cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Survival Association of Angiotensin Inhibitors in Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction: Comparisons Using Self-Identified Race and Genomic Ancestry.

ABSTRACT Background It remains unclear whether there is a racial disparity in the response to angiotensin inhibitors in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and whether the role of genomic ancestry plays a part. Therefore, we compared survival rates associated with angiotensin inhibitors in patients with HFrEF by self-identified race and proportion of West African genomic ancestry. Methods Three datasets totaling 1153 and 1480 self-identified Black and White patients, respectively, with HFrEF were meta-analyzed (random effects model) for race-based analyses. One dataset had genomic data for ancestry analyses (416 and 369 self-identified Black and White patients, respectively). Cox proportional hazards regression, adjusted for propensity scores, assessed the association of angiotensin inhibitor exposure with all-cause mortality by self-identified race or proportion of West African genomic ancestry. Results In meta-analysis of self-identified race, adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) for exposure to angiotensin inhibitors were similar in self-identified Black and White patients with HFrEF: 0.52 (0.31–0.85) P = 0.006 and 0.54 (0.42–0.71) P = 0.001, respectively. Results were similar when the proportion of West African genomic ancestry was > 80% or Conclusions Among self-identified Black and White patients with HFrEF, reduction in all-cause mortality associated with exposure to angiotensin inhibitors was similar regardless of self-identified race or proportion of West African genomic ancestry.
Buffer-referred Data Prefetching: An Effective Approach to Coverage-Driven Prefetching

This study about data prefetching focuses on maximizing the performance of modern processors by hiding cache misses. This paper suggests that improving prefetch coverage is an effective approach to achieve the goal. This work proposes to employ two simple buffers, block offset buffer and block address buffer, that leverage prefetch coverage. The offset buffer stores the offset of cache blocks that are accessed recently, while the block address buffer stores the address of cache blocks that are prefetch-issued lately. For the offset buffer, we propose to adopt multiple lengths of delta history in searching offset patterns, compared to using a single length of delta history in global history buffer method. Each offset buffer is used to find a local optimum offset of a page. Besides, all the offset buffers are employed to refer to each other, mining offset patterns from others. Our second proposed buffer, the block address buffer, is hired for aggressive prefetching that can switch to adaptive burst mode occurred in the case of successive accesses to the same page. Our Buffer-referred data Prefetcher (BRP) improves an IPC speedup of 23.2% over a no-prefetching baseline. BRP outperforms the state-of-the-art Signature Path prefetcher by an IPC speedup of 4.2%.
Reolysin®, an unmodified Reovirus, has significant anti-tumor activity in childhood sarcomas

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006 4331 Reolysin® is an unmodified oncolytic reovirus which replicates selectively in ras transformed cells causing cell lysis. Activating mutations in ras or mutations in oncogenes signaling through the ras pathway may occur is as many as 80% of human tumors. Such mutations have been described in many of the common sarcomas of childhood. In the currently study, ras activation is confirmed in several Ewing’s sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, and osteosarcoma cell lines. In vitro cytotoxicity assays reveal complete cell kill at reovirus titers greater than 1 to 10 pfu for all cell lines tested. A cytopathic effect is observed by microscopy and viral replication assessed by immunoprecipitation of vrial protein in whole cell lysates. The ani-tumor effect of the reovirus is confirmed in vivo using established xenograft models of pediatric sarcomas. Initial experiments using reovirus doses of 1 × 108 pfu, 5 × 108 pfu and 5 × 109 pfu daily for 3 days per week times 2 weeks, reveal that the 5 × 109 pfu dose is well tolerated and effective in the nude mice xenograft model of osteosarcoma. The antitumor effect of the reovirus is subsequently evaluated in 4 additional independent pediatric sarcoma xenografts (Ewing’s sarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma, respectively). In all tumor lines evaluated, the reovirus exhibits significant antitumor activity, including a complete response in a rhabdomyosarcoma line. Relosysin® demonstrates excellent anti-tumor activity in vitro and in vivo in childhood sarcoma cell lines. These promising preclinical results suggest that a clinical trial of systemic reovirus in pediatric solid tumors is warranted.
Communicating with employees: Building on an ethical foundation

The paradigm of work and the formal organizations within which people work are changing. Trends in organizations include less hierarchy, integrated structures, empowered employees, teams and teamwork, labor-management partnerships, and myriad other changes. Underlying all these changes is a new emphasis on values regarding how organizations function. Among the critical organizational functions to which the values framework applies is communication. Most models of internal organizational communication are adaptations of the existing model for communicating externally. These models fall short of what is needed to impact today's employees. The model presented in this paper is based on seventeen years of work in the transformation of large, complex organizations. Comparing classic models and theories of organizations with the characteristics and needs of high performance systems led to the development of a values-based, employee-driven communication model. The model includes a comparison of communication in both kinds of systems in terms of purposes, principles (The Seven Cs), content, and techniques.
Tale of Two Tales: Locally Produced Accounts and Memberships During Research Interviews With a Multilingual Speaker

