cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of anticancer drug schedule dependency using an in vitro human tumor clonogenic assay.

A human tumor clonogenic assay (HTCA) has been used to evaluate standard and experimental anticancer drugs with respect to thrir inhibition of clonogenicity of both fresh human cancers and human tumor cell lines. By comparing the inhibitory effect on tumor colony-forming unit (TCFU) growth of 1-h and continuous drug exposures in the HTCA we were able to identify and separate schedule-dependent (e.g., bleomycin, vinblastine, and etoposide) and schedule-independent drugs (e.g., actinomycin D, adriamycin, basantrene, and cis-platinum). Vinblastine, bleomycin, and etoposide, which are known to have ‘cell cycle-specific’ characteristics, caused exponential reduction in tumor colony formation when given by continuous exposure, whereas when given with a short exposure each of these drugs caused plateau-type dose-response curves. For comparison of the relative efficacy of the two dosing schedules, a ratio (1-h versus continuous exposures) was calculated of the drug concentrations which reduced growth of TCFU to 50% of the control values (ID50) for fresh human tumors and human tumor cell lines. For fresh tumors, ID50 ratios for adriamycin, actinomycin D, and bisantrene ranged between 2 and 60 (median 14), whereas the ID50 ratios for bleomycin, vinblastine, and etoposide ranged between 100 and 3,000 (median 600). The fact that actinomycin D, adriamycin, and bisantrene (a new anthracene-type drug) had similarly shaped dose-response curves and very low ID50 ratios suggests that the cytotoxicity of these compounds may not be schedule-dependent. On the other hand, the steep dose-survival curves we observed after continuous drug exposure and the high ID50 ratios of bleomycin, vinblastine, and etoposide suggest that these drugs may possess schedule-dependent cytotoxicity characteristics. Before final conclusions are drawn concerning a drug's schedule dependency it is essential to evaluate its in vitro stability and protein-binding characteristics. Finally, it must be emphasized that unlike the results obtained with 1-h exposure studies, the in vitro continuous exposure schedules have yet to be shown to be predictive of clinical response for any agent or tumor type.
Picosecond relaxation of photoexcited states in polyacetylene

Abstract The relaxation behavior of polyacetylene following photoexcitation with tunable picosecond laser pulses is investigated using several time-resolved optical probe techniques. We report here on the picosecond dynamics of the photoinduced bleaching in thin films of ( CH ) x , and also the corresponding transient changes in reflectance from the surface of thin and thick samples. We focus on the time interval from 1 to 1000 picoseconds after the excitation pulse and examine the kinetics of relaxation and recombination of the photogenerated carriers over the temperature range 5K to 300K, at different excitation wavelengths and in different samples. Our measurements of the changes in transmission and reflectivity confirm that these kinetics differ after a certain time t > t c ( T ) from the initial t − 1 2 behavior predicted for the simplest model of a 1D random walk process. They then follow a slower t − α decay to beyond one nanosecond, where the exponent α depends strongly on temperature and weakly on sample preparation. We compare these dynamics to simple models for 1D random walks in the presence of disorder.
Measuring Class Importance in the Context of Design Evolution

A measure of how a class is impacted during design evolution is presented. The history of design changes that involve a given class is the basis for the measure. Classes that are often impacted by design changes are branded as important to the design of the system. Identifying these important classes helps reveal what parts of the system are regularly evolved (e.g., specific features or cross-cutting concerns). The design importance of a class is measured as the number of commits that impact both the design and the class. This is also measured for sets of classes that collaborate to realize a feature or concept in the system. Collaborating classes are identified using itemset mining on commits that impact the design. A small study is presented on two open source projects to illustrate the approach.
Investigation of radial temperature gradients in diode pumped alkali lasers using tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy

Heat loads in Diode Pumped Alkali Lasers (DPAL) have been investigated using a diode laser to probe the radial dependence of the absorbance. A TiS pump laser heats the medium in a T=50-100°C cesium heat pipe with 5 Torr nitrogen used for quenching. A tunable diode laser probes the spectral absorbance of the cesium cell. Local alkali concentration, temperature, and saturation broadening modify Voigt lineshapes in the wing of the hyperfine split lines. The temperature within the pumped volume exceeds the wall temperature by almost 200 C.
Architectural properties of the first dorsal interosseous muscle

Muscle architecture is considered to reflect the function of muscle in vivo, and is important for example to clinicians in designing tendon-transfer and tendon-lengthening surgeries. The purpose of this study was to quantify the architectural properties of the FDI muscle. It is hypothesized that there will be consistency, that is low variability, in the architectural parameters used to describe the first dorsal interosseous muscle because of its clear functional role in index finger motion. The important architectural parameters identified were those required to characterize a muscle adequately by modeling. Specifically the mass, cross-sectional area, and length of the tendon and muscle were measured in cadavers along with the muscle fiber optimum length and pennation angle, and the moment arm of the first dorsal interosseous at the metacarpophalangeal joint. These parameters provide a characterization of the architecture of the first dorsal interosseous, and were used to indicate the inherent variability between samples. The results demonstrated a large amount of variability for all architectural parameters measured; leading to a rejection of the hypothesis. Ratios designed to describe the functioning of the muscles in vivo, for example the ratio of tendon to fiber optimum lengths, also demonstrated a large variability. The results suggest that function cannot be deduced from form for the first dorsal interosseous, and that subject-specific architectural parameters may be necessary for the formulation of accurate musculoskeletal models or making clinical decisions.
Trade liberalization in textiles: Policy effects in an import-competing industry

