cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular recognition and self‐replication

Self-replicating molecules stand at the very boundary of chemistry with biology. This review describes the development of synthetic structures capable of self-replication from studies in molecular recognition. The weak intermolecular forces--hydrogen bonds and aromatic stacking interactions--that characterize interactions of nucleic acid components were designed into synthetic receptors for adenine. Covalent conjugates of these receptors with adenines gave self-complementary structures capable of replication. The new systems feature autocatalysis, sigmoidal product growth and even mutation. General rules for the design of replicating systems are described and these suggest that the evolution of replicating molecules was an inevitable event.
Accuracy of intraoperative touch imprint cytologic analysis of sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer.

Abstract Background Eliminating full axillary dissection (AD) in the face of negative sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) has become increasingly popular. We sought to evaluate the accuracy of intraoperative touch imprint cytology in detecting clinically significant metastatic involvement of the SLN. Methods Retrospective review of intraoperative cytology and final hematoxylin-eosin stain evaluation of sentinel nodes examined in a community hospital from 1997 to 2002. Results During that period 1,585 patients underwent axillary dissection; 380 had SLN identification with 142 patients undergoing intraoperative cytologic evaluation of 446 SLNs. Fourteen patients with negative intraoperative cytology had involvement of a SLN on final hematoxylin-eosin examination, for a sensitivity of 75%, specificity of 100%, negative predictive value of 95%, and a false negative rate of 4.9%. In all but 1 case the metastasis was microscopic and measured 2 mm or less. Seven patients went on to completion axillary dissection (50%) with no additional nodal involvement found. Conclusions Intraoperative touch imprint cytology is accurate in predicting clinically significant SLN pathology. Although the false negative rate in this series was 4.9%, in all but 1 case it represented micrometastatic disease that may not necessarily require completion axillary dissection.
Calcifications in ovary and endometrium and their neoplasms

In this study, we investigated the role of hormones in the pathogenesis of calcifications in ovary and in endometrium and their neoplasms of the gynecologic tract and assessed the anatomic location and incidence of these calcifications. The study consists of three parts designed to investigate the pathogenesis, the location, and the incidence of calcifications in ovary and endometrium and their neoplasms. In the first part, 79 female guinea pigs were divided into 10 groups, and different hormones, given weekly for 12 months, were administered to the guinea pigs by group. A control group of 7 guinea pigs received sterile water. Calcifications developed in 5 of 7 guinea pigs treated with prolactin, 10 of 20 treated with human chorionic gonadotropin, 5 of 11 treated with estradiol, 3 of 7 treated with estrone, 1 of 6 treated with growth hormone, and 1 of 10 treated with testosterone; in 20 of the guinea pigs, the calcifications developed in the stroma of the endometrium, and in 5 guinea pigs, they developed in the ovary. The second part of the study consisted of an evaluation of the specific location of calcifications in 43 consecutive human surgical ovaries and endometria. Calcifications were seen only in the stroma in 100% of the ovarian serous adenofibroma specimens; in ovarian serous borderline neoplasms, the stroma contained 70 to 100% of the calcifications, and the epithelium had 0 to 30% of the calcifications. In ovarian serous carcinoma specimens, the calcifications were seen in the stroma in 50 to 60% of the cases, in the epithelium in 40% of the cases, and in areas of necrosis in 10% of the cases. The third part of the study was directed to determine the frequency of calcifications in ovarian lesions. We found that all cases of endosalpingiosis and ovarian low-grade serous carcinoma had calcifications, whereas 80% of the cases of serous borderline tumor had calcifications, and only 50% of the cases of ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma contained calcifications. The results of this study indicate that the majority of the calcifications in the ovary and the endometrium and their neoplasms are present in the stroma. This is most probably secondary to metabolic changes, which could be related to hormones and not caused by degenerative changes in epithelial cells.
Game-The Dressing Change Game

Many employees face operational failures-missing or insufficient supplies, equipment, information, and personnel-that interfere with their workflow and can negatively impact organizational performance. However, employees often devise methods to work around these obstacles that may come with negative side effects. The Dressing Change Game is a 40-minute in-class exercise that enables students to directly experience workarounds as a natural response to operational failures and allows them to see the trade-off between short-term and longer-term organizational performance that occurs as a result of workarounds. The overarching learning objective is for students to gain an appreciation that optimizing individual-or unit-level performance likely undermines organizational-level performance. Teaching Note: Interested Instructors please see the Instructor Materials page for access to the restricted materials. To maintain the integrity and usefulness of cases published in ITE, unapproved distribution of the case teaching notes and other restricted materials to any other party is prohibited.
Reduced rank regression for blocks of simultaneous equations

Abstract Reduced rank regression analysis provides maximum likelihood estimators of a matrix of regression coefficients of specified rank and of corresponding linear restrictions on such matrices. These estimators depend on the eigenvectors of an “effect” matrix in the metric of an error covariance matrix. In this paper it is shown that the maximum likelihood estimator of the restrictions can be approximated by a function of the effect matrix alone. The procedures are applied to a block of simultaneous equations. The block may be over-identified in the entire model and the individual equations just-identified within the block. The procedures are generalizations of the limited information maximum likelihood and two-stage least squares estimators.
A statewide prescription monitoring program affects emergency department prescribing behaviors.