A growing number of studies have examined qualitative research interviews in terms of how researchers' own identities and agendas are implicated in the construction of interviewees' responses. Adopting the constructionist conception of research interviews, the current study introduces a comparative analysis of 2 interviews with a multilingual speaker of Korean, English, and Japanese conducted by 2 researchers who come from distinctive cultural, linguistic, and professional backgrounds. Informed by ethnomethodology, conversation analysis, and membership categorization analysis, the current analysis reveals how the interviewee came to co‐construct a different set of accounts with each interviewer in comparable segments where the same topics were discussed. The focal segments examined in this study can be seen as an illustration of how this Korean student interacting in her everyday life with others may co‐construct her ever‐shifting identities vis‐a‐vis membership categories such as American, Korean, or Korean‐American.
Switchable infrared reflectors fabricated in polymer-dispersed liquid crystals

Switchable infrared reflection gratings are fabricated in polymer-dispersed liquid crystals by holographic technique. The electro-optical performance of these reflectors is investigated and 5 dB reflectors are achievable.
Sector models with explicit expectations and adjustments

Quando i prezzi dei prodotti e dei fattori sono generati da un processo aleatorio, gli agenti economici devono formulare le loro personali aspettative al riguardo e devono fare i necessari aggiustamenti delle quantita. Il presente lavoro introduce tali aspettative e aggiustamenti nei modelli di programmazione matematica e ne indica l'uso per studiare problemi di politica dei prezzi. Il problema duale assume particolare significato a questo riguardo. Infine, il calibramento del modello risperro ad un anno base aumenta la prospettiva di previsioni adeguate.
INDUCTION OF OVULATION WITH CLOMIPHENE.

Abstract Clomiphene is an effective drug for inducing ovulation, bringing about this result in 50 per cent of the patients treated, and in 40 out of 118 cycles of therapy (33 per cent). Clomiphene exerts its primary action by stimulating estrogen synthesis, in both the ovary and the adrenal, at the pre-estradiol phase of steroid synthesis. Increases in pituitary gonadotropins and mild changes in adrenal steroids are secondary results of this primary effect. The only serious complication is the development of ovarian cysts, especially in patients with polycystic ovaries prior to therapy. Liver function tests and prothrombin times should be done routinely while patients are on therapy until more data is available as to the definitive effect of clomiphene in these areas.
Understanding the Role of National Public Health Surveys in Identifying Health Care Disparities Affecting LGBT People

While attending the AcademyHealth Gender and Health meeting in late June 2012, I was informed that sexual orientation is not a standard question on national public health surveillance surveys. With...
La temporalité de la perception: A propos de l'Interprétation phénoménologique de la CRP de Kant

A travers l'analyse de «L'interpretation phenomenologique de la Critique de la raison pure de Kant», l'A. mesure la possibilite d'y decouvrir une confrontation de Heidegger avec la phenomenologie de la temporalite de la perception chez Husserl, qui s'articulerait autour de la notion de l'inauthenticite du temps, fondee sur l'incompatibilite de la presentification et de la re-presentification perceptives
La objeción democrática a los límites materiales de la reforma constitucional (The Democratic Objection Against the Substantive Non-Procedural Limitations of the Constitutional Reform Process)

En este ensayo el autor argumenta que las teorias de algunos constitucionalistas chilenos que justifican la imposibilidad de modificar la Constitucion de acuerdo a limites materiales derivados del Derecho Internacional, es contraria a la libre deliberacion politica que debiera existir en la democracia constitucional chilena. In this essay, the author argues that constitutional theories that some Chilean scholars have made in order to justify the impossibility of amending the Constitution because of substantive non-procedural limitations they found in international law, contradicts the free political deliberation that should exist in the Chilean constitutional democracy.
Hydrogen and Hydrogen Impurities in Rare Gases

The hydrogen molecule in condensed systems has been extensively studied. With the exception of solid hydrogen,1 the kinetic energy associated with translational motion of the center of mass of the molecule has not been directly measured. Deep inelastic neutron scattering (DINS) provides a direct probe of the single particle behavior of the molecule and can be used to determine the center of mass translational kinetic energy, .
Radar and Lightning Observations of the 3 June 2000 Electrically Inverted Storm from STEPS

