cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The intricate relationship between RNA structure, editing, and splicing

Post-transcriptional modifications such as RNA editing and splicing diversify the proteome while limiting the necessary size of the genome. Although splicing globally rearranges existing information within the transcript, the conserved process of adenosine-to-inosine RNA editing recodes the message through single nucleotide changes, often at very specific locations. Because inosine is interpreted as guanosine by the cellular machineries, editing effectively results in the substitution of a guanosine for an adenosine in the primary RNA sequence. Precise control of editing is dictated by duplex structures in the transcript, formed between the exonic region surrounding the editing site and cis regulatory elements often localized in a nearby intron, suggesting that editing must precede splicing. However, the precise relationship between these post-transcriptional processes remains unclear. Here we present general commonalities of RNA editing substrates and consequential predictions regarding the interaction between editing and splicing. We also discuss anomalies and interesting cases of RNA editing that confound our understanding of the relationship between these post-transcriptional processes.
Plane strain creep and plastic deformation analysis of a composite tube

Abstract A method of analysis and associated computer program is described for the generalized plane strain analysis of transient creep and plastic deformations of composite cylinders. The material properties are permitted to vary with temperature and the axisymmetric loading conditions may vary with time. The loading may include any combination of internal pressure, external pressure, axial load and radial variation of thermal strains. Several forms of creep law are permitted including an iso-curve plastic strain law for use in obtaining certain plasticity solutions from the creep solutions.
Effects of cilostazol on late lumen loss after Palmaz‐Schatz stent implantation

Cilostazol inhibits intimal hyperplasia after stent implantation into canine iliac arteries. To determine the antiproliferative effect of this agent, cilostazol or aspirin was randomly given for 6 mo to 36 patients treated with Palmaz-Schatz stent implantation. Initial success was obtained in 34 patients. Repeat angiography was performed in 33 patients, and the complete angiographic data were obtained in 22 lesions of the cilostazol group and in 21 lesions of the aspirin group. The reference diameter and minimal luminal diameter were similar in both groups before and immediately after stent implantation. At follow-up, minimal luminal diameters were significantly greater in the cilostazol group than in the aspirin group (P < 0.001). Late loss and loss index were significantly smaller in the cilostazol group than in the aspirin group (P < 0.001). These results suggest that cilostazol reduces angiographic late lumen loss and thereby may reduce the incidence of restenosis after Palmaz-Schatz stent implantation. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Diagn. 44:387–391, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Survey of the howling monkey population at La Pacifica: A seven-year follow-up

We surveyed the howling monkey population at La Pacifica in Costa Rica over a 1-month period in July and August 1991. The survey method consisted of an initial 6-day survey, directly comparable to a 1984 survey, and at least two repeat surveys of all areas to locate all groups and to identify all animals. The initial survey indicated an increase in the number of groups and a decrease in the size of groups from earlier surveys, though the group composition was unchanged. We used the results of initial and repeat surveys to determine population size and composition. We located 30 groups with a total of 370 animals. Twenty-one groups contained animals marked with collars and/or legbands, and four additional groups contained animals with clearly identifiable white markings. Although the population structure has changed over 7 years, it is still within the species-typical range for Alouatta palliata.
Biased Self-Perceptions, Peer Rejection, and Aggression in Children

This study examined whether children’s biased self-perceptions of peer acceptance are associated in a linear or curvilinear fashion with aggression, whether associations are moderated by peer rejection status, and whether associations apply uniquely to reactive aggression. Children in the 4th through 7th grades completed a self-report measure on their social functioning (SPPC; Harter 1982), and teachers reported on children’s social functioning and aggression. Self-perceptual bias was operationalized as the standardized residual difference between children’s self-perceptions and their teachers’ perceptions of their peer acceptance. Rejected status moderated associations between biased self-perceptions and reactive aggression. Among non-rejected children, biased perceptions were not significantly associated with reactive aggression. In contrast, among peer-rejected children, reactive aggression was elevated in those who greatly underestimated as well as in those who even modestly overestimated their peer acceptance. This pattern was observed whether or not proactive aggression was statistically controlled. In contrast, biased self-perceptions were not associated with proactive aggression for rejected or nonrejected children. Implications are discussed with regard to future research and potential interventions for aggressive children.
INCREASED INSULIN BINDING BY LYMPHOCYTE RECEPTORS INDUCED BY β-OH BUTYRATE

The serum concentration of ketones increases in both fasting and diabetic ketoacidosis. Whether ketones alter, independent of changes in pH, the number and affinity of insulin receptors is not known. The binding of insulin 125I by 24 × 106IM-9 lymphocyte cells was examined in both the presence and absence of 8 mM β-OH butyrate. Studies were conducted at multiple concentrations of insulin. A consistent increase of insulin binding was induced by β-OH butyrate. The mean maximum increase of insulin binding was 35%, which achieved significance at the 1% level.
Management of mTOR Inhibitor Side Effects

