cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Patients with early breast cancer benefit from effective axillary treatment.

We have reviewed the available clinical data on the benefit of axillary treatment in patients with early breast cancer. The results of these studies suggest that perhaps 5–10% of patients are cured by effective axillary treatment. We conclude that effective axillary treatment should still be considered an essential aspect of primary treatment.
Immunological reactivity of a synthetic polymannan.

Ein Stickstoff-freies Polysaccharid bewirkt eine cutane Uberempfindlichkeit beim Meerschweinchen sowie Komplement fixierende Antikorper bei Mausen.
Custom software for NJIT flexible visual stimulator

Randomized clinical trials report a sustained reduction in symptoms and improvement in vision function for convergence insufficiency patients who participated in vision rehabilitation composed of office and home training. Yet, few studies have systematically investigated the neural and eye movement behavioral changes potentially evoked from vision rehabilitation. This design project sought to develop a flexible software platform that could be easily programmed by non-engineers which could be used in the imaging center or a clinician's office for training. The software creates a user interface written in Visual Basic to create step and ramp stimuli using 512 light emitting diodes. The software reduces processing delays and utilizes an algorithm to generate smooth ramping stimuli that is not commercially available. This instrument is intended to be used by oculomotor scientists to study behavioral changes evoked by repetitive visual stimuli, by imaging scientists to study the cortical centers recruited in generating eye movements and by clinicians as a tool to facilitate rehabilitation of the visual system.
Effect of Acidity on Defectivity and Film Properties of Electroplated Copper Films

Decrease in acidity was very effective in reducing swirl defects. The occurrence of swirl defects in copper films plated with reduced acid electrolyte was reduced to less than one fifth of that plated with higher acid electrolyte, resulting in the huge decrease in the median defect count to less than one tenth. This reduction can be explained by more uniform plating on seed layers due to the higher resistance of the electrolyte. However, application of pretreatments did not further reduce swirl defects. Inspection on other postplating defects indicated that the major constituents for reduced and higher acid electrolytes were localized protrusions and embedded defects, respectively, and that fewer potential yield-killing defects were generated for reduced acid electrolyte. Analyses on film properties showed the highly Cu(111) texture, fine surface roughness, identical impurity levels, and complete fill of dual-damascene structure for both reduced and higher acid electrolytes. However, a significant degradation of via chain yield was observed for higher acid electrolyte, while no degradation was seen for reduced acid electrolyte. The overall analyses indicated that the use of reduced acid electrolyte led to improved defectivity performance and more reliable film properties compared to that of higher acid electrolyte.
Reacting to AIDS-Related Suicide: Does Time since Diagnosis Matter?.

Abstract To determine whether type of illness and length of time since diagnosis influences. reactions to suicide, we had 296 undergraduates read a vignette about Pat, who had been diagnosed as having AIDS or terminal cancer for 1 week, I month, 6 months, or 1 year and then complete the Prejudicial Evaluation Scale and the Social Interaction Scale. Subjects then read that Pat committed suicide and completed the Youth Suicide Scale and the Suicide Semantic Differential Scale. A 2 (illness) × 4 (time since diagnosis) multivariate analysis of variance indicated that Pat received more stigma when the diagnosis was AIDS rather than terminal cancer, regardless of how long ago Pat had been diagnosed. Furthermore, this stigma extended to viewing the family as difficult to sympathize with, but not necessarily blameworthy. Results suggest that suicide by a person with AIDS is associated with greater stigma than is suicide by a person with another fatal disease, regardless of how hg ago the diagnosis occurred.
The mechanism by which cyclopiazonic acid potentiates accumulation of tetraphenylphosphonium in cultured renal epithelial cells

Cyclopiazonic acid (CPA), a fungal metabolite produced by Aspergillus and Penicillium, potentiated the accumulation of the quaternary cation tetraphenylphosphonium (TPP+) in cultured pig renal epithelial cells. This is the first report of a natural product mediating the tight and apparently nonsaturable binding of a membrane potential probe to subcellular compartments. The potentiated TPP+ accumulation was dose dependent, nonsaturable, and not a result of hyperpolarization across the plasma membrane. Cyclopiazonic acid-potentiated accumulation was completely inhibited by the protonophore carbonylcyanide-m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP). Dinitrophenol (DNP), tetrahexylammonium (THA), and n-ethylmaleimide (NEM) were also effective inhibitors of CPA-potentiated TPP+ accumulation. Although CPA-potentiated TPP+ uptake appeared to be energy dependent, TPP+ efflux (in the presence of CCCP) from CPA-treated cells was incomplete and most of the TPP+ accumulated in the presence of CPA was tightly bound. Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC), verapamil, and monensin also stimulated TPP+ accumulation, but the TPP+ which accumulated in the presence of these compounds was not tightly bound. As with controls, fractionation of cells which had accumulated TPP+ in the presence of DCC, verapamil, or monensin always resulted in near complete recovery (greater than 93%) of the TPP+ in the cytosolic fraction, whereas with CPA, greater than 88% of the TPP+ was recovered noncovalently bound in the plasma membrane and mitochondrial fractions. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that CPA-potentiated TPP+ accumulation is a result of potentiated partitioning of TPP+ into the plasma membranes and mitochondria of LLC-PK1 cells.
Hamilton and the Law of Varying Action Revisited