Abstract I trace the dynamic impact of removal of textile quotas in the US on output, employment and plant closure in that industry. A dynamic theoretical model of firm-level decision-making is estimated with US Census manufacturing data and with industry-level demand-side data. Simulations performed with the estimated model provide a decomposition of the historical record into parts attributable to import competition, to technological progress, and to a secular real-wage increase. Plant closure and a fall in domestic prices are largely associated with technological progress, while downsizing, layoffs and reduction in domestic market share are associated with trade liberalization. The market-clearing domestic price of textiles is identified as a crucial channel in transmitting technology or import price shocks to layoffs and plant closure.
Radiographic Prevalence of Femoroacetabular Impingement in a Young Population with Hip Complaints Is High

Background Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is reportedly a prearthritic condition in young adults that can progress to osteoarthritis. However, the prevalence of FAI is unknown in the young, active population presenting with hip complaints.
Molecular-sieve chromatography of amylose and dextran over porous glass

Porous glass of 370 A average pore diameter is useful for fractionating amylose and dextran of weight-average molecular weights ranging from 2 × 105 to 2 × 104 and at flow-rates of 2.4–2.9 ml/h,cm2 at room temperatures. Amylose and dextran in methyl sulfoxide-water (95:5) or 4 M guanidine hydrochloride as solvents exhibit the same calibration curve; hence, commercially available dextran fractions may serve to calibrate the column for use with amylose. Polystyrene fractions in tetrahydrofuran exhibit a different calibration curve. Thus the universal calibration concept does not apply to all three polymers in our column.
Finite-slab element investigation of square-to-round multi-pass shape rolling

Abstract Roll-pass design for the rolling of shapes remains an expensive experience based trial-and-error process. Consequently, analysis and optimization of roll-pass design remain important objectives. This paper presents results of an analysis of a seven pass square-to-round sequence using a computationally effective quasi-three dimensional finite-slab element code, tasks . Simulation results are compared with results obtained from a previous experimental study reported in literature. Calculated values of exit cross-sectional areas and roll separating forces agree well with experimental values. However, the assumption of generalized plane strain results in slightly higher roll forces. tasks also calculates detail distributions of effective strain and effective strain-rate for each of the seven passes and provides information on the development of the plastic zone (strain rate) in each pass and the accumulation of deformation during the rolling sequence. Therefore, the effect of roll-pass sequence design on the roll forces and the quality (distribution of strain) of the rolled product can be studied. Since simulation of each roll pass takes about 30 minutes of cpu time on a micro VAX computer system, this code has the potential for use in the redesign of roll-pass schedules for improved product property.
Children, Media, and Methodology:

Media effect studies on children have focused on time spent with media relative to some outcome. We argue that researchers should examine quantity as the sole measure of media input only when it is of theoretical significance. In most circumstances media content and form are more important than time spent. A media diet metaphor is proposed as an alternative approach that includes both amount of exposure and program content across media platforms. Quantity is relevant primarily for hypotheses that concern time displacement (such as TV viewing displacing physical exercise) or other medium-general effects. In addition, technological advances have not yet been exploited that can allow new methodologies for studying media use and impact. As examples, eye tracking and magnetic resonance imaging are discussed to illustrate how new approaches can provide researchers with opportunities to ask different questions and to provide new perspectives on old questions.
Bayesian estimation and evaluation of the segmented markets friction in equilibrium monetary models

Abstract This paper develops, estimates and evaluates a heterogeneous agents segmented markets model with endogenous production and a monetary authority that follows a Taylor-type interest rate rule. We find that adding the segmented markets friction significantly improves the statistical out-of-sample prediction performance of the model, and helps generate delayed and realistic impulse response functions to monetary policy shocks. The estimated segmented markets model also outperforms the standard limited participation model, both in terms of marginal likelihood and of qualitative features of the impulse response function. We estimate the fraction of households participating in financial markets to be approximately 22%.
Ideal gases in time-dependent traps

We investigate, theoretically, the properties of an ideal trapped gas in a time-dependent harmonic potential. Using a scaling formalism, we are able to present exact analytical results for two important classes of experiments: free expansion of the gas upon release of the trap and the response of the gas to a harmonic modulation of the trapping potential. We present specific results relevant to current experiments on trapped fermions.
The Cognitive and Affective Dimensions of Moral Conviction: Implications for Attitudinal and Behavioral Measures of Interpersonal Tolerance

