cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Can categorization of patient background problems be used to determine early termination in a clinical trial

Abstract Many patients entering a long-term clinical study ate unable to remain active in the trial (taking medication as prescribed and attending clinic as scheduled) for up to 6 years. We studied a group of 622 patients entering an antiepileptic drug study with maximum possible follow-up period of 6 years. A centralized case validation system was used in this VA Epilepsy Cooperative Study to note problems in patients entering the study. The categories established for pre-entry case status were associated with events occurring during the course of the study that led to noncompletion of the study. The data were reviewed to determine whether pre-entry status can be used to suggest the likelihood that an individual patient will remain in the study to completion or become a non-drug-related loss. Over one-half of all losses were related to failure to return to clinic. Medical problems (18%), medication noncompliance (14%), and psychiatric problems (12%) accounted for the remainder of losses. Pre-entry issues often were the same reason for early loss. However, many patients with problems known at entry were maintained in the study when targeted for extra support, We found some groups of patients had considerably more early terminations whereas others had less loss to the trial than we predicted originally. Thus, case categorization at entry can be used to estimate the likelihood of early termination from a clinical trial.
Maceral and pyrite partitioning through high-gradient magnetic separation of selected western kentucky coals

Abstract The −0.5 inch (−1.27 cm) and −28 mesh (−600 μm) fractions of the run-of-mine coals from seven western Kentucky preparation plants were crushed to 90 percent passing 200 mesh (75 μm) and processed through high-gradient magnetic separation (HGMS). Petrographic analysis of the clean and refuse fractions indicated that the refuse contained nearly the same amount of vitrinite as the associated clean coal. This contrasts with the findings for other fine coals from the same plants where fine refuse had consistently less vitrinite and more fusinite and semifusinite than fine clean coals. Pyrite remaining in HGMS clean coals was significantly finer than pyrite in the refuse. Most of the pyrite in the clean was less than 5 μm in diameter, and, in all but one case, greater than 98 percent of the “clean” pyrite was less than 10 μm.
Paramagnetic resonance absorption in several electron-irradiated molecular crystals☆☆☆

Abstract Paramagnetic resonance in a series of hydrated and deuterated molecular crystals irradiated with one MeV electrons at liquid air temperature has been associated with a hole localized on the hydrogen bonded oxygen of the oxyion group. In each case hyperfine structure due to the hydrogen bonding proton has been analyzed with the aid of a Hamiltonian containing an anisotropic term and an isotropic term and the results interpreted to give the relative position of the nucleus and the paramagnetic center.
Racial and ethnic disparities in gastric cancer outcomes: More important than surgical technique?

Racial and ethnic disparities in cancer care are major public health concerns and their identification is necessary to develop interventions to eliminate these disparities. We and others have previously observed marked disparities in gastric cancer outcomes between Eastern and Western patients. These disparities have long been attributed to surgical technique and extent of lymphadenectomy. However, more recent evidence suggests that other factors such as tumor biology, environmental factors such as Helicobacter pylori infection and stage migration may also significantly contribute to these observed disparities. We review the literature surrounding disparities in gastric cancer and provide data pertaining to potential contributing factors.
The Synergistically Propelled Ichthyoid: Dynamic Modeling, Simulation, and Experimental Results

We have developed a novel type of submersible called a Synergistically Propelled Ichthyoid [SPI] which is propelled by the combined jet and tail action of a fluttering fluid-conveying pipe. Two dynamic models for an SPI are presented and solved; an analytically tractable model in an inertial reference frame and a more complex model in a general planar reference frame. The latter model has been solved numerically—these simulations show a benefit to using a fluttering tail relative to a dimensionally identical rigid tail. Construction details of an experimental realization are provided. Preliminary measurements taken using that platform are also provided which qualitatively confirm the simulation’s conclusion that a fluttering flexible tail is capable of higher speed than a dimensionally identical rigid tail.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Front flap augmentation of static lift and thrust of PAR platform

Exploratory tests have been carried out to determine the possibility of using a front flap to augment static lift and recovered thrust of power augmented ram platforms. Pressure distributions, measured under a model-scale platform, demonstrate a strong effect in response to the front flap deflection. It is found that both lift and thrust recovery can be nearly doubled in some configurations by deploying the front flap.
Climatology Models for Extreme Hurricane Winds near the United States

Abstract The rarity of severe coastal hurricanes implies that empirical estimates of extreme wind speed return levels will be unreliable. Here climatology models derived from extreme value theory are estimated using data from the best-track [Hurricane Database (HURDAT)] record. The occurrence of a hurricane above a specified threshold intensity level is assumed to follow a Poisson distribution, and the distribution of the maximum wind is assumed to follow a generalized Pareto distribution. The likelihood function is the product of the generalized Pareto probabilities for each wind speed estimate. A geographic region encompassing the entire U.S. coast vulnerable to Atlantic hurricanes is of primary interest, but the Gulf Coast, Florida, and the East Coast regions are also considered. Model parameters are first estimated using a maximum likelihood (ML) procedure. Results estimate the 100-yr return level for the entire coast at 157 kt (±10 kt), but at 117 kt (±4 kt) for the East Coast region (1 kt = 0.514 m ...
Superposition of binaural influences on single neuron activity in the medial superior olive elicited by electrical stimulation of the osseous spiral laminae