Abstract This study addresses the kinematic, microphysical, and electrical evolution of an isolated convective storm observed on 3 June 2000 during the Severe Thunderstorm Electrification and Precipitation Study field campaign. Doppler-derived vertical velocities, radar reflectivity, hydrometeor classifications from polarimetric radar, and Lightning Mapping Array (LMA) charge structures are examined over a nearly 3-h period. This storm, characterized as a low-precipitation supercell, produced modest amounts of hail, determined by fuzzy-logic hydrometeor classification as mostly small (<2 cm) hail, with one surface report of large (≥2 cm) hail. Doppler-derived updraft speeds peaked between 20 and 25 m s−1, and reflectivity was never greater than 60 dBZ. The most striking feature of this storm was its total lack of cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning. Though this storm was electrically active, with maximum flash rates near 30 per minute, no CG flashes of either polarity were detected. The charge structure inferr...
Psychosocial correlates of smoking cessation among elderly ever-smokers in the United States

Abstract This study was conducted to identify the psychosocial factors associated with successful smoking cessation among ever-smokers aged 60 and older in the United States. Descriptive and multivariate analyses of the 2000 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were conducted. Controlling for sociodemographics and medical history of smoking-associated diseases, former smokers were less likely to have psychological distress (adjusted OR=0.71, 95% CI=0.58–0.88) and more likely to believe in the danger of second-hand smoke (adjusted OR=3.01, 95% CI=2.4–3.79) and the appropriateness of a smoking ban in indoor public places (adjusted OR=2.62, 95% CI=2.11–3.26). Having no regular source for care (adjusted OR=0.54, 95% CI=0.37–0.78) was an independent barrier to cessation, as were younger age, female, Hispanic race, being nonmarried and employed, and having lower income and education. This work contributes to a knowledge base for the development of interventions to maximize smoking cessation of elderly smokers. Findings suggest that strategies tailored to psychological distress and beliefs about smoking health harms and smoking restriction policies would aid in successful cessation. Specific measures reinforcing the importance of having a regular source for care may promote cessation. The extent to which these psychosocial factors affect elders' motivation to quit smoking remains to be explored.
Semiconductor quantum dot superlattice for coherent acoustic phonon emission

We present a novel concept of using quantum dot superlattices for coherent acoustic phonon emission. Coherent lattice wave generation is proposed by collective dot vibrations in a self-assembled quantum dot array, where superlattice structure acts as a phonon resonator. The dots vibrations are synchronized by an external electric field. The proposed scheme has advantage of low phonon scattering rate in quantum dots, that enables generating high intensity phonon beams at low amplitude of the pumping electric field. The advantage is illustrated by numerical simulations carried out for Si/Ge superlattice. The proposed scheme may find many phonon applications, such as for local temperature control, phonon assisted optical transition enhancement, and characterization of low-dimensional structures.
The Impact of Emotional Dissonance on Organizational Commitment and Intention to Turnover

In the workplace, emotional dissonance is the conflict between experienced emotions and emotions expressed to conform to display rules. This study is an empirical examination of the impact of emotional dissonance on organizational criteria and its moderation by self-monitoring and social support. Emotional dissonance was theorized to stimulate turnover intentions, either solely through job dissatisfaction or through both job dissatisfaction and reduced organizational commitment. Job dissatisfaction was found to be the sole mediator. Emotional dissonance resulted in job dissatisfaction, which, in turn, stimulated withdrawal intentions. Self-monitoring and social support exerted moderator effects, albeit in opposing directions. Emotional dissonance aroused feelings of job dissatisfaction and reduced organizational commitment among high self-monitors. In contrast, social support lessened the negative impact of emotional dissonance on organizational commitment.
THE DENSITOMETRIC RESPONSE OF THE HIGH SENSITIVE GAFCHROMIC FILM EXPOSED TO X-RAYS

Tests have been performed on the high sensitive (HS) GAFChromic film to evaluate its densitometric response to external X-rays (photon beam). Several 2 cm by 2 cm pieces of HS and MD-55-2 GAFChromic films were prepared and irradiated for sensitivity comparison, and X-rays energy dependence study. The optical densities of three irradiated pieces of HS film were measured as a function of time to establish the time taken for the optical density to stabilize. The densitometric sensitivity curves comparison showed that the HS film is twice as sensitive as its predecessor, MD-55-2, more spatially uniform and dosimetric measurements can be made with high precision. Its sensitivity is independent of 6 MV and 15 MV X-ray beam energies and its optical density is stable after about 36 hours post-irradiation time.
Treatment Effectiveness of a Brief Behavioral Intervention for Preschool Disruptive Behavior

Parent management training is an evidence-based treatment for disruptive behavior. However, the number of treatment sessions can be high, contributing to high attrition rates. The purpose of this study was to examine post-treatment, 6-month, and 1-year treatment outcomes of the Brief Behavioral Intervention. One hundred twenty children aged 2–6.5 years demonstrating clinically significant disruptive behavior were referred to an outpatient clinic for treatment and participated in the study. Attrition was below reported rates in the literature. Significant decreases in child disruptive behavior and parent stress were found from pre-to-post intervention, and improvements were maintained at follow-ups. Significant pre-to-post intervention teacher reported decreases in behavior were reported.
Number of sellers, average prices, and price dispersion

