cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CALGB 9380: A prospective trial of the feasibility of thoracoscopy/laparoscopy in staging esophageal cancer

Abstract Background. The staging of esophageal cancer is imprecise. Thoracoscopic/laparoscopic (TS/LS) staging has been proposed as a more accurate lymph node (LN) staging method. We report the experience of an Intergroup NCI trial (CALGB 9380) evaluating the feasibility and accuracy of this staging modality. Patients and Methods. From February 1995 to September 1999, 134 patients were entered in the study. This study represents the analysis of final data on 113 patients. TS/LS was considered feasible if TS and 1 LN sampled at least 3 LN by LS; a confirmed positive node was found; or T4 or M1 disease was documented. If this was accomplished in more than 70% of patients, TS/LS was believed to be feasible. Results. The LN stations most frequently sampled in the thorax (134 patients) were levels 2 (33%), 3 (38%), 4 (40%), 7 (76%), 8 (69%), 9 (55%), and 10 (43%) and in the abdomen levels 17 (70%) and 20 (55%). The frequency of positive LN by level were as follows: 2 (10%), 3 (8%), 4 (10%), 7 (10%), 8 (25%), 9 (10%), 10 (10%), 17 (34%), and 20 (27%). Noninvasive tests (computed tomographic scan, magnetic resonance imaging, esophageal ultrasound scan) each incorrectly identified TN staging as noted by missed positive or false-negative LN or metastatic disease found at TS/LS staging in 50%, 40%, and 30% of patients, respectively. Median operating time was 210 minutes (range, 40 to 865 minutes). Median postoperative hospital stay was 3 days (range, 1 to 35 days). There were no deaths or major complications. Seventy-three percent of patients met the definition for feasibility. In 30 patients TS was not feasible. Positive LN disease was found in 43 patients; 32 were deemed N0. Ten patients had T4/M1 disease. Of the 32 potentially resectable N0 patients, 14 patients had preoperative induction therapy; 13 patients went directly to operation with N0 confirmed in 9 patients, NX in 1 and N1 in 3. Three patients were unresectable, 1 patient died, and 1 was lost to follow-up. Conclusions. In summary, the feasibility of TS/LS was confirmed. It doubled the number of positive LNs identified by conventional, noninvasive staging. The overall accuracy remains to be defined by analysis of the LN negative group in follow-up. Although the positive predictive value was high, further study is warranted to confirm the role of TS/LS in the staging algorithm of esophageal cancer.
The Protective Effect of Aminoguanidine on Erectile Function in Streptozotocin Diabetic Rats

ABSTRACTPurpose: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is frequently associated with diabetes mellitus. We determined if advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are involved in ED and investigated if the selective AGE and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) inhibitor aminoguanidine (AG) could protect against the development of ED in a diabetic rat model.Materials and Methods: Harlan Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups. The 9 nondiabetic rats in group 1 served as age matched controls. Diabetes was induced in the 9 rats in groups 2 and 3, respectively, by intraperitoneal injection of streptozocin (60 mg/kg). While group 2 was given free access to water and a standard diet, group 3 was treated with AG added to drinking water (1 gm/l daily). Two months after diabetes induction in vivo intracavernous pressure measurements were determined. Penile tissue glycation (furosine on high performance liquid chromatography), AGEs (pentosidine on high performance liquid chromatography and immunohistochemistry), AGE rece...
Word of mouth and interpersonal communication: A review and directions for future research

People often share opinions and information with their social ties, and word of mouth has an important impact on consumer behavior. But what drives interpersonal communication and why do people talk about certain things rather than others? This article argues that word of mouth is goal driven and serves five key functions (i.e., impression management, emotion regulation, information acquisition, social bonding, and persuasion). Importantly, I suggest these motivations are predominantly self- (rather than other) serving and drive what people talk about even without their awareness. Further, these drivers make predictions about the types of news and information people are most likely to discuss. This article reviews the five proposed functions and well as how contextual factors (i.e., audience and communication channel) may moderate which functions play a larger role. Taken together, the paper provides insight into the psychological factors that shape word of mouth and outlines additional questions that deserve further study.
Empowering Citizens in an Impoverished Multiethnic Community

This paper describes an initiative to organize African-American and Hispanic residents around common goals in an impoverished community that was experiencing racial tension. The first stage of work was an ethnography that provided an understanding of the lack of interactions among members of different ethnic groups. Theoretical and empirically derived principles of community development were then used to create a community organization in which members of both ethnic groups pursued superordinate goals. The process, intended to empower residents and provide a stronger sense of community, had mixed results. While residents of both ethnic groups joined to work on common problems, their numbers were always small and the achievement of goals was elusive. The difficulties of applying theory to grassroots organizing efforts and implications for social scientists and practitioners are described.
Modeling Reference Interviews as a Basis for Improving Automatic QA Systems

