cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quality assurance problems in clinical hyperthermia and their impact on therapeutic outcome: A report by the radiation therapy oncology group

Since February 1981, 300 patients with superficial measurable tumors were randomized on an RTOG protocol (81-04) involving fractionated radiation therapy (4.00 Gy twice weekly for a total of 32.00 Gy), either alone or followed immediately by hyperthermia (42.5 degrees C, 60 min). This is a report of 218 eligible patients with single lesions: 107 treated with radiotherapy alone (RT), 111 with radiotherapy plus hyperthermia (RT + HT). Only 56% of the 24 tumors less than 3 cm and 36% of the 53 lesions larger than 3 cm received what was felt to be "adequate" therapy (greater than or equal to 29 Gy and 8 heating sessions). Overall complete response (CR) was observed in 28% of the patients treated with RT, and 32% of the patients receiving RT and heat. Response has been found in previous analyses of this and other RTOG studies to be significantly related to both maximum tumor diameter (less than 3 or greater than or equal to 3 cm) and site/histology (breast/adenocarcinoma, head and neck/squamous, or other site/histologies). In the head and neck tumors less than 3 cm in diameter there was no difference in CR with irradiation alone or combined with hyperthermia (46% vs 43%). However, in the breast, and trunk and extremities a better CR rate was noted with irradiation and heat (55% and 67%) than with irradiation alone (33% and 0). In lesions less than 3 cm treated with irradiation and heat the probability of remaining in response was 80% compared with 15% with irradiation alone. In lesions larger than 3 cm no difference in CR was observed in either treatment group. It has been hypothesized that the response rate is higher in patients with smaller lesions (less than 3 cm) and in breast/chest wall, trunk/extremity lesions because these tumors and anatomical sites are easier to heat adequately. Problems encountered in correlating tumor response with quality of heating include less than optimal heating in larger lesions and the limited ability of current thermometry to accurately represent the temperature distribution in a tumor. Furthermore, differences in equipment and treatment practices among institutions add to the variability in heat administration data collected. In addition, tumor response may be difficult to judge because of short survival of some patients and occasionally rapid tumor regression that may cause necrosis which may be misinterpreted as persistent tumor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Synthesis of 1-(2,3-Dideoxy-β-d-glycero-pent-2-enofuranosyl)thymine (d4T; Stavudine) from 5-Methyluridine †

Abstract A practical synthetic method of d4T (3) from 5-methyluridine (2a) was developed. The Marumoto-Mansuri method was modified using 2′,3′-O-methoxy-ethylidene-5-methyluridine (10) as an intermediate to afford 1-(3,5-di-O-acetyl-2-bromo-2-deoxy-β-D-ribofuranosyl)thymine (6a) in high yield with less formation of by-products. The reaction mechanism was also discussed. †Dedicated to Dr. Yoshihisa Mizuno on the occasion of his 75th birthday.
Adult cystic nephroma and mixed epithelial and stromal tumor of the kidney: clinical, radiographic, and pathologic characteristics.

Objectives Adult cystic nephroma (CN) and mixed epithelial and stromal tumor (MEST) are benign renal tumors readily distinguished from cystic renal cell carcinoma and other malignant variants based on histopathology. Clinical and radiographic data regarding these lesions are sparse, especially with respect to factors providing clinical suspicion for CN or MEST. Methods Pathology of 22 CN (21 patients) and 10 MEST (9 patients) treated between 1987 and 2005 was re-reviewed according to 2004 WHO classification. Results Nineteen CN patients (90%) and 9 MEST patients (100%) were female and median ages were 55 (range: 39 to 79) and 52 (range: 39 to 67) years, respectively. Twenty-two patients (73%) presented symptomatically. CN were commonly Bosniak III lesions (77%), whereas 70% of MEST had solid enhancing components. An intrapelvic component was present in 5 CN (23%) and no MEST. Preoperative radiologic suspicion was documented in 36% of CN, but in only 1 patient with MEST. Nephron-sparing surgery was performed for 16 tumors (50%), including 5 suspected preoperatively and 3 that were 7 cm or greater. There was 1 case each of bilateral CN and MEST. Two patients with CN had concomitant renal cell carcinoma. One patient with MEST had sarcomatous component. At mean follow-up of 4.5 years (range: 1 to 18), no patient had novel or recurrent tumors develop. Conclusions CN and MEST typically present symptomatically in perimenopausal women. Pedunculation of a multiloculated cystic lesion may allow for preoperative suspicion of these lesions in the proper clinical setting. Nephron-sparing surgery is the preferred treatment even for large and/or central lesions, if amenable.
Bongkrekic acid and the adenosinetriphosphate requirement of malaria parasites.