According to history texts, philosophers searched for a unifying natural law whereby natural phenomena and numbers are related. More than 2300 years ago, Aristotle postulated that nature requires minimum energy. More than 220 years ago, Euler applied the minimum energy postulate. More than 200 years ago, Lagrange provided a mathematical “proof” of the postulate for conservative systems. The resulting Principle of Least Action served only to derive the differential equations of motion of a conservative system. Then, 170 years ago, Hamilton presented what he claimed to be a “general method in dynamics.” Hamilton's resulting “Law of Varying Action” was supposed to apply to both conservative and non-conservative systems and was supposed to yield either the differential equations of motion or the integrals of those differential equations. However, no direct evaluation of the integrals of motion ever resulted from Hamilton's law of varying action. In 1975, a scant 29 years ago, following five years of controversy with engineer mechanicians, Dr. Wolfgang Yourgrau, Editor, Foundations of Physics, published my first paper based on Aristotle's postulate, without mathematical proof. That and subsequent papers present, through applications, a true “general method in dynamics.” In this essay, I present the mathematical proof that is missing from my 1975 and subsequent papers. Six fundamental integrals of analytical mechanics are derived from Aristotle's postulate. First, however, Hamilton must be revisited to show why his H function and his “force function” prevents the law of varying action from being the general method in dynamics that he claimed it to be. I have found that Hamilton’s Law of Varying Action (HLVA), as Hamilton presented it, cannot be applied to systems for which the force function is non-integrable. In 1972, Dr. B.E. Gatewood and Dr. D.P. Beres (then a graduate student) discovered that the end-point term associated with the principle of least action does not vanish. I named the new equation, “the general energy equation.” In 1973, because I was doing with it what Hamilton claimed could be done with HLVA, I simply assumed that this new equation was HLVA. I gave the new equation the misnomer HLVA. In 2001, I learned that I had made a grave mistake. I found that HLVA is at most a special case of the general energy equation. My interpretation of Aristotle's postulate permits one to by-pass the differential equations of motion completely for both conservative and non-conservative systems (no calculus of variations).
The roles of early separation experience and prior familiarity in the social relations of pigtail macaques: A descriptive multivariate study

Research has suggested that a social separation during a macaque's infancy may result in later deficiencies in maternal behavior, as well as in reduced sociability. The present study examined whether monkeys now living in an all-peer group who had experienced a maternal separation 1.5 to 3 years prior to the time of these observations, displayed persisting social deficits. Using multivariate techniques, prior separation history, as well as several demographic variables were examined as to their role in explaining the observed variation in measures of social behavior and preference. The results indicated that, as compared to nonseparated controls, previously separated monkeys played less, displayed social preferences to fewer animals, displayed fewer contact preferences, and showed reciprocated preferences to fewer individuals. In addition, several gender and rank-related effects were found. In terms of the identities of the preferred partners, individuals preferred animals from the same natal group. The results support the notion that an early separation experience can result in long-term social impairment, although the effects appear to be subtle.
Sampling reactive species from flames by mass spectrometry

Abstract Recent studies on sampling reactive species from flames and related laser-excited systems are described. Consideration is given to the possible effect of probe-related perturbations on the experimental data. It is concluded that such perturbations are not significant under the present experimental conditions.
Land loss in coastal Louisiana (U.S.A.)

This paper examines causes and consequences of wetland losses in coastal Louisiana. Land loss is a cumulative impact, the result of many impacts both natural and artificial. Natural losses are caused by subsidence, decay of abandoned river deltas, waves, and storms. Artificial losses result from flood-control practices, impoundments, and dredging and subsequent erosion of artificial channels. Wetland loss also results from spoil disposal upon wetlands and land reclamation projects. Total land loss in Louisiana's coastal zone is at least 4,300 ha/year. Some wetlands are converted to spoil banks and other eco-systems so that wetland losses are probably two to three times higher. Annual wetland losses in the Barataria Bay basin are 2.6% of the wetland area. Human activities are the principal determinants of land loss. The present total wetland area directly lost because of canals may be close to 10% if spoil area is included. The interrelationship between hydrology, land, vegetation, substrate, subsidence, and sediment supply are complicated; however, hydrologic units with high canal density are generally associated with higher rates of land loss and the rate may be accelerating. Some cumulative impacts of land loss are increased saltwater intrusion, loss of capacity to buffer the impact of storms, and large additions of nutrients. One measure of the impact is that roughly $8–17 × 106 (U.S.A.) of fisheries products and services are lost annually in Louisiana. Viewed at the level of the hydrologic unit, land loss transcends differences in local vegetation, substrate, geology, and hydrology. Land management should therefore focus at that level of organization. Proper guideline recommendations require an appreciation of the long-term interrelations of the wetland estuarine system.
A unified well-posed computational approach for the 2D Orr-Sommerfeld problem