Although surgery remains the primary curative treatment for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), systemic therapy also is indicated in the advanced disease setting. This article reviews the role of mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors in the treatment of metastatic RCC. A case study is presented to illustrate side-effect management issues commonly encountered by oncology nurses in clinical practice.
Outcomes in patients with myocardial infarction who are initially admitted to stepdown units: Data from the multicenter chest pain study

Abstract purpose : To assess whether the admission of patients with chest pain to a stepdown unit would jeopardize the outcome of those patents who ultimately “ruled in” for a myocardial infarction. patients and methods : We compared the risk of an adverse outcome in initially uncomplicated, “rule-out myocardial infarction” patients who were admitted directly to a stepdown unit (n = 58) or to a coronary care unit (n = 409) at 6 hospitals and who then ultimately “ruled in” for a myocardial infarction. results : An adverse outcome (death, serious complication, or invasive intervention) occurred in 16 (28%) stepdown unit patients compared with 159 (39%) coronary care unit patients. Among patients eligible for initial care in either location, the risk of an adverse outcome after controlling for clinical characteristics was similar in the two groups using each of two different multivariate approaches. conclusion : Although our study was not of sufficient size to exclude the possibility of a small benefit from initial triage to a coronary care unit, our data suggest that (1) admission of initially uncomplicated chest pain patients with a relatively low probability of acute myocardial infarction to a stepdown unit does not seriously jeopardize those who eventually “rule in” for myocardial infarction; and (2) larger observational or randomized studies, which could reduce the residual possibility of somewhat higher risk in the stepdown unit, would be ethical to perform.
The activity of rifabutin against Mycobacterium leprae in armadillos

The activity of rifabutin (LM 427) against Mycobacterium leprae was evaluated in armadillos inoculated earlier with human-derived M. leprae. Rifabutin was administered daily at a dose of 6 mg/kg body weight/day. The effect of rifabutin on M. leprae harvested from armadillos was determined by measuring the intracellular levels of ATP (an indicator of metabolic activity) of M. leprae and also their ability to multiply in the mouse footpads and in vitro in DH medium. Within 2 weeks of initiating the treatment, ATP levels declined to 21% of the original (pre-treatment level) and these M. leprae failed to multiply in the footpads of mice as well as in the in vitro culture system. This suggests that rifabutin was able to kill all M. leprae within 2 weeks. After 8 weeks the treatment was terminated and results showed that M. leprae from the treated armadillos remained non-viable in the mouse footpad system as well as in the in vitro system, indicating bactericidal action of rifabutin. The results suggest that rifabutin can be a substitute for rifampin in the leprosy multi-drug therapy regimen.
Transient mechanical and electrical properties of uncooled resistive microbolometer focal plane arrays

Recent advances in MEMS and focal plane array (FPA) technologies have led to the development of manufacturing microbolometers monolithically on a readout integrated circuit (ROIC). In this work, both numerical and finite element methods were performed to simulate the transient electrical and mechanical responses of resistive microbolometer FPAs made by several TCR (thermal coefficient of resistance) materials including a-Si, VOx and semiconducting YBCO. Numerical simulation shows that the pulsed bias readout mode in resistive microbolometer FPAs causes a non-steady-state of the system during the operation. As a result, NETD decreases with the increasing pulse width. In FPAs, the array size, frame rate, ROIC and mechanical reliability set the up-limit to the pulse width. The transient mechanical response for three microbolometer configurations was investigated using finite element modeling. The biased pulse results in membrane bending along the z-axis for the symmetric extended configuration (Type I), or twisting in three axes for the asymmetric extended configuration (Type II) due to the constraint force from the supporting arms. The square configuration (Type III) exhibits the smallest deformation and minimum shear stress at the sharp geometries. a-Si microbolometer generates higher shear stress than other microbolometers with the same square configuration.
Electropolymerization on graphite fibers

The electrodic polymerization on graphite fibers of a variety of monomers having different types of functional groups has been investigated. In addition to vinyl polymerization, some novel polymerizations of cyclic functional groups have been conducted under appropriate polymerization conditions. In many instances, the grafting of the surface polymer to the fiber has been confirmed. The stereochemical configuration of poly(methyl methacrylate) resulting from electropolymerization was measured, but conclusive evidence could not be obtained for the occurrence of stereo-regulation in electrochemical polymerization on graphite fiber surface; Composite specimens were prepared by the incorporation of the coated fibers in an epoxy matrix. It was demonstrated that the effect of electropolymerization on the interfacial properties of the resulting composite was manifested in variations of the measured interlaminar shear and impact strengths of the composite specimens. The increase or decrease in interlaminar shear was accompanied by the usually observed reverse change in impact strength. In exception to this general trend, it was also indicated that the shear and impact strengths could simultaneously be increased. Implicit in these findings is the contribution of the electrochemically formed interlayer to one or more of the toughening mechanisms that are available to fiber reinforced composites. The potential value of interphase modification by electrochemical polymerization is thus clearly indicated.
Conditional Sampling in a Transitional Boundary Layer Under High Free-Stream Turbulence Conditions

