cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Radical prostatectomy as primary treatment modality for locally advanced prostate cancer: a prospective analysis.

Abstract Objectives Locally advanced prostate cancer is frequently treated with radiotherapy and androgen deprivation because of the greater rate of extracapsular disease and the concern that radical prostatectomy (RP) may not be curative in most cases. A case for surgery for locally advanced disease may be made on the basis of a lower rate of local recurrence compared with radiotherapy in our comparative database, data suggesting a survival advantage with pelvic lymph node dissection in those with positive nodes, and the observation of improved survival in those with metastatic disease treated by RP compared with radiotherapy. We report on the feasibility of RP as a primary treatment modality for locally advanced disease. Methods A total of 281 consecutive patients treated by RP between January 1998 and June 2004 were reviewed. Locally advanced disease was defined as clinical Stage T2b or worse, prostate-specific antigen level greater than 15 ng/mL, and/or a Gleason score of 8 or greater. Data on the pathologic characteristics, operative complications, and follow-up were obtained from a prospectively maintained institutional review board-approved database. Results Pathologic examination demonstrated organ-confined disease in 11.7%, extracapsular extension in 56.9%, seminal vesicle involvement in 23.1%, and positive lymph nodes in 8.9%. The overall complication rate was 9.7% compared with 6.9% for all patients undergoing RP. At a mean follow-up of 34 months (range 1 to 78), 198 (70.4%) of 281 patients had an undetectable prostate-specific antigen level at the last follow-up examination. Conclusions RP for locally advanced prostate cancer is feasible, with acute morbidity similar to RP for more localized disease. Furthermore, RP results in short-term biochemical recurrence-free survival similar to that of combined radiotherapy and androgen ablation.
Dissociation of protein kinase activity and the induction of the antiviral state in a cell line responsive to the antiviral effects of interferon.

Abstract Interferons or oxidized glutathione were found to induce double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase activity in mouse L cells that phosphorylates the α subunit of eukaryotic peptide initiation factor 2. A mixture of leukocyte/fibroblast interferons as well as immune interferon induced the protein kinase and also suppressed virus replication in the L cells. Oxidized glutathione was equally effective in inducing protein kinase activity, but it did not induce an antiviral state in these cells. The data suggest that a simple cause and effect relationship does not exist between protein kinase induction and the establishment of the antiviral state in a cell that is responsive to the antiviral effects of interferon.
Operational Research and the Behavioural Sciences

Operational research has set for itself the general goal of providing solutions to management problems. In view of this the authors assert that operational research has paid scant attention to work in the behavioural sciences in devising its approaches to problems. This omission can be serious. It can also be remedied, at least in part, and it is the purpose of this article to lay a foundation for such a remedy.
The Development of a Functional Reading Strategy: Implications for Content Area Instruction.

AbstractA functional approach to reading instruction was investigated in a content area. The reading strategy under consideration incorporated the use of prepared reading guides in small groups within the structure of seventh grade social studies lessons. Questions were raised to determine in what way such a strategy would influence performance on measures of (a) ability to recognize patterns of organization, (b) content acquisition, (c) social studies reading, and (d) general reading comprehension. The effects of the experimental strategy, therefore, were studied in two separate but interrelated studies involving the sample of students. It was found that the functional reading strategy not only appeared to have a significant effect (p >.05) on students' ability to recognize patterns of organization in expository paragraphs, but also seemed to positively influence (p >.05) their acquisition of social studies content and had a qualified effect on their achievement in reading social studies. There were no s...
How do pediatric anesthesiologists define intraoperative hypotension

Summary Introduction: Although blood pressure (BP) monitoring is a recommended standard of care by the ASA, and pediatric anesthesiologists routinely monitor the BP of their patients and when appropriate treat deviations from ‘normal’, there is no robust definition of hypotension in any of the pediatric anesthesia texts or journals. Consequently, what constitutes hypotension in pediatric anesthesia is currently unknown. We designed a questionnaire-based survey of pediatric anesthesiologists to determine the BP ranges and thresholds used to define intraoperative hypotension (IOH). Methods: Members of the Society of Pediatric Anesthesia (SPA) and the Association of Paediatric Anaesthetists (APA) of Great Britain and Ireland were contacted through e-mail to participate in this survey. We asked a few demographic questions and five questions about specific definitions of hypotension for different age groups of patients undergoing inguinal herniorraphy, a common pediatric surgical procedure. Results: The overall response rate was 56% (483/860), of which 76% were SPA members. Majority of the respondents (72%) work in academic institutions, while 8.9% work in institutions with fewer than 1000 annual pediatric surgical caseload. About 76% of respondents indicated that a 20–30% reduction in baseline systolic blood pressure (SBP) indicates significant hypotension in children under anesthesia. Most responders (86.7%) indicated that they use mean arterial pressure or SBP (72%) to define IOH. The mean SBP values for hypotension quoted by SPA members was about 5–7% lower across all pediatric age groups compared to values quoted by APA members (P = 0.001 for all age groups). Conclusions: There is great variability in the BP parameters used and the threshold used for defining and treating IOH among pediatric anesthesiologists. The majority of respondents considered a 20–30% reduction from baseline in SBP as indicative of significant hypotension. Lack of a consensus definition for a common clinical condition like IOH could have implications for patient care as well as future clinical research.
Linear stability of radially-heated circular Couette flow with simulated radial gravity