Abstract (1) The single unit response of medial superior olive (accessory nucleus) neurons was investigated, when elicited by electrical stimulation of nervous processes in the osseous spiral laminae in both cochleae and also by antidromic stimulation from the inferior colliculi. The osseous spiral laminae were stimulated at the first, second or third turns with grounding of one of the unstimulated turns. Time of signal arrival differences (Δτ) at the two cochleae and also intensity differences (Δi) were varied. (2) It is concluded that (A) binaural interaction in the MSO is not based on totally excitatory or inhibitory influences from either ear, but on cycles of excitation and inhibition; (B) these influences approximately obey the laws of superposition, i.e., the influences add linearly to determine discharge. (3) It is demonstrated that: 1. (a) electrical stimulation, unlike acoustical stimulation, elicits a regular neural response; 2. (b) the neural response functions elicited by changes in Δτ and Δi exhibit maxima and minima and are not smooth functions; 3. (c) fine latency changes in the neural response are correlated with changes in Δτ and Δi; 4. (d) the stimulation of different turns of the osseous spiral laminae (producing different current flows) elicits a different neural response depending on the turn stimulated, an effect reflecting the anatomical tonotopic arrangement of the medial superior olive; 5. (e) changes in the stimulus differences Δτ and Δi are correlated with the ratio of the spike count in a short period following the stimulus, to the spike count in a longer total period; 6. (f) changes in the stimulus differences Δτ and Δi elicit a neural response which varies according to the turn stimulated.
Receptor selectivity of cholecystokinin effects on mesoaccumbens dopamine neurons

Extracellular recording techniques were combined with antidromic stimulation to examine the effects of C-terminal cholecystokinin (CCK) fragments and CCK antagonists on the activity of identified mesoaccumbens dopamine (MADA) neurons in chloral hydrate-anesthetized rats. These experiments were designed to determine the receptor selectivity of sulfated CCK octapeptide (CCK-8S) effects on MADA cells. Neither CCK tetrapeptide (CCK-4) nor unsulfated CCK octapeptide (CCK-8U) significantly altered MADA cell basal firing rate or responsiveness to the inhibitory effects of the D2 DA agonist quinpirole. As reported previously for ventral tegmental area DA cells, CCK-8S produced increases or decreases in the firing rate of most MADA cells sampled. CCK-8S also enhanced the sensitivity of MADA neurons to quinpirole-induced inhibition. This increase in sensitivity to quinpirole was blocked by pretreatment with the nonselective CCK receptor antagonist proglumide and the preferential CCK-A receptor antagonist CR 1409 but not by the preferential CCK-B receptor antagonist L-365, 260. The inactivity of CCK-4 and CCK-8U in these tests and the results with the antagonists suggest that the effects of CCK-8S on MADA neuronal activity are mediated by CCK-A receptors.
Clustering analysis and pattern discrimination of EMG linear envelopes

A technique has been developed for performing pattern analysis of electromyographic (EMG) activities generated during locomotion. It was found that the shapes of the EMG linear envelopes (LE) are mainly determined by their phase spectra; their magnitude spectra are much less important. Autoregressive (AR) parametric models and discrete Fourier transform (DFT) approaches were tested and compared. The latter proved to be a better way to describe the EMG LEs. Feature extraction and clustering were performed by performing a DFT of EMG LEs, extracting part of the phase and magnitude spectra as features, and using the percent powers to weigh the corresponding harmonics. The approach was applied to the clustering analysis of EMG LEs of normal and anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) injured subjects during walking. >
Fibrous Scaffolds with Varied Fiber Chemistry and Growth Factor Delivery Promote Repair in a Porcine Cartilage Defect Model

Current clinically approved methods for cartilage repair are generally based on either endogenous cell recruitment (e.g., microfracture) or chondrocyte delivery (e.g., autologous chondrocyte implantation). However, both methods culminate in repair tissue with inferior mechanical properties and the addition of biomaterials to these clinical interventions may improve their efficacy. To this end, the objective of this study was to investigate the ability of multipolymer acellular fibrous scaffolds to improve cartilage repair when combined with microfracture in a large animal (i.e., minipig) model. Composite scaffolds were formulated from a combination of hyaluronic acid (HA) fibers and poly(ɛ-caprolactone) (PCL) fibers, either with or without transforming growth factor-β3 (TGFβ3). After 12 weeks in vivo, material choice and TGFβ3 delivery had a significant impact on outcomes; specifically, PCL scaffolds without TGFβ3 had inferior gross appearance and reduced mechanical properties, whereas HA scaffolds that released TGFβ3 resulted in improved histological scores and increased type 2 collagen content. Importantly, analysis of the overall dataset revealed that histology, but not gross appearance, was a better predictor of mechanical properties. This study highlights the importance of scaffold properties on in vivo cartilage repair as well as the need for numerous quantitative outcome measures to fully evaluate treatment methods.
Resolution of transfusion dependence by recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) in acquired pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) associated with myeloid metaplasia.