Abstract A variety of models provide differing predictions regarding the effect of an increase in the number of competitors in a market (seller density) on prices and price dispersion. We review different approaches to generating equilibrium price dispersion and then empirically estimate the relationship between seller density, average product price and price dispersion in the retail gasoline industry using four unique gasoline price data sets. Controlling for station-level characteristics, we find that an increase in station density consistently decreases both price levels and price dispersion across four geographical areas.
Fathers in situational crisis: A comparison of Asian and Western cultures

The purpose of this synthesis was to compare the difference between Asian and Western fathers' perceptions of their roles when confronted with situational crises involving their children. Twenty-two studies were reviewed and assigned to one of two categories: the father experiencing a situational crisis related to his child's illness or cultural influences on the paternal role. The results indicated that Asian and Western fathers' perceptions of crises do not differ greatly. It was concluded that there exists a gap in the literature with respect to the knowledge of Asian fathers' situational crisis surrounding their child's illness, their coping strategies when faced with their child's illness, as well as their emotional reactions toward family health. Future research should investigate the single or same-gender father's perceptions and emotional reactions in both Asian and Western cultures.
Photoperiod and crowding effects on testicular serotonin metabolism and lack of effects on melatonin synthesis in Uinta ground squirrels (Spermophilus armatus).

The photoperiod (i.e., constant light vs a 14/10 hour light/dark cycle) and “physical” crowding (group caging) on Uinta ground squirrels (Spermophilus armatus) was investigated to ascertain what effects these two environmental parameters would have on testicular metabolism of serotonin (MAO activity) and melatonin synthesis by pineal glands in organ culture. Testicular MAO activity was decreased by both constant light and crowding. Melatonin synthesis was not significantly affected by either treatment. These data are consistent with the normal reproductive activity of unconfined ground squirrels where the testes normally develop while the animals are in their burrows under constant darkness. Failure of the pineal gland to respond to constant darkness appears to be an adaptation of the animal to eliminate this source of antigonadal activity that would serve to retard gonadal development while the animal is in constant darkness. Failure of the testes to respond to a 14/10 hour Light/Dark cycle indicates that the hypothalamus is insensitive to lighting as a triggering mechanism for initiating testicular development.
PtdIns(3,5)P2 finds a partner.

Abstract Phosphatidylinositol-3,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(3,5)P 2 ) is required for the sorting of a subset of membrane proteins at the late endosome. Unlike other phosphoinositides, binding partners for PtdIns(3,5)P 2 and its mechanism of action have not been characterized. New work by Friant et al. (2003) in this issue of Developmental Cell describes the identification of a yeast epsin-like protein that binds PtdIns(3,5)P 2 and functions in the transport of proteins through late endosomes to the lysosome-like vacuole.
Photocrosslinked DNA Nanospheres for Drug Delivery

DNA has been employed as both a genetic and a generic material. X-shaped DNA (X-DNA) in particular has four branched arms, providing multivalent functionalities that can allow for simultaneous multiple crosslinking. Here we report the synthesis of four acrylate-functionalized X-DNA monomers that can be further photocrosslinked to form monodisperse and tunable DNA nanospheres. In particular, the size and surface charge of these nanospheres were precisely controlled in a linear fashion, simply by tuning the monomer concentration in the reaction. The morphology and surface properties of the nanospheres were characterized using FT-IR, HPLC, TEM, AFM, zeta potential, and DLS analysis. In vitro studies in mammalian cells revealed that these DNA nanospheres demonstrated significant efficacy in the delivery of doxorubicin. These results highlight the potential of using DNA as material building blocks to design novel nanocarriers with properties tailored for the delivery of drugs in general and DNA/RNA in particular.
On interpolation for Hörmander’s algebras

We discuss some recent results on interpolation problems for weighted Hormander’s algebras of holomorphic functions in several complex variables, and also give a sharp estimate on counting functions of interpolating varieties.
Temperature and cooling rate variations during cryosurgical probe testing

Resume La cryochirurgie consiste a detruire les tissus par congelation in situ . La conception et l'utilisation des cryosondes a cet usage exige la connaissance du taux de refroidissement du tissu a differentes distances, mesure dans differentes directions a partir de la surface de la sonde. On rend compte d'experiences utilisant une sonde d'une surface circulaire plane de 25 mmde diametre refroidie jusqu'a une temperature de - 160°C. On rend compte d'experiences in vitro pour le refroidissement de l'eau, de solutions de gelatine et pour du tissu de boeuf et du tissu hepatique. On rend compte d'essais in vivo sur de la peau et du muscle de chien. Ces mesures montrent que, contrairement aux opinions actuelles suivant lesquelles la congelation progresse de facon assez uniforme dans toutes les directions, la conduction thermique est plus rapide perpendiculairement a la surface de refroidissement. On rend compte aussi de nouvelles experiences utilisant des cycles repetes de congelation-decongelation.
Fusion-Deficient Insertion Mutants of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Glycoprotein B Adopt the Trimeric Postfusion Conformation