Abstract The avian malaria parasite Plasmodium lophurae , when removed from its host erythrocytes into an appropriate medium, develops extracellularly in vitro . This development was inhibited by bongkrekic acid at concentrations down to 2 μg/ml. Adenosine triphosphate at high concentrations partly reversed the inhibition. Bongkrekic acid also inhibited intraerythrocytic development in vitro of the human malaria P. falciparum .
Resident Physician Well-Being and Assessments of Their Knowledge and Clinical Performance

BACKGROUND Medical knowledge and clinical performance ratings are major criteria for assessing the competence of resident physicians. However, these assessments may be influenced by residents’ mental health. The relationship between residents’ well-being and empathy and assessments of their global performance remains unclear.
Labetalol pretreatment reduces blood pressure instability during surgical resection of pheochromocytoma.

Background To evaluate the effect of pretreatment with the mixed alpha- and beta-adrenergic blocker, labetalol, on blood pressure instability during surgical resection of pheochromocytoma. Methods Blood pressure stability and surgical results were compared between patients in the saline ( n = 11) and labetalol ( n = 15) groups. Anesthesia was induced with fentanyl, sodium thiopental and atracurium, and maintained with isoflurane in a 50% oxygen/nitrous oxide mixture. Intravenous labetalol was administered in the labetalol group before surgical incision, with the maximal dose being 1.2 mg/kg, while normal saline was administered to patients in the control, saline, group. Supplemental intravenous sodium nitroprusside (SNP) infusion was administered whenever systolic blood pressure exceeded 180 mmHg. The number of patients with intraoperative hypertension or hypotension, dosage of SNP administered, number of intraoperative hypertension episodes, use of fluid and blood transfusion, and heart rate (defined as the mean of heart rate every 5 minutes throughout the operation) were compared between these two groups. Results The number of patients with intraoperative hypertension, number of patients receiving SNP, dose of SNP administered, and number of hypertension episodes were significantly lower in patients who received labetalol pretreatment than in control patients. Conclusion This study has demonstrated that labetalol pretreatment (1.2 mg/kg) with supplemental SNP provides more favorable blood pressure control during surgical resection of pheochromocytoma than with SNP alone.
SURFACTANT-AIDED SURFACE-ENHANCED RESONANCE RAMAN SPECTROSCOPIC STUDY OF SOME ANIONIC DYE MOLECULES

Attempts to observe surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) or surface-enhanced resonance Raman scattering (SERRS) of Eosin B, Evans Blue and Cu(II)PCS dyes using radiation from an argon ion laser 514 and 457 nm for excitation failed. However, in the presence of an appropriate amount of a cationic surfactant such as dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, the dye molecules exhibit the SERRS effect. UV–visible spectroscopy was found to be useful to understand better the activation behavior of the surfactants. From the UV–visible spectroscopic data, it is noted that the surfactant molecules cause aggregation of silver sols and interact with the dye molecules. The primary requirements for the surfactant to activate the surface-enhanced Raman (SER) effect of the anionic dye are the positive charge and the carbon chain length of the surfactant. Such a surfactant activation makes possible the observation of SER spectra of molecules which are not SERS-active under normal conditions.
What Does the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) have to do with Learning

In 2004, West Kentucky Community and Technical College (WKCTC) in Paducah, Kentucky committed to participating in the Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) for a period of three co...
Absorption of Copper, Zinc, and Manganese by Sugarcane Leaf Tissue

The absorption of Cu2+, Zn2+, and Mn2+ by leaf tissue of 4-month old sugarcane plants (Saccharum officinarum L., var. H53-263) has been investigated. After the “apparent free space” fraction was desorbed, the absorption of Cu2+, Mn2+, and Zn2+ yielded a curve typical of many ion uptake processes when measured as a function of the external concentration. However, only 1 absorption mechanism was evident for each cation. The pH optimum for Cu2+ and Zn2+ uptake was 5.0 to 6.0, whereas that for Mn2+ absorption was 4.5 to 6.0. Absorption was competitively inhibited by H+, and this inhibition was reversible when 0.5 mm Ca2+ was present. Cu2+ and Zn2+ were absorbed through the same carrier sites, as concluded from their mutually competitive activities. Mn2+ was absorbed through a second, independent mechanism. Uptake of each cation was strongly inhibited by uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation, by Amytal and Nembutal2, by 5 × 10−2m succinate, and by ADP and Pi. Absorption of Cu2+, Zn2+, and Mn2+ was concluded to be coupled to oxidative phosphorylation, and specifically to energy-conservation Site I.
Development of reversed-phase HPLC assays for cyclodisone and clomesone.

Cyclodisone (NSC 348948, 1,5,2,4-dioxadithiepane-2,2,4,4_tetraoxide, Scheme 1) and clomesone (NSC 338947, 2-chloromethylsulphonylmethanesulphonate, Scheme 2) are structurally related investigational antineoplastic agents with activity against a variety of tumours in vitro and in animal models [l]. Both drugs are to enter Phase 1 clinical trials in the near future. Neither drug demonstrates significant UV absorption at wavelengths greater than 200 nm making their analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) difficult. However, both compounds have weakly acidic (p&s > 9) methylene protons
Verbal and Nonverbal Behaviors as Afunction of Deception Type