In this paper, we present a unified well-posed implicit formulation for nonlinear 2D Orr Sommerfeld equation (OSE) enabling straightforward, efficient computation of travelling wave and steady solutions. We illustrate the ease and utility of our approach by computing classical travelling wave results of planar Poiseuille flows and novel steady solutions of the perturbed planar Couette flow, employing the path-following software AUTO.
Toxic cure: Hyperfractionated radiotherapy with concurrent cisplatin and fluorouracil for Stage III and IVA head-and-neck cancer in the community

Abstract Purpose To evaluate efficacy and toxicity of the Duke University chemoirradiation regimen for locally advanced head-and-neck cancer in a regional community cancer center. Methods and materials Between June 1998 and June 2002, 50 patients with Stage III or IVA squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were treated definitively with concurrent combined modality therapy (CMT). Patients received accelerated, hyperfractionated radiotherapy (AFRT), 1.2–1.25 Gy b.i.d., to a median prescribed dose of 70 Gy. Chemotherapy consisted of cisplatin 12 mg and fluorouracil 600 mg/m 2 daily for 5 consecutive days during Weeks 1 and 6, followed by two cycles after AFRT. Patients with N2-N3 neck disease ( n = 21; 42%) were considered for neck dissection depending on their response to AFRT and chemotherapy. Twenty-nine patients with Stage III and IVA disease treated between 1991 and 1997 with definitive RT alone served as historical controls. Results Forty-nine patients (98%) in the CMT group completed the prescribed AFRT and 38 (76%) completed four cycles of chemotherapy. Three of 8 patients who underwent neck dissection had a pathologically complete response. The median follow-up for all patients was 23 months. The actuarial progression-free survival rate at 2 years was 75% for the CMT group vs. 40% ( p p n = 50; 100%), skin ( n = 9; 18%), and hematologic ( n = 3; 6%). Late Grade 3-4 toxicities consisted of pharyngeal stricture ( n = 7; 14%), laryngeal chondritis ( n = 3; 6%), osteoradionecrosis ( n = 2; 4%), and peripheral neuropathy ( n = 1; 2%). Conclusion This aggressive regimen of AFRT with concurrent cisplatin and fluorouracil with or without neck dissection is feasible in the community setting for patients with Stage III and IVA head-and-neck cancer. Early results indicated excellent survival, albeit with universal acute mucosal, and considerable, although acceptable, late toxicity.
Fine-mapping diabetes-related traits, including insulin resistance, in heterogeneous stock rats

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a disease of relative insulin deficiency resulting from both insulin resistance and beta cell failure. We have previously used heterogeneous stock (HS) rats to fine-map a locus for glucose tolerance. We show here that glucose intolerance in the founder strains of the HS colony is mediated by different mechanisms: insulin resistance in WKY and an insulin secretion defect in ACI, and we demonstrate a high degree of variability for measures of insulin resistance and insulin secretion in HS rats. As such, our goal was to use HS rats to fine-map several diabetes-related traits within a region on rat chromosome 1. We measured blood glucose and plasma insulin levels after a glucose tolerance test in 782 male HS rats. Using 97 SSLP markers, we genotyped a 68 Mb region on rat chromosome 1 previously implicated in glucose and insulin regulation. We used linkage disequilibrium mapping by mixed model regression with inferred descent to identify a region from 198.85 to 205.9 that contains one or more quantitative trait loci (QTL) for fasting insulin and a measure of insulin resistance, the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index. This region also encompasses loci identified for fasting glucose and Insulin_AUC (area under the curve). A separate <3 Mb QTL was identified for body weight. Using a novel penalized regression method we then estimated effects of alternative haplotype pairings under each locus. These studies highlight the utility of HS rats for fine-mapping genetic loci involved in the underlying causes of T2D.
Oversizing of HVAC system: Signatures and penalties

Abstract Design engineers commonly oversize HVAC systems with the justification of needing a reasonable safety factor to manage periods more extreme than the specific design conditions. Unfortunately, the safety factor easily becomes excessive. The design engineers minimize their professional risk, and by doing so they are actually asking the building owner to pay an immediate penalty due to increased first cost of equipment and an ongoing penalty due to maintenance and energy use implications. The penalties associated with excessive safety factors are often not communicated to the client. This paper presents the results of a study of “rightsizing” rooftop HVAC systems. The study included intensive interviews with HVAC designers investigating the design process and extensive field measurement of rooftop units (RTUs) during peak cooling conditions. This paper focuses on defining the signature of oversizing, i.e. how to use the physical measurements to quantify the degree of oversizing of an RTU and how to estimate the penalty of oversizing in terms of energy consumption and peak electricity demand. Utility companies incentive programs have not yet identified mechanisms for incentivizing rightsizing of HVAC system. The methodology described in this paper can be used as the basis for such programs.
Rapamycin Inhibits ALDH Activity, Resistance to Oxidative Stress, and Metastatic Potential in Murine Osteosarcoma Cells

