cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tumbling down a different pathway to genetic instability

Ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic inflammatory condition associated with a predisposition to colon cancer, is frequently characterized by DNA damage in the form of microsatellite instability (MSI). A new report links inflammation in UC with increases in the DNA repair enzymes 3-methyladenine DNA glycosylase and apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease, and, paradoxically, with increased MSI. These findings may represent a novel mechanism contributing to MSI in chronic inflammation.
Frequency Selective Model Order Reduction via Spectral Zero Projection

As process technology continues to scale into the nanoscale regime, interconnect plays an ever increasing role in determining VLSI system performance. As the complexity of these systems increases, reduced order modeling becomes critical. In this paper, we develop a new method for the model order reduction of interconnect using frequency restrictive selection of interpolation points based on the spectral-zeros of the RLC interconnect model's transfer function. The methodology uses the imaginary part of spectral zeros for frequency selective projection and provides stable as well as passive reduced order models for interconnect in VLSI systems. For large order interconnect models with realistic RLC parameters, the results indicate that our method provides more accurate approximations than techniques based on balanced truncation and moment matching with excellent agreement with the original system's transfer function.
Supporting evolution and maintenance of Android apps

In recent years, the market of mobile software applications (apps) has maintained an impressive upward trajectory. As of today, the market for such devices features over 850K+ apps for Android, and 19 versions of the Android API have been released in 4 years. There is evidence that Android apps are highly dependent on the underlying APIs, and APIs instability (change proneness) and fault-proneness are a threat to the success of those apps. Therefore, the goal of this research is to create an approach that helps developers of Android apps to be better prepared for Android platform updates as well as the updates from third-party libraries that can potentially (and inadvertently) impact their apps with breaking changes and bugs. Thus, we hypothesize that the proposed approach will help developers not only deal with platform and library updates opportunely, but also keep (and increase) the user base by avoiding many of these potential API ”update” bugs
Characterization of gas-phase adsorption on metal oxide thin films using a magnetoelastic resonance microbalance.

In this study, a magnetoelastic resonance microbalance (MERM) was used to directly measure the gas-phase adsorption behavior of water vapor, isopropyl alcohol, and acetone on a sol−gel-derived titanium dioxide sensor coating. The nature of the MERM platform enables chemical measurements in situations in which wires or physical connections are undesired (or not possible) or in which sensor cost is a major issue. The underlying MERM technique (with an uncoated sensor) showed excellent day-to-day stability, a linear calibration over a 1 kHz change in frequency (or a 1.5-mg change in mass), and the ability to detect a mass change of 15 μg without any efforts at sensitivity optimization. The titanium dioxide coated sensor yielded excellent response to each of the analytes; however, the response did not follow a simple linear calibration function. A more complex calibration model or utilization of the coated sensor in a limited concentration range would be required for quantitative analysis. The process of appl...
Design and synthesis of classical and nonclassical 6-arylthio-2,4-diamino-5-ethylpyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines as antifolates.

The classical antifolate N-{4-[(2,4-diamino-5-ethyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-6-yl)sulfanyl]benzoyl}-l-glutamic acid (2) and 15 nonclassical analogues (3−17) were synthesized as potential dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) inhibitors and as antitumor agents. 5-Ethyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4-diamine (20) served as the key intermediate to which various aryl thiols and a heteroaryl thiol were appended at the 6-position via an oxidative addition reaction. The classical analogue 2 was synthesized by coupling the benzoic acid derivative 18 with diethyl l-glutamate followed by saponification. The classical compound 2 was an excellent inhibitor of human DHFR (IC50 = 66 nM) as well as a two digit nanomolar (<100 nM) inhibitor of the growth of several tumor cells in culture. Some of the nonclassical analogues were potent and selective inhibitors of DHFR from two pathogens (Toxoplasma gondii and Mycobacterium avium) that cause opportunistic infections in patients with compromised immune systems.
Audiologic impairment associated with bilirubin-induced neurologic damage

Hyperbilirubinemia occurs commonly in neonates and is usually mild and transient, with no long-lasting sequelae. However, bilirubin-induced neurologic damage may occur in some infants. The auditory pathway is the most sensitive part of the central nervous system to bilirubin-induced toxicity, and permanent sequelae may result from only moderately elevated total serum/plasma bilirubin levels. The damage to the auditory system occurs primarily within the brainstem and cranial nerve VIII, and manifests clinically as auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder.
Evaluation of some properties of an opaque porcelain fired simultaneously with the body porcelain

