cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract #5565: The therapeutic effects against refractory and multiple drug resistant xenograft tumors by the third generation microtubule targeting epothilone: Iso-oxazole-fludelone

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 18-22, 2009; Denver, CO Epothilones, 16-member ring macrolides, originally isolated from myxobacterium Sorangium cellulosum in soil were shown to exert potent cytotoxicity via stabilization of microtubule polymerization, like Taxol®. They are not cross-resistant to multi-drug resistance drugs. At MSKCC, we have synthesized over 100 epothilones through pharmacology directed de novo total synthesis via molecular design of new pharmacophores. The third generation epothilone, iso-oxazole-fludelone (17-iso-oxazole-26-F3-9,10-deH-12,13-desoxy-epothilone B)(Iso-flu) is 20- and 1,000-fold more potent than Taxol against CCRF-CEM and CCRF-CEM/Taxol cell growth, respectively. It is not only with enhanced potency and solubility, but also with markedly improved metabolic stability and tumor penetrating capabilities. It has been shown that it achieved \#8220;Therapeutic cure\#8221; (> 10-log cell kill or no relapse from complete remission (CR) for over 10% of life-span) against human mammary MX-1, ovarian SK-OV-3, colon HCT-116, and leukemic CCRF-CEM xenograft tumors [Chou et al, PNAS USA 105: 13157-13162, 2008 (9/2/08 issue)]. We hereby report the therapeutic results against refractory or drug-resistant human tumor xenografts in nude mice, as specified by [Dose (mg/kg), schedule, results from 6-hr-i.v. infusion via tail vein, or otherwise specified], comparing with the widely used cancer chemotherapeutic agents, such as Taxol® or Temodar®. For lung A549/Taxol, Iso-flu [15, Q7Dx4, 80% suppression (supp.)] and Taxol [25, Q3Dx9, 42% supp.]; For mammary MCF-7/Adriamycin, Iso-flu [15, Q7Dx2, 100% supp.] and Taxol [25, Q2Dx4, 3.7% supp.]; For neuroblastoma SK-NAS, s.c., Iso-flu [45, Q12Dx4, cure, 120-Day, No Relapse 4/4] and Taxol [30, Q2Dx4, 74.4% supp.]; For SK-NAS-i.c. [30, Q10Dx2, median survival time 26.3±1.3 days] and Temodar [200, Q2Dx3, oral, median survival time 19.2±1.3 days]; For pancreatic adenoca BX-PC-3, Iso-flu [25, Q12Dx3, 100% supp.] and Taxol [20, Q2Dx8, 95% supp.]; For prostate adenoca PC-3, Iso-flu [25, Q12Dx4, 5/5CR] and Taxol [25, Q2Dx8, 5/5CR]; and for CCRF-CEM/Taxol, Iso-flu [30, Q12Dx, 4/4CR] and Taxol [25, Q2Dx6, 3% supp.]. Thus, Iso-flu is not only curative against MX-1, SK-OV-3, HCT-116, and CCRF-CEM human tumor xenografts but also has superior therapeutic effects against refractory or drug resistant human xenograft tumors than the major cancer chemotherapeutic agents, such as Taxol or Temodar, with the exception of two cases, where they were equal to Iso-flu. Therefore, Iso-flu is an extraordinarily promising candidate that warrants anticancer clinical developments. Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 5565.
Neutron Scattering Studies of Spin Correlations in Metallic YBa2Cu3O6+x

Electron-electron correlations appear to play an important role in determining many properties of the copper oxide superconductors. One significant consequence of the electronic Coulomb interactions are spin correlations. In the insulating phases of the layered cuprates, where the antibonding band due to Cu 3d x 2- y 2-O 2p σ hybridization in the CuO2 planes is half filled, long-range antiferromagnetic order is observed. As the layers are doped with holes, the Neel order is rapidly destroyed, but dynamical antiferromagnetic correlations survive.1 In this paper, I will review some inelastic neutron scattering studies of the spin fluctuations in metallic YBa2Cu3O6+x .
Inter-run variation of luminex single-antigen assay for the detection of antibodies to HLA

