cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The importance of various shell characteristics to the shell-selection behavior of hermit crabs

Abstract Shell selection by the hermit crab, Pagurus pollicaris (Say), was studied in a natural population and in laboratory experiments. The results indicate that hermit crabs vary their preference for shells of a certain weight and volume, depending upon the species of shell. When the weight of the shell was increased ≈25%, either by its natural epifauna or artificially, hermit crabs continued to occupy shells of the same size and volume, suggesting that shell volume was more important than weight in shell selection. Alterations of the angle of the shell axis and position of the shell's center of gravity often resulted in an aversion to the altered shells by both P. pollicaris and P. longicarpus (Say), indicating that variations in these two shell properties may influence shell selection. These results provide evidence that hermit crabs select shells on the basis of several shell traits that bear on the protection offered by the shell or by the ease with which it can be carried.
Anomalous killer cells: thymus cell dependency, precursor frequency, and response to immunosuppressive therapy.

Abstract Human peripheral blood lymphocytes (HPBL) cultured with the Daudi tumor cell line develop into nonspecific cytotoxic cells. These cytotoxic cells, anomalous killer (AK) cells, are dependent upon thymus-derived cells and monocytes in the generation phase and bear serologically determined T-cell antigens in the effector cell stage. Precursor frequency determinations of these killer cells range from 1 166 to 1 689 in untreated patients and drop considerably after treatment with fractionated X irradiation or cytoreductive therapy. Lymphokine (LK)-containing supernatants partially restore cytotoxic activity of AK cells after X irradiation, indicating a second signal requirement for precursor differentiation into lytic effector cells.
Internal Iliac Artery Aneurysm Presenting as Severe Constipation: A Case Report

This is a case report of an elderly man who presented with a history of increasing constipation. He was found to have a leaking aneurysm of his right internal iliac artery. The patient underwent repair of the aneurysm with subsequent relief of his constipation. Although genitourinary obstruction is a well-known symptom of internal iliac aneurysms, constipation is a very unusual manifestation of this disorder.
The Engagement in Physical Activity for Middle-Aged and Older Adults with Multiple Chronic Conditions: Findings from a Community Health Assessment

The current aging trends accompanying the increasing prevalence of multiple chronic conditions (MCCs) and decreasing participation in physical activity (PA) have swept the United States. In light of the magnitude of this phenomenon, this study seeks to identify the most common MCC combinations and their relationships with PA level. A cross-sectional study, Brazos Valley Health Assessment, was conducted between October 2009 and July 2010. All data analyses were performed by STATA 12.0. The overall sample which met the inclusion criteria is 2,603. Among people older than 45 years, chronic conditions of cardiovascular, endocrine, and musculoskeletal systems were the most prevalent. Participants with three chronic conditions were less likely to meet the PA standard than those with only two chronic conditions. Younger age, women, rural residence, and unsafe environments were related to the lower PA level. After adjusting for seven covariates, all MCCs combinations adversely affect the level of PA (OR < 1.0, P < 0.05). People with MCCs were among the least active subgroups despite the health benefits of doing exercise. Given the well-documented benefits of physical activity for delaying the onset or progression of MCCs, public health efforts to enhance regular PA in middle-aged and older adults are recommended.
Influence of excess WO3 on the microstructure and dielectric properties of PZN-PFN-PFW ceramics

Abstract Microstructure, phase formation and dielectric properties were investigated in the solid solution system of 0.16PZN-0.48PFN-0.36PFW (PZNFW) as a function of excess WO3 content at the level of 0, 2, 5 and 10 mol%. Excess WO3 did not enhance the formation of pervoskite phase. For the 750°C calcined powders, the amount of pervoskite phase decreased with the increase of excess WO3 content. The grain size of PZNFW ceramics was also decreased with increasing excess WO3. The morphology was changed from polyhedral angular shape to spherical, round shape. The inhibition of grain growth and morphology change with increasing WO3 content were ascribed to the second phase, Pb2WO5, formed on cooling after sintering. The lowering of dielectric constant with the increase of excess WO3 is speculated to be the grain boundary layer effect.
"Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda": A Conceptual Examination of the Sources of Postpurchase Regret

Regret is a key negative emotion consumers attempt to avoid while making decisions. Marketing researchers agree that, in addition to assessments of satisfaction, regret better explains postchoice valuation. Extant regret research in marketing literature has examined regret arising from the perspective of either the product choice or from the decision-making process that led to the purchase decision. This theoretical study examines the notion of regret arising simultaneously from both the product purchased and the decision-making process. A conceptual model is developed indicating two key moderators likely to impact the recognition and evaluation processes of the sources of regret.
Best Effort Quality-of-Service

We show that the fundamental problems in providing quality-of-service in the existing Internet architecture has been the assumption that a single, "best" path from source to destination is adequate for any communications requirements of the network. We present a new, best-effort architecture for providing quality-of-service in the Internet based on the use of the "best set of paths" to destinations. We show that this set of paths is well defined, can be efficiently computed, and present an approach to efficiently implement this new, best-effort quality- of-service architecture.
Molecular epidemiology of antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacilli in a neonatal intensive care unit during a nonoutbreak period.