Abstract Recently, a porcelain-fused-to-metal opaque porcelain was introduced that does not require a separate firing before application of the body porcelain. The objective of this study was to determine the properties of this new opaque porcelain and its ability to bond to metal. The properties studied included flexural strength, linear firing shrinkage, coefficient of thermal expansion, powder particle size, and ability to bond to body porcelain and dental alloys. Sintering of this opaque porcelain was complete when fired at 1760 ° F (960 ° C) with a linear firing shrinkage of 13.1% ± 0.2%. No boundary between the opaque and body porcelains could be found with a scanning electron microscope after firing at 1760 ° F (960 ° C). The mean flexural strengths were 99 ± 7 and 101 ± 8 MPa respectively, for this opaque porcelain and a conventional opaque porcelain, and were not significantly different as assessed with Student's t -test ( p = 0.548). The coefficient of thermal expansion for this opaque porcelain was 13.3 ± 0.2 × 10 −6 / ° C. Particle size analysis showed a 63% increase in the particles below 5 μm for this opaque porcelain and bonding to two alloys was adequate as indicated by its cohesive failure. Simultaneous firing of this special opaque porcelain and body porcelain produced satisfactory sintering, strength, and bonding to metal.
Isolation and characterization of allelopathic volatiles from mugwort ( Artemisia vulgaris )

Several volatile allelochemicals were identified and characterized from fresh leaf tissue of three distinct populations of the invasive perennial weed, mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris). A unique bioassay was used to demonstrate the release of volatile allelochemicals from leaf tissues. Leaf volatiles were trapped and analyzed via gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Some of the components identified were terpenes, including camphor, eucalyptol, alpha-pinene, and beta-pinene. Those commercially available were tested individually to determine their phytotoxicity. Concentrations of detectable volatiles differed in both absolute and relative proportions among the mugwort populations. The three mugwort populations consisted of a taller, highly branched population (ITH-1); a shorter, lesser-branched population (ITH-2) (both grown from rhizome fragments from managed landscapes); and a population grown from seed with lobed leaves (VT). Considerable interspecific variation existed in leaf morphology and leaf surface chemistry. Bioassays revealed that none of the individual monoterpenes could account for the observed phytotoxicity imparted by total leaf volatiles, suggesting a synergistic effect or activity of a component not tested. Despite inability to detect a single dominant phytotoxic compound, decreases in total terpene concentration with increase in leaf age correlated with decreases in phytotoxicity. The presence of bioactive terpenoids in leaf surface chemistry of younger mugwort tissue suggests a potential role for terpenoids in mugwort establishment and proliferation in introduced habitats.
Macro/Micro-Scale Modeling of Laser Cladding Process

Laser cladding process inherently includes multi-scale, highly non-linear, and non-equilibrium transport phenomena due to non-uniform and rapid heat flow caused by the laser and the material interaction. Therefore, there is a growing demand to develop systematic modeling and simulation approaches for the multi-scale problem. To address this issue, a process model of solidification microstructure evolution has been studied by utilizing a phase-field method. The phase-field method has become a widely used computational tool for the modeling of solidification microstructure evolution with the advantage of avoiding tracking the interface explicitly and satisfying interfacial boundary conditions. In present work, the numerical solutions of a phase-field model have been analyzed. The linking of macro-scale process and solidification microstructure evolution was examined by considering the relationship of macro- and micro-parameters. The effects of laser power on clad height and surface roughness have also been studied. The predicted results for pure metal dendrite growth were compared with the microsolvability theory and a good agreement was found. Different solidification morphologies of different locations in the melt pool are also investigated. It was found that it is not the mass transfer but the heat transfer in the melt pool that dominates the solidification process.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Degassing of metals and metalloids from erupting seamount and mid-ocean ridge volcanoes: Observations and predictions

Recently, it has been reported that the element polonium degasses from mid-ocean ridge and seamount volcanoes during eruptions. Published and new observations on other volatile metal and metalloid elements can also be interpreted as indicating significant degassing of magmatic vapors during submarine eruptions. This process potentially plays an important role in the net transfer of chemical elements from erupting volcanoes to seawater in addition to that arising from sea floor hydrothermal systems. In this paper, a framework is constructed for predicting and assessing semiquantitatively the potential magnitude and chemical fingerprints in the water column of metal and metalloid degassing using (1) predictions from a summary of element volatilities during mafic subaerial volcanism worldwide and (2) limited data from submarine volcanic effusives. The latter include analyses of polonium and trace metals in near-volcano water masses sampled following a submarine eruption at Loihi seamount, Hawaii (1000 m bsl) in 1996. The element volatility predictions and observations show good agreement, considering the limited dataset. Some of the highest volatility main group and transition element enrichments in seawater over Loihi are predicted by the degassing mass transfer model I present. When expanded to cover all submarine volcanic activity, it is predicted that exit fluxes of these elements are up to 102–103 greater by degassing than by normal MOR hydrothermalism. In contrast, MOR exit fluxes of low volatility alkali and alkaline earth elements are likely 102–106 greater from hydrothermal inputs. Degassing inputs to the ocean are probably highly episodic, occurring almost entirely during eruptions; these are times of enhanced and abnormal hydrothermalism as well. Although major hydrothermal and degassing events may not be chemically recognizable in real water masses as wholly distinct entities, it is nevertheless possible to predict to what extent each process flavors the effluents of the other. Degassing at mid-ocean ridges may explain a variety of observations previously ascribed to complexities occurring during hydrothermal venting and/or fluid ascent in the buoyant hydrothermal plumes above ridges.
Lewis number effects on premixed flames interacting with turbulent Kármán vortex streets

