cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric method for the simultaneous quantitation of 5,5-diphenylhydantoin (phenytoin), its para-hydroxylated metabolite and their stable isotope labelled analogs

A stable isotope dilution method for the quantitation by GC-MS of 5,5-diphenylhydantoin, its major metabolite (5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-phenylhydantoin), and, simultaneously, their stable isotope labelled analogs (5,5-diphenyl-2-13C-1,3-15N2-hydantoin and 5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-phenyl-2-13C-1,3-15N2-hydantoin) is discussed and evaluated. 5,5-di-(pentadeuterophenyl)hydantoin and 5-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dideuterophenyl)-5-phenyl-2-13C-1,3-15N2-hydantoin are used as internal standards. The chemical work-up procedure of serum (1.0 ml) and urine (0.5 ml) involves acid hydrolysis, extraction at pH 7.4 and permethylation of drug and metabolite analogs by extractive methylation. The mass spectrometric technique consists of repetitive scanning over the molecular ion region of the permethylated derivatives of the phenytoin and para-hydroxy metabolite analogs as they elute from the gas chromatograph. Molecular ion abundances are measured. Reproducibility, selectivity and linearity of the method are discussed in the light of the planned applications.
A Pilot Study: examining the effects and tolerability of structured dance intervention for individuals with multiple sclerosis

AbstractPurpose: The aims of this pilot were to examine dance as a feasible intervention for persons with multiple sclerosis (MS), specifically to examine issues of tolerability and its longitudinal effects on participants. Dance is an enjoyable physical activity that has been investigated in other neurodegenerative populations but has yet to be studied in MS. Method: A 4-week, two 60-min classes per week, pilot salsa dance intervention was administered to eight individuals with MS. The outcomes measured were effects on gait, balance, self-efficacy, motivation, physical activity and MS symptoms. They were administered at baseline, immediately post-intervention and at 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Results: Statistically significant pre–post intervention gains were found for the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale and Godin Leisure Time Questionnaire. Significant improvements were also found for the TUG, DGI and MS Walking Scale between baseline an...
13C KINETIC ISOTOPE EFFECTS IN THE UREASE-CATALYZED HYDROLYSIS OF UREA. II. INFLUENCES OF REACTION VARIABLES OTHER THAN TEMPERATURE.

Abstract The effects of reaction variables other than temperature on the 13C kinetic isotope effects in the urease-catalyzed hydrolysis of urea have been measured with several preparations of enzyme (urea aminohydrolase, EC 3.5.1.5) in two buffers (maleic acid-maleate, and Tris-sulfuric acid) in which the kinetics have been studied previously. Variables tested were: extent of reaction, age of enzyme preparation, pH and ionic strength of the medium, concentrations of urease and urea, and nature of buffer. The results support the conclusions based on the earlier study of the temperature dependence of the isotope effects: (a) that changes in reaction conditions which are without effect on the gross rate phenomena do, nonetheless, bring about changes in the kinetic isotope effects, (b) that complexity at the molecular level, probably involving temperature-dependent interconversion of two or more types of active sites (directly, or indirectly, through enzyme conformational changes), is responsible for the isotope effect results obtained.
Abstract 4167: KRas induces a Src/PEAK1/ErbB2 kinase amplification loop to drive pancreatic cancer growth, metastasis and therapy resistance

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Early biomarkers and effective therapeutic strategies are desperately needed to treat pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), which has a dismal 5-year patient survival rate. We recently identified PEAK1 (pseudopodium-enriched atypical kinase one, SGK269) as a catalytically active tyrosine kinase that associates with the cytoskeleton and regulates cell migration and proliferation. Tyrosine kinases are highly sought after candidates as biomarkers and therapeutic targets because they induce specific phoshorylation signatures and because their catalytic activity and downstream signals can be inhibited by small molecules. The goal of this current study was to assess the role of PEAK1 expression as a diagnostic/prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target in human malignancies. Here, we report that the novel tyrosine kinase PEAK1 is upregulated in human malignancies, including human PDAC and pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN). Oncogenic KRas induced a PEAK1-dependent kinase amplification loop between Src, PEAK1 and ErbB2 to drive PDAC tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Suprisingly, blockade of ErbB2 increased Src-dependent PEAK1 expression, PEAK1-dependent Src activation and tumor growth in vivo, suggesting a mechanism for the resistance of PDAC to therapeutic intervention. Indeed, PEAK1 mediates multiple therapy resistance phenotypes that present major hurdles in the clinical treatment of this disease. Thus, PEAK1 is a novel biomarker, critical signaling hub, and new therapeutic target in PDAC. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4167. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4167
High signal peripancreatic fat on fat‐suppressed spoiled gradient echo imaging in acute pancreatitis: Preliminary evaluation of the prognostic significance