Objective. Gram-negative organisms that are resistant to parenteral antibiotics are a growing threat to hospitalized patients. This study was conducted to define the epidemiologic characteristics of these organisms during a nonoutbreak period in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods. Nasopharyngeal and rectal swab specimens were obtained 3 times a week from every infant in a tertiary care NICU during a 12-month period. Specimens were processed to identify aerobic Gram-negative species resistant to gentamicin, piperacillin-tazobactam, or ceftazidime. Selected clinical parameters were tested for their association with colonization with a resistant organism. Restriction endonuclease digests of genomic DNA were derived from isolates of the most frequently occurring species. The fragments were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to determine the genetic relatedness of the various isolates and thereby determine the length of colonization, the frequency of horizontal transmission, and the size and duration of clusters. Results. A total of 101 infants (8.6%) of 1180 admissions were colonized with at least 1 antibiotic-resistant bacillus before NICU discharge. Multiple parameters indicating a prolonged, complicated NICU course were associated with resistant colonization, including gestational age, length of stay, and exposure to several classes of antibiotics. Colonization with resistant bacilli occurred as early as the first NICU day, but acquisition continued throughout the infants9 stay. A total of 436 isolates were analyzed by PFGE. On the basis of this molecular analysis, it was determined that duration of colonization was usually very short; the median for all species tested was Conclusions. During endemic periods, acquisition of antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacilli in the NICU may occur very soon after admission, but colonization continues over many weeks of NICU stay. The duration of colonization with resistant bacilli is short, and horizontal transmission is unusual. These characteristics suggest a gradual but temporary incorporation of these organisms from the NICU environment into the nascent newborn microflora over time with little cross-colonization. These observations may aid the rational development of infection-control strategies to contain the reservoir of resistant Gram-negative organisms in the NICU.antibiotic resistance, Gram-negative bacilli, neonatal intensive care, antibiotic utilization, colonization, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.
Styryl-telechelic polyisobutylenes. II. Amphiphilic sequential copolymers of styryl-telechelic polyisobutylenes with vinyl acetate or N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone

Abstract Styryl-telechelic polyisobutylenes (i.e., linear and three-arm star polyisobutylenes capped with polymerizable p-styryl endgroups St-PIB-St and St-PIB-St) have been copolymerized with vinyl ace State VAc or N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone VP by conventional free radical techniques. The products obtained with St-PIB-St/VAc systems were soluble, most likely branched block copolymers of isobutylene IB and VAc, whereas those prepared with St-PIB-St/VP or St-PIB-St/VP Stcombinations were networks consisting of PIB and poly(N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone) PVP sequences. That the copolymerization of St-PIB-St with VAc results in soluble products and that with VP yields networks is due to the very different reactivities of styrene with VAc and with VP. Hydrolysis of VAc units in PID-PV Ac block copolymers gave vinyl alcohol V A units, i.e., these products are branched block copolymers consistion of random VAc/VA composition of these soluble aphiphilic materials was determined from conversion and molecular weight data and b...
Kinetics of the reactions of fluorine and chlorine atoms with ethylene oxide (oxirane)

The kinetics of the reactions of F and C1 atoms with ethylene oxide have been studied using relative rate techniques in 10–700 Torr of either nitrogen or air diluent at 295 ± 2 K; k(F + C2H4O) = (9.4 ± 1.6) × 10−11 and k(C1 + C2H4O) = (5.0 ± 0.9) × 10−12 cm3 molecule−1 s−1. The result for k(F + C2H4O) is in good agreement with the literature data. The result for k(C1 + C2H4O) is a factor of 5.6 lower than that reported previously. It seems likely that in the previous study most of the loss of C2H4O attributed to reaction with C1 atoms was actually caused by unwanted secondary reactions leading to an overestimate of k(C1 + C2H4O). © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 34: 122–125, 2002
A Horner‐Emmons Approach to Cumulatrienes

Reaction of allenic phosphonates of structure (R'O)2P(O)CH′CCR2 with LDA led to ylid-like carbanions (2) by removal of H′. Intermediate 2 reacted with a variety of ketones (R′2′CO) to give adducts (3) which fragmented to cumulatrienes of structure R′2CCCCR2. The cumulatrienes prepared and their yields were: 4a (RCH3, R′Ph, 43%); 4b (R+RR′+R′(CH2)5, 64%); 4c (R+R(CH2)5, R′Ph, 28%); 4d (RR′CH3, 23%). In two cases, 4a and 4d, the cumulatrienes were complexed with chlorotris (triphenylphosphine)-rhodium.
Bisphosphonates in Paget’s Disease of Bone