Study objective Ohio recently instituted an online prescription monitoring program, the Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System (OARRS), to monitor controlled substance prescriptions within Ohio. This study is undertaken to identify the influence of OARRS data on clinical management of emergency department (ED) patients with painful conditions. Methods This prospective quasiexperimental study was conducted at the University of Toledo Medical Center Emergency Department during June to July 2008. Eligible participants included ED patients with painful conditions. Patients with acute injuries were excluded. After clinical evaluation, and again after presentation of OARRS data, providers answered a set of questions about anticipated pain prescription for the patient. Outcome measures included changes in opioid prescription and other potential factors that influenced opioid prescription. Results Among 179 participants, OARRS data revealed high numbers of narcotics prescriptions filled in the most recent 12 months (median 7; range 0 to 128). Numerous providers prescribed narcotics for patients (median 3 per patient; range 0 to 40). Patients had filled narcotics prescriptions at different pharmacies (mean [SD] 3.5 [4.4]). Eighteen providers are represented in the study. Four providers treated 63% (N=114) of the patients in the study. After review of the OARRS data, providers changed the clinical management in 41% (N=74) of cases. In cases of altered management, the majority (61%; N=45) resulted in fewer or no opioid medications prescribed than originally planned, whereas 39% (N=29) resulted in more opioid medication than previously planned. Conclusion The use of data from a statewide narcotic registry frequently altered prescribing behavior for management of ED patients with complaints of nontraumatic pain.
How Can We Attain High Reliability of Complex Military Electronic Equipment

Each piece of military electronic equipment passes through various phases in its normal life cycle. These are planning, design and development, pilot production, manufacture, transportation, storage, operation and maintenance. Each of these stages is replete with opportunities for the introduction of unreliabilities. This paper points out the pitfalls which may be encountered and makes specific recommendations to avoid these so that the full amount of potential reliability may be realized in the final equipment.
Near-Infrared Fluorescent Imaging of Cerebral Thrombi and Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption in a Mouse Model of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis:

An intravital microscopy imaging method was developed to visualize active cerebral thrombus and blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption using Near Infrared Fluorescent (NIRF) probes. A circular craniotomy was made in CD-1 mice. Thrombi were formed by applying 10%-FeCl3 to the entire exposed superior sagittal sinus (SSS, 5 mm), or to the posterior 2.5 mm of the SSS for 5 mins. Control animals were pretreated with heparin (50 U/kg) before thrombus induction. Three hours after thrombus formation, a FXIIIa-targeted NIRF imaging probe (A15) was intravenously injected, and the SSS was imaged by intravital microscopy. This was followed by injection of indocyanine green (ICG) to assess BBB permeability. The A15 optical probe bound to thrombus, and the fluorescent signal emitted by the bound agent corresponded well with histologically confirmed thrombus. A15 initially remained intravascular, followed by excretion and subsequent decrease in all tissues except for thrombus, where it was retained. The subsequent ICG was also intravascular immediately after injection, but then began to leak into the cerebral parenchyma at 3 to 5 mins. The sites of leakage were adjacent to thrombosed areas. Heparin pretreatment prevented thrombus formation and reduced ICG leakage significantly. This demonstrates the feasibility of simultaneous in vivo monitoring of thrombus and BBB permeability in an animal model of cerebral venous thrombosis.
Voltage and proton gradient sensing in Hv1 proton channels

Hv1 voltage-gated proton channels appear to conduct H+ through a voltage sensor domain (VSD) that is homologous to that found in voltage-dependent cation channels and phosphatases. A conserved S4 transmembrane helix that contains a series of at least three Arg residues is integral to the voltage sensing function of all VSD proteins. In contrast to other VSD-containing proteins, voltage-gated proton channels possess an additional unique biophysical property: coupling of the transmembrane pH gradient to voltage dependent activation. For both native voltage-gated H+ currents and expressed Hv1 channels, the apparent voltage threshold for H+ current activation (Vthr) shifts linearly ∼40 mV per log([H+]) over at least five pH units. The molecular mechanism of coupling between voltage and the pH gradients represents one of the central mysteries of proton channel function. What constitutes the pH sensor in proton channels and how does it interact with the voltage sensor?DeCoursey and colleagues previously proposed a model for H+ channel gating wherein protonation of discrete sites that are alternatively exposed to either the extra- or intra-cellular milieu regulates the voltage-dependence of channel opening (Cherny et al., 1996); the required first step in this model is deprotonation of an extracellular H+ binding site. In order to identify residues that mediate pH-dependent regulation of voltage sensitivity in Hv1, we performed site-directed mutagenesis to convert each of the candidate H+ acceptors in the Hv1 VSD to either neutral (alanine or asparagine), basic (arginine) or H+-titratable (histidine) amino acids. Mutant channels were expressed in HEK-293 cells and Vthr was determined under a variety of imposed pH gradients using whole-cell voltage clamp. Surprisingly, charge-neutralizing mutations failed to abrogate pH gradient sensing in Hv1. Our findings are interpreted in the context of the Cherny and DeCoursey model for proton channel gating.
SOME EXAMPLES OF THE INTERRELATION BETWEEN WOOD STRUCTURE AND THE MODE OF ATTACK OF MICROORGANISMS AND CELLULASE PREPARATIONS