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignancy of bone. Mortality is determined by the presence of metastatic disease, but little is known regarding the biochemical events that drive metastases. Two murine OS cell lines, K7M2 and K12, are related but differ significantly in their metastatic potentials: K7M2 is highly metastatic whereas K12 displays much less metastatic potential. Using this experimental system, the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway has been implicated in OS metastasis. We also discovered that aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH, a stem cell marker) activity is higher in K7M2 cells than K12 cells. Rapamycin treatment reduces the expression and enzymatic activity of ALDH in K7M2 cells. ALDH inhibition renders these cells more susceptible to apoptotic death when exposed to oxidative stress. Furthermore, rapamycin treatment reduces bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene expression and inhibits K7M2 proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro. Inhibition of ALDH with disulfiram correlated with decreased mTOR expression and activity. In conclusion, we provide evidence for interaction between mTOR activity, ALDH activity, and metastatic potential in murine OS cells. Our work suggests that mTOR and ALDH are therapeutic targets for the treatment and prevention of OS metastasis.
Facility Monitoring: A Qualitative Theory for Sensor Fusion

Data fusion and sensor management approaches have largely been implemented with centralized and hierarchical architectures. Numerical and statistical methods are the most common data fusion methods found in these systems. Given the proliferation and low cost of processing power, there is now an emphasis on designing distributed and decentralized systems. These systems use analytical/quantitative techniques or qualitative reasoning methods for date fusion.Based on other work by the author, a sensor may be treated as a highly autonomous (decentralized) unit. Each highly autonomous sensor (HAS) is capable of extracting qualitative behaviours from its data. For example, it detects spikes, disturbances, noise levels, off-limit excursions, step changes, drift, and other typical measured trends. In this context, this paper describes a distributed sensor fusion paradigm and theory where each sensor in the system is a HAS. Hence, given the reach qualitative information from each HAS, a paradigm and formal definitions are given so that sensors and processes can reason and make decisions at the qualitative level. This approach to sensor fusion makes it possible the implementation of intuitive (effective) methods to monitor, diagnose, and compensate processes/systems and their sensors. This paradigm facilitates a balanced distribution of intelligence (code and/or hardware) to the sensor level, the process/system level, and a higher controller level. The primary application of interest is in intelligent health management of rocket engine test stands.
A NEW IMPLEMENTATION OF SHEEDY'S VISUAL GRATING TASK

A simple visual paradigm involving a square-wave grating, introduced by Sheedy in 1981, was developed into a compact, portable device to be used for screening DWI offenders in the field.
Photogeneration of distant radical pairs in aqueous pyruvic acid glasses.

The λ > 300 nm photolysis of h4- or d4-pyruvic acid aqueous glasses at 77 K yields identical electron magnetic resonance (EMR) spectra arising from distant (r ≳ 0.5 nm) triplet radical pairs. Spectra comprise: (1) well-resolved quartets, X, at g ∼ ge, that closely match the powder spectra of spin pairs interacting across r ∼ 1.0 nm with D ∼ 3.0 mT, E ∼ 0 mT zero field splittings (ZFS), and (2) broad signals, Y, centered at g ∼ 2.07 that display marked g-anisotropy and g-strain, exclude D ≳ 20.0 mT values (i.e., r ≲ 0.5 spin nm separations), and track the temperature dependence of related g ∼ 4 features. These results imply that the n−π* excitation of pyruvic acid, PA, induces long-range electron transfer from the promoted carbonyl chromophore into neighboring carbonyl acceptors, rather than homolysis into contact radical pairs or concerted decarboxylation into a carbene. Since PA is associated into hydrogen-bonded dimers prior to vitrification, X signals arise from radical pairs ensuing intradimer electr...
A Case of Problematic Diffusion The Use of Sex Determination Techniques in India

Sex determination techniques have diffused rapidly in India, and are being used to detect female fetuses and subsequently to abort them. This technology has spread rapidly because it imparts knowledge that is of great value within the Indian context, and because it fits in neatly with the modernization dynamic within India, which itself has enmeshed with traditional patriarchal institutions to oppress Indian women. More research needs to be done on ways to stem the adoption of problematic innovations.
Peptides at the tRNA binding site of the crystallizable monomeric form of E.coli methionyl-tRNA synthetase

A protein affinity labeling derivative of E. coli tRNA(fMet) carrying lysine-reactive cross-linking groups has been covalently coupled to monomeric trypsin-modified E. coli methionyl-tRNA synthetase. The cross-linked tRNA-synthetase complex has been isolated by gel filtration, digested with trypsin, and the tRNA-bound peptides separated from the bulk of the free tryptic peptides by anion exchange chromatography. The bound peptides were released from the tRNA by cleavage of the disulfide bond of the cross-linker and purified by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography, yielding three major peptides. These peptides were found to cochromatograph with three peptides of known sequence previously cross-linked to native methionyl-tRNA synthetase through lysine residues 402, 439 and 465. These results show that identical lysine residues are in close proximity to tRNA(fMet) bound to native dimeric methionyl-tRNA synthetase and to the crystallizable monomeric form of the enzyme, and indicate that cross-linking to the dimeric protein occurs on the occupied subunit of the 1:1 tRNA-synthetase complex.
Mechanisms through which PDGF alters intracellular calcium levels in U-1242 MG human glioma cells.