Paget’s disease of bone is a chronic focal bone remodeling disorder with distinctive geographic occurnece. In the US, 1.8% of people over 60 years of age are affected. At present, 70% of patients are asymptomatic with the most common presenting symptoms being bone pain, osteoarthritis, and bone deformity. Paget’s disease is usually easily diagnosed by an elevated serum alkaline phosphatase level, a bone scan and skeletal radiographs of area that show increased activity on the bone scan. There is no cure for this disorder; however, a class of drugs, the bisphosphoates, can control the elevated bone remodeling rates, improve osteolytic skeletal lesions and attendant bone pain. The most effective bisphosphonates are the nitrogen-containing compounds, which can be administered orally or intravednously.
Treatment of skeletal class II deformity by mandibular osteotomy and bone grafting

Abstract An operation is described to correct the Angles Class II Division I deformity in the patient who wishes to avoid lengthy orthodontic preparation of the dental arches. Repositioning of the anterior mandibular teeth and alveolar process, together with the chin is achieved without hazard to the teeth or the inferior dental neuro-vascular bundle. Interpositional bone grafting is an essential part of the technique.
Bcl-2: Prolonging Life in a Transgenic Mouse Model of Familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Mutations in the gene encoding copper/zinc superoxide dismutase enzyme produce an animal model of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (FALS), a fatal disorder characterized by paralysis. Overexpression of the proto-oncogene bcl-2 delayed onset of motor neuron disease and prolonged survival in transgenic mice expressing the FALS-linked mutation in which glycine is substituted by alanine at position 93. It did not, however, alter the duration of the disease. Overexpression of bcl-2 also attenuated the magnitude of spinal cord motor neuron degeneration in the FALS-transgenic mice.
Regional population growth rate differences: note.

This note investigates regional population growth in the U.S. for 1959-84 taking into account four city sizes and three time periods. It is found that the growth is largest in city size (0.5-1.0) million and (1.0-2.0) million. Over time the growth is largest in the less urbanized regions. The note aims to supplement the findings of Daniel Garnick and is based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. (EXCERPT)
VACUUM AGING, DISPLAY AND LEVEL OF NUTRITION EFFECTS ON BEEF QUALITY

Vacuum aging and display effects on various quality traits of beef produced from 38 cattle on four nutritional regimes (grass-, short-, long-, and forage-fed) were studied. Anterior halves of the longissimus, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus muscles were fabricated into steaks at 48 hr postmortem; the posterior halves were vacuum aged for 21 days at 0—1°C before fabrication. Taste panel, shear force and cooking analyses were done on steaks from each muscle half before and after 5 days of display under continuous lighting at 1,076 lumens/m2 (100 ft-c) of deluxe warm white fluorescent light. Vacuum- aging improved (P < 0.05) taste panel tenderness, juiciness and flavor, scores; reduced Warner-Bratzler shear values and increased total and volatile cooking losses for averages of muscles and feeding regimes. Taste panel flavor scores were lower and drip and total cooking losses were reduced (P < 0.05) after vacuum-aged cuts had been displayed for 5 days. Shear force values continued to decline (P < 0.05) during display. Initial taste panel tenderness and flavor scores were less desirable for steaks from grass- and short-fed cattle. Vacuum aging improved (P < 0.05) tenderness, juiciness, and flavor scores in steaks from grass- and short-fed cattle, but flavor scores were less desirable in these steaks after 5 days of display. Shear force values were lowest (P < 0.05) in steaks from long-fed cattle. Total cooking and drip losses generally were lowest (P < 0.05) in steaks from grass-fed cattle. Vacuum aging increased (P < 0.05) total cooking loss in all steaks except those from the short-fed regime but reduced the variation in total cooking loss across all nutritional regimes.
Coupling strength and influence in cleaved-coupled-cavity lasers

The coupling between the segments of a C3 laser is calculated, and threshold plots for small gap perturbations are shown to differ substantially. Cases of strong, intermediate and weak coupling are compared.
The Amino Acid at the X Position of an Asn-X-Ser Sequon Is an Important Determinant of N-Linked Core-glycosylation Efficiency

N-Linked glycosylation is a common form of protein processing that can profoundly affect protein expression, structure, and function. N-Linked glycosylation generally occurs at the sequon Asn-X-Ser/Thr, where X is any amino acid except Pro. To assess the impact of the X amino acid on core glycosylation, rabies virus glycoprotein variants were generated by site-directed mutagenesis with each of the 20 common amino acids substituted at the X position of an Asn-X-Ser sequon. The efficiency of core glycosylation at the sequon in each variant was quantified in a rabbit reticulocyte lysate cell-free translation system supplemented with canine pancreas microsomes. The presence of Pro at the X position completely blocked core glycosylation, whereas Trp, Asp, Chi, and Leu were associated with inefficient core glycosylation. The other variants were more efficiently glycosylated, and several were fully glycosylated. These findings demonstrate that the X amino acid is an important determinant of N-linked core-glycosylation efficiency.
Dominance of human innate immune responses in primary Francisella tularensis live vaccine strain vaccination