The effects of Lewis number on the global and local structure of premixed flames interacting with turbulent Karman vortex streets are experimentally investigated using OH planar-laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF). The OH PLIF results show that over the range of Lewis numbers studied, i.e., Le = 0.21, 0.94 and 1.79, the flame area increases and the flame front is oriented more randomly as Lewis number decreases, while the flame curvature pdfs are unchanged. The relationship between the local flame structure and the local flame curvature is found to be consistent with the results of stretched laminar flame theory. The correlation between the local maximum OH fluorescence intensity and the local curvature tends to level off for large positive curvature (H > 0.5 mm−1) as UθSL increases, indicating that the response of the flame to large flame stretch may be non-linear at high UθSL. The pdfs of peak OH LIF intensity suggest that the mean burning rate of the H2/He/air flame at UθSL = 3.3 is increased approximately by 10% in comparison to the undisturbed laminar flame. The present results imply that even though the local flame curvature may strongly influence the local structure and burning rate of nonunity Lewis number flames through the effect of flame stretch on the local burning rate, these variations tend to cancel in the mean due to the linear relationship between local burning rate and curvature for the most probable values of curvature (−0.5 mm−1 < H < 0.5 mm−1) and due to the symmetry and zero mean of the curvature distribution. Therefore, the main effect of turbulence and Lewis number is to wrinkle the flame and produce flame area, while increasing the mean burning rate per unit surface area by relatively small amount through flow strain effects.
Economic Incentives and Foster Child Adoption

Every year, a large number of children in the United States enter the foster care system. Many of them are eventually reunited with their biological parents or quickly adopted. A significant number, however, face long-term foster care, and some of these children are eventually adopted by their foster parents. The decision by foster parents to adopt their foster child carries significant economic consequences, including for feiting foster care payments while also assuming responsibility for medical, legal, and educational expenses, to name a few. Since 1980, U.S. states have begun to offer adoption subsidies to offset some of these expenses, significantly lowering the cost of adopting a child who is in the foster care system. This article presents empirical evidence of the role that these economic incentives play in foster parents' decision of when, or if, to adopt their foster child. We find that adoption subsidies increase adoptions through two distinct price mechanisms: by lowering the absolute cost of adoption, and by lowering the relative cost of adoption versus long-term foster care.
Engineering Systems Multiple-Domain Matrix: An organizing framework for modeling large-scale complex systems

The scope and complexity of engineered systems are ever-increasing as burgeoning global markets, unprecedented technological capabilities, rising consumer expectations, and ever-changing social requirements present difficult design challenges that often extend beyond the traditional engineering paradigm. These challenges require engineers and technical managers to treat the technological systems as a part of a larger whole. Existing system modeling frameworks are limited in scope for representing the information about engineering systems. This paper presents a conceptual framework and an improved modeling framework for engineering systems. Its value is that it allows engineers and managers an improved means to visually arrange information and structure discourse in a way that facilitates better systems engineering. It augments the existing literature by providing a clear and concise framework for an engineering system, and provides a methodology for engineers to tag and organize systems information in ways that allow for better collection, storage, processing, and analysis of systems engineering data. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Integrated resource management for lambda-grids: The Distributed Virtual Computer (DVC)

The Distributed Virtual Computer (DVC) is the key unifying element of the OptIPuter software architecture. It provides a simple, clean abstraction for applications or higher-level middleware, allowing them to use lambda-grids with the same convenience as a VPN. The DVC is successful because it employs integrated network and end-resource selection, achieving high quality results so that there is little incentive for end-users to expose and manage lower-level interfaces. We describe the development of the DVC abstraction, key results, and experience with multiple applications and testbeds.
Time to extinction of liquid hydrocarbon fuel droplets burning in a transient Diesel-like environment

Abstract A numerical analysis is presented which characterizes the response of fuel droplet burning rates to the transient effects of temperature, pressure, and oxidizer mass fraction that occur during the various stages of the power stroke of a diesel engine. The first stage of the analysis involves calculation of the diesel-like environment. This environment is then used as input for the second stage which computes the time varying track of burning droplets upon a catastrophe-like surface. The time to reach the upper folding edge of this surface, which defines the boundary of combustion instability, is calculated for droplets in the initial radial range of 10–40 microns.
Investigation of high-reactivity calcium carbonate sorbent for enhanced SO2 capture

