cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluating Principals: New Requirements, Directions for the '90s

The principal's importance to the suc cess of the school has been under scored by the effective schools research. As a result, school districts, state agencies, and professional organizations across the country are sharpening their pencils in an attempt to develop administrator evaluation instruments and processes.
Hardcore casual: game culture Return(s) to Ravenhearst

Scholarly attention to game culture has mostly focused on games that cater to gamers that the literature has deemed 'hardcore,' 'heavy' or at least 'mainstream,' games. Researchers doing so have explored how those who put in large amounts of time playing such games are also productive of the culture surrounding the game. Yet in relation to casual games and their players, we have seen a curious omission. Are elements of game culture such as game capital and the creation and avid use of paratexts specific to traditional gamers? And if not, do casual players differ in specific or important ways from those norms? This paper uses a case study approach to investigate those questions, as well as to draw attention to a neglected group---devoted fans of casual games.
Fifty years of grassland science leading to change

Division C-6 was established in 2000, but members associated with forages and grazinglands have been active in the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA) since its inception; 21 have served as President and many authored textbooks and comprehensive reference works. Complex forage and pasture mixtures were common in 1955, but shifted to monocultures in the 1960s and 1970s. Mixtures returned in the 1980s as N prices increased, broader values of legumes became known, nutritive value was better understood, and environmental issues increased. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) for dairy production had strong leadership from the private sector in seed production and breeding. Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) was well-adapted, conserved soil, and extended grazing in the transition zone to increase beef cow-calf production. Bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] benefited from vegetative propagation, conserved soil, and was improved for adaptation, yield, and nutritive value. Yield advancements, except for a few species, have been discouraging. Management benefited from advances in disease resistance, methods for assessing nutritive value, and understanding the role of endophytic fungi. Modest increases in nutritive value, coupled with improved pasture management, have increased animal performance. Emerging interests include biomass, carbon sequestration, and roles of biodiversity. Molecular techniques offer potential to better understand the plants and make genetic progress.
Abnormal development of B cells and B cell progenitors in autoimmune (NZB × NZW)F1 mice

Abstract The (NZB × NZW)F1 (BWF1) autoimmune strain displays reduced numbers of both cμ + pre-B cells and Ly5(220) + B cell progenitors in the bone marrow. The loss of these B cell precursor populations in the bone marrow increases with age. In contrast, the bone marrow of BWF1 mice possesses sIg + B cells comparable in both number and surface phenotype to that observed in conventional strains. Analysis of the surface densities of both sIg and Ly5(220) antigens indicates that BWF1 bone marrow B cells comprise a heterogeneous population of both immature and mature B cells. In addition, BWF1 bone marrow still possessed progenitor cells capable of yielding newly generated B cell precursors and B cells in vitro . The diminished levels of intermediate B cell progenitors observed in BWF1 bone marrow may reflect abnormal regulation of B lineage differentiation during the life span of this autoimmune strain.
A new contribution to the ‘Paris Metro Pricing’ proposal

Using the concept of the ‘Paris Metro Pricing’, we will show that, when the distribution of the capacity between sub-networks leads to any loss of technical effectiveness and when a traditional condition on the ‘hazard rate’ is checked, it is always optimal for the monopolist to subdivide his main network in as many sub-networks as there are different types of net surfers.
Communicating future water needs to an at-risk population: lessons learned following defeat of the Applewhite Dam and Reservoir Project in San Antonio, Texas

San Antonio, Texas, the seventh largest city in the United States, has experienced steady population growth, since the “boom” of the 1960s. Projected water shortages due to this growth were realized as early as the 1970s by city leaders and south-central Texas regional development decision makers. To reduce dependence on the already over-taxed, Edwards aquifer, a solution, the Applewhite Dam and Reservoir Project, was developed with wide acceptance by federal, state, and city leaders who regarded the project as a necessary measure for regional growth and development. However, opposition by taxpayer and environmental groups led to referendums of 1991 and 1994 in which voters blocked construction of the dam and reservoir leaving the city with limited options for water provision. This case study investigated the factors which led to a clear mismatch in communication between decision makers—those who were aware of the actual and quantifiable risk to the region in terms of reduced water supplies—and the general public, a population that did not have complete and/or adequate knowledge of their actual risk regarding future water shortages, nor, of solutions being developed, such as the Applewhite project. The findings from this case study indicate that when municipal leadership fails to adequately communicate risk regarding resource shortage to an affected public, as well as, openly planned solutions, that voters are likely to underestimate future impacts of water shortages, heed last-minute opposition, and reject long-standing, publicly proposed projects. The intent of this research is not to support either side in the Applewhite controversy, but to shed perspective on the process of adequately and effectively communicating future water needs to an at-risk population. Decision makers in cities across the United States who are faced with solving problems of limited resources needed by a large populace may be informed by the results of this research.
Response of Buffalograss and Bermudagrass to Reduced Irrigation Practices Under Semiarid Conditions

