cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is there an indication for initial conservative management of pancreatic cystic lesions

Background The management of small pancreatic cystic lesions presents a clinical challenge. Methods We reviewed our experience with 78 patients who presented with a cystic pancreatic lesion who underwent operative management between 1995 and 2005. Data on cyst characteristics were analyzed in the context of pathologic findings following resection. Results Among 78 patients, there were 55 (71%) females; median age 63 years. Patients presented with: an incidental finding (48%), pain (40%), acute pancreatitis (4%), other (8%). Operations were distal pancreatectomy (n = 47), pancreaticoduodenectomy (n = 16), and other (n = 15). Most patients had a non-malignant lesion (n = 65, 83%) (mucinous cystadenoma (n = 29), serous cystadenoma (n = 15), IPMN without invasion (n = 8), pseudocyst (n = 8), other benign (n = 5)). Malignant lesions (adenocarcinoma, neuroendocrine tumor, and other) were found in 13 patients (17%). The risk of malignancy increased with size: 5 cm (n = 30), 30%. Pre-operative cyst fluid cytology was performed in 41 patients. The negative predictive value (NPV) of cytology for malignancy was 88% and the positive predictive value (PPV) was 80%. The NPV of CA 19-9 for malignancy was 90%; the PPV was 50%. Conclusions Initial conservative management of small cystic pancreatic lesions may be indicated in selected patients. J. Surg. Oncol. 2009;100:372–374. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A blood analog for laser-induced photochemical anemometry.

Abstract A transparent viscoelastic blood analog fluid was developed for use with Laser-Induced Photochemical Anemometry. To provide solubility of the photochemical tracer, 1′, 3′, 3′-trimethyl-6-nitroindoline-2-spiro-2-benzopyran (TNSB dye, Kodak Chemicals), the analog solvent needed to be nonpolar, thus currently available aqueous blood analogs were not suitable. An analog consisting of 0.04% ethylhydroxyethylcellulose dissolved in gamma-butyrolactone produced a pseudoplastic steady shear response with low elasticity in unsteady shear, while being compatible with the photochemical tracer.
Confessions of a bioenergy advocate

Feedstocks that deserve serious consideration for fuels and chemicals are sugarcane, corn, trees and algae. Commercialization of biomass refining is imminent but the wild claims of those who think that bioenergy can replace much of our dependence on foreign oil are appalling. It is naive to view biomass as the panacea for the coming energy crisis because there is not enough in practical locations and the costs involved in retrieving and refining it will be relatively high. The world will not run out of energy, but cheap energy might disappear, with its economics clouded by a myriad of subsidies for the competing energy sources and by world politics. This assessment of biomass supply and conversion technologies provides global perspectives and exposes some alternatives to be so impractical that they are almost fraudulent.
Real-time investigation of lung surfactant respreading with surface vibrational spectroscopy.

The respreading of a lung surfactant monolayer at the air−water interface is investigated with broad bandwidth sum frequency generation (BBSFG) spectroscopy. The lung surfactant mixture contains chain perdeuterated dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC-d62), palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylglycerol (POPG), palmitic acid (PA), and KL4 (a 21-residue polypeptide analogue to the surfactant protein SP-B). DPPC-d62 serves as a probe molecule for the spectroscopic investigation. The BBSFG spectra of DPPC-d62 in the lung surfactant mixture are obtained in the C−D stretching region in real-time during film compression and expansion in a Langmuir trough. The BBSFG intensity of the CD3 stretch peak from DPPC-d62 terminal methyl groups is used as a measure of the interfacial density of DPPC-d62 after careful consideration of orientation effects. For the first time, the interfacial loss of DPPC in a complex lung surfactant mixture is quantified. Spectroscopic results reveal that there is an 18% DPPC-d62 interfacial loss dur...
Mosaic adenovirus-SV40 RNA specified by the non-defective hybrid virus Ad2+ND4.

Abstract We have isolated simian virus 40 (SV40) -specific RNA from the cytoplasm of HeLa cells harvested at late stages of productive infection with the non-defective adenovirus-SV40 hybrid Ad2 + ND4. The RNA was hybridized to complementary regions in Ad2 † , SV40, or Ad2 + ND4 DNA. and observed in the electron microscope. A considerable proportion of the RNA is mosaic, consisting of Ad2 sequences at its 5′ end and of SV40 RNA in the remainder of the molecule. The Ad2 sequences represent transcripts of separate segments of DNA. They start with the familiar tripartite leader of late Ad2 messenger RNA, followed by various combinations of three separate sequences which are located between Ad2 map positions 75 and 79, preceding the SV40 insertion in. Ad2 + ND4. The SV40 sequences within Ad2 + ND4 RNA are often transcribed from non-contiguous segments as well. Some of these segments correspond to those reported for RNA expressed by SV40 itself in early infection; others are quite different. The specific SV40 sequence arrangements in the mosaic RNA populations have enabled us to correlate them with individual translation products found in the infected cell. The intervening sequence common to SV40 and Ad2 + ND4 is bounded by SV40 map positions 60 and 54. A deletion comprising this sequence is found in a high proportion of our Ad2 + ND4 stocks. We discuss questions raised by this deletion with respect to control of Ad2 + ND4 gene expression.
Gateway-based interdomain routing scheme for intentional named message delivery in Disruption Tolerant Networks