The automatic QA system described in this paper uses a reference interview model to allow the user to guide and contribute to the QA process. A set of system capabilities was designed and implemented that defines how the user's contributions can help improve the system. These include tools, called the Query Template Builder and the Knowledge Base Builder, that tailor the document processing and QA system to a particular domain by allowing a Subject Matter Expert to contribute to the query representation and to the domain knowledge. During the QA process, the system can interact with the user to improve query terminology by using Spell Checking, Answer Type verification, Expansions and Acronym Clarifications. The system also has capabilities that depend upon, and expand the user's history of interaction with the system, including a User Profile, Reference Resolution, and Question Similarity modules
Effects of an experimental acid pulse on invertebrates in a high altitude Sierra Nevada stream

The effects of pulsed acidification on invertebrate densities and drift, and water chemistry, in a high altitude Sierra Nevada stream were measured using artificial stream channels. Water was diverted from the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River, California, U.S.A., through twelve replicate channels; however, low flow in the summer of 1985 eliminated all but four of these channels. Channels were stocked with natural substrates and organisms from the Marble Fork of the Kaweah River. After a three week acclimation period, we simulated a low pH rain event by adding acid (H2SO4 and HNO3) to two of the channels, reducing pH to 5.0 for 6 hours. The other two channels acted as controls (pH 6.4). During acid additions, Baetis spp. drift in acidified channels was ca. 7 times higher than in control channels (F = 39.02, p < 0.025; data fourth root transformed, ANOVA), and the percentage of drifting baetids that was dead was significantly higher in acidified than control channels (46% vs. 0%, F = 29.86, p < 0.05; arcsine square root transformed data, ANOVA). Other taxa showed no significant drift responses, and benthic densities of all taxa showed no effects two days after acidification, probably owing to rapid recolonization by invertebrate drift in influent waters. Stream chemistry data are presented; heavy metal concentrations did not significantly increase in the 2 m stream channels.
Bayesian analysis of data from single case designs

Bayesian statistical methods have great potential advantages for the analysis of data from single case designs. Bayesian methods combine prior information with data from a study to form a posterior distribution of information about their parameters and functions. The interpretation of results from a Bayesian analysis is more natural than those from classical methods, and there are interpretations of useful quantities that are not possible in classical statistics, such as the probability that an effect size is small, or is greater than zero, or is large enough to be considered important. They are not based on asymptotic theory, so small sample size is not a problem for inference. These methods are implemented on free software, and are similar to non-Bayesian software, so analysts familiar with frequentist methods for multilevel data should find the transition relatively painless.
D-methionine provides excellent protection from cisplatin ototoxicity in the rat

Cisplatin (CDDP) is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent. Unfortunately, CDDP is highly ototoxic. We tested D-methionine (D-Met), a sulfur containing compound, as an otoprotectant in male Wistar rats. Complete data sets were obtained for five groups of five animals each, including a treated control group (16 mg/kg CDDP), an untreated control group (administered an equivalent volume of saline) and three groups that received either 75, 150, or 300 mg/kg D-Met 30 min prior to the 16 mg/kg CDDP dosing. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds were obtained in response to clicks, and 1 kHz, 4 kHz, 8 kHz, and 14 kHz toneburst stimuli, before and 3 days after drug administration. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the outer hair cells of the apical, middle and basal turns of the cochlea. Animal weight was measured on the first and final day. D-Met provided excellent otoprotection even at the lowest level with complete otoprotection obtained for the 300 mg/kg dosing as measured by both ABR and SEM. D-Met also markedly reduced weight loss and mortality. All animals receiving D-Met (15/15) survived to the end of the study period as opposed to only 5/10 of the treated controls.
THE CLASSLESS WORKPLACE: THE DIGERATI AND THE NEW SPIRIT OF TECHNOCAPITALISM

This article argues the formation of a new type of economic actor at the intersection of a new capitalism and a new technology: The digerati. The article is based on a discourse analysis of the popular magazine Wired, which registers the culture of contemporary technocapitalism. The article suggests that the new persona of the digerati is constructed as a rejection of the ethics, which dominated the Fordist workplace and Fordist society: Hierarchy and differentiation between workers, on the one hand and capitalists and managers, on the other hand. The article describes the transformation of these two categories—workers and capitalists—into the digerati worker and the digerati entrepreneur, respectively. Set within the context of the structural transformations of capitalism from Fordism to post-Fordism, the article shows the ideological fit of the new ethics of the digerati to the new working arrangements of post-Fordist capitalism, characterized by more privatizes, flexible, and precarious working arrangements.
Regulation of mating behavior by nutrition and the corpus allatum in both male and female Phormia regina (Meigen).