ABSTRACT Turfgrass consumes large quantities of the urban water. This irrigation study was conducted to evaluate and compare Common, Prairie, and Texoka buffalograss [Buchloe dactyloides (Nutt) Engelm.] with TexTurf 10 bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) for turf quality and root-length density. Irrigation influence on turf quality, turf density, survivability, and root-length density were investigated in Lubbock, Texas. During the 1993 and 1994 growing seasons, full (50 cm) and half (25 cm) irrigation treatments were found to be the same in turf production and better than nonirrigated treatments. Irrigation quantity rather than turfgrass type seems to be the controlling factor.
The surface fine structure of the choroid plexus and ependymal lining of the rat lateral ventricle

The surfaces of cells of the ependyma and choroid plexus in the lateral ventricle of the mature rat brain have been examined with a scanning electron microscope on tissue dried by the critical point method. The ventricular surfaces of the choroid plexus cells are domed and have a tangle of thin processes resembling microvilli. The cilia possessed by these cells could not be identified. Overlying the choroid plexus are a number of free cells. These cells have many fine processes extending from them. They are probably macrophages and have been equated with the Kolmer or epiplexus cells which are known to rest on the surface of the choroidal epithelium.
When word identification fails: ERP correlates of recognition without identification and of word identification failure.

Abstract Recognition without identification (RWI) refers to people's ability to discriminate studied from unstudied items when the items themselves fail to be identified, as when people fail to identify words from fragments. We sought to identify the ERP correlates of word fragment RWI in an effort to better understand its underlying mechanisms; in so doing, we also examined the ERP correlates of word identification failure vs. success. We found the ERP correlate of the RWI effect to be the N300; greater negativity was shown for unidentified fragments of studied words than for unidentified fragments of unstudied words between 300–325 ms post test fragment onset. We further separated the ERPs according to whether subjects showed the behavioral RWI effect or not; the N300 effect emerged only among those subjects who showed the behavioral effect, suggesting that the N300 is related to the behavioral effect itself. With regard to the ERP correlates of word identification failure vs. success, we found very early indicators of later word identification success vs. failure (starting at 125 ms) that were independent of priming. These early effects may be preconscious markers of downstream word identification success vs. failure. We also found a later persistent negativity associated with successfully identified words that we propose to be associated with executive function and possibly the successful suppression of irrelevant words that might initially come to mind when attempting to complete a unique word fragment; word fragment identification failure may sometimes be due to a failure to suppress irrelevant or incorrect words.
Numerical approximations for nonlinear stochastic systems with delays

We extend the numerical methods of [Kushner, H.J. and Dupuis, P., 1992, Numerical Methods for Stochastic Control Problems in Continuous Time, 2nd ed., 2001 (Berlin and New York: Springer Verlag], known as the Markov chain approximation methods, to controlled general nonlinear delayed reflected diffusion models. Both the path and the control can be delayed. For the no-delay case, the method covers virtually all models of current interest. The method is robust, the approximations have physical interpretations as control problems closely related to the original one, and there are many effective methods for getting the approximations, and for solving the Bellman equation for low-dimensional problems. These advantages carry over to the delay problem. It is shown how to adapt the methods for getting the approximations, and the convergence proofs are outlined for the discounted cost function. Extensions to all of the cost functions of current interest as well as to models with Poisson jump terms are possible. Th...
Multicenter Evaluation of Hepatitis C RNA Levels among Female Injection Drug Users

The purpose of this investigation was to identify factors that determine the blood level of hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA. By use of a quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay, the level of HCV RNA was ascertained in stored serum samples from 676 women enrolled in a multicenter prospective investigation who were seropositive for anti-HCV antibodies. HCV RNA levels ranged from undetectable to 22.4 x 10 6 copies/mL in these women. Among the 520 women with detectable HCV RNA, levels were higher among those who were >41 years old and those who had human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. After adjusting for age in a multivariate linear regression model, HCV RNA levels were more strongly associated with HIV RNA levels than with CD4 + lymphocyte counts. However, <6% of person-to-person variance was explained by the factors evaluated. Additional research is needed to ascertain what determines the level of HCV RNA in blood.
DENSITY SEPARATION OF PROTEIN AND CARBOHYDRATES IN A NONAQUEOUS SOLVENT SYSTEM

The proteins and carbohydrates in wheat flour, soybeans, green peas and dried acid whey were separated on the basis of density in a non-aqueous solvent system. By dispersing finely milled flour in solvent ranging in density from 1.3–1.5 a protein rich fraction can be readily separated from a carbohydrate-rich fraction by centrifugation. The protein fraction from wheat flour contained from 58–81% protein while the carbohydrate fraction contained only from 0.4–3.9% protein. After separation and recombination the baking quality of the wheat flour showed little modification. Similar separations were obtained for the other protein sources tested. Trichlorofluoromethane (Freon 11) mixed with ethanol, acetone, ethyl acetate, or hexane were evaluated as solvent systems; the ethanol-containing mixtures gave significantly better separations than the other solvent systems Acetic acid and formic acid were not effective for improving separation while addition of sodium hypochlorite did improve the separation of protein and starch.
Predicting Women's Educational Aspirations: The Influences of School, Family, and Sex Role Attitude Variables