SUMMARY Microorganisms are used for gaining a better insight into the structure of the woody cell wall. For obtaining maximal effects from this branch of studies, microorganisms also need to be studied more intensively. Examples are given where microorganisms and cellulase preparations degraded the woody cell wall: differences in soft rot attack in Angiosperm and Gymnosperm fibre walls; soft rot attack in wood which was used in Teredo tests in coastal waters; the influence of ponding and immersion in cellulase preparations. It is proposed that the mucous layer around the hyphae of Chaetomium globosum and other soft rot fungi plays a role in producing the geometrical cavities. It was found that bacteria attacking ponded wood destroy the very thick membrane of the half bordered pit-pair to a considerable degree, leaving a thin membrane which is considered to be the S2 layer of the parenchyma cell wall. Bacteria also remove the membranes of the bordered pit pairs, most probably by digesting the margo, leaving the torus free to float away. The cellulase preparations are able to digest the margo-fibrils of the bordered pits.
Apparent effects of glyphosate on alkaloid production in coca plants grown in Colombia

During the routine analysis of coca leaf material from South America, alkaloids in Erythroxylum coca var. ipadu (ECVI) leaf samples from fields suspected of being treated with glyphosate were compared with those from non-treated E. coca var. ipadu and Erythroxylum novogranatense var. novogranatense (ENVN) plants. Cocaine levels in leaf tissue from non-treated ECVI and ENVN were 0.53 ± 0.08% and 0.64 ± 0.08% (w/w), respectively, whereas leaves from treated plants were nearly devoid of cocaine. Further analysis demonstrated the presence of several previously undescribed N-nortropane alkaloids, several of which were tentatively identified. The results suggest that applications of glyphosate to coca plants can have dramatic effects on the quantity and quality of alkaloids produced by surviving or subsequent leaves. The analytical data presented will be of value to forensic chemists who encounter illicit cocaine preparations containing alkaloids produced from coca plants treated with glyphosate.
Simulated Dynamic Optical Response Strategy for Model Identification of Metal Colloid Synthesis

A model for metal spherical particle formation is proposed, guided by optical kinetic data of monodisperse metal colloid synthesis. The dynamic optical response of these systems is characterized by broad bands, making their analysis difficult to interpret in terms of particles sizes. To overcome this problem, the data are analyzed in terms of a new strategy called simulated dynamic optical response. Kinetic data were generated using a silver-ethylenediamine complex reduced with isoascorbic acid as a model system. Using this strategy, it was found that autocatalytic formation of primary particles followed by a zone of very fast aggregation mechanism can describe the dominant dynamics during early stages. In later stages, the dominant mechanism switches to slower aggregation modulated by a stability factor. The presented model and identification strategy may be applied to other reaction precipitation systems to produce metal particles.
Nitric oxide synthase partial uncoupling as a key switching mechanism for the NO/ONOO– cycle

Summary Short-term stressors, capable of increasing nitric oxide levels, act to initiate cases of illnesses including chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity, fibromyalgia and posttraumatic stress disorder. These stressors, acting primarily through the nitric oxide product, peroxynitrite, are thought to initiate a complex vicious cycle mechanism, known as the NO/ONOO– cycle that is responsible for chronic illness. The complexity of the NO/ONOO– cycle raises the question as to whether the mechanism that switches on this cycle is this complex cycle itself or whether a simpler mechanism is the primary switch. It is proposed here that the switch involves a combination of two variable switches, the increase of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and the partial uncoupling of the NOS activity, with uncoupling caused by a tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) deficiency. NOS uncoupling causes the NOS enzymes to produce superoxide, the other precursor of peroxynitrite, in place of nitric oxide. Thus partial uncoupling will cause NOS proteins to act like peroxynitrite synthases, leading, in turn to increased NF-κB activity. Peroxynitrite is known to oxidize BH4, and consequently partial uncoupling may initiate a vicious cycle, propagating the partial uncoupling over time. The combination of high NOS activity and BH4 depletion will lead to a potential vicious cycle that may be expected to switch on the larger NO/ONOO– cycle, thus producing the symptoms and signs of chronic illness. The role of peroxynitrite in the NO/ONOO– cycle also implies that such uncoupling is part of the chronic phase cycle mechanism such that agents that lower uncoupling will be useful in treatment.
Isolation of Soluble 99Tc as a Compact Solid Using a Recyclable, Redox-Active, Metal-Complex Extractant