Purpose To evaluate peripancreatic signal changes on fat-suppressed T1-weighted spoiled gradient echo images associated with acute pancreatitis and investigate potential utility in regards to relationship to clinical outcome. Materials and Methods The abdominal MR images in 31 patients with acute pancreatitis were reviewed, and evaluated for the presence of elevated signal intensity within the peripancreatic fat on fat-suppressed T1-weighted spoiled gradient echo images; the degree of signal changes was graded as mild, moderate, or severe. Results Ten of 31 patients demonstrated abnormal high signal intensity in the peripancreatic fat on fat-suppressed T1-weighted images. The degree of signal change was mild in three patients, moderate in one, and severe in six patients. All six patients with severe elevated peripancreatic soft tissue signal died within seven to 68 days (mean, 47 days) of their admission. All 21 patients without elevated peripancreatic fat signal survived without any complications. The correlation between the presence and severity of elevated peripancreatic MR signal and patient outcome was significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion Elevated peripancreatic signal on fat-suppressed T1-weighted images is associated progressively with poor outcome in patients with acute pancreatitis, and may represent a simplified method for prognostic cross-sectional imaging. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2003;18:49–58. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Age-related changes in rat colon mechanics

To determine whether myogenic factors are responsible for slowed colonic transit in senescent rats, maximum shortening velocity (V0), compliance of the series elastic component (SEC), measurements of passive force in calcium-depleted tissue and peak isometric force (F0) were examined in proximal and distal colonic circular smooth muscle from 6- and 30-monthold Fischer rats (n = 5). After mucosa was removed, measurements were made on strips stimulated with 80 m>m KCl in a 2.5 m>m Ca2+ Kreb's solution. Muscle strips were quick released at peak isometric force (F0) to afterloads of 60% of F0. The changes in muscle length from zero to 40 msec and 1 to 2 sec after release during isotonic contraction were used to calculate the SEC and V0 as a fraction of total muscle length. Passive force (Fp) was measured in 2.5 m>m Ca2+ Kreb's solution and in a zero Ca2+, 0.1 m>m EGTA solution to determine the contribution of contractile and passive elements to passive force. The results of these studies indicate there is no difference in the V0 (L0/sec) of adult (8.4 ± 1.5) and aged (7.5 ± 2.0) animals (P ± 0.05). Peak force (F0) in the distal colon of the aged rats was greater than adult rats (1.23 ± 0.1 vs 0.85 ± 0.01 kg/cm2, P = 0.05). The stiffness of the parallel elastic component and the length-tension relationship were similar in adult and aged animals. Negligible decreases in Fp were observed in zero calcium medium. However, basal contractile tone was elevated in aged animals (P = 0.05). These studies indicate basic differences in aged colonic circular muscle that may contribute to altered bowel transit and function during ageing.
Piezoelectric PZT/epoxy Composites for Controlling Torsional Motion

Thin layers of the piezoceramic PZT (Lead Zir conate/Titanate) have been used to actuate and sense bending mo tion of thin, flexible structures. However, because of its transverse isotropy (mm6 symmetry), a pure PZT piezoceramic is unable to generate or sense twisting motion for applications including beams, plates or shell panels. The use of a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVF2) polymer possessing orthotropy (mm2 symmetry) allows sensing of twisting, but is not stiff enough to provide actuation because of its low modulus and typically low thickness. One possi ble method for generating a more powerful twisting actuation is to construct a piezoceramic/polymer composite element which is or thotropic in the plane and stiff enough to provide actuation. With the requirement of orthotropy in mind, composites have been fab ricated by cutting rods from a PZT plate and placing them in an epoxy matrix. The piezoelectric coupling coefficients d31 and d 32 have been measured for these composites. The ratio (d 31/d32) is a...
Derivation of hematopoietic stem cells from murine embryonic stem cells.

A stem cell is defined as a cell with the capacity to both self-renew and generate multiple differentiated progeny. Embryonic stem cells (ESC) are derived from the blastocyst of the early embryo and are pluripotent in differentiative ability. Their vast differentiative potential has made them the focus of much research centered on deducing how to coax them to generate clinically useful cell types. The successful derivation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) from mouse ESC has recently been accomplished and can be visualized in this video protocol. HSC, arguably the most clinically exploited cell population, are used to treat a myriad of hematopoietic malignancies and disorders. However, many patients that might benefit from HSC therapy lack access to suitable donors. ESC could provide an alternative source of HSC for these patients. The following protocol establishes a baseline from which ESC-HSC can be studied and inform efforts to isolate HSC from human ESC. In this protocol, ESC are differentiated as embryoid bodies (EBs) for 6 days in commercially available serum pre-screened for optimal hematopoietic differentiation. EBs are then dissociated and infected with retroviral HoxB4. Infected EB-derived cells are plated on OP9 stroma, a bone marrow stromal cell line derived from the calvaria of M-CSF-/- mice, and co-cultured in the presence of hematopoiesis promoting cytokines for ten days. During this co-culture, the infected cells expand greatly, resulting in the generation a heterogeneous pool of 100s of millions of cells. These cells can then be used to rescue and reconstitute lethally irradiated mice.
Metabolic and hemodynamic responses to walking with shoulder-worn exercise weights: a brief report.