Conditional sampling has been performed on data from a transitional boundary layer subject to high (initially 9%) free-stream turbulence and strong Display FormulaK=ν/U∞2dU∞/dxas high as9×10-6 acceleration. Methods for separating the turbulent and non-turbulent zone data based on the instantaneous streamwise velocity and the turbulent shear stress were tested and found to agree. Mean velocity profiles were clearly different in the turbulent and non-turbulent zones, and skin friction coefficients were as much as 70% higher in the turbulent zone. The streamwise fluctuating velocity, in contrast, was only about 10% higher in the turbulent zone. Turbulent shear stress differed by an order of magnitude, and eddy viscosity was three to four times higher in the turbulent zone. Eddy transport in the non-turbulent zone was still significant, however, and the non-turbulent zone did not behave like a laminar boundary layer. Within each of the two zones there was considerable self-similarity from the beginning to the end of transition. This may prove useful for future modeling efforts.Copyright © 2001 by ASME
Genetic segregation of microsatellite markers in Saccharum officinarum and S. spontaneum.

Genetic mapping techniques can be used to study the interaction between two different genomes after hybridization. This study investigated a Saccharum officinarum (Green German or GG, 2n≈11x≈110) × S. spontaneum (IND 81–146 or IND, 2n≈7x≈56) interspecific cross. Segregation of 193 microsatellite (SSR) loci was evaluated in the F1 progeny of 169 full-sibs of the cross. Following the two-way pseudo-testcross strategy and ‘cross pollination’ population type, linkage groups (LG) and phases were established for each parent map, using the criteria of LOD score ≥3.0 and a maximum recombination frequency of 0.35. Of the 193 markers analyzed, 61 were IND-specific, 106 were GG-specific, and 26 were heterozygous in both parents. About 78% of the markers segregated in a Mendelian fashion and 22% were distorted (as evaluated by χ2-tests, P≤0.01). The GG map included 91 marker loci arranged into 25 LG covering 1180 cM of the officinarum genome. The IND map consisted of 46 marker loci assembled into 10 LG, which spanned 614 cM of the spontaneum genome. A specific chromosome associated with segregation distortion was detected in the female (GG) genome only, probably as a result of double reduction. The segregation patterns of the marker loci indicated a centromere-driven distortion process with the shared allelic markers (as putative centromeres) regulating the placement and association of markers with opposite phase (coupling vs repulsion) and dosage on either side. Although incomplete, the framework maps were informative with respect to segregation distortion, chromosome fusion, rearrangements, and translocations, observed in both parental genomes as a result of their merger.
Long-Time Solutions to Heat-Conduction Transients with Time-Dependent Inputs

An economical method for obtaining long-time solutions to one, two, or three-dimensional heat-conduction transients with time-dependent forcing functions is presented. The conduction problem is spatially discretized by finite differences or by finite elements to obtain a system of first-order ordinary differential equations. The time-dependent input functions are each approximated by continuous, piecewise-linear functions each having the same uniform time interval. A set of response coefficients is generated by which a long-time solution can be carried out with a considerably lower cost than for conventional methods. The method has applications in problems of air-conditioning calculations for buildings and in the development of load models for solar energy studies.
Design Optimization on Cost Basis Using Orthogonal Arrays

Abstract This paper describes the approach used in a cost optimization study for a single-stage-to-orbit launch vehicle. Taguchi's experimental designs called orthogonal arrays are utilized for efficiently studying the effect of different material and technology options on design, development, test and evaluation cost. The results suggest that the approach taken facilitates rapid evaluation on a cost basis early in the design phase and may lead to reduced project costs.
Micro‐anatomy of the renal sympathetic nervous system: A human postmortem histologic study

Hypertension remains an epidemic uncontrolled with pharmacologic therapies. A novel catheter inserted into the renal artery has been shown to lower blood pressure by ablating the renal sympathetic nerves with radiofrequency energy delivered through the arterial wall. We report a histologic study describing the anatomic substrate for this technique, specifically the renal sympathetic nervous system. Histological sections from proximal, middle, and distal renal artery segments from nine renal arteries (five human autopsies) were analyzed. Nerves were manually counted and their distance from the lumen-intima interface was measured using a micrometer. The nerves were then categorized by location into 0.5-mm-wide "rings" that were arranged circumferentially around the renal artery lumen. Of all nerves detected, 1.0% was in the 0-0.5 mm ring, 48.3% were in the 0.5-1.0 mm ring, 25.6% were in the 1.0-1.5 mm ring, 15.5% were in the 1.5-2.0 mm ring, and 9.5% were in the 2.0-2.5 mm ring. Beyond 0.5 mm, the proportion of nerves tended to decrease as the distance from the lumen increased. Totally, 90.5% of all nerves in this study existed within 2.0 mm of the renal artery lumen. Additionally, the number of nerves tended to increase along the length of the artery from proximal to distal segments (proximal = 216; middle = 323; distal = 417). In conclusion, our analysis indicates that a great proportion of renal sympathetic nerves have close proximity to the lumen-intima interface and should thus be accessible via renal artery interventional approaches such as catheter ablation. This data provides important anatomic information for the development of ablation and other type devices for renal sympathetic denervation.
Direct quantification of N-(3-oxo-hexanoyl)-l-homoserine lactone in culture supernatant using a whole-cell bioreporter