The present studies investigate the role of both cognitive and affective dimensions of moral conviction in contributing to negative interpersonal responses. After demonstrating that the cognitive and affective dimensions of moral conviction are distinct constructs, the studies show that the cognitive dimension is sufficient to produce many forms of interpersonal intolerance. Simply believing an issue to be moral (i.e., objectively grounded, non-negotiable) results in greater intolerance for (Study 1), less sharing with (Study 2), and greater distancing from (Study 3) people with divergent attitudes. The emotional intensity with which beliefs are experienced is not alone explanatory. Nonetheless, it interacts with moral beliefs to produce the highest levels of interpersonal intolerance, distancing from dissimilar others, and context insensitivity. This interaction pattern between moral beliefs and affect was specific to emotional intensity and not other measures of attitude strength (Study 3).
Parallel computing approaches to sensor network design using the value paradigm

One previous paradigm was based on sensor positioning selection to allow key variable observability. Later, the problem was posed as a minimum cost problem subject to sensor network performance (precision and gross error robustness first and accuracy as a replacement later). In a previous paper (Nguyen and Bagajewicz, submitted for publication), we presented a new paradigm in sensor network design, one that maximizes value, defined as economic value of information minus its cost. We presented two methods to solve the problem and we concluded that their performance was acceptable for small and medium size problems, but not for large problems. In this paper we use parallel computing approaches for large problems.
Situating the discourses of privilege and marginalization in the lives of two East Asian women teachers of English

Using a narrative approach (i.e., Clandinin and Connelly 2000; Dewey 1938 [1963]), this article explores the identity constructions and negotiations of two East Asian women teachers of English in MATESOL programs. The focus of this article explores the ways in which the two women’s privileged experiences coexisted with issues of marginalization once they entered English speaking contexts. The work of Kumashiro and Bourdieu provides the theoretical foundation for exploring the discourses of privilege and marginalization that are weaved into the lives of the EAWTCs. Using the women’s narrative accounts collected during 2004–2005 AY, the core of the analyses focuses exclusively on the different forms of marginalization these women negotiate in reconstructing their identity within English/Turkish as second language spaces (both study abroad and graduate programs) and the ways in which Bourdieu’s forms of capital play out in the intersection of privilege and marginalization. I conclude with discussions around ...
Diagrammatic solutions for hydraulic head moments in 1-D and 2-D bounded domains

We present a diagrammatic method for solving stochastic 1-D and 2-D steady-state flow equations in bounded domains. The diagrammatic method results in explicit solutions for the moments of the hydraulic head. This avoids certain numerical constraints encountered in realization-based methods. The diagrammatic technique also allows for the consideration of finite domains or large fluctuations, and is not restricted by distributional assumptions. The results of the method for 1-D and 2-D finite domains are compared with those obtained through a realization-based approach. Mean and variance of head are well reproduced for all log-conductivity variances inputted, including those larger than one. The diagrammatic results also compare favorably to hydraulic head moments derived by standard analytic methods requiring a linearized form of the flow equation.
Strategies For Spatially Resolved Microspectrofluorometric Analysis

Any one of the spectroscopic properties of a fluorescent dye (excitation spectrum, emission spectrum, fluorescence lifetime, or quantum yield) could be used to report on its environment. However, pure fluorescence properties such as quantum yield or absolute spectral properties, while sensitive, require complex measurements and calibration procedures for their evaluation. Instead, it is much more common to use fluorescence flux over some part or all of the emission wavelength band as a monitor of a combination of effects including the composite information monitored by the absorption spectrum, the quantum yield and the emission and excitation spectra. The simplest methods use some ratiometric measurement monitoring either a separate reference dye or the signals at two or more wavelengths to read-out the disproportionation of fluorescent species on a relative scale, but other more complex approaches can be successful including spectral shape analysis and the use of the kinetics of photochemical changes. With the appropriate fluorophore, the fluorescence approach has the advantage that it allows both temporal and spatial resolution on the microscopic scale. However, in practice microspectrofluorometry has been difficult to use for quantitative analysis due to optical, physical and chemical problems inherent to microscopic samples and microspectrofluorometric systems. With the advent of very sensitive image detector systems, computer control and data acquisition, and the advanced optical components described in these proceedings, it has become possible to overcome many of these problems. This paper discusses the measurement strategies needed to effectively use advanced microspectrofluorometer systems to make quantitative measurements using fluorescent probes.
The dual-reciprocity method for heat transfer in polymer processing

Abstract This paper presents a boundary-element simulation of the heat transfer during polymer processing. The governing equations, boundary integrals and fundamental solutions, with their numerical implementation for heat transfer and creeping flows, are presented. Viscous dissipation and internal-heat generation for curing polymers is included in the equations. In order to calculate the transient-heat transfer and internal-heat generation, the dual-reciprocity boundary-element method is applied. The heat-transfer-simulation results are in good agreement with analytical and other numerical results.
A redox series of gallium(III) complexes: ligand-based two-electron oxidation affords a gallium–thiolate complex

