relationship of syphilis to primary carcinoma of the tongue

Abstract We have presented a survey of 243 cases of primary carcinoma of the tongue from the case records of Western Massachusetts Hospital. Our results show that fifteen cases (6.1 per cent) showed positive evidence of a history of syphilis.
Tumorigenesis with isonicotinic acid hydrazide and urethan in the Syrian golden hamsters

Resume Des solutions a 0,1% d'hydrazide de l'acide nicotinique et d'urethane furent administrees, seules ou conjointement, dans l'eau de boisson de hamsters dores de Syrie, depuis l'âge de 5 semaines, et pour toute la duree de leur vie. L'administration d'urethane provoqua l'apparition de melanocytomes dermiques, de papillomes et de carcinomes du ventricule succenterique, de polypes adenomateux du caecum, d'adenomatoses pulmonaires, et de divers autres types de tumeurs. Le traitement par l'hydrazide de l'acide nicotinique seul etait sans effet cancerogene apparent, tandis que l'administration simultanee d'hydrazide de l'acide nicotinique et d'urethane ne produisait pas plus de tumeurs que l'urethane seul. La cancerogenicite selective de l'hydrazide de l'acide nicotinique dans diverses especes est discutee en fonction des resultats obtenus.
Muscle phosphofructokinase deficiency: two cases with unusual polysaccharide accumulation and immunologically active enzyme protein

Two patients with phosphofructokinase (PFK) deficiency had exercise intolerance and increased serum activity of creatine kinase; one presented with hemolytic anemia, hyperuricemia, and gouty arthritis. The glycogen concentration in the muscle of these patients was about twice normal. PFK activity was virtually absent in muscle, but antibodies against the M subunits of the normal human PFK showed cross-reacting material in muscle from both patients. The PFK level in red blood cells, studied in one case, was lower than normal in the patient and both parents. Morphologically, there was extensive deposition of normal glycogen underneath the sarcolemma and in the intermyofibrillar space. In addition, 2% to 3% of the myofibers contained hyaline, PAS-positive, diastase-resistant inclusions that had a filamentous fine structure; histochemical reactions suggested an insoluble form of glycogen. Similar inclusions have not been described previously in PFK deficiency. Accumulation of an abnormal polysaccharide in muscle may be due to a second undiscovered enzymatic defect or may be a metabolic consequence of PFK deficiency.
Neuroendocrine tumors of the thymus: a clinicopathological and prognostic study

Abstract Background . Neuroendocrine tumors of the thymus are rare, histologically diverse neoplasms with an unpredictable clinical behavior. This study provides a useful clinicopathological classification and determines the relevance of specific prognostic factors. Methods . Ten neuroendocrine tumors of the thymus were analyzed for specific clinical and pathological features. Prognostic factors of these cases and 71 previously published cases were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox multivariate hazard model. Results . There were 7 males and 3 females, with ages ranging from 26 to 77 years. Cases were classified as carcinoid tumor (2), atypical carcinoid tumor (6), and small cell carcinoma (2). An advanced clinical stage was evident in all instances with frequent recurrence (4) and metastases (8), and a short disease-free survival. Overall mortality was 60%. Statistical analysis of current and previously published cases (n = 81 total) revealed that unresectability ( p = 0.0001), extent of surgical resection ( p = 0.0002), and advanced clinical stage at presentation ( p = 0.03) were associated with higher mortality. By multivariate Cox regression analysis, unresectability ( p = 0.02) and advanced clinical stage ( p = 0.03) were associated with decreased survival. Conclusions . Neuroendocrine tumors of the thymus can be classified into distinct clinicopathological entities, and specific factors have prognostic relevance.
Enhanced Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β Activity Mediates Hypoxia-induced Apoptosis of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Is Prevented by Glucose Transport and Metabolism

Hypoxia triggers apoptosis in a number of different cell types largely through a mitochondrial cell death pathway, which can be abrogated for the most part by enhanced glucose metabolism. The purpose of the current study was to identify intracellular signaling mechanisms that mediate hypoxia-induced apoptosis and are regulated by glucose metabolism. Hypoxia-induced apoptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells and COS-7 cells was accompanied by a significant reduction in Akt and glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) phosphorylation resulting in increased GSK-3 activity. Morphologic features of apoptosis, as well as caspases 3 and 9 activation, were prevented by GSK-3 inhibition with either LiCl or SB216763. Phosphorylation of Akt and GSK-3 was enhanced by glucose metabolism or overexpression of the glucose transporter, GLUT1, and was prevented by glycolytic inhibition. These findings indicate that GSK-3 is an important mediator of hypoxia-induced apoptosis and that GSK-3-mediated apoptotic effects occur via activation of the mitochondrial death pathway. Moreover, the results suggest that prevention of hypoxia-mediated apoptosis by enhanced glucose transport and metabolism results, in part, from inhibition of GSK-3 activation.
Nuclear binding of the estrogen receptor: a potential predictor for hormone response in metastatic breast cancer.