Summary A patient with acquired pure red cell aplasia and agnogenic myeloid metaplasia (AMM) was treated with rHuEPO. She became transfusion independent. Weekly injections of rHuEPO have maintained the response without side-effects or disease progression. In addition, marrow fibrosis and splenomegaly have decreased. Therefore, rHuEPO may be effective therapy for some patients with acquired PRCA and/or AMM.
Laser communications: From terrestrial broadband to deep-space

In response to an ever increasing demand for higher bandwidth, the free space optical (laser) communications technology has now matured to the point that is has commenced commercial use in Earth orbit at multi-Gb/s data-rates, and is on the verge of being demonstrated for the first time from other planets. This technology has long been used in terrestrial multi Gb/s data-rate links. The talk will provide an overview of state-of-the-art in technology implemented in terrestrial broadband links, and spacecraft telecommunications from near-Earth to deep space at unprecedented data-rates.
Three Puzzles in Hierarchical Evolution

SYNOPSIS. The maximum degree of hierarchical structure of organisms has risen over the history of life, notably in three transitions: the origin of the eukaryotic cell from symbiotic associations of prokaryotes; the emergence of the first multicellular individuals from clones of eukaryotic cells; and the origin of the first individuated colonies from associations of multicellular organisms. The trend is obvious in the fossil record, but documenting it using a high-resolution hierarchy scale reveals three puzzles: 1) the rate of origin of new levels accelerates, at least until the early Phanerozoic; 2) after that, the trend may slow or even stop; and 3) levels may sometimes arise out of order. The three puzzles and their implications are discussed; a possible explanation is offered for the first.
Rates of Conservative and Radical Nonsynonymous Nucleotide Substitutions in Mammalian Nuclear Genes

To understand the process and mechanism of protein evolution, it is important to know what types of amino acid substitutions are more likely to be under selection and what types are mostly neutral. An amino acid substitution can be classified as either conservative or radical, depending on whether it involves a change in a certain physicochemical property of the amino acid. Assuming Kimura's two-parameter model of nucleotide substitution, I present a method for computing the numbers of conservative and radical nonsynonymous (amino acid altering) nucleotide substitutions per site and estimate these rates for 47 nuclear genes from mammals. The results are as follows. (1) The average radical/conservative rate ratio is 0.81 for charge changes, 0.85 for polarity changes, and 0.49 when both polarity and volume changes are considered. (2) The radical/conservative rate ratio is positively correlated with the nonsynonymous/synonymous rate ratio for charge changes or when both polarity and volume changes are considered. (3) Both the conservative/synonymous rate ratio and the radical/synonymous rate ratio are lower in the rodent lineage than in the primate or artiodactyl lineage, suggesting more intense purifying selection in the rodent lineage, for both conservative and radical nonsynonymous substitutions. (4) Neglecting transition/transversion bias would cause an underestimation of both radical and conservative rates and the ratio thereof. (5) Transversions induce more dramatic genetic alternations than transitions in that transversions produce more amino acid altering changes and among which, more radical changes.
NANOS3 function in human germ cell development

Human infertility is common and frequently linked to poor germ cell development. Yet, human germ cell development is poorly understood, at least in part due to the inaccessibility of germ cells to study especially during fetal development. Here, we explored the function of a highly conserved family of genes, the NANOS genes, in the differentiation of human germ cells from human embryonic stem cells. We observed that NANOS-1, -2 and -3 mRNAs and proteins were expressed in human gonads. We also noted that NANOS3 was expressed in germ cells throughout spermatogenesis and oogenesis and thus, focused further efforts on this family member. NANOS3 expression was highest in human germ cell nuclei where the protein co-localized with chromosomal DNA during mitosis/meiosis. Reduced expression of NANOS3 (via morpholinos or short hairpin RNA) resulted in a reduction in germ cell numbers and decreased expression of germ cell-intrinsic genes required for the maintenance of pluripotency and meiotic initiation and progression. These data provide the first direct experimental evidence that NANOS3 functions in human germ cell development; indeed, NANOS3 is now one of just two genes that has been directly shown to function in germ cell development across diverse species from flies, worms, frogs and mice to humans [the other is BOULE, a member of the Deleted in Azoospermia (DAZ) gene family]. Findings may contribute to our understanding of the basic biology of human germ cell development and may provide clinical insights regarding infertility.
Health and husbandry considerations of induced molting

There have been many methods proposed to induce molting. Some worked very well in practice, but others were detrimental to the health and welfare of the hens. The most effective methods use some level of feed restriction and daylength manipulation to reduce body weight (Hansen, 1966; Ruszler, 1974, 1984, 1996; Swanson and Bell, 1974; Brake and Carey, 1983). Weight reduction is necessary for rest and rejuvenation of body tissues. Other methods evaluated incorporated dietary imbalances using either zinc, iodine, or sodium. Pharmaceuticals have been used but have not been cost effective. In recent years there have been those who question whether molting techniques are humane. Therefore, interest has been heightened in alternate methods to induce molting. Research reported to date has been inadequate to accurately determine which methods of induced molting are the least stressful, if they in fact, cause any more stress than that experienced by the hen during a natural molt. The three or four most highly refined methods being used commercially are not generally detrimental to the health and welfare of today's laying hen, provided that they are managed in accordance with proper husbandry practices.
The race for global leadership: Europe, the USA and Japan