Abstract PDGF-BB induces a rapid, sustained increase in intracellular calcium levels in U-1242 MG cells. We used several calcium channel blockers to identify the types of channels involved. L channel blockers (verapamil, nimodipine, nicardipine, nitrendipine and taicatoxin) had no effect on PDGF-BB induced alterations in intracellular calcium. Blockers of P, Q and N channels (ω-agatoxin-IVA, ω-conotoxin MVIIC and ω-conotoxin GVIA) also had no effect. This indicates that these channels play an insignificant role in supplying the Ca 2+ necessary for PDGF stimulated events in U-1242 MG cells. However, a T channel blocker (NDGA) and the non-specific (NS) calcium channel blockers (FFA and SK&F 9365) abolished PDGF-induced increases in intracellular calcium. This indicates that PDGF causes calcium influx through both non-specific cationic channels and T channels. To study the participation of intracellular calcium stores in this process, we used thapsigargin, caffeine and ryanodine, all of which cause depletion of intracellular calcium stores. The PDGF effect was abolished using both thapsigargin and caffeine but not ryanodine. Collectively, these data indicate that in these human glioma cells PDGF-BB induces release of intracellular calcium from caffeine- and thapsigargin-sensitive calcium stores which in turn lead to further calcium influx through both NS and T channels.
Comparison of voltage-activated Cl- channels in rat parotid acinar cells with ClC-2 in a mammalian expression system.

Rat parotid acinar cells express Cl− currents that are activated in a time-dependent manner by hyperpolarized potentials. ClC-2, a member of the ClC gene family, codes for a voltage-gated, inward rectifying anion channel when expressed in Xenopus oocytes. In the present study, we found that cDNA derived from individual parotid acinar cells contained sequence identical to that reported for ClC-2 in rat brain and heart. A polyclonal antibody generated against the N-terminal cytoplasmic domain of ClC-2 recognized an approximately 100 kD protein on western blots of both brain and parotid gland. ClC-2 expressed in oocytes has different kinetics from the currents found in parotid acinar cells. Since the ClC-2 channel was cloned from and its transcripts are expressed in mammalian tissue, we compared the channel properties of acinar cells to a mammalian expression system. We expressed ClC-2 channels in human embryonic kidney cells, HEK 293, using recombinant ClC-2 DNA and ClC-2 DNA fused with DNA coding for jellyfish green fluorescent protein (GFP). Confocal microscopy revealed that the expressed ClC-2-GFP chimera protein localized to the plasma membrane. Whole cell Cl− currents from HEK 293 cells expressing ClC-2-GFP were similar, if not identical, to the Cl− currents recorded from cells transfected with ClC-2 cDNA (no GFP). The voltage-dependence and kinetics of ClC-2 channels expressed in HEK 293 cells were quite similar to those in acinar cells. Channels in parotid acinar and HEK 293 cells activated at more positive membrane potentials and with a faster time course than the channels expressed in Xenopus oocytes. In summary, we found that ClC-2 message and protein are expressed in salivary cells and that the properties of voltage-activated, inward rectifying Cl− channels in acinar cells are similar to those generated by the ClC-2-GFP construct expressed in HEK 293 cells. The properties of the ClC-2 anion channel seem to be dependent on the type of cell background in which it is expressed.
Surgical landmarks for the proximal portion of the axillary nerve.

Object. The proximal segment of the axillary nerve (ANp) is often difficult to identify without extensive dissection deep into the axilla. The present study was performed to find reliable surgical landmarks for this nerve. Methods. Thirty dissections of human cadavers were performed to determine the relationships between the ANp and specific anatomical structures. The authors found that the ANp is consistently located within an anatomical triangle constructed by lines passing between the coracobrachialis and pectoralis minor muscles and the axillary artery. In addition, the ANp was routinely found 4 cm distal to the coracoid process of the scapula. Conclusions. These findings should assist the surgeon in locating the ANp during brachial plexus reconstruction.
Raxibacumab: potential role in the treatment of inhalational anthrax

Anthrax is a highly contagious and potentially fatal human disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, an aerobic, Gram-positive, spore-forming rod-shaped bacterium with worldwide distribution as a zoonotic infection in herbivore animals. Bioterrorist attacks with inhalational anthrax have prompted the development of more effective treatments. Antibodies against anthrax toxin have been shown to decrease mortality in animal studies. Raxibacumab is a recombinant human monoclonal antibody developed against inhalational anthrax. The drug received approval after human studies showed its safety and animal studies demonstrated its efficacy for treatment as well as prophylaxis against inhalational anthrax. It works by preventing binding of the protective antigen component of the anthrax toxin to its receptors in host cells, thereby blocking the toxin’s deleterious effects. Recently updated therapy guidelines for Bacillus anthracis recommend the use of antitoxin treatment. Raxibacumab is the first monoclonal antitoxin antibody made available that can be used with the antibiotics recommended for treatment of the disease. When exposure is suspected, raxibacumab should be given with anthrax vaccination to augment immunity. Raxibacumab provides additional protection against inhalational anthrax via a mechanism different from that of either antibiotics or active immunization. In combination with currently available and recommended therapies, raxibacumab should reduce the morbidity and mortality of inhalational anthrax.
Assignments of backbone 1H, 13C and 15N resonances in H-Ras (1–166) complexed with GppNHp at physiological pH