We have prepared a series of gallium(III) complexes of the redox active iminopyridine ligand (IP). Reaction of GaCl3 with iminopyridine ligand (IP) in the presence of either two or four equivalents of sodium metal resulted in the formation of deep green (IP−)2GaCl (1), or deep purple [(DME)3Na][(IP2−)2Ga] (2a), respectively. Complex 1 is paramagnetic with a room temperature magnetic moment of 2.3 μB which falls to 0.5 μB at 5 K. These observations indicate that two ligand radicals comprise a triplet at room temperature which becomes a singlet due to antiferromagnetic coupling at low temperature. Complex 2 is diamagnetic. Cyclic voltammograms recorded on 0.3 M Bu4NPF6 THF solutions of [Na(THF)6][(IP2−)2Ga]− (2b) indicate that oxidation of 2b occurs in two two-electron steps at −1.31 V and −0.54 V vs. SCE. The observation of two-electron redox events indicates that electronic coupling through the gallium(III) center is minimal and that the two IP ligand on 2b are oxidized concurrently. Oxidation of 2 with one equivalent of MeS–SMe afforded the two-electron oxidized product (IP−)2Ga(SMe) (3). This complex has an electronic structure analogous to 1. Accordingly, both 1 and 3 are deep green in color and magnetic susceptibility measurements performed on 3 confirm the triplet character of the complex at room temperature. Electron paramagnetic resonance experiments on 1 and 3 display a quartet signal at g = 2.0 which confirmed the triplet nature of the compounds, and a half field signal consistent with the integer spin state.
COMPARISON OF TWO TRANSPORTATION NETWORK EQUILIBRIUM MODELING APPROACHES

Existing methodologies for predicting traffic flows on transportation networks involve a sequential process, often with four stages: trip generation, trip distribution, modal split, and traffic assignment. Although the sequential approach has been applied to hundreds of transportation studies throughout the world for the last four decades, and is still being used in practice today, it has an inherent weakness. That is, its predictions need not be internally consistent. This deficiency has motivated attempts to predict all four steps simultaneously. The objective of this paper is to compare the simultaneous approach, using a Simultaneous Transportation Equilibrium Model (STEM) and the conventional sequential approach, using the Texas Demand Model developed and implemented by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). This was achieved by applying STEM to the urban transportation network of Tyler, Tex., and then comparing the accuracy of the resulting traffic network flows with the official TxDOT estimates. The application results showed that predictions of STEM were consistently better than those of the TxDOT by an average improvement of 25%. These results are certainly encouraging in terms of future application of STEM methodology to other real-world large-scale transportation networks.
Effect of CYP2D6 phenotype and metoprolol pharmacokinetics on adverse effects

We hypothesized that metoprolol adverse effects (AEs) would be dependent on S-metoprolol concentration (Cp) and CYP2D6 phenotype. Hypertensive subjects took metoprolol bid with weekly titration to response, maximum dose, or intolerable AEs. Steady-state Cp was measured and AUC determined. AEs were classified as “dose-limiting” (DL) or “general” (G, defined as AE consistent with known pharmacology, likely to cause noncompliance or a change in drug). Genotyping included assays for *2, *3, *4, *5, *6, *9, *10, *17, *29, *40, *41 and gene duplications to classify subjects as extensive, intermediate, or poor metabolizers (EM, IM or PM). Further, we assigned activity scores (AS) between 0 and 3 based on the number of functional or partially functional alleles. Fifty patients (42 EM, 4 IM, and 4 PM) were analyzed. Daily doses ranged from 25 to 400 mg. Sixteen (n=8) and 46% (n=23) of subjects experienced DL and G-AEs, respectively. Of patients in the highest AUC quartile, 33% had a G-AE, compared to 77% in the lowest quartile (p<0.05). Trends for DL-AEs were similar. CYP2D6 phenotype was not associated with AEs. AUC, Cl/F, t1/2, and enantiomeric ratio were expectedly associated with CYP2D6 phenotype and AS (p<0.02). Contrary to widely held beliefs, metoprolol AEs were not related to high Cp, 2D6 phenotype or AS. While CYP2D6 genotyping may predict pharmacokinetic drug exposure, a priori genotyping may not be effective in reducing AEs with metoprolol in hypertension. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2004) 75, P94–P94; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2003.11.359
An Anger Camera/Computer System for Myocardial Perfusion Tomography Using a Seven Pinhole Collimator