Glycoprotein B (gB) enables the fusion of viral and cell membranes during entry of herpesviruses. However, gB alone is insufficient for membrane fusion; the gH/gL heterodimer is also required. The crystal structure of the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) gB ectodomain, gB730, has demonstrated similarities between gB and other viral fusion proteins, leading to the hypothesis that gB is a fusogen, presumably directly involved in bringing the membranes together by refolding from its initial or prefusion form to its final or postfusion form. The only available crystal structure likely represents the postfusion form of gB; the prefusion form has not yet been determined. Previously, a panel of HSV-1 gB mutants was generated by using random 5-amino-acid-linker insertion mutagenesis. Several mutants were unable to mediate cell-cell fusion despite being expressed on the cell surface. Mapping of the insertion sites onto the crystal structure of gB730 suggested that several insertions might not be accommodated in the postfusion form. Thus, we hypothesized that some insertion mutants were nonfunctional due to being "trapped" in a prefusion form. Here, we generated five insertion mutants as soluble ectodomains and characterized them biochemically. We show that the ectodomains of all five mutants assume conformations similar to that of the wild-type gB730. Four mutants have biochemical properties and overall structures that are indistinguishable from those of the wild-type gB730. We conclude that these mutants undergo only minor local conformational changes to relieve the steric strain resulting from the presence of 5 extra amino acids. Interestingly, one mutant, while able to adopt the overall postfusion structure, displays significant conformational differences in the vicinity of fusion loops, relative to wild-type gB730. Moreover, this mutant has a diminished ability to associate with liposomes, suggesting that the fusion loops in this mutant have decreased functional activity. We propose that these insertions cause a fusion-deficient phenotype not by preventing conversion of gB to a postfusion-like conformation but rather by interfering with other gB functions.
An alternating explicit-implicit domain decomposition method for the parallel solution of parabolic equations

Explicit-implicit domain decomposition (EIDD) is a class of globally non-iterative, non-overlapping domain decomposition methods for the numerical solution of parabolic problems on parallel computers, which are highly efficient both computationally and communicationally for each time step. In this paper an alternating EIDD method is proposed which is algorithmically simple, efficient for each time step, highly parallel, and satisfies a stability condition that imposes no additional restriction to the time step restriction imposed by the consistency condition, which guarantees a convergence of order O(@Dth^-^1N"B/N)+O(h^2) in an H^1-type norm, where N"B and N, respectively, denote the number of gridpoints on the interface boundaries B and the number of gridpoints on the entire discrete domain.
An implicit method to solve Saint Venant equations

Abstract An implicit numerical method for solving Saint Venant equations has been defined for an application relating to the river Arno. This method exploits the linearity in the discharge of the mass equation, by means of which it is possible to express the discharge as a function of the water level and to use this expression in the equation of motion. Then the resulting non-linear equation for a grid element on the (x, t) plane contains only the water levels as unknown quantities. The solution of the system of equations for the entire reach, by the use of the Newton iteration method, is facilitated by the particular form of the matrix of the coefficients. The rapid rate of convergence and the limited storage allocation are characteristics of this implicit scheme. This method has been compared with other implicit methods based on the same grid of points.
Reconstruction of the Southern Oscillation from dryness/wetness in China for the last 500 years

Examination of instrumental data shows that a close relationship exists between the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) and precipitation in China. In order to examine the anomalies of the climate in historic time, the 500-year proxy rainfall data in China were used to reconstruct the past seasonal SOI by the canonical correlation method. The reconstructed SOIs calibrate an average of 40% of the Southern Oscillation (SO) variance with about an average of 20% of variance verified over an independent period. The results exhibit that the activity of the SO in the past was not stable and varied in several periods. The SO was more active during 1472–1544, 1626–1708, with low SOI years occurring 10–12 times per half century, and less active during 1708–1960, with low SOI years occurring 6–8 times per half century. The second half of the 20th century sees even more frequent low SOI occurrences in comparison with the past. The more frequent low SOI years appear to be associated with cooler periods in China and several other mid-latitude areas in the Northern Hemisphere. Significant spectral peaks of the SO activity are identified in a range of 2–10 years. © 1998 Royal Meteorological Society
Polymer‐Nanoparticle Composites: Preparative Methods and Electronically Active Materials

The field of nanoparticle‐polymer composites is attractive from the standpoint of integrating the key features of both polymers and nanoparticles into hybrid or composite materials. Nanocomposites geared towards electronic and photophysical targets comprise an intriguing subset of the field, and benefit from interdisciplinary efforts in nanoparticle and polymer synthesis, along with methodology that provides the dispersion, orientation, and/or the assembly of nanoparticles and nanorods within a polymer matrix.
On the Relations Between Crystal Counters and Crystal Phosphors

It is shown that all crystals which yield pulses under irradiation with nuclear particles or gamma-rays belong to the class of crystal phosphors. They show luminescence by irradiation in the absorption band, a power law of decay and primary and secondary photo-currents. This statement is proven for CdS, ZnS, AgCl, AgBr, TlCl, diamond of the Type 2 and solid argon.
The effect of 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine and its mono- and triphosphates on some enzymes concerned with the biosynthesis of DNA in cell-free extracts of murine neoplastic cells.