Abstract Both dietary protein and the corpus allatum (CA) were required for normal mating behavior in both male and female black blow fly, Phormia regina (Meigen). Nutrition (protein diet) activated the CA in both sexes. More than 10 mg of dietary liver was required for each male to result in 80% insemination of females, while 20 mg of liver was required for each female to allow 78% of females to become inseminated. Between 10 to 15 mg of protein meal (i.e., liver) was required to activate sexual receptivity in 71% of the females, while between 15 to 20 mg of liver was needed to support full oocyte development in 70% of the females (Yin, C.-M., Zou, B.-X., Li, M.-F., Stoffolano, J.G., Jr. 1994. Discovery of a midgut peptide hormone which activates the endocrine cascade leading to oogenesis in Phormia regina Meigen. Journal of Insect Physiology, 40, 283–292). Allatectomy suppressed mating behavior more than 2-fold in both sexes. Topical application of 10 μg of S-methoprene (a juvenile hormone analogue) at 12 h after the onset of liver feeding restored sexual activity of both allatectomized males and females. Incidence of successful insemination increased as the oocyte development progressed. Ovariectomy suppressed sexual receptivity more than 3-fold in liver-fed females. Thus, in addition to nutrition and the CA, ovaries and their developmentaal status can also affect the sexual receptivity in female P. regina .
Characterizing maternal glycemic control: a more informative approach using semiparametric regression.

Objective: To characterize glucose concentrations measured throughout pregnancy in women with type 1 diabetes using semiparametric regression analysis to examine the gestational time-specific association with fetal outcome. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of data from an interdisciplinary program of diabetes in pregnancy of women with type 1 diabetes. Semiparametric regression was used to characterize glucose concentrations measured using reflectance meters throughout pregnancy by examining the time-specific association of maternal glucose with delivery of a large for gestational age (LGA) baby. Results: The optimal model demonstrated that time-specific differences in glycemic profiles of mothers who had LGA versus AGA babies changed at various rates across gestation (p = 0.0007). AGA glucose profiles exceeded LGA profiles in the first trimester and mid pregnancy; conversely LGA glucose profiles exceeded AGA profiles initially during the third trimester. Differences were based on examination of...
Analysis of degradation of a super-austenitic stainless steel for flue gas desulfurization system after a fire accident

Abstract A super-austenitic stainless steel (SASTS) which had been used for a fired flue gas desulfurization system was analyzed in terms of the microstructure, pitting resistance and hardness for the evaluation of degradation. The microstructural analysis showed that sigma phase, a metallic compound rich in Mo and Cr detrimental to corrosion resistance in SASTS, had precipitated all along the grain boundary of the alloy used for the reaction tank, while only isolated sigma phase was observed in the grain or at the grain boundary of the unused and the one from the mist eliminator. Several pits after an immersion test in a 60 °C 6%FeCl3 solution were developed only in the alloy from the reaction tank. Microscopic images around these pits indicated that the grain boundary had been selectively attacked. Hardness value was the highest for the alloy from the reaction tank. From these findings it was suggested that the degradation of the alloy used for the reaction tank was caused by the precipitation of sigma phase along the grain boundary due to an indirect heat affect from the fire accident.
Biological limits of temperature and pressure

Most biologists do not take into account that the greatest portion of today’s biosphere is in the realm of environmental extremes, most of it being cold and under pressure. Since bacteria have the ability to adapt to environmental extremes, a close examination for the presence and/or growth of bacteria at high and low temperatures, low temperature and reduced pressure (less than 1 atm), low temperature and increased hydrostatic pressure should be made. It is also within the realm of possibility that life may have arisen in an environmental extreme on the primordial earth and then evolved over time to live under moderate temperatures and 1 atm. Microbial life has been demonstrated at temperatures slightly greater than 90°C, below 0°C, at hydrostatic pressures of 1100 atm, and possibly at cold temperatures in the atmosphere (less than 1 atm). Laboratory experiments have shown that certain enzyme reactions can occur above 100°C under hydrostatic pressure, at −26°C and at 5°C under hydrostatic pressure.
Orbital-Conjunctival Glomangiomas Involving Two Ocular Rectus Muscles

Purpose To report two glomangiomas in one orbit, each isolated to a rectus muscle. Design Clinicopathologic correlation. Methods A 12-year-old boy developed two separate vascular tumors, near the insertions of the medial rectus and superior rectus muscles, respectively. A biopsy of one tumor was studied by light microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Results Histopathology revealed blood vessels surrounded by cuboidal cells characteristic of glomangioma. The cells showed immunoreactivity for smooth muscle actin and vimentin, supporting the diagnosis. Conclusions Glomangioma can involve the rectus muscles in the conjunctiva and orbit, and should be considered in differential diagnosis of vascular tumors in the ocular region.
Combination genetic therapy to inhibit HIV-1.

Compared with single agents, combination antilentiviral pharmacotherapy targets multiple HIV-1 functions simultaneously, maximizing efficacy and decreasing chances of escape mutations. Combination genetic therapy could theoretically enhance efficacy similarly, but delivery of even single genes to high percentages of hematopoietic cells or their derivatives has proven problematic. Because of their high efficiency of gene delivery, we tested recombinant SV40-derived vectors (rSV40s) for this purpose. We made six rSV40s, each carrying a different transgene that targeted a different lentiviral function. We tested the ability of these constructs, individually and in double and triple combinations, to protect SupT1 human T lymphoma cells from HIV-1 challenge. Single chain antibodies (SFv) against CXCR4 and against HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) and integrase (IN) were used, as were polymeric TAR decoys (PolyTAR) and a dominant-negative mutant of HIV-1 Rev (RevM10). Immunostaining showed that virtually all doubly treated cells expressed both transgenes. All transgenes individually protected from HIV-1 but, except for anti-CXCR4 SFv, their effectiveness diminished as challenge doses increased from 40 through 2500 tissue culture infectious dose50 (TCID50)/106 cells. However, all combinations of transgenes protected target cells better than individual transgenes, even from the highest challenge doses. Thus, combination gene therapies may inhibit HIV-1 better than single agents, and rSV40s may facilitate delivery of multigene therapeutics.
Bradykinin-induced potassium current in cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells

Bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) respond to bradykinin with an increase in cytosolic-free Ca2+ concentration, [Ca2+]i, accompanied by an increase in surface membrane K+ permeability. In this study, electrophysiological measurement of K+ current was combined with 86Rb+ efflux measurements to characterize the K+ flux pathway in BAECs. Bradykinin- and Ca2(+)-activated K+ currents were identified and shown to be blocked by the alkylammonium compound, tetrabutylammonium chloride and by the scorpion toxin, noxiustoxin, but not by apamin or tetraethylammonium chloride. Whole-cell and single-channel current analysis suggest that the threshold for Ca2+ activation is in the range of 10 to 100 nM [Ca2+]i. The whole-cell current measurements show voltage sensitivity only at the membrane potentials more positive than 0 mV where significant current decay occurs during a sustained depolarizing pulse. Another K+ current present in control conditions, an inwardly rectifying K+ current, was blocked by Ba2+ and was not affected by noxiustoxin or tetrabutylammonium chloride. Efflux of 86Rb+ from BAEC monolayers was stimulated by both bradykinin and ionomycin. Stimulated efflux was blocked by tetrabutyl- and tetrapentyl-ammonium chloride and by noxiustoxin, but not by apamin or furosemide. Thus, 86Rb+ efflux stimulated by bradykinin and ionomycin has the same pharmacological sensitivity as the bradykinin- and Ca2(+)-activated membrane currents. The results confirm that bradykinin-stimulated 86Rb+ efflux occurs via Ca2(+)-activated K+ channels. The blocking agents identified may provide a means for interpreting the role of the Ca2(+)-activated K+ current in the response of BAECs to bradykinin.
Design rationale for customized TKA: A new idea or revisiting the past

Today’s most basic and important total knee replacement design concepts arose out of an earlier era in which 2 distinct approaches emerged, functional and anatomic. Functional approaches simplified knee kinetics, were easier to implant, and gained widespread popularity, in part, from their inventory control. Anatomic approaches were an attempt to recreate normal knee motion with low prosthetic contact stress. Historically, however, they became impractical to produce because of the cost of maintaining a wide variety of anatomic knee implants. New customized designs may return the anatomic design to favor due to several key features that borrow anatomic principles developed in the past, and improved with new ideas.
Infrared end-tidal CO2 measurement does not accurately predict arterial CO2 values or end-tidal to arterial PCO2 gradients in rabbits with lung injury

End-tidal PCO2 (PETCO2) measurements from two commercially available neonatal infrared capnometers with different sampling systems and a mass spectrometer were compared with arterial PCO2 (PaCO2) to determine whether the former could predict the latter in mechanically ventilated rabbits with and without lung injury. The effects of tidal volume, ventilator frequency and type of lung injury on the gradient between PETCO2 and PaCO2 (delta P(a-ET)CO2) were evaluated. Twenty rabbits were studied: 10 without lung injury, 5 with saline lavage and 5 with lung injury by meconium instillation. Paired measurements of PETCO2 by two infrared capnometers and a mass spectrometer were compared to PaCO2. In the rabbits without lung injury, the values from the infrared capnometers and mass spectrometer correlated strongly with PaCO2 (r > or = 0.91) despite differences in the slopes of the linear regression between PETCO2 and PaCO2 and in delta P(a-ET)CO2 (P or = 0.70), none of the regression slopes approximated the line of identity. The delta P(a-ET)CO2 was greater in rabbits with injured than noninjured lungs (P < 0.05). The delta P(a-ET)CO2 was similar among capnometers regardless of tidal volume, ventilator frequency, or type of lung injury. The 95% confidence interval of plots PaCO2 against PETCO2 was large for rabbits with injured and noninjured lungs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Vaccinomics and bioinformatics: accelerants for the next golden age of vaccinology.

Out of the germ theory of disease the field of vaccinology rapidly developed. It was further accelerated by rapid new scientific insights from public health, virology, bacteriology, and immunology. Despite this rapid scientific progress, a simple summary of the field of vaccinology from the first use of smallpox virus as a vaccine until the 1990’s was of empirical vaccine development characterized by an “isolate-inactivate-inject” paradigm. The development of second generation hepatitis B vaccines began to move the field into an era of molecular medicine. Further developments have included immune-structure refinements with the utilization of protein conjugation (pneumococcal and meningococcal vaccines), and most recently, VLP vaccines (HPV vaccine). New insights from immunogenetics and an ever increasing array of high dimensional genetic and immunologic assays such as whole genome sequencing, mRNA transcriptomics, and novel bioinformatics approaches to understand the complexity of immune responses now provide accelerants that will allow vaccinology to explode into a new golden era – one which we have termed “vaccinomics”.[1;2]
AN OLD FRIEND IN NEW CLOTHES