The autoinducer N-(3-oxo-hexanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C6-HSL) plays a significant role in the quorum-sensing system of the marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri. Upon forming a transcriptional activation complex with LuxR, 3-oxo-C6-HSL induces transcription of the luxICDABEG operon, leading to the increased production of both the 3-oxo-C6-HSL synthase (LuxI) and the bioluminescent proteins. In order to quantitatively analyze this regulatory mechanism, a novel approach was developed to measure 3-oxo-C6-HSL concentrations in V. fischeri cell culture supernatant. A bioluminescent strain of Escherichia coli that responds to 3-oxo-C6-HSL was used as a bioreporter. Although a linear response of the bioreporter to exogenously added synthetic 3-oxo-C6-HSL was found over several orders of magnitude, we show that bioreporter performance was dramatically impacted by variations in the supernatants using samples from a V. fischeri LuxI- strain. However, when maintained in the same supernatant background, the normalized peak bioluminescence maintained a linear response to 3-oxo-C6-HSL concentrations. Therefore, a standard additions technique was developed in which a known concentration of 3-oxo-C6-HSL was added to supernatant samples from wild-type V. fischeri cultures, and the incremental increase of the normalized peak bioluminescence relative to the untreated sample was determined. The concentration of 3-oxo-C6-HSL in the supernatant of the unknown sample was then quantified from the slope of the response between the normalized bioluminescent peaks with and without the addition of 3-oxo-C6-HSL. Advantages of this method are that it is rapid, does not require concentration or extraction, uses a small sample volume (ca. 2 ml), and accounts for effects caused by the composition of the supernatant. Furthermore, the findings can be broadly applicable to other bioreporter systems involving variable background conditions.
Homotypic and heterotypic interference among picornavirus ribonucleic acids.

Simultaneous addition of RNA preparations from two picornaviruses to facilitator compound resulted in greatly reduced numbers of plaques as compared to the number produced by similar concentrations of interferee RNA (that whose plaque formation was not blocked in interference experiments). A similar phenomenon was demonstrated with RNA from biochemical mutants of picornaviruses and their corresponding wild-type viruses. A method of biochemical blocking was shown to be as effective as that using antiserum. Infectivity of RNA preparations was markedly reduced by ultraviolet irradiation, heat, and snake venom phosphodiesterase; however, these agents did not significantly affect interfering capacity of the RNA preparations.
Adaptive balancing compensator

Reactive power compensators with thyristor switched inductors and shunt capacitors enable adaptive compensation at the price of an harmonic distortion increase. This distortion is even higher if the compensator is controlled asymmetrically to reduce the effects of the load unbalance. Harmonic distortion may increase, moreover, because of the compensator resonance with the supply system reactance. This paper suggests a modification of the balancing compensator structure that reduces the harmonic currents injected by the compensator into the supply. The structure suggested also reduces the possibility of the compensator resonance with the supply source inductance. The paper discusses the required control range of the compensator susceptances and their frequency properties and suggests an efficient method of measuring the load parameters needed for VAr compensator control. >
Symposium on prophylaxis and treatment of middle ear effusions.: Ii. Eustachian tube function and middle ear pressures as they influence susceptibility to disease

The bursting pressure necessary to rupture the tympanic membrane of cats and guinea pigs was determined by increasing and decreasing the intrabullar pressures and by increasing and decreasing the pressures in the external auditory canal after the bulla was vented to the outside. The average pressures in all experiments varied from 100 to 180 mm. Hg. Such pressures are far greater than the fall in intrabullar pressure which occurs following ligation of the eustachian tube in cats. It is suggested that drumhead perforations in humans with serous otitis may be due to smaller diminished tympanic pressures over a long period of time, leading to retraction pocket, entrapment of debris, and development of an expanding epithelial-lined cyst.
Congenital esophageal stenosis may present in adulthood

The patient with congenital esophageal stenosis (CES) usually presents in infancy or early childhood. Common symptoms include dysphagia, regurgitation, or aspiration pneumonia, often concurrent with the introduction of solid foods. Lesser degrees of stenosis may allow presentation to defer until adulthood.
Respiratory-Mucosal Lymphocyte Populations Induced by Reovirus Serotype 1 Infection