Abstract : Francisella tularensis is the etiologic agent of the zoonotic disease, tularemia. An inoculum as small as 10 bacteria can cause a flulike disease with substantial morbidity and mortality among infected humans. Human tularemia presents in ulceroglandular, oculoglandular, oropharyngeal, pneumonic, and septic forms. Rapid administration of antibiotics prevents mortality in the majority of human cases if exposure doses are low and nonaerosol. Without early diagnosis and administration of antibiotics, high-dose aerosol exposure progresses rapidly to life threatening pleuropneumonitis and systemic infection. The relative abundance of F tularensis in nature and the relative ease with which it may be administered raise concerns over its exploitation as a biothreat agent.
Eye-rollers, risk-takers, and turn sharks : Target students in a professional science education program

In classrooms from kindergarten to graduate school, researchers have identified target students as students who monopolize material and human resources. Classroom structures that privilege the voice and actions of target students can cause divisive social dynamics that may generate cliques. This study focuses on the emergence of target students, the formation of cliques, and professors' efforts to mediate teacher learning in a Master of Science in Chemistry Education (MSCE) program by structuring the classroom environment to enhance nontarget students' agency. Specifically, we sought to answer the following question: What strategies could help college science professors enact more equitable teaching structures in their classrooms so that target students and cliques become less of an issue in classroom interactions? The implications for professional education programs in science and mathematics include the need for professors to consider the role and contribution of target students to the learning environment, the need to structure an equitable learning environment, and the need to foster critical reflection upon classroom interactions between students and instructors. 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 43: 819-851, 2006 Jill (a pseudonym) really dominated (chemistry) class today, speaking 24 times in 30 minutes. She'd ask a question and then answer it. She took the liberty of explaining to those around her what the TA was explaining at the board. At one point, she suggested he try explaining the problem in a different way, and then offered to come to the board to explain it for him. At first students were laughing at her tenacity, but they eventually fell silent. Chris, a recent chemistry graduate, began rolling his eyes as she spoke and two other high-achieving females began passing notes to one another and smiling each time she
Echocardiography in ischemic heart disease: Present status and future prospectives

Abstract The initial general enthusiasm for echocardiography as a relatively simple and inexpensive noninvasive technique led to uncritical acceptance of some of its proposed applications. Patients with ischemic heart disease have proven to be difficult to evaluate echographically by usual techniques because the areas of the left ventricle which are visualized may not be representative. Thus, volume determinations and most indices of contractile performance, while frequently providing helpful qualitative information, have not been reliable in these patients. Useful information about segmental wall motion abnormalities can be obtained from the echocardiogram when the involved areas can be visualized, but much of the ventricle is not routinely examined. The role of ultrasound in patients with uncomplicated acute infarction remains predominantly investigational, but ultrasound may be helpful in the evaluation of patients with complications of infarction or those who may concomitantly have other forms of cardiac disease. Although much work continues with M-mode echocardiography, the development of twodimensional real-time ultrasonic equipment has added new impetus to the use of echocardiography in patients with coronary artery disease. These instruments can visualize most, if not all, of the left ventricle, and therefore are not subject to the inaccuracies inherent in evaluating M-mode echocardiograms in patients affected by a segmental disease. Several production models are currently available, and many improvements in instrumentation can be anticipated. Initial experience with two-dimensional echocardiography suggests that it is a valuable clinical and investigational tool, but the relatively high cost of the present equipment may retard wide dissemination of this promising technique.
Super noncoherent integration: analysis of performance

This paper analyzes a new method to detect targets. The new method, called `super noncoherent integration' (SNCI), can improve overall detection performance by typically 5 dB to 10 dB relative to conventional noncoherent integration. A simple back-of-the-envelope formula is derived which quantifies the performance improvement of SNCI. Conventional noncoherent integration (CNCI) uses only amplitude measurements to distinguish targets from noise or clutter. In contrast, SNCI uses amplitude data in addition to: monopulse data, quadrature monopulse data, range and Doppler data over a sequence of N transmitted radar waveforms.
Damage control resuscitation in combination with damage control laparotomy: a survival advantage.