The stability of circular Couette flow between vertical concentric cylinders in the presence of a radial temperature gradient is considered with an effective “radial gravity.” In addition to terrestrial buoyancy − ρgez we include the term − ρgmf(r)er where gmf(r) is the effective gravitational acceleration directed radially inward across the gap. Physically, this body force arises in experiments using ferrofluid in the annular gap of a Taylor–Couette cell whose inner cylinder surrounds a vertical stack of equally spaced disk magnets. The radial dependence f(r) of this force is proportional to the modified Bessel function K1(κr), where 2π/κ is the spatial period of the magnetic stack and r is the radial coordinate. Linear stability calculations made to compare with conditions reported by Ali and Weidman (J. Fluid Mech., 220, 1990) show strong destabilization effects, measured by the onset Rayleigh number R, when the inner wall is warmer, and strong stabilization effects when the outer wall is warmer, with increasing values of the dimensionless radial gravity γ = gm/g. Further calculations presented for the geometry and fluid properties of a terrestrial laboratory experiment reveal a hitherto unappreciated structure of the stability problem for differentially-heated cylinders: multiple wavenumber minima exist in the marginal stability curves. Transitions in global minima among these curves give rise to a competition between differing instabilities of the same spiral mode number, but widely separated axial wavenumbers.
Alteration of annulate lamellae in the in vitro progesterone‐treated, full‐grown Rana pipiens oocyte

In full-grown but immature Rana pipiens ovarian oocytes, stacks of annulate lamellae are preferentially localized in the ooplasm between the germinal vesicle and the animal pole.l Furthermore, the largest stacks of these porous cytomembranes tend to be localized deeper in the ooplasm in proximity to the germinal vesicle, while smaller, but variable-sized stacks of annulate lamellae area found closer to the oolemma of the animal pole. Manually defolliculated, full-grown oocytes were cultured in progesterone for periods of 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 12, 16, 18, and 22 hours at 18 degrees C. Annulate lamellae were observed in the animal pole ooplasm after 1, 3, 5, 6, and 9 hours of in vitro culture in progesterone at 18 degrees C. In contrast, annulate lamellae were not observed in fully grown oocytes cultured in the progesterone for 12, 16, 18, or 22 hours at 18 degrees C. Rather, many localized areas in the animal pole ooplasm wer observed that contained large numbers of closely packed vesicles of different size. The largest clusters of vesicles were present in the ooplasm near the germinal vesicle. Progressing toward the oolemma of the animal pole, the vesicular clusters appeared to become smaller in area. These clusters of vesicles were not observed in either untreated control oocytes at 3-22 hours of culture, or in those treated with progesterone for 1, 3, 5, 6, or 9 hours. The results suggest that after the appropriate maturation-inducing treatment with progesterone, annulate lamellae lose their integrity, probably by a process of vesiculation. This represents one of the first morphological changes which occurs during the induction of meiotic maturation. The alteration of annulate lamellae observed in the progesterone-treated oocytes occurs prior to the complete germinal vesicle breakdown, for under the experimental conditions described, the germinal vesicle nuclear envelope did not completely break down until between 18 and 22 hours of culture in progesterone.
Three-dimensional position accuracy in circular synthetic aperture radar

This article evaluates the three-dimensional (3-D) location information provided by spotlight-mode circular synthetic aperture radar (SAR). The circular synthetic aperture refers to a single circular flight path of 360° azimuth at a constant altitude and broadside squint angle. The motivating operational concept is persistent wide-area surveillance from a single airborne radar platform. The circular SAR data collection geometry inherently presents a near-field inverse scattering problem; however, the far-field plane wave propagation assumption is accurate for a region about the scene center. Early SAR manuscripts noted that nonlinear flight paths provide k-space data not confined to a plane, thus providing some 3-D resolution [1]. Resolution in 3-D was likewise demonstrated for ultrahigh frequency (UHF) and X-band systems using circular apertures [2].
Actuation mechanisms for biologically inspired everting toroidal robots

Inspired by the pseudopod mobility mechanism found in amoebas, we propose a toroidal robot which can fold in on itself to generate the same overall motion of the amoeba. One of the advantages of such a robot is its ability to squeeze under obstacles and through holes smaller than its nominal diameter. These abilities make it particularly well suited for unstructured and highly constrained environments such as medical and search and rescue applications. We present several actuation mechanisms which are being investigated towards the development of an everting toroidal robot. For smaller scale applications, we present contracting ring actuators made up of shape memory alloy rings or electroactive polymer rings that create a differential stress and drive the motion. For larger scale applications, we present a tape spring mechanism which uses a membrane composed of treads arranged in a circular pattern. Another large scale mechanism uses a snake-like robot that can be formed into a torus which can ascend and descend cylindrical structures. We also present a chemical actuation method which utilizes chemically induced swelling in crosslinked polymers to produce forward motion. Finally, we describe a novel torus shaped actuator being developed which uses shape memory alloy rings to generate an everting motion.
Death-Related Crime: Applying Bryant’s Conceptual Paradigm of Thanatological Crime to Serial Homicide