Mobile nodes in some challenging network scenarios suffer from intermittent connectivity and frequent partitions e.g. battlefield and disaster recovery scenarios. Disruption Tolerant Network (DTN) technologies are designed to enable nodes in such environments to communicate with one another. In the past, we have designed ferry based scheme for interdomain routing. However, in some scenarios, it is not economical or infeasible to deploy ferries. Thus, in this paper, we present a gateway-based interdomain routing scheme for DTNs. Specifically, our scheme assumes that clusterhead is available in each ad-hoc domain and nodes forward interdomain traffic to gateway nodes which can reach foreign domains. Via simulations and prototyping efforts, we demonstrate that our scheme performs well when different groups partially overlap in their spatial location areas such that candidate nodes that can act as gateway nodes exist. Our prototype includes both intentional named message delivery feature and content-centric security features.
Adenosine Reduces Cardiac TNF-α Production and Human Myocardial Injury Following Ischemia-Reperfusion

Myocardial tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is an autocrine contributor to myocardial dysfunction and cardiomyocyte death in ischemia-reperfusion injury (I/R), sepsis, chronic heart failure, and cardiac allograft rejection. Cardiac resident macrophages and cardiomyocytes themselves produce TNF-α. In this regard, adenosine (ADO) has been reported to reduce macrophage TNF-α production. Our purposes were to determine whether (1) I/R induces rat myocardial TNF-α production; (2) ADO decreases ischemia-induced rat myocardial TNF-α production; (3) ADO functionally protects human myocardium against I/R; and (4) TNF-α-binding protein (TNFBP; p55) confers similar protection when substituted for ADO pretreatment. To study this, human atrial trabeculae were obtained during cardiac surgery and suspended in organ baths, paced at 1 Hz, and force development was recorded during I/R (45/120 min) with or without ADO pretreatment (125 μM × 10 min), or TNFBP (1 μg/ml) during I/R. Isolated rat hearts were perfused using the Langendorff method undergoing I/R (20/40 min) with or without ADO pretreatment (125 μM × 2 min) and rat myocardial expression of TNF-α was assessed by ELISA. Results demonstrated that I/R increased rat myocardial TNF-α levels from 324 ± 36 to 902 ± 77 pg/g (P< 0.05; ANOVA and Bonferroni/Dunn) and decreased human myocardial developed force (DF) to 18 ± 2% of baseline (%BDF;P< 0.05). ADO pretreatment decreased ischemia-induced rat myocardial TNF-α production (356 ± 107 pg/g;P< 0.05) and increased postischemic DF of human myocardium to 39 ± 3% BDF (P< 0.05). Further substantiating the link between ischemia-induced TNF-α production and injury, TNFBP administration similarly improved post-I/R function of human myocardium (55 ± 5% BDF;P< 0.05 vs. I/R alone). We conclude that (1) I/R induces rat myocardial TNF-α production; (2) ADO pretreatment decreases I/R-induced rat myocardial TNF-α production; (3) ADO improves human myocardial function; (4) TNFBP confers similar protection; and (5) inhibition/ neutralization of TNF-α represents a novel strategy for protecting human myocardium against ischemia and reperfusion injury.
Structures and energies of small carbon clusters: what experiment and theory have to say about C+8, C+9 and C+10

Abstract The structure and energies of linear and monocyclic carbon cluster cations C + n (8 ⩽ n ⩽ 10) have been investigated using gas phase ion chromatography experiments and ab initio calculations. Cluster ions are either produced directly in the ion source by laser ablation of graphite or by collision induced dissociation of larger clusters. The relative amount of linear and cyclic isomer was determined as a function of injection energy in the drift cell. Both linear and cyclic clusters are observed at all injection energies. Using simple kinetic arguments, the cyclic isomer is shown to be lower in energy than the linear cluster ion for n = 8,9 and 10. The stability of the cyclic ion relative to the linear isomer is estimated to be 23 ± 8 kcal mol −1 for C + 8 , 17 ± 8 kcal mol −1 for C + 9 and 47 ± 8 kcal mol −1 for C + 10 . Restricted open shell ab initio calculations are in very good agreement with these numbers.
Variation in Milk Fat, Protein, and Somatic Cell Count from Four Dairy Herd Improvement Laboratories