Background: Damage control laparotomy (DCL) improves outcomes when used in patients with severe hemorrhage. Correction of coagulopathy with close ratio resuscitation while limiting crystalloid forms a new methodology known as damage control resuscitation (DCR). We hypothesize a survival advantage in DCL patients managed with DCR when compared with DCL patients managed with conventional resuscitation efforts (CRE). Methods: This study is a 4-year retrospective study of all DCL patients who required ≥10 units of packed red blood cells (PRBC) during surgery. A 2-year period after institution of DCR (DCL and DCR) was compared with the preceding 2 years (DCL and CRE). Univariate analysis of continuous data was done with Student's t test followed by multiple logistic regression. Results: One Hundred twenty-four and 72 patients were managed during the DCL and CRE and DCL and DCR time periods, respectively. Baseline patient characteristics of age, Injury Severity Score, % penetrating, blood pressure, hemoglobin, base deficit, and INR were similar between groups. There was no difference in quantity of intraoperative PRBC utilization between DCL and CRE and DCL and DCR study periods: 21.7 units versus 25.5 units (p = 0.53); however, when compared with DCL and CRE group, patients in the DCL and DCR group received less intraoperative crystalloids, 4.7 L versus 14.2 L (p = 0.009); more fresh frozen plasma (FFP), 18.2 versus 6.4 (p = 0.002); a closer FFP to PRBC ratio, 1 to 1.2 versus 1 to 4.2 (p = 0.002); platelets to PRBC ratio, 1:2.3 versus 1:5.9 (0.002); shorter mean trauma intensive care unit length of stay, 11 days versus 20 days (p = 0.01); and greater 30-day survival, 73.6% versus 54.8% (p < 0.009). The addition of DCR to DCL conveyed a survival benefit (odds ratio; 95% confidence interval: 0.19 (0.05-0.33), p = 0.005). Conclusion: This is the first civilian study that analyses the impact of DCR in patients managed with DCL. During the DCL and DCR study period more PRBC, FFP, and platelets with less crystalloid solution was used intraoperatively. DCL and DCR were associated with a survival advantage and shorter trauma intensive care unit length of stay in patients with severe hemorrhage when compared with DCL and CRE.
Silastic Implant Arthroplasty with Proximal Metatarsal Osteotomy for Painful Hallux Valgus

First metatarsophalangeal joint arthrosis may be associated with hallux valgus deformity. In an attempt to address the pain and deformities of this disorder, silastic implant arthroplasty combined with soft tissue balancing and proximal first metatarsal osteotomy has been performed on 17 feet in 11 patients. A retrospective review of the results at an average followup of 29.5 months is presented. Subjective pain relief has been satisfactory, and loss of correction of deformity has been minimal. Infection remains as a significant postoperative complication. This technique may be a treatment option in the low demand patient with a hallux valgus deformity, painful arthritis of the first metatarsophalangeal joint, and a wide first intermetatarsal angle.
Site‐specific drug delivery to the lung

Investigations were undertaken to determine whether anti-cancer drugs introduced locally into the lung using bioerodible polyanhydride microspheres as carriers would demonstrate both efficacy and reduced toxicity. BCNU (carmustine) and CDDP (cisplatin), loaded in polyanhydride microspheres, were administered to mice bearing either of two tumors selected for their affinity for the lung: the B16F10 melanoma and the recently established GL26F4 glioma. Following intravenous inoculation of these tumor cells, the number of metastatic foci formed in the lung follows a predictable time course and can readily be determined. Comparisons were made between the efficacy of microspheres introduced into the lung by intratracheal intubation (IT) and of those administered by intraperitoneal injection (IP). Administration of microspheres loaded either with BCNU or cisplatin reduced the detectable metastatic foci by 25–90% depending on the tumor load, both when administered IP and IT. Toxicity was assessed by flow cytometric analysis of bone marrow cellularity as well as by determination of mortality rates. Intratracheal administration of either cisplatin or BCNU reduced the deleterious systemic effects observed when the drug was administered by IP injection. This was seen at high drug levels, where significant mortality occurred only in animals given drug injections IP; and at lower levels where IP injection led to a reduction of bone marrow blast cells, while IT administration caused no detectable effect on marrow cellularity. Since local delivery of BCNU or cisplatin through bioerodible polyanhydride microspheres induces significantly less systemic damage while demonstrating efficacy equal to or exceeding that of IP injection, this mode of drug delivery warrants further and more detailed exploration. Moreover, the method may be applicable to the treatment of other chronic pulmonary pathologies.
Fabrication of macroscopic solid models of three-dimensional microscopic data by selective laser sintering

SUMMARY We discuss and give examples of the use of selective laser sintering to fabricate solid macroscopic models of microscopic specimens that have been imaged with a confocal microscope. The digital image processing necessary to create structurally sound models of both translucent and opaque specimens is presented. The fabricated models offer the ultimate in data visualization since they can be physically handled and manipulated to investigate the shape and features of the specimen. Such a powerful visualization tool is useful in both research and educational environments.
Niemann-Pick's disease

Summary 1. Three cases of Niemann-Pick's disease occurring in one family are presented, together with their clinical, laboratory and pathological findings. Laboratory studies done on the mother are also presented. 2. A cherry-red spot was seen in the macula of two of the patients, and in one it was absent. 3. Statistically, the probability of the accidental incidence of three cases of Niemann-Pick's disease in one family is once in 1,000,000,000 cases.
Predictive Validity of the WISC-R with Mexican-American Children.