The study of death within the field of sociology is expansive yet despite this research there is a lack of inquiry within the area of crime and deviance on the topic of thanatological crime. One researcher that has conducted an analysis of this topic is Bryant (2003). In his expose on thanatological crime, Bryant (2003) developed a conceptual paradigm of death-related crime that consisted of four motivational categories and two patterns of victimization. Using data from the Radford/FGCU Serial Killer Database (Aamodt 2013), this article extends and applies the conceptual paradigm of thanatological crime to serial homicide.
Updated Review of Blood Culture Contamination

Blood culture contamination represents an ongoing source of frustration for clinicians and microbiologists alike. Ambiguous culture results often lead to diagnostic uncertainty in clinical management and are associated with increased health care costs due to unnecessary treatment and testing. A variety of strategies have been investigated and employed to decrease contamination rates. In addition, numerous approaches to increase our ability to distinguish between clinically significant bacteremia and contamination have been explored. In recent years, there has been an increase in the application of computer-based tools to support infection control activities as well as provide clinical decision support related to the management of infectious diseases. Finally, new approaches for estimating bacteremia risk which have the potential to decrease unnecessary blood culture utilization have been developed and evaluated. In this review, we provide an overview of blood culture contamination and describe the potential utility of a variety of approaches to improve both detection and prevention. While it is clear that progress is being made, fundamental challenges remain.
Characterization of montmorillonite surfaces after modification by organosilane

X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), surface area measurements, and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy were used to examine the surface properties of organosilane-modified smectite-type aluminosilicate clays. Organic modified clays derived from the reactions of montmorillonite (containing 93–95% montmorillonite from a bentonite, <1% quartz, and 4–6% opal CT) with octadecyltrichlorosilane (C18H37SiCl3) and octadecyltrimethoxysilane [C18H37Si(OMe)3] are highly hydrophobic. Surface loadings of the modified clays depend on the organosilane and the solvent, and they range from 10 to 25 wt. %. The organic species are probably adsorbed to the outer surfaces and bound to the edges of the clay via condensation with edge-OH groups. Encapsulation of montmorillonite with C18H37SiCl3 and C18H37Si(OMe)3 resulted in a hydrophobic coating that acts like a “cage” around the clay particles to limit diffusion. Basal spacings of the organic modified clays remain at ∼15 A upon heating to 400°C in N2, whereas those of unmodified clays collapse to ∼10 A. A considerable reduction in surface area (by 75–90%) for organic modified clays is observed, which is consistent with the existence of a surface coating. The solvent used can affect the amount of organic silane coated on the clay particles, whereas the difference between the products prepared using C18H37SiCl3 and C18H37Si(OMe)3 in the same solvent is relatively small. The carbon and oxygen K-edge NEXAFS spectroscopy of the modified montmorillonite surfaces showed that surface coatings on the outside of the clay particles exist. The encapsulating system may allow for economical remediation and storage of hazardous materials.
Diffusion of acetophenone and phenethyl alcohol in the calcium-alginate–bakers' yeast–hexane system

The intrabead diffusion coefficients of acetophenone and phenethyl alcohol were measured at 30 degrees C in the triphasic immobilized yeast-water-hexane system. Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells were deactivated with hydrochloric acid and entrapped in calcium-alginate beads. Measurements of dry cell loss during deactivation, shrinkage of the beads during deactivation and the final porosity of the beads were made for various cell loadings. Final concentrations of wet cells in the beads ranged from approximately 0.25 to 0.30 g/mL. Mass transfer in the hexane phase, external to the beads, was eliminated experimentally. The estimated error of 5% to 10% in the diffusion coefficients is within the experimental error associated with the bead method. The effect of significant sampling volumes on the diffusivities was estimated theoretically and accounted for experimentally. The intrabead concentration of acetophenone and phenethyl alcohol was 150 to 800 ppm. The deactivated cells were shown to be impervious to acetophenone so that the measured diffusivities are extracellular parameters. The cell volume fraction in the beads ranged from 0.70 to 0.90, significantly higher than previously reported data. The effective diffusion coefficients conform to the random pore model. No diffusional interaction between acetophenone and phenethyl alcohol was observed. The addition of 2 vol% ethanol or methanol slightly increased the diffusivities. The thermodynamic partition coefficients were measured in the bead-free water-organic system and found to be an order of magnitude lower than the values calculated from the analysis of the diffusion data for the organic-bead system, suggesting that bead-free equilibrium data cannot be used in triphasic systems. (c) 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Clinical features and ictal patterns in epileptic patients with EEG temporal lobe foci