Presents an updated inquiry into the relative strengths and weaknesses of the three contenders for the marathon of the world leadership, Europe, the USA and Japan. Argues that although the USA is currently leading the race, she will not win the gold medal, which will most probably go to Japan.
Structure and regulation of the Yersinia pestis yscBCDEF operon

We have investigated the physical and genetic structure and regulation of the Yersinia pestis yscBCDEF region, previously called lcrC. DNA sequence analysis showed that this region is homologous to the corresponding part of the ysc locus of Yersinia enterocolitica and suggested that the yscBCDEF cistrons belong to a single operon on the low-calcium response virulence plasmid pCD1. Promoter activity measurements of ysc subclones indicated that yscBCDEF constitutes a suboperon of the larger ysc region by revealing promoter activity in a clone containing the 3' end of yscD, intact yscE and yscF, and part of yscG. These experiments also revealed an additional weak promoter upstream of yscD. Northern (RNA) analysis with a yscD probe showed that operon transcription is thermally induced and downregulated in the presence of Ca2+. Primer extension of operon transcripts suggested that two promoters, a moderate-level constitutive one and a stronger, calcium-downregulated one, control full-length operon transcription at 37 degrees C. Primer extension provided additional support for the proposed designation of a yscBCDEF suboperon by identifying a 5' end within yscF, for which relative abundances in the presence and absence of Ca2+ revealed regulation that is distinct from that for transcripts initiating farther upstream. YscB and YscC were expressed in Escherichia coli by using a high-level transcription system. Attempts to express YscD were only partially successful, but they revealed interesting regulation at the translational level.
2.5-D wave equations and high-frequency asymptotics

The need for modeling 3-D seismic data in a 2-D setting has motivated investigators to create so‐called 2.5-D modeling methods. One such method proposed by Liner involves the use of an approximate 2.5-D wave operator for constant‐density media. The traveltimes and amplitudes predicted by high‐frequency asymptotic ray series (WKBJ) analysis of the Liner 2.5-D wave equation match those predicted by Bleistein’s 2.5-D ray‐theoretic development in constant wavespeed media. However, high‐frequency analysis indicates that the Liner 2.5-D variable wavespeed equation will have a maximum amplitude error of ±35% in a linear c(z) model where the wavespeed doubles or halves from the beginning to the end of a raypath. These amplitudes are comparable to those produced by converting 2-D data to 2.5-D using correction factors of the type proposed by Emersoy and Oristaglio and Deregowski and Brown, with the exception being that the Liner equation lacks the half derivative waveform correction present in these operators. An ...
Chaperone and foldase coexpression in the baculovirus-insect cell expression system

The BEVS has become widely utilized for production of recombinant proteins. However, protein aggregation and inefficient processing often limit yields, especially for secreted and membrane proteins. Since many proteins of pharmaceutical interest require similar posttranslational processing steps, engineering the folding, assembly, and secretion pathway may enhance the production of a wide variety of valuable complex proteins. Efforts should be undertaken to coexpress the relevant chaperones or foldases at low levels in concert with the final product to ensure the ideal folding and assembly environment. In the future, expression of oligosaccharide modifying enzymes and secretion factors may further improve secretion rates of assembled proteins and provide heterologous proteins with altered glycoforms. Also significant is the use of BEVS as an in vivo eucaryotic laboratory to study the fundamental roles of differnt chaperones, foldases, and secretion factors. The coexpression of chaperones and foldases will complement other approaches such as the development of alternative insect cell lines, promoters, and signal peptides to optimize the baculovirus-insect cell expression system for generating high yields of valuable proteins.
An underwater optical communication system implementing Reed-Solomon channel coding

An underwater optical communications system that implements forward error correction is demonstrated. The system uses a 405 nm diode laser to transmit on-off-keying (OOK) return-to-zero modulated data at a rate of 500 kbps to a photodiode receiver using a (255,129) Reed-Solomon code. The signal is digitized at the receiver and sent to a PC for postprocessing. Experimental measurements collected in an indoor water tank suggest that the coded system can reduce the power required to achieve a bit-error-rate of 10-4 by approximately 8 dB relative to an uncoded OOK system.
Notes on the Unit of Adoption in Diffusion Research