The small GTPase Ras is an important signaling molecule acting as a molecular switch in eukaryotic cells. Recent findings of global conformational exchange and a putative allosteric binding site in the G domain of Ras opened an avenue to understanding novel aspects of Ras function. To facilitate detailed NMR studies of Ras in physiological solution conditions, we performed backbone resonance assignments of Ras bound to slowly hydrolysable GTP mimic, guanosine 5'-[s, γ-imido]triphosphate at pH 7.2. Out of 163 non-proline residues of the G domain, signals from backbone amide proton, nitrogen and carbon spins of 127 residues were confidently assigned with the remaining unassigned residues mostly located at the exchange-broadened effectors interface.
Comparison of isolated plasma membranes of compatible mating strains of Physarum polycephalum myxamoebae

Abstract Plasma membranes of sexually compatible strains of Physarum polycephalum myxamoebae were isolated and compared. A plasma membrane fraction with a relative purity of at least 64%, as determined by morphometric analysis of sections of phosphotungstic acid/chromic acid-stained vesicles, was obtained. This fraction was enriched in 5′-nucleotidase, phosphodiesterase I, and Na + K + ATPase, three known plasma membrane marker enzymes. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the plasma membrane fraction using gradient gels stained with Coomassie blue indicated both quantitative and qualitative differences between the two strains. Five bands were unique to one strain and one to the other. In addition to polypeptide analysis, concanavalin A-binding glycopeptides were identified using horseradish peroxidase/diaminobenzidine labeling. This technique identified three bands unique to one strain and two unique to the other.
DEVELOPMENT OF A SEATED DEVICE FOR MEASURING DIURNAL VARIABILITY IN SPINAL COMPRESSION

Research on external spinal compression has consisted mainly of laboratory-based evaluations of specific exercise interventions on spinal compression in athletes and industrial employees. The purpose of this pilot study was to test the reliability of a seated stadiometry device for measuring external spinal compression in a sample of nurses and non-nurses. This research will be used to study nurses in future studies. Twenty-three subjects were marked externally at the C7 spinal process. Two investigators collected measures of seated spinal length. Six measurements were taken within a five-minute period on the morning of day one, repeated four hours later, and one week later. Comparisons were made using ANOVA between (1) three sets of repeated measures; (2) inhalation and exhalation; (3) morning and afternoon sessions; and (4) weeks one to two. A statistically significant differece was found in mean measures of displacement (-2.29 mm to -4.07 mm) between morning and afternoon but not between inhalation and exhalation or in successive weeks. Inter-rater reliability between two investigators was excellent. The stadiometer proved highly reliable. It will be used to investigate the relationship between spinal compression and back pain in nurses in the workplace.
CT image noise reduction using rotational-invariant feature in Stockwell transform

Iterative reconstruction and other noise reduction methods have been employed in CT to improve image quality and to reduce radiation dose. The non-local means (NLM) filter emerges as a popular choice for image-based noise reduction in CT. However, the original NLM method cannot incorporate similar structures if they are in a rotational format, resulting in ineffective denoising in some locations of the image and non-uniform noise reduction across the image. We have developed a novel rotational-invariant image texture feature derived from the multiresolutional Stockwell-transform (ST), and applied it to CT image noise reduction so that similar structures can be identified and fully utilized even when they are in different orientations. We performed a computer simulation study in CT to demonstrate better efficiency in terms of utilizing redundant information in the image and more uniform noise reduction achieved by ST than by NLM.
Neuroprotective effect of high-dose albumin therapy against global ischemic brain injury in rats

The purpose of this study was to determine whether treatment with high-dose human serum albumin (HSA) would offer protection in a model of high-grade transient forebrain ischemia. Twenty-six fasted Wistar rats underwent bilateral common carotid artery occlusion and severe hypotension (50 mmHg) for 10 min. The agent (25% HSA) or vehicle (0.9% NaCl) was administered i.v. 5 min after termination of ischemia. HSA-treated rats showed significantly improved neurological deficits throughout a 7-day survival period. Histologically, HSA-treated rats showed 2.4- to 5.3-fold increases in numbers of surviving CA1 hippocampal pyramidal neurons compared to saline-treated animals. These results document that high-dose albumin therapy instituted 5 min after global ischemia significantly improves neurological score and reduces histological damage.
The influence of calcitonin on the plasma and urine phosphate changes produced by parathyroid hormone