Kinetics of ultrafast, high-temperature sulfation is investigated for two calcium carbonates from different sources, a commercial calcium hydroxide and a laboratory-made modified hydrated lime powd...
Granulocytic leukemia and reticulum cell sarcoma

Two cases of granulocytic leukemia associated with reticulum cell sarcoma are reported. Reticulum cell sarcoma was diagnosed in one patient from lymph node biopsy during life and from histological evaluation of bone marrow sections postmortem; studies of peripheral blood and bone marrow aspirated 8 days before death, however, revealed changes of acute granulocytic leukemia. Reticulum cell sarcoma was diagnosed in the second patient 7 months before he developed the peripheral blood and bone marrow findings of chronic granulocytic leukemia. The relationship between these 2 entities is discussed and the authors suggest that they may represent the same basic disease process studied through 2 different morphologic methods.
The formation of excimer and exciplex in the structural investigations of lipid vesicles: deuterium isotope effect

Abstract Ethyl pyrene (EP), which forms EP excimer and EP-dimethylaniline (DMA) exciplex in lipid vesicles prepared with 1,2-dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) and its deuterated analogue (DMPC(D)), has been used to monitor the structural properties of membrane lipid. The excimer or exciplex formation is evaluated by examining the logarithm of excimer or exciplex to monomer fluorescence quantum yield ratio as a function of temperature. The EP excimer is influenced by the gel to liquid-crystalline phase transition in both DMPC and DMPC(D). Deuterium isotope substitution in lipid enhances the excimer yield. The EPDMA exciplex is also dependent on membrane lipids, and is sensitive to the lipid phase transition in DMPC, but not in DMPC(D). These findings reveal that in the liquid-cyrstalline phase the two hydrocarbon tails in the two lipid dispersions are structurally comparable, while in the gel phase the tails in DMPC(D) have a significantly less ordered configuration than those in DMPC, making DMPC(D) less rigid in its structure. The present results not only support our previous suggestion, but also indicate that the looser structure and reduced stability in deuterated molecules may be associated with a less structural ordering in them.
Fire on the New England landscape: regional and temporal variation, cultural and environmental controls

Aim We use a retrospective approach to reconstruct the past distribution of fire in New England and to investigate the important drivers of this pattern across the period of European arrival to North America. Location Our study sites are in New England, and range from pitch pine and oak forests of coastal Massachusetts, pine and hardwood forests of central Massachusetts, and northern hardwood and spruce fir forests of northern Massachusetts and Vermont. Methods We collected sediment profiles from eighteen lakes across the study area to assess fossil charcoal and pollen abundance over the past 1000 years, including the time period of European arrival and settlement. Results Based on presettlement pollen composition, our study sites are divided into three vegetation types: (1) pitch pine and oak, (2) oak, pine and hardwood and (3) northern hardwoods. The abundance of presettlement charcoal in these lakes is closely related to climate and the composition of surrounding vegetation. Charcoal is most abundant in pitch pine forests and least common in northern hardwood forests. Following the arrival of Europeans, charcoal abundance increased at most sites substantially, and vegetation composition changed in a direction of either greater dominance by pitch pine or white pine, depending on whether the forests were located in the southern or northern part of New England. Main conclusions The major factor influencing the distribution of fire across New England is climate, which has a direct effect on the physical conditions conducive to fire ignition and spread and an indirect effect on fire through its control on the distribution of vegetation at this spatial scale. We find evidence that other factors exert some control over local fire regimes as well including landforms and their impact on vegetation composition, firebreaks and prevailing winds. Native Americans likely influenced the local occurrence of fire, but their impact on regional fire regimes in New England is not apparent from this or other studies. However, additional palaeoecological, archaeological and historical work needs to be carried out to better address this question. In contrast, Europeans had a dramatic effect on fire throughout the New England landscape, increasing its occurrence almost everywhere.
Dynamical Analysis of Sawing Motion Tracks Muscle Fatigue Evolution

Both for civilian and military applications, tracking and identifying muscle fatigue—usually caused by continuous, repetitive motion over a finite period of time—is of great importance. The muscle fatigue process is very difficult to track due to its hidden nature. Invasive procedures are often needed to measure fatigue. Here, easily obtainable noninvasive kinematic measurements are used to extract muscle fatigue related trends associated with a sawing motion. The methodology is derived from dynamical systems based fatigue identification in engineered systems. Ten right-handed subjects perform sawing motion until voluntary exhaustion. Three sets of joint kinematic angles are measured from the elbow, wrist, and shoulder. Fatigue is identified in two steps: (1) phase space warping based feature vectors are estimated from kinematic time series; and (2) smooth orthogonal decomposition (SOD) is used to extract fatigue related trends from these features. SOD-based trends are compared against independently obtained fatigue markers estimated from the mean and median frequencies of electrography (EMG) signals of individual muscles. SOD-based trends from elbow and shoulder kinematics adequately capature fatigue in the triceps muscle estimated from the EMG measurements. These same kinematic angles show little fatigue information in the flexor/extensor carpi radialis (not directly engaged in sawing motion). The methodology used here shows great potential in tracking individual muscle fatigue evolution using only motion kinematics data.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Mortality from coronary heart disease and stroke for six ethnic groups in California, 1985 to 1990