Abstract Respiratory virus infections are a serious health challenge. While models exist to study immune mechanisms of the respiratory tract, they have not allowed analysis of the interaction of the lower respiratory tract with other components of the mucosal immune system. This study demonstrates that reovirus 1/Lang, an effective gut mucosal immunogen, also provides a useful model of respiratory mucosal infection. Intranasal infection of Balb/c mice resulted in severe viral bronchopneumonia. Major components of the cellular inflammatory response in the lung interstitium and alveolar spaces were CD8 lymphocytes. Lung lymphocyte populations exhibited lysis of reovirus-infected, but not uninfected target cells after in vitro culture. The GCT antigen, a germinal center B-cell and CD8 T-cell marker, was present on 21–60% of the inflammatory lymphocytes. A novel population of GCT-expressing CD4 + lymphocytes unique to reovirus-stimulated lung alveolar and interstitial lymphocyte populations was identified.
The Informational Role of International Institutions and Domestic Politics

Why did President Bush attempt to acquire a UN Security Council resolution authorizing the use of force before the war with Iraq, even though there was a substantial risk that his request would be rejected? This article presents a game-theoretic model to investigate how international institutions can shape the behavior of democratic leaders by influencing domestic politics. While it seems unsurprising that unbiased leaders who are truly concerned about foreign policy outcomes would consult international institutions, the results show that biased leaders with private agendas can also be forced to behave like the unbiased type because of their electoral concerns. The equilibrium results are illustrated with the cases of U.S. use of force in international crises.
Pseudo-maximum likelihood data estimation algorithm and its performance analysis

The term blind equalization or deconvolution in communication and signal processing applications refers to recovering the input data sequence which is transmitted through a linear channel by knowing its output only. A pseudo-maximum likelihood data estimation (PML) algorithm for discrete channels with finite memory in additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN) is developed. The performance analysis of the PML algorithm is derived. Computer simulation results demonstrate the performance of the PML algorithm together with its analytical results.
AGU Chapman Conference: Second Magnetospheric Cleft Symposium

The notion that magnetospheric research has drifted into a region of scientific doldrums has received recent attention and not-so-gentle probing. The spirited discussion and scientific excitement pervading the Second Magnetospheric Cleft Symposium, however, argues strongly fora highly viable state of the discipline as the traditional ideas of magnetospheric structure and space plasma electrodynamics are tested and found lacking. From the new results presented at this symposium it is readily apparent that voyages of discovery in the magnetosphere and ionosphere continue to provide a wealth of important new information about the complex processes linking the solar wind and the earth. The magnetospheric cleft, the subject of this symposium, is a unique feature of the high-latitude dayside magnetosphere first identified in 1971 by Heikkila and Winningham [1971]and by Frank [1971]. As seen near the earth, the cleft occupies a narrowband centered near noon but greatly elongated in longitude. Within this band, precipitation of energetic particles occurs while auroral emissions,intense currents, large electric fields,atmosphere heating, and ionospheric fluctuations are continually present.The region of disturbance extends outward along magnetic field lines tote boundary of the magnetosphere, diverging in width as the magnetic field lines open toward the magnetopause (see Figure 1).
Effects of naltrexone on the intake of ethanol and flavored solutions in rats.

It has been suggested that the endogenous opioid system may mediate the intake of preferred fluids, perhaps through an attenuation of reinforcement properties causing a subsequent shift in palatability. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of the nonspecific opiate antagonist naltrexone on the intake of 10% ethanol, 0.1% saccharin, 0.0006% quinine, 0.4% saccharin + 10% ethanol, and 0.4% saccharin + 0.04% quinine solutions. Fluid intake was measured in male Long-Evans and Wistar rats under 24-h continuous and 30-min limited-fluid-access drinking paradigms. All rats received injections of naltrexone hydrochloride (10 mg/kg, i.p.) for 5 days after baseline intake measures and were monitored for a further 5 days (after-treatment phase). Results indicated that naltrexone did not affect intake of any solution when fluids were available over 24 h. However, under limited-access conditions, naltrexone caused a decrease in the intake of all fluids except quinine in both rat strains. On the basis of these findings, it is possible that the effects of this dose of naltrexone were not due to any true conditioning effect on the reinforcement properties of ethanol, but perhaps to some nonspecific effect of the drug, such as an alteration in palatability or an attenuation of locomotor activity. As well, due to the inconsistent results in fluid intake across drinking paradigms, the present findings do not provide evidence for an effective role for opiate mediation in ethanol intake as well as any ethanol-sweet fluid intake interactions.
A wave in the earth

As the great ice sheets of the last ice age melted and retreated, their weight was lifted from the underlying earth. This unloading and resulting crustal stress may have induced postglacial faulting and earthquakes. In his Perspective, Johnston discusses results reported in the same issue by Arvidsson (p. 744), which indicate evidence of very large postglacial earthquakes along the Parvie fault of northern Sweden.
Optically heterodyned coherent Raman spectroscopy

A convenient variation of Raman-induced Kerr effect spectroscopy (RIKES) which overcomes many of the previous limitations of coherent Raman spectroscopy is introduced. Quantum limited signal-to-noise ratios may be approached by the use of optical heterodyne detection (OHD). Detector current, linearly proportional and phase sensitive to the third-order nonlinear susceptibility, and linearly proportional to the Raman scattering cross section, is produced. Heterodyne detection in coherent Raman spectroscopy enables the detection of weak Raman signals that would otherwise be obscured by noise resulting from background sources.
Secondary external-beam radiotherapy and hyperthermia for local recurrence after 125-iodine implantation in adenocarcinoma of the prostate.