What impact is the Women's Liberation Movement having on women high school students of today, as they face important choices of career, marriage, and higher education? This research seeks to investigate the effects of sex role related attitudes,1 as well as family and school variables, on the aspirations of young women for higher education. In investigating the topic, an effort is made to explore a variety of specific sex role attitudes: respondent's assessment of the current status of women; opinions about such policy matters as the Equal Rights Amend ment, day care, and abortion; patterns of friendship with both sexes; sub jective importance of marriage, occupation, and parenthood; and future role choices such as importance of equal parent responsibility for childrearing. Family variables examined include the education and oc cupation of both parents, plus further information of the prestige, con tinuity, and satisfaction of employment for the mother, and parental pres sure for academic achievement and for marriage. The investigation is car ried out in two educational milieus constituting the school variables: a coeducational high school and an all-women's day school.
Tackling technical skills competency: a surgical skills rating tool.

Abstract Background The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education common program requirements mandate a competency-based assignment of duties. To accomplish this, valid and reliable assessment tools must be developed to evaluate competence. This study evaluated a rating tool to assess competence in basic surgical suturing skills. Methods A technical skills exercise consisting of the closure of three incisions, 3 cm long, was devised in 2006. The incisions were closed with simple stitches with two-handed knots, vertical mattress stitches with instrument knots, and a running stitch with one-handed knots. Fifteen min were allotted for completion. A rating instrument with 17 competency markers worth 1 point and a global 5-point Likert scale competency score was used to evaluate the performance. Twelve first-week post graduate year 1 surgical residents completed the exercise in 2006, and 16 final-month post graduate year 1 surgical residents completed it in 2011. All tasks were scored on video review by two independent raters. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, t-score analysis, rank sum analysis, Cohen's kappa coefficient, and Cronbach's alpha. Results The mean total score (11.8 versus 13.9, P = 0.002) and median global competency rating (1 versus 3, P Conclusion This rating form is a valuable tool to evaluate technical skill competency. Construct validity was demonstrated with improvement in total score and global rating. Excellent internal consistency and inter-rater reliability were also demonstrated. This form may be used to assess technical skill competency in an efficient skills exercise.
A possible replicative form of brome mosaic virus RNA 4.

Abstract A double-stranded RNA of a size expected for the replicative form of BMV RNA 4, the smallest of the four RNAs of brome mosaic virus, was isolated from infected leaves by a procedure involving removal of single-stranded RNA by precipitation in 2 M LiCl, followed by cellulose chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Like the other double-stranded RNAs of BMV, it had characteristics of a replicative form, such as distinctive elution patterns from cellulose and hydroxyapatite columns, and purple staining with toluidine blue O. It coelectrophoresed in 2.5% polyacrylamide gels with double-stranded RNA synthesized in vitro by Qβ replicase with BMV RNA 4 as template. The origin and mode of replication of BMV RNA 4 is discussed.
In situ ESR study of RhHZSM-5 interaction with different compounds

Abstract Interaction between isolated Rh 2+ -sites stabilized by the H-ZSM-5 matrix and inorganic and organic molecules (NO, NO 2 , CO, propene, H 2 , CCl 4 , benzene, chlorbenzene) was studied by ESR at 120–573 K. In situ ESR monitoring of isolated paramagnetic Rh-species in a flow of gas mixtures permits the elucidation of the state of the active sites in supported Rh-catalysts under more realistic, i.e. closer to the working state, conditions. For instance, strong adsorptive coupling of the Rh ESR-active centers is noted with NO. Weak interaction with physically adsorbed tetrachloromethane can also be observed by ESR. Some preliminary results of methane oxidation catalysis are presented for starting RhZSM-5 and for the sample treated with a phosphite complex.
Catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibition increases pain sensitivity through activation of both β2- and β3-adrenergic receptors

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT), an enzyme that metabolizes catecholamines, has recently been implicated in the modulation of pain. Our group demonstrated that human genetic variants of COMT are predictive for the development of Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJD) and are associated with heightened experimental pain sensitivity [Diatchenko, L, Slade, GD, Nackley, AG, Bhalang, K, Sigurdsson, A, Belfer, I, et al., Genetic basis for individual variations in pain perception and the development of a chronic pain condition, Hum Mol Genet 2005;14:135–43.]. Variants associated with heightened pain sensitivity produce lower COMT activity. Here we report the mechanisms underlying COMT-dependent pain sensitivity. To characterize the means whereby elevated catecholamine levels, resulting from reduced COMT activity, modulate heightened pain sensitivity, we administered a COMT inhibitor to rats and measured behavioral responsiveness to mechanical and thermal stimuli. We show that depressed COMT activity results in enhanced mechanical and thermal pain sensitivity. This phenomenon is completely blocked by the nonselective b-adrenergic antagonist propranolol or by the combined administration of selective b2- and b3-adrenergic antagonists, while administration of b1-adrenergic, a-adrenergic, or dopaminergic receptor antagonists fail to alter COMT-dependent pain sensitivity. These data provide the first direct evidence that low COMT activity leads to increased pain sensitivity via a b2/3-adrenergic mechanism. These findings are of considerable clinical importance, suggesting that pain conditions resulting from low COMT activity and/or elevated catecholamine levels can be treated with pharmacological agents that block both b2- and b3-adrenergic receptors. � 2006 International Association for the Study of Pain. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Microchip-based systems for target validation and HTS