This study examined the acute physiological responses to steady-rate walking with additional weight carried at shoulder level. Sixteen healthy subjects completed two treadmill walking bouts with and without a 4.54-kg shoulder-worn load carriage system in place. Addition of the external shoulder weights resulted in small increases in level walking oxygen uptake (+0.44 ml.kg-1.min-1; +0.03 L.min-1) and minute ventilation volumes (+0.81 L.min-1) (p 0.05). These findings indicate that the efficacy of shoulder-worn exercise weights to augment the physiological demand of walking exercise is marginal at best.
Computer-based patient education revisited

Good patient education teaches ideas and skills that help patients cope with immediate medical problems, maintain health and avoid disease. Patient education is increasingly important as hospital stays are shortened, patients become more active health consumers, and there is more need to document informed consent for treatment. It is difficult to provide consistent high quality patient education and reimbursement is problematic. Computers have unique attributes for individualized, effective instruction, including variable lesson pacing controlled by the patient and the ability to accurately track the level of patient understanding to document informed consent and for third party reimbursement purposes. The ability of the computer to persuade as well as inform helps motivate behavior change. The unrealized potential of computer-based patient education makes clear the need for further research on how to effectively use this unique tool for patient education.
GENE EXPRESSION ANALYSIS OF A DEDIFFERENTIATED LIPOSARCOMA — DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HIGH AND LOW GRADE AREAS: ANALYSIS OF TWO CASES AND LITERATURE REVIEW

The phenomenon of dedifferentiation typically occurs in soft tissue sarcomas where a low grade or well-differentiated tumor shows an abrupt transformation to a high-grade sarcoma without lineage specificity. The biological behavior and metastatic potential of these tumors is dictated by the dedifferentiated phenotype. Tumor material was available from two dedifferentiated liposarcomas. We performed cDNA microarray analysis of a dedifferentiated liposarcoma in which the atypical lipomatous/well-differentiated and dedifferentiated portions were grossly distinct, to find differentially expressed genes in the dedifferentiated component compared to the well-differentiated component. There were 100 differentially expressed genes, both up- and down-regulated in the high grade sarcoma. In addition, we performed RT-PCR on selected genes in both cases to confirm the microarray findings. We discuss the expression patterns of these genes in comparison to other studies in the literature.
Solubilized glycoprotein from human erythrocyte membranes possessing blood group A, B and H activity.

Summary. Human erythrocyte ghosts where prepared by osmotic lysis and washed thoroughly with deionized distilled water. The resultant stroma were extracted twice with n-butanol producing 81.8 % ± 2.7 solubilization of the membrane protein. The initial extract contained 5 % of the lipid present in intact ghosts. The second extract contained no detectable lipids. The solubilized glycoprotein possessed A, B and H blood group activity comparable to that of the intact ghosts at the same protein concentration. Fractionation studies suggested that the maximum serological activity was associated with a high molecular weight structure. In contrast to most previous work demonstrating A, B and H blood group activities to be exhibited by erythrocyte glycolipids this study reports these blood group specificities to be present in human erythrocyte membrane glycoprotein.
A Security-enabled Grid System for MINDS Distributed Data Mining

Interest has been increasing in mining information from a huge amount of data for various purposes such as business processes, scientific discoveries, and security. MINDS (Minnesota INtrusion Detection System) is a tool utilizing data mining techniques to identify both known and unknown network intrusions. While performing well with a high degree of accuracy in detecting intrusions, MINDS is intrinsically limited due to its centralized design. At the same time, there are increasing needs for coordinating multiple distributed sites to find correlations of suspicious events and for sharing distributed anomaly data in different administrative domains since network intrusions become more sophisticated and harder to identify by a single site analysis. In this work, we consider a distributed model of MINDS to eliminate the limitations that the current MINDS suffers from due to its centralized nature. We utilize Grid technologies to achieve the distribution of services. In addition, we develop security frameworks for authentication and access control since it is important to preserve privacy and sensitivity of data regardless of distribution. To verify the feasibility of our approach, we also present our experimental results conducted in a local testbed with four nodes and in a wide-area setting in PlanetLab with 20 nodes geographically dispersed.
Duodenal segment complications in vascularized pancreas transplantation.