We have previously described anin vitro immunohistochemical test employing anti-receptor antibodies, for demonstrating the nuclear binding characteristics of estrogen receptors (ER) in breast carcinomas. Based on a retrospective analysis of twenty-five patients with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer who were treated with hormone therapy and whose clinical responses were evaluable, we were able to demonstrate that this test may be valuable to predict which, among the ER+ tumors (whether or not they are progesterone receptor positive, PR+), are likely to respond to hormone therapy and which may fail. While tumors in which ER exhibited abnormalities in nuclear binding behavior (ligand-independent nuclear binding or no nuclear binding) failed hormone therapy (16 out of 19 patients), those in which nuclear binding of ER appeared normal (ligand-dependent) in thein vitro test, responded to hormone therapy (5/6 patients). While our previous report dealt with the procedural details, specificity of the reagents, and the design of the study, this report addresses the clinical aspects of this study and response correlation.
Effect of different isocyanates on the properties of soy‐based polyurethanes

New types of polyurethanes were prepared by reacting soybean oil-based polyol and different isocya- nates. The polyurethanes can be used as foams, elastomers, coatings, adhesives, etc. Their properties strongly depend on crosslinking density and the structure of isocyanates. Aro- matic triisocyanates impart the highest density, glass tran- sition, modulus, and tensile strength, but have the lowest elongation at break, swelling in toluene, and impact resis- tance. Aliphatic triisocyanates and diisocyanates give rub- bery materials with the highest elongation at break, highest swelling, and the lowest tensile strength. Polyurethanes with aromatic and cycloaliphatic diisocyanates were similar in properties, with values between those of the two groups. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 88: 2912-2916, 2003
Fluid viscosity and the attenuation of surface waves: a derivation based on conservation of energy

More than a century ago, Stokes (1819–1903) pointed out that the attenuation of surface waves could be exploited to measure viscosity. This paper provides the link between fluid viscosity and the attenuation of surface waves by invoking the conservation of energy. First we calculate the power loss per unit area due to viscous dissipation. Next we calculate the power loss per unit area as manifested in the decay of the wave amplitude. By equating these two quantities, we derive the relationship between the fluid viscosity and the decay coefficient of the surface waves in a transparent way.
Study of P(AM-NVP-DMDA) hydrophobically associating water-soluble terpolymer

A new kind of hydrophobically associating water-soluble terpolymer P(AM-NVP-DMDA) was synthesized by free radical terpolymerization. Compared with micellar terpolymerization, this terpolymerization can be conducted in aqueous solution in absence of external surfactant, because the hydrophobic monomer is surface active. Synthesis, structure, and solution properties of P(AM-NVP-DMDA) terpolymer were studied, including its electrolyte effect, rheological behavior, temperature dependence of viscosity, dilute solution property, and the polymer-alkali, polymer-surfactant interaction. The terpolymer shows strong hydrophobic effect, and the terpolymer aqueous brine solution exhibits high viscosity at low polymer concentration. Incorporation of N-vinyl-pyrrolidone into the terpolymer causes an improvement in thermal stability of the terpolymer. The transmission electron photomicrograph analysis of the terpolymer indicates that the presence of the microphase separation of the terpolymer in aqueous solution plays an important role in the viscosification efficiency of the terpolymer.
The engineering analysis of linear photoviscoelastic materials

The main requirement for practical photoviscoelastic analysis is optical and mechanical characterization of the material. This paper discribes the interrelation between the stress- and strain-optic (operational) coefficients and approximate techniques for obtaining satisfactory quantitative results using broad-band, rather than three-or four-element, representation of the material properties.
Focus on embryonal malignancies

Perhaps because they reflect corrupted normal developmental pathways, embryonal tumors have provided a fruitful area of basic science research, including discoveries of many of the paradigms of modern cancer genetics. A striking observation is that in spite of shared basic oncogenic mechanisms with adult cancers, pediatric embryonic tumors are virtually never seen after the first decade of life. This could reflect biological differences in respective stem cell populations that are targeted in adult versus pediatric malignancies. The specificity of genetic mutation is also likely to play a key role. Finally, the differences in cellular growth environments between developing pediatric and mature adult host tissues may favor certain types of cancer over others. Future studies in pediatric embryonic tumors will address these issues and provide an invaluable opportunity toward better understanding of both normal and abnormal human growth and development.
Generation of adenovirus by transfection of plasmids