Aim Luminex single-antigen assay (SA) utilizes multiplexed beads to detect specific antibodies to HLA. The approach to quality control during the daily operation in an HLA laboratory has not been well defined. This study aims to examine the inter-run variation of MFIs using a stable positive control (PC) specimen, and to explore possible control rules (CRs) for judging the acceptability of each run. Methods To control for multiple beads with MFIs flanking an internal MFI cutoff of 2000, sera of highly sensitized patients were mixed, aliquoted and frozen as PC material. During a 7-week period, one aliquot was thawed each week and tested at 1:100 dilution in all runs. MFIs adjusted for background were compiled and analyzed. Bead-specific means and standard deviations (SDs) from the first 20 runs were used to develop empirical CRs, which were applied to subsequent runs to calculate rejection rate. The means and coefficients of variation (CVs) were also compared among different operators. Results SDs increased and CVs decreased in linear relations with mean MFIs on log-log plot for both class I (Fig. 1A) and II beads (p 0.0001). For the first 20 runs, the CVs (median and interquartile range) for all class I and II beads were 24% (21–28%) and 21% (14–34%) respectively; for beads with MFIs of 1000–3000, the CVs were 22.5% (21–23%) and 14% (13–19%) respectively. If accepting runs with 2 beads exceeding the mean ± 2SD limit, 1 each of class I (Fig. 1B) and II run must be rejected out of 19 and 17 runs respectively. If accepting runs with 4 beads exceeding the mean ± 1SD limit, 53% and 41% of class I and II runs must be rejected. Among 6 operators, the mean MFIs and CVs for class I and II beads were different from each other (p 0.0001); 3 operators with CVs significantly higher than the overall CVs were identified. Conclusion Our approach allows evaluation of inter-run variations over a range of MFIs and the performance of different operators. A CR of mean ± 2SD may help reject occasional, unqualified runs while maintaining analytical quality within a stable range. Download : Download full-size image
Human foveal far-field radiation pattern.

As part of another study, a remarkable record of a freshly excised, human central foveal farfield radiation pattern has been obtained. This pattern has been analyzed by microdensitometry. A possible relationship to the Stiles-Crawford effect of the first kind (directional sensitivity of the retina) has been considered.
DOT Guided Quantitative Fluorescence Molecular Tomography with a Fiber-free Multi-angle Non-contact Transmission System

Diffuse optical tomography (DOT) guided quantitative fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT) is implemented by a non-contact, multi-angle transmission system based on finite element algorithms. This DOT guided FMT approach is evaluated using extensive phantom experiments.
An architecture for delivery of distance education in developing countries

Distance Education (DE) is becoming more popular due to the flexibility it offers to students of all ages, across varied professions, to take classes from any location in the world. In the face of the slow growth of education in developing nations like Bangladesh, DE can be leveraged to boost literacy rates there. Teaching staff shortages are a prime contributing factor to this slow growth. Numerous distance learning tools are on the market for delivering instruction to students in remote locations. The question is how effectively these tools can be used by individuals accessing instruction materials from locations in a developing country where there is limited network capacity. This is an important concern since distance learning tools are network capacity intensive requiring at a minimum 200 Kbps data bit rate per student, which is not supported by most of the Internet and cellular phone service providers of these countries. This paper discusses the design and development of a cost-effective, distributed, peer-to-peer, overlay multicast architecture to support DE using distance learning tools over wired and terrestrial wireless networks of limited capacity.
Aggressive interactions between the introduced Argentine ant, Linepithema humile and the native odorous house ant, Tapinoma sessile

The Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) is an invasive species that disrupts the balance of natural ecosystems by displacing indigenous ant species throughout its introduced range. The mechanisms by which Argentine ants effectively compete against native ant species have been previously addressed in field studies that centered on interference and exploitation competition at baits and mainly examined the colony-level performance of Argentine ants. Detailed behavioral observations explaining the basis for the strong competitive ability of L. humile are comparatively rare. To gain a better understanding of the mechanisms by which Argentine ants displace native ants we examined the aggressive interactions between the Argentine ants and the odorous house ant, Tapinoma sessile in four different aggression assays: (1) worker dyad interactions, (2) symmetrical group interactions, (3) intruder introductions into an established resident colony, and (4) a resource competition assay which focused on competition for food and nesting space. Our results demonstrate a clear disparity between worker-level and colony-level fighting ability of Argentine ants and provide behavioral evidence to explain the superior interference ability of Argentine ants in group assays. Argentine ants experienced mixed success in fighting against odorous house ants in dyad interactions, but gradually gained a numerical advantage in symmetrical group interactions by active cooperation among nestmates. Results of the resource competition assay indicate that Argentine ants recruit rapidly, numerically dominate food and nesting sites, and aggressively displace T. sessile from baits. Taken together, the results of these assays allow us to pinpoint the behavioral mechanisms responsible for the remarkable competitive ability of Argentine ants.
Under-Developed and Under-Utilized Eclipsing Binary Model Capabilities

Existing but largely unused binary star model capabilities are examined. An easily implemented scheme is parameterization of starspot growth and decay that can stimulate work on outer convection zones and their dynamos. Improved precision in spot computation now enhances analysis of very precise data. An existing computational model for blended spectral line profiles is accurate for binary system effects but needs to include damping, thermal Doppler, and other intrinsic broadening effects. Binary star ephemerides had been found exclusively from eclipse timings until recently, but now come also from whole light and radial velocity curves. A logical further development will be to expand these whole curve solutions to include eclipse timings. An attenuation model for circumstellar clouds, with several absorption and scattering mechanisms, has been applied only once, perhaps because the model clouds have fixed locations. However the clouds could be made to move dynamically and be combined into moving streams and disks. An area of potential interest is polarization curve analysis, where incentive for modeling could follow from publication of observed polarization curves. Other recent advances include direct single step solutions for temperatures of both stars of an eclipsing binary and third body kinematics from combined light and velocity curves.
UNDERSTANDING GESTURES IN MULTIMODAL HUMAN COMPUTER INTERACTION