Although there are various ways in which people can be deceptive, there is little empirical evidence that directly examines the nonverbal and verbal behavioral correlates of various deception types. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of deception type on the verbal and nonverbal behaviors identified in previous literature as associated with deception. Specifically, falsifications and misdirections were compared with true statements and statements that implied the truth. Undergraduates enacted four different interviewlike situations where each participant (who played the role of interviewee) told the truth directly, implied the truth, told a falsehood directly, and implied a falsehood to a confederate (who played the part of interviewer). Results indicated that deceivers engage in both nonstrategic and strategic management duringdeception. Deceivers revealed their nervousness and difficulty in sustaining a competent communication performance by swiveling in their chairs and speaking at a ...
Charcot Arthropathy Risk Elevation in the Obese Diabetic Population

Abstract Purpose To examine the association of obesity, peripheral neuropathy, and other risk factors with the Charcot arthropathy incidence rate in a large diabetic population. Methods The Department of Veterans Affairs inpatient and outpatient administrative datasets were used to identify persons with diabetes in 2003. Logistic regressions were used to model the likelihood of a person developing Charcot arthropathy as a function of individual characteristics, obesity, peripheral neuropathy, diabetic control, and comorbidities. Results Of Veterans Affairs users with diabetes, 652 (0.12%) were newly diagnosed with Charcot arthropathy in 2003. Compared with persons without obesity or peripheral neuropathy, those with obesity alone were approximately 59% more likely, those with neuropathy alone were 14 times more likely, and those with both obesity and neuropathy were 21 times more likely to develop Charcot arthropathy. Ages 55 to 64 years, diabetes duration 6 years or more, hemoglobin-A1c 7% or more, renal failure, arthritis, and deficiency anemia also were associated with an increased incidence of Charcot arthropathy. Conclusion Obesity is significantly associated with an increased incidence of Charcot arthropathy independently of other risk factors. When obesity is combined with neuropathy, the Charcot arthropathy incidence rate increases multiplicatively. Prevention and detection of Charcot arthropathy should take the interaction between obesity and neuropathy into consideration.
Associations of physical activity with quality of life and functional ability in breast cancer patients during active adjuvant treatment: the Pathways Study

Physical activity can improve quality of life (QOL) in breast cancer survivors but little is known about associations of physical activity and QOL during active cancer therapy. We examine associations between activity levels and QOL in a large cohort of breast cancer patients. Women with invasive, non-metastatic breast cancer (n = 2,279) were enrolled between 2006 and 2009 from a managed care organization; assessment were done during active therapy. A physical activity frequency questionnaire was used to calculate the average weekly metabolic equivalent task (MET) hours spent in moderate and vigorous activity during active treatment. QOL was measured by the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast Cancer. Linear regression models tested cross-sectional associations of QOL and functional well-being with physical activity and covariates [socio-demographics, comorbidity, body mass index (BMI), clinical variables, social support, and assessment timing]. Physical activity had a significant positive unadjusted association with all QOL sub-scales (except emotional well-being) (all P values < 0.01). Overall QOL was 4.6 points higher for women in the highest quartile of moderate and vigorous activity versus women in the lowest quartile (P < 0.001). In regression models, higher activity was associated with better overall QOL and functional well-being, controlling for covariates (P < 0.05). Increasing BMI was also independently but inversely associated with overall QOL (P < 0.001) but did not explain the relationship of activity and QOL. White women reported the higher levels of activity than minority women and activity was associated with QOL for Whites but not for minority women. Greater physical activity is associated with small but clinically meaningful increases in QOL during active breast cancer care therapy for Whites but this effect is not seen for minority women. If confirmed in longitudinal analyses, these differences may have implications for disparities research.
An exact method on penny-shaped cracked homogeneous and composite cylinders

For three-dimensional mode I crack problems, a new concept on the crack surface widening energy release rate and its definition in form of integral are proposed, which unlike the classical crack extension energy release rate. This energy release rate is related to the stress intensity factor by application of the principle of virtual work. From the present discussions, a very simple method is established to estimate stress intensity factors for three-dimensional cracks within the framework of elementary strength theory of materials. A series of exact solutions are derived for penny-shaped cracked homogeneous and composite cylinders. Some results are shown to agree well with those available in the existing literature.
Average maximum post lengths in endodontically treated teeth.

T here is a controversy in regard to recommended post lengths for endodontically treated teeth. Varying lengths have been advocated without comparing them with limits set by root canal therapy or anatomic lengths. A comparison of advocated post length with tooth length and the obturated root canal allows the establishment of broad clinical guidelines for the dentist. Paladino’ suggests that a post longer than 5 mm may be adequate to reduce dentinal stresses. Other authors suggest post lengths that are (1) equal to or greater than the length of the clinical crown,2-4 (2) equal to the length of the anatomic crown,’ (3) half to two thirds of
Processing and fabrication of mixed uranium/refractory metal carbide fuels with liquid-phase sintering

Abstract Optimization of powder processing techniques were sought for the fabrication of single-phase, solid-solution mixed uranium/refractory metal carbide nuclear fuels – namely (U, Zr, Nb)C. These advanced, ultra-high temperature nuclear fuels have great potential for improved performance over graphite matrix, dispersed fuels tested in the Rover/NERVA program of the 1960s and early 1970s. Hypostoichiometric fuel samples with carbon-to-metal ratios of 0.98, uranium metal mole fractions of 5% and 10%, and porosities less than 5% were fabricated. These qualities should provide for the longest life and highest performance capability for these fuels. Study and optimization of processing methods were necessary to provide the quality assurance of samples for meaningful testing and assessment of performance for nuclear thermal propulsion applications. The processing parameters and benefits of enhanced sintering by uranium carbide liquid-phase sintering were established for the rapid and effective consolidation and formation of a solid-solution mixed carbide nuclear fuel.
Prescribing patterns for the outpatient treatment of constipation in the United States.

The incidence of constipation is rising. National data on the prescribing of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapies, or factors influencing the prescribing of therapies for constipation are limited. This study was designed to (1) identify prescribing patterns for constipation, and (2) determine associations between prescribing patterns and demographic variables among US outpatients. This was a retrospective cross-sectional study utilizing data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) from 1997 to 2006 on constipation treatment trends across different age groups. Information collected from each visit included demographic data, pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapies for constipation. To assess for trends, the data for 1997–2001 and 2002–2006 were compared. A total of 52.7 million patient visits were related to constipation. Treatments prescribed were medication and nonpharmacologic therapies for 17% of visits, medications for 21%, nonpharmacologic therapies for 23%, and no therapy for 39%. From 1997–2001 to 2002–2006, the prescribing of medications increased 12% and nonpharmacologic therapies decreased 6%; hyperosmolars increased 15% and saline laxatives decreased 3%. Within the age groups, factors associated with prescribing included gender, ethnicity, race, physician specialty, and region. Prescribing of medications increasingly replaced nonpharmacologic therapies. Hyperosmolars were prescribed most frequently and increased over time.
Kinetics of Surface-Initiated Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization of Acrylamide on Silica

Surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) of acrylamide is achieved on silica at room temperature by using a catalytic system of CuCl/CuCl2/tris(2-dimethylaminoethyl)amine. The thickness of the polyacrylamide film is proportional to the monomer concentration but not to reaction time. This behavior is qualitatively similar to that for surface ATRP of acrylamide using a CuCl/bipyridine catalytic system, which required 130 °C for initiation. A kinetic study shows that, at room temperature, both the rate for chain propagation and the rate of chain termination are higher, despite a much higher concentration of Cu(II) to reduce the radical population at room temperature. XPS shows that the concentration of chlorine at the surface drops as the polymerization reaction progresses, indicating that termination is caused by radical combination. For polymerization on silica gel at room temperature, microanalysis shows that half of the chlorine is lost during polymerization. Equilibration of the sur...
Image resolution of a microchannel plate x‐ray image intensifier

The resolution has been evaluated for an experimental x-ray image intensifier employing three microchannel plates (MCPs) as the photon absorber and electron multipliers. The line spread function (LSF) was measured and used for determination of the modulation transfer function (MTF). The MTF was found to be independent of the incident photon energy from 20 to 150 keV. An additional measurement using a lead-bar test pattern showed that the resolution exceeded 7 line pairs (lp)/mm. The factors influencing the resolution capabilities of the intensifier are discussed. The resolution is limited primarily by the 53-micron center-to-center separation of the channels of the MCPs.
Measurement of unidirectional Pi → ATP flux in lamb myocardium in vivo

Unidirectional myocardial ATP synthesis, P(i)-->ATP flux, was studied in vivo using 31P magnetization transfer techniques in intact sheep hearts (n = 5) which were functioning aerobically. Myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO) expressed as mu moles of oxygen atoms/gm/min was estimated using linear regression analysis of data derived from sheep (n = 23), which had undergone continuous MVO measurement during graded stepups in epinephrine induced work loads. During the saturation transfer experiment, epinephrine, beginning at 1 microgram/kg per min was infused to achieve a higher steady-state work load and level of MVO. The unidirectional P(i)-->ATP flux was found to increase significantly (P ATP flux is at least 3-times higher than the peak ATP synthesis rate, achieved through oxidative phosphorylation in these experiments, and more than a magnitude higher than the peak ATP synthesis rate through glycolysis. Therefore, forward P(i)-->ATP flux through glycolysis is the major contributor to the measured P(i)-->ATP flux and these ATP producing bidirectional glycolytic reactions are in a near equilibrium state. Furthermore, delta P(i)-->ATP/delta MVO, 2.70 +/- 0.29 (S.E.) elicited during epinephrine infusion is similar to classically derived P:O values, indicating that most of the change in unidirectional flux is due to oxidative phosphorylation and that minimal disturbance in the glycolytic near equilibrium occurs under these conditions.
Clinical and immunologic effects of monoclonal antibody CC49 and interleukin-2 in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

We examined the possibility that prior exposure to the murine monoclonal antibody (mAb), CC49, which recognizes the pancarcinoma antigen, TAG-72, would modify the clinical activity of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Fourteen patients received 2 mg of unconjugated CC49 on Day 1; on Day 22, they began human recombinant IL-2 at 1 mg/m2/day for 4 days by continuous IV infusion. Four-day cycles of IL-2 were repeated weekly for 8 weeks unless there was evidence of unacceptable toxicity or progressive disease. Therapy was well tolerated. Proliferative responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to CC49, its Fab fragment, isotype matched murine immunoglobulin, and CC49 complexed with TAG72+ mucin increased after CC49 administration (Day 21). These proliferative responses decreased after IL-2 administration. PBMC proliferative responses to AI49, an anti-CC49 idiotype antibody (Ab2), and TAG-72+ mucin was not induced. No complete or partial clinical responses were obse...
Distinct representations of olfactory information in different cortical centres

In the mouse, glomeruli in the olfactory bulb receive projections from single classes of olfactory neurons, thereby forming an odour map. Information from the glomeruli is then relayed to the cortex but the projection patterns from individual glomeruli are not known. Three papers now examine the details of this projection. Luo and colleagues use a combination of genetics and retrograde mono-trans-synaptic rabies virus labelling. They trace the presynaptic connections of individual cortical neurons and find no evidence of connections supporting a stereotyped odour map in the cortex, but see systematic topographical differences in amygdala connectivity. The lack of stereotypical cortical projection is corroborated, both at the level of bulk axonal patterning and in projections of individually labelled neurons, by two papers — one from the Axel laboratory, and one from the Baldwin laboratory — that examine the anterograde projections from individual glomeruli. Together, these findings provide anatomical evidence for combinatorial processing of information from diverse glomeruli by cortical neurons and may also reflect different functions of various areas in mediating innate or learned odour preferences. Sensory information is transmitted to the brain where it must be processed to translate stimulus features into appropriate behavioural output. In the olfactory system, distributed neural activity in the nose is converted into a segregated map in the olfactory bulb1,2,3. Here we investigate how this ordered representation is transformed in higher olfactory centres in mice. We have developed a tracing strategy to define the neural circuits that convey information from individual glomeruli in the olfactory bulb to the piriform cortex and the cortical amygdala. The spatial order in the bulb is discarded in the piriform cortex; axons from individual glomeruli project diffusely to the piriform without apparent spatial preference. In the cortical amygdala, we observe broad patches of projections that are spatially stereotyped for individual glomeruli. These projections to the amygdala are overlapping and afford the opportunity for spatially localized integration of information from multiple glomeruli. The identification of a distributive pattern of projections to the piriform and stereotyped projections to the amygdala provides an anatomical context for the generation of learned and innate behaviours.
Catalytic N−N Coupling of Aryl Azides To Yield Azoarenes via Trigonal Bipyramid Iron−Nitrene Intermediates

The reactivity of the trigonal bipyramidal iron(I) complex [SiP^(iPr)_3]Fe(N_2) ([SiP^(iPr)_3] = (2-iPr_2PC_6H_4)_3Si−) toward organoazides has been examined. 1-Adamantylazide was found to coordinate the iron center to form stable [SiP^(iPr)_3]Fe(η^1-N_3Ad). Aryl azides instead afforded unstable [SiP^(iPr)_3]Fe(N_3Ar) species that decayed gradually to regenerate [SiP^(iPr)_3]Fe(N_2) with release of azoarenes (ArN═NAr). The conversion of aryl azides to azoarenes can thus be achieved catalytically. Competitive trapping experiments strongly suggest the intermediacy of reactive nitrene complexes of the type [SiP^(iPr)_3]Fe(NAr) that couple bimolecularly in the N−N bond forming step. Evidence for one such intermediate was provided by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy via photolysis of [SiP^(iPr)_3]Fe(N_3Ar) in a frozen glass. The electronic structures of these putative nitrene intermediates have been examined by DFT methods.
The Release of Latent Heat in Tropical Storms Due to the Fall-Out of Sea-Salt Particles

Observations of atmospheric sea salt in a hurricane are used to estimate the weight of salt in the clear air at cloud levels. These quantities are then used to determine the rate of release of heat in the moist air layers below, due to condensation on this salt as it falls from the relatively dry air at higher levels. This rate is found adequate to alter significantly the distribution of heat and water vapor in the cloud-layer air and to explain much of the observed potential temperature increase in the lower air converging upon the central regions of hurricanes. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1958.tb02023.x
Terrestrial cosmogenic argon

Cosmogenically enriched ^(38)Ar/^(36)Ar ratios are detectable in Ca-bearing terrestrial samples, and are resolvable from a uniform background value of 0.18826±0.00018 for materials lacking nucleogenic or kinetic mass fractionation effects. Relationships between ^(38)Ar/^(36)Ar and cosmogenic ^3He in apatite and fluorite are systematic but difficult to reconcile with current estimates of terrestrial production rates for ^(38)Ar and ^(36)Ar from Ca, suggesting that production from Cl and/or other targets is significant, or that the estimates are inaccurate. In either case, the effects of time-varying production of ^(36)Ar from β^− decay of cosmogenic ^(36)Cl produced from Ca, K, or Cl on the ^(38)Ar/^(36)Ar ratio must be accounted for.
Postnatal gene transfer into the central nervous system

Substantial progress has been made in the development of techniques for the expression of foreign genes in the central nervous system of postnatal animals. Fetal and adult brain cells and other cells, including fibroblasts and muscle cells, have been successfully employed as vehicles for foreign gene expression in the central nervous system. Direct gene transfer strategies, such as those using herpes and adenoviral vectors, are presently under intense and fruitful investigation.
The Spinal Muscular Atrophy Disease Gene Product, SMN, and Its Associated Protein SIP1 Are in a Complex with Spliceosomal snRNP Proteins

Abstract Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), one of the most common fatal autosomal recessive diseases, is characterized by degeneration of motor neurons and muscular atrophy. The SMA disease gene, termed Survival of Motor Neurons ( SMN ), is deleted or mutated in over 98% of SMA patients. The function of the SMN protein is unknown. We found that SMN is tightly associated with a novel protein, SIP1, and together they form a specific complex with several spliceosomal snRNP proteins. SMN interacts directly with several of the snRNP Sm core proteins, including B, D1–3, and E. Interestingly, SIP1 has significant sequence similarity with Brr1, a yeast protein critical for snRNP biogenesis. These findings suggest a role for SMN and SIP1 in spliceosomal snRNP biogenesis and function and provide a likely molecular mechanism for the cause of SMA.
Photonic integration in a commercial scaled bulk-CMOS process

We demonstrate the first photonic chip designed for a commercial bulk CMOS process (65 nm-node) using standard process layers combined with post-processing, enabling dense photonic integration with high-performance microprocessor electronics.
Modernist Melancholy Guillaume Apollinaire and Francis Picabia after 1912

The binary opposition that is said to hold between an enthusiastic, future-oriented avant-garde and a melancholic, past-oriented traditionalism deserves to be re-examined. This essay aims to complicate this binarism by highlighting a moment within the history of modernism when an enthusiasm regarding the future fused with a melancholy regarding the past. Both Guillaume Apollinaire and Francis Picabia were deeply committed to the avant-garde discourse of the new, yet a number of their works in the years after 1912 harbour an ambivalence that compels us to rethink the simple divide between modernism and anti-modernism and suggest that some of the central figures of modernism were simultaneously bound to the sentiment of nostalgia.
Inferences About Exposure-Disease Associations Using Probability-of-Exposure Information

Unconditional and conditional likelihood methods are proposed for modeling odds and odds ratios relating a binary disease variable and an exposure variable that is only known probabilistically (e.g., via measurement of a Surrogate exposure variable), while adjusting appropriately for a vector of covariables. Assuming nondifferential errors, a probabilistic structure is developed that permits analysis of the marginal relation between disease and the Surrogate while maintaining important properties of the marginal relation between disease and true exposure. In particular, analyses conditioned on marginal totals in surrogate–disease tables remove the same nuisance Parameters as are removed in a conditional analysis of true exposure-disease tables. In addition, a relation between the probability of exposure (POE) in the disease and disease-free groups is derived, permitting the use of information about exposure from populations with structure different from the study population. Examples are presented illustr...
Selective inhibition of NF-κB attenuates the severity of cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis

Abstract Background Acute pancreatitis (AP) is associated with increased cytokine production, which can ultimately produce deleterious local and systemic effects. The transcription factor NF-κB is activated by degradation of its inhibitory factor, IκB, and can stimulate various cytokines. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the inhibition of NF-κB binding activity with a novel peptide that binds to the NF-κB essential modifier binding domain (NBD) could attenuate the severity of AP. Study design AP was induced in Swiss Webster mice by hourly injections of the cholecystokinin analogue cerulein (50 μg/kg). Mice were injected with either the wild-type or control (mutated) NBD peptide at the time of the first cerulein injection; they were then sacrificed over a time course, and pancreata and lungs were harvested for histologic analysis and scoring. Myeloperoxidase activity was measured to assess neutrophil sequestration as an indicator of inflammation. NF-κB binding activity and steady-state levels of IκB and NF-κB subunits were determined by gel shift and Western blot, respectively. Results AP resulted in increased NF-κB DNA-binding activity and decreased steady-state levels of IκB. Treatment with NBD peptide decreased inflammation in the pancreas, decreased hemorrhage in the lungs, and decreased myeloperoxidase activity in both pancreas and lung. Conclusions The marked induction of NF-κB binding activity suggests a role for this transcription factor in the early inflammatory changes associated with AP. Treatment with the NBD peptide attenuated the severity of injury associated with AP. Novel compounds that selectively target NF-κB may prove to be useful treatment of AP and AP-associated lung injury.
Mucin Profiles in Signet-ring Cell Carcinoma

Abstract Context.—Signet-ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) is a poorly differentiated mucin-producing adenocarcinoma that may arise from many different organs, but all SRCCs share identical morphology. It is not possible to differentiate sites of origin for metastatic SRCC based on morphology alone. Mucins are high-molecular-weight glycoproteins differentially expressed in glandular epithelia and in adenocarcinomas. Objective.—To identify mucin profiles of primary and metastatic SRCCs using immunohistochemistry to determine whether mucin staining could help distinguish sites of origin. Design.—Forty-seven SRCCs, including 38 primary (21 stomach, 11 colorectum, and 6 breast) and 9 metastases from these primary sites were retrieved from archival files. Consecutive tissue sections were immunostained with monoclonal antibodies against MUC1, MUC2, MUC4, MUC5AC (MUC5), and MUC6 on separate slides. Cytoplasmic staining was scored based on proportion of positive tumor cells as follows: 0+ (<5%), 1+ (5%–25%), 2+ (26%–50%...
The performance of obese and normal size children on a delay of gratification task

Abstract We sought to extend Schachter's external hypothesis of obesity to children by predicting that obese children would evidence fewer delayed choices than normals on a delay of gratification task. Obese and normal size children ranging in age from 6–11 yr were presented with ten choices (5 food, 5 non-food) each of which involved an immediately available, smaller reward or two of the same available the next day. For the total group, the expected relationship between degree of obesity and delayed choices was significant for the food but not the non-food items. While significant, the former relationship was small and not characteristic of all age groups. The results are discussed within a developmental framework of externality and obesity.
Murder-Suicide: A Review of the Recent Literature

There has been recent widespread media coverage of events that involve murder-suicide. In this paper, the author does an extensive literature review of studies about murder-suicide. The purpose is to determine whether the incidence of murder-suicide is increasing and what its risk factors are. The results of this review show that the incidence of murder-suicide remains at under 0.001%. Risk factors for murder-suicide are based on relationship between perpetrator and victims, history of domestic violence, sex or perpetrator and victim, age of perpetrator, presence of divorce/separation, use of weapon, and history of mental illness. This paper shows that the incidence of murder-suicide is low, stable, and similar to what has been reported in the past. There are, however, some distinct risk factors for murder-suicide including: substance abuse (not as common), mostly male perpetrators, depression (more common), and older male caregivers are at risk.
Effect on Mail Survey Return Rates of Including Questionnaires With Follow-Up Letters.

To study response rate a total of 2,002 questionnaires were mailed to respondents who were allocated to one of seven treatments. One treatment was a control group who received only an initial mailing (questionnaire and cover letter). The remaining six treatments were defined by two crossed factors, the number of follow-up waves of mailings (one, two, or three) and whether the follow-up mailings included only a reminder letter or a letter and another copy of a questionnaire. The results suggest more than one follow-up with a questionnaire is needed. A letter only was an ineffective method.
Get real: putting models of climate change and species interactions in practice

Forecasts of the ecological impacts of climate change are generally focused on direct impacts to individual species. Theory and case studies suggest that indirect effects associated with species interactions may alter these direct responses. How can we tractably predict in which cases indirect effects are likely to be important and appropriately model the interaction of abiotic and biotic drivers? One viable strategy is to characterize partitioning between species along thermal, temporal, and spatial niche axes. The partitioning can be informed by assessing functional traits. Mechanistic models can then be applied to predict how climate change will alter niche partitioning. I illustrate this approach by asking whether competition has altered the responses of Caribbean Anolis lizards to recent warming and find that forested habitat has become more suitable for a warm-adapted, open species, and less suitable for a cool-adapted forest inhabitant. Competition may result in competitive displacement of the cool-adapted species as the warm-adapted species moves into the forest. Species interactions may accentuate abundance and distribution shifts predicted in response to climate change along the elevation gradient.
Chondrogenic differentiation of stem cells in human umbilical cord stroma with PGA and PLLA scaffolds.

The stem cells in the umbilical cord stroma, or Wharton’s jelly, are referred to as human umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells (hUCMSCs) and have been shown to differentiate along a chondrogenic lineage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the chondrogenic differentiation of hUCMSCs in either polyglycolic acid (PGA) or poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) non-woven mesh scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering. PGA is widely known to degrade faster than PLLA, and over longer time scales, and differences may be expected to emerge after extended culture periods. Therefore, the focus of this study was to evaluate differences over a shorter duration. After 21 days of culture in PLLA or PGA scaffolds, hUCMSC constructs were analyzed for biochemical content, histology, and gene expression. Overall, there were only minute differences between the two scaffold groups, with similar gene expression and biosynthesis. The most notable difference was a change in shape from cylindrical to spherical by the PGA, but not PLLA, scaffold group. The overall similar behavior of the groups may suggest that in vivo application of hUCMSC-seeded PLLA or PGA scaffolds, following a 21-day pre-culture period, may yield similar constructs at the time of implantation. However, differences may begin to become more apparent with in vivo performance following implantation, or with in vitro performance over longer time periods.
Type X collagen gene regulation by Runx2 contributes directly to its hypertrophic chondrocyte–specific expression in vivo

The α1(X) collagen gene (Col10a1) is the only known hypertrophic chondrocyte–specific molecular marker. Until recently, few transcriptional factors specifying its tissue-specific expression have been identified. We show here that a 4-kb murine Col10a1 promoter can drive β-galactosidase expression in lower hypertrophic chondrocytes in transgenic mice. Comparative genomic analysis revealed multiple Runx2 (Runt domain transcription factor) binding sites within the proximal human, mouse, and chick Col10a1 promoters. In vitro transfection studies and chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis using hypertrophic MCT cells showed that Runx2 contributes to the transactivation of this promoter via its conserved Runx2 binding sites. When the 4-kb Col10a1 promoter transgene was bred onto a Runx2+/− background, the reporter was expressed at lower levels. Moreover, decreased Col10a1 expression and altered chondrocyte hypertrophy was also observed in Runx2 heterozygote mice, whereas Col10a1 was barely detectable in Runx2-null mice. Together, these data suggest that Col10a1 is a direct transcriptional target of Runx2 during chondrogenesis.
What's New in Shoulder and Elbow Surgery

This annual update on shoulder and elbow surgery is based on a review of presentations at meetings of the Arthroscopy Association of North America (Specialty Day, March 25, 2006, Chicago, Illinois; Twenty-fifth Annual Meeting, May 18 to 21, 2006, Hollywood, Florida), the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (Twenty-second Open Meeting, Specialty Day, March 25, 2006, Chicago, Illinois; Twenty-third Closed Meeting, September 13 to 15, 2006, Chicago, Illinois), The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (Specialty Day, March 25, 2006, Chicago, Illinois), the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (Seventy-third Annual Meeting, March 22 to 25, 2006, Chicago, Illinois), and the Orthopaedic Research Society (Fifty-second Annual Meeting, March 19 to 22, 2006, Chicago, Illinois). ### Rotator Cuff #### Basic Science Park proposed a transosseous equivalent rotator cuff repair technique and performed a biomechanical study to evaluate footprint contact pressure in a variety of repair configurations. A “suture-bridging” technique utilizing medial anchors with suture limbs traversing over the cuff to a lateral interference screw attachment was compared with a double-row anchor repair. A four-limb suture bridge (two medial anchors with four limbs over the cuff laterally) established a significantly higher mean contact pressure area (72.3%) compared with a two-limb suture bridge (57.3%) and a double-row repair (35.1%) (p < 0.05). The authors concluded that increasing footprint contact pressure may aid in rotator cuff healing. #### Impingement Milano investigated the influence of acromioplasty on outcome following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. Eighty patients were prospectively randomized into two groups, with half undergoing rotator cuff repair with acromioplasty and half undergoing rotator cuff repair without acromioplasty. The outcome measures that were evaluated were the Constant score and the Quick-DASH and Work-DASH self-administered questionnaires. Comparison between the two groups failed to demonstrate a significant difference at two years of follow-up. The authors concluded that acromioplasty does not affect the outcome of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. …
A modified model reference adaptive control scheme for rigid robots

This paper seeks to improve the zero-state performance of a standard model reference adaptive control scheme for rigid robots by augmenting the usual model reference control law with an auxiliary component synthesized from the tracking error. A condition involving a certain design parameter is given which can be used to decide a priori whether the modified scheme can potentially outperform its unmodified counterpart. If the joint accelerations are available for measurement, then it is shown that this condition can always be satisfied and the zero-state performance of the modified scheme can in fact be arbitrarily improved.
Comparison of a New Colorimetric Assay with the NCCLS Broth Microdilution Method (M-27A) for Antifungal Drug MIC Determination

We evaluated a new microtiter assay for antifungal susceptibility testing based on a colorimetric reaction to monitor fungal substrate utilization. This new method (rapid susceptibility assay [RSA]) provides quantitative endpoint readings in less than 8 h compared with visual determination of MIC by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) broth microdilution method, which requires a minimum of 48 h of incubation. In this study, we tested clinical isolates from each of the following species: Candida albicans (20 isolates), C. glabrata (20 isolates), C. krusei (19 isolates), C. tropicalis (19 isolates), and C. parapsilosis (28 isolates). RSA and NCCLS broth dilution methods were used to determine the MICs of amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, and 5-flucytosine for all 106 isolates. RPMI 1640 medium buffered with morpholinopropanesulfonic acid was used for both methods; however, glucose and inoculum concentrations in the RSA were modified. RSA MICs were determined as the lowest drug concentration that prevented glucose consumption by the organism after 6 h of incubation. MICs obtained from the RSA were compared with those obtained from the NCCLS M-27A method read at 24 and 48 h. MIC pairs were considered in agreement when the difference between the pairs was within 2 twofold dilutions. For the 106 isolates tested, amphotericin B and 5-flucytosine demonstrated the highest agreement in MICs between the two methods (100 and 98%, respectively), whereas fluconazole and itraconazole produced less favorable MIC agreement (63.2 and 61.3%, respectively). The azole MIC differences between the two methods were significantly reduced when lower inocula were used with a prolonged incubation time. This preliminary comparison suggests that this rapid procedure may be a reliable tool for the in vitro determination of MICs of amphotericin B and 5-flucytosine and warrants further evaluation.