Abstract Information on variability in milk fat, protein, and somatic cell count among four Dairy Herd Improvement laboratories was studied. Approximately 395 individual cow samples from four herds were shipped in blind duplicate via common carrier to four Dairy Herd Improvement laboratories for analysis. One herd was sampled twice and one of the four laboratories was not equipped for protein determinations. As expected, samples differed among herds, laboratory, and interaction of herd by laboratory for the constituents analyzed. Reasons for the interactions could not be fully explained. However, delay in shipment of one set of herd samples to one laboratory probably contributed to the interaction for somatic cell count. Means from laboratories 1, 2, 3, and 4 across herds were 3.99, 3.90, 3.89, and 3.88 for percent fat, 3.45, 3.31, and 3.16 for percent protein and 364, 430, 322, and 380 for somatic cell count (× 1000). Variation among laboratories could not be explained by type of analytical instrument or time in shipment. These data indicate a need for use of uniform standards by testing laboratories to reduce variation in laboratory results.
On the feasibility of commercial, legal P2P content distribution

A spirited panel was recently held at the 10th International Web Caching and Content Distribution workshop on the future of P2P in content distribution [1]. After more than ten years of content distribution research and technology efforts, P2P is emerging as an alternative solution to solve the mass distribution of large digital content. However, using P2P for commercial content distribution faces a number of serious challenges. Issues such as content protection, impact on ISPs, security, end-to-end connectivity, and business models need careful consideration before P2P an be used as an efficient tool by content providers. In this paper, we summarize the issues brought up in discussion, and delve deeper into the feasibility of commercial, legal P2P content distribution solutions
Effect of Age of Rat and Dose of a Single Injection of Estradiol Benzoate (EB) on Ovulation and the Facilitation of Ovulation by Progesterone (P)

Ovulation occurred in 50 or 80% of 31-or 33-day-old rats receiving 0.25 and 0.5 μg doses of EB at 28 or 30 days of age, respectively. Higher or lower doses of EB were less effective and on day 22 doses ranging from 0.1 to 8.0 μg produced no ovulation. Injection of P sc (0.5 mg) at 8:00 AM on the second day after EB injection in varying doses on days 25, 28, or 30 increased the percentage of rats ovulating; most strikingly, 1.0 μg EB on day 22 and 0.5 mg P on day 24 produced ovulation in 9 of 16 rats. Evidence obtained from the injection of FSH iv alone and subsequent to EB suggests that follicular sensitivity to exogenous gonadotropin is higher in animals primed with EB. Younger animals treated with EB are less responsive to FSH than the older rats primed with EB. Phenobarbital prevented both EB-and EB-P-induced ovulation if given at 1:30 PM on the second day after EB, but not when given at 5:30 PM. These data suggest that a) EB plays an important role in the maturation of follicles to be ovulated and als...
Demonstration of sandwich and competitive modulated supraparticle fluoroimmunoassay applied to cardiac protein biomarker myoglobin

Modulated supraparticle structures are used to improve sandwich and competitive fluoroimmunoassays. The improved methods are demonstrated on myoglobin, a key diagnostic protein for detection of heart damage. The resulting method uses microliter volumes with bovine serum samples doped with varying concentrations of equine myoglobin. These immunoassays use micron-diameter iron oxide particles as a solid phase for antibody anchoring. Introduction of a magnetic field creates dipole moments on the particles, which attracts them to each other to form rod-like supraparticle structures. These structures can rotate within an alternating magnetic field generating convective flow and a periodic signal that can be analyzed with lock-in amplification enabling more sensitive detection. The system is demonstrated on a target associated with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). This disease causes decreased oxygen delivery to the heart resulting in tissue death and the release of cardiac myoglobin into the bloodstream. Studies have shown that the assessment and monitoring of serum myoglobin concentrations is important when making an early diagnosis of AMI. Early diagnosis is crucial since treatment is most effective when done within the first two hours of symptoms. The modulated assay is rapid, accurate, and sensitive for myoglobin assessment of small-volume serum samples. Using a cut-off value of 5.0 nM (85 ng/mL) for AMI induced myoglobin, the modulated competitive assay was able to diagnose AMI-like conditions in serum doped with myoglobin after an incubation time of only 10 min. The standard curve developed for the modulated sandwich assay was linear over a range of zero to 1 nM (17 ng/mL) with a lower limit of detection at 50 pM (0.85 ng/mL).
Is the olivine–spinel phase transformation martensitic?

Olivine, the dominant mineral in the Earth's uppermost mantle, undergoes one, or possibly a series of phase transformations to adopt a spinel structure at pressures above ∼13 GPa. The mechanism by which the transformation is accomplished could have important implications for understanding mantle dynamics and deep focus earthquakes. Recently, it has been proposed that the transformation may proceed by a martensitic mechanism1–5. We discuss here the characteristic properties of martensitic transformations and present evidence that the analogous transformation in Mg2GeO4 does not proceed by such a process.
Steroid hormone target sites in the brain: The differential distribution of estrogen, progestin, androgen and glucocorticosteroid