In thinking about the diffusion of innovation, one tends to overlook the obvious fact that not all innovations are adopted by, or are intended to be adopted by, individuals. In the first place, different sorts of innovations may "require" different units of adoptionfor example, "it takes two to tango." In the second place, different cultural or situational norms may "prescribe" different units of adoption for an innovation. Most empirical research on diffusion has focused exclusively on the individual as the unit of adoption. This is because the innovations that have attracted modern sociologists have tended to be appropriate for individual adopters. Still, it is altogether obvious that certain recommended contraceptive practices, for example, "require" joint adoption by husband and wife or that middle-class culture "prescribes" a family decision concerning the purchase of a new car. Focusing only on the individual in such cases is misleading if one is to understand the diffusion process completely. Here there is something to be learned from anthropological students of diffusion who often treat the tribe or the group as the unit of adoption even for such ostensibly (to us) individualistic innovations as Christianity in cases where the decision of the chief or the elders is binding upon all. Moreover, many of the innovations in our society are adopted not by individuals or even by families but by organizations. The city-manager idea and the kindergarten were adopted by cities and by school boards respectively; automation is adopted by factories.2 This paper proceeds on the assumption that it is worth exploring the process of innovation front the point of view of the social units which adopt them. As a beginning, let us assume that there are three distinguishable units: individuals, informal groups or collectivities, and formal organizations of all kinds. Innovations can then be classified in terms of the extent to which they "require" one or another type of unit. Culture and subcultures can be classified in terms of their preference among the types of unit for given kinds of innovation. Disciplines Communication | Social and Behavioral Sciences This journal article is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn.edu/asc_papers/264 Notes on The Unit of Adoption in Diffusion Research
Mouse embryo fibroblasts lacking the tumor suppressor menin show altered expression of extracellular matrix protein genes

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is an autosomal dominant familial cancer syndrome characterized primarily by endocrine tumors of the parathyroids, anterior pituitary, and enteropancreatic endocrine tissues. Affected individuals carry a germ-line loss-of-function mutation of the MEN1 gene, and tumors arise after loss of the second allele. Homozygous loss of Men1 in the germ line of mice results in early embryonic lethality, with defective development of neural tube, heart, liver, and craniofacial structures. We generated immortalized wild-type (WT) and menin-null mouse embryo fibroblast (MEF) cell lines and evaluated their characteristics, including global expression patterns. The WT and menin-null cell lines were aneuploid, and the nulls did not display tumorigenic characteristics in soft agar assay. Expression arrays in menin-null MEFs revealed altered expression of several extracellular matrix proteins that are critical in organogenesis. Specifically, transcripts for fibulin 2 (Fbln2), periostin (Postn), and versican [chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (Cspg2)], genes critical for the developing heart and known to be induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), were decreased in their expression in menin-null MEFs. Fbln2 expression was the most affected, and the reduction in menin-null MEFs for Fbln2, Postn, and Cspg2 was 16.18-, 5.37-, and 2.15-fold, respectively. Menin-null MEFs also showed poor response to TGF-beta-induced Smad3-mediated transcription in a reporter assay, supporting a role for menin in this pathway. Postn and Cspg2 expression in WT, unlike in null MEFs, increased on TGF-beta treatment. The expression changes associated with the loss of the tumor suppressor menin provide insights into the defective organogenesis observed during early embryonic development in Men1-null mouse embryos.
Coprocessor design for multilayer surface-mounted PCB routing

The authors present the issues involved in the design of a special-purpose processing array system, called HAM, which accelerates computationally intensive wire routing tasks. It is especially suited for double-sided surface-mounted boards, which require complex three-dimensional search operations over multiple wiring planes. The novel features of the design include a hexagonal interconnection scheme to improve workload distributions during multilayer concurrent search operations and the VLSI custom design of the processors. Particular emphasis has been placed on the demands of maze routing. A cell-address propagation scheme, which is quite different from the traditional grid-coordinate approach, is discussed. It provides rapid lookup of pertinent routing information and can be extended to any distributed memory multiprocessor system. A global pipelining scheme of cell updates and expands is discussed. Experimental results are presented relating the speedup to various criteria for two different modes of parallel wave propagation. >
Targeting of adenovirus vectors to tumor cells does not enable efficient transduction of breast cancer metastases

Targeting of oncolytic adenoviruses to tumors can potentially increase their efficacy and safety profile after systemic application. We have developed recently a capsid-modified vector containing the adenovirus serotype 35 fiber shaft and knob inserted into an Ad5 capsid. This Ad5/35 vector infects cells via a coxsackievirus adenovirus receptor-independent pathway. Here we attempted to exploit this new tropism of Ad5/35 vectors for tumor-specific infection. In vitro, the Ad5/35 vector efficiently transduced human breast cancer cells that were refractory to infection with conventional Ad5-based vectors. Additionally, primary mouse hepatocytes were relatively refractory to Ad5/35 infection in vitro or after systemic vector application to mice. In an animal model of breast cancer metastasis, intraportal infusion of MDA-MB435 cells produced multiple hepatic metastases that were surrounded by extracellular matrix and developed blood vessels confined to the tumor stroma. Tail vein injection of a standard Ad5-based vector into tumor-bearing animals resulted in transduction of mouse hepatocytes but not metastases. However, the capsid-modified Ad5/35 vector transduced only ∼8% of metastases. The metastases that were susceptible to Ad5/35 infection demonstrated blood vessels in close proximity to tumor nests without extracellular matrix separating endothelial and tumor cells. These findings indicate that transduction of liver metastases not only requires tumor-specific tropism but also new strategies to increase accessibility of tumor cells to systemically applied oncolytic adenoviruses.
Semisynthetic studies identify mitochondria poisons from botanical dietary supplements—Geranyloxycoumarins from Aegle marmelos