Microarray and microfluidic device technologies for performing genetic and biochemical analyses are revolutionizing biological research. These technologies are now being applied to gene expression profiling and to primary screening for target validation and lead discovery in the pharmaceutical industry. In this article, we briefly review microchip technology and discuss future development trends.
The horizontal cells

Abstract The catfish retina (as well as other teleost retinas) is equipped with unique structures called horizontal cells which functionally form a laminar layer ( S -space) extending over entire retina. A potential change arising inside the S -space, whether caused by light through receptors or by extrinsic current injection, can spread passively more than 2 mm and is still effective in inducing a response from retinal ganglion cells. The S -space forms one of the lateral transmission mechanisms within the retina and it provides the surround of the catfish receptive field.
Herd data measures of the effect of certain environmental influences on dairy cattle production.

Summary Herd data information on 967 cows in 47 Holstein-Friesian herds of Wisconsin was analyzed by multiple regression techniques to determine the effect of nine environmental influences on production. Results were similar to those reported by other workers for age at calving, number of days carrying calf while milking, length of preceding dry period and month of freshening. Statistically significant regressions were obtained for milk and fat yield on selection rating, pounds T.D.N. fed daily per 1,000 lb. body weight, nutritive ratio, condition at calving and herd size. The regressions of fat test on selection rating, T.D.N. feeding rate, condition at calving and herd size were statistically significant but unimportant. The regression of test on nutritive ratio was not significant.
"The Whole Story": On Narrative Philosophy and Religious Morals

In this essay I begin with Aristotle's perplexing observation that a tragic drama is a "whole," one identified by a clear beginning, middle and ending. I pause to wonder how Aristotle imagines such ends, given his contention that a play concludes in such a way that "nothing can follow from it." On the face of it, it is very difficult to imagine what Aristotle has in mind here. I suggest that one clue may be found in his title, Poetics, with its clear suggestion that a dramatic event is in fact a making, a poiesis. I develop this idea to suggest that the end of a story, any story, tends to be something the reader imposes, often in the interest of generating a specific moral. I then display these readerly dynamics by providing a close reading of the famous story from Genesis, concerning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. I explore a number of different ways in which this story may be thought to "end," as well as the implications of each such ending.
Functional connections between cells as revealed by dye-coupling with a highly fluorescent naphthalimide tracer

Abstract This report describes a method of marking nerve cells which is approximately 100 times more sensitive than those previously available. The method depends upon intracellular injection of a new, highly fluorescent dye, Lucifer Yellow CH, which can be viewed both in living tissue and after fixation and embedding. The intense fluorescence of the dye makes injected neurons visible in cleared wholemounts, where the complex three-dimensional structure of neurons is readily apparent. Three new observations have been made with Lucifer Yellow. First, many of the invertebrate neurons studied possess an extensive and complex array of fine processes not visible with other techniques. Second, dye spreads rapidly within an injected cell. Third, dye frequently spreads from the injected cell directly to certain other cells. The movement of dye from cell to cell, termed "dye-coupling," occurred primarily, but not exclusively, between cells known to be electrically coupled. Dye-coupling in the turtle retina revealed striking and distinctive patterns of connections. Type I horizontal cells appear to be multiply connected to each other in an extensive net. Type II horizontal cells are often connected to each other in a hexagonal array. Individual type I and type II cells, widely separated, are frequently dye-coupled; in one case, they were connected by a dyefilled axon. Dye-coupling, readily observed because of the low molecular weight and the intense fluorescence of the new dye, may serve as a general method of tracing certain functional connections by morphological means, and of studying the transfer of small molecules between cells. Preliminary results suggest that systems of dye-coupled cells are substantially more common than was previously believed.
One-dimensional dynamics of nano-scale oxidation