Abstract A study has been made of the effects of 5-iodo-2′-deoxyuridine and its mono- and triphosphate on those enzymes involved in the formation of thymidine and its phosphates and in the biosynthesis of DNA in cell-free extracts of two murine neoplasms the Ehrlich ascites carcinoma and the L5178Y lymphoma. Whereas previous studies with whole cells indicated a primary inhibition of DNA polymerase in Ehrlich ascites cells and of thymidylate kinase in L5178Y cells, the present study with cell-free extracts disclosed no such differences. The natural substrate was utilized preferentially to the corresponding iodinated analogue by thymidine kinase and thymidylate kinase, but DNA polymerase utilized either thymidine — or 5-iodo-2′-deoxyuridine triphosphate equally well. A possible explanation for the divergence in the results obtained from cell-free and whole cell experiments has been presented.
A dawning light: the beginnings of an understanding of the photosynthetic reaction center

The electron-transfer reactions of the photosynthetic reaction center are mystifying, as there are two possible transfer paths and no obvious reason for the electron to choose one over the other. Recent computational studies, although they use diverse assumptions, agree that the electrostatic field of the protein provides the determining factor.
Treatment of infantile subglottic hemangioma with electrocautery

Abstract Laryngeal subglottic hemangioma is a rare but potentially life-threatening congenital lesion that can compromise the infant airway. A multitude of medical and surgical modalities have been used in the treatment of this lesion but no single approach has received universal acceptance. Three infants with subglottic hemangiomas were treated successfully with electrocautery; each was managed without tracheostomy. Bronchoscopic electrocautery appears to be a safe, effective, inexpensive way to manage infantile subglottic hemangioma.
Allele-specific methylation of a functional CTCF binding site upstream of MEG3 in the human imprinted domain of 14q32

The gene MEG3 is located in the imprinted human chromosomal region on 14q32. Imprinting of a structurally homologous region IGF2/H19 on 11p15 is mediated through cytosine methylation-controlled binding of the protein CTCF to target sites upstream of H19. We identified five new CTCF binding sites around the promoter of MEG3. Using an electrophoretic mobility shift assay, we showed that these sites bind CTCF in vitro. Using one of these sites, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis confirmed CTCF binding in-vivo, and differential allele-specific methylation was demonstrated in seven individuals with either maternal or paternal uniparental disomy 14 (UPD14). The site was unmethylated on the maternally inherited chromosomes 14 and methylated on the paternally inherited chromosomes 14, suggesting parent-specific methylation of sequences upstream of MEG3. We speculate that this CTCF-binding region may provide a mechanism for the transcriptional regulation of MEG3 and DLK1.
The effect of estrogen, progesterone, thyroxine, and human placental lactogen on DNA synthesis of human breast ductal epithelium maintained in athymic nude mice

Specimens of human breast tissues from the periphery of excised benign tumors, obtained from 17 pre-menopausal patients, were processed into slices and transplanted subcutaneously to 122 female Balb/c athymic nude mice. Subsequently, the host mice were treated with estrogens, progesterone, thyroxine, and human placental lactogen (HPL) alone or in combination. Growth of the ductal epithelium within the human breast transplants, as a function of the hormone treatment, was assessed by 3H-thymidine autoradiographic analysis, i.e., the number of 3H-thymidine radiolabeled ductal cells per unit area of ductal epithelium (labeling index [LI]). The administration of estrogen or thyroxine alone significantly increased the LI. Progesterone or HPL treatments alone did not substantially influence LI. HPL treatment, but not progesterone or thyroxine treatments significantly enhanced the stimulatory effect of estrogen on LI. The athymic nude mouse as host to human breast tissues in these in vivo/ex vivo studies, has been instrumental in producing information that effectively increases understanding of the hormonal factors influencing DNA synthesis in human breast ductal epithelium.
Consideration of Investment Tax Credit in a Multiperiod Mathematical Programming Model of Farm Growth