Bioassay-guided isolation and subsequent structure elucidation of a Bael tree Aegle marmelos lipid extract yielded two unstable acylated geranyloxycoumarin mixtures (1-2), six geranyloxycoumarins (3-8), (+)-9'-isovaleroxylariciresinol (9), and dehydromarmeline (10). In a T47D cell-based reporter assay, 1 and 2 potently inhibited hypoxia-induced HIF-1 activation (IC50 values 0.18 and 1.10 μgmL(-1), respectively). Insufficient material and chemical instability prevented full delineation of the fatty acyl side chain olefin substitution patterns in 1 and 2. Therefore, five fatty acyl geranyloxycoumarin ester derivatives (11-15) were prepared from marmin (3) and commercial fatty acyl chlorides by semisynthesis. The unsaturated C-6' linoleic acid ester derivative 14 that was structurally most similar to 1 and 2, inhibited HIF-1 activation with comparable potency (IC50 0.92 μM). The octanoyl (11) and undecanoyl (12) ester derivatives also suppressed HIF-1 activation (IC50 values 3.1 and 0.87 μM, respectively). Mechanistic studies revealed that these geranyloxycoumarin derivatives disrupt mitochondrial respiration, primarily at complex I. Thus, these compounds may inhibit HIF-1 activation by suppressing mitochondria-mediated hypoxic signaling. One surprising observation was that, while less potent, the purported cancer chemopreventive agent auraptene (8) was found to act as a mitochondrial poison that disrupts HIF-1 signaling in tumors.
Physical Attractiveness and Selection Decision Making

Empirical research on the role of physical attractiveness in employment selection is reviewed. Physical attractiveness is conceptualized as a beneficial status characteristic, although further investigation of the magnitude of the bias is needed. Conceptual and methodological problems impeding understanding of physical attractiveness are noted and a descriptive model specifying the role of attractiveness in selection decision-making is offered.
The Diffusion of Revolution: ‘1848’ in Europe and Latin America

What accounts for the spread of political protest and contention across countries? Analyzing the wildfire of attempted revolutions in 1848, the present article assesses four causal mechanisms for explaining diffusion, namely external pressure from a great power (such as revolutionary France after 1789); the promotion of new norms and values—such as liberalism and democracy—by more advanced countries; rational learning from successful contention in other nations; or boundedly rational, potentially distorted inferences from select foreign experiences. The patterns in which revolutionary contention spread and eyewitness reports from all sides of the ensuing conflicts suggest that bounded rationality played a crucial role: cognitive heuristics that deviate from fully rational procedures drew attention to some experiences but not others and induced both challengers and defenders of the established order to draw rash conclusions from these experiences, particularly the French monarchy's fall in February 1848. My study also shows, however, that other factors made important contributions, for instance by preparing the ground for the wave of regime contention.
Average quantizer adaptation rates for stable ADPCM

This paper gives a sufficient condition on the average rate of quantizer step size adaptation rate that preserves adaptive differential pulse code modulated (ADPCM) stability under the assumption that the predictor is nonadaptive. The result appeals to some new developments in the passivity analysis of linear time varying systems.
The Metaphysical Instincts & Spiritual Bypassing in Integral Psychology

Instincts are innate, unconscious means by which Nature operates in all forms of life including animals and human beings. In humans however, with progressive evolution of consciousness, instincts become increasingly conscious and regulated by egoic functions. Biological instincts associated with the lower-unconscious such as survival, aggressive, and reproductive instincts are well known in general psychology. The higher-unconscious, which is unique to human beings, may be said to have its own instinctual processes referred to here as the 'metaphysical instincts'. In traditional spiritual practices awakening the metaphysical instincts has often been done at the expense of suppressing the biological instincts—a process referred to as spiritual bypassing. This essay discusses how the metaphysical instincts initially expressed as the religious impulse with associated beliefs and behaviors may be transformed and made fully conscious, and integrated with the biological instincts in integral yoga and psychology in order to achieve wholeness of personality.
Accelerated volume rendering via spatial/spectral analysis