Coronary heart disease and stroke death rates were compared for six ethnic groups (non-Hispanic white, Hispanic, African-American, Chinese, Japanese, and Asian Indian) by sex and age (25 to 44, 45 to 64, 65 to 84, and 25 to 84 years old) using California census and 1985 to 1990 death data. African-American men and women in all age groups had the highest rates of death from coronary heart disease, stroke, and all causes (except for coronary heart disease in the oldest men). Hispanics, Chinese, and Japanese in all age-sex groups had comparatively low death rates for coronary heart disease and stroke, although stroke was proportionally an important cause of death for Chinese and Japanese groups. Coronary heart disease was an important cause of death for Asian Indians although death rates were generally not higher than those for other ethnic groups. Ethnic differences were most marked for women and younger age groups.
Electronic and transport properties of azobenzene monolayer junctions as molecular switches

We investigate from first-principles the change in transport properties of a two-dimensional azobenzene monolayer sandwiched between two Au electrodes that undergoes molecular switching. We focus on transport differences between a chemisorbed and physisorbed top monolayer-electrode contact. The conductance of the monolayer junction with a chemisorbed top contact is higher in trans configuration, in agreement with the previous theoretical predictions of one-dimensional single molecule junctions. However, with a physisorbed top contact, the "ON" state with larger conductance is associated with the cis configuration due to a reduced effective tunneling pathway by switching from trans to cis, which successfully explains recently experimental measurements of azobenzene monolayer junctions. A simple model is developed to explain electron transmission across subsystems in the molecular junction. We also discuss the effects of monolayer packing density, molecule tilt angle, and contact geometry on the calculated transmission functions. In particular, we find that a tip-like contact with chemisorption significantly affects the electric current through the cis monolayer, leading to highly asymmetric current-voltage characteristics as well as large negative differential resistance behavior.
Do governance structures matter

Using national survey data, the author finds little relationship between decision-making authority and the actual decisions that are made.
Theory of International Public Relations, the Internet, and Activism: A Personal Reflection

With the increasing impact of globalization on public relations practice, it has been suggested that all public relations has become global. This article argues that there still is an important distinction between global and domestic public relations practices, and that understanding those differences will contribute to better global practice. The article defines international public relations and then explains the critical distinctions between practicing across borders versus purely domestic public relations efforts. The article then outlines theory building in the international realm of public relations over the past two decades. It concludes by suggesting needed refinements in this theory building so as to provide more adequate guides for those who are practicing or preparing to operate across the cultural, political, and economic boundaries that comprise comprehensive international public relations.
An unusual case of urinary retention in a competitive gymnast

Hydrocolpos is the accumulation of blood behind an imperforate hymen. Patients often present in early adolescence with cyclic abdominal pain. We present the case of an elite gymnast who, after 6 months of symptoms and a series of incorrect diagnoses, was diagnosed with hydrocolpos. It is likely that the patient's extraordinary training regimen contributed to the difficulty in diagnosis.
Retinal endothelial cells are more susceptible to oxidative stress and increased permeability than brain-derived endothelial cells

Increased vascular permeability and oxidative stress are important in diabetic retinopathy. Because the cerebral microcirculation is much less affected in diabetes, our objectives are to compare: (1) glutathione peroxidase activity, (2) superoxide dismutase levels, (3) superoxide production, and (4) junctional protein (ZO-1) levels between retinal and brain-derived endothelial cells. Bovine brain and retinal endothelial cell cultures are incubated in medium containing either mM or 30 mM glucose for 5 days. Superoxide is measured in the medium and endothelial cells are then lysed and analyzed for glutathione peroxidase activity as well as levels of superoxide dismustase and ZO-1. The results demonstrate that, compared to brain-derived endothelial cells, retinal endothelial cells release high levels of superoxide, have less glutathione peroxidase activity and lower levels of superoxide dismutase, and ZO-1. Also, unlike brain-derived endothelial cells where ZO-1 levels increased in response to glucose, in retinal endothelial cells, ZO-1 levels are unaffected by glucose. These findings suggest that greater oxidative stress and lower junctional protein levels in retinal endothelial cells may contribute to blood/retinal barrier dysfunction in diabetic retinopathy.
Individualizing chemotherapeutic treatment of colorectal cancer