Abstract At Stanford, six patients underwent a course of external radiotherapy after local recurrence following 125-iodine implantation. Four of the six patients also received concomitant hyperthermia. Four patients were initially managed with hormonal manipulation at time of local relapse and subsequently received external beam radiotherapy with or without hyperthermia. The hyperthermia was non-invasively induced using an annular phased array radiative electromagnetic system. Treatment was well tolerated, and none of the patients experienced severe rectal or bladder complications. Three patients are free from disease; one patient experienced local-regional recurrence based on biopsy; one recurred in the bladder, was treated with cystoprostatectomy and subsequently succumbed to metastatic disease; and one patient died of presumed metastatic disease. External-beam irradiation with concurrent hyperthermia can be safely delivered to treat locally recurrent prostatic carcinoma after 125-iodine implantation.
Altered Fatty Acid Composition of Ethanolamine Phosphoglyceride in Brain Microvessels from Senescent Mouse

The cerebral microcirculation (small arterioles, capillaries and venules) is a primary intermediary for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis in the brain. This regulatory capacity, residing principally within the microvessel endothelial cell, encompasses functional aspects of the blood-brain barrier (1), production of vasoactive eicosanoids (2) and receptor binding (3). Stability of the endothelial cell membrane is, therefore, essential to cerebral homeostasis and proper neuronal function. Advanced cellular aging can be associated with destabilization of the plasma membrane as a result of changes in constituent lipids and proteins (4). Age-associated changes in phospholipid composition of neuronal membranes have been reported (5-7), and recently Tayarani et al. (8) have demonstrated age-related differences in the relative percent of mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids in the rat brain capillaries. Phospholipids and their constituent unsaturated fatty acids may be especially prone to catabolic processes within the endothelial cell as a result of persistent oxidative stress (9). The present study was, therefore, designed to assess whether microvessel membranes exhibit changes in phosphoglyceride composition and degree of fatty acid unsaturation with advancing age in the mouse.
Evaluation of placer suboptimality via zero-change netlist transformations

In this paper we introduce the concept of zero-change transformations to quantify the suboptimality of existing placers. Given a netlist and its placement from a placer, we formally define a class of netlist transformations that produce different netlists from the given netlist but have the same Half-Perimeter Wire Length (HPWL). Furthermore, the optimal HPWL value of the new netlists is no less than that of the original netlist. By applying our transformations and re-executing the placer, we can interpret any deviation in HPWL as a lower bound to the deviation from the optimal HPWL value. Such deviation is a measure of suboptimality. Using these transformations, the suboptimality of several existing academic and industrial placers is studied on the IBM benchmarks. Our results show that current placers are sub-optimal for zero-change transformations with deviations in HPWL by up to 32% on the IBM (version 1) benchmarks. The specific nature of our transformations also pinpoints possible directions for improvement in existing placers.
Olfactory ensheathing cell membrane properties are shaped by connectivity.

Olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) have been repeatedly implicated in mediating plasticity, particularly in situ in the olfactory nerve in which they support the extension of olfactory sensory neuron (OSN) axons from the olfactory epithelium to the olfactory bulb (OB). OECs are specialized glia whose processes surround OSN axon fascicles within the olfactory nerve and across the OB surface. Despite their purported importance in promoting axon extension, and following transplants, little is known about either morphology or biophysical properties of OECs in situ. In particular, cell–cell interactions that may influence OEC function are largely unexplored. Here, we studied OEC connectivity and morphology in slice preparations, preserving tissue structure and cell–cell interactions. Our analyses showed that OECs form a matrix of cellular projections surrounding axons, unique among glia, and express high levels of connexin-43. Lucifer Yellow injections revealed selective dye coupling among small subgroups of OECs. Two types of OECs were biophysically distinguished with whole-cell voltage-clamp recordings: (1) with low-input resistance (Ri), linear current profiles, and frequently dye coupled; and (2) with high Ri, nonlinear current profiles, and infrequent dye coupling. Pharmacological blockade of gap junctions changed OEC membrane properties such that linear OECs became nonlinear. Double recordings indicated that the appearance of the nonlinear current profile was associated with the loss of electrical coupling between OECs. We conclude that the diversity of OEC current profiles can be explained by differences in gap-junction connectivity and discuss implications of this diversity for OEC influences on axon growth and excitability. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Quasi-isoplanatic radiation transfer through randomly moving particles