Abstract A continuum model is proposed to describe the process of scanned probe oxidation in the presence of a thin water layer on the surface of a substrate. The model describes the electric field and ion transport in both the liquid and the oxide layers and incorporates the reaction mechanism at the substrate/oxide interface. Further, the influence of the space charge due to ions trapped near the substrate/oxide interface is taken into account. Separation of time scales for the chemical reactions and ion transport as well as the asymptotic limit in terms of a small aspect ratio of the oxide layer are used to reduce the complex system of partial differential equations to a one-dimensional system of ordinary differential equations. The analytical solution of the reduced system results in the evolution equation for the oxide thickness. Numerical simulations of the evolution equation predict features of oxide growth that qualitatively agree with the experimental observations. A parametric study is conducted to determine the influence of the key operating and material parameters on the thickness of the oxide, the electric field, and ion concentration in the system.
Solution-derived textured oxide thin films—a review

Thin film growth by a non-vacuum deposition technique, namely, the chemical solution deposition (CSD) method, is reviewed with emphasis on the growth of various oxide films and their properties. Various aspects of the solution chemistries for the different routes are discussed, and the effects of solution precursor properties on the conversion of the as-deposited film to the desired phase are also discussed. Crystal structures and functional properties common to many oxide materials are briefly reviewed.
A pollen record of a complete glacial cycle from lowland Panama

A long pollen record from lowland Panama describes the vegetation during glacial times and proba- bly includes a history of the last 150 000 yr, thus represen- ting a complete glacial cycle. The record is from sedi- ments of an extinct caldera lake under the town of El Valle. Throughout most of the last glacial period oaks and other plants of the modem montane forest maintained sig- nificant populations about 700 m lower than present. Im- mediately before the 14 000 B.P. start of the late glacial period oaks had reached to 1000 m below present limits. These data require significant temperature depressions, perhaps in the order of 4 - 6 ?C at some seasons of the year. Lowland forest taxa persisted in the neighbourhood of El Valle throughout the glacial period, however, suggesting reassortment of plant populations into communities with- out modem analog. Although our reconstruction of levels of the El Valle lake in the period 30 000 to 12 000 B.P. suggests less precipitation than in modem times, the lowland climate appears to have been moist enough for taxa of tropical forests to persist. The montane floras of the western and eastern Panama highlands did not merge at any time in the glacial cycle and an hypothesis of dispersal between enlarged areas of montane forest is put forward to explain modem disjunctions in Quercus distri- butions. The wet highlands of Panama were never refugia for tropical rain forest taxa at any time during the Quater- nary, rather rain forest species existed in unfamiliar communities in the Panamanian lowlands.
Crystallization and preliminary X-ray analysis of FlhD from Escherichia coli.

The flhD gene from Escherichia coli codes for one of the transcriptional activators of flagellar genes and is a putative global regulator in the cell. FlhD together with FlhC forms a complex that positively regulates the expression of flagellar genes. However, FlhD is able to change its DNA binding specificity, probably by forming another complex with some unknown factor or by binding to other targets by itself. FlhD is a good model to study the DNA binding specificity by complex formation. The FlhD three-dimensional structure will certainly improve our understanding of this protein, which is the first case of combinatory specificity in prokaryotes. The flhD gene was over-expressed, and the resulting protein was purified to homogeneity. FlhD crystals were obtained from 15-25% PEG 5000, 0.05-0.1 M lithium sulfate, 0.1 M Tris, pH 8.5, or 20-30% PEG 5000, 0.05-0.2 M sodium acetate, and 0.1 M Tris-HCl, pH 8.5, as precipitant solutions, and belong to the space group I4 with unit cell parameters of a = b = 90 A, c = 42.6 A, and alpha = beta = gamma = 90 degrees and contain two molecules per asymmetric unit. A complete native data set has been collected to 2.3-A resolution.
Abstract 2492: Microtubule-interacting agents increase Class I HLA and HLA-A2 molecules surface expression in ovarian cancer cells

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Objective: Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic cancers in the United States. Standard first line therapy for ovarian cancer includes paclitaxel and platinum based agents. Epothilone B, Taxol and Vinblastin belong to a family of anti-neoplastic agents that interfere with microtubules and arrest cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Little is known about the effect of these drugs on the immune response to tumors. There is compelling evidence that cancer cells use multiple strategies to evade immune recognition. One of these mechanisms is the down-regulation of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) Class I molecule expression on the tumor cell surface, allowing the cancer cell to escape immune recognition and destruction. Data will be presented to illustrate the effect of microtubule affecting agents on HLA class I molecule expression in ovarian cancer cells. The effect on the expression of HLA-A2, the most common class I allele in the Caucasian population, has been evaluated as well. We also investigated the relationship between surface HLA expression and transcriptional modification of HLA induced by the drugs. Methods: IC50 was determined for each compound based on a 72 h cytotoxicity assay, using ovarian cancer cell line Hey. Cells were treated with different concentrations ranging from 1-fold IC50 to 100-fold IC50, and incubated at 37°C for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h. Cell surface expression of HLA class I molecules and HLA-A2 was examined by flow cytometry, using anti-HLA-A,B,C antibody (G46-2.6 clone) and HLA-A2 (BB7.2 clone). RT-PCR and real time PCR were used to amplify HLA genes, using Platinum Taq DNA Polymerase and Power SYBR Green master mix respectively. Results: Low dose Epothilone B, Taxol and Vinblastin (10-fold IC50) increased cell surface expression of HLA Class I up to four-fold in Hey ovarian cancer cells. HLA-A2 molecules were increased up to 2-fold. The increase of HLA Class I molecule expression was dose- and time-dependent. Conclusions: Nanomolar concentrations of microtubule-interacting agents increase the expression of HLA class I molecules in Hey ovarian cancer cells. Our data suggest that low doses of microtubule-interacting agents can mediate modulation of surface HLA expression and may enhance immune recognition of tumor cells. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2492.
One- versus two-layer closure of a low transverse cesarean: The next pregnancy