Biologically active fragments of Adenovirus 5 (Ad5) DNA that span the entire genome have been cloned into plasmids. The covalently attached terminal protein was removed and Eco RI linkers added in a fashion that preserves the Ad5 terminal sequences. When plasmids containing overlapping fragments that represent the entire genome are cotransfected onto 293 cells, infectious virus is obtained. Generation of virus depends upon the release of the 0 or 100 mu Ad5 terminus from pBR322 DNA by Eco RI cleavage. During virus production the modified termini of the transfected fragments are corrected exactly to that of wt viral DNA. The above method for preparing adenovirus recombinants has been used to construct a mutant, Ad5 delta (78.9-84.3), lacking most of the non-essential EIII transcriptional unit. This mutant is phenotypically wild type with respect to burst size and kinetics of growth. Surprisingly, it inhibits wt viral growth upon mixed infections of HeLa or 293 cells, apparently at the level of DNA replication.
Sensory Analysis, Composition, and Instron Measurements of Turkey-Beef Breakfast Sausage

Abstract Six treatment combinations for the production of breakfast sausage from turkey dark meat (6.6% fat) and beef (15.3% fat) were evaluated: 100% turkey/0% beef; 80% turkey/20% beef; 60% turkey/40% beef; 40% turkey/60% beef; 20% turkey/80% beef; and 0% turkey/100% beef. Sausage meats and commercial sausage seasoning (1.5%) were blended in a mixer, formed into patties, and broiled to an internal temperature of 77 C. Raw and cooked fat content, cooking losses, sensory attributes, 80% Instron compression, and color were evaluated. Fat content of the cooked sausage and total cooking losses increased as the amount of beef increased in the formulation. Tenderness and juiciness increased and Instron compression values decreased as the amount of turkey in the formulation increased.
Biochemical Characterization and Crystallographic Structure of an Escherichia coli Protein from the Phosphotriesterase Gene Family.

Phosphotriesterase homology protein (PHP) is a member of a recently discovered family of proteins related to phosphotriesterase, a hydrolytic, bacterial enzyme with an unusual substrate specificity for synthetic organophosphate triesters and phosphorofluoridates, which are common constituents of chemical warfare agents and agricultural pesticides. No natural substrate has been identified for phosphotriesterase, and it has been suggested that the enzyme may have evolved the ability to hydrolyze synthetic compounds in bacteria under selective pressure to meet nutritional needs. PHP, which has 28% sequence identity with phosphotriesterase, may belong to the family of proteins from which phosphotriesterase evolved. Here we report the cloning, expression, initial characterization, and high-resolution X-ray crystallographic structure of PHP. Biochemical analysis shows that PHP is monomeric and binds two zinc ions per monomer. Unlike phosphotriesterase, PHP does not catalyze the hydrolysis of nonspecific phospho...
Effect of forward velocity and crosswind on the reverse-thrust performance of a variable-pitch fan engine

Variable-pitch-fan engines may be attractive for future short-haul aircraft if sufficient reverse thrust is available for aircraft deceleration after touchdown. Thrust reversal is obtained in these engines by changing fan blade pitch about 90 deg, which causes the fan airflow to enter the fan duct nozzle and exhaust through the fan inlet. This capability would eliminate the heavy and costly thrust reverser system required for current fixed-pitch turbofan engines. NASA has, therefore, supported the development of advanced technology for a quiet, clean, high-bypass-ratio turbofan engine for future short-haul aircraft. In connection with this program, tests were conducted to determine the effect of forward velocity and angle of attack on steady-state reverse-thrust performance. Other objectives of the tests were related to the determination of the effect of forward velocity on forward-to-reverse thrust transient performance and the determination of the effectiveness of an overshoot blade angle technique to establish reverse thrust during a transient. The results of the tests are discussed.
Engineering a production code generator

This paper describes the structure of a code generator formed by merging the best aspects of three code generation techniques: Graham-Glanville parser-driven code generation [G] [GG] [GR] [HG], the register allocation/spill mechanism from the Portable C Compiler [J], and a code template expander [W]. The Graham-Glanville method was modified to use a standard LALR parser and table builder, and the register allocation method was extended in several significant ways in order to make optimal use of a machine with characterized registers.This code generator is a part of the Pascal-86 compiler developed by Intel Corporation as one of several compilers supporting its iAPX-86 (8086) microprocessor family. The language supported by the compiler is an extension of the Draft International Standard Pascal, level 0. Object code generated by this method compares favorably to code produced by other compilers for the 8086, as well as Pascal compilers for other machines. Since its release in March 1981, the code generator has proved to be quite reliable and easy to maintain.
MSI in endometrial carcinoma: absence of MLH1 promoter methylation is associated with increased familial risk for cancers.