Regular readers of this column will know that I've often touted Reflex (by Borland International), calling it an excellent choice for those wanting the number crunching capabilities of a spreadsheet and the data handling capabilities of a database manager. I liked it because it was cheap (normally available at discount for about $100), fast (all data are held in RAM), and did cross‐tabulations—something not featured on programs of this price. There were lots of other things I liked as well, including its ease of use by beginners and occasional users.
Endoscopic treatment of the frontal sinus outflow tract in frontal sinus trauma

In the treatment of frontal sinus fractures, it is important to determine the status of the frontal sinus outflow tract. Patency of the tract helps determine the nature of treatment. We discuss options available for the endoscopic treatment of frontal sinus fractures and provide illustrative examples.
Does measurement dependence explain the effects of the Life Skills Training program on smoking outcomes

Abstract Background. The Life Skills Training (LST) program is the most prominent school-based smoking prevention program in terms of its consistency in being named on lists of best practices. This study assessed whether the results pertaining to cigarette smoking reported in evaluations of the LST program are measurement dependent. Methods. Seventeen reports published between 1980 and 2003 that included at least one outcome measure pertaining to cigarette smoking were identified. Data pertaining to the cigarette smoking measures used in the analysis and whether the results showed a statistically significant difference between experimental and control groups at follow-up were extracted from the reports. Results. Fourteen different outcome measures were used across 17 reports. Only three pairs of reports presented the same set of outcomes. Recent reports showed the most consistent set of findings in support of the LST program, but there was little consistency in the outcome measures used in these analyses. Conclusions. The use of so many smoking outcomes in the LST program evaluations raises concern as to whether the positive program effects reported are measurement dependent.
Solution of the p(2 2) NiO(1 1 1) surface structure using direct methods

A solution for the p(2 2) NiO(1 1 1) surface reconstruction was obtained using direct methods applied to X-ray diAraction data. The solution was refined with 296 data points and 21 parameters using v 2 minimization Ov 2 a 1:82; Ra 0:17U. The surface atoms showed very small relaxation from the bulk interatomic distances (Ni‐Ni distances are 2:9 0:1 A; Ni‐Oˇ2:0 0:1 A). The solution can be characterized by alternating close-packed layers of oxygen and nickel atoms: the top surface layer is nickel terminated with 3/4 of the nickel atoms missing, the next oxygen layer is completely full, and the third, nickel layer, has 1/4 of the nickel atoms missing. The structure is consistent with theoretical predictions of octopolar termination of the surface and exhibits the features observed by previous STM studies. In addition, local density functional calculations have been carried out in this work in order to gain insights into the surface charge distribution and electronic structure of the proposed reconstruction. Calculated partial atomic charges and magnetic moments as well as densities of state are reported. The cation deficient nature of the surface requires the presence of electron holes for charge compensation, which we find mainly located on second layer oxygen atoms. The structure diAers from that recently reported for the same surface, and we are not able to reproduce the reported good fit to the (same) experimental data. ” 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Paradoxical Phosphorylation of Skeletal Muscle Glycogen Synthase by in Vivo Insulin in Very Lean Young Adult Rhesus Monkeys

ABSTRACT: Calorie restriction (CR) has previously been shown to unexpectedly induce a reversal of in vivo insulin action (phosphorylation instead of dephosphorylation) on skeletal muscle glycogen synthase (GS) in four out of six long-term calorie-restricted (CR) monkeys. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether this increase in Ka (concentration of glucose 6-phosphate [G6P] at which GS activity is half-maximal) during insulin is also present in very lean (VL) young adult monkeys maintained on a controlled feeding regimen. Muscle samples from 10 VL monkeys (10 ± 2% body fat; 7 years old) were obtained before and during a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp and the Ka was determined and compared to the Ka of two other groups of monkeys, one matched in age but fully ad libitum (AL)-fed ( n= 9, 8 ± 1 years old, 20 ± 3% body fat , p= 0.01 vs. VL monkeys ), and the other our previously described weight-clamped long-term CR monkeys ( n= 6, 20 ± 1 years old, 21 ± 2% body fat , p= 0.01 vs. VL monkeys ). All of the AL monkeys had the expected decrease in Ka with insulin; however, similar to the 4 out of 6 CR monkeys, 7 out of 10 VL monkeys had an increase in Ka with insulin. The 11 monkeys with an increase in Ka (+Ka) (7 VL + 4 CR) were compared to the 14 monkeys with a decrease in Ka with insulin (−Ka) (3 VL + 2 CR + 9 AL). The +Ka monkeys had lower basal Ka ( p= 0.0001 ), higher basal GS fractional activity ( p= 0.0003 ), lower basal G6P content ( p= 0.002 ), lower glycogen phosphorylase fractional activity ( p= 0.01 ), and lower whole-body insulin-mediated glucose disposal rate ( p < 0.05 ) than the −Ka monkeys. We conclude that the condition of steady-state restrained calorie intake (as in the CR monkeys and in the controlled feeding VL monkeys) produces the paradoxical action of in vivo insulin to phosphorylate muscle GS, and raises the possibility that the presence of the unusual response to insulin may serve as a marker in calorie-restrained individuals for the genotype of obesity, insulin resistance and/or Type 2 diabetes.
Alcohol and tobacco use disorder comorbidity in young adults and the influence of romantic partner environments