Abstract Bladder drainage by the duodenal segment (DS) technique is currently the preferred method of pancreas transplantation (PTX) but is associated with unique complications. Over a 7-year period, 191 diabetic patients underwent 201 whole-organ PTXs with bladder drainage using a 6 to 8 cm length of DS as an exocrine conduit. A retrospective chart review was performed to document all DS morbidity. DS complications occurred in 38 cases (19%). Twelve patients developed DS leaks and required operative repair. DS bleeding was documented in 26 cases, necessitating cystoscopy in 22 patients and open repair in eight patients for significant hematuria. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) duodenitis was diagnosed in seven cases, with four presenting as DS leaks and three with hematuria. Five patients experienced ampullary obstruction early after PTX. Rejection of the DS was confirmed by biopsy in 13 patients, including eight cases of acute and five cases of chronic rejection. Two patients had stone formation from the DS staple line. Enteric conversion was performed in five patients for DS abnormalities (leaks in 2 cases, bleeding in 2, and CMV duodenitis in 1). Among patients with DS complications, patient survival is 84% and pancreas graft survival is 68% after a mean follow-up of 44 ± 12 months. Complications related to the DS remain an important source of morbidity but rarely cause death after PTX. In spite of unique side effects, transplantation of the DS remains an acceptable alternative for exocrine drainage after PTX.
Multi Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Optical Imaging for Extended Performance

This article considers the potential use of multiple autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) in order to increase the performance of underwater optical imaging systems. In this case, placing cameras on one set of vehicles and lights on another set can surmount the traditional limitations to single vehicle imaging. As envisioned, the arbitrary location of these vehicles in 3-dimensional space permits the arbitrary placement of cameras and lights. One advantage over traditional, single vehicle implementations is that the locations of the cameras and the lights can be dynamically configured in order to optimize imaging system performance. Highly scattering environments might by optimized by one set of camera light configurations whereas low scattering and low absorption environments might benefit from alternate configurations. In addition. 3-dimensional measurement of the sea floor can be facilitated via various configurations that will support either structured light imaging or stereo imaging. We conclude that Multiple AUV Optical Imaging presents new options for improving the performance of underwater optical imaging system.
Optimal filtering techniques for analytical streamflow forecasting

This paper describes the development of a streamflow forecasting model based on the Sacramento soil moisture accounting model and applies optimal filtering techniques to sequentially update watershed-scale soil moisture state values, to improve streamflow predictions. In general hydrology is the study of the waters of the Earth, especially with relation to the effects of precipitation and evaporation upon the occurrence and character of water in streams, lakes and water on or below the land surface. The Sacramento model is a hydrologic simulation model developed by the National Weaterer service, and used throughout the nation for operational streamflow forecasting. Mere optimal filtering techniques are used in order to predict hydrological variables. An H-infinity filter is used to update daily estimates of the water content in model states representing watershed-scale soil moisture storage. Updated soil moisture storages are then used to predict daily streamflow. The output from the estimator is then compared with the model output without state updating.
A Practical Methodology for Measuring the Side-Channel Signal Available to the Attacker for Instruction-Level Events

This paper presents a new metric, which we call Signal Available to Attacker (SAVAT), that measures the side channel signal created by a specific single-instruction difference in program execution, i.e. The amount of signal made available to a potential attacker who wishes to decide whether the program has executed instruction/event A or instruction/event B. We also devise a practical methodology for measuring SAVAT in real systems using only user-level access permissions and common measurement equipment. Finally, we perform a case study where we measure electromagnetic (EM) emanations SAVAT among 11 different instructions for three different laptop systems. Our findings from these experiments confirm key intuitive expectations, e.g. That SAVAT between on-chip instructions and off-chip memory accesses tends to be higher than between two on-chip instructions. However, we find that particular instructions, such as integer divide, have much higher SAVAT than other instructions in the same general category (integer arithmetic), and that last-level-cache hits and misses have similar (high) SAVAT. Overall, we confirm that our new metric and methodology can help discover the most vulnerable aspects of a processor architecture or a program, and thus inform decision-making about how to best manage the overall side channel vulnerability of a processor, a program, or a system.
Manganese neurotoxicity may underlie the association between early life iron deficiency and impaired spatial cognition in neonatal piglets.

;2 billion people worldwide suffer from iron deficiency (FeD) (1). Rytych et al. (2) have highlighted the consequences of FeD during a vulnerable, early postnatal period for neurocognitive development. However, the authors overlook a potentially important interaction between Fe and manganese (Mn). Rodents suffering from FeD have elevated brain Mn concentrations (3). Children with FeD anemia have increased whole bloodMn concentrations (4) and dietary FeD upregulates the Mn transporters, divalent metal transporter-1 and the transferrin receptor, in the developing brain (5). In humans, Mn excess and FeD are associated with remarkably similar deficits in cognitive and neuropsychological performance during childhood (6). Both Fe andMn preferentially affect full scale IQ-measurements, school-age mathematical performance and domains of executive function, such as visual recognition and memory (7). Animal models of dietary Mn exposure demonstrate altered behaviors and learning patterns in maze experiments (8). Additionally, a potential effect of FeD on olfactory development, rather than a direct effect on cognitive development,may explain the maze task results because even neonatal piglets can orient to the presence of milk (9) used as a reward. Fe-deficient rats demonstrate a reduction in serotonin transporter binding in the olfactory tubercle (10), and in non-human primates this decreases expression of olfactory receptors (11). Similarly, the influence of excessive Mn exposure on the olfactory system has been well established. Thus, despite the interest generated by the paper by Rytych et al. (2), additional work is needed before the authors can conclude that their findings are due to a direct effect of FeD on neurocognitive development and not due to concomitant Mn overload and Mn-induced neurotoxicity.
Tocqueville's Cultural Institutionalism Reconciling Collective Culture and Methodological Individualism