Volume rendering is an important and powerful technique for visualizing 3D datasets. However, the technique is computationally expensive, $O\bigl(N\sp3\bigr)$ for an N x N x N dataset. This thesis is concerned with the performance and image quality issues of volume rendering. Beginning with an analysis of the relationship between the computational expense of volume rendering and the image quality, the thesis shows how the two issues are related: high image quality is mainly the result of exhaustive and computationally expensive processing of the dataset. A hypothesis is developed that reducing the computational cost of volume rendering while retaining the image quality can be achieved by using an information metric to efficiently guide the rendering process. This thesis presents a new algorithm for reducing the computational cost of volume rendering while retaining the image quality. The algorithm consists of a new analytically defined information metric and a hierarchical rendering algorithm for accelerating the rendering of volume datasets. The information metric is called Spectree, a compression code related to the Discrete Wavelet Transform. The computational cost of computing the Spectree is $O\bigl(N\sp3\bigr).$ However, the computational cost of the hierarchical rendering algorithm is dependent on the information content of the dataset or the amount of information the user desires to be extracted from the dataset, O (information content). The user controls the algorithm by supplying a single parameter to specify the amount of information to be reconstructed from the volume. The choice of an information parameter is made easier or automated by a set of graphical tools which capture the trade-off between image quality and computational cost.
The war on slums in the Southwest: public housing and slum clearance in Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico, 1935–1965

In this meticulously researched, comparative survey from the New Deal to the Great Society, Robert Fairbanks examines movements for public housing and central-city redevelopment in Texas's three la...
Application of the Miller’s Disc for the Estimation and Quality Control of the Platelet Count

Quality control of the platelet count can be assured by estimating the platelet count from the peripheral blood smear. The Miller’s Disc, designed for counting reticulocytes, can be used to enumerate platelets on a stained peripheral blood smear. The resultant platelet count is multiplied by the red cell count to obtain an accurate platelet estimation.
Redescription of the Stygobiont Amphipod Crustacean Stygobromus Pusillus (Crangonyctidae) from the Soviet Union, with Comments on Taxonomic and Zoogeographic Relationships

Stygobromus pusillus (Martynov), a poorly known stygobiont amphipod crustacean from Teletskoye Lake in Siberia, is redescribed on the basis oftwo topotypes. Synurella apscheronia Derzhavin, another poorly known stygobiont species, is reevaluated and assigned to Stygobromus. The occurrence of these two species in Eurasia, where they are far removed geographically from all other species of Stygobromus which inhabit subterranean groundwaters in North America, is of considerable zoogeographic interest. Morphological and distributional data suggest that Stygobromus was more common in northern parts of the Holarctic region prior to climatic changes in the Pleistocene. The subterranean fresh-water amphipod genus Stygobromus occurs primarily in North America, where 98 species have been described to date (Holsinger, 1986, in press; Holsinger and Shaw, 1986). All species in this genus are stygobionts (i.e., obligate to subterranean waters and generally lacking eyes and pigment). Only two species, S. pusillus (Martynov) and S. apscheronia (Derzhavin), are reported from outside the Nearctic region and both occur in the Soviet Union (Holsinger, in press). Because the original descriptions of these two species were incomplete, their systematic relationship to other species of Stygobromus has remained unclear. Better knowledge of the taxonomic status of these Eurasian species is essential to our understanding of the zoogeography of Stygobromus and other members of the family Crangonyctidae. Martynov (1930) described Stygobromuspusillus from Teletskoye Lake in south central Siberia, U.S.S.R., assigning this species to Eucrangonyx. This genus was later shown by Schellenberg (1936) to be ajunior objective synonym of Crangonyx, and Birstein (1940) reassigned the species to Stygobromus. No other description of S. pusillus has been published since 1930 although the species has been mentioned in several systematic lists. Through the good assistance of Dr. Nina L. Tzvetkova, two topotypes of S. pusillus were sent to me from the Zoological Institute in Leningrad for detailed examination. These specimens provided the basis for the redescription given below.
Use of reflection phases on microearthquake seismograms to map an unusual discontinuity beneath the Rio Grande rift

Abstract Microearthquake seismograms recorded by stations located in or bordering the Rio Grande rift near Socorro, New Mexico, frequently have two sharp impulsive phases following direct S . These phases have been identified as S x P and S x S reflections from a sharp discontinuity that has a depth beneath Socorro of 18 km and dips northward at an angle near 6° for a distance of 30 km. Farther north, the dip steepens so that at a distance of 60 km from Socorro the depth is about 30 km. Ratios of S x P to S x S amplitudes in conjunction with plane-wave reflection theory indicate a zone of very low rigidity beneath the discontinuity. Large S x S amplitudes are believed to be the result of the large velocity contrast across the discontinuity and a fault mechanism that radiates more S -wave energy downward than outward from the focus.
Molecular requirements for recognition at glucoreceptor for insulin release.

Alloxan and ninhydrin affect insulin release by first stimulation and then inhibition of subsequent glucose-induced insulin release from the β-cells in the islets of Langerhans. The structures of D-glucose and D-mannose, the two hexoses that protect against them and initiate insulin release, were analyzed and found to share with alloxan and ninhydrin common molecular properties. These common molecular properties were: An oxygen at C(1); a hydroxyl at C(2), either axial or equatorial; an equatorial oxygen at C(3); and at position 5 an electron density. Further structural analysis revealed that alloxan and ninhydrin would require little, if any, additional volume than that required for recognition of the active hexoses, D-glucose and D-mannose at a common site. Other hexoses (1-deoxy-D-glucose, 2-deoxy-D-glucose, D-allose, D-galactose, lyxose, xylose, 6-deoxy-D-glucose, and L-glucose) which either did not protect against alloxan and ninhydrin or did not initiate insulin release were found to vary in their structure from the active hexoses. Based on the presently available evidence, a hypothesis was advanced that alloxan, ninhydrin, and the active hexoses interact at a common receptor to initiate the first phase of insulin release.
Value Creation Thinking: Powerpoint Presentation