Purpose. Patient-specific factors that enter into decisions about the chemotherapy used to treat colorectal cancer are illustrated in several case studies. Summary. Genetic polymorphisms in genes that encode drug-metabolizing enzymes may affect the disposition and the risk for toxicity from chemotherapy agents used to treat colorectal cancer. Severe toxicity from 5-fluorouracil has been attributed to a deficiency in dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), but currently there is no widely used genetic test for DPD deficiency. An assay is available for genotypic testing of the enzyme UGT1A1, which is predictive of toxicity from irinotecan. Advanced age, prior pelvic or abdominal radiotherapy, a poor performance status, and increased pretreatment total bilirubin concentration also are associated with irinotecan-related toxicity. A reduction in irinotecan dosage or use of an alternative agent may be warranted in patients with risk factors for toxicity. Positive epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining does not necessarily predict the response to cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody that binds EGFR, possibly because of the low sensitivity of the test. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is the tumor marker of choice for monitoring for progression of colorectal cancer. Conclusion. Individualizing chemotherapy based on disease stage, pharmacogenetics, prior therapy, patient age, performance status, and CEA level may help to optimize outcomes from chemotherapy for patients with colorectal cancer.
Evaluation of body condition and weight loss in dogs presented to a veterinary oncology service.

Cancer cachexia is a well-recognized syndrome in human patients that is characterized by progressive involuntary weight loss. The prevalence of this syndrome in veterinary cancer patients is unknown. This study's objective was to investigate the occurrence of weight loss and cachexia, as characterized by body condition scoring, in dogs presented to a veterinary oncology service. Information collected on 100 dogs included signalment, diagnosis, weight at time of diagnosis, and, when available, weight from a time approximately 12 months before diagnosis. Body condition was assessed by using a 9-point system based on body silhouette and palpation of adipose tissue (4-5 = optimal, 1 = extreme cachexia, 9 = extreme obesity). Muscle wasting was scored based on palpation of skeletal muscle (3 = no wasting, 2 = mild, 1 = moderate, 0 = severe). Only 4% of the dogs exhibited cachexia as defined by a body condition score or = 7). Fifteen percent had evidence of clinically relevant muscle wasting ( 10% of body weight. Overall, the percentage of dogs with signs indicating a decline in nutritional status was less than what has been reported for human cancer patients. Future studies should investigate the extent to which weight loss occurs in canine patients on an appropriate plane of nutrition as well as to establish whether an association exists between poor nutritional status and outcome in canine cancer patients.
Magnetostrictive structural elements fabricated from metallic glass

Magnetostrictive adaptive materials have many benefits over competing materials such as piezoelectric types. These advantages include very low power and voltage, high toughness and strength, and the ease of composite manufacture. The amorphous metal Metglas was chosen for fabrication of tubular and bimorph samples of magnetostrictive composites. Metglas composites produced magnetostrictive strains greater than 50 ppm in tests. The composite Young's modulus was 7.8 X 106 psi, which is 78 percent of aluminum. Specific stiffness is 48 X 106 in, which is 47 percent of aluminum. This specific stiffness is favorable because the composite replaces heavy actuator components, such as high density piezoelectric materials, as well as supplying primary load carrying capability. Very low power requirements are anticipated because of the 90 percent conversion efficiency from magnetic to mechanical energy.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
cDNA cloning and expression of a class II acidic chitinase from sweet orange

A citrus cDNA encoding a class II acidic chitinase was isolated from a nonembryogenic cell line of sweet orange using the tobacco cDNA clone PROB3. Northern blot analysis revealed that the corresponding mRNA is expressed in young, green bark but not in leaves, roots, or flavedo.
ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PERMEABILITY FACTORS FROM RABBIT NEUTROPHILS

Four basic proteins that increase vascular permeability have been isolated in purified form from rabbit neutrophilic granules. These proteins are termed band 1, 2, 3, and 4 protein according to their electrophoretic migration in acrylamide gel. Molecular weights of band 1 and 2 protein derived from amino acid composition were 4800 and 5300, respectively. These values are in good agreement with those obtained for these proteins by gel diffusion techniques. The molecular weight of band 3 protein was also in the range of 5000 by the latter technique. The molecular weight of band 4 protein determined by ultracentrifugal analysis and amino acid composition was 12,000. Although all four proteins had the capacity to induce immediate increase in vascular permeability, only band 2 protein was found to release histamine from isolated rat peritoneal mast cells. Furthermore, it has been shown that the permeability-inducing activity of band 2 protein can be inhibited by pretreating rabbits with antihistamine. Band 2 protein did not release histamine from rabbit platelets and depletion of rabbit platelets from the circulation had no influence on the permeability-inducing activity of this protein. Band 1, 3, and 4 proteins did not release histamine from isolated rat peritoneal mast cells and their capacity to increase vascular permeability remained unaffected by treatment of rabbits with antihistamine. These investigations suggest that the histamine-releasing activity of band 2 protein is a specific phenomenon and is associated with particular amino acid grouping or spacial configuration of the molecules. By the same token, the increase in vascular permeability induced by the nonhistamine-releasing band 1, 3, and 4 proteins represents a specific phenomenon (or phenomena) not particularly related to the over-all charge of these molecules.
A Life-Change Measure as a Screening Device for Psychological Services among Three Collegiate Groups