In recent years because of the advances in computer vision research, free hand gestures have been explored as a means of human-computer interaction (HCI). Gestures in combination with speech can be an important step toward natural, multimodal HCI. However, interpretation of gestures in a multimodal setting can be a particularly challenging problem. In this paper, we propose an approach for studying multimodal HCI in the context of a computerized map. An implemented testbed allows us to conduct user studies and address issues toward understanding of hand gestures in a multimodal computer interface. Absence of an adequate gesture classification in HCI makes gesture interpretation difficult. We formalize a method for bootstrapping the interpretation process by a semantic classification of gesture primitives in HCI context. We distinguish two main categories of gesture classes based on their spatio-temporal deixis. Results of user studies revealed that gesture primitives, originally extracted from weather map narration, form patterns of co-occurrence with speech parts in association with their meaning in a visual display control system. The results of these studies indicated two levels of gesture meaning: individual stroke and motion complex. These findings define a direction in approaching interpretation in natural gesture-speech interfaces.
The Effects of Annual Accounting Data on Stock Returns and Trading Activity: A Causal Model Study

Abstract This study develops a structural equation model linking both abnormal stock returns and abnormal trading volume to unexpected changes in accounting ratios that result from the issuance of annual accounting data. The three contributions of this study are as follows: (a) a simultaneous investigation of both the price and the trading activity stock market reactions to the issuance of annual financial statements; (b) the application of a measurement model to depict the changes in a firm's financial characteristics, which result from the issuance of financial statements; and (c) a causal model structure is developed, estimated, and tested. Through overidentification of the model, the hypothesized model structure is evaluated. Instead of investigating the price and trading activity reactions separately, as was done in previous studies, the two reactions are modeled simultaneously and are linked. A measurement model is hypothesized to aggregate the unexpected changes in 13 financial ratios into the unex...
A Particle at Rest in a Static Gravitational Field

It is shown that, for a particle to be at rest in a static, axially symmetric gravitational field, the force on the particle must vanish. This result is then generalized to the case of an arbitrary static gravitational field.
Robust line spectral estimation

Line spectral estimation is a classical signal processing problem that finds numerous applications in array signal processing and speech analysis. We propose a robust approach for line spectral estimation based on atomic norm minimization that is able to recover the spectrum exactly even when the observations are corrupted by arbitrary but sparse outliers. The resulting optimization problem is reformulated as a semidefinite program. Our work extends previous work on robust uncertainty principles by allowing the frequencies to assume values in a continuum rather than a discrete set.
Ultrasound determination of chest wall thickness: implications for needle thoracostomy.

Objective: Computed tomography measurements of chest wall thickness (CWT) suggest that standardlength angiocatheters (4.5 cm) may fail to decompress tension pneumothoraces. We used an alternative modality, ultrasound, to measure CWT. We correlated CWT with body mass index (BMI) and used national data to estimate the percentage of patients with CWT greater than 4.5 cm. Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional study of a convenience sample. We recorded standing height, weight, and sex. We measured CWT with ultrasound at the second intercostal space, midclavicular line and at the fourth intercostal space, midaxillary line on supine subjects. We correlated BMI (weight [in kilograms]/height 2 [in square meters]) with CWT using linear regression. 95% Confidence intervals (CIs) assessed statistical significance. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey results for 2007-2008 were combined to estimate national BMI adult measurements. Results: Of 51 subjects, 33 (65%) were male and 18 (35%) were female. Mean anterior CWT (male, 2.1 cm; CI, 1.9-2.3; female, 2.3 cm; CI, 1.7-2.7), lateral CWT (male, 2.4 cm; CI, 2.1-2.6; female, 2.5 cm; CI 2.0-2.9), and BMI (male, 27.7; CI, 26.1-29.3; female, 30.0; CI, 25.8-34.2) did not differ by sex. Lateral CWT was greater than anterior CWT (0.2 cm; CI, 0.1-0.4; P b .01). Only one subject with a BMI of 48.2 had a CWT that exceeded 4.5 cm. Using national BMI estimates, less than 1% of the US population would be expected to have CWT greater than 4.5 cm. Conclusions: Ultrasound measurements suggest that most patients will have CWT less than 4.5 cm and that CWT may not be the source of the high failure rate of needle decompression in tension pneumothorax. © 2010 Published by Elsevier Inc.
Qualifications of Public Health Geneticists

Public health genetics is a rapidly emerging field that is not well defined. One way of helping to define the field is to describe the competences of the professionals who participate in it. The infor
Activity of Serotonergic Neurons in Behaving Animals