The clinical features and subjective ictal phenomena in 270 epileptic patients with electrographic temporal lobe foci are reported. The ictal manifestations observed in 199 of these patients are described and compared with those in epileptic patients with extratemporal foci reported previously. Sixty-four percent of the patients reported historical data of possible etiological importance, but one could be reasonably certain of the cause in only 27%. Eighty-three percent of the patients reported auras, 80% exhibited localized motor activity, and 95% demonstrated automatic behavior. Compared to patients with extratemporal foci, the patients reported here had a higher incidence of visceral (41%), complex (52%), and olfactory-gustatory (13%) auras and of automatic behavior. On the other hand, no ictal phenomenon was unique to patients with temporal localization. The data do not support the concept of an association between “temporal lobe epilepsy” and violence.
Vicarious radiometric calibration of EO-1 sensors by reference to high-reflectance ground targets

The Remote Sensing Group at the University of Arizona has been using ground targets for the in-flight vicarious calibration of airborne and satellite sensors since the early 1980s. Targets such as Railroad Valley Playa in north central Nevada and White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico have proven to be useful for this work. This paper presents the results from multiple vicarious calibration experiments at a variety of sites for two of the Earth Observing 1 (EO-1) optical sensors. The Advanced Land Imager (ALI) and Hyperion sensors operate in the visible and shortwave infrared portions of the spectrum. The ground sample distance of about 30 m works well for vicarious calibration and allows an easy comparison to legacy sensors such as the Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) which has the same 30-m ground sample distance. The approach used in this work is to measure the surface reflectance and atmospheric properties during the sensor image acquisition. These data are used as input to a radiative transfer code which computes the top of atmosphere spectral radiance. This predicted radiance is compared to the radiance from the image of the site. Results show that the preflight calibrations of ALI and Hyperion are probably not consistent with in-flight performance of the instruments. New calibration coefficients adopted in December 2001 improve the comparison to the vicarious predictions.
The Effect of Different Levels of Vitamin C and Cholecalciferol with Adequate or Marginal Levels of Dietary Calcium on Performance and Eggshell Quality of Laying Hens

Abstract Three experiments were conducted to determine whether shell quality, bone mineralization, and other production traits could be improved by adding vitamin C (ascorbic acid) to laying hen diets. The period of each experiment was 12 wk. Experiment 1 consisted of a 2 × 2 × 3 factorial design with two levels of Ca (2.8 and 3.8%), two levels of cholecalciferol (vitamin D3; 2,200 and 4,400 IU/kg diet), and three levels of vitamin C (0, 125, and 250 ppm). Experiment 2 consisted of a 2 × 3 × 2 factorial design with two levels of Ca (2.8 and 3.8%), three levels of vitamin D3 (250, 500, and 2,000 IU/kg diet), and two levels of vitamin C (0 and 250 ppm). Experiment 3 consisted of a 2 × 4 factorial design with two sources of vitamin D3 (12.5 μg vitamin D3/kg diet or 12.5 μg 25-OH-D3/kg diet) and four levels of vitamin C (0, 250, 500, and 1,000 ppm). Calcium level was kept constant at 3.5% for all the diets in Experiment 3. Production performance was not influenced by dietary treatments in Experiment 1. In Experiment 2, feed conversion was improved (P
Thermodynamic Constraints on Ion Beam Mixing of Metals on Insulators

Several different insulating substrates were coated with various metal films and ion beam irradiated using either Xe or Kr ions. These were then examined by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy to determine if interfacial mixing had taken place. These results were compared with the sign of the reaction enthalpy of the metal and substrate to test the proposition that metals mix on insulators if the reaction enthalpy is negative and do not mix if it is positive. The enthalpy rule is, in general, valid. Two exceptions were found: Cr on SiO/sub 2/ and Zr on Al/sub 2/O/sub 3/; however, these exceptions contain ambiguous features. Irradiation with a light, reactive ion was found to produce no mixing.
Synthesis of the Monomeric Unit of the Lomaiviticin Aglycon

Reported in 2001, lomaiviticins A (1) and B (2, Figure 1) were isolated from Micromonospora lomaivitiensis and demonstrated striking molecular architectures and impressive antitumor and antibiotic activities against a variety of cancer cell lines and bacteria,[1] apparently exerting their action through a novel mechanism involving DNA cleavage.[2] Their chemical synthesis presents a formidable challenge, and reports describing partial solutions have already appeared.[3] In this communication, we describe the total synthesis of the monomeric aglycon unit (3, Figure 1) of the lomaiviticins, which is reminiscent of the kinamycins (i.e. kinamycin C, 4, Figure 1).
Pitfalls in Levering and Unlevering Beta and Cost of Capital Estimates in DCF Valuations1