Objective To determine whether a low transverse cesarean closure method in one or two layers affects subsequent pregnancy outcome. Methods In a prospective trial reported previously, 906 women were assigned randomly to either one- or two-layer uterine closure. One hundred sixty-four women had a subsequent pregnancy and delivery (18 weeks' gestation or longer) at our institution. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were ascertained by medical chart review and compared between the one- and two-layer closure groups. Results Of the 164 subsequent deliveries, 83 had previous closure in one layer, whereas 81 had involved a two-layer closure. The demographic characteristics of these two groups were similar. Nineteen women (12%) underwent elective repeat cesareans without labor, and the remaining 145 experienced labor. Length of labor, mode of delivery, duration of hospital stay, gestation at delivery, and the incidences of uterine scar dehiscence, chorioamnionitis, postpartum metritis, hemorrhage, transfusion, and abnormal placentation did not differ significantly between the groups. Selected neonatal outcomes, including Apgar scores, cord pH, birth weight, and perinatal death, were similar between groups as well. Conclusions These findings suggest that the type of low transverse cesarean closure does not significantly affect the outcome of the next pregnancy.
THE SYSTEMATIC SIGNIFICANCE OF SEED MORPHOLOGY IN THE NEOTROPICAL CAPSULAR-FRUITED MELASTOMATACEAE'

A B S T R A C T Seed shape has traditionally been used as a tribal character in the capsular-fruited Melastomataceae. The seed morphology of the five neotropical tribes-Microlicieae, Tibouchineae, Rhexieae, Merianieae, and Bertolonieae-was studied with scanning electron and light microscopes. On the basis of seed morphology, five seed types are recognized: microlicioid, tibouchinoid, rhexioid, merianioid, and bertolonioid. Each of these types is illustrated and discussed, with some observations on the range of variation found. The genera of these five neotropical tribes were surveyed for seed morphology, and the results are presented here, together with a discussion of their systematic significance. On the whole, seed morphology confirms the existence of five tribes among the neotropical capsular-fruited Melastomataceae and provides interesting evidence for generic relationships; however, it also calls into doubt the taxonomic disposition of certain genera and the delimitation of these five tribes. The seeds of most genera fit into one of these five basic types, but there are some which do not; these exceptions are discussed in terms of their seed morphology and possible relationships. THE MELASTOMATACEAE is a large pantropical family of about 4,500 species, of which approximately two-thirds are confined to the neotropics. The most recent monograph of the family is that by Cogniaux (1891), which is now somewhat out of date; however, it has formed the basis of all subsequent work in the family, and frequent reference will be made to it. The Melastomataceae may be divided into three sub-families: the Melastomatoideae, the Astronioideae, and the Memecyloideae; of these, the Melastomatoideae is by far the largest. Following Cogniaux, the Melas
Characterization of quaternary metal oxide films by synchrotron X-ray fluorescence microprobe

A synchrotron X-ray fluorescence microprobe has been used to study the composition and microstructure of pulsed-laser ablationdeposited films of calcium-nickel-potassium oxides that have applications in heterogeneous catalysis. The films, whose individual metal oxide components have widely varying boiling points and thus prevent a solid-phase synthesis with the use of standard thermal techniques, represent a new quaternary metal oxide phase containing the three elements. Experimental conditions for preparing the films are given. The X-ray fluorescence microprobe data are discussed with respect to both the distribution of the three metals in the films at the micrometer lateral spatial resolution level and the presence of trace amounts of metals that were introduced into the films as contaminants in targets made of the parent three-metal oxide.
Adaptations and significance of the cranial feeding apparatus of the sunbeam snake (Xenopeltis unicolor): Part I. Anatomy of the skull.