Loss of DNA mismatch repair occurs in a variety of malignancies and is associated with genome-wide instability of microsatellite repeats, a molecular phenotype referred to as microsatellite instability (MSI). MSI is a consistent feature of colorectal and endometrial tumors from patients with hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). Sporadic colorectal and endometrial cancers that exhibit MSI frequently have methylation of the MLH1 promoter. We undertook a detailed family and medical history study to compare family cancer risk for women with MSI-positive and -negative endometrial cancers. The MLH1 promoter methylation status was determined for all cancers. Family histories were developed for 80 probands (40 with MSI-positive and 40 with MSI-negative tumors). The numbers of reported cancers in first- and second-degree relatives of the 2 groups were similar. There was a modest increase in familial cancer clustering for MSI-positive probands. When MSI-positive tumors were subclassified according to MLH1 promoter methylation, a clear association between methylation status and familial cancer risk was evident. Women with MSI-positive endometrial cancers in which the MLH1 promoter was unmethylated had a 7-fold relative risk (RR) of demonstrating familial clustering of cancers [RR 7.07 (95% confidence interval 2.29-21.81)]. The women with MSI-positive, MLH1-unmethylated tumors were significantly younger than the rest of the study population (56.1 years vs. 65.4, p < or = 0.01). Age of onset and tumor MSI not associated with MLH1 promoter methylation may point to women with a genetic susceptibility to malignancies.
Linear and angular head acceleration measurements in collegiate football

Each year, between 1.6x10(6) and 3.8x10(6) concussions are sustained by athletes playing sports, with football having the highest incidence. The high number of concussions in football provides a unique opportunity to collect biomechanical data to characterize mild traumatic brain injury. Human head acceleration data for a range of impact severities were collected by instrumenting the helmets of collegiate football players with accelerometers. The helmets of ten Virginia Tech football players were instrumented with measurement devices for every game and practice for the 2007 football season. The measurement devices recorded linear and angular accelerations about each of the three axes of the head. Data for each impact were downloaded wirelessly to a sideline data collection system shortly after each impact occurred. Data were collected for 1712 impacts, creating a large and unbiased data set. While a majority of the impacts were of relatively low severity (<30 g and <2000 rad/s2), 172 impacts were greater than 40 g and 143 impacts were greater than 3000 rad/s2. No instrumented player sustained a clinically diagnosed concussion during the 2007 season. A large and unbiased data set was compiled by instrumenting the helmets of collegiate football players. Football provides a unique opportunity to collect head acceleration data of varying severity from human volunteers. The addition of concurrent concussive data may advance the understanding of the mechanics of mild traumatic brain injury. With an increased understanding of the biomechanics of head impacts in collegiate football and human tolerance to head acceleration, better equipment can be designed to prevent head injuries.
EFFECT OF WATERSHED SUBDIVISION AND FILTER WIDTH ON SWAT SIMULATION OF A COASTAL PLAIN WATERSHED

The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) does not fully simulate riparian buffers, but has a simple filter function that is responsive to filter strip width (FILTERW). The objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate SWAT hydrology and water quality response to changes in watershed subdivision levels and different FILTERW configurations and (2) provide guidance for selecting appropriate watershed subdivision for model runs that include the riparian buffer feature through the FILTERW parameter. Watershed subdivision level is controlled by the critical source area (CSA) which defines the minimum drainage area required to form the ori- gin of a stream. SWAT was calibrated on a 15.7 km 2 subdrainage within the Little River Experimental Watershed, Georgia. The calibrated parameter set was applied to 32 watershed configurations consisting of four FILTERW representations for each of eight CSA levels. Streamflow predictions were stable regardless of watershed subdivision and FILTERW configuration. Predicted sediment and nutrient loads from upland areas decreased as CSA increased when spatial variations of riparian buffers are considered. Sediment and nutrient yield at the watershed outlet was responsive to different combinations of CSA and FILTERW depending on selected in-stream processes. CSA ranges which provide stable sediment and nutrient yields at the watershed outlet was suggested for avoiding significant modifications in selected parameter set.