The “levering” and “unlevering” of estimates of beta and various costs of capital are routine steps in estimating the discount rates used in DCF valuations. But as the authors demonstrate by reviewing the existing research on the subject, the levering and unlevering formulas that are most commonly used in practice are not appropriate for valuing many companies. They also illustrate the shortcomings of—and substantial valuation errors that can result from—the common practices of assuming that the betas of securities like debt and preferred stock are equal to zero and ignoring the effects of equity-linked securities such as employee stock options, warrants, and convertible debt. The authors offer alternative levering formulas that are more appropriate for valuing most companies than—and as readily implemented as—the formulas commonly used today. They also provide a relatively easy way to estimate betas for debt and preferred stock that can be used in the levering and unlevering formulas. The authors discuss how properly to account for equity-linked securities such as employee stock options, warrants, and convertible debt while demonstrating the potential importance of ignoring such equity-linked securities in the levering and unlevering formulas. Finally, the authors show why it is appropriate to standardize the treatment of contractual obligations such as leases across comparable companies in order to get consistent estimates of the unlevered cost of capital.
Evaluation of the phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitor ORG 9935 as a contraceptive in female macaques: initial trials.

Background The study was conducted to determine whether a phosphodiesterase (PDE) 3 inhibitor has potential as a novel contraceptive in primates.
The milliped family Trichopetalidae, Part 2: The genera Trichopetalum, Zygonopus and Scoterpes (Diplopoda: Chordeumatida, Cleidogonoidea)

The genera Trichopetalum Harger, 1872, Zygonopus Ryder, 1881 and Scoterpes Cope, 1872 are revised. Illustrations are provided for all but one species, and distributions are mapped. The first known authentic chordeumatidan spermatophores are described for Trichopetalum dux (Chamberlin), 1940. The production of a sticky secretion from the bases of the segmental setae, possibly defensive in function, is also described. The new subfamily Mexiterpetinae is established for the genus Mexiterpes Causey, 1963; the remaining genera of Trichopetalidae are grouped in subfamily Trichopetalinae Verhoeff, 1914 (tribe Scoterpetini Causey, 1969, n. syn.). Trichopetalum consists of seven species, all surface-dwelling or troglophilic: lunatum Harger, 1872, uncum Cook & Collins, 1895, dux (Chamberlin), 1940, montis Chamberlin, 1951, stannardi (Causey), 1951, dickbrucei n. sp. and jerryblatti n. sp. Zygonopus is resurrected from synonymy with Trichopetalum; it contains four troglobiotic species: whitei Ryder, 1881 (for which a neotype specimen is designated), krekeleri Causey, 1960, packardi Causey, 1960 and weyeriensis Causey, 1960. Scoterpes likewise is made up entirely of troglobiotic species, including copei (Packard), 1881, austrinus Loomis, 1943, nudus Chamberlin, 1946, ventus Shear, 1972, syntheticus (Shear), 1972, sollmani Lewis, 2000, and the following new species: alabama, hesperus, jackdanieli, musicarustica, stewartpecki, tombarri, tricorner and willreevesi. It is likely that at least S. copei and S. ventus are “superspecies,” consisting of numerous genetically isolated populations, which await study with molecular and/or morphometric methods.
TCP-Real: receiver-oriented congestion control

We introduce a receiver-oriented approach to congestion control, demonstrated by an experimental protocol, TCP-Real. The protocol allows for a measurement-based transmission strategy, which complements the "blind" increase/ decrease window adjustments. Owing to its design, the protocol displays an inherent property to produce comprehensive dynamics in heterogeneous environments with wired or wireless networks and delay-sensitive or -tolerant applications. TCP-Real controls congestion as standard TCP does. However, its receiver-oriented nature and its "wave" communication pattern allow for two amending mechanisms: (i) congestion avoidance, which reduces unnecessary transmission gaps that hurt the performance of time-constrained applications, and (ii) advanced error detection and classification, which designates recovery tactics responsive to the nature of the errors, thereby enhancing the protocol performance over wireless links or asymmetric paths.We detail the protocol mechanisms and specification and we report extensively on the comparative fairness and efficiency evaluation of standard TCP, TCP-Real, and TCP-friendly protocols for both delay-tolerant and -sensitive applications and in both wired and wireless networks.
A Sensor of the Two-Component System CpxA Affects Expression of the Type III Secretion System through Posttranscriptional Processing of InvE

The chief function of the Cpx two-component system is perceiving various cell envelope stresses, but CpxR is also known to regulate the expression of the type III secretion system (TTSS) of Shigella sonnei through transcription of the primary regulator virF. Here, we have isolated novel cpxA mutants that exhibited decreased TTSS expression from Escherichia coli HW1273, which carries the virulence plasmid of S. sonnei. The cpxA deletion strain of HW1273 expressed β-galactosidase activity levels from the virF-lacZ fusion similar to those of HW1273. However, the second regulator InvE (VirB) and the TTSS component IpaB proteins were apparently expressed at a low level. In the cpxA strain, β-galactosidase activity levels from the invE-lacZ transcriptional fusion remained similar to those of HW1273, whereas the β-galactosidase activity level from the translational fusion of invE-lacZ was reduced to 21% of that of HW1273. Therefore, the deletion of the cpxA gene influenced TTSS expression chiefly at the posttranscriptional processing of InvE. In addition, the cpxA deletion strain of S. sonnei showed the same phenotype. These results indicate that the Cpx two-component system is involved in virulence expression through posttranscriptional processing of the regulatory protein InvE, a novel feature of the Cpx two-component system in posttranscriptional processing and virulence expression of Shigella.
Front end of line integration of high density, electrically isolated, metallized through silicon vias