We are investigating a new paradigm in separation science, the use of recyclable, redox-active metal-complex extractants for the removal and isolation of ionic contaminants from acidic, neutral, or alkaline aqueous solutions. In this paper, we report a novel process for the extraction and recovery of TcO{sub 4}{sup -}. The noteworthy features of the process are that (i) technetium is recovered as a solid of minimal volume, (ii) the extractant and the organic solvent are recovered unchanged and can be reused many times, and (iii) the expendable chemicals are readily available, inexpensive, easy to handle, and relatively nontoxic. The key element of the process is a lipophilic, redox-active, metal-complex anion extractant, 1,1`,3,3`-tetrakis(2-methyl-2-hexyl)ferrocene, 1. 21 refs., 1 fig., 3 tabs.
HISTOLOGIC STUDY OF SYNOVIAL TISSUE FOLLOWING ORAL AND INTRA-ARTICULAR ADMINISTRATION OF PHENYLBUTAZONE.

Fifty-one synovial biopsies were obtained from the knee joints of 11 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and eight patients with osteoarthritis. Biopsies were taken before and repeated 3–9 days after treatment with phenylbutazone administered orally or intra-articularly. Histologic comparisons were made with reference to fibrin and fibrinopurulent material, appearance and thickness of synovial lining cells, edema, stromal hyalinization, inflammatory cell type and distribution, vascular alterations and other changes as noted on hematoxylin and eosin and special stained sections. Un total de 51 biopsias esseva effectuate in le articulationes geniculari de 11 patientes con arthritis rheumatoide e 8 patientes con osteoarthritis. Le specimens bioptic esseva obtenite (1) ante e de novo (2) inter 3 e 9 dies post le administration de phenylbutazona per via oral o intra-articular. Comparationes histologic esseva effectuate con respecto a fibrina e a materiales fibrinopurulente, al apparentia e spissitate del revestimento synovio-cellulari, al presentia de edema, de hyalinisation stromal, e de alterationes inflammatori (con attention prestate al typo cellular e al distribution), a alterationes vasculari, e a altere processos pathologic notate in sectiones tincturate con hematoxylina e eosina o con colorantes special.
Should firms disclose everything to everybody? A discussion of "Open vs. closed conference calls: the determinants and effects of broadening access to disclosure"

Abstract Bushee et al. (J. Accounting Econom. 34 (2003) 149–180) is a timely study in an area—corporate disclosure policy—that is increasingly important to regulators, corporate managers, and academics. The authors report several results that will be of interest to these groups. I describe the corporate disclosure issues that make the authors’ research questions of broader relevance than their specific topic might suggest. I then provide comments on theoretical and empirical aspects of the study. Overall, the study is likely to be useful in helping us understand some of the forces at work as corporate disclosure becomes more rapid, more comprehensive, and more open.
Distinguishing Between Sex and Gender: History, Current Conceptualizations, and Implications

Many psychologists, particularly feminist psychologists, have drawn a distinction between the term sex and the term gender. The purposes of this paper were to review the history of this distinction and to illustrate the varied and inconsistent ways in which these terms are used. Historically, this distinction began with John Money and his colleagues in the 1950s (Money et al. 1955a, b, 1957); they used the term sex to refer to individuals’ physical characteristics and the term gender to refer to individuals’ psychological characteristics and behavior. Two decades later, Rhoda Unger (1979) argued that the widespread use of the term sex implies biological causes and promotes the idea that differences between women and men are natural and immutable. She proposed the use of the term gender to refer to traits that are culturally assumed to be appropriate for women and men. Her work was influential in prompting a widespread shift from the use of the term sex to the use of the term gender in psychological texts. Nevertheless, current definitions of sex and gender vary widely. Some authors use the terms interchangeably. Of those who distinguish between the terms, most construe gender as more related to cultural influences and sex as more related to biology. There are numerous inconsistencies in authors’ definitions, however. Additionally, in some cases, there appears to be a mismatch between how researchers define sex or gender and how they measure it. It seems likely that the distinction between the term sex and the term gender may become less meaningful and important over time.
Influence of Aggregate Base Layer Variability on Pavement Performance

The objective of this research was to investigate the variability of base layer construction in hot-mix asphalt (HMA) pavements and to assess the impact of base layer variability or nonuniformity on pavement performance. Subjective acceptance criteria of base layer construction may lead to variable pavement performance and may result in early pavement distresses and failure. Eleven existing HMA pavement projects with aggregate base course layers constructed in the past few years were selected for falling weight deflectometer (FWD) testing and visual distress surveys. In six of these projects, issues with aggregate base performance (stability and uniformity) had been observed and reported during paving of the HMA surface layer. Later, these pavements exhibited various levels of early distresses, including cracking (longitudinal, transverse, and alligator), aggregate base failure, and pavement surface roughness or irregularities (for ride quality). The remaining five HMA pavement projects, for which no issu...
Data Discovery and Dissemination with DIP