The present study was designed to determine if a life-change measure would differentiate users of counseling services and mental health services from a control group not receiving psychological ser...
Protective buttressing of the human fist and the evolution of hominin hands

The derived proportions of the human hand may provide supportive buttressing that protects the hand from injury when striking with a fist. Flexion of digits 2-5 results in buttressing of the pads of the distal phalanges against the central palm and the palmar pads of the proximal phalanges. Additionally, adduction of the thenar eminence to abut the dorsal surface of the distal phalanges of digits 2 and 3 locks these digits into a solid configuration that may allow a transfer of energy through the thenar eminence to the wrist. To test the hypothesis of a performance advantage, we measured: (1) the forces and rate of change of acceleration (jerk) from maximum effort strikes of subjects striking with a fist and an open hand; (2) the static stiffness of the second metacarpo-phalangeal (MCP) joint in buttressed and unbuttressed fist postures; and (3) static force transfer from digits 2 and 3 to digit 1 also in buttressed and unbuttressed fist postures. We found that peak forces, force impulses and peak jerk did not differ between the closed fist and open palm strikes. However, the structure of the human fist provides buttressing that increases the stiffness of the second MCP joint by fourfold and, as a result of force transfer through the thenar eminence, more than doubles the ability of the proximal phalanges to transmit 'punching' force. Thus, the proportions of the human hand provide a performance advantage when striking with a fist. We propose that the derived proportions of hominin hands reflect, in part, sexual selection to improve fighting performance.
Organizational decision support systems: Centralized support for decentralized organizations

Organizations are becoming increasingly decentralized in their operations and decision making. Advanced information technologies provide the glue that holds such organizations together and facilitates their operations. Organizational decision support systems (ODSSs) provide mechanisms for ensuring that the decisions being made throughout such organizations are consistent with each other and with the overall organization goals. Through means of an ODSS, information and guidance is automatically passed from higher levels to lower levels for use in decision-making models.
Molecular weight studies on the supernatant malate dehydrogenase isolated from beef heart Evidence for a proteolytic contaminant in the purified preparation

Abstract 1. 1.|Studies were carried out to determine the subunit structure of supernatant malate dehydrogenase. Initial experiments in concentrated urea solutions produced a heterogeneous population of molecules, with molecular weight components as small as 2.0 · 104–2.5 · 104. Further investigations indicated that this low molecular weight material was generated by a sulfhydryl-activated protease present in trace amounts in the preparation. Under conditions in which the proteoltyic activity was absent, a single component of molecular weight 3.75 · 104 ± 0.3 · 104 could be observed. 2. 2.|The existence of a protease active under denaturing conditions is suggested as the possible cause of similar low molecular weight components reported in a number of mammalian dehydrogenase preparations.
Reflective mulches for management of aphids and aphid-borne virus diseases in late-season cantaloupe (Cucumis melo L. var. cantalupensis)

Abstract A complex of aphids and several mosaic virus diseases can cause major losses in cucurbitaceous crops grown in the inland valleys of California. Three field experiments were conducted to test and compare the effectiveness of reflective polyethylene and biodegradable, synthetic latex spray mulches for management of aphids and aphid-borne virus diseases of late-season cantaloupe ( Cucumis melo L. var. cantalupensis cv. Primo) in the San Joaquin Valley. Beneficial responses were obtained from the reflective mulches, under conditions of high aphid populations and virus inoculum potential, during each of the experiments. Aphid numbers on leaves of plants growing over mulches were consistently lower than on those growing over bare soil. Onset of symptoms of cucumber mosaic cucumovirus, and watermelon mosaic and zucchini yellow mosaic potyviruses, were delayed 3–6 weeks in plants growing over the mulches, which was critical for initiation of normal flowering and fruiting. High virus disease incidence (100% incidence of foliar symptoms) reduced cumulative, marketable melon yields (number of fruit, fresh weight, and size) in the control plots to near zero in two of the three experiments. In each of the experiments, polyethylene or spray mulch treatments which completely covered each planting bed provided at least 9.5- and 2.5-fold increases in marketable yield, respectively. In the first two experiments, reflective mulches would have provided the difference between salable crops and total crop loss. Partial bed coverage with spray mulch, and alternate row applications of polyethylene film mulches, were less effective than complete coverage of every planted row.
Morphogenetic Effects of Hydroprene on German Cockroaches (Orthoptera: Blattellidae)