We have developed a complete process module for fabricating front end of line (FEOL) through silicon vias (TSVs). In this paper we describe the integration, which relies on using thermally deposited silicon as a sacrificial material to fill the TSV during FEOL processing, followed by its removal and replacement with tungsten after FEOL processing is complete. The uniqueness of this approach follows mainly from forming the TSVs early in the FEOL while still ultimately using metal as the via fill material. TSVs formed early in the FEOL can be formed at comparatively small diameter, high aspect ratio, and high spatial density. We have demonstrated FEOL-integrated TSVs that are 2 µm in diameter, over 45 µm deep, and on 20 µm pitch for a possible interconnect density of 250,000/cm2. Moreover, thermal oxidation of silicon can be used to form the dielectric isolation. Thermal oxidation is conformal and robust in the as-formed state. Finally, TSVs formed in the FEOL alleviate device design constraints common to vias-last integration.
The metabolism of native and malondialdehyde-altered low density lipoproteins by human monocyte-macrophages

We have recently shown that cultured human monocyte-macrophages degraded '251-labeled low density lipoprotein (lZ5I-native-LDL) by a saturable high-affinity process with maximal velocity at 25-50 pg proteidml (Fogelman et al., 1980. Proc. Nut. Acad. Sei. USA. 77: 2214- 22 18). We now describe studies of the binding of lz5I-native- LDL at 4°C and the effects of chloroquine, Ca2+ concentra- tion, and reductive methylation on high-affinity lZ5I-native- LDL degradation that indicate that native-LDL is processed by the monocyte-macrophages via the classic LDL receptor pathway. The high-affinity degradation of '251-native-LDL increased substantially when monocyte-macrophages were exposed to the lipoprotein deficient-fraction of serum (LPDS) for periods as brief as 4 hours, and was 25-fold greater than that of lymphocytes. Freshly isolated mono- cytes that had never been exposed to LPDS also demon- strated high-affinity degradation of '"I-native-LDL. When these monocytes were cultured for 7 days in a medium containing native-LDL at a concentration (186 pg protein/ ml) greatly in excess of that apparently needed to saturate the high-affinity process, there was more than a 10-fold increase in '"I-native-LDL high-affinity degradation. LDL modified by treatment with malondialdehyde was proc- essed by a second high-affinity cell surface receptor that appears identical to the "scavenger" receptor that processes acetylated LDL (Coldstein, et al., 1979, Proc. Nut. Acad. Sci. USA. 76: 333-337).-Shechter, I., A. M. Fogelman, M. E. Haberland, J. Seager, M. Hokom, and P. A. Edwards. The metabolism of native and malondialdehyde-altered low density lipoproteins by human monocyte-macrophages. 1. Lipid Res. 1981. 22: 63-71.
Cooperative Ion Binding and Transport Mediated by a CLC-Type H+/Cl− Exchanger

CLC-ec1 is a prokaryotic CLC-type Cl−/H+ transporter of known structure that stoichiometrically exchanges two Cl− for one H+. The crystal structures show that Cl− binds to three sites (Sext, Scen and Sin) that define a pathway through the protein. Recently we used Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC) to show that Cl− binding to CLC-ec1 is cooperative: the affinity of Cl− increases with the number of simultaneously occupied sites, despite their close spatial proximity. Here we sought to independently confirm and validate this surprising result. We used saturation equilibrium dialysis to directly determine the affinity of 36Cl− to WT and mutant variants of CLC-ec1 with altered ion occupancy. Our results qualitatively and quantitatively recapitulate the ITC conclusions. We found that 36Cl− binds to the Y445A mutant, in which only Sin is occupied with a Kd > 20 mM, and to the WT, where Cl− can bind to both Sin and Scen, with a Kd ∼ 3 mM. Finally, the E148A mutant, where all three sites can be simultaneously occupied, is the tightest binder with a Kd ∼ 190 μM. These binding affinities are in reasonable quantitative agreement with those determined with ITC.To investigate the functional role of Cl− binding in the transport cycle of CLC-ec1 we determined the Cl− dependence of the transport rate of CLC-ec1 by varying [Cl−]ex in the “Cl− dump assay”. We found that the turnover rate has a Km of ∼0.5 mM, a value similar to the Kd determined through the binding measurements.In conclusion we show here that Cl− binds to CLC-ec1 cooperatively and that Cl− binding is an important step in the transport cycle.
In Vitro Activities of the Des-Fluoro(6) Quinolone BMS-284756 against Aerobic and Anaerobic Pathogens Isolated from Skin and Soft Tissue Animal and Human Bite Wound Infections

BMS-284756, a new des-fluoro(6) quinolone, was very active against 240 aerobic and 180 anaerobic isolates from bite victims. It inhibited 403 of 420 (96%) isolates, including those of Moraxella spp., CDC group EF-4, and Eikenella corrodens at ≤2 μg/ml and those of all Pasteurella spp. and Bergeyella zoohelcum at ≤0.015 μg/ml. Fusobacterium russii and 6 of 11 Fusobacterium nucleatum isolates of animal bite origin were resistant, but isolates of human bite origin were susceptible, which suggests that they were of a different subspecies.
Is It the Medium or the Message? Structuring Complex News to Enhance Engagement and Situational Understanding by Nonexperts

An experimental design, theoretically motivated by cognitive models of text comprehension, investigates effects of structures in complex news on readers (undergraduate non-science majors) who have little or no expertise for the content (science and technology). Text from two New York Times stories were modified for a proposed explanatory structure building (ESB) model to enhance reader interest in and comprehension of the content. Dependent variables include self-reported situational interest and a deeper situational understanding of the text as measured by sorting tasks and inference generating questions. A between-subjects field experiment exposed participants (N = 235) to text on a Web page in either the traditional inverted pyramid or ESB structure. As predicted, when controlling for pretest levels of scientific literacy, the ESB news text significantly enhanced reader interest and understanding of the content, as compared to the original inverted pyramid news stories. Results are interpreted in the c...
The merger of rural primary care and home health services.

: The merger of rural primary care and home health services offers the potential for increasing the administrative efficiency of health care, and thereby enhancing the quality of care and increasing access to services, particularly health promotion. However, the proposed benefits of any merger can only be realized if the merger process is successfully completed. An analysis of the factors that were important in a case study of successful and unsuccessful mergers of rural health centers and home health care agencies in northeastern Vermont is presented. Three components were found to be necessary to start the merger process: complementary needs, opportunity, and common philosophy. The involvement and support of key individuals was crucial to sustaining merger interest. Good communication throughout the process contributed substantially to the maintenance of both community and staff support. Others considering similar mergers should recognize that the process of consolidating organizations and satisfying regulations takes some time to complete.
Short time behavior of the velocity autocorrelation function

Abstract A systematic method for evaluating velocity correlation functions of a hard sphere fluid for short times is presented The complete contributions ∼ t and t2 are obtained, formally valid for all densities.
Movement disorders in catatonia

Catatonia is a complex neuropsychiatric syndrome characterised by a broad range of motor, speech and behavioural abnormalities. 'Waxy flexibility', 'posturing' and 'catalepsy' are among the well-recognised motor abnormalities seen in catatonia. However, there are many other motor abnormalities associated with catatonia. Recognition of the full spectrum of the phenomenology is critical for an accurate diagnosis. Although controlled trials are lacking benzodiazepines are considered first-line therapy and N-Methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonists also appears to be effective. Electroconvulsive therapy is used in those patients who are resistant to medical therapy. An underlying cause of the catatonia should be identified and treated to ensure early and complete resolution of symptoms.
Temporomandibular joint pantomography using charge-coupled device, photostimulable phosphor, and film receptors: a comparison.

Our objective was to compare the accuracy and practicality in use of three available imaging receptors for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) imaging; namely, two computer-assisted and one traditional analog x-ray film system. A standardized tissue-equivalent encased human skull specimen was imaged using lateral and posteroanterior (PA) pantomographic projections with the Orthopantomograph OP 100 (Instrumentarium Imaging, Tuusula, Finland) and three different receptor modalities: (1) Ektavision film with Ektavision screens (Eastman Kodak, Rochester, NY); (2) DenOptix photostimulable phosphor screens (Dentsply/Gendex, Chicago, IL); and (3) the charge-coupled device (CCD) receptor, DigiPan (TREX/Trophy Radiology, Marne-la-Vallee, France). The effective focal trough was found for each receptor using lead resolution grids placed at fractional millimeter distances along empirically determined beam projection angulations. The time to acquire and process images was also established. We found that the CCD system permitted real-time display, whereas the use of traditional film took 2 minutes to load the cassette in a darkroom and perform the exposure, and then a further 2 minutes to unload and process. The storage phosphor took 3 minutes to unload the cassette and process the image and a further 20 seconds to clear the plate following laser scanning. Film produced the greatest maximum resolution followed by the storage phosphor and the CCD. In conclusion, CCD-based TMJ pantomography provided an instant image. The photostimulable phosphor system used was the least satisfactory in terms of the time expended to obtain an image, but provided better spatial resolution than the CCD. Ektavision film/screens provided the best spatial resolution in this investigation.
Procyanidin B2 3,3(″)-di-O-gallate, a biologically active constituent of grape seed extract, induces apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells via targeting NF-κB, Stat3, and AP1 transcription factors