Abstract Nuclear concentration of steroid hormones or their metabolites exists in neurons in selective areas of the mammalian brain. The distribution of estrogen target cells in different mammalian species appears to follow a similar pattern that involves selective nuclear groups in the forebrain, midbrain and lower brainstem. The distribution of androgen target cells in the rat brain largely corresponds to the distribution of estrogen target cells, with differences existing, however, in certain structures, such as lateral septum, ventromedial hypothalamus, hippocampus, cortex, epithalamus, lower brainstem and spinal cord. The distribution of progestin in the guinea-pig hypothalamus seems restricted to the preoptic and infundibular region, where it overlaps with estrogen localization. Corticosterone target cells are accumulated in extrahypothalamic regions, and not in the hypothalamus, in contrast to the sex steroid. The synthetic “glucocorticosteroid” dexamethasone, however, is found in neurons and glial cells throughout the rat brain, differing from the natural glucocorticosteroid corticosterone. Localization of different hormones in neurons of identical regions suggests that the same neuron may be addressed by different hormones. On the other hand, the differential distribution of the various types of hormones is likely to reflect differences in their action. Both estrogens and androgens appear to act on neural structures that are identical to or closely associated with (1) various sensory pathways and (2) ventricular recess organs, constituting the periventricular gland. Androgens, in addition, stimulate selectively neurons of the somatomotor system and circuits of aggression. In general, the wide existence of hormone target cells in the central nervous system reflects the multiple actions of the steroid hormones on endocrine regulation, autonomic functions and behavior.
Conjugate Spermatozoa of the North American Opossum

IN 1887 Emil Selenka1 published a monograph describing the reproductive processes, and the embryology, of the North American opossum (Didelphys marsupialis L.). One of the many observations made on a colony of these animals, which Selenka maintained in Erlangen, Germany, was that the semen, recovered from the vagina of females shortly after coitus, contained many spermatozoa which swam in closely coupled pairs. Selenka referred to these paired cells as “copulating” spermatozoa, and the drawings which he published showed clearly that these paired spermatozoa are associated in a specifically oriented manner. In 1902. von Korph2 showed that the paired spermatozoa occurred in the epididymis, but not in the testes. This observation was confirmed later by Retzius3, Jordan4, and finally by Duesberg5 in 1920. Since that time the phenomenon has been briefly referred to only by Wilson6, in 1928, who recommended the phrase ‘conjugate spermatozoa’ instead of ‘copulating spermatozoa’, and by McGrady7 in 1938. In the past quarter of a century the phenomenon has been ignored, and is a notable omission from, contemporary reviews on spermatozoa.
Assessing the New England Mind

A number of factors have combined to obscure the Puritan mind from contemporary view. Until about a century ago, Puritan history both in England and America was written mostly from anti-Puritan, post-Restoration sources. Thomas Carlyle's Letters and Speeches of Oliver Cromwell marked a turning point in this practice, and the works of Samuel Rawson Gardiner and of Sir Charles Firth gave seventeenth century English Puritanism a narrowly interpreted, but fairer, hearing. The New England Puritan, however, received little real benefit. The political historian and the economic determinist despised theology and, accordingly, lacked the chief instrument whereby to probe the Puritan mind. Moreover, the American historian, steeped in nineteenth century liberalist notions and mightily affected by the English Whig tradition in history writing, usually made the historical error of reading into the New England mind ideas which are the results of nineteenth and twentieth century experience. Accordingly, they read backward into colonial history merely to emphasize the Puritans as forerunners of religious toleration, democracy, and capitalism (all of which, in the contemporary sense, the Puritan would have abhorred from the bottom of his soul!). These writers refused to believe any people could be as religious as the Puritans pretended and they concluded either that Puritans were all hypocrites or that a hypocritical Puritan clergy tyrannized a defenseless people until the latter, in righteous desperation, overthrew the bigoted priests and let in the pure air of eighteenth century rationalism. From such sources as these arose the popular, paradoxical notions of the colonial Puritan: the Puritan was a jealous bigot but he somehow gave us religious freedom;1 he was a gloomy snob but he gave us democ-
Comparison of the prevalence and treatment of hypertension in two populations in the United States: Masters swimmers versus the NHANES population

Abstract This research compares the prevalence of hypertension in a group of adult masters swimmers with an age and sex matched cohort from the 2008 NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey), used to represent the general population in the United States. Masters swimmer data were obtained from a one-time survey of all United States Masters Swimming (USMS) members. Both datasets included demographics, drug therapy, diseases and health status. Characteristics of swimming sessions as well as perceptions of impact of medications on exercise were also collected from the USMS respondents. Of 1346 completed surveys from USMS respondents, 15.8% self-identified as having hypertension while 36.2% participants in the NHANES survey suffered from hypertension (P < 0.001). The two groups were well matched for age and gender but the USMS group was primarily Caucasian, higher income, higher education, and reported higher health status. In the USMS group, not only was hypertension less prevalent but those ...
Action potential in the giant axon of Loligo: a physical model