Brain serotonergic neurons display a distinctive slow and regular discharge pattern in behaving animals. This activity gradually declines across the arousal-waking sleep cycle, becoming virtually silent during rapid eye movement sleep. The activity of these neurons, in both the pontine and medullary groups, is generally unresponsive to a variety of physiological challenges or stressors. However, these neurons are activated in association with increased muscle tone/tonic motor activity, especially if the motor activity is in the repetitive or central pattern generator mode. We interpret these data within the following theoretical framework. The primary function of the brain serotonergic system is to facilitate motor output. Concurrently, the system coordinates autonomic and neuroendocrine function with the present motor demand, and inhibits information processing in various sensory pathways. Reciprocally, when the serotonin system is briefly inactivated (e.g., during orientation to salient stimuli), this disfacilitates motor function and disinhibits sensory information processing. It is within this context that serotonin exerts its well-known effects on pain, feeding, memory, mood, etc.
Sedimentary evidence of intense hurricane strikes from New Jersey

Nine Vibracores from the backbarrier marsh at Whale Beach, New Jersey, reveal three large-scale overwash deposits associated with historic and prehistoric storms. The uppermost and smallest overwash fan was deposited in the Ash Wednesday northeaster of March 5‐8, 1962. A second more substantial overwash fan between 100 and 35 cm depth dates to the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century. This fan was most likely deposited during the 1821 hurricane, the only intense hurricane to make landfall in New Jersey in the past 350 yr. A third, larger overwash fan between 200 and 300 cm depth was deposited between A.D. 1278 and 1438 and is likely the result of a prehistoric intense hurricane strike. The combination of historical and stratigraphic evidence indicates that two intense hurricanes (winds . 50 ms 21 ) have likely made landfall on the southern New Jersey coast in the past 700 yr, resulting in an annual landfall probability of 0.3%.
Cloud‐to‐ground lightning enhancement over Southern Louisiana

[1] Fourteen years (1989–2002) of cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning data show a significant enhancement of lightning associated with Lake Charles and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. A peak density value of 7 flashes km−2 yr−1 exists on the western side of the Lake Charles urban area. A comparison of the Louisiana CG flash density distribution with the locations of PM10 (particulate matter less than 10 μm in diameter) sources strongly suggests that pollution plays a key role in lightning enhancement. Urban and sea breeze effects can be neglected. The values of median peak negative current show a sharp difference between land and the Gulf of Mexico; inland values are near 24 kA, while over the Gulf waters immediately offshore are over 30 kA. This observation, along with a relative minimum of negative peak current from the mouth of the Mississippi River southeastward seems to support the hypothesis that the underlying surface characteristics influence the calculated negative current distribution.
Osteogenesis imperfecta and cardiovascular diseases

Aortic and mitral valvular insufficiency in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta result from an underlying defect in connective tissue formation. The surgical cases reported in the literature have included mechanical and bioprosthetic valve replacement as well as attempts at repair and reconstruction. Despite complications related to bleeding and tissue friability, acceptable results have been obtained. In this report, we describe aortic regurgitation secondary to osteogenesis imperfecta treated with homograft replacement. The unique cardiovascular complications of osteogenesis imperfecta and the available therapeutic options are discussed in light of the literature review.
Vasopressin versus epinephrine during cardiopulmonary resuscitation : a randomized swine outcome study

In animal models, vasopressin improves short-term outcome after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for ventricular fibrillation compared to placebo, and improves myocardial and cerebral hemodynamics during CPR compared to epinephrine. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that vasopressin would improve 24-h neurologically intact survival compared to epinephrine. After a 2-min untreated ventricular fibrillation interval followed by 6 min of simulated bystander CPR, 35 domestic swine (weight, 25±1 kg) were randomly provided with a single dose of vasopressin (20 U or approximately 0.8 U kg−1 intravenously) or with epinephrine (0.02 mg kg−1 intravenously every 5 min). Ten minutes after initial medication administration (18 min after induction of ventricular fibrillation), standard advanced life support was provided, starting with defibrillation. Animals that were successfully resuscitated received 1 h of intensive care support and were observed for 24 h. Coronary perfusion pressures were higher in the vasopressin group 2 and 4 min after vasopressin administration (28±2 versus 18±1 mmHg, P<0.01, and 26±3 versus 18±2 mmHg, P<0.05, respectively). The vasopressin group tended to be successfully defibrillated on the first attempt more frequently (8/18 versus 3/17, P=0.15). Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was attained in 12/18 (67%) vasopressin-treated pigs versus 8/17 (47%) epinephrine-treated pigs, P=0.24. Twenty-four hour neurologically normal survival occurred in 11/18 (61%) versus 7/17 (41%), respectively, P=0.24. In conclusion, vasopressin administration during CPR improved coronary perfusion pressure, but did not result in statistically significant outcome improvement.
Linking performance drivers in production planning and inventory control to process choice