Recently, we identified procyanidin B2 3,3(″)-di-O-gallate (B2G2) as most active constituent of grape seed extract (GSE) for efficacy against prostate cancer (PCa). Isolating large quantities of B2G2 from total GSE is labor intensive and expensive, thereby limiting both efficacy and mechanistic studies with this novel anticancer agent. Accordingly, here we synthesized gram-scale quantities of B2G2, compared it with B2G2 isolated from GSE for possible equivalent biological activity and conducted mechanistic studies. Both B2G2 preparations inhibited cell growth, decreased clonogenicity, and induced cell cycle arrest and apoptotic death, comparable to each other, in various human PCa cell lines. Mechanistic studies focusing on transcription factors involved in apoptotic and survival pathways revealed that B2G2 significantly inhibits NF-κB and activator protein1 (AP1) transcriptional activity and nuclear translocation of signal transducer and activator of transcription3 (Stat3) in PCa cell lines, irrespective of their functional androgen receptor status. B2G2 also decreased survivin expression which is regulated by NF-κB, AP1, and Stat3 and increased cleaved PARP level. In summary, we report B2G2 chemical synthesis at gram-quantity with equivalent biological efficacy against human PCa cell lines and same molecular targeting profiles at key transcription factors level. The synthetic B2G2 will stimulate more research on prostate and possibly other malignancies in preclinical models and clinical translation.
A Review of Important Factors Affecting Treadwear

Abstract For any specific tire use condition, treadwear performance is influenced by three main factor categories: (1), tire construction; (2), tread materials; and (3), environmental and vehicle use conditions. Tire construction factors are—generic type (bias, belted-bias, radial), tread pattern groove void level, and geometric shape, i.e., aspect ratio. The relative importance of nominal variations in each of these factors for treadwear performance is 100, 46, and 39, respectively. Performance improves for a change from bias to radial; high to low groove void; and high to low aspect ratio. The combined influence of generic type, aspect ratio, and other internal construction features (e.g., belt stiffness) can be described by one parameter, the ratio of the treadband edgewise bending stiffness, KBo and the carcass (spring) stiffness, Kc. Treadlife is a direct linear function of this ratio. Treadwear compound or material performance is a function of the rubber glass-transition temperature (weighted avg. f...
The photofragmentation and photoaffinity labeling of phenacyl and naphthacyl α-chymotrypsins

Abstract The photochemistry of phenacyl, 1-, and 2-naphthacyl α-chymotrypsins has been studied using light of wavelengths greater than 310 nm. Irradiation of these modified enzymes, having aracyl chromophores covalently bound at Met-192, led to partial regeneration of their esterase activity. The initial rates of photoreactivation have been found to be dependent on the hydrogen ion concentration and on the presence of potential competitive inhibitors having triplet energies lower than the chromophores initially receiving the light energy. Irradiation of carbonyl-14C-labeled phenacyl α-chymotrypsin resulted in partial loss of this radiolabel from the protein at a rate concurrent with the increase in esterase activity. These results have been interpreted and discussed in terms of a dual photochemical behavior of these modified enzymes involving (1) cleavage of the Met-192 sulfur-phenacyl α-carbon bond leading to liberation of α-chymotrypsin and substituted phenone(s) and (2) photoafiinity labeling of one or more of the functional groups in the enzyme active-site region.
Erstellung von Publikationen und Präsentationen auf dem IBM Personal System/2

Die leistungsstarken IBM Personal Systeme/2 bieten bereits heute die Moglichkeit der Realisierung eines Arbeitsplatzes fur elektronische Bildbearbeitung, wie er herkommlich nur auf Grosrechnern in der entsprechend hohen Preisklasse bekannt ist Dieser Arbeitsplatz unterstutzt alle Arbeiten eines Grafik-Designers, eines Layouters, eines Lithographen und eines Setzers.
Stanford's 2013 KBP System

We describe Stanford’s entry in the TACKBP 2013 Slotfilling challenge. Our system makes use of a distantly supervised approach, implementing the multiinstance multi-label system of Surdeanu et al. (2012). In addition, Stanford’s system significantly improved the information retrieval component of the system, as well as the consistency and inference procedure applied after candidate relations have been extracted. Stanford’s 2013 KBP entry achieved an F1 of 31.36 on the 2013 evaluation data, performing above the median entry (15.32 F1).
Improvement of Commercial Gas Mask Canisters Using Adsorbents Enhanced by Sintered Microfibrous Networks

We used a U.S.A. military respirator test with dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) to compare a commercial gas mask canister to composite bed designs. These comparisons were conducted at a constant volume of 320 cm3, equal to the total volume of the adsorbent and HEPA elements in a commercial gas mask canister, and fifty percent improvement in performance rating was experimentally demonstrated. In a second comparison, a 3-fold increase in gas life of a commercial canister with a 1.5 cm deep bed of activated carbon was experimentally demonstrated by adding a backup layer to a fully packaged commercial canister. An equation describing irreversible physical adsorption occurring in a two-layer bed and an iterative inverse solution is presented for design of composite beds utilizing polishing sorbents. An overall adsorption rate constant model is presented to predict adsorbent bed performance. A generally applicable axial dispersion model was developed for application to adsorbents enhanced by sintered microfibr...