The influence of calcitonin (CT) on parathyroid hormone-induced changes in plasma phosphate, urine phosphate, plasma32P and32P specific activity (32P-S.A.) was studied using thyroparathyroidectomized rats. Radiophosphorus was injected at either 10 h (32P-10 h) or 8 days (32P-8 d) before commencing hormonal treatment. In order to produce consistent plasma32P-S.A. changes in rats treated with parathyroid hormone (PTH) alone, we maintained all animals for 48 h prior to hormone injection on a closely regulated carbohydrate intake (both quantity of food and time of feeding). Rats were then fasted 10 h prior to injection of PTH (0.01 U/g body weight/h), or CT (0.1 mU/g body weight/h), or both hormones injected simultaneously. Under these conditions, PTH produced a rise (relative to controls) in plasma32P-S.A. (-8 d) during an 8-h experimental period, while plasma32P-S.A. (-10 h) fell. Calcitonin treatment alone did not affect plasma32P-S.A., regardless of when32P was administered. When both hormones were injected concurrently, CT augmented the PTH-induced hypophosphatemia and magnified the fall in plasma32P levels, but the addition of CT did not affect PTH-induced changes in either renal calcium or phosphate excretion. However, the PTH-induced changes in plasma32P-S.A. were abolished. These data could not be explained by the opposing effects of the two hormones on rates of bone resorption. We interpret the results as adding support to the postulate that calcitonin moves phosphate into and prevents its loss from bone and bone fluid.
Probabilistic Performance Guarantees for Distributed Self-Assembly

In distributed self-assembly, a multitude of agents seek to form copies of a particular structure, modeled here as a labeled graph. In the model, agents encounter each other in spontaneous pairwise interactions and decide whether or not to form or sever edges based on their two labels and a fixed set of local interaction rules described by a graph grammar. The objective is to converge on a graph with a maximum number of copies of a given target graph. Our main result is the introduction of a simple algorithm that achieves an asymptotically maximum yield in a probabilistic sense. Notably, agents do not need to update their labels except when forming or severing edges. This contrasts with certain existing approaches that exploit information propagating rules, effectively addressing the decision problem at the level of subgraphs as opposed to individual vertices. We are able to obey more stringent locality requirements while also providing smaller rule sets. The results can be improved upon if certain requirements on the labels are relaxed. We discuss limits of performance in self-assembly in terms of rule set characteristics and achievable maximum yield.
A Rate Distortion Analysis Of Adaptive Hybrid Picture Coding

The approaches to achieving data compression when the source is a class of images have generally been variants of either unitary transform encoding or time domain encoding. Various hybrid approaches using DPCM in tandem with unitary transforms have been suggested. However, the problems of picture statistics dependence and error propagation cannot be solved by these approaches because the transformed picture elements form a non-stationary signal class. Naturally, a constant set of DPCM predictor coefficients cannot be optimal for all users. However, a composite non-stationary signal source can be decomposed into simpler subsources if it exhibits certain characteristics. Adaptive Hybrid Picture Coding (AHPC) is considered as a method of extracting these subsources from the composite sources in such a way that the over-all communication problem can be viewed as two different, but connected communication requirements. One requirement is the transmission of a set of sequences that are formed by the predictor coefficients. Each of these sequences forms a subsource. The additional requirement is the transmission of the error sequence. An intermediate fidelity requirement is presented which describes the effects of predictor parameter distortion on the transmission requirements for the error signal. The rate distortion bound on the channel requirements for the transmission of the predictor coefficients and the error signal is determined subject to a dual fidelity criterion. The signal class is a set of one dimensional unitary transformed images.
A controlled evaluation of the distress criterion for binge eating disorder.

Objective Research has examined various aspects of the validity of the research criteria for binge eating disorder (BED) but has yet to evaluate the utility of criterion C “marked distress about binge eating.” This study examined the significance of the marked distress criterion for BED using two complementary comparisons groups.
NEUROANATOMICAL CORRELATES OF THE BENTON FACIAL RECOGNITION TEST AND JUDGMENT OF LINE ORIENTATION TEST

Two of the most successful and widely used tests developed by Arthur Benton and colleagues are the Facial Recognition Test (FRT) and Judgment of Line Orientation Test (JLO), which probe visuoperceptual and visuospatial functions typically associated with right hemisphere structures, especially parietal, occipitoparietal, and occipitotemporal structures. Taking advantage of a large database of focal lesion patients (the Iowa Neurological Patient Registry), we used a new lesion-deficit mapping technique to investigate the neuroanatomical correlates of FRT and JLO performance. For the FRT, there were 201 patients with relevant data; of these, 38 were impaired on the FRT, and failure was most strongly associated with lesions in the right posterior-inferior parietal and right ventral occipitotemporal (fusiform gyrus) areas. For the JLO, there were 181 patients with relevant data; of these, 23 were impaired on the JLO, and failure was most strongly associated with lesions in the right posterior parietal region. These findings put new empirical teeth in the localizing value of the FRT and JLO tests, and they extend and sharpen previous work that had pointed to right posterior structures as being important for FRT and JLO performance
Central nervous system lesions and advanced ovarian cancer

Over the past 5 years we have seen seven cases of central nervous system tumors in patients with advanced or recurrent ovarian carcinoma. These have ranged in location from the conus medullaris to the brain and have varied in time of occurrence from the time of cancer diagnosis to 63 months following surgery. A diagnosis of metastatic ovarian carcinoma was established in six of the cases, while one patient had a second primary malignancy. All cases had prodromal and localizing neurologic symptoms which led to the suspicion of central nervous system involvement. The critical diagnostic studies were myelography and computed tomography of the brain and spine. We have reviewed our approach to diagnosis and therapy.
Potential use of recombinant hirudin as an anticoagulant in a cardiopulmonary bypass model.