Background Although there is considerable evidence that the development of tobacco dependence (TD) and that of alcohol use disorder (AUD) are intertwined, less is known about the comorbid development of these disorders. The present study examines tobacco dependence and alcohol use disorder comorbidity in young adulthood within the context of romantic partner relationships.
Assessing Undergraduate Education from Graduating Seniors’ Perspective: Peer Institutions Provide the Context

This paper presents a comparative research study as a model for assessing undergraduate education. This evaluation model used Factor Analysis to create scales, tested the reliability of these scales, and used Analysis of Variance to compare the primary institution with five types of comparable institutions. The value of this statistical/methodological evaluation model was shown. Results are based on Class of l998survey responses from 244 graduating seniors at the primary institution and 1481 students at 39peer institutions. Comparative analyses identified business courses, faculty, career preparation and impact on students’ technological skill as strengths and students’ knowledge of arts and foreign languages and campus social life as areas for improvement at the primary institution. Recommendations advocated publicising students’ superior satisfaction with courses, faculty and career preparation; using these results as baseline data for future curriculum evaluation; and continuing efforts to enhance campus social life.
Ultrawideband radar target discrimination utilizing an advanced feature set

The Army Research Laboratory, as part of its mission-funded applied research program, has been evaluating the utility of a low-frequency, ultra wideband imaging radar to detect tactical vehicles concealed by foliage. Measurement programs conducted at Aberdeen Proving Grounds and elsewhere have yielded a significant and unique database of extremely wideband and (in some cases) fully polarimetric data. Prior work has concentrated on developing computationally efficient methods to quickly canvass large quantities of data to identify likely target occurrences--often called `prescreening.' This paper reviews recent findings from our phenomenology/detection efforts. Included is a reformulated prescreener that has been trained and tested against a significantly larger data set than was used in the prior work. Also discussed are initial efforts aimed at the discrimination of targets from the difficult clutter remaining after prescreening. Performance assessments are included that detail detection rates versus false alarm levels.
Histochemical and electron microscopic study of heart muscle after beta-adrenergic blockade.

Abstract The administration of propranolol, a beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist, in mice resulted in the development of myolytic lesions in the myocardium. The lesions were focal in mice that received 0.005 mg. or 0.01 mg. of propranolol daily for 3 weeks, whereas more advanced, confluent lesions were found in mice that received 0.1 mg. of propranolol daily for 3 weeks. The mechanism whereby propranolol produced the myolytic lesions is unknown. Decreased coronary blood flow or a direct toxic effect on the myocardium seem to be the most likely possibilities. Inasmuch as beta-adrenergic blockade is being advocated in the treatment of patients with a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases, more study of the effects of beta-adrenergic antagonists on heart muscle is needed.
Predicting changes in hydrologic retention in an evolving semi-arid alluvial stream

Abstract Hydrologic retention of solutes in hyporheic zones or other slowly moving waters of natural channels is thought to be a significant control on biogeochemical cycling and ecology of streams. To learn more about factors affecting hydrologic retention, we repeated stream-tracer injections for 5 years in a semi-arid alluvial stream (Pinal Creek, Ariz.) during a period when streamflow was decreasing, channel width increasing, and coverage of aquatic macrophytes expanding. Average stream velocity at Pinal Creek decreased from 0.8 to 0.2 m/s, average stream depth decreased from 0.09 to 0.04 m, and average channel width expanded from 3 to 13 m. Modeling of tracer experiments indicated that the hydrologic retention factor (Rh), a measure of the average time that solute spends in storage per unit length of downstream transport, increased from 0.02 to 8 s/m. At the same time the ratio of cross-sectional area of storage zones to main channel cross-sectional area (As/A) increased from 0.2 to 0.8 m2/m2, and average water residence time in storage zones (ts) increased from 5 to 24 min. Compared with published data from four other streams in the US, Pinal Creek experienced the greatest change in hydrologic retention for a given change in streamflow. The other streams differed from Pinal Creek in that they experienced a change in streamflow between tracer experiments without substantial geomorphic or vegetative adjustments. As a result, a regression of hydrologic retention on streamflow developed for the other streams underpredicted the measured increases in hydrologic retention at Pinal Creek. The increase in hydrologic retention at Pinal Creek was more accurately predicted when measurements of the Darcy–Weisbach friction factor were used (either alone or in addition to streamflow) as a predictor variable. We conclude that relatively simple measurements of channel friction are useful for predicting the response of hydrologic retention in streams to major adjustments in channel morphology as well as changes in streamflow.
Non-classical organometallic chemistry and catalysis at actinide centers