A system is described for tomographic myocardial perfusion imaging which has proven superior to planar imaging. This approach utilizes a multi-pinhole plate to project 7 simultaneous views of the heart as separate images. The heart is positioned 13 cm from the pinhole plate, and 750,000 count images are accumulated. The digitized data is processed into 12 tomographic planes spaced 6 cm to 24 cm from the pinhole plate. Reconstruction is accomplished by the Simultaneous Multiple Angle Reconstruction Technique (SMART) which computes 12 tomographic images in less than 2 minutes. Iterative techniques are used to perform attenuation correction and refocusing of the data. Point source resolution 13 cm from the collimator was measured to be 10 mm FWHM parallel to the detector and 15 mm perpendicular. The probability of detection in patients with coronary artery disease was improved from .75 to .95 by the tomographic method.
The genus Ophionectria (Euascomycetes, Hypocreales)

SUMMARY The genus Ophionectria has been included in both the Euascomycetes and Loculoascomycetes. Critical study of the type species, Ophionectria trichospora, reveals it to have unitunicate asci, a hypocreaceous centrum and bright-colored perithecia. The genus, therefore, belongs in the euascomycete order Hypocreales. All available type specimens of species which have been placed in Ophionectria were examined. Only the type species remains in the genus. All others are excluded. In this paper the monotypic genus Ophionectria is described and figured; excluded species are discussed briefly. One new species is described: Barya byssicola. Two new names are proposed: Calonectria bryophila and Lasiosphaeria glabra. Seven new combinations are proposed: Calonectria hendrickxii, C. vernoniae, Torrubiella lloydii, Lasiosphaeria rufula, Podonectria coccorum, P. larvaespora and Tubeufia paludosa. The genus Ophionectria was described by Saccardo (1878) to accommodate Nectria species with very long spores. His description is brief: "Perithecia Nectriae-Asci octospori. Sporidia filiformia multiseptata v. multiguttulata." Thus, he differentiated Ophionectria from Nectria solely on the basis of its long, multiseptate spores. To Saccardo and his contemporaries "Nectria-like" perithecia meant bright-colored perithecia with soft, fleshy walls. In the modern taxonomic sense Nectria-like includes additional characters, especially those of the centrum. Saccardo originally included three species in Ophionectria, all transferred from the genus Nectria: 0. trichospora, 0. mellina and 0. palitdosa. Twenty-three more Ophionectria species were described by several authors, before Seaver (1909) designated 0. trichospora as the type species. Of the other species transferred to Ophionectria by Saccardo, 0. mellina was later transferred by H6hnel (1912) to Calonectria, where it belongs. The type specimen of 0. paludosa does not have a nectrioid perithecium and belongs in the loculoascomycete genus Tubeufia.
Aspirin Absorption from a Feeding Jejunostomy

In a 67-year-old man who had a feeding jejunostomy because of dysphagia paralytica, the absorption of aspirin was measured in terms of serum salicylate concentration. A 975-mg dose of aspirin was given as a slurry in water directly into the feeding tube. Peak serum levels of salicylate were well correlated with those in previous studies of aspirin absorption by the oral route in a geriatric population. However, unexpectedly, the half-life of the drug in this patient was twice as long (7.5 hours) as that found in six previous studies (3.7 hours) of elderly patients given similar doses.
Argument is Argument: An Essay on Conceptual Metaphor and Verbal Dispute

The metaphor “ARGUMENT IS WAR” looms large in the conceptualist and experientialist approach of Lakoff and Johnson (1980). Despite extensive discussion of this metaphor by critics and supporters of Lakoff and Johnson, it has so far escaped serious scrutiny on several key points. English-speakers can identify verbal exchanges as arguments without resort to metaphorical comparisons or transfers, and speakers' use of war metaphors to characterize verbal dispute depends on conventional understandings rather than personal experience of war or of other kinds of physical struggle. Much of the evidence for Lakoff and Johnson's claims—a culture that metaphorizes argument as dance; the historical and personal priority of force over verbal dispute; the influence of metaphor on action; even the experience supposedly shaping source domains—depends on supposition and ungrounded assertion. In making sense of how people use this metaphor, the discourse-based program elaborated by Naomi Quinn (1991, 1997) carries analysis...
The Cayley–Hamilton and Frobenius theorems via the Laplace transform

The Cayley–Hamilton theorem on the characteristic polynomial of a matrix A and Frobenius’ theorem on minimal polynomial of A are deduced from the familiar Laplace transform formula L(eAt)=(sI−A)−1. This formula is extended to a formal power series ring over an algebraically closed field of characteristic 0, so that the argument applies in the more general setting of matrices over a field of characteristic 0.
Deterministic Mathematical Modelling for the Spatial Allocation of Multi-Categorical Resources: with an Application to Real Health Data

This paper presents some mathematical formulations of deterministic non-linear optimization models for planning the spatial distribution of public service facilities and their utilization. The modelling is performed as a function of multi-categorical resource types and the consumer's zone of residence over a large geographical domain. The mathematical solution to the deterministic model, its parameter estimation by log-linear regression, and some preliminary results of simulation for a Massachusetts hospital database are presented.
Clinical and molecular aspects of aniridia