Abstract The reliability and predictive validity of the WISC-R was investigated with 46 Mexican-American children. Approximately a year and a half after the administration of the WISC-R, scores on the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) were collected. Internal consistency estimates for WISC-R subtests and composites were found to be comparable to those reported in the WISC-R manual. Correlations between WISC-R subtests and those of the ITBS ranged from modest for verbal subtests to mild when performance subtests were used as predictors. The best single predictor proved to be that of Verbal IQ, which accounted for some 40% of the variance in future achievement when measured by the ITBS. It was concluded that the WISC-R meets minimum requirements of reliability and predictive validity with Mexican-American children.
Doxorubicin in combination with a small TGFβ inhibitor: A potential novel therapy for metastatic breast cancer in mouse models

Background Recent studies suggested that induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) might confer both metastatic and self-renewal properties to breast tumor cells resulting in drug resistance and tumor recurrence. TGFbeta is a potent inducer of EMT and has been shown to promote tumor progression in various breast cancer cell and animal models. Principal findings We report that chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin activates TGFbeta signaling in human and murine breast cancer cells. Doxorubicin induced EMT, promoted invasion and enhanced generation of cells with stem cell phenotype in murine 4T1 breast cancer cells in vitro, which were significantly inhibited by a TGFbeta type I receptor kinase inhibitor (TbetaRI-KI). We investigated the potential synergistic anti-tumor activity of TbetaR1-KI in combination with doxorubicin in animal models of metastatic breast cancer. Combination of Doxorubicin and TbetaRI-KI enhanced the efficacy of doxorubicin in reducing tumor growth and lung metastasis in the 4T1 orthotopic xenograft model in comparison to single treatments. Doxorubicin treatment alone enhanced metastasis to lung in the human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 orthotopic xenograft model and metastasis to bone in the 4T1 orthotopic xenograft model, which was significantly blocked when TbetaR1-KI was administered in combination with doxorubicin. Conclusions These observations suggest that the adverse activation of TGFbeta pathway by chemotherapeutics in the cancer cells together with elevated TGFbeta levels in tumor microenvironment may lead to EMT and generation of cancer stem cells resulting in the resistance to the chemotherapy. Our results indicate that the combination treatment of doxorubicin with a TGFbeta inhibitor has the potential to reduce the dose and consequently the toxic side-effects of doxorubicin, and improve its efficacy in the inhibition of breast cancer growth and metastasis.
Effects of liquid and fermented liquid feeding on energy, dry matter, protein and phosphorus digestibility by growing pigs☆

Available online xxxx Two experiments were conducted to compare the apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of dry matter (DM),grossenergy(GE)andcrudeprotein(CP)andtheapparenttotaltractdigestibility(ATTD)of DM,GE,andPbygrowingpigsfedadietindryformtovaluesobtainedwithpigsfedthesamediet ina liquid form or in a fermented liquid form. A diet consisting of maize (728 g/kg), soybeanmeal (240 g/kg), soybean oil (10 g/kg) and vitamins and minerals was formulated and used in both experiments. In Exp. 1, the diet was fed to pigs as a dry diet or as liquid diets that were produced immediately before feeding by mixing thedry diet and waterina 1:1 ratioor ina 1:3 ratio. In Exp.
Complete Inhibition of the Pdr5p Multidrug Efflux Pump ATPase Activity by Its Transport Substrate Clotrimazole Suggests that GTP as Well as ATP May Be Used as an Energy Source

The yeast Pdr5p transporter is a 160 kDa protein that effluxes a large variety of xenobiotic compounds. In this study, we characterize its ATPase activity and demonstrate that it has biochemical features reminiscent of those of other ATP-binding cassette multidrug transporters: a relatively high Km for ATP (1.9 mM), inhibition by orthovanadate, and the ability to specifically bind an azidoATP analogue at the nucleotide-binding domains. Pdr5p-specific ATPase activity shows complete, concentration-dependent inhibition by clotrimazole, which is also known to be a potent transport substrate. Our results indicate, however, that this inhibition is noncompetitive and caused by the interaction of clotrimazole with the transporter at a site that is distinct from the ATP-binding domains. Curiously, Pdr5p-mediated transport of clotrimazole continues at intracellular concentrations of substrate that should eliminate all ATPase activity. Significantly, however, we observed that the Pdr5p has GTPase and UTPase activit...
A molecular dynamics study of a nafion polyelectrolyte membrane and the aqueous phase structure for proton transport.

A molecular dynamics simulation study of hydrated Nafion at water contents ranging from 5 to 20 wt % was performed to examine the structure and dynamics of the hydrated polyelectrolyte system. The ...
The orderliness of the growth hormone (GH) release process and the mean mass of GH secreted per burst are highly conserved in individual men on successive days.