With a few notable exceptions, Alexis de Tocqueville's contributions to the formation of the sociological canon have been ignored. Most sociologists are likely to recognize him as a key source for current work on social capital and the civil society. But, in this paper I argue that Tocqueville's importance for sociology extends far beyond those uses. Tocqueville is the author of a sophisticated and powerful theory of culture that solves the key problem of reconciling culture with the claims of methodological individualism. He does so by shunning the disciplinary boundaries that have sprung up after him, integrating political, historical, institutional and psychological building blocks of culture in a subtle yet powerful analytical framework. He thus avoids many of the pitfalls that plague other theories of culture, which makes his contribution to the sociological canon equal to that of many other canon-forming writers.
Light-emitting diode-based multiwavelength diffuse optical tomography system guided by ultrasound

Laser diodes are widely used in diffuse optical tomography (DOT) systems but are typically expensive and fragile, while light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are cheaper and are also available in the near-infrared (NIR) range with adequate output power for imaging deeply seated targets. In this study, we introduce a new low-cost DOT system using LEDs of four wavelengths in the NIR spectrum as light sources. The LEDs were modulated at 20 kHz to avoid ambient light. The LEDs were distributed on a hand-held probe and a printed circuit board was mounted at the back of the probe to separately provide switching and driving current to each LED. Ten optical fibers were used to couple the reflected light to 10 parallel photomultiplier tube detectors. A commercial ultrasound system provided simultaneous images of target location and size to guide the image reconstruction. A frequency-domain (FD) laser-diode-based system with ultrasound guidance was also used to compare the results obtained from those of the LED-based system. Results of absorbers embedded in intralipid and inhomogeneous tissue phantoms have demonstrated that the LED-based system provides a comparable quantification accuracy of targets to the FD system and has the potential to image deep targets such as breast lesions.
Genome-wide metabolic network reconstruction of the picoalga Ostreococcus

The green picoalga Ostreococcus is emerging as a simple plant model organism, and two species, O. lucimarinus and O. tauri, have now been sequenced and annotated manually. To evaluate the completeness of the metabolic annotation of both species, metabolic networks of O. lucimarinus and O. tauri were reconstructed from the KEGG database, thermodynamically constrained, elementally balanced, and functionally evaluated. The draft networks contained extensive gaps and, in the case of O. tauri, no biomass components could be produced due to an incomplete Calvin cycle. To find and remove gaps from the networks, an extensive reference biochemical reaction database was assembled using a stepwise approach that minimized the inclusion of microbial reactions. Gaps were then removed from both Ostreococcus networks using two existing gap-filling methodologies. In the first method, a bottom-up approach, a minimal list of reactions was added to each model to enable the production of all metabolites included in our biomass equation. In the second method, a top-down approach, all reactions in the reference database were added to the target networks and subsequently trimmed away based on the sequence alignment scores of identified orthologues. Because current gap-filling methods do not produce unique solutions, a quality metric that includes a weighting for phylogenetic distance and sequence similarity was developed to distinguish between gap-filling results automatically. The draft O. lucimarinus and O. tauri networks required the addition of 56 and 70 reactions, respectively, in order to produce the same biomass precursor metabolites that were produced by our plant reference database.
Post-optimization design centering for RF integrated circuits

An adaptive simulated annealing algorithm for RF integrated circuit design and optimization reduces the number of iterations required to find acceptable solutions, and a tunneling technique increases the probability of escaping from local minima. A post-optimization design centering method identifies robust solutions including process, voltage and temperature variations, and is shown to be orders of magnitude more efficient than conventional Monte Carlo simulation approaches in identifying a robust design with high manufacturing yield.
Continuous growth of vimentin filaments in mouse fibroblasts

We have investigated the dynamics of intermediate filament assembly in vivo by following the fate of heterologous chicken vimentin subunits expressed under the control of an inducible promoter in transfected mouse fibroblasts. Using RNase protection, metabolic protein pulse-chase and immunofluorescence microscopy, we have examined the fate of newly assembled subunits under physiological conditions in situ. Following induction and subsequent removal of inducer, chicken vimentin mRNA had a half-life of approximately 6 h while both chicken and mouse vimentin protein polymer had long half-lives--roughly equivalent to the cell generation time. Moreover, following deinduction, chicken vimentin immunolocalization progressed from a continuous (8-10 h chase) to a discontinuous (> or = 20 h chase) pattern. The continuous chicken vimentin staining reflects the uniform incorporation of chicken vimentin throughout the endogenous mouse vimentin network while the discontinuous or punctate chicken vimentin staining represents short interspersed segments of assembled chicken vimentin superimposed on the endogenous polymer. This punctate staining pattern of chicken vimentin was present throughout the entire array of intermediate filaments, with no bias toward the perinuclear region. These results are consistent with a continuous growth model of intermediate filament assembly, wherein subunit addition occurs at discrete sites located throughout the cytoskeleton.
Optimal PMU placement algorithm with minimum measurement channels