Abstract In an appropriatedly tuned coordination environment, f-element ions can exhibit high coordinative unsaturation, kinetic lability and electrophilicity. In addition, oxidation state shuttling tendencies, π-bonding abilities, and metal-ligand bond enthalpy orderings differ markedly from those of most middle and late transition metals. One consequence of these non-classical features is a marked propensity for the activation of 2-center 2-electron fragments such as HH and CH fanctionalities. This lecture will focus primarily upon two closely related aspects of saturated hydrocarbon activation at actinide centers: (i) intramo]ecular cyclometalation chemistry involving CH scission on saturated hydrocarbon ligands; (il) activation of exogenous saturated and aromatic hydrocarbon molecules and organometallic molecules by an enthalpy-rich, entropy-poor actinacycle. Important ancillary information is provided by studies of HH and olefin activation. Of central importance in all areas are those structural, electronic and bond enthalpy relationships that control reactivity and selectivity.
Integration of sensing and computing in an intelligent decision support system for homeland security defense

We propose an intelligent decision support system based on sensor and computer networks that incorporates various component techniques for sensor deployment, data routing, distributed computing, and information fusion. The integrated system is deployed in a distributed environment composed of both wireless sensor networks for data collection and wired computer networks for data processing in support of homeland security defense. We present the system framework and formulate the analytical problems and develop approximate or exact solutions for the subtasks: (i) sensor deployment strategy based on a two-dimensional genetic algorithm to achieve maximum coverage with cost constraints; (ii) data routing scheme to achieve maximum signal strength with minimum path loss, high energy efficiency, and effective fault tolerance; (iii) network mapping method to assign computing modules to network nodes for high-performance distributed data processing; and (iv) binary decision fusion rule that derive threshold bounds to improve system hit rate and false alarm rate. These component solutions are implemented and evaluated through either experiments or simulations in various application scenarios. The extensive results demonstrate that these component solutions imbue the integrated system with the desirable and useful quality of intelligence in decision making.
Stress in Fishes: A Diversity of Responses with Particular Reference to Changes in Circulating Corticosteroids

Physical, chemical and perceived stressors can all evoke non-specific responses in fish, which are considered adaptive to enable the fish to cope with the disturbance and maintain its homeostatic state. If the stressor is overly severe or long-lasting to the point that the fish is not capable of regaining homeostasis, then the responses themselves may become maladaptive and threaten the fish's health and well-being. Physiological responses to stress are grouped as primary, which include endocrine changes such as in measurable levels of circulating catecholamines and corticosteroids, and secondary, which include changes in features related to metabolism, hydromineral balance, and cardiovascular, respiratory and immune functions. In some instances, the endocrine responses are directly responsible for these secondary responses resulting in changes in concentration of blood constituents, including metabolites and major ions, and, at the cellular level, the expression of heat-shock or stress proteins. Tertiary or whole-animal changes in performance, such as in growth, disease resistance and behavior, can result from the primary and secondary responses and possibly affect survivorship.Fishes display a wide variation in their physiological responses to stress, which is clearly evident in the plasma corticosteroid changes, chiefly cortisol in actinopterygian fishes, that occur following a stressful event. The characteristic elevation in circulating cortisol during the first hour after an acute disturbance can vary by more than two orders of magnitude among species and genetic history appears to account for much of this interspecific variation. An appreciation of the factors that affect the magnitude, duration and recovery of cortisol and other physiological changes caused by stress in fishes is important for proper interpretation of experimental data and design of effective biological monitoring programs.
A 20-Month, Double-Blind, Maintenance Trial of Lithium Versus Divalproex in Rapid-Cycling Bipolar Disorder

Objective: The authors tested the hypothesis that divalproex would be more effective than lithium in the long-term management of patients with recently stabilized rapid-cycling bipolar disorder. Method: A 20-month, double-blind, parallel-group comparison was carried out in recently hypomanic/manic patients who had experienced a persistent bimodal response to combined treatment with lithium and divalproex. Sixty patients were randomly assigned to lithium or divalproex monotherapy in a balanced design after stratification for illness type (bipolar I versus bipolar II disorder). Results: Of the 254 patients enrolled in the open-label acute stabilization phase, 76% discontinued the study prematurely (poor adherence: 28%; nonresponse: 26% [of whom 74% remained depressed and 26% remained in a hypomanic/manic/ mixed episode], intolerable side effects: 19%). Of the 60 patients (24%) randomly assigned to double-blind maintenance monotherapy, 53% relapsed (59% into depression and 41% into a hypomanic/ manic/mixed episode), 22% completed the study, 10% had intolerable side effects, and 10% were poorly adherent. The rates of relapse into any mood episode for those given lithium versus divalproex were 56% and 50%, respectively; the rates were 34% and 29% for a depressive relapse and 19% and 22% for a hypomania/ mania relapse. There were no significant differences in time to relapse. The proportion discontinuing prematurely because of side effects was 16% for lithium and 4% for divalproex. Conclusions: The hypothesis that divalproex is more effective than lithium in the long-term management of rapid-cycling bipolar disorder is not supported by these data. Preliminary data suggest highly recurrent refractory depression may be the hallmark of rapid-cycling bipolar disorder.
Gesture search: a tool for fast mobile data access