Marginal federal income tax rates on farm firms have been increasing due to higher taxable incomes from increasing farm size, increasing off-farm income of farm families, and inflation. Krause and Shapiro and Barry (p. 29) have noted that agricultural economics research on the impact of these increased taxes is limited. The investment tax credit is a provision of federal income tax law that has received especially limited research attention. Kay and Rister analyzed the impact of this provision on beef cattle replacement, and Chisholm considered its impact on farm machinery decisions. However, the investment tax credit has not been considered in mathematical programming models of farm firm growth in the same manner as other income tax provisions (Vandeputte and Baker, Barry and Willmann). The purpose of this paper is to present a method of incorporating investment tax credit provisions in a multiperiod mathematical programming model. Specific objectives include: review of the theory of capital budgeting in reference to the investment tax credit, consideration of a tax submatrix for a programming model which includes investment tax credit, and presentation of an empirical example.
Parallel N2 weighted reconfigurable networks for optical neuron and chip-to-chip interconnects

Abstract Various N 2 weighted reconfigurable optical networks for the optical free-space either neural network (ONN) or other chip-to-chip interconnections are proposed. With these new schemes, the large number of either electronic or optical delay lines, that were used in the previous ONN implementations, are minimized, so that the massive interconnections among monolithically intergrated either optical neurons or computing chips can be implemented. Both linearly- and circularly-distributed optical neuron (chip) interconnect models are presented. A comparison between the two interconnect models is also given.
Fusion Boundary Microstructure Evolution in Aluminium Alloys

Aluminium alloys exhibit a variety of microstructures within the fusion zone adjacent to the fusion boundary. Under conventional weld solidification conditions, epitaxial nucleation occurs off grains in the heat-affected zone (HAZ) and solidification proceeds along preferred growth directions. In some aluminium alloys, such as those containing Li and Zr, a non-dendritic equiaxed grain zone (EQZ) has been observed along the fusion boundary that does not appear to nucleate epitaxially from the HAZ substrate. The EQZ in aluminium alloy 2195 has been the subject of considerable study because of its susceptibility to cracking during initial fabrication and repair. Fusion boundary behaviour was studied in experimental alloy compositions which were produced by making bead on plate welds using an alloy 5454-H32 base metal and 5087 or 5025 filler metals. These filler metals contain zirconium and scandium additions, respectively, and were expected to influence nucleation and growth behaviour. For comparison purposes fusion boundary behaviour was studied in commercially available aluminium alloys 5454-H34, 6061-T6, and 2219-T8. In the context of the alloys, compositions and substrate conditions examined a mechanistic model for EQZ zone formation is proposed. This model can be helpful in adjusting base metal compositions and/or substrate conditions to control fusion boundary microstructure.
Anisotropic nonmonotonic behavior of the superconducting critical current in thin YBa2Cu3O7-δ films on vicinal SrTiO3 surfaces

The critical current density of epitaxial $\mathrm{Y}{\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}{\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{7\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\delta}}$ (YBCO) films grown on vicinal $\mathrm{Sr}\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ substrates was investigated by electrical transport measurements along and across the steps of the $\mathrm{Sr}\mathrm{Ti}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$ surface for a range of temperatures of $10\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{to}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}85\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ and in applied magnetic fields varying from $0\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{to}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}14\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{T}$. For vicinal angles of 4\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and 8\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}, we found evidence of enhanced pinning in the longitudinal direction at low magnetic fields for a wide region of temperatures and attribute this phenomenon to antiphase boundaries in the YBCO film. The transverse ${J}_{c}$ data showed a peak in the ${J}_{c}(\mathrm{H})$ curve at low magnetic fields, which was explained on the basis of magnetic interaction between Abrikosov and Abrikosov-Josephson vortices. The in-plane ${J}_{c}$ anisotropy observed for vicinal angles of 0.4\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} was reversed with respect to the 8\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and 4\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} samples. This phenomenon was interpreted on the basis of strain induced in the YBCO film by the stepped substrate's surface.
Android obesity at diagnosis and breast carcinoma survival: Evaluation of the effects of anthropometric variables at diagnosis, including body composition and body fat distribution and weight gain during life span,and survival from breast carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Although a large body of research exists concerning pathologic prognostic indicators of the rate of incidence and survival from breast carcinoma, to the authors' knowledge very few studies have examined the effects of anthropometric variables such as height, obesity, weight gain in adulthood, timing of weight gain, and body composition to survival, although these variables are related to the incidence rate. METHODS The survival status of 166 patients diagnosed with primary breast carcinoma and followed for at least 10 years was obtained from the Cancer Center's registry, and significant anthropometric and other known prognostic indicators regarding survival after diagnosis were determined by Cox proportional hazards analysis. RESULTS Eighty-three of 166 breast carcinoma patients (50%) with up to 10 years of follow-up died of disease. Android body fat distribution, as indicated by a higher suprailiac:thigh ratio, was a statistically significant (P < 0.0001) prognostic indicator for survival after controlling for stage of disease, with a hazards ratio of 2.6 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.63–4.17). Adult weight gain, as indicated specifically by weight at age 30 years, was a statistically significant (P < 0.05) prognostic indicator for survival with a hazards ratio of 1.15 (95% CI, 1.0–1.28). In addition, the authors observed the Quatelet Index, a negatively significant (P < 0.01) prognostic indicator for survival with a hazards ratio of 0.92 (95% CI, 0.87–0.98). Other markers of general obesity such as weight at diagnosis, percent body fat, and body surface area were not significant markers influencing survival. Similarly, height; triceps, biceps; subscapular, suprailiac, abdominal, and thigh skinfolds; waist and hip circumferences; family history; and reproductive and hormonal variables at the time of diagnosis showed no apparent significant relation to survival. CONCLUSIONS The results of the current study provide some evidence that android body fat distribution at diagnosis and increased weight at age 30 years increases a woman's risk of dying of breast carcinoma. Cancer 2000;88:2751–7. © 2000 American Cancer Society.
Surviving and thriving: Bringing back sociology at the University of San Francisco