Aniridia is a severe, congenital ocular malformation inherited in an autosomal-dominant fashion with high penetrance and variable expression. Eye morphogenesis in humans involves a molecular genetic cascade in which a number of developmental genes interact in a highly organized process during the embryonic period to produce functional ocular structures. Among these genes, paired box gene 6 (PAX6) has an essential role as it encodes a phylogenetically conserved transcription factor almost universally employed for eye formation in animals with bilateral symmetry, despite widely different embryological origins. To direct eye development, PAX6 regulates the tissue-specific expression of diverse molecules, hormones, and structural proteins. In humans, PAX6 is located in chromosome 11p13, and its mutations lead to a variety of hereditary ocular malformations of the anterior and posterior segment, among which aniridia and most probably foveal hypoplasia are the major signs. Aniridia occurs due to decreased dosage of the PAX6 gene and exists in both sporadic and familial forms. The mutations are scattered throughout the gene and the vast majority of those reported so far are nonsense mutations, frameshift mutations, or splicing errors that are predicted to cause pre-mature truncation of the PAX6 protein, causing haploinsufficiency. Here we review the data regarding the mechanisms and the mutations that relate to aniridia.
Stability of Aspirin in Different Media

Aspirin rapidly hydrolyzes in various aqueous, organic, and biological media. The purpose of this investigation was to study the decomposition of aspirin in the media that comes in contact with it during analysis in biological fluids for pharmacokinetic studies. These media included water, water-polyethylene glycol 400, water-methanol-acetic acid, phosphate buffer, freshly drawn blood and plasma from control rats and rats deprived of water for 36 hr, and blood precipitated with acetonitrile. Studies were also conducted to determine the decomposition as a function of temperature and pH. Of the various solvent systems studied, aspirin was found most stable in water-polyethylene glycol (4:1, v/v),which provides an excellent medium for preparation of intravenous dosage forms. Phosphate buffer showed significant catalysis of aspirin hydrolysis. A more than fivefold increase in the hydrolysis of aspirin was noted when the temperature was raised to 37 degrees from 22.5 degrees. The hydrolysis of aspirin in rat blood was 13 times faster than that in plasma, with an average half-life in blood of approximately 13 min. This creates significant problems in aspirin disposition kinetic studies. Mixing the blood sample immediately after collection with twice the volume of acetonitrile and thn en centrifuging gives a plasma-acetonitrile mixture in which no lysis of blood cells is observed.
Complexity of analyzing the synchronization structure of concurrent programs

Foundational to verification of some aspects of communicating concurrent systems is knowledge of the synchronization which may occur during execution. The synchronization determines the actions that may occur in parallel, may determine program data flow, and may also lead to inherently erroneous situations (e.g. deadlock). This paper formalizes the notion of the synchronization structure of concurrent programs that use the rendezvous (or similar) mechanism for achieving synchronization. The formalism is oriented towards supporting verification as performed by automated static program analysis. Complexity results are presented which indicate what may be expected in this area and which also shed light on the difficulty of correctly constructing concurrent systems. Specifically, most of the analysis tasks considered are shown to be intractable.
The competitive consequences of Japan's Export Cartel Associations☆

Abstract Japanese antitrust law permits firms to form export cartels that set minimum prices and output quotas, allocate markets, specify design and quality standards, and provide common marketing services. This paper tests three hypotheses about export cartel behavior: (i) that cartels exploit overseas market power, (ii) that cartels lower average selling costs, and (iii) that cartels provide product quality guarantees. This paper finds that Japan's export cartels appear most frequently not to have affected perceptibly either industry export price or volume. In industries where cartel effects are found, however, cost reduction and product quality assurance effects have been predominant.
Ion extraction from the cathode-fall region of Ar, N2 and O2 discharges

Abstract A relatively simple experimental apparatus has been developed to extract ions from several d.c. plasmas, involving a symmetrical three-element einzel lens and mass spectrometric detection. The measured ion energy distributions obtained for Ar d.c. plasmas are in good agreement with the classical results of Davis and Vanderslice and conform to their model except that there must be at least one other type of ion which contributes to the observed energy distributions in addition to those which experienced charge exchange during their last collision in the cathode-fall region. This additional group of ions has been tentatively identified. The distributions from N 2 d.c. plasmas show larger deviations from the Davis and Vanderslice model; two consecutive processes may be at work which also have been specified. The O 2 + and O + results obtained were non-reproducible, presumably because of changes of the internal surfaces which affected the electrical fields in the ion optics.
A procedure for the statistical evaluation of Ames Salmonella assay results. Comparison of results among 4 laboratories.