The skull of the sunbeam snake Xenopeltis unicolor is described and illustrated. In most aspects the skull features are relatable to primitive alethinophidian snakes (henophidian vs. caenophidian snakes of some systems). There are skull characters in common with those of anilioids and others that are shared among primitive snakes generally and lizards. Some of the important characteristics are: the premaxilla bears teeth and the snout complex is articulated with the dorsal parts of the frontals; there is no "boa-like" ascending process of the premaxilla in Xenopeltis, which also is absent in most pythons and in varanid lizards; the braincase is swollen posteriorly and the supratemporal bones are partially embedded in the braincase surface; and the parietals extend anteriorly around the frontals to form a significant part of the upper orbital margins. In addition, the stapes' footplates are very large and the quadrates relatively short. For the most part the bones are comparable in shape and attachments to anilioid and pythonine snakes, although the skull is distinctive in some ways. Special cranial features possessed by Xenopeltis include the contact between premaxilla and maxillae that is mainly sutural, although less firmly braced than indicated for some uropeltids; the long and flat maxillaries; the thinness of the internal palatine processes; the firm connections of the palatines with the vomers and septomaxillae; the low (nearly absent) basipterygoid processes; presence of a small "intercalary" bone on the columellar stylus; absence of both supraorbitals and postorbitals; the relatively free dentary bones and their connections only to the fronts of the compound bones; and the absence of coronoids in the mandibles. This description of the skull is the basis for current studies on the function and evolution of the jaw apparatus in Xenopeltis. J. Morphol. 239:27-43, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Expanding the scope of C-H amination through catalyst design.

Analysis of the mechanism for Rh-mediated C−H amination has led to the development of a remarkably effective dinuclear Rh catalyst derived from 1,3-benzenedipropionic acid. This unique complex, Rh2(esp)2, is capable of promoting both intra- and intermolecular C−H oxidation reactions, and in all cases is superior to Rh2(O2CtBu)4. For the first time, C−H insertion is described with urea and sulfamide substrates to give 1,2- and 1,3-diamine derivatives, respectively. In addition, intermolecular amination of benzylic and secondary C−H bonds is shown to proceed efficiently even under conditions in which the starting alkane is employed as the limiting reagent.
Prospective Evaluation of the Association between Depressive Symptoms and Heart Failure Symptom Severity Using Latent Growth Modeling

33% had an ejection fraction $ 45%. Pain was reported by 84% during hospitalization. Despite a trend for decreased pain prevalence, 70% continued to suffer pain 1 month after discharge (Table 1). Pain severity was similar (Table 1). Pain was most frequently associated with degenerative joint disease (48% at baseline, 42% at 1 month) and brought on by physical activity (29% at baseline, 36% at 1 month). No participants associated pain with HF at either measure. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were used both before (7%) and after (13%) HF hospitalization. With the exception of usual pain at hospitalization, higher pain ratings tended to be associated with lower KCCQ score (Table 2). An increase in usual pain was associated with lower KCCQ score at 1 month (Rho -0.39; p50.035). Conclusions: In elderly acute HF patients, non-HF related pain remains common following HF hospitalization and is associated with HF-specific health status. In some patients, pain may contribute to decreased functional status and ongoing NSAID use may complicate HF management.
Color perception of 3D objects: constancy with respect to variation of surface gloss

What determines the color appearance of real objects viewed under natural conditions? The light reflected from different locations on a single object can vary enormously. This variation is enhanced when the material properties of the object are changed from matte to glossy. Yet humans have no trouble assigning a color name to most things. We studied how people perceive the color of spheres in complex scenes. Observers viewed graphics simulations of a three-dimensional scene containing two spheres, test and match. The observer's task was to adjust the match sphere until its color appearance was the same as that of the test sphere. The match sphere was always matte, and observers varied its color by changing the simulated spectral reflectance function. The surface gloss of the test spheres was varied across conditions. The data show that for fixed test sphere body reflectance, color appearance depends on surface gloss. This effect is small, however, compared to the variation that would be expected if observers simply matched the average of the light reflected from the test.
Radiation patterns of a slotted-cylinder antenna in the presence of an inhomogeneous lossy plasma

A method is presented for calculating the equatorial patterns of slot antennas on a conducting cylinder coated with a plasma which is inhomogeneous in a direction radially outward from the cylinder. The procedure consists of separating the wave equation into real and imaginary parts, and numerically integrating between appropriate boundary conditions. The solutions are coefficients of the Fourier Series which express the nature of the far-field pattern. Results are presented which demonstrate the desirability of this approach to predict signal attenuation of antennas in a plasma environment.
Cyclical parthenogenetic reproduction in the Russian wheat aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in the United States: sexual reproduction and its outcome on biotypic diversity.