Endocrine glands signal their remote target tissues via physiologically pulsatile release of regulatory molecules. A cardinal assumption of most pathophysiological experiments is that discrete attributes of pulsatile hormone secretion are stable over successive untreated observation intervals; i.e. repeated measurements show serial within-subject reproducibility. To test this hypothesis in the GH axis, we sampled blood every 10 min for 48 h in 14 healthy men (age range, 29-77 yr; body mass index, 21-51 kg/m2). The 2 consecutive 24-h serum profiles were subjected to ultrasensitive GH chemiluminescence assay (sensitivity, 0.002 micrograms/L) with a new dose-dependent variance model to estimate within-assay precision. We then applied deconvolution analysis to estimate the number, mass, amplitude, and duration of underlying GH secretory bursts as well as simultaneously calculate the apparent GH half-life and any concurrent basal hormone secretion. Test-retest consistency was assessed by the Pearson correlatio...
A New Optically Reflective Thin Layer Electrode (ORTLE) Window: Gold on a Thin Porous Alumina Film Used to Observe the Onset of Water Reduction

The fabrication and unique characteristics of a new type of thin layer electrode, an optically reflective thin layer electrode (ORTLE), are described. The electrode was fabricated by the anodization of a thin layer of aluminum sputtered onto a plain glass microscope slide to create a 750 nm-thick porous alumina film. A thin film of gold was then sputtered atop the porous and transparent alumina film. The gold layer remained porous to allow solution into the pores but was optically thick and reflective. Reflectance measurements made through the microscope slide did not interrogate the bulk solution, but show spectral features that shift with the optical properties of the material filling the pores of the alumina film. A simple series of experiments, in which the potential of the ORTLE was stepped negatively to various values in an aqueous sodium sulfate solution, shows that interference fringes shift measurably in the ORTLE spectrum at potentials several hundred millivolts positive of the potential at which gas evolution was visible to the naked eye.
Designing High-Quality Research in Special Education: Group Experimental Design

This article discusses critical issues related to conducting high-quality intervention research using experimental and quasi-experimental group designs. As researchers have learned more about teaching and learning, intervention studies have become more complex. The research community is struggling with ways to sensibly negotiate a balance between rigorous research designs that satisfy traditional laboratory standards of quality and interventions that are complex and flexible enough for conducting research in the real world of classrooms and schools. Rather than organizing the discussion around a list of resolute research standards, we weigh the pros and cons of making the many difficult choices involved in conducting intervention research. Our goal is to convey the sense that good designs must involve a series of balances and compromises that defy easily categorized solutions. Among the controversial areas discussed are the importance of defining the nature of the independent variable, the value of measur...
Comprehensive Evaluation of Effect of Climate in Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide Predictions

Climatic and environmental conditions have significant effects on pavement performance but have been inadequately considered in previous design methods. The Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) accounts for these effects through the use of the enhanced integrated climatic model. The present study examined the effects of climate on pavement performance predictions and the effects of climatic file generation by using MEPDG. The paper details the effort required to compare performance predictions for composite pavement consisting of asphalt cement over portland cement concrete (PCC) for 610 locations across the United States, with the use of MEPDG, Version 1.0. Analysis of the results was performed at the national, regional, and local levels. Although in general the results agree with the anticipated trends of environmental effects on pavement performance, the prediction of performance according to the predicted transverse cracking in the PCC layer was found to contain inconsistencies. These i...
Investment Risk: The Experts' Perspective

Investment management requires managers and their clients to share a general definition of investment risk. Professional portfolio managers and individual investors also seem to share a common conception of investment risk. Specifically, investment risk, as well as risk in other decision domains, appears to be a function of four attributes: the potential for a large loss, the potential for a below-target return, the feeling of control, and the perceived level of knowledge. Based on a survey study, these risk factors explained approximately 77 percent of the variation in security returns between 1965 and 1990.
Microvascular and microneural surgery new horizons in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery.

As head and neck reconstructive surgery has passed into the new millennium, free-tissue transfer assumes a front and center role, both for repair of major ablative defects and correction of more subtle problems, such as facial contour defects and facial paralysis. One of the major forces behind the increased acceptance and use of this technology is its high degree of reliability, now 96% to 98% successful in most large series. This level of success is directly related to improvements in surgical technique and the quality and number of fellowship training programs. Because the consequences of flap failure can be so devastating, significant attempts to decrease thrombosis rates (currently 3.7%) are ongoing [61]. This article reviews some of the ongoing basic science and clinical investigations that may have an impact on clinical microvascular practice.
How Capuchin Monkeys (Cebus apella) Quantify Objects and Substances

Humans and nonhuman animals appear to share a capacity for nonverbal quantity representations. But what are the limits of these abilities? Results of previous research with human infants suggest that the ontological status of an entity as an object or a substance affects infants' ability to quantify it. We ask whether the same is true for another primate species-the New World monkey Cebus apella. We tested capuchin monkeys' ability to select the greater of two quantities of either discrete objects or a nonsolid substance. Participants performed above chance with both objects (Experiment 1) and substances (Experiment 2); in both cases, the observed performance was ratio dependent. This finding suggests that capuchins quantify objects and substances similarly and do so via analog magnitude representations.
How dogs lap: ingestion and intraoral transport in Canis familiaris

It has recently been suggested that the mechanism for lifting liquid from a bowl into the oral cavity during lapping is fundamentally different in cats and dogs: cats use adhesion of liquid to the tongue tip while dogs ‘scoop’ with their backwardly curled tongue. High-speed light videos and X-ray videos show that on the contrary, both cats and dogs use the mechanism of adhesion. Liquid is transported through the oral cavity to the oesophagus, against gravity, on the surface of the tongue as it is drawn upwards, then a tight contact between the tongue surface and palatal rugae traps liquid and prevents its falling out as the tongue is protruded. At least three cycles are needed for intraoral transport of liquid in the dog.
Extension's Decline?