Abstract Ames Salomonella test data collected in our laboratory and 3 National Cancer Institue contract laboratories were analyzed to study the distribution of experimental errors associated with the test. It is shown that the Poisson distribution is not appropriate, and that the power transformation model Y = ( K revertants/plate) λ , with λ = 0.2 as estimated by the methods of Box and Cox, produced a measurement scale of which the experimental errors could be adequately described by a normal (Gaussian) distribution with a constant variance. The modeling procedure enables one to properly use analysis of variance, regression analysis, and Student's t test to analyze Ames Salmonella test results, and well-known statistical quality control procedures to monitor laboratory performance. The method detects weak mutagenic activity and measures the amount and uncertainty of the increase in revertants/plate. The development of the power transformation model in discussed and examples of its use in interpretation of Ames Salmonella assay results are included.
An anti-ideal point representation of economic discrete choice models

Abstract The popular mixed logit model, which can closely approximate virtually any other random utility model can be approximated by a more visual, and computationally more tractable, anti-ideal point model.
Area postrema-lesions increase operant responding to sucrose in rats

Rats with lesions of the area postrema (APX) are known to exhibit an enhanced intake of highly palatable foods such as sweetened condensed milk and cookies. These observations suggest the possibility that APX rats find these foods more rewarding and will work harder to obtain these foods. Sham and APX rats were tested on fixed ratio (FR) and progressive ratio (PR) schedules. APX rats consistently pressed more times to receive sucrose solution and attained both FR 3 and FR 5 criteria significantly faster than sham-lesioned control rats. Furthermore, rats with APX had significantly higher break points than sham-lesioned control rats on a progressive ratio schedule. These results support the hypothesis that rats with lesions of the area postrema will consistently work harder to obtain a highly palatable food reward.
Homocysteine and vitamin B12 concentrations and mortality rates in type 2 diabetes

Objective To assess the role of homocysteine as a risk factor for mortality in diabetic subjects. Methods Homocysteine, vitamin B12, and folate concentrations were measured in stored sera of 396 diabetic Pima Indians aged ≥40 years when examined between 1982 and 1985. Vital status was assessed through 2001. Results and Conclusions Over a median follow-up of 15.7 years, there were 221 deaths—76 were due to cardiovascular disease (CVD), 36 to diabetes/nephropathy and 34 to infections. Homocysteine was positively associated with mortality from all causes (hazard rate ratio (HRR) for highest versus lowest tertile of homocysteine = 1.70, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.18–2.46), from diabetes/nephropathy (HRR = 2.39, 95% CI 0.94–6.11) and from infectious diseases (HRR = 3.39, 95% CI 1.19–9.70), but not from CVD (HRR = 1.16, 95% CI 0.62–2.17) after adjustment for age, sex and diabetes duration. Homocysteine correlated with serum creatinine (r = 0.50), and the relationships with mortality rates were not significant after adjustment for creatinine. Vitamin B12 was positively associated with all-cause mortality (HRR for 100 pg/mL difference adjusted for age, sex and diabetes duration = 1.15, 95% CI 1.08–1.22) and death from diabetes/nephropathy (HRR = 1.27, 95% CI 1.10–1.46). The association between homocysteine and mortality in type 2 diabetes is not causal, but is confounded by renal disease in Pima Indians. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Review of The Mirage Man: Bruce Ivins, the anthrax attacks, and America’s rush to war

Review of : The Mirage Man: Bruce Ivins, the anthrax attacks, and America’s rush to war ; David Willman; (2011). Bantam Books, Random House, Inc., New York, NY. 448 pages.
Mechanisms underlying satiation of feeding behavior of the mollusc Aplysia.

Animals filled almost to satiation by nonnutritive bulk do not satiate when they ingest a small amount of seaweed. This suggests that satiation is not triggered by chemostimulation of an anteriorly located “hot spot.” Inflation of a balloon placed in the gut of the animal results in satiation as reflected in a number of different parameters of feeding behavior. The suppresive effect of a relatively brief inflation is rapidly and fully reversible, although repeated inflation and deflation appeared to produce slowly reversible or irreversible effects. The parameters of the changes in feeding during gut inflation are comparable to those of normal animals that are slowly fed individual pieces of food. The inflation volume needed to satiate the animal is a function of the rate of inflation—more rapid inflations requiring larger volumes. Cutting of the esophageal nerves results in a significant increase in the volume needed to satiate the animals, but nevertheless they eventually cease feeding and generally do not show a burst gut. The evidence indicates that the satiation that eventually occurs in nerve-sectioned animals, at least in part, is due to depression of feeding following very prolonged sensory stimulation. The data suggest that for a rapidly consumed meal, satiation results primarily due to distension-related gut signals conveyed by the esophageal nerves, whereas for very slowly consumed meals, the former factor interacts with a process associated with sensory stimulation, such as receptor adaptation. The current results indicate that balloon distension can serve as a reasonable stimulus in experiments in simplified preparations in which the nervous system can be studied.
Approximation by linear combinations of multivariate B-splines

Abstract This paper is concerned with the approximation of functions by linear combinations of multivariate B-splines. We construct and analyze local linear approximation schemes on certain uniform configurations. Furthermore we point out how these uniform configurations may be refined locally while still preserving the desired global smoothness of the splines.
Model Projections of the Climatic Changes Induced by Increased Atmospheric CO2