Abstract This study investigates how process choice relates to production planning and inventory control decisions. We empirically examine the validity of deductively derived patterns about these types of decisions. More importantly, we look for normative insights by exploring how production planning and inventory control decisions affect operations performance. Our findings show that production line and continuous flow plants use more of a level production strategy, and carry less raw material and work-in-process inventory. The performance drivers for these plants, through which the operations function excels, are effective utilization of equipment, reduced finished goods inventory, and reduced setup down time. To gain forward demand visibility and batching economies, job and batch shops rely much more on backlogs in their planning process. These plants use more of a production chase strategy and position inventory lower in the bills of materials. Four performance drivers for top-performing job and batch shops are to find ways that better anticipate customers' orders, have a more responsive chase strategy, carry less raw material or purchased inventory, and shorten production planning horizon, partly through less reliance on backlogs. It is intriguing that top-performing plants not only do the expected things, given their choice of process, but also excel in selected dimensions—some of which fit the profile normally associated with a different process choice. To monitor and continuously improve operations, evaluation ‘scorecards’ should pay particular attention to performance drivers, which change depending on the plant's process choice.
Life‐Cycle Assessment and Temporal Distributions of Emissions: Developing a Fleet‐Based Analysis

Summary Although the product-centered focus of life-cycle assessment has been one of its strengths, this analytical perspective embeds assumptions that may conflict with the realities of environmental problems. This article demonstrates, through a series of mathematical derivations, that all the products in use, rather than a single product, frequently should be the appropriate unit of analysis. Such a “fleet-centered” approach supplies a richer perspective on the comparative emissions burdens generated by alternative products, and it eliminates certain simplifying assumptions imposed upon the analysis by a product-centered approach. A sample numerical case, examining the comparative emissions of steel-intensive and aluminum-intensive automobiles, is presented to contrast the results of the two approaches. The fleet-centered analysis shows that the “crossover time” (i.e., the time required before the fuel economy benefits of the lighter aluminum vehicle offset the energy intensity of the processes used to manufacture the aluminum in the first place) can be dramatically longer than that predicted by a product-centered life-cycle assessment. The fleet-centered perspective explicitly introduces the notion of time as a critical element of comparative life-cycle assessments and raises important questions about the role of the analyst in selecting the appropriate time horizon for analysis. Moreover, with the introduction of time as an appropriate dimension to life-cycle assessment, the influences of effects distributed over time can be more naturally and consistently treated.
Building a Collection in Electronic Music: Considerations and Sources

As more colleges and universities are including electronic composition and studies programs into their schools, librarians are called to collect for this area, often with little experience or knowledge of the genre. Electronic music is constantly evolving, and the needs of patrons can vary greatly by institution, often necessitating librarians to take a variety of issues under consideration. This article describes a process of collecting electronic music, including specific recommendations and recent resources for purchasing in the genre. This information is intended to assist librarians needing to start or increase their holdings of electronic music, specifically as scores and sound recordings.
End-diastolic flow reversal limits the efficacy of pediatric intra-aortic balloon pump counterpulsation.

Background Counterpulsation with an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) has not achieved the same success or clinical use in pediatric patients as in adults. In a pediatric animal model, IABP efficacy was investigated to determine whether IABP timing with a high-fidelity blood pressure signal may improve counterpulsation therapy versus a low-fidelity signal. Methods In Yorkshire piglets (n = 19; weight, 13.0 ± 0.5 kg) with coronary ligation-induced acute ischemic left ventricular failure, pediatric IABPs (5 or 7 mL) were placed in the descending thoracic aorta. Inflation and deflation were timed with traditional criteria from low-fidelity (fluid-filled) and high-fidelity (micromanometer) blood pressure signals during 1:1 support. Aortic, carotid, and coronary hemodynamics were measured with pressure and flow transducers. Myocardial oxygen consumption was calculated from coronary sinus and arterial blood samples. Left ventricular myocardial blood flow and end-organ blood flow were measured with microspheres. Results Despite significant suprasystolic diastolic augmentation and afterload reduction at heart rates of 105 ± 3 beats per minute, left ventricular myocardial blood flow, myocardial oxygen consumption, the myocardial oxygen supply/demand relationship, cardiac output, and end-organ blood flow did not change. Statistically significant end-diastolic coronary, carotid, and aortic flow reversal occurred with IABP deflation. Inflation and deflation timed with a high-fidelity versus low-fidelity signal did not attenuate systemic flow reversal or improve the myocardial oxygen supply/demand relationship. Conclusions Systemic end-diastolic flow reversal limited counterpulsation efficacy in a pediatric model of acute left ventricular failure. Adjustment of IABP inflation and deflation timing with traditional criteria and a high-fidelity blood pressure waveform did not improve IABP efficacy or attenuate flow reversal. End-diastolic flow reversal may limit the efficacy of IABP counterpulsation therapy in pediatric patients with traditional timing criteria. Investigation of alternative deflation timing strategies is warranted.
Nonverbal behavior, dominance, and the basis of status in task groups.