In 1986, the Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia (Kurdjumov) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), became an invasive species of United States. Nearly 20 yr later, new biotypes appeared that were capable of overcoming most sources of resistance and became a renewed threat to wheat, Triticum aestivum L., production. Cyclical (CP) and obligate (OP) parthenogenesis enables aphids to both adapt to changing environments and exploit host resources. We documented these forms of reproduction for Russian wheat aphid in wheat and wild grasses in the Central Great Plains and Rocky Mountain regions during falls 2004–2009. Colonies from sample sites also were held under unheated greenhouse conditions and observed for the presence of sexual morphs and eggs through the winter. Russian wheat aphid populations were mainly OP and attempted to overwinter as adults, regardless of region sampled. A few populations contained oviparae but no males (gynocyclic) and were not specific to any particular region. Observation of the Russian wheat aphid colonies under greenhouse conditions failed to produce males or eggs. In spring 2007, CP was confirmed in a small population of Russian wheat aphid that eclosed from eggs (fundatricies) on wild grasses and wheat near Dove Creek, CO, in the Colorado Plateau region where other aphid species undergo CP. Lineages from ninety-three fundatricies were screened against 16 resistant and susceptible cereal entries to determine their biotypic classification. A high degree of biotypic diversity (41.4%) was detected in this population. Although CP was a rare in Russian wheat aphid populations, genetic recombination during the sexual cycle creates new biotypes and can have significant effects on population genetics.
The Geriatric Patient: General Physiologic and Pharmacologic Considerations:

The elderly patient is not simply an older adult and needs to have drug therapy applied with caution with regard to the physiologic changes associated with aging that impact the pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of medicinals used in this population. The elderly patient has a number of physiologic changes with age that affect metabolism, distribution, and excretion. In addition, there exists information that demonstrates changes in the pharmacodynamics of drug therapy commonly used in the elderly. This article reviews these changes.
Evaluation of two schedule control techniques for the development and implementation of new technologies: a simulation study

The development and implementation of new technologies are areas of engineering and technological management which are subject to uncertainty. To assist management in dealing with the effects of uncertainty, control systems can be used for projects. In particular, for projects in which new technologies are used, control systems can be very useful because of the lack of experience in the new fields. The systems enable the deviations from schedule to be seen and assist management by identifying the corrective actions that are required. This study compares the value of Critical Path Methods and an Earned Value Method by the use of a simulation approach.
Glutamine substitution at alanine1649 in the S4-S5 cytoplasmic loop of domain 4 removes the voltage sensitivity of fast inactivation in the human heart sodium channel.

Normal activation–inactivation coupling in sodium channels insures that inactivation is slow at small but rapid at large depolarizations. M1651Q/M1652Q substitutions in the cytoplasmic loop connecting the fourth and fifth transmembrane segments of Domain 4 (S4–S5/D4) of the human heart sodium channel subtype 1 (hH1) affect the kinetics and voltage dependence of inactivation (Tang, L., R.G. Kallen, and R. Horn. 1996. J. Gen. Physiol. 108:89–104.). We now show that glutamine substitutions NH2-terminal to the methionines (L1646, L1647, F1648, A1649, L1650) also influence the kinetics and voltage dependence of inactivation compared with the wild-type channel. In contrast, mutations at the COOH-terminal end of the S4–S5/D4 segment (L1654, P1655, A1656) are without significant effect. Strikingly, the A1649Q mutation renders the current decay time constants virtually voltage independent and decreases the voltage dependences of steady state inactivation and the time constants for the recovery from inactivation. Single-channel measurements show that at negative voltages latency times to first opening are shorter and less voltage dependent in A1649Q than in wild-type channels; peak open probabilities are significantly smaller and the mean open times are shorter. This indicates that the rate constants for inactivation and, probably, activation are increased at negative voltages by the A1649Q mutation reminiscent of Y1494Q/ Y1495Q mutations in the cytoplasmic loop between the third and fourth domains (O'Leary, M.E., L.Q. Chen, R.G. Kallen, and R. Horn. 1995. J. Gen. Physiol. 106:641–658.). Other substitutions, A1649S and A1649V, decrease but fail to eliminate the voltage dependence of time constants for inactivation, suggesting that the decreased hydrophobicity of glutamine at either residues A1649 or Y1494Y1495 may disrupt a linkage between S4–S5/D4 and the interdomain 3–4 loop interfering with normal activation–inactivation coupling.
1001 solution-focused questions: A handbook for solution-focused interviewing

1001 solution-focused questions: A handbook for solution-focused interviewingFredricke Bannink, (Ed)2nd edition, London: WW Norton, 2010272 pp., $24.95/£17.99 pbkISBN 978-0-393-70634-5If I may, I w...
Cyclophosphamide, Vincristine and Sequential Split-Course Radiotherapy in the Treatment of Small Cell Lung Cancer

Thirty-nine patients with small cell lung cancer were treated with large dose intravenous cyclophosphamide combined with vincristine. Sequential split-course radiotherapy was added when the gross disease was limited to one hemithorax and draining scalene nodes. Fifteen of 16 patients in the limited disease category showed objective response, eight of which were complete. Fourteen of 23 patients in the extensive disease category yielded an objective response, six of which were complete. The median survival for complete responders was 48 weeks, 38 weeks for partial responders and 14 weeks for nonresponders. The difference between responders and nonresponders was statistically significant. The major toxicity was myelosuppression with a median leukocyte nadir of 500/mm3 noted on treatment day no. 15. Prompt recovery was the rule. Toxicity appeared to be cumulative for patients receiving radiotherapy. These results are superior to those evolving from treatment with cyclophosphamide as a solitary agent.