The perception that extension funding has materially declined is not borne out in aggregate U.S. funding data. However, many states experienced substantial reductions in real terms in 1992 and 1993. The pattern of reductions appears to be most extensive in the East, South, and West and in states dependent on extractive industries, although major agricultural states are not immune. In a time of tighter budgets, one might question the extension strategy of continually broadening its clientele. Extension may be better served by concentrating in areas of comparative advantage where experiment station research results serve as crucial input to extension programs in agriculture, forestry, and consumer/family sciences. County support is argued to be crucial to survival of the system.
Inertial effects on the dynamics, streamline topology and interfacial stresses due to a drop in shear

Deformation of a viscous drop in shear at finite inertia and the streamlines around it are numerically investigated. Inertia destroys the closed streamlines found in Stokes flow. It creates reversed streamlines and streamlines spiralling around the vorticity axis. Spiralling streamlines spiral either towards the central shear plane or away from it depending on the viscosity ratio and the inertia. The zones of open or reversed streamlines as well as streamlines spiralling towards or away from the central shear plane are delineated for varying viscosity ratio and Reynolds number. In contrast to the infinite extent of the closed Stokes streamlines around a rigid sphere in shear, the region of the spiralling streamlines in the vorticity direction both for a rigid sphere and a drop shrinks with inertia. Inertia increases deformation, and introduces oscillations in drop shape. An approximate analysis explains the scaling of oscillation frequency and damping with Reynolds and capillary numbers. The steady-state drop inclination angle with the flow axis increases with increasing Reynolds number for small Reynolds number. But it decreases at higher Reynolds number, especially for larger capillary numbers. For smaller capillary numbers, drop inclination reaches higher than (the direction of maximum extension), critically affecting the interfacial stresses due to the drop. It changes the sign of first and second normal interfacial stress differences (and thereby these components of the effective stresses of an emulsion of such drops). Increasing viscosity ratio orients the drop towards the flow axis, which increases the critical Reynolds number above which the drop inclination reaches more than .
Functional Analysis of the Mouse Scn8a Sodium Channel

The mouse Scn8a sodium channel and its ortholog Na6 in the rat are abundantly expressed in the CNS. Mutations in mouse Scn8a result in neurological disorders, including paralysis, ataxia, and dystonia. In addition, Scn8a has been observed to mediate unique persistent and resurgent currents in cerebellar Purkinje cells (Raman et al., 1997). To examine the functional characteristics of this channel, we constructed a full-length cDNA clone encoding the mouse Scn8a sodium channel and expressed it in Xenopus oocytes. The electrophysiological properties of the Scn8a channels were compared with those of the Rat1 and Rat2 sodium channels. Scn8a channels were sensitive to tetrodotoxin at a level comparable to that of Rat1 or Rat2. Scn8a channels inactivated more rapidly and showed differences in their voltage-dependent properties compared with Rat1 and Rat2 when only the alpha subunits were expressed. Coexpression of the beta1 and beta2 subunits modulated the properties of Scn8a channels, but to a lesser extent than for the Rat1 or Rat2 channels. Therefore, all three channels showed similar voltage dependence and inactivation kinetics in the presence of the beta subunits. Scn8a channels coexpressed with the beta subunits exhibited a persistent current that became larger with increasing depolarization, which was not observed for either Rat1 or Rat2 channels. The unique persistent current observed for Scn8a channels is consistent with the hypothesis that this channel is responsible for distinct sodium conductances underlying repetitive firing of action potentials in Purkinje neurons.
Increased incidence of antiphospholipid antibodies in left ventricular assist system recipients

Abstract Background . Antiphospholipid antibodies are associated with thrombosis. Because thromboembolic complications are often observed in recipients of a left ventricular assist system, we questioned if antiphospholipid antibodies were present in these patients. We report results from 10 patients who received a Novacor left ventricular assist system. Methods . Serum samples were collected before left ventricular assist system placement and weekly thereafter until discharge after cardiac transplantation. Samples were tested for IgG, IgA, and IgM antiphosphatidylserine, anticardiolipin, and antiphosphatidylethanolamine using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results . Development of phospholipid-binding plasma protein–dependent antiphospholipid antibodies was observed in 9 of the 10 patients. Before placement of the assist system, 3 patients had IgG antiphospholipid antibodies, and 9 were positive after placement. None had IgA antiphospholipid antibodies before placement, whereas 5 seroconverted for IgA after placement. One patient had IgM antiphospholipid antibodies before placement, and 1 additional patient became positive after placement. In patients with a preexisting antibody, increased titers and additional specificities developed subsequent to placement. Conclusions . All but 1 patient showed development of phospholipid-binding plasma protein–dependent antiphospholipid antibodies after left ventricular assist system placement.