Linking nonverbal behavior to influence in task groups has been interpreted as evidence that behavioral dominance is the basis of status. Challenging this interpretation, this paper proposes that both the power processes that underlie status formation and the structural implications of dominance hierarchies indicate that expectations about task performance will be the usual basis of status in task groups. Furthermore, while some nonverbal behavior communicates dominance, it is not linked to influence. Influence results from nonverbal task cues that affect the performance expectations of an actor. An experiment tested this hypothesis by measuring the influence achieved by a female confederate in a three-person female group. As expected, the confederate was most influential when she displayed high-level task cues. When she displayed a high level of dominance cues, the confederate was not more influential than when she displayed submissive or low-task cues. The results suggest that status is a collective product of the entire network of group members, rather than an aggregate of pairwise competitions among members.
Effects of Solar Radiation on the Dynamics of Dissolved Oxygen in Channel Catfish Ponds

Abstract The daytime increase in dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration of pond waters may be estimated from solar radiation, chlorophyll a concentration, and percentage O2 saturation at dawn (coefficient of multiple determination, R2 = 0.83), or from solar radiation, Secchi disk visibility, and percentage O2 saturation at dawn (R2 = 0.80). A computer simulation model for predicting the effects of cloudy weather (low solar radiation) on DO depletion was developed for channel catfish ponds. The model incorporates the equation for estimating daytime DO increase from solar radiation and Secchi disk visibility with components for estimating the nighttime decline in DO from respiration by the plankton, fish, and benthic communities, and the gains or losses from diffusion. Results from the study demonstrated that the combination of dense plankton blooms and low levels of light intensity were closely related to low concentrations of DO.
Modeling of Distance-Dependent Mismatch and Across-Chip Variations in Semiconductor Devices

We present a simple and general method of modeling distance-dependent mismatch and across-chip variations (ACV). We are able to model various shapes of spatial correlation of a process/device/circuit parameter exactly in a compact device model. Examples include Gaussian and exponential types of spatial correlations. There are no grid points, groups, and brackets in our method. The resulting spatial correlation is both translational invariant and continuous. The correlation range of the ACV part of spatial correlation can be much smaller than chip size, about the chip size, or much larger than chip size. The method can model either isotropic or anisotropic spatial correlations.
Evidence for stimulus access to taste cells and nerves during development: an electron microscopic study.

We have examined developing taste buds in fungiform papillae of rats from the 18th day of gestation (E18) to the 15th postnatal day (P15). Nerve processes were seen in the epithelium of E18 rats before taste buds were obvious. At E20, early taste buds were visible, but were embedded within the epithelium, i.e., their cells were shielded from the oral cavity by overlying squamous epithelium. At this stage, the epithelium on the lateral aspects of the fungiform papillae was keratinized, but that overlying the taste bud was not. Some taste bud cells at E20 contained synapse-like structures near their contacts with nerve processes. In postnatal animals, keratinized epithelial cells were seen overlying taste buds, but taste pores were not observed until P10. How, then, do stimuli reach the taste cells and elicit physiological and behavioral responses as reported by others? The keratinized epithelium overlying the buds was unlike that on the lateral aspect of the papilla in at least one significant way. Few lamellated bodies were present in intercellular spaces beneath the stratum corneum, whereas these were abundant in the corresponding location within epithelium on the slope of the papilla. Although some were present within the squamous epithelium overlying the bud, they apparently were not released into the intercellular space. These lipid-rich lamellated bodies are thought to represent the water barrier of the epithelium, i.e., the barrier which prevents aqueous solutions from passing through the epithelium. We determined that the keratinized epithelium overlying the taste bud was permeable to a tracer, lanthanum nitrate, whereas that on the lateral surface was not. Lanthanum was visualized around taste cells and around nerve profiles within and near the taste bud. We propose that the absence of an aqueous permeability barrier in the epithelium overlying taste buds likely explains the ability of tastants to reach the taste bud cells and nerves in the developmental period before pore formation. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A Core Language for Rewriting

Abstract System S is a calculus providing the basic abstractions of term rewriting: matching and building terms, term traversal, combining computations and handling failure. The calculus forms a core language for implementation of a wide variety of rewriting languages, or more generally, languages for specifying tree transformations. In this paper we show how a conventional rewriting language based on conditional term rewriting can be implemented straightforwardly in System S. Subsequently we show how this implementation can be extended with features such as matching conditions, negative conditions, default rules, non-strictness annotations and alternative evaluation strategies. We thank Bas Luttik and Andrew Tolmach for many discussions on rewriting strategies and their applications. Jan Bergstra pointed out the problems of non-determinism and conditional rules in languages such as ASF+SDF. Eu-genio Moggi made clear that our semantics does not model programs with global backtracking, but rather local backtracking, which was what we were looking for.
In Vivo Expression of Proinflammatory Mediators in the Adult Heart after Endotoxin Administration: The Role of Toll-Like Receptor–4

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, and nitric oxide (NO) may play a role in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cardiac depression. Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) mediates the cytokine response to LPS in immune cells. TLR-4 also is expressed in human and murine myocardial tissue. Therefore, the hypothesis that LPS induces proinflammatory cytokines in the heart via TLR-4 was tested. C3H/HeJ (TLR-4 deficient) and C3HeB/FeJ mice were studied. LPS induced a robust increase in myocardial TNF-alpha and IL-1beta mRNA in C3HeB/FeJ mice. The response in C3H/HeJ mice was blunted and delayed. Myocardial TNF-alpha and IL-1beta protein levels were higher in C3HeB/FeJ mice, as were inducible NO synthase protein and NO production. Activation of myocardial NF-kappaB was observed within 30 min in C3HeB/FeJ mice but not in C3H/HeJ mice. These findings suggest that myocardial TLR-4 is involved in signaling cytokine production within the heart during endotoxic shock.
The Electrodynamics of Light Transmission for Subwavelength Single Apertures and Aperture Arrays