We present DIP, a data discovery and dissemination protocol for wireless networks. Prior approaches, such as Trickle or SPIN, have overheads that scale linearly with the number of data items. For T items, DIP can identify new items with 0(log(T)) packets while maintaining a O(l) detection latency. To achieve this performance in a wide spectrum of network configurations, DIP uses a hybrid approach of randomized scanning and tree-based directed searches. By dynamically selecting which of the two algorithms to use, DIP outperforms both in terms of transmissions and speed. Simulation and testbed experiments show that DIP sends 20-60% fewer packets than existing protocols and can be 200% faster, while only requiring O(log(log(T))) additional state per data item.
The emergence of global disease control priorities

How do global disease control priorities emerge? This paper examines the post-World War II histories of efforts to control three diseases--polio, malaria and tuberculosis--to investigate this issue. The paper draws from the policy studies literature to evaluate three models of the priority generation process. A rational model suggests logical selection based on global burden and the availability of cost-effective interventions. An incremental model suggests a drawn out process in which health priorities emerge gradually and interventions reach affected populations through slow diffusion. A punctuated equilibrium model suggests a more complex pattern: long periods of stability during which interventions are available only to select populations, punctuated by bursts of attention as these interventions spread across the globe in concentrated periods of time. The paper finds that the punctuated equilibrium model corresponds most closely to efforts to control these three diseases. Bursts are associated with the convergence of three conditions: the widespread acceptance of the disease as a threat; a perception that human interventions can control disease transmission; and the formation of a transnational coalition of health actors concerned with fighting the disease. The generation of each condition requires considerable groundwork, the reason for long periods of stability. Initiatives take off rapidly when the conditions couple, the reason for bursts. The paper aims to spark additional research on the subject of global disease control agenda setting, a neglected issue in the health policy literature.
Bulk inversion in FinFETs and the implied insignificance of the effective gate width

Three- and two-dimensional numerical simulations of double-gate (DG) and triple-gate (TG) FinFETs having undoped thin bodies have revealed the significance of bulk-inversion current in I/sub on/, as well as I/sub off/, and the consequent insignificance of the commonly defined effective gate width in comparisons of DG and TG currents.
Second-harmonic amplitude and phase spectroscopy by use of broad-bandwidth femtosecond pulses

We present an in-depth experimental study of frequency-domain (FD) methods for measuring second-harmonic (SH) amplitude and phase spectra of surfaces by use of a 60-nm bandwidth femtosecond source and spectral dispersion of generated SH light. We directly compare FD with conventional scanning approaches, in which a narrowband laser is tuned over resonant features, by applying them to common Si1-xGex,Si1-x-yGexCy, and Si(001)–SiO2–Cr metal–oxide–semiconductor (MOS) samples. FD methods yield chirp-independentχ(2) amplitude spectra in good agreement with more time-consuming conventionally measured spectra. FD interferometric SH (FDISH) phase spectroscopy avoids the need for an interferometer scan at each frequency and yields detailed, reproducible phase spectra of the MOS capacitor. To validate the measured phase spectra, we reproduce their bias-dependent features in detail with a model of a resonant electric-field-induced SH polarization superposed coherently upon a field-independent background.
Computer generated hologram recording using a laser printer

The use of a laser printer for recording various types of computer generated holograms is discussed, and initial results are presented.
Velocity Structure of Internal Tide Beams Emanating from Kaena Ridge, Hawaii

AbstractObservations are reported of the semidiurnal (M2) internal tide across Kaena Ridge, Hawaii. Horizontal velocity in the upper 1000–1500 m was measured during eleven ~240-km-long shipboard acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) transects across the ridge, made over the course of several months. The M2 motions are isolated by means of harmonic analysis and compared to numerical simulations using the Princeton Ocean Model (POM). The depth coverage of the measurements is about 3 times greater than similar past studies, offering a substantially richer view of the internal tide beams. Sloping features are seen extending upward north and south from the ridge and then downward from the surface reflection about ±40 km from the ridge crest, closely matching theoretical M2 ray paths and the model predictions.
Transcriptional Activation of sclA by Mga Requires a Distal Binding Site in Streptococcus pyogenes

Streptococcus pyogenes (the group A streptococcus [GAS]) is a medically significant pathogen of humans, causing a range of diseases from pharyngitis to necrotizing fasciitis. Several important GAS virulence genes are under the control of a pleiotropic regulator called Mga, or the multiple gene regulator of GAS, including the gene encoding the streptococcal collagen-like protein, or sclA. Analysis of the genome sequence upstream of sclA revealed two potential Mga-binding sites with homology to the published Mga-binding element, which were called PsclA-I (distal) and PsclA-II (proximal) based on their location relative to a predicted start of transcription. Primer extension was used to confirm that the Mga-dependent transcriptional start site for sclA was located adjacent to the proximal PsclA-II binding site. By using overlapping PsclA promoter probes and purified Mga-His fusion protein, it was shown by electrophoretic mobility shift assays that, unlike other Mga-regulated promoters, Mga binds only to a distal DNA-binding site (PsclA-I). Binding of Mga to PsclA-I could be competed with cold probes corresponding to known Mga-regulated promoters (Pemm, PscpA, and Pmga) but not with a nonspecific probe or the proximal PsclA-II fragment. With the use of a plasmid-based green fluorescent protein transcriptional reporter system, the full-length PsclA was not sufficient to reproduce normal Mga-regulated activation. However, studies using a single-copy gusA transcriptional reporter system integrated at the native sclA chromosomal locus clearly demonstrated that the distal PsclA-I binding site is required for Mga regulation. Therefore, PsclA represents a new class of Mga-regulated promoters that requires a single distal binding site for activation.
Phase II evaluation of oral estramustine and oral etoposide in hormone-refractory adenocarcinoma of the prostate.