Long-term value creation begins with clarity about the purpose of the firm and about management's core responsibilities. Value creation is critically tied to how well management develops and maintains a knowledge-building culture. These ideas are plainly communicated in this PowerPoint presentation which summarizes my book, Value Creation Thinking. The presentation is well suited for classroom discussion and includes an explanation of the life-cycle valuation model, which is used extensively by money management firms worldwide. Also included are long-term, life-cycle charts of major firms that illustrate how managerial skill and competition interact to determine firms' long-term financial performance and, ultimately, shareholder returns.
Which TKI should be recommended as initial treatment for CML in chronic phase

Resistance due to new mutations in the genes coding for the targeted proteins, as well as to changes in other signaling pathways, often develops, and newer drugs and perhaps combination approaches may be needed.
Orientalismo, interpretação, e o estudo da filosofia indiana no ocidente

In 1978, Edward Said, the cultural Palestinian-American critic wrote a book called “Orientalism: the invention of the East by the West.” In this book, Said criticized the academic work of the “orientalists” in Europe and North America, considering them an instrument of imperial power. As a Palestinian, he found himself particularly interested in European knowledge related to the Middle East and the Islam produced in the XVIII, XIX, and XX century. He had less to say about the European production of knowledge of the south and east of Asia. However, some of my professors and colleagues, like Sheldon Pollock, Ronald Inden and Richard King, develped some of Said’s ideas, extending his critic to the orientalism to discussions about indology and sinology.
Diagnostic advances in interstitial lung disease.

SUMMARY In summary, the interstitial lung diseases represent a large group of diseases with similar clinical and pathophysiologic features but widely different etiologies. A definitive diagnosis usually depends on obtaining tissue; however, a clinical diagnosis may be adequate for therapeutic intervention in selected cases. A schematic approach to the evaluation of interstitial lung disease is presented in Figure 5. Currently, there is intense research in developing accurate noninvasive tests not only to enhance diagnosis but also to help monitor and modulate treatment.
Effect of Manual Grinding Operations on Surface Integrity

Abstract Manual grinding operations are influenced by a number of variants such as a worker's posture and motion, in addition to the general parameters affecting automated grinding processes, for example, tool speed and feed rate. Moreover, dry cutting conditions and poor control of the machining process can negatively influence chip formation and part quality in terms of roughness, microhardness, microstructure, etc. The goal of this work is to analyze the processing energy, resulting surface integrity, and prospective part performance, considering the above-mentioned variants, with the aim to give a detailed insight into manual grinding processes and fill the existing knowledge gaps. For this paper, we have limited our subject to one and thus have not studied the effect of worker's skills involved in manual grinding.
Fascicular rhythm. Morphologic features and protean manifestations.

Fascicular rhythms are recognizable in electrocardiograms and at first glance resemble junctional beats with aberrancy. Definitive diagnosis is based on His-bundle electrography and demonstration of a short His-Q interval.
Gene Variability Between Perineural-positive and Perineural-negative Squamous Cell Skin Cancers.

Background: Recurrent cutaneous squamous cell cancer (CSCC) is associated with poor outcomes with perineural invasion reported as a frequent finding in such lesions. Given the morbidity associated with late recurrence, identifying aggressive subtypes of CSCC at the time of primary excision is all the more necessary. This project sought to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between perineural invasion-positive (PP) and perineural invasion-negative (PN) CSCC. Gene-based classification models for diagnosis of perineural invasion in CSCC were also developed. Method: Forty fresh-frozen surgical specimens of CSCC with presence or absence of histopathological perineural invasion were processed for RNA isolation and hybridization to Affymetrix-U219 DNA microarrays. Raw gene expression data were normalized by Robust Multi-array Averaging (RMA) and log2 transformed. DEGs were identified by empirical Bayes statistics using the Bioconductor limma package. BRB-ArrayTools software was used to develop gene expression-based sample classification models. Using leave-one-out cross-validation, the resulting accuracies of eight different classification algorithms were evaluated. Results: Twenty-one PP and 19 PN samples were analyzed. At a stringent limma p-value (p<0.001), 24 genes were differentially expressed between specimens. The cross-validated performance of the eight classification models exhibited a mean accuracy of 85-95%. Diagonal linear discriminant was most accurate at 95%, followed by Bayesian compound covariate at 94%. The poorest accuracy (85%) was observed for 1-Nearest neighbor and Support vector machines. For all eight methods, the sensitivities and specificities ranged from 79%-95%. Conclusion: Gene expression distinguishes between PP and PN CSCC. Classification models based on these gene patterns distinguish PP and PN cancers with strong statistical accuracy and may potentiate more timely and objective diagnosis of perineural invasion that could guide more comprehensive adjuvant therapies.