The simulations of CO2-induced equilibrium climatic change by energy-balance models, radiative-convective models and general circulation models are reviewed and characterized in terms of the direct radiative forcing of the increased CO2, the response of the climate system in the absence of feedback processes, and the feedbacks of the climate system. Five recent simulations of CO2-induced climatic change by atmospheric GCM/mixed-layer ocean models are contrasted in terms of their surface air temperature and soil moisture changes. The simulations of CO2-induced transient climatic change by planetary energy-balance models, radiative-convective models and general circulation models are reviewed in terms of the e-folding time τe of the response of the climate system. Theoretical studies for a time-dependent CO2 increase between 1850 and 1980 indicate that the sequestering of heat into the ocean’s interior is responsible for the concomitant warming being only about half that which would have occurred in the absence of the ocean. These studies also indicate that the climate system will continue to warm towards its as-yet unrealized equilibrium temperature change, even if there is no further increase in the CO2 concentration.
Comparative Genomics of the Archaea (Euryarchaeota): Evolution of Conserved Protein Families, the Stable Core, and the Variable Shell

Comparative analysis of the protein sequences encoded in the four euryarchaeal species whose genomes have been sequenced completely (Methanococcus jannaschii, Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum, Archaeoglobus fulgidus, and Pyrococcus horikoshii) revealed 1326 orthologous sets, of which 543 are represented in all four species. The proteins that belong to these conserved euryarchaeal families comprise 31%-35% of the gene complement and may be considered the evolutionarily stable core of the archaeal genomes. The core gene set includes the great majority of genes coding for proteins involved in genome replication and expression, but only a relatively small subset of metabolic functions. For many gene families that are conserved in all euryarchaea, previously undetected orthologs in bacteria and eukaryotes were identified. A number of euryarchaeal synapomorphies (unique shared characters) were identified; these are protein families that possess sequence signatures or domain architectures that are conserved in all euryarchaea but are not found in bacteria or eukaryotes. In addition, euryarchaea-specific expansions of several protein and domain families were detected. In terms of their apparent phylogenetic affinities, the archaeal protein families split into bacterial and eukaryotic families. The majority of the proteins that have only eukaryotic orthologs or show the greatest similarity to their eukaryotic counterparts belong to the core set. The families of euryarchaeal genes that are conserved in only two or three species constitute a relatively mobile component of the genomes whose evolution should have involved multiple events of lineage-specific gene loss and horizontal gene transfer. Frequently these proteins have detectable orthologs only in bacteria or show the greatest similarity to the bacterial homologs, which might suggest a significant role of horizontal gene transfer from bacteria in the evolution of the euryarchaeota.
SAAP-RRBS

Summary: Reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) is a cost-effective approach for genome-wide methylation pattern profiling. Analyzing RRBS sequencing data is challenging and specialized alignment/mapping programs are needed. Although such programs have been developed, a comprehensive solution that provides researchers with good quality and analyzable data is still lacking. To address this need, we have developed a Streamlined Analysis and Annotation Pipeline for RRBS data (SAAP-RRBS) that integrates read quality assessment/clean-up, alignment, methylation data extraction, annotation, reporting and visualization. This package facilitates a rapid transition from sequencing reads to a fully annotated CpG methylation report to biological interpretation. Availability and implementation: SAAP-RRBS is freely available to non-commercial users at the web site http://ndc.mayo.edu/mayo/research/biostat/stand-alone-packages.cfm. Contact:baheti.saurabh@mayo.edu or sun.zhifu@mayo.edu Supplementary Information:Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Comparative Anatomy and Histology of Developmental and Parasitic Stages in the Life Cycle of the Lined Sea Anemone Edwardsiella lineata

Abstract The evolution of parasitism is often accompanied by profound changes to the developmental program. However, relatively few studies have directly examined the developmental evolution of parasitic species from free-living ancestors. The lined sea anemone Edwardsiella lineata is a relatively recently evolved parasite for which closely related free-living outgroups are known, including the starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. The larva of E. lineata parasitizes the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi, and, once embedded in its host, the anemone assumes a novel vermiform body plan. That we might begin to understand how the developmental program of this species has been transformed during the evolution of parasitism, we characterized the gross anatomy, histology, and cnidom of the parasitic stage, post-parasitic larval stage, and adult stage of the E. lineata life cycle. The distinct parasitic stage of the life cycle differs from the post-parasitic larva with respect to overall shape, external ciliatio...
NUTRITIONAL REGULATION OF MORPHOGENESIS IN MYXOCOCCUS XANTHUS

Abstract Dworkin, Martin (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). Nutritional regulation of morphogenesis in Myxococcus xanthus. J. Bacteriol. 86:67–72. 1963.—Fruiting-body formation by Myxococcus xanthus can be induced by omitting phenylalanine and tryptophan from the chemically defined growth medium. This effect was specific for these two amino acids and was not attributable to a nonspecific lowering of the growth rate. A complex pool of amino acids is present in vegetative cells of M. xanthus. Nutritional environments leading to morphogenesis also result in a decrease in the level of this pool. These changes have been described.