An iterative solution of an improved forward-scattering approximation for the radiative-transfer equation is derived. The narrow-angle approximation is useful for optical and acoustic beam propagation in the ocean and the atmosphere, where particle sizes are much larger than the wavelength. The improved narrow-angle approximation is useful for a cluster of anisotropic scatterers, and when the cluster is subjected to winds or currents. The solution of the derived equation is sought in terms of uniformly convergent iteration series via the two-scale embedding technique. The lowest iterative of the technique provides an approximate solution that differs from the commonly used successive substitution technique because it takes into account some of the multiple scattering terms. An example of wave propagation through randomly moving particles, useful for remote sensing, is considered. >
A polynomial time algorithm for an exact encoding of space containing

We address the problem of collision free navigation of a point robot among polygonal obstacles in a bounded known terrain in two dimensional space. The obstacles could be convex or concave polygons. We consider a combinatorial approach to the problem and focus on partitioning the terrain into distinct regions and encoding these regions. We then build a region-graph whose nodes represent the regions and every pair of neighbouring regions (nodes) are connected by an edge. We propose an o(n 4) preprocessing algorithm to do this. This converts the problem of navigation from a source point to a destination point into a problem of finding a path in a planar graph from one of its nodes to another in O (n 2 log n) time. The shortest path is derivable in 0(n 4) time. The extension of the algorithm for three-dimensional space is also discussed.
EEG Correlates of Attentional Load during Multiple Object Tracking

While human subjects tracked a subset of ten identical, randomly-moving objects, event-related potentials (ERPs) were evoked at parieto-occipital sites by task-irrelevant flashes that were superimposed on either tracked (Target) or non-tracked (Distractor) objects. With ERPs as markers of attention, we investigated how allocation of attention varied with tracking load, that is, with the number of objects that were tracked. Flashes on Target discs elicited stronger ERPs than did flashes on Distractor discs; ERP amplitude (0–250 ms) decreased monotonically as load increased from two to three to four (of ten) discs. Amplitude decreased more rapidly for Target discs than Distractor discs. As a result, with increasing tracking loads, the difference between ERPs to Targets and Distractors diminished. This change in ERP amplitudes with load accords well with behavioral performance, suggesting that successful tracking depends upon the relationship between the neural signals associated with attended and non-attended objects.
A novel procedure for genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphisms in trisomy with genomic DNA and the invader assay

Individuals with trisomy 21 display complex phenotypes with differing degrees of severity. Numerous reliable methods have been established to diagnose the initial trisomy in these patients, but the identification and characterization of the genetic basis of the phenotypic variation in individuals with trisomy remains challenging. To date, methods that can accurately determine genotypes in trisomic DNA samples are expensive, require specialized equipment and complicated analyses. Here we report proof-of-concept results for an Invader assay-based genotyping procedure that can determine SNP genotypes in trisomic genomic DNA samples in a simple and cost-effective manner. The procedure requires only two experimental steps: a real-time measurement of the fluorescent Invader signal and analysis with a specifically designed clustering algorithm. The approach was tested using genomic DNA samples from 23 individuals with trisomy 21, and results were compared to genotypes previously determined with pyrosequencing. Additional assays for 15 SNPs were tested in a set of 21 DNA samples to assess assay performance. Our method successfully identified the correct SNP genotypes for the trisomic genomic DNA samples tested, and thus provides an alternative to determine SNP genotypes in trisomic DNA samples for subsequent association studies in patients with Down syndrome and other trisomies.
Differential and Integral Equations

The aim of this chapter is to discuss several applications of metric space ideas to some classical problems of engineering analysis.
Breaking bad news: a phenomenological exploration of Irish nurses' experiences of caring for patients when a cancer diagnosis is given in an acute care facility (part 1).

Background The focus of this article is on the meanings attributed by nurses who worked with patients receiving a cancer diagnosis within acute care settings in Ireland. Objective The aim of this article was to explore the nurses' perceptions of caring for patients who receive bad news in the form of a cancer diagnosis while in an acute care setting. Methods The article focuses on the perceptions of 20 nurses who formed the nurse participant group in a larger phenomenological study exploring giving and receiving a cancer diagnosis. Data were collected using unstructured in-depth interviews. Analysis was conducted using Koch's analytical framework. Results The nurses' narratives provided 2 emerging themes entitled, "connectedness: journeying as professional within the everyday world" and "connectedness: exclusion of professional within the everyday world." This article focuses on the first emerging theme and highlights the experiences of nurses as they reflect on their interactions with their patients before, during, and after the giving of a cancer diagnosis. Conclusions This study highlights the importance of professional companionship. It provides insights into the nurse-patient challenges as a result of lack of information. Implications for practice Lack of information and involvement affects the nurse's ability to be authentically present for the recipient and results in a fracture to the nurse-patient relationship. Understanding the experiences of nurses from acute care settings where the cancer diagnosis is often given will inform and enable the nurse working in oncology settings to engage patients in a more meaningful and focused way.
ELEMENT DISTRIBUTION BETWEEN COEXISTING AUTHIGENIC MINERAL PHASES IN ARGILLIC AND ZEOLITIC ALTERED TEPHRA, OLDUVAI GORGE, TANZANIA