Abstract Recombinant (r) hirudin is a potent thrombin-specific inhibitor derived from the natural hirudin of the leech ( Hirudo medicinalis ). We have studied the efficacy of r-hirudin compared with heparin in a canine model of cardiopulmonary bypass operations. Two administration regimens were used for r-hirudin: group 1, 1.0 mg/kg intracardiac bolus then intravenous bolus at 30 minutes (n = 10); and group 2, 1.0 mg/kg intracardiac bolus with 1.25 ± 0.04 mg · kg −1 · h −1 intravenous infusion (n = 8). Group 3 was given an intracardiac bolus of heparin, 1.66 mg/kg (n = 9). Aspiration of blood from the chest cavity revealed no significant difference between the three groups. Measurement of fibrin deposits in the pump line filter revealed higher amounts in the r-hirudin groups ( p = 0.02). Decreases in platelets, fibrinogen, and hematocrit due primarily to hemodilution were the same in each group. The bleeding time assay showed less prolongation for r-hirudin than for heparin ( p
Trehalose glycopolymer resists allow direct writing of protein patterns by electron-beam lithography

Direct-write patterning of multiple proteins on surfaces is of tremendous interest for a myriad of applications. Precise arrangement of different proteins at increasingly smaller dimensions is a fundamental challenge to apply the materials in tissue engineering, diagnostics, proteomics and biosensors. Herein, we present a new resist that protects proteins during electron-beam exposure and its application in direct-write patterning of multiple proteins. Polymers with pendant trehalose units are shown to effectively crosslink to surfaces as negative resists, while at the same time providing stabilization to proteins during the vacuum and electron-beam irradiation steps. In this manner, arbitrary patterns of several different classes of proteins such as enzymes, growth factors and immunoglobulins are realized. Utilizing the high-precision alignment capability of electron-beam lithography, surfaces with complex patterns of multiple proteins are successfully generated at the micrometre and nanometre scale without requiring cleanroom conditions.
Memory Effects in Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Capacitors Incorporating Dispensed Highly Mono-disperse One-Nanometer Silicon Nanoparticles

MOS capacitors incorporating ex-situ produced, colloidal, highly mono-disperse, spherical, 1 nm Si nanoparticles were fabricated and evaluated for potential use as charge storage elements in future non-volatile memory devices. The CV characteristics are well behaved and agree with similarly fabricated zero-nanoparticle control samples and with an ideal simulation. Unlike larger particle systems, the demonstrated memory effect exhibits effectively pure hole storage. The nature of charging i.e. hole-type vs. electron-type may be understood in terms of the novel characteristics of ultra-small Si particles: large energy gap, large charging energy, and consequently a small electron affinity.
An Apparatus to Facilitate Intravenous Injections in the Mouse

Abstract : Intravenous injection in the mouse is rarely used because of the difficulty in acquiring facility with this technique. Also, the belief that one or, at most, two injections per tail vein may cause sclerosis has limited the use of mice in experiments involving multiple injections. In this paper we shall describe a method of transillumination of the tail vein and our results in using it for intravenous injections. when a-beam of light, no wider than the diameter of a mouse's tail, transilliuminates a portion of the tail, the vein opposite the source of light is easily seen as a red cord. This obviates one of the greatest difficulties in intravenous injections, the ability to discern the vein.
Pitfalls of Ability Research

Ability research in psychology can be fraught with pitfalls that lead to inappropriate conclusions. We identify several issues that lead to potential misinterpretation of results and suggest corrective solutions. These issues include lack of construct validity of the measures, misinterpretation of correlations and regression weights, lack of statistical power, failure to estimate cross-validation effects, and misinterpretation of factor analytic results.
Effects of Stimulus Characteristics on Recognition Memory in Elementary School Children.

An exploratory study was conducted to determine how certain stimulus characteristics affect recognition memory in 8- and 9-yr.-old children. 40 Ss were shown 15 letter-like forms for inspection. Later, the original stimuli were shown along with 15 new letter-like forms in a recognition test. Memory was a function of the stimulus characteristics. Prototypes which did not appear on the Inspection series were often responded to incorrectly. It is suggested that these prototypes had been abstracted from transformations of themselves which were present on the Inspection series.
The Place of Learning and Training in the Transition from School to Full-Time Work:

This paper reports a qualitative study of young people in their first year of full-time work. Interviews with the young people, their TAFE teachers (where appropriate), their parents and their employers gave a rich picture of the young people's experiences. The focus of the study was on what the young people learned and how they learned it and this paper emphasises in particular the importance of learning opportunities in career choices and in subsequent job satisfaction. The importance of the existence of a contract of training is emphasised.
Knowing your users: the value of article database usage analysis

This study analyzes the usage data of a major engineering article database, IEEE Xplore, from 2005 to 2008, at Texas AM off-campus usage was high in the first two years, but plunged in 2007 and 2008. Users from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and, to a lesser degree, from the Computer Science Department, were identified as major users of the database by IP statistics. The most heavily used journals and articles indicated that solid-state circuits, microwave, information theory, and power systems were probably among core research areas in electrical and computer engineering for the university. The impact of conference articles in this database increased continuously throughout these years.