Exposure of male German cockroaches, Blattella germanica (L.), to hydroprene produced a malformation of the left phallomere that precluded normal copulation. This effect partially explains the sterility associated with exposure to hydroprene. Other morphogenetic effects induced by exposure included inability to evert the right phallomere, incomplete differentiation of the phallic groove, and equal-sized and widely separated styli. Frequency of morphogenetic effects decreased as the age of nymphal exposure increased and increased with higher doses. At the dose studied, the techniques used in this study failed to reveal any morphogenetic changes in either the female external genitalia or the internal reproductive organs that were examined.
A mathematical analysis of the force-stiffness characteristics of muscles in control of a single joint system

Feldman (1966) has proposed that a muscle endowed with its spinal reflex system behaves as a non-linear spring with an adjustable resting length. In contrast, because of the length-tension properties of muscles, many researchers have modeled them as non-linear springs with adjustable stiffness. Here we test the merits of each approach: Initially, it is proven that the adjustable stiffness model predicts that isometric muscle force and stiffness are linearly related. We show that this prediction is not supported by data on the static stiffness-force characteristics of reflexive muscles, where stiffness grows non-linearly with force. Therefore, an intact muscle-reflex system does not behave as a non-linear spring with an adjustable stiffness. However, when the same muscle is devoid of its reflexes, the data shows that stiffness grows linearly with force. We aim to understand the functional advantage of the non-linear stiffness-force relationship present in the reflexive muscle. Control of an inverted pendulum with a pair of antagonist muscles is considered. Using an active-state muscle model we describe force development in an areflexive muscle. From the data on the relationship of stiffness and force in the intact muscle we derive the length-tension properties of a reflexive muscle. It is shown that a muscle under the control of its spinal reflexes resembles a non-linear spring with an adjustable resting length. This provides independent evidence in support of the Feldman hypothesis of an adjustable resting length as the control parameter of a reflexive muscle, but it disagrees with his particular formulation. In order to maintain stability of the single joint system, we prove that a necessary condition is that muscle stiffness must grow at least linearly with force at isometric conditions. This shows that co-contraction of antagonist muscles may actually destabilize the limb if the slope of this stiffness-force relationship is less than an amount specified by the change in the moment arm of the muscle as a function of joint configuration. In a reflexive muscle where stiffness grows faster than linearly with force, co-contraction will always lead to an increase in stiffness. Furthermore, with the reflexive muscles, the same level of joint stiffness can be produced by much smaller muscle forces because of the non-linear stiffness-force relationship. This allows the joint to remain stable at a fraction of the metabolic energy cost associated with maintaining stability with areflexive muscles.
Respecting a Korean health custom in a western society

It is a challenge to accept oddities to one’s own training and customs when in community clinics but as nurses we are trained to assess the value and impact of cultural differences in care by patients and their families. If no harm or mental discomfort will result from a seance or an ointment of religious significance applied to the forehead we go about our business and welcome patients to do as they see fit, according to their own culture and belief system. But how about if someone is applying a traditional cultural healing originating from your own culture to your own child which results in breaking the skin and results in bleeding?
Steyermark, The 78 Project Movie

The 78 Project Movie is a unique journey back to the era and art of record cutting across America “to make one-of-a-kind 78 rpm records with musicians in their hometown using a 1930s Presto direct-...
Visibility of motion in infant vernier displays, using adult subjects

Motion is frequently incorporated in stimuli used for psychophysical testing of vernier acuity in infants and young children. In such stimuli, detection of the vernier offset is necessary in order to perceive the motion. Research described in this report tested whether the perception of a vernier offset is sufficient to signal the stimulus motion in adults. We measured how motion detectability changed as a function of vernier offset for two adult subjects, using a stimulus similar to that employed by other authors to measure vernier acuity in infants and children. Motion visibility varied with offset size, achieving a detectability of motion (d') of 0.95 (comparable to two-alternative forced-choice thresholds) at stimulus offsets of 16-19 s arc. In comparison to the motion, the stimulus offset itself was much easier to see, being detectable on 95-100% of trials with the smallest offset, 6.6 s arc. This distinction, between the visibility of motion and the visibility of the vernier offset itself, should be considered when interpreting vernier results using such displays, especially in infants and children for whom motion may be the attractive cue.
THE EXCESS RETURN ARGUMENT AND DOUBLE LEVERAGE

The excess return argument is widely accepted as the most compelling plea in favor of the double leverage method of assessing the cost of capital for certain utilities. The argument is shown to be mistaken. Moreover, only under unlikely conditions does the double leverage method assess the cost of capital correctly. The stand alone method, according to generally accepted financial theory, is a superior procedure.