This article provides a case study of successful departmental revitalization at the University of San Francisco. We examine the current crisis in the field of sociology and others’ recommendations for addressing it. Reforms are outlined that transformed USF Sociology from a nearly extinct program to a model department on campus.
The Strategic Positioning of Store Brands in Retailer–Manufacturer Negotiations

Store brands are the only brands for which the retailer is responsible not onlyfor promotion, shelf placement, and pricing, but also for positioning the brandin product space. We argue that retailers strongly value control over store brandpositioning because they will be unable to source a national brand with theirdesired product positioning. This is because retailers have an incentive to positionstore brands as close substitutes to leading national brands – a location in productspace which other national brand manufacturers would not find profitable. We presentempirical evidence that is consistent with the results of our model.
Olfactory bulbectomy and gender differences in maternal behaviors of rats

Abstract Olfactory bulbectomy markedly reduced the number of days required before maternally inexperienced female and male animals retrieved pups. Bulbectomy eliminated a difference between the genders in the latency to retrieve, but did not affect differences with regard to other aspects of maternal behavior. The results were similar to those obtained with peripherally-induced anosmia and suggest that differences in functioning of the olfactory system may play a role in gender dimorphic behaviors.
The relationship of dominance, reproductive state and stress in female horses (Equus caballus)

Maintaining a dominant position in a hierarchy requires energetically expensive aggressive displays and physical exertion. Lab based winner-loser studies, often conducted with individuals from non-social species, have shown that subordinates have higher stress hormone levels than dominant individuals. However, in wild studies on cooperative breeders, displays of aggression used to maintain dominance status are associated with elevated stress hormone levels. The effect of reproductive state on dominance and stress has not been addressed within either of these situations. The purpose of this study was to examine physiological stress levels in relation to dominance rank and reproductive state in a non-cooperative breeder and herbivore, the domestic horse. The social interactions and measured faecal glucocorticoids were recorded in pastured, female horses that were either lactating or non-lactating. While faecal glucocorticoid metabolite level did not differ between reproductive state and rank, activity behaviour demonstrated significant differences between reproductive states. Higher energetic requirements of lactation were reflected in significantly longer bouts of eating and significantly less time spent alert and socializing. As non-cooperative breeders, the social nature of horses does not limit their reproduction or resource acquisition based upon rank, and therefore does not fit with the dominance-stress hypothesis or subordinate-stress hypothesis and instead supports a rank-independent stress hypothesis.
Comparing DIF across math and reading/language arts tests for students receiving a read-aloud accommodation

Although testing accommodations are commonly provided to students with disabilities within large-scale testing programs, research findings on how well accommodations allow for comparable measurement of student knowledge and skill remain inconclusive. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which 1 commonly held belief about testing accommodations, namely that the read-aloud accommodation allows for better measurement on a math (MA) test than a reading/language arts (R/LA) test, was supported through an analysis of data from a statewide assessment program. An analysis of differential item functioning (DIF) was used to compare measurement for 2 groups of students with disabilities (i.e., those receiving a read-aloud accommodation [RA] and those not receiving an accommodation [NSD]) to that for a reference group of nonaccommodated students without disabilities. Analyses were conducted separately for MA and R/LA test sections. DIF was identified for both groups within both content areas. There ...
The effect of manufacturing variables on the mineral content of Cottage cheese

Abstract Several manufacturing practices were varied in making cottage cheese in an attempt to increase the retention of calcium in the curd. Milk, curd, whey, and wash water were analyzed for calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium by atomic absorption and for phosphorus colorimetrically. The variables were temperature treatment of the milk, addition of calcium chloride and sodium phosphate salts, size of curd, pH at cutting, and washing procedures. Large curd, fewer washes, and added phosphate resulted in retention of not only a greater percentage of calcium but also produced a more favorable calcium to phosphorus ratio.