This paper deals with the problem of adding and placing phasor measurement units (PMU) to achieve power system observability. A new algorithm that minimizes the number of added PMUs with minimum number of channels is proposed. The proposed algorithm is tested using different power systems. The solution provided by the algorithm outperforms existing algorithms in terms of number of PMU channels required for system observability.
Canonical Ramsey numbers and properly colored cycles

We improve the previous bounds on the so-called unordered Canonical Ramsey numbers, introduced by Richer [D. Richer, Unordered canonical Ramsey numbers, Journal of Combinatorial Theory Series B 80 (2000) 172-177] as a variant of the canonical Ramsey numbers introduced by Erdos and Rado [P. Erdos, R. Rado, A combinatorial theorem, Journal of the London Mathematical Society 25 (4) (1950) 249-255]. Then we prove a conjecture raised by Axenovich, Jiang, and Tuza in [M. Axenovich, T. Jiang, Zs. Tuza, Local anti-Ramsey numbers of graphs, Combinatorics, Probability, and Computing 12 (2003) 495-511], showing that for each k>=4 and large n, every edge-coloring of K"n in which at least 256k different colors appear at each vertex contains a properly colored cycle of length exactly k. Here, a cycle is properly colored if no two incident edges in it have the same color. The bound 256k is tight up to a constant factor.
Khmerness and the Thai ‘Other’: Violence, Discourse and Symbolism in the 2003 Anti-Thai Riots in Cambodia

On 29 January 2003, a Cambodian mob burned down the Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh. This article explores the roots of this violence, arguing that the anti-Thai riots were linked in part to a set of discourses and imagery that have long been central to assertions of ‘Khmerness’ and constructions of the ‘Other’.
SHF-09: Reasons for reversal and outcomes after reversal of gastric bypass for morbid obesity

data base (7F, mean age 457y, BMI 518 kg/m 2 , HbA1c: 8.31%). 16 LRYGB Obese Diabetics with similar pre-operative features (Group2), were identified (7F; mean age 458y; BMI 484 kg/m2, HbA1c: 8.51%). LRGBP alimentary limb was 150 cm and bilio-pancreatic limb was 50 cm from Treitz ligament. SG vertical transection was calibrated on a 40F oro-gastric bougie. Data were analyzed at 15 days, 6 months, 1 year according weight loss and diabetes resolution (fasting glucose 126 mg/dl without hypoglycemic drugs). Data were reported as meanSD, statistical analysis was by Fisher’s exact test (p0.05 was significant). Results: Group1 and Group2 BMI were comparable at 15 days: 467 and 445 kg/m2, respectively (p0,479). BMI was significantly lower in Group2 (354 and 325 kg/m 2 ) vs. Group 1 (426 and 385 kg/m 2 ) at 6 months and 1 year respectively (P0.02). Diabetes resolution occurred in 66, 77and 77% of Group1 patients and in 94, 100, 94% of Group2 at 15 days, 6 months and 1 year, respectively (pns). Conclusion: In spite of its statistically significant inferiority regarding weight loss in comparison with LRYGB, SG is equally effective for the diabetes resolution.
City Managers, Career Incentives, and Municipal Service Decisions: The Effects of Managerial Progressive Ambition on Interlocal Service Delivery

City managers play an influential role in brokering intergovernmental service arrangements on behalf of their jurisdiction, yet their motivations for doing so are not well understood. One argument, drawn from theories of bureaucratic entrepreneurship and ambition theory, suggests that cities with managers who are motivated to advance their careers will parlay more interlocal service delivery as means of capturing economic efficiencies. Such strategies serve to build their personal resumes of career achievements. An alternative argument suggests more altruistic motives, including a desire for increased social equity and valuing the common good of the region, compel city managers to pursue interlocal service arrangements. These competing theories are tested on 134 large municipalities, using survey data from the city managers of these jurisdictions, coupled with interlocal revenue and expenditure data for these cities. Results yield greater support for the first theory. However, progressive ambition possesses complex consequences for interlocal service delivery choices. Jurisdictions managed by city managers with career-enhancement ambitions are more likely to sell services to other local governments. Yet, they are significantly less inclined to buy services from other jurisdictions, thereby underscoring entrepreneurship in shaping managers’ professional trajectories.
Open-Label Single-Arm Phase II Trial of Sorafenib Therapy with Drug-eluting Bead Transarterial Chemoembolization in Patients with Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Clinical Results.

The key finding of this phase II trial is that the combination of sorafenib therapy and drug-eluting bead transarterial chemoembolization is safe and effective, especially in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma who were able continue sorafenib therapy for more than 6 months.
Practical issues surrounding the explosion of tyrosine kinase inhibitors for the management of chronic myeloid leukemia

The advent of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has drastically changed the treatment outcome of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Imatinib was the first TKI approved, and has been considered the standard of care for more than a decade. Second generation compounds, namely dasatinib and nilotinib, are highly effective in newly diagnosed patients as well as those who fail imatinib. Bosutinib and ponatinib have also become available as second line options. With five agents from which to choose, selecting a TKI has become a challenge. Multiple tests are now available to determine a patient's disease status, making the ideal monitoring strategy unclear. The gold standard for response to TKI therapy remains the achievement of complete cytogenetic response. This review will discuss the practical aspects of selecting a TKI and monitoring a patient once on therapy, including when to consider a treatment change. Other relevant issues, including cost, compliance, role of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation, and discontinuation of TKIs will also be covered.
When more is better: number of motives and reasons for quitting as correlates of physical activity in women

Understanding the mechanisms by which physical activity is influenced is particularly relevant for health promotion efforts aimed at women, who display lower levels of physical activity and may experience more barriers to exercise than men. This study examined the number of motives for exercise and the number of reasons for previous quitting as predictors of exercise behavior. Specifically, the cognitive complexity of motives for exercise and reasons for quitting, as indicators of exercise-related memory associations that reflect cognitive structure, were evaluated. In a sample of 394 women aged 17-54, number of reasons for quitting did not predict current exercise level. However, more elaborated memory networks for motives were highly related to current exercise behavior, except among women with high Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale scores. These results support the predictive superiority of positive over negative memory associations found in studies on attitude accessibility in other behaviors, such as substance use, among women of normal mood and suggest a moderating effect of depression.
The Impact of Poverty on Children’s and Young Adults Well-being in the 1987 Finnish Birth Cohort

Background The basis for well-being is built in childhood. Risk factors for health and welfare problems stem from pre- and perinatal period, and they include genetic as well as environmental and family-related influences. Mental health, marginalisation and inequalities in health, income and other opportunities in life are interwoven Methods The present study will investigate impact of poverty on children’s well-being among all children born in Finland in 1987 (N = 59 476). Specifically, the present …
Absorption, metabolism, and functions of β-cryptoxanthin

β-Cryptoxanthin, a carotenoid found in fruits and vegetables such as tangerines, red peppers, and pumpkin, has several functions important for human health. Most evidence from observational, in vitro, animal model, and human studies suggests that β-cryptoxanthin has relatively high bioavailability from its common food sources, to the extent that some β-cryptoxanthin-rich foods might be equivalent to β-carotene-rich foods as sources of retinol. β-Cryptoxanthin is an antioxidant in vitro and appears to be associated with decreased risk of some cancers and degenerative diseases. In addition, many in vitro, animal model, and human studies suggest that β-cryptoxanthin-rich foods may have an anabolic effect on bone and, thus, may help delay osteoporosis.
Dehydration of Protein Polymers in Concentrated Nematic Solutions

Protein fibers (e.g., actin filaments, microtubules, and sickle cell hemoglobin polymers), formed by reversible association of quasispherical protein monomers, contain substantial solvent. At high concentrations, solutions of these fibers become non-ideal due to interactions between the elongated particles. One manifestation of this non-ideality is the spontaneous alignment of the fibers. Model calculations, involving simple intra- and inter aggregate interactions leading to polymerization and alignment, agree well with osmotic pressure measurements of sickle cell hemoglobin solutions in the region of the phase transition. However, at higher concentrations the theory cannot fit the experimental data unless solvent is gradually squeezed out of the fiber under osmotic stress. We find that a linear potential for the fiber dehydration gives osmotic pressure results consistent with the experimental data. Under these conditions, substantial fiber dehydration occurs with increasing protein concentrations beyond the alignment transition. This indicates that particle interactions sufficient to cause alignment are also sufficient to squeeze significant amounts of solvent out of the sickle cell hemoglobin fibers.
Inhibition of turbulence in inertial-confinement-fusion hot spots by viscous dissipation

Achieving ignition in inertial confinement fusion (ICF) requires the formation of a high-temperature (>10 keV) central hot spot. Turbulence has been suggested as a mechanism for degrading the hot-spot conditions by altering transport properties, introducing colder, mixed material, or reducing the conversion of radially directed kinetic energy to hot-spot heating. We show, however, that the hot spot is very viscous, and the assumption of turbulent conditions in the hot spot is incorrect. This work presents the first high-resolution, three-dimensional simulations of National Ignition Facility (NIF) implosion experiments using detailed knowledge of implosion dynamics and instability seeds and including an accurate model of physical viscosity. We find that when viscous effects are neglected, the hot spot can exhibit a turbulent kinetic energy cascade. Viscous effects, however, are significant and strongly damp small-scale velocity structures, with a hot-spot Reynolds number in the range of only 10-100.
The callus associated protein (CAP) gene of Nicotiana tabacum : isolation, characterization, and evidence for possible function as a transcriptional factor

We have identified a callus associated protein (CAP) as a new molecular marker for proliferative growth and early cellular differentiation in higher plants. Antiserum directed against theSorghum callus associated protein (CAP) was employed to isolate a cDNA clone (CAP-C2) from an expression library prepared from mRNA from actively dividing cell suspension cultures ofNicotiana tabacum L. cv. xanthi. The derived amino acid sequence contained structural features of eukaryotic transcriptional factors, including three putative zinc fingers, three activator domains, and a nuclear localization signal. A fusion protein formed between part of the CAP-C2 polypeptide andEscherichia coli beta-glucuronidase specifically accumulated within the nuclei of transfected protoplasts, suggesting a nuclear localization for the CAP protein. Increased levels of expression of CAP in vivo were observed in actively proliferating tobacco tissues, whereas expression in vitro was induced when mature, differentiated explants proliferated into callus or cell suspensions. A 6.2 kb unstable mRNA and two low-abundance nuclear proteins (p66 and p68) containing epitopes encoded by CAP-C2 accumulated in plant tissues undergoing proliferative growth but were absent in mature, differentiated tissues. The corresponding genes were also present inNicotiana sylvestris andPetunia hybrida
A Comparative Analysis Of U.S. Vs European Productivity Trends and their Implications for U.S. Global Competitiveness

In recent times global competitive strategists and industrial researchers have almost exclusively concentrated on Japan’s phenomenal rise in the world market. Comparatively little has been discussed in literature about Europe’s (Western Europe) competitive position. The authors believe that with the steady strides in productivity, the amalgamation of the EEC into one entity in 1992 and East Europe joining the fraternity, in the 90’s and beyond Europe will be as much a threat as an opportunity to the U.S., and has clear implications for the development of its global strategies. In this paper the West European productivity trends are discussed and their implications for U.S. global competitiveness explored.
Three-dimensional Jacobian derivations and divisor class groups

ABSTRACTWe investigate the divisor class group of the kernels of three dimensional Jacobian derivations on A = k[x,y,z] that are regular in codimension one, where k is an algebraically closed field of characteristic p>0. These correspond to intersections in aﬃne 5-space of pairs of hypersurfaces, w1p=f,w2p=g, with f,g in A. Our calculations focus primarily on pairs where f and g are quadratic forms. We show that in this case the class group is a direct sum of up to three copies of ℤp, is never trivial, and is generated by those hyperplane sections whose forms are factors of linear combinations of f and g.
Expression of a soluble truncated Vargula luciferase in Escherichia coli

Marine luciferases are regularly employed as useful reporter molecules across a range of various applications. However, attempts to transition expression from their native eukaryotic environment into a more economical prokaryotic, i.e. bacterial, expression system often presents several challenges. Specifically, bacterial protein expression inherently lacks chaperone proteins to aid in the folding process, while Escherichia coli presents a reducing cytoplasmic environment in. These conditions contribute to the inhibition of proper folding of cysteine-rich proteins, leading to incorrect tertiary structure and ultimately inactive and potentially insoluble protein. Vargula luciferase (Vluc) is a cysteine-rich marine luciferase that exhibits glow-type bioluminescence through a reaction between its unique native substrate and molecular oxygen. Because most other commonly used bioluminescent proteins exhibit flash-type emission kinetics, this emission characteristic of Vluc is desirable for high-throughput applications where stability of emission is required for the duration of data collection. A truncated form of Vluc that retains considerable bioluminescence activity (55%) compared to the native full-length protein has been reported in the literature. However, expression and purification of this luciferase from bacterial systems has proven difficult. Herein, we demonstrate the expression and purification of a truncated form of Vluc from E. coli. This truncated Vluc (tVluc) was subsequently characterized in terms of both its biophysical and bioluminescence properties.
Does the System Cause Excessive Legal Fees

The dispute resolution mechanism in the United States, if not in trouble, is ill. There are many causes suggested for increasing litigation costs. For example, the adversary system encourages “overpreparation” by an advocate, and for this reason the discovery process can be a major multiplier in cost calculation. Additionally, increases in the number of disputes being judicially processed has created a correlative increase in demand for legal services and the number of new attorneys law firms must hire and advance. It is in the self-interest of the Bar to see that these ills are promptly cured. More responsive access and deliberative decisions can be obtained. The cures do not lie in wholesale exclusions of access to the courts, nor in unthinking acceptance of preparation speed as an end in itself. Responsive access and deliberative decisions can be obtained without such exclusions. However, the legal profession must remember that it is dealing with complex system whose foundation is laid upon economic principles, and it cannot afford to neglect recognition, definition, and solution of the problems it faces.