PURPOSEEstramustine and etoposide (VP-16) have been demonstrated to inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells in experimental models. This led us to evaluate the effectiveness of this combination in the treatment of patients with metastatic prostate carcinoma refractory to hormone therapy.PATIENTS AND METHODSEstramustine 15 mg/kg/d and VP-16 50 mg/m2/d, were administered orally in divided doses for 21 days. Patients were then taken off therapy for 7 days and the cycle then repeated. Therapy continued until evidence of disease progression.RESULTSForty-two patients have been enrolled onto this trial with a minimum of 40 weeks follow-up. Of 18 patients with measurable soft tissue disease, three demonstrated a complete response (CR) and six a partial response (PR) for longer than 2 months. Of these 18 patients, pretreatment prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels decreased by at least 75% in five men (28%) and by at least 50% in nine (50%). The median survival duration has not been reached in those patients ...
Spatial and temporal variation in trace elemental fingerprints of mytilid mussel shells: A precursor to invertebrate larval tracking

Elements incorporated into developing hard parts of planktonic larvae record the environmental conditions experienced during growth. These chemical signatures, termed elemental fingerprints, potentially allow for reconstruction of locations of larvae. Here, we have demonstrated for the first time the feasibility of this approach for bivalve shells. We have determined the spatial scale over which we are able to discriminate chemical signatures in mussels in southern California and characterized the temporal stability of these signals. Early settlers of Mytilus californianus and Mytilus galloprovincialis were collected from eight sites in southern California. Shells were analyzed for nine isotopes using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). We discriminated among mussels collected in two bays and the open coast using Mn, Pb, and Ba shell concentrations. Shell concentrations of Pb and Sr were sufficiently different to discriminate between mussels from the northern and southern regions of the open coast, each representing approximately 20 km of coastline. These signals were relatively stable on monthly and weekly time scales. These results indicate that trace elemental fingerprinting of shell material is a promising technique to track bivalve larvae moving between bays and the open coast or over along-shore scales on the order of 20 km. Identification of spatial variation in elemental fingerprints that is stable over time represents a crucial step in enhancing our ability to understand larval transport and population connectivity in invertebrates.
Changes in Medicare Home Health Care Use and Practices in Rural Communities: 1997 to 2001

Objectives: This research was designed to examine the impact of the interim and prospective payment systems on home health agencies and Medicare beneficiaries in rural communities. Methods: Data were collected from two complementary studies: (a) fiscal and use data collected from 10 rural agencies in northwest Pennsylvania and (b) a statewide survey of rural home health agencies in Pennsylvania. Results: The findings show that the implementation of interim and prospective payment systems had a profound affect on the home health agencies’ financial vulnerability, staffing management, and service delivery. As a result, Medicare beneficiaries were also affected. The total number of home health visits per episode in rural Pennsylvania was 16 visits, whereas the national estimate was 22 visits. Physical therapy services increased 8% and occupational therapy services increased 1%, whereas visits for other disciplines decreased or remain unchanged. Discussion: Future studies are needed to examine the health outc...
Extrasolar planets: the one that got away.

Hanging around a star that has passed through its red-giant phase doesn't seem a likely place for a planet. But one planet apparently managed to avoid being engulfed by its bloated star — might others, too? Most of the more than 200 known extrasolar planets orbit main sequence stars similar to our Sun. When the hydrogen in their cores runs out, they will become red giants that can easily reach and engulf inner planets. This will happen to the Sun in about five billion years. After that the fate of Earth is uncertain, but the discovery of a planet orbiting a post-red-giant phase star suggests that it may survive in some form. The planet is in orbit 1.7 astronomical units (AU) from V 391 Pegasi. The maximum radius of the red giant phase was about 0.7 AU, and the distance of the planet during main sequence phase 1 AU. This shows that planets with orbital distances of less than 2 AU (which by definition includes the Sun) can survive the red giant expansion.
Short-term Tracking of Atherosclerosis in Operated and Unoperated Human Carotid Arteries by High Resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging

A previous study demonstrated the efficacy of a phospholipid (PL) complexed with a protein (apoAI Milano) in causing 4.6% regression of atheroma volume as assessed by intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS) in a group of 47 patients with carotid atherosclerosis. The results of this study raised the question of whether the phospholipid alone could produce a similar effect. To answer this question a trial of 39 subjects at five sites was designed. Patients with > 15% stenosis of at least one carotid artery as determined by US underwent intravenous PL (200 mg/kg) or placebo infusions weekly for 8 weeks. The wall/outer wall ratio, percent lipid-rich/necrotic core, and percent calcification were measured as a proportion of the vessel wall by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 0, 4, 8, and 14 weeks. The substudy of seven of these patients evaluated at our site allowed comparison of the dimensions of five unoperated-unoperated carotid pairs and two operated-unoperated pairs. In patient 1, MRI measurements on unoperated left and unoperated right carotids tracked almost identically over the 14-week study. Both carotids showed similar increases in the volumes of the total wall (+61% vs. 56%), the normal wall (+51% vs. 49%), and plaque (+99% vs. 85%). Both carotids showed similar decreases in lumen volume (−11% vs. −17%). The other four unoperated-unoperated carotid pairs showed dimensional changes over 14 weeks similar to those of patient 1. In patient 2, who underwent left endarterectomy, the operated carotid had a total artery volume of 2300 mm3, about twofold greater than the unoperated carotid (1100 mm3). Operated and unoperated carotid measurements tracked in parallel. The unoperated carotid had volume increases of 25% (+200 mm3) in total wall, +19% (+100 mm3) in normal wall, and 43% (+75 mm3) in plaque. The operated carotid lumen showed no significant changes. Patient 7, who also underwent left endarterectomy, exhibited carotid changes similar to those of patient 2. Individual unoperated carotid pairs have volumes that track almost identically. In unilateral operated carotid pairs, the operated artery has 1.5- to 2.0-fold greater volume than unoperated carotids. In each of our two unilaterally operated patients, the operated carotid had decreased plaque volume (−3%, −58%), whereas the unoperated carotid had increased plaque volume (+43%, +7%). Among the five unoperated patients, one pair had 85%/99% increase in plaque volume; one pair had −15%/−10% decrease; and the other three pairs had intermediate changes. This study provides additional support to the view that unoperated human carotid arteries are bilaterally symmetrical.
The number of embryos available for transfer predicts successful pregnancy outcome in women over 39 years with normal ovarian hormonal reserve testing.

Purpose: The purpose was to determine whether the number of embryos available for transfer following IVF in women over age 39 predicted a successful pregnancy outcome. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 455 consecutive IVF cycles in women ≥ years of age. Results: Few cycles were canceled (29/455, 6.4%) or produced no embryos (5/455, 1.1%). Women 40–43 years of age with normal ovarian reserve had a significantly greater delivery rate when ≥4 embryos were available for transfer than when <4 embryos were available (17.8% versus 2.4%, P = 0.002). Subsequent IVF cycles, from women with normal FSH whose first cycle produced <4 embryos, produced delivery rates of 13.0% when ≥4 embryos were available. Women with abnormal ovarian reserve or age ≥44 years had very low delivery rates (1.2% and 1.4% respectively). Conclusions: The number of embryos available for transfer significantly predicts delivery from IVF–ET among reproductively older women. Many women age 40–43 with normal ovarian reserve can achieve pregnancy through IVF.
Preventing pollution from plutonium processing

The plutonium processing facility at Los Alamos has adopted the strategic goal of becoming a facility that processes plutonium in a way that produces only environmentally benign waste streams. Pollution prevention through source reduction and environmentally sound recycling are being pursued. General approaches to waste reductions are administrative controls, modification of process technologies, and additional waste polishing. Recycling of waste materials, such as spent acids and salts, are technical possibilities and are being pursued to accomplish additional waste reduction. Liquid waste stream polishing to remove final traces of plutonium and hazardous chemical constituents is accomplished through (a) process modifications, (b) use of alternative chemicals and sorbents for residue removal, (c) acid recycling, and (d) judicious use of a variety of waste polishing technologies. Technologies that show promise in waste minimization and pollution prevention are identified. Working toward this goal of pollution prevention is a worthwhile endeavor, not only for Los Alamos, but for the Nuclear Complex of the future.
The analysis of profile data--revisited.

We revisit a former problem that led to much commentary regarding a proposed use of testing whether profiles for several groups in a repeated measurement scenario were parallel. Here we review previous approaches and propose Bayesian model selection to indicate whether the profiles can be considered parallel and if so support an estimation procedure for the profile differences.
The use of MUPPETS in an introductory java programming course