Modern nanofabrication tools, coherent light sources, quantitative light measurements, and three-dimensional numerical vector field simulations have led to a radical revision of early claims of “extraordinary transmission” based on classical electrodynamic models and Bloch-state analyses.
A Structural Model of Appropriate Adult Functioning for Boys with Disruptive Behavior Disorders

Saint Francis Academy is a residential treatment center for boys with disruptive behavior disorders. Previously collected posttreatment data was factor analyzed yielding nine factors, six of which contributed to a second-order factor called Appropriate Adult Functioning. A structural model using these six factors produced from data collected from ex-residents at 2 years postrelease was analyzed using EQS (a structural modeling program). The model was then validated using data from subsequent follow-ups. Results required the removal of one path, but otherwise the a priori model fit the data for all three follow-ups. The adjustments in path values required for subsequent follow-ups allowed for dynamic interpretations. Of particular interest were the findings regarding the growing impact of Responsibility on Emotional-Well Being and Financial Independence and the relationship of Financial Independence to Legal Involvement. Implications for treatment design and evaluation strategies are given.
The new vital sign. Assessing and documenting smoking status.

AT THE turn of the last century, the American medical community developed a standardized assessment to help clinicians confront the leading cause of death at that time, infectious disease. This assessment, known as vital signs, included temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate, and, later, blood pressure. 1-3 Over time, the measurement of vital signs became an expected part of every clinic visit and an essential component of the database physicians use to evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients. As we approach the next century, American medicine is challenged by a different cause of illness and death—tobacco use. Cigarettes are now responsible for more than 430000 deaths each year in the United States. 4 As with past epidemics of this magnitude, institutional changes in the practice of medicine must be adopted to overcome the enormous disease burden resulting from tobacco use. Making smoking status the "new vital
Synthesizing physically realistic human motion in low-dimensional, behavior-specific spaces

Optimization is an appealing way to compute the motion of an animated character because it allows the user to specify the desired motion in a sparse, intuitive way. The difficulty of solving this problem for complex characters such as humans is due in part to the high dimensionality of the search space. The dimensionality is an artifact of the problem representation because most dynamic human behaviors are intrinsically low dimensional with, for example, legs and arms operating in a coordinated way. We describe a method that exploits this observation to create an optimization problem that is easier to solve. Our method utilizes an existing motion capture database to find a low-dimensional space that captures the properties of the desired behavior. We show that when the optimization problem is solved within this low-dimensional subspace, a sparse sketch can be used as an initial guess and full physics constraints can be enabled. We demonstrate the power of our approach with examples of forward, vertical, and turning jumps; with running and walking; and with several acrobatic flips.
Clinical improvement related to thrombolysis of third ventricular blood clot in a patient with thalamic hemorrhage.

Abstract Intraventricular extension of hemorrhage after intraparenchymal hemorrhage is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Clinical improvement is reported in a patient with thalamic hemorrhage with intraventricular extension after third and fourth ventricular blood clot resolution with instillation of urokinase intraventricularly. A 49-year-old man with hypertension collapsed while at work. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the head revealed a left thalamic hemorrhage with extension into the lateral, third, and fourth ventricles and associated hydrocephalus. A left frontal intraventricular catheter (IVC) was placed and intraventricular urokinase was administered at a dose of 25,000 U every 12 hours. The CT scan revealed resolution of the lateral ventricular dilatation and blood clot but no decrease in third or fourth ventricular hemorrhage. No clinical improvement was noted. The IVC was reinserted on the right side with the catheter tip placed through the foramen of Monroe into the third ventricle. Twelve hours after receiving the first dose of urokinase through the new catheter, the patient's condition improved. The CT scan showed a reduction in the volume of blood of the third and fourth ventricles. This case report shows that treatment of hydrocephalus with an IVC was not sufficient to provide a therapeutic effect. Substantial clinical improvement occurred only after the blood clot was cleared from the third and fourth ventricles. Copyright © 2001 by National Stroke Association
Retention of cast crowns cemented to amalgam and composite resin cores

An in vitro study was conducted to determine the tensile bond strength of complete cast gold restorations cemented with zinc phosphate cement on composite resin and amalgam crown cores. The samples were thermocycled and tested at 1-week, 1-month, and 3-month intervals. Results of the study showed that: (1) the amalgam core provides more retention for the cast gold crown than does the composite resin core and (2) the composite resin core provides increasing retention over a longer time period.
Pulsatile Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Stimulation of Gonadotropin Subunit Transcription in Rat Pituitaries: Evidence for the Involvement of Jun N-Terminal Kinase But Not p38

