cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of mitomycin C on concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptors in bladder cancer cells and in bladders of rats intravesically instilled with mitomycin C

What’s known on the subject? and What does the study add? Mitomycin C is widely used for treatment of bladder cancer, however disease progression after mitomycin C treatment is common. We found that intravesical mitomycin C treatment increases urinary vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and bladder VEGF receptor-2 protein and mRNA in rats. Mitomycin C also increases VEGF mRNA and VEGF receptor-2 protein and mRNA levels in bladder cancer cells. Therefore, we speculate that mitomycin C may increase the angiogenic potential of both cancer and normal cells. OBJECTIVES • To examine, using in vitro and in vivo models, the largely unexamined effect of mitomycin C (MMC), an effective intravesical treatment for superficial bladder cancer and carcinoma in situ, on expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), which mediates many of the angiogenic properties of VEGF. • To measure, as a positive control, concentrations of the inhibitor of apoptosis, survivin, as an assessment of MMC effectiveness. • To measure MMC-induced changes in proliferation in the presence and absence of VEGF-A small interfering RNA (siRNA). MATERIALS AND METHODS • After treatment with increasing MMC concentrations (5–200 µg/mL), we measured proliferation, as well as VEGF, survivin, VEGF receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) and VEGFR-2 concentrations in RT-4 and T-24 bladder cancer cells. • The effect of pre-treatment of VEGF siRNA and survivin siRNA on MMC-induced decreases in proliferation was measured. • Urinary VEGF concentrations and bladder and kidney concentrations of VEGF-A, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2 and interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA were measured in rats intravesically instilled with saline or MMC (200 µg/mL). RESULTS • Although MMC treatment inhibited cell proliferation and decreased survivin mRNA expression in T-24 and RT4 cells, MMC (12–50 µg/mL) increased VEGF-A mRNA and VEGFR-2 mRNA and protein expression. • Pre-treatment with VEGF-A siRNA or survivin siRNA before MMC treatment reduced proliferation more than MMC alone. • MMC-induced reductions in proliferation were reduced additively by pre-treatment with survivin siRNA, but were potentiated by pre-treatment with VEGF-A siRNA. • VEGFR-2 mRNA and protein concentrations and urinary VEGF concentrations were increased in bladders of rats instilled with MMC. CONCLUSIONS • Intravesically instilled MMC increases urinary VEGF and bladder VEGFR-2 protein and mRNA in rats. • MMC increases VEGF mRNA and VEGFR-2 protein and mRNA concentrations in bladder cancer cells. Therefore, we speculate that MMC could increase the angiogenic potential of both cancer and normal cells. • In cancer cells this effect is largest at lower MMC concentrations. • Combining MMC with agents that reduce EGF concentrations could be of value in treatment of transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (TCC).
Family Policies in Norway

Norway has become a liberal leader in family policies, gender equality, equal workforce participation, children’s rights and equality, and in supporting sexual equality. This has been supported by money from oil revenues, international involvement/engagement, and domestic policy shifts. While Norway is not perfect, it continues to push forward, such as with its Ombudsman for Children. The Directorate of Children, Youth and Family Affairs handles family policies in Norway. This department is responsible for developing family-life and cohabitation policies as well as legislation affecting children and families. Family affairs policy, family law, and gender equity policy are also managed by the directorate. Current issues impacting family policy in Norway are discussed in this chapter.
The distribution of products, quotients and powers of two dependent h-functions variates

Abstract The H -function distribution has been shown to be a powerful addition in the study of the algebra of non-negative random variables. However, most of this work has been restricted to the study of independent H -function variates. This paper introduces a bivariate probability distribution based on the H -function of two variables. The distribution is shown to be a generalization of several known bivariate distributions. Further, it is shown that products, quotients, and powers of bivariate H -function variates are H -function variates. Several examples are given.
Treatment of plagiocephaly with helmet molding therapy: