cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Learning the Internet

The Internet is arguably the most important, complex, interesting, and intellectually challenging computational artifact of our time, and it is therefore worthy of the research community's attention. The most novel and defining characteristic of the Internet is its nature as an artifact that was not designed by a single entity, but emerged from the complex interaction of many economic agents (network operators, service providers, users, etc.), in various and varying degrees of collaboration and competition. There is a nascent research area that combines algorithmic thinking with concepts from Game Theory, as well as the realities of the Internet, in order to better understand it. This line of research may actually bring back to the fore certain foundational aspects of Game Theory (namely, the nature of equilibria as well as their relationship to repeated play and evolution) in which the methodology of Learning Theory has much to contribute.The Internet is also an information repository of unprecedented extent, diversity, availability, and lack of structure, and it has therefore become an arena for the development of a new generation of sophisticated techniques for information retrieval and data mining (and to which Learning Theory has obviously much to offer). It has been suggested that economic considerations are crucial in formulating problems also in this environment, and can shed new light on important topics such as clustering and privacy.Because of its spontaneous emergence, the Internet is the first computational artifact that must be studied as a mysterious object (akin to matter, market, and intelligence) whose laws we must derive by observation, experiment, and the development of falsifiable theories. Recently, a plausible explanation of the skewed degree distributions one observes in the Internet topology was based on simple models of network creation, in which arriving nodes choose connections that achieve a favorable tradeoff among criteria such as last-mile distance and communication delays. These topics will be illustrated in terms of recent models and results by the speaker and co-authors, generally available at the speaker's web page.
POLIOVACCINE POLICY : TIME FOR A CHANGE

The history of the elimination of polio from the United States began in 1949 with the landmark achievement by Enders, Robbins, and Weller of the isolation and growth of polioviruses in cell culture systems. Within 5 years, Jonas Salk had developed and successfully tested his inactivated polio virus vaccine (IPV) incorporating all three serotypes in a formalin-heat inactivated preparation. After the successful Francis Field trial in April 1955, widespread programs for immunization were begun throughout the United States. Over the succeeding 4 years the success in marked reduction of polio each summer and autumn resulted in annual totals of fewer than 2000 paralytic patients in contrast to the previous tolls of 25 000 each year.
Comparative susceptibility of Bemisia tabaci to imidacloprid in field- and laboratory-based bioassays

BACKGROUND Bemisia tabaci biotype B is a resistance-prone pest of protected and open agriculture. Systemic uptake bioassays used in resistance monitoring programs have provided important information on susceptibility to neonicotinoid insecticides, but have remained decoupled from field performance. Simultaneous bioassays conducted in field and laboratory settings were compared and related to concentrations of imidacloprid in plant tissue for clearer interpretation of resistance monitoring data. RESULTS Mean mortalities of adult whiteflies confined on cantaloupe leaves field-treated with three rates of imidacloprid did not exceed 40% in two trials. In contrast, laboratory bioassays conducted on different subsets of the same whitefly populations yielded concentration–response curves suggestive of susceptibility to imidacloprid in five populations (LC50 values from 1.02 to 6.4) relative to a sixth population (LC50 = 13.8). In the field, densities of eggs and nymphs were significantly lower on the imidacloprid-treated cantaloupes compared with the untreated control, but the margin of control was greater in 2006 than in 2007. The potential impact of imidacloprid on whitefly eggs was explored in a greenhouse test that showed egg mortality occurring in both early (one-day-old) and late (three-day-old) eggs on cotton leaves systemically treated with imidacloprid. Quantification of imidacloprid residues in cotton leaves used routinely in systemic uptake bioassays revealed concentrations that greatly exceeded concentrations found in the field-treated cantaloupe leaves, at least at the three highest solution concentrations used for uptake. CONCLUSION Systemic uptake bioassays have been widely used for monitoring B. tabaci resistance to imidacloprid, but without knowledge of imidacloprid concentrations that occur in test leaves relative to field concentrations. Higher mortality observed in systemic uptake bioassays relative to field-treated cantaloupes in this study suggests that field rates of imidacloprid are only partially effective against B. tabaci adults, in contrast to systemic uptake bioassays that showed susceptibility to imidacloprid. The discrepancy between field- and laboratory-based mortalities is probably due to extraordinarily high concentrations of imidacloprid that can occur in leaves of systemic uptake bioassays, potentially skewing perception of susceptibility to imidacloprid. Published 2013. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA
Effect of sitting position on equal-dose spinal anaesthetic for caesarean section and post-partum tubal ligation

Background We studied the hypothesis that an equal spinal anaesthetic dose administered in the sitting position to patients undergoing post-partum tubal ligation (PPTL) and caesarean section (CS) would yield similar sensory block characteristics and analgesic efficacy. Methods This prospective, non-randomised trial recruited 20 women undergoing PPTL within 48 h of vaginal delivery and 20 undergoing CS. Spinal anaesthesia comprising intrathecal hyperbaric bupivacaine 12 mg and morphine 100 μg was administered at L3/4 with patients sitting. Our primary end point was the maximal dermatomal sensory block (to cold). Results Baseline demographics were comparable, but PPTL patients had greater parity, with mean ± standard deviation 17.54 ± 11.2 h from delivery to spinal anaesthesia, and shorter duration of surgery, 17.54 ± 11.2 vs. 40.3 ± 15.5 min. Similar maximal sensory blocks (to cold) were achieved in group PPTL vs. CS, T4 (T1-T5) vs. T3 (T1-T5), P = 0.104, in comparable times, 8.6 ± 2.6 vs. 7.6 ± 3.0 min, P = 0.267. PPTL patients had significantly faster two-segment block regression (70.7 ± 23.5 vs. 97.6 ± 23.9 min, P = 0.001) and to T10 (120.8 ± 35.6 vs. 145.1 ± 24.3 min, P = 0.016), with less hypotension (25% vs. 65%, P = 0.025) and phenylephrine (20.0 ± 60.6 μg vs. 120.0 ± 119.6 μg, P = 0.005). Conclusion The same dose of hyperbaric bupivacaine 12 mg and morphine 100 μg administered in the sitting position to both PPTL and CS parturients yielded similar maximal sensory blocks, but PPTL exhibited faster block regression and less hypotension/vasopressor requirement.
Designing Cabinets: Presidential Politics and Ministerial Instability

This article proposes a set of arguments about the strategic use of cabinet appointments by executives in presidential systems. Although recent work has greatly improved our understanding of government formation in presidential countries, most changes to presidential cabinets happen throughout the lifetime of a government and remain poorly understood. I argue that presidents use cabinet changes in response to unexpected shocks and to adjust their governments to changing political and policy circumstances. Weak presidents are more likely to use this strategic resource, which means that ministerial turnover should be higher when a president’s formal authority is weak and he or she has low political support and popularity. To test these claims, I have assembled an original dataset that records individual cabinet changes in 12 Latin American countries between 1982 and 2012. The data provides strong support for the theory.
Regional Trade Agreements and Democracy Promotion: Measuring the Influence of Democracy Requirements in Regional Trade Agreements

This article examines the capacity of regional trade agreements (RTAs) to assist and foster democracy in their respective regions. While the principal raison d'etre of RTAs is to stimulate economic growth among its member states, several regional trade associations have embedded democratic requirements into their governance documents. These requirements elevate democracy to a fundamental value of the associations, and mandate (in most instances) that both current and candidate members possess and uphold democratic political systems and practices. This article examines the regional impact of democracy requirements in trade blocs by exploring four leading RTAs: the European Union, NAFTA Mercosur, and ASEAN. The article finds that the ability to promote democracy is impacted by three primary RTA characteristics: (1) the material benefits of membership; (2) the intensity of political and economic integration among member states; and (3) the level of democratic consolidation exhibited by member states. Este articulo examina la capacidad de los acuerdos comerciales regionales para ayudar y fomentar la democracia en sus respectivas regiones. Mientras que la principal razon de ser de los acuerdos comerciales es la de estimular el crecimiento economico entre sus estados miembros, muchas asociaciones comerciales regionales han incluido requerimientos democraticos dentro de sus documentos de gobierno. Estos requerimientos elevan a la democracia como un valor fundamental de las asociaciones, y ordenan que (en la mayoria de los casos) tanto los estados miembro como los candidatos, posean y mantengan los sistemas politicos democraticos y sus practicas. Este articulo examina el impacto regional de los requerimientos de la democracia en bloques comerciales al explorar cuatro acuerdos comerciales regionales destacados: la Union Europea, TLCAN, Mercosur, y ASEAN. El estudio encuentra que la habilidad de promover la democracia es influida por tres caracteristicas de dichos acuerdos: (1) los beneficios materiales de la membresia; (2) la intensidad de la integracion politica y economica entre sus miembros; y (3) el nivel de la consolidacion democratica demostrada por sus estados miembros.
The reaction of halomethylzinc halides with triethylsilane

Abstract The action of halomethylzinc halides on trialkylsilanes results in insertion of CH2 into the SiH bond to give trialkylmethylsilanes in good yield. Trialkylsilanes are more reactive toward halomethylzinc halides than are olefins. The insertion of dichlorocarbene into the SiH bond of triethylsilane using sodium trichloroacetate as CCl2 source is described.
Vendors and Customers: The Keys to a Happy Working Relationship

In today’s world of biomedical equipment service, effectively managing outside vendor service for medical equipment is vital to a successful medical equipment management program. There can be some tension between the customer and the vendor providing the service. Probably the biggest reason is that they have different goals. The customer’s goal is to have equipment serviced effectively for the lowest possible cost while minimizing downtime. The vendor’s goal is to maximize profit while providing a level of service that ensures customer loyalty. There is nothing wrong with the vendor wanting to be financially successful. In fact, customers should only use vendors that are doing well financially because they need to have a consistent and stable vendor providing service. But differing goals can sour relationships between the customer and vendor, especially if they result in an unsatisfactory service experience for the customer. To minimize the impact of the conflicting goals on the effective support of healthcare technology, there must be a strong working relationship between the customer and vendor. Whether you are an in-house biomedical department, an independent service organization, or an equipment manufacturer, there are certain key responsibilities and expectations that should be adhered to by both the vendor and customer.
Role of hidden-Markov models for autonomous diagnostics of cutting tools

Despite considerable advances in sensing instrumentation and IT infrastructure, monitoring and diagnostics technology has not yet found its place in health management of mainstream machinery and equipment. The fundamental reason for this being the mismatch between the growing diversity and complexity of machinery and equipment employed in industry and the historical reliance on “point-solution” diagnostic systems that necessitate extensive characterization of the failure modes and mechanisms. While these point solutions have a role to play, in particular for monitoring highly-critical assets, generic yet adaptive solutions, could facilitate large-scale deployment of diagnostic and prognostic technology. We present the role of hidden-Markov models for autonomous diagnostics. The proposed methods have been tested on a CNC machining test-bed outfitted with thrust-force and torque sensors for monitoring drill-bits.
Increased concentrations of chorionic somatomammotropin (rCS) serum of hypophysectomized pregnant rats

Hypophysectomy of rats on the 14th day of pregnancy is not associated with the expected fall of serum somatomedin until after delivery. RCS was measured by radioreceptor assay utilizing membranes prepared from pregnant rabbit mammary gland and I125I] oPRL. As compared to normal pregnant rats we found that serum PRL-RRA (ng/ml) of sera from hypox pregnant rats was higher than that of normal pregnant rats at 16 days 575 ± 83 (n=5) vs 201 ± 70 (n=5) p<.01 GH 18 and 20 days (1585 ± 234 (n=5) vs 786 ± 120 (n=3) p=.05. Serum GH-RRA measured by pregnant rabbit liver membrane was also higher in hypox than normal pregnant rat. Placental content of rCS was not altered by hypophysectomy. PRL/GH RRA of rCS was about 18. We conclude that serum somatomammotropin is maintained at higher than normal concentration after hypophysectomy of pregnant rats. We suggest that this peptide maintains somatomedin production in hypox pregnant rats.
A fast, high-responsivity bolometer detector for the very-far infrared

A very-far infrared bolometer detector operated at pumped-LHe temperatures has been developed and exhibits a relatively high-responsivity, high-speed performance, together with a low value of the NEP. The operation of the element is based on the “hopping” conductivity of holes between acceptor sites in single-crystal, p-type compensated Ge containing 9 × 1015/cm3 Ga impurities and 1 × 1O15/cm3 Sb impurities, for a compensation ratio K = 0.11. The element has a negative thermal coefficient of resistance α = 2.24 (°K)−1 at 1 65° K. High responsivity and speed are achieved by utilizing (1) increased absorption at low temperatures by proper doping concentrations, (2) an integrating sphere coupled to a conical light pipe, (3) suitable thermal conductance via the electrical leads to the heat sink clamp, and (4) cooled LWP filters, including a crystal-quartz field lens in the entrance aperture of the light pipe to limit the acceptance angle to 13° 44. An elaborated theory of bolometer performance is presented by means of which various parameters are correlated and evaluated. Load curves were obtained for heat sink temperatures of 1.55°K and 4.22°K, and 500°K blackbody responsivity measurements were made with λ ⩾ 142 μ. For the operating point of (3.22 V. 1.50 μA) at 1.65°K which yields the minimum NEP, the dynamic thermal conductance is 161 μW/°K, the effective emissivity is ϵe = 0.512, the absorbed background radiant power is 6.52 μW, the effective thermal capacitance is C = 45.2 nJ/°K, and the ultimate responsivity (infinite load, unity emissivity) in the zero-frequency limit is R∞(0) = −42.0 kV/W. The response time constant for infinite load at the critical frequency fc = 604 Hzisττ∞ = 263 μsec. The noise spectrum of the bolometer system connected to a sibeciallyconstructed FET pre-amplifier was measured and resolved into its various contributidns. The minimum NEP value achieved for the bolometer system under optimum operating conditions and pertaining to the recommended operating frequency range of f = 200–500 Hz, corrected to ϵe = 1 and including the pre-amplifier noise contribution, is2.3 × 10−12W/√Hz.
Aminolysis of Epoxides in a Microreactor System: A Continuous Flow Approach to β-Amino Alcohols

The use of a continuous flow microreactor for β-amino alcohol formation by epoxide aminolysis is evaluated. Comparison to microwave batch reactions reveals that conditions obtainable in the microreactor can match or improve yields in many cases. By increasing the pressure of the system, maximum temperatures can also exceed those accessible using a microwave unit. The use of a microreactor for epoxide aminolysis reactions in the synthesis of two pharmaceutical relevant compounds is described.
Electrical Trapping Device for Land Snails

In conjunction with projected studies on the biology and behavior of the brown garden snail, Helix aspersa (Muller), it appeared desirable to develop a trapping device which would retain individual snails attracted to a specific location. The emergent problem was to design a unit which would capture snails of varying shell sizes and subsequently would prevent their escape, regardless of their unique abilities to travel over seemingly unnegotiable surfaces.
Target of rapamycin (TOR): an integrator of nutrient and growth factor signals and coordinator of cell growth and cell cycle progression

Cell growth (an increase in cell mass and size through macromolecular biosynthesis) and cell cycle progression are generally tightly coupled, allowing cells to proliferate continuously while maintaining their size. The target of rapamycin (TOR) is an evolutionarily conserved kinase that integrates signals from nutrients (amino acids and energy) and growth factors (in higher eukaryotes) to regulate cell growth and cell cycle progression coordinately. In mammals, TOR is best known to regulate translation through the ribosomal protein S6 kinases (S6Ks) and the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding proteins. Consistent with the contribution of translation to growth, TOR regulates cell, organ, and organismal size. The identification of the tumor suppressor proteins tuberous sclerosis1 and 2 (TSC1 and 2) and Ras-homolog enriched in brain (Rheb) has biochemically linked the TOR and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathways, providing a mechanism for the crosstalk that occurs between these pathways. TOR is emerging as a novel antitumor target, since the TOR inhibitor rapamycin appears to be effective against tumors resulting from aberrantly high PI3K signaling. Not only may inhibition of TOR be effective in cancer treatment, but rapamycin is an FDA-approved immunosuppressive and cardiology drug. We review here what is known (and not known) about the function of TOR in cellular and animal physiology.
FITTING ITEM CHARACTERISTIC CURVES WITH SPLINE FUNCTIONS

In most item response theory models a particular mathematical form is assumed for all item characteristic curves, e.g., a logistic function. It could be desirable, however, to estimate the shape of the item characteristic curves without prior restrictive assumptions about its mathematical form. We have developed a practical method of estimating the shape of item response functions leading to smooth flexible functions and numerically stable calculations. In our approach the probability of success of an item is represented as a monotone function of the ability evaluated by the item. The function is represented as a monotone spline. We use the technique developed by Bock and Aitkin (1981) for marginal maximum likelihood estimation of the item parameters. Examples of real and artificial data are presented.
International polarity and America's polarization

There is a growing consensus that the United States is undergoing a period of political polarization, particularly among elites. The causes of this polarization remain under-researched. We argue that shifts in the international distribution of power influence America's polarization. To demonstrate the argument, this article analyzes changes in power and polarization quantitatively and qualitatively from 1945 to 2005. A key finding is that greater relative power on the world stage substantially increases polarization and some of its correlates, like income inequality. The argument also measures the extent of international influence on domestic polarization and makes novel predictions on when and why polarization will fall.
Sodium channel genes and their differential genotypes at the L-to-F kdr locus in the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus.

Abstract The para -type sodium channel in insects is the primary target of pyrethroid and DDT insecticides. However, modifications in the target protein structure such as point mutations or substitutions, resulting from single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP), cause insensitivity of the insect’s nervous system to pyrethroids and DDT and, in turn, result in insecticide resistance. Among these mutations, substitution of leucine to phenylalanine (L to F) in the 6th segment of domain II (IIS6 ) has been clearly associated with pyrethroid and DDT resistance in many insect species, including mosquitoes. Here, multiple copies of the sodium channel gene were identified in the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus by Southern blot analysis and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Two genomic DNA fragments of the mosquito sodium channel gene (509 and 181 bp) were detected by a single PCR primer pair. Sequence analysis indicated the lack of an intron sequence in the 181 bp sodium channel fragment. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis revealed a strong correlation among the frequencies of L-to-F allelic (T) expression at the RNA level, the frequencies and resistance allele (T) at the L-to-F site of the 509 bp genomic DNA fragment, which did include an intron sequence, and the levels of insecticide resistance. Taking together, this study, for the first time, not only revealed multiple copies of the sodium channel gene presented in the Culex mosquito genome but also suggested that the one with the intro sequence may be a functional copy of the sodium channel gene in the Culex mosquitoes.
Drugs from slugs—Past, present and future perspectives of ω-conotoxin research

Peptides from the venom of carnivorous cone shells have provided six decades of intense research, which has led to the discovery and development of novel analgesic peptide therapeutics. Our understanding of this unique natural marine resource is however somewhat limited. Given the past pharmacological record, future investigations into the toxinology of these highly venomous tropical marine snails will undoubtedly yield other highly selective ion channel inhibitors and modulators. With over a thousand conotoxin-derived sequences identified to date, those identified as ion channel inhibitors represent only a small fraction of the total. Here we discuss our present understanding of conotoxins, focusing on the ω-conotoxin peptide family, and illustrate how such a seemingly simple snail has yielded a highly effective clinical drug.
Financial and quality impacts of the Medicare physician group practice demonstration.

OBJECTIVE To examine the impact of the Medicare Physician Group Practice (PGP) demonstration on expenditure, utilization, and quality outcomes. DATA SOURCE Secondary data analysis of 2001-2010 Medicare claims for 1,776,387 person years assigned to the ten participating provider organizations and 1,579,080 person years in the corresponding local comparison groups. STUDY DESIGN We used a pre-post comparison group observational design consisting of four pre-demonstration years (1/01-12/04) and five demonstration years (4/05-3/10). We employed a propensity-weighted difference-in-differences regression model to estimate demonstration effects, adjusting for demographics, health status, geographic area, and secular trends. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS The ten demonstration sites combined saved $171 (2.0%) per assigned beneficiary person year (p<0.001) during the five-year demonstration period. Medicare paid performance bonuses to the participating PGPs that averaged $102 per person year. The net savings to the Medicare program were $69 (0.8%) per person year. Demonstration savings were achieved primarily from the inpatient setting. The demonstration improved quality of care as measured by six of seven claims-based process quality indicators. CONCLUSIONS The PGP demonstration, which used a payment model similar to the Medicare Accountable Care Organization (ACO) program, resulted in small reductions in Medicare expenditures and inpatient utilization, and improvements in process quality indicators. Judging from this demonstration experience, it is unlikely that Medicare ACOs will initially achieve large savings. Nevertheless, ACOs paid through shared savings may be an important first step toward greater efficiency and quality in the Medicare fee-for-service program.
Detection and serotyping of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans isolates on nitrocellulose paper blots with monoclonal antibodies.

Abstract A combination of blotting of bacterial colonies on nitrocellulose paper discs and immunoenzymatic detection of bound antigens with specific monoclonal antibodies was used to detect and serotype Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans directly off the initial agar culture dish. The A. actinomycetemcomitans antigens, representative of specific colonies, were identified immunoenzymatically using monoclonal antibody specific for a species-specific antigen. The serotype of the bacteria in colonies was identified by dividing the blotting paper into sections and immunoenzymatically identifying the serotype antigens with serotype-specific monoclonal antibodies. This procedure provides for simple, rapid, sensitive and accurate identification and characterization of A. actinomycetemcomitans isolates from the initial isolation agar plates.
Viequeamide A, a Cytotoxic Member of the Kulolide Superfamily of Cyclic Depsipeptides from a Marine Button Cyanobacterium

The viequeamides, a family of 2,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxy-7-octynoic acid (Dhoya)-containing cyclic depsipeptides, were isolated from a shallow subtidal collection of a “button” cyanobacterium (Rivularia sp.) from near the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. Planar structures of the two major compounds, viequeamide A (1) and viequeamide B (2), were elucidated by 2D-NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, whereas absolute configurations were determined by traditional hydrolysis, derivative formation, and chromatography in comparison with standards. In addition, a series of related minor metabolites, viequeamides C–F (3–6), were characterized by HRMS fragmentation methods. Viequeamide A was found to be highly toxic to H460 human lung cancer cells (IC50 = 60 ± 10 nM), whereas the mixture of B–F was inactive. From a broader perspective, the viequeamides help to define a “superfamily” of related cyanobacterial natural products, the first of which to be discovered was kulolide. Within the kulolide superfamily, a wide va...
Spectroscopic Investigation of Agonist-Induced Rearrangements of Cyclic Nucleotide-Modulated Ion Channels

Cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) and hyperpolarization activated cyclic nucleotide-modulated (HCN) ion channels are activated by the direct binding of cyclic nucleotides, e.g. adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP), to a conserved, cytoplasmic domain. The structure of the cyclic nucleotide binding domain (CNBD) is similar to those found in other cyclic nucleotide-activated proteins, including the kinases PKA and PKG, the transcription factor CAP, and the guanine nucleotide exchange factor Epac. The core of this structure contains an eight-stranded β-barrel followed by two helices (the B and C helices). Cyclic nucleotides initially bind to residues in the β-barrel. Subsequent to binding, the C helix of HCN and CNG channels undergoes a translation toward the binding pocket as well as a stabilization of its helical structure. This conformational rearrangement is coupled to opening of the ion channel pore. We have extended our previous studies using transition metal ion fluorescence resonance energy transfer (tmFRET) in the purified C-terminal domain of HCN2 to demonstrate that the B helix also reorganizes relative to the β-barrel subsequent to agonist binding. Furthermore, we have used electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) on the spin-labeled HCN2 C- terminus to investigate the reorientation and stabilization of the CNBD induced by cAMP binding. These studies further extend our knowledge of the conformational changes in the CNBD of HCN and CNG channels and may provide a general picture of the activation of other families of cyclic nucleotide-regulated proteins.
c-Jun and the dominant-negative mutant, TAM67, induce vimentin gene expression by interacting with the activator Sp1.

Vimentin exhibits a complex pattern of developmental- and tissue-specific expression. Since it is aberrantly expressed in metastatic tumors, which have progressed through the epithelial–mesenchymal transition, it has been cited as a marker for tumor progression. Previous studies have indicated that the transcription factor activator protein (AP1) is important in tumor progression. The stable transformation of the MCF7 cell line with the oncogene c-Jun resulted in a cell line (MCF7Jun), which displayed a change in morphology, enhanced migratory and invasive properties, and metastatic behavior. Of the 21 genes whose expression levels were altered in the MCF7Jun cell line, the greatest change in expression occurred for the vimentin gene. Previously, tandem AP1 sites in the promoter were reported to be important for the serum and TPA inducibility of the vimentin gene. However, we find that the AP1 elements only contribute in part to c-Jun activation. Moreover, this activation can be duplicated in COS-1 or S2 cells by expression of c-Jun or TAM67, and is dependent only on the leucine-zipper region of c-Jun. Transient transfection analyses, electrophoretic mobility shift assays, DNA precipitation assays, and coimmunoprecipitation studies suggest that c-Jun is able to synergize with the activator protein Sp1 in binding to GC-box1 to enhance vimentin gene expression.
Induction of cytochrome P-450 activities by nicotine in the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta

The induction by dietary nicotine of a series of cytochrome P-450 enzyme activities was investigated in early fifth-instarManduca sexta larvae. At a low nicotine concentration in the diet (0.1 %), three of 12 midgut microsomal enzyme activities were significantly increased. At a higher concentration (0.75%) commonly found in plants of the genusNicotiana, nine of 12 activities were induced by 1.4- to 10.0-fold. Total cytochrome P-450, P-450 reductase activity, and midgut microsomal metabolism of nicotine were also increased by feeding 0.75% nicotine. Nicotine was metabolized by midgut microsomes to nicotine-1-N-oxide and cotinine-N-oxide. Fat body microsomal nicotine metabolism was low and unaffected by dietary nicotine. Isolated nerve cords were able to metabolize nicotine in vitro but this metabolism was not inducible by dietary nicotine. Nicotine-fed fifth-instarM. sexta larvae showed an increased tolerance to subsequent nicotine injection when compared to larvae fed a control diet. These results support the idea that induction of midgut cytochrome P-450-related metabolism is an adaptation ofManduca sexta to dietary nicotine.
Laser spectroscopy of nuclear reaction products: recent results and future prospects

Laser spectroscopic observations of nuclear reaction products produced with intensities of less than 104 atoms/second are now possible with several different methods. We describe the recoil into gas method which has recently been successful. This method is not Dopplerfree, but can give reasonable spectra if the resolution requirements of the spectra are not too high. It has the great advantage that it very efficiently uses the atoms, and spectra have been observed with primary production rates of less than 103 atoms/sec. Our recent work has concentrated on developing the recoil into gas method for the refractory element Hf. In order that the atoms could be cycled to produce many fluorescence photons, nitrogen and hydrogen impurity gases were added to the argon buffer gas to quench metastable levels to the ground state. In this way spectra could be obtained with fluxes of 104 atoms/second. Future prospects for trapping radioactive atoms in a magneto-optic trap will be discussed.
Hydrodynamic Efficiency Improvement of High-Specific-Speed Centrifugal Pump Impeller

The high-specific-speed centrifugal pumps are very common in industrial factory for transporting fluids all day long. However, oversized pumps with low performance still could meet the purpose of fluid transporting. The aim of this study was to reduce the existed commercial impeller energy consumption by optimizing the performance of impeller through CAE processes. The impeller model was first generated by BladeGen software and analyzed by CFX in Turbo-mode. The optimized model then exported to machine center to cut the precise aluminum mold. A regular sand die casting processes were used to manufacture the impeller. The original pump which only impeller was replaced with the new one was tested with performance measurement system again. The results show that when the mass flow rate between 40-90kg/s the CFD software predicted very well pump heads and efficiencies with experimental data, which was called optimized impeller. But around the minimum and maximum flow rate region, the recirculation flow between blades and frictional loss model used still need further investigation to shrink the difference. Compare to the original impeller, the optimized one had increased efficiency 6% at the mass flow rate of 80kg/s. Also the high efficiency region (nearby of BEP) of the new impeller had broadened 50%. And the maximum mass flow rate increased 13% than the original one.
Gating of mammalian cardiac gap junction channels by transjunctional voltage

Numerous two-cell voltage-clamp studies have concluded that the electrical conductance of mammalian cardiac gap junctions is not modulated by the transjunctional voltage (Vj) profile, although gap junction channels between low conductance pairs of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes are reported to exhibit Vj-dependent behavior. In this study, the dependence of macroscopic gap junctional conductance (gj) on transjunctional voltage was quantitatively examined in paired 3-d neonatal hamster ventricular myocytes using the double whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Immunolocalization with a site-specific antiserum directed against amino acids 252-271 of rat connexin43, a 43-kD gap junction protein as predicted from its cDNA sequence, specifically stained zones of contact between cultured myocytes. Instantaneous current-voltage (Ij-Vj) relationships of neonatal hamster myocyte pairs were linear over the entire voltage range examined (0 less than or equal to Vj less than or equal to +/- 100 mV). However, the steady-state Ij-Vj relationship was nonlinear for Vj greater than +/- 50 mV. Both inactivation and recovery processes followed single exponential time courses (tau inactivation = 100-1,000 ms, tau recovery approximately equal to 300 ms). However, Ij recovered rapidly upon polarity reversal. The normalized steady-state junctional conductance-voltage relationship (Gss-Vj) was a bell-shaped curve that could be adequately described by a two-state Boltzmann equation with a minimum Gj of 0.32-0.34, a half-inactivation voltage of -69 and +61 mV and an effective valence of 2.4-2.8. Recordings of gap junction channel currents (ij) yielded linear ij-Vj relationships with slope conductances of approximately 20-30 and 45-50 pS. A kinetic model, based on the Boltzmann relationship and the polarity reversal data, suggests that the opening (alpha) and closing (beta) rate constants have nearly identical voltage sensitivities with a Vo of +/- 62 mV. The data presented in this study are not consistent with the contingent gating scheme (for two identical gates in series) proposed for other more Vj-dependent gap junctions and alternatively suggest that each gate responds to the applied Vj independently of the state (open or closed) of the other gate.
Oestrogens, Oestrogen Receptors and Breast Cancer

Abstract Tamoxifen has been the endocrine treatment of choice for all stages of oestrogen receptor positive breast cancer for 20 years and the first chemical therapeutic to be tested to reduce the incidence of breast cancer in high-risk women. It is now clear that the oestrogen receptor is proving to be an invaluable target for the treatment and chemoprevention of breast cancer. The success of tamoxifen clinically can be quantitated: 400 000 women are alive today because of the application of 5 years of adjuvant tamoxifen therapy in node-positive and node-negative breast cancer. This advance has resulted in vigorous efforts to reduce side-effects and to improve objective response rates by the rapid application of laboratory principles. Tamoxifen is known to have a mixture of oestrogen-like and anti-oestrogen actions so it is reasoned that completely anti-oestrogenic agents would enhance treatment response rates while lowering the incidence of oestrogen-like side-effects such as endometrial cancer and blood clots. A new pure anti-oestrogen, fulvestrant, that destroys the oestrogen receptor, is available after drug resistance to tamoxifen develops. The group of drugs known as aromatase inhibitors block the production of oestrogens from androstenedione and testosterone in the body fat of postmenopausal women. New agents such as anastrozole, exemestane, and letrozole have shown promise as new treatment modalities for advanced breast cancer. Most importantly, the successful testing of anastrozole as an adjuvant treatment for breast cancer has enhanced enthusiasm for the evaluation of aromatase inhibitors and selective oestrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) to be tested as chemopreventives. SERMs express anti-oestrogenic actions in the breast but oestrogen-like actions in bone and lower circulating cholesterol. This insight not only allowed the safe application of tamoxifen to well high-risk women to test the worth of an ‘anti-oestrogen’ to prevent breast cancer, but also caused a paradigm shift in the strategy of chemoprevention. The question was posed that if, tamoxifen prevents breast cancer but an added benefit is the maintenance of bone density, why not develop a drug to prevent osteoporosis or atherosclerosis that prevents breast cancer in the general population as a beneficial side-effect? Raloxifene is the result of this new strategy to seek multifunctional medicines for women's health. Raloxifene is currently available for the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis but is being tested in high-risk postmenopausal women for the prevention of breast cancer against tamoxifen in the study of tamoxifen and raloxifene (STAR trial) and for the prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD) in a placebo-controlled trial in women at high risk for CHD called raloxifene use for the heart (RUTH).
Lymphangitic retroperitoneal carcinomatosis occurring from metastatic sarcomatoid chromophobe renal cell carcinoma.

A 45-year-old man with left renal mass underwent nephrectomy to reveal a 20-cm tumor diagnosed as sarcomatoid chromophobe renal cell carcinoma. Lymph node metastasis of chromophobe and sarcomatoid components, disseminated tumor in retroperitoneal fat, lymphatic vessels, and perirenal adipose tissue in lymphangitic carcinomatosis pattern were identified. Chromophobe epithelial cells were positive for epithelial membrane antigen, c-Kit, and cytokeratin 7; sarcomatoid cells were positive for CD10 and smooth muscle antigen with high proliferation index. Chromophobe epithelial cells had loss of heterozygosity in chromosomes 1p and 1q, whereas sarcomatoid cells had loss of heterozygosity in 3p, 1p, and 1q. In conclusion, sarcomatoid chromophobe renal cell carcinoma has aggressive biologic behavior and potential to metastasize in unusual patterns.
Synovial cysts and the lithotomy position causing cauda equina syndrome

We describe a case of cauda equina syndrome caused by synovial cysts and the lithotomy position. A transurethral resection of the prostate was performed under spinal anesthesia in the lithotomy position. We believe that this is the first case report of facet joint synovial cysts and the lithotomy position causing ischemic neurologic injury to the cauda equina. Other etiologies such as needle trauma, neurotoxicity, hematoma, and abscess were not evident. We believe that positioning the patient in the lithotomy position narrowed the cross-sectional area of the spinal canal in a patient with a coexisting critically stenosed lumbar spinal canal. The resultant mechanical pressure caused an ischemic compression injury to the cauda equina.
Chromatin structure and gene activity

Twenty years ago, the histones were commonly described as ‘structural proteins of chromatin and general repressors of template activity’ without any clear idea of how they acted as such. We now know that both the distribution of nucleosomes along the chromatin fiber and the organization of higher order structure play a role in regulating gene expression. Progress made during the last year reflects our increasing ability to use genetic and gene-specific biochemical mapping techniques to establish functional relationships. We have identified the genes encoding many chromosomal proteins and can create or recover mutations in these genes, altering either the protein itself or the amount available; this has allowed us both to determine the importance of these proteins and to identify interactive domains. We can now manipulate the DNA sequences of a given gene and, following transformation of the gene back into the cell, establish the effects of these manipulations on chromatin structure and function. Transformation experiments have revealed the sensitivity of genes to their ‘chromosomal environment’, (i.e. have demonstrated euchromatic position effects) and the buffering of genes from such position effects has become a new and useful definition of ‘domain’ structure. The following review will focus on four areas that have been signilicantly advanced during the last 18 months by studies employing a combination of biochemical and genetic techniques.
More Questions than Answers: The Commodification of Health Care

The changing world of health care finance has led to a paradigm shift in health care with health care being viewed more and more as a commodity. Many have argued that such a paradigm shift is incompatible with the very nature of medicine and health care. But such arguments raise more questions than they answer. There are important assumptions about basic concepts of health care and markets that frame such arguments.
Ballot-Box Vigilantism? Ethnic Population Shifts and Xenophobic Voting in Post-Soviet Russia

To what extent does voting for anti-immigrant parties relate to long-term changes in ethnic composition within states? Four theoretical models are developed, based on studies of interethnic attitudes, housing segregation, racial violence, and hate crime in the United States. Each model is tested with the data on ethnic composition of the Russian Federation from 1989 to 2002 and voting for the extreme nationalist Zhirinovsky Bloc in the 2003 parliamentary election, using multiple regression and ecological inference methods. Most consistently supported is the “defended nationhood” model derived from the sociology of neighborhood vigilantism and the psychology of the security dilemma. Non-trivial, counterintuitive findings are: (1) xenophobic voting was responsive to changes in the proportion of some ethnic groups more so than others and not necessarily those that were more numerous or more widely disliked at the time of the vote (Chechens), but those that raised more uncertainty about the future ethnic composition and identity of the state (Asians); (2) levels of change, but not the rapidity of change in the ethnic composition of the population related significantly to xenophobic voting; and (3) greater percentage of the nation’s dominant ethnic group in a region reduced xenophobic voting by members of that dominant group (the highest share of Slavs voted for Zhirinovsky in the ethnically mixed Volga-Urals area).
Awareness and identification of body dysmorphic disorder by aesthetic surgeons: Results of a survey of american society for aesthetic plastic surgery members☆

Background A critical issue for aesthetic surgeons may be whether some patients have psychiatric conditions that contraindicate cosmetic procedures. Objective This study reports on the results of an e-mail survey of American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) members about their awareness of and experiences with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD). Methods In August 2001, all active ASAPS members with e-mail addresses listed in the ASAPS membership registry were e-mailed the “2001 Body Image Survey.” Participants were given until August 31 to complete the 8-question survey. The responses were compiled by an independent research firm. Results Two hundred sixty-five ASAPS members responded to the survey. Respondents indicated that they believed 2% of patients seen for an initial cosmetic surgery consultation suffer from BDD. Eighty-four percent indicated that they have refused to operate on persons with BDD. Eighty-four percent indicated that they had operated on a patient whom they believed was appropriate for surgery, only to realize after operation that the patient had BDD. Eighty-two percent of these surgeons believed that these patients had a poor postoperative outcome. However, only 30% of respondents indicated that they believed BDD was always a contraindication to cosmetic surgery. Conclusions The estimated rate of BDD reported by participants in the survey is consistent with the rate of occurrence in the general population but lower than the rate reported for cosmetic surgery patients in other studies. This suggests that although most surgeons are aware that BDD exists among their patients, they may underestimate the rate at which it occurs.
Attenuation of ethanol intake by contingent punishment of food-maintained responding.

Abstract Two food-deprived rats responded under a concurrent fixed-ratio 12 (food) fixed-ratio 1 (8% ethanol) reinforcement schedule in which a tone occurred during every second or every fourth interpellet interval. When ethanol-maintained lever presses during the presence of the tone shifted the food schedule to one in which electric shock punishment occurred, ethanol-maintained responding consistently decreased. The decrease in the frequency of ethanol-maintained responding varied directly with shock voltage from 25 to 100 V, and occurred during intervals with the tone present and absent. These results indicate that ethanol in take may be attenuated by contingent changes in a concurrent food schedule.
Terrain-based vehicle localization from real-time data using dynamical models

This paper describes a novel method for the location of road vehicles using vehicle pitch data obtained from on-board sensors. The method encodes the road map data using linear dynamical models, and then, during travel, identifies the vehicle location through continuous validation of the previously obtained linear models. The approach presented has several advantages over previous approaches in the literature, namely a smaller computational burden, a more definitive location estimate, and a simplified and more direct way of handling common types of noise. These benefits have the potential to both increase the speed of the localization and to reduce the implementation cost of terrain-based localization. The method is tested in simulation using real-world road data collected in State College PA, USA. Performance is demonstrated both in a noise-free and noisy environments, and a bound is shown on the convergence distance.