"The Multi-User Programming Pedagogy for Enhancing Traditional Study" (MUPPETS) system has been under development at RIT for the last three years. This multi-user environment is designed to allow students to develop visible 3D objects in Java within a game-world environment with minimal knowledge of graphics programming. Students can interact with these objects through an interface built into the system. (Technical aspects of the MUPPETS system were previously published by the authors at CITC4) [1].In testing the usefulness of MUPPETS as a teaching tool, we have developed a series of course modules that use the environment as its programming environment. The existing "Programming for Information Technology III" course is the ideal place to perform an initial test of this nature, as students have some base familiarity with the Java language but have not yet completed their undergraduate programming core. Students in this course have a final group programming project that we intend to use as the initial test, and develop further MUPPETS modules downwards towards the initial freshman experience.In the past students used a package called "Robocode", which is available from IBM [2]. This project involved programming a virtual robot that could "fight" in an arena according to some agreed upon set of rules, which were developed both as part of the Robocode package and discussed and agreed upon in lecture. While the students enjoyed this project, the proliferation of available code on the Internet for the framework led to this project being removed from the course. We have implemented a variant of "RoboCode" in MUPPETS that addresses the code availability issue and provides a more interesting and graphically rich environment for the students.This paper shall discuss the reasons for the implementation, what we expect the students will gain from the use of MUPPETS based project, and possible methods of comparing this approach to the methods previously used in this course. Also discussed are additions to the MUPPETS system made to facilitate its classroom use including a re-implementation of the Swing graphics classes such that 2D interfaces are available in 3D, and model loading and texturing tools that allow custom robot creation and customization.
Some experiments in image vectorization

The application of vectorization algorithms to digital images derived from natural scenes is discussed. It is argued that the fractal nature of these scenes precludes some of the savings in storage expected from vector over raster representation, although considerable savings still result. Experimental results are given. Algorithms for contour following, line thinning, and polygonal approximation well adapted to complex images are presented. Finally, the Map Manipulation System, an experimental program package designed to explore the interaction between vector and raster information, is described briefly.
Roberts Mountains allochthon and the western margin of the Cordilleran miogeocline in the Northern Ritter Range pendant, eastern Sierra Nevada, California

The truncated southwestern edge of the Roberts Mountains allochthon is exposed in the Northern Ritter Range pendant in the eastern Sierra Nevada, structurally overlying parautochthonous rocks of the Cordilleran miogeocline. The Northern Ritter Range pendant exposes units that have the same stratigraphic affinities and structural relationships as rocks of the Antler orogenic belt in Nevada. Paleozoic metasedimentary rocks exposed in the pendant consist of two major units: (1) a structurally complex, disrupted chert and argillite unit interpreted to be correlative with the Roberts Mountains allochthon; and (2) a stratigraphically coherent siliceous and calcareous unit, the Rush Creek sequence, that is interpreted to be part of a transitional outer shelf and slope assemblage of the lower Paleozoic Cordilleran miogeocline. In the Northern Ritter Range pendant, the Roberts Mountains allochthon structurally overlies the Rush Creek sequence along a north-striking, steeply dipping fault zone that may be a preserved remnant of the Roberts Mountains thrust, which in north-central Nevada emplaced the allochthon over outer shelf and slope strata of the Cordilleran miogeocline during the Late Devonian–Early Mississippian Antler orogeny. These stratigraphic and structural belts are truncated on the southwest side of the pendant by the Gem Lake shear zone, a northwest-trending dextral strike-slip fault associated with the Cretaceous Sierra Nevada batholith. The Northern Ritter Range pendant thus defines both the southwestern limit of the Antler orogenic belt and the westernmost exposures of parautochthonous miogeoclinal rocks in the central Cordillera.
Cyber-physical systems: the next computing revolution

Cyber-physical systems (CPS) are physical and engineered systems whose operations are monitored, coordinated, controlled and integrated by a computing and communication core. Just as the internet transformed how humans interact with one another, cyber-physical systems will transform how we interact with the physical world around us. Many grand challenges await in the economically vital domains of transportation, health-care, manufacturing, agriculture, energy, defense, aerospace and buildings. The design, construction and verification of cyber-physical systems pose a multitude of technical challenges that must be addressed by a cross-disciplinary community of researchers and educators.
What counts in cultural studies

This article argues that Cultural Studies has tended to ignore questions of research methodology, and that some research methods have been dismissed and abandoned too easily. The article reviews the Cultural Studies critique of quantitative survey methods and, in most cases, endorses them. Nevertheless, while quantitative methods are not without their limitations, they are not irredeemably linked to empiricism. Rather, the quantitative survey may indeed be compatible with a Cultural Studies approach. A number of suggestions are made for the use of survey data within a Cultural Studies framework, both in terms of reinterpreting existing survey data (that may have been designed in terms of conventional empiricist models) and designing surveys that allow us to explore contemporary ideologies, the presence of opposition or resistance and the process of hegemony.
Production and decay of the Ds1 (2536)

Abstract Using the CLEO-II detector at CESR, we have observed the Ds1(2536)+ in the decay modes D s1 + →D ∗0 K + and D ∗+ K S + , and measured its fragmentation and production ratios. Using the helicity angle distribution of the daugter D ∗0 , we obtain new evidence for the assignment of 1+ for the spin and parity of the Ds1+. We also set upper limits on the decays D s1 + →D s ∗+ λ, D 0 K + and D+Ks0.