Modern mobile phones can store a large amount of data, such as contacts, applications and music. However, it is difficult to access specific data items via existing mobile user interfaces. In this paper, we present Gesture Search, a tool that allows a user to quickly access various data items on a mobile phone by drawing gestures on its touch screen. Gesture Search contributes a unique way of combining gesture-based interaction and search for fast mobile data access. It also demonstrates a novel approach for coupling gestures with standard GUI interaction. A real world deployment with mobile phone users showed that Gesture Search enabled fast, easy access to mobile data in their day-to-day lives. Gesture Search has been released to public and is currently in use by hundreds of thousands of mobile users. It was rated positively by users, with a mean of 4.5 out of 5 for over 5000 ratings.
Age, Serum Cholesterol and Coronary Artery Disease

The question of an age-associated rise in serum cholesterol has been undecided. This communication presents evidence in favor of a rise in serum cholesterol with increasing age between the third and the fifth decades. In a control group of 146 individuals and a coronary disease group of 97 individuals, there was a positive correlation between age and serum cholesterol. In the coronary disease group, there was a rise in serum cholesterol superimposed upon an initially higher level of serum cholesterol. The concept of "cholesterol age" is presented on the basis that a patient with coronary heart disease at 25 has a serum cholesterol similar to a "normal" male at the age of 45. The role of serum phospholipids is considered in the age-associated rise in serum cholesterol.
Delta operator based design of 1-D and 2-D filters: An overview

An overview of the delta operator based design of 1-D and 2-D filters is presented. The delta operator approach offers better coefficient sensitivity compared to the z-domain approach when the filter is narrowband or when high sampling rates are involved. For 1-D filters, a ladder synthesis procedure is presented. For 2-D filters, an efficient optimization based design procedure utilizing symmetry is discussed.
In vivo intestinal absorption of manganese in the rat.

The mechanisms of intestinal absorption of Mn in rats and the effects of low-molecular-weight ligands in this process were investigated using an in vivo per fusion system. Segments of either jejunum or ileum were perfused with isotonic solu tions containing 0.0125 to 0.1 mM MnSO4 â€¢ 7H2O, in the presence or absence of double its concentration of either L-histidine (His) or citrate (Cit). In all cases the absorption of Mn declined with time; for example, in the absence of ligand Mn ab sorption fell from (means Â±SEM)16.0 Â±2.2 at 30 minutes to 2.3 Â±4.1 pmol/(min- ute â€¢ cm) after 90 minutes of perfusion. Comparable declines occurred both in the jejunum and in the ileum in the presence of His or Cit. The initial absorption rates of Mn, obtained by extrapolation, were higher in the jejunum when His or Cit were present than when no ligands were included in the perfusate (means Â±SD,with His, 66.4 Â±11.9; with Cit, 79.5 Â±6.2; none = 17.8 Â±3.3 pmol/(minute â€¢ cm)). In the ileum, optimum absorption with His was observed between pH 7 and 8. The kinetics of in vivo Mn ileal absorption in the presence of His yielded a Kt of 0.056 mM and an estimated Vmaxof 158 pmol/(minute â€¢ cm). The coefficient of diffusion was cal culated to be 1.5 x IO"3cm2/minute. These data are compatible with a high affinity, low capacity, active transport mechanism for Mn in the rat intestine and suggest a limited role for small-molecular-weight ligands associated with both diffusional or active translocation processes. J. Nutr. 113: 2601-2607, 1983.
Critical use of extended criteria donor liver grafts in adult‐to‐adult whole liver transplantation: A single‐center experience

This study presents our experience with the use of extended criteria donor (ECD) liver grafts. One hundred fifteen liver transplants were divided into 2 groups: standard (S) and nonstandard (NS). Fifty-eight patients in group S received a liver procured from an ideal donor, whereas 57 patients in group NS received an organ from an ECD. On the basis of the number of risk factors, patients were divided into 3 subgroups: the S group with 58 receiving a standard graft, the NS1 group with 44 receiving a graft with 1 or 2 risk factors, and the NS2 group with 13 receiving a graft with 3 to 4 risk factors. Patient survival was not different at 6, 12, and 24 months (P > 0.05), whereas graft survival was different (P = 0.0079). Both patient survival and graft survival were influenced by the cumulative number of risk factors. The univariate analysis of the donor risk factors detected hemodynamic factors as predictive of graft failure (P = 0.024) and death (P = 0.018). In the multivariate analysis, which was adjusted for recipient age and donor and recipient gender, hemodynamic risk factors and Model for End-Stage Liver. Disease score in the recipient were the only variables independently associated with graft failure (P = 0.006, P = 0.012, negatively). Finally, we observed a reduction of dropout from the list to 9% from 14.1% (P = 0.04) and of mortality on the list to 32.55% from 41.01% (P = 0.11). Critical use of ECD liver grafts allowed recipients in the waiting list to have a greater chance of being transplanted.