We investigated whether Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mediate gonadotropin subunit transcriptional responses to pulsatile GnRH in normal rat pituitaries. A single pulse of GnRH or vehicle was given to female rats in vivo, pituitaries collected, and phosphorylated JNK and p38 measured. GnRH stimulated an increase in JNK phosphorylation within 5 min, which peaked 15 min after GnRH (3-fold). GnRH also increased p38 phosphorylation 2.3-fold 15 min after stimulus. Rat pituitary cells were given 60-min pulses of GnRH or media plus the JNK inhibitor SP600125 (SP, 20 μm), p38 inhibitor SB203580 (20 μm), or vehicle. In vehicle-treated groups, GnRH pulses increased LHβ and FSHβ primary transcript (PT) levels 3-fold. SP suppressed both basal and GnRH-induced increases in FSHβ PT by half, but the magnitude of responses to GnRH was unchanged. In contrast, SP had no effect on basal LHβ PT but suppressed the stimulatory response to GnRH. SB203580 had no effect on the actions of GnRH on either LH or FSHβ PTs. Lβ-T2...
Plasma Bullets Propagation Inside of Agarose Tissue Model

This paper demonstrates plasma bullets generated by microsecond pulses in He flow propagation inside of conductive agarose gel tubes mimicking tissue. The objective of this paper is to understand the possibility of internal diseases' treatment (e.g., lung or intestinal cancer) using plasma jets. The propagation dynamics is studied using fast imaging technique, and production of reactive species is demonstrated both in gas phase (using optical emission spectroscopy) and inside of the agarose gel (using fluorescent dye). In addition, it is demonstrated that plasma bullets may propagate not only in a straight tubes, but also in L-shaped tubes, as well as be split in T-shaped tubes. All these facts offer an indication of possible successful application of plasma bullets for treatment of internal diseases, for example, lung cancers or intestinal diseases.
σ-fields of bad Borel sets

Abstract A “bad Borel subfield” of a space X is an infinite countably σ-generated σ-subfield of Borel sets none of which (other than O and X ) is open or closed. X has “very bad Borel subfields” if, for each countable ordinal α, there is such a field of Borel sets none of which (other than O and X ) is of Borel class less than α. Under suitable conditions on X , such fields are constructed, and a possible alternative construction is discussed.
Comment: “On the computation of molecular auxiliary functions A n and B n ”

Guseinov, Mamedov, Kara and Orbay (Pramana - J. Phys. 56, 691 (2001)) propose methods for evaluating the molecular auxiliary functionsA n(p) andB n(pt) for the range 17 ≤n ≤ 60 and 25 ≤pt ≤ 60. However, their procedure forA n(p) is not new, and that forB n(pt) is less efficient for their target range than another well-known method. Their approach does have merit for smaller non-zero values ofpt. Two minor errors in table 1 of their paper are also identified.
Protein synthesis in rabbit reticulocytes XXXI: Purification of Co-eIF-2C and studies of its roles in peptide chain initiation

Abstract Co-eIF-2C activity has been purified from high salt wash of reticulocyte ribosomes. The purified preparation is free from detectable levels of eIF-2, Co-eIF-2A, Co-eIF-2B and RF activities. The final step in the purification process involves use of a phosphocellulose chromatography and elution of Co-eIF-2C activity from the column with a buffer containing 2 M urea. This step results in complete removal of the contaminating Co-eIF-2B activity from the purified Co-eIF-2C preparation. Upon polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the final Co-eIF-2C preparation shows a single protein band under non-denaturing conditions. In the presence of SDS, the gel picture shows five prominent polypeptide bands (approximate mol. wt: 100,000; 67,000; 53,000; 45,000; and 40,000) and several faint bands. Purified Co-eIF-2C preparation strongly stimulates Met-tRNA f ·40S·AUG complex formation in the presence of eIF-2 and such stimulation is almost completely inhibited by HRI plus ATP. This study thus delineates the minimum factor requirements, namely, eIF-2 and Co-eIF-2C for formation of a stable Met-tRNA f ·40S·AUG complex.
Trends and Interannual Variability of Wind Speed Distributions in Minnesota

Abstract Near-surface wind speed variability is investigated at seven stations in and surrounding Minnesota for recent climate records of 22–35 yr in length. Analyses focus on mean annual wind speeds and on the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles of the annual distributions of mean daily wind speeds. Most of the seven stations showed a trend toward reduced mean annual wind speeds, though one station showed increasing speeds and one station had no overall trend. In general, wind speed trends were most pronounced at the 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles of the annual distributions, regardless of the trend in the mean. The shape and central tendency of the distributions at each station also could vary markedly from one year to the next.
The universalisation of a concept: ‘feudalism’ to ‘feudalism’ in Chinese Marxist historiography

(1985). The universalisation of a concept: ‘feudalism’ to ‘feudalism’ in Chinese Marxist historiography. The Journal of Peasant Studies: Vol. 12, Feudalism and Non‐European Societies, pp. 197-227.