Abstract A physical system is modeled which will reproduce the empirical-data model of A. L. Hodgkin and A. F. Huxley and the mathematical model of R. C. Hoyt. The sodium and potassium ion conductances are defined statistically and the phenomenological constants are determined by the use of the voltage-clamp data of Hodgkin and Huxley and the mathematical parameters of Hoyt. The model is predictive in that it suggests the source of the heat input to the axon during the action potential. The temperature dependence of the rate constants and the conductances is susceptible to simple explanation. The pressure dependence of the action potential properties is suggested as a further source of information of the ion-selective conductance in this membrane.
Dipolar Broadening of Magnetic Resonance Lines in Magnetically Diluted Crystals

Calculations are given for the frequency moments associated with the dipolar broadening of magnetic resonance lines in crystals having lattice points populated at random by identical paramagnetic ions or nuclei. It is found that for fractional magnetic population $fg0.1$ the line shape is approximately Gaussian with a width proportional to ${f}^{\frac{1}{2}}$; for $fl0.01$ the line shape is approximately Lorentzian with a width proportional to $f$.
Factor Structure of the MCAT and Pilot Essay.

The Association of American Medical Colleges is examining the desirability and feasibility of including an essay on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). This endeavor calls for administration of a trial essay with the 1985 through 1987 MCAT examinations. Research reported in this paper considered the construct validity of the essay and its effect on the measurement domain tapped by the operational MCAT. The objective was to examine the factor structure of the MCAT and pilot essay and compare it to structures observed for previous MCAT versions and examinee groups. Factor analyses of data for 2,876 Spring 1985 examinees yielded two factors: 1. a science/quantitative factor defined by the science tests and Skills Analysis: Quantitative, and 2. an analysis/communication factor including the two Skills Analysis exams and pilot essay. The addition of the essay caused the non-science factor observed in previous MCAT research to be more strongly defined. Factor analyses of data for male, female, black, whi...
In vitro biocompatibility assessment of multipurpose contact lens solutions: effects on human corneal epithelial viability and barrier function

Abstract Purpose To explore the in vitro effects of multipurpose contact lens solutions (MPSs) on corneal epithelial barrier function and viability. Methods Human corneal epithelial cells (HCEpiC) were exposed to 50% MPSs A–G. Viability was determined using metabolic activity, protease release and caspase assays. Barrier function was evaluated using immunostaining for the tight junction protein zonnula occludens-1 (ZO-1) and resistance measurements. Results MPS A and G did not affect HCEpiC monolayer viability after 2 h, while MPSs B–F significantly decreased viability. There was a significant decrease in stratified HCEpiC viability after exposure to MPSs B–E for 2 h, while there was no effect of MPS A. After exposure of HCEpiC monolayers to MPS A, F or G for 30 min, ZO-1 staining appeared similar to control. HCEpiC exposed to MPSs B and C demonstrated tight junction breakdown. There was no significant change in HCEpiC monolayer resistance after exposure to MPS A or F for 2 h, while MPSs B–E and G reduced resistance. After exposure to MPS A–E, stratified HCEpiC resistance was significantly decreased after 2 or 4 h. The decrease in resistance was significantly less with MPS A as compared to the other MPSs. Conclusions MPSs caused varying modifications to cell viability and barrier function in monolayer and stratified HCEpiC. MPS A did not alter monolayer HCEpiC viability or barrier function, while MPSs B–G caused significant decreases of at least one parameter. Furthermore, MPS A had significantly less effect than MPSs B–E on viability and barrier function of stratified HCEpiC.
Clinical application of a new glucose analyzer in the neonatal intensive care unit: Comparison with other methods

We evaluated the operation of the Yellow Springs instrument Co. (YSI) glucose analyzer (model 23A) by clinical nurses for the measurement of blood glucose in the intensive care nursery. In vitro performance was determined with the use of aqueous standards; with a 2-point calibration of 0.0 and 200 mg/dl, a precision of better than 1.0% of each standard (25, 50, 100, 200 mg/dl) was achieved, and the linearity was excellent ( Y =0.99X−0.49, r =0.99). The YSI correlated well with a manual spectrophotometric glucose oxidase method ( r =0.99) and the Kodak Ektachem analyzer ( r =0.98) using human umbilical cord blood samples. Five trained clinical nurses performed all YSI and glucose reagent strip analyses, including all in vitro and patient samples. Four reagent strip methods were compared with the YSI from 104 neonatal heel-stick blood samples: Glucometer II with memory ( r =0.73), Glucostix ( r =0.74), Dextrostix ( r =0.70), and Chemstrip bG ( r =0.83). We conclude that clinical nurses can and do learn to use the YSI with excellent precision and that the YSI represents an improved method for measuring glucose concentrations in the newborn intensive care nursery.
Challenges and benefits of international trade on developed and transitional economies and individual companies: a case study

This paper evaluates the effects of international trade on developed and transitional economies and individual companies using empirical and qualitative analyses. Multiple regression analysis showed the relationships between global import and export transactions in goods and services with the economic welfare of the USA and that of Russia. Findings indicated that indeed, there is a strong correlation between world trade and a well-established market economy such as the USA, Japan and countries in EU, while there is small correlation between the world trade and a transitional economy such as Russia. International trade partnerships in goods and services industries were analysed.
Flights of imagination: fostering creativity through experiential learning

An experiential approach for enhancing students' abilities to think and behave creatively is presented. The role of creativity in entrepreneurship education is becoming more significant as students...
Withaferin A inhibits activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 in human breast cancer cells

We have shown previously that withaferin A (WA), a promising anticancer constituent of Ayurvedic medicine plant Withania somnifera, inhibits growth of human breast cancer cells in culture and in vivo in association with apoptosis induction. The present study builds on these observations and demonstrates that WA inhibits constitutive as well as interleukin-6 (IL-6)-inducible activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), which is an oncogenic transcription factor activated in many human malignancies including breast cancer. The WA treatment (2 and 4 μM) decreased constitutive (MDA-MB-231) and/or IL-6-inducible (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) phosphorylation of STAT3 (Tyr(705)) and its upstream regulator Janus-activated kinase 2 (JAK2; Tyr(1007/1008)) in MDA-MB-231, which was accompanied by suppression of their protein levels especially at the higher concentration. Exposure of MDA-MB-231 or MCF-7 cells to WA also resulted in suppression of (i) transcriptional activity of STAT3 with or without IL-6 stimulation in both cells; (ii) dimerization of STAT3 (MDA-MB-231) and (iii) nuclear translocation of Tyr(705)-phosphorylated STAT3 in both cells. To our surprise, the IL-6-stimulation, either before or after WA treatment, did not have an appreciable effect on WA-mediated apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 or MCF-7 cell line. The IL-6-stimulated activation of STAT3 conferred a modest protection against WA-mediated suppression of MDA-MB-231 cell invasion. General implication of these findings is that WA can trigger apoptosis and largely inhibit cell migration/invasion of breast cancer cells even after IL-6-induced activation of STAT3, which should be viewed as a therapeutic advantage for this agent.
Rethinking Global Economic and Social Governance

This paper presents a new typology of global cooperation for development, based on three objectives: managing interdependence, furthering the development of societies, and gradually overcoming the asymmetries that characterize the world economic system. It then explores the nature of these asymmetries and proposes that the concept of "special but differentiated responsibilities" offers the best framework for handing the special issues of developing countries in the global order. Finally, it develops a five point agenda for improving global economic and social governance structures: creating a dense network of world, regional and national institutions; ensuring the equitable participation of developing countries in global governance; creating a Global Council of the broad UN system, based on representation by constituencies; guaranteeing a better coherence of the decentralized system that characterizes global arrangements in the economic and social field; and effective accountability for international commitments.
Molecular Mechanisms of Hepatocarcinogenesis in Transgenic Mouse Models of Liver Cancer

Overexpression of c-myc and transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) has been frequently observed in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC),suggesting a pivotal role played by these protooncogenes in liver oncogenesis. In order to investigate the molecular events underlying human hepatic malignant transformation, we have generated c-myc and c-myc/ TGF-alpha transgenic mice that are prone to liver cancer. These transgenic mice develop HCCs with different incidence, kinetics and histopathological features. Indeed, co-expression of c-myc and TGF-alpha transgenes results in a dramatic synergistic effect on liver tumor development when compared with respective single transgenic lines, including a shorter latency period and a more aggressive phenotype. The more malignant histopathological features characteristic of c-myc/ TGF-alpha HCCs are the result of the increased proliferation and reduced apoptosis in this model of liver cancer when compared with single parental lines. Accordingly, c-myc and c-myc/l TGF-alpha transgenic mice display a different molecular pathogenesis of HCC. Importantly, the genetic and molecular mechanisms that are involved in c-myc and c-myc/ TGF-alpha liver cancer development are major oncogenic events in human hepatocarcinogenesis, indicating that these mouse models represent a useful tool to dissect and elucidate the molecular basis of human HCC.
Sinterable glass-ceramics for high-performance substrates

Glasses in the MgO-Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/-SiO/sub 2/ system were developed for use in fabricating multilayer substrates with copper thick-film metallurgy. These glasses sintered dense in the glassy state and subsequently crystallized to yield glass-ceramics with alpha -cordierite as the principal crystalline phase. An understanding of the factors governing sintering, crystallization, and microstructure development has been obtained. The range of thermal expansion coefficients, dielectric constants, and flexural strengths of the sintered glass-ceramics met the requirements for a high-performance, multilayer substrate. >
Barriers to chronic pain measurement: a qualitative study of patient perspectives

Objective Preliminary evidence suggests that chronic pain patients complete pain intensity measures using idiosyncratic methods. Our objective was to understand these methods and how they might impact the psychometric properties of the instruments. Design A qualitative focus-group based study. Setting An academic center in New York City. Subjects Outpatients ( n = 36) with chronic low back pain, or neuropathic pain due to diabetes or HIV. Methods Participants were divided into three focus groups based on their pain condition, and asked to discuss pain intensity measures (visual analog and numeric rating scales for average pain over 24 hours; Brief Pain Inventory; and McGill Pain Questionnaire). Audio-recordings were transcribed and analyzed using an inductive thematic method. Results We discovered four main themes, and five sub-themes: 1) doubt that pain can be accurately measured (subthemes: pain measurement is influenced by things other than pain, the numbers used to rate pain do not have an absolute meaning, and preference for pain intensity ratings “in the middle” of the scale); 2) confusion regarding the definition of pain; 3) what experiences to use as referents (subthemes: appropriate comparator experiences and the interpretation of the anchors of the scale); and 4) difficulty averaging pain. Conclusions The themes discovered suggest that patients include sensations and experiences other than pain intensity in their ratings, experience the rating of pain as a comparative task, and do not use the scale in a linear manner. These themes are relevant to understanding the validity and scale properties of commonly used pain intensity measures.
Exercise of Human Agency Through Collective Efficacy

Social c ognitive t heory adopts an agentic perspective in which individuals are producers of experiences and shapers of events. Among the mechanisms of human agency, none is more focal or pervading than the belief of personal efficacy. This core belief is the foundation of human agency. Unless people believe that they can produce desired effects and forestall undesired ones by their actions, they have little incentive to act. The growing interdependence of human functioning is placing a premium on the exercise of collective agency through shared beliefs in the power to produce effects by collective action. The present article analyzes the nature of perceived collective efficacy and its centrality in how people live their lives. Perceived collective efficacy fosters groups’ motivational commitment to their missions, resilience to adversity, and performance a ccomplishments.
Effect of ionic strength and temperature on interaction between fish myoglobin and myofibrillar proteins.

The effects of ionic strength (0, 0.3, and 0.6 M KCl) and temperature (4 and 25 degrees C) on the interaction between fish myoglobin and myofibrillar proteins were investigated in a model system. Increases in the relative content of bound myoglobin and metmyoglobin formation in myoglobin-natural actomyosin (NAM) mixtures with concurrent decreases in whiteness and Ca(2+)-ATPase activity were observed with increasing ionic strength (P 0.05). SDS-PAGE patterns of protein samples suggested that myoglobin-NAM interactions did not involve disulfide bonds. The formation of high-molecular-weight aggregates (>206 kDa) was observed and was more pronounced at higher ionic strength and higher temperature.
Real-time temporal and causal reasoning for intelligent control

Automation of the control of complex systems has been achieved through the application of computers using such tools as closed-loop control, finite-state machines, etc. However, a number of tasks in the control of such processes must still be performed by human operators, resisting conventional automation efforts. These tasks usually involve unforeseen circumstances, such as defective controller hardware or unusual behavior of the application being controlled. Operators often use experience or heuristic reasoning to cope with these types of process deviations. In this paper, we will describe the theory and design of a generic temporal/causal system called TEMPROS (TEMporal PROgramming System) used to perform intelligent real-time control, capable of assuming many of the responsibilities that are currently exclusively performed by human operators. The system uses temporal propositions as its reasoning mechanism, deviating from current temporal reasoning systems by adding the new state “potentially true” to the truth value of a proposition. In addition, the system employs a plan hierarchy and a “lazy instantiation” mechanism to achieve the performance needed to make intelligent decisions in real time. We shall also outline the application of TEMPROS to the domain of growing gallium arsenide crystals using the LEC process.
Inhibitory effect of serotonin on ovulation in the domestic fowl, Gallus domesticus

Abstract Serotonin (5-HT) treatment (20 mg/kg) of White Leghorn layers 8 h before expected time of egg release from the ovary inhibited ovulation. This inhibitory effect was overcome by LH administration. Progesterone injection 14 h before anticipated ovulation caused premature ovulation. 5-HT injected 15 or 60 min before or after progesterone administration inhibited this ovulation. Non-significant inhibition (P
Suturing in confined spaces: constrained motion control of a hybrid 8-DoF robot

We present our work on developing and testing the high-level control for a future telerobotic system for minimally invasive surgery of the throat and upper airways. As a test-bed for these experiments, we used a hybrid 8 degrees-of-freedom (DoF) experimental robot composed of a six DoF robot and a two DoF snake-like unit. The kinematics and weighted redundancy resolution to support suturing in confined spaces, such as the throat, is developed and experimental validation in presented. The kinematics of the hybrid system is described in an 8-dimensional augmented vector space composed from the joint variables of the six DoF robot and two angles describing the configuration of the snake-like unit. Then a weighted, multi objective, optimization framework is used to perform the suturing operation under the assumption of a predefined suture geometry while satisfying joint limits, torque constraints, and minimizing extraneous motions of the system joints
A review of research on the teaching and learning of chemical kinetics

We review literature on the teaching and learning of chemical kinetics at both the secondary and tertiary levels. Our aim in doing so is to summarize research literature, synthesize recommendations for future research, and suggest implications for practitioners. Two main bodies of literature emerged from the chemical kinetics education research: student understanding and instructional approaches to teaching. The student understanding findings are discussed in light of the anchoring concepts content map for general chemistry. We also review relevant literature about research on undergraduate mathematics education, as mathematics is often used as the primary language of communicating chemical kinetics. Finally, we discuss directions for future research and implications for practice.
Expressive Desire in Stanley Kwan's Lan Yu

Stanley Kwan's Lan Yu configures the emergence of homosexuality in contemporary China far beyond its validation in recognizably Western identitarian terms: the affirmation of an existing but misrecognized minority population; the defense of sexual "perversion"; the positing of sexual freedom, legal recognition, and political rights; the justification of a bourgeois consumer lifestyle, or even the expression of a universalizing and binding love bringing together two abstract individuals. Instead, in Kwan's film, homosexuality and its expressive desire mark the emergence of a new humanism in (post)socialist China under the shadows of global capitalism and neoliberal development. Gays and lesbians, that is, are harbingers of a new modernity, helping to situate China in its proper place within a cosmopolitan globalized world. From this perspective, homosexuality functions as a critical tool for organizing and evaluating the historical continuities and ruptures among China 's (semi)colonial past, its revolutionary aspirations for a socialist modernity, and its present investments in a neoliberal capitalist world order.
Interrogating Texts: From Deferent to Efferent and Aesthetic Reading Practices

This article offers a revised version of transactional reading theory to explain how students classified as basic writers tend to employ counterproductive reading and thinking processes that inhibit them from full participation in academic life. Louise Rosenblatt proposes that readers have two main positions or purposes in reading—the efferent stance, where readers focus on the information in a text, and the aesthetic stance, where readers focus on the experi- ence they have with a text. This article describes a third, deferent stance of reading that many basic writers adopt when they defer their interpretations of texts to other readers or defer to the counter-productive emotions they experience during the process of reading difficult texts. Building on this theoretical frame, the article describes an instructional strategy employing a series of prompts that invite students to examine their own thinking as they read difficult texts and to focus more on what they don't understand than on what they do. The article concludes with reconstructions of classroom scenarios and a body of textual evidence showing how a carefully sequenced and controlled procedure for having basic writing students interrogate texts and themselves as readers can lead those students to become more engaged, authentic, and pro- ductive readers, writers, and participants in the academic community of a college classroom.
The Impact of Sexual Coercion on Changes in Adolescent Women’s Relationship Attributes

have >2 partners in the last 3 months [OR:2.43, 95%CI: 1.00-5.93]. Adolescents who were discordant in the monogamy domain had associations of similar magnitude and direction. Conclusions: In contrast to our hypothesis, adolescents whose main partners did not achieve their ideal social/economic and monogamy preferences were less likely to use HC. An examination of characteristics of adolescents who had difficulty finding partners who matched their preferences in these domains suggests that these young women may have low motivation to prevent pregnancy. These results have important public health implications, showing that adolescents that are not in ideal relationships are at high-risk for unintended pregnancy. Sources of Support: R01HD058309 (PI: Ellen), K01DA035387 (PI: Matson).
Potential Role of Dissimilatory Iron Reduction in the Early Evolution of Microbial Respiration

Dr. Derek R. Lovley is a Professor at the Department of Microbiology, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst MA. He was honored as a Distinguished University Professor at his Department. Dr. Lovley obtained his Ph.D. (1982) at the Michigan State University in Microbiology. Among his awards are: the Division K Lecturer for the American Society for Microbiology, Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology, Grant Winner, Popular Science, U.S. Geological Survey Mendenhall Lecturer (highest scientific honor of USGS).
The Converse of a Probabilistic Relation

Transition probabilities are proposed as the stochastic counterparts to set-based relations. We propose the construction of the converse of a probabilistic relation. It is shown that two of the most useful properties carry over: the converse is idempotent, and anticommutative. The last property is shown to hold relative to some initial probability measure. This paper investigates the relation between stochastic and set-based relations through the support function of probabilities. Page 1 The Converse of a Probabilistic Relation
Investigation of Candidate Features For Crack Detection in Fan and Turbine Blades and Disks

of fatigue cracks in turbo-machinery components is a vital but costly eort. This work focuses on nonlinearities in the response behavior resulting from the opening and closing of cracks that results in super-harmonic resonances due to harmonic excitations. Experimental results for a cracked cantilever beam are presented as well as the results from numerical simulations of an integrally bladed compressor disk FE model. Identication of sensitive vibration features is expected to contribute to the development of automated crack detection techniques for aircraft engine disks.
Successful Onyx embolization of life threatening traumatic posterior jugal artery fistula following mandibular fracture

The mandible is one of the most frequently fractured bones of the face. However, vascular injuries associated with mandibular fractures are exceedingly rare. If they do occur, they usually involve branches of the internal maxillary artery. In this article, a unique case of delayed, life threatening oropharyngeal hemorrhage, secondary to traumatic fistula of the posterior jugal artery, is reported, that was successfully treated using a neuroendovascular Onyx embolization technique.