The current study demonstrates how co-existing zeolite and clay minerals formed by the alteration of tephra in a closed-basin lacustrine and lake-margin environment can retain the overall composition of the original bulk tephra for many elements, even when diagenetic conditions and resulting authigenic mineral assemblages change. Zeolite and clay minerals co-exist in the closed-basin, saline-alkaline lacustrine altered tephra of Pleistocene Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, and their diagenetic histories can be reconstructed using variations in their textures and compositions. The authigenic minerals in the altered tephra of the Olduvai paleolake forma classic ‘bull’s-eye’ pattern, with clay-dominated tephra in the distal lake margin, chabazite and phillipsite in the proximal margin, and phillipsite ± K-feldspar in the intermittently dry lake and lake center. Fifteen representative samples of altered volcanic ash lapilli (designated Tuff IF) were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine their authigenic mineral assemblages and bulk compositions, and to texturally and compositionally compare their clay mineral and zeolite components. Textural observations indicate that clay minerals formed first, followed by zeolites and finally feldspars. Clay minerals, however, persist even in the most altered samples. The overall composition of Tuff IF shows only limited change in Fe, Si, Al, and Na between fresh, clay-altered, and zeolite-dominated diagenetic environments, despite significant differences in authigenic assemblage. Where zeolites dominate the assemblage, the remaining clay minerals are rich in Mg, Fe, and Ti, elements that are not readily incorporated in zeolite structures. Where clay minerals dominate, they are more Al-rich. A ‘mixing model’ combining clay-mineral and zeolite compositions yields a close approximation of the original volcanic glass for most elements (exceptions including Mg, Ca, and K). This initial composition was preserved in part by the redistribution of elements between co-existing clay minerals and zeolites.
Plasmonic Coupling in Single Silver Nanosphere Assemblies by Polarization-Dependent Dark-Field Scattering Spectroscopy

In this paper, we present an experimental and theoretical study of the plasmonic properties of single Ag nanospheres and the plasmon interactions in assemblies of Ag nanosphere dimers and trimers. High-quality Ag nanospheres with small size distribution are synthesized by etching prefabricated Ag nanocubes. We perform a 360° polarization-resolved scattering study on silver nanosphere dimers and trimers, and correlate the scattering anisotropy with nanoparticle structure through correlated dark-field spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterization. The polarization-resolved dimer scattering shows a dipolar pattern aligned with the long axis of the dimer. For single Ag nanosphere trimers assembled in an equilateral triangle geometry, we also observe the dipolar scattering pattern to a certain degree, although the dipolar pattern is not preferentially aligned with any sides of the triangle. Theoretical studies using the T-matrix method reveal that if the Ag nanospheres are perfectly sphe...
Co-Disposal of Municipal Refuse and Industrial Waste Sludge in Landfills

The results of a 2-year pilot-scale investigation on the codisposal of heavy metal sludge with municipal refuse, under the influence of leachate containment and recycle, are used to illustrate and describe the effects of various metal loadings on the normal progress of waste stabilization and to assess associated assimulative capacity. Evidence of metal precipitation as sulfides or hydroxides and subsequent removal by filtration and sorption in the refuse mass was demonstrated. Conversely, the mobilization of heavy metals was shown to be enhanced by complexation with humic-like substances which also tended to reduce overall toxic effects. Whereas, high heavy metal loadings exhibited a clear inhibitory effect, a definite capacity for assimilation and acclimation at low to moderate levels was established.
Trade Area of Supermarket in Changchun Centeral Urban Area Based on GIS

Trade areas analysis is important for retail site selection. This article constructs small-scale spatial units which is 0.04 square kilometers in the research area firstly. Then, based on actual road network, trade areas of 29 supermarkets in central urban area of Changchun are calculated by the proximal area method and Closest Facility tool in ArcGIS. Analysis on area, population, average distance, average walking time and closeness of trade areas shows that there are great differences in their size. The distribution of supermarkets can be considered irrational. Because operators and consumers keep different focus on supermarkets, which is the size of trade area and accessibility of supermarket in its trade area separately. It's necessary to analyze comprehensively from both two perspectives. Thus, all 29 supermarkets are classified into four types in accordance with the population and closeness in their trade areas by the bubble diagram method. Three supermarkets which belong to the type of"high-high"have advantages over population and closeness. On the contrary, five supermarkets belong to the type of"low- low", which has disadvantages over two aspects above. Besides, nine supermarkets belong to"high-low"and twelve belong to"low-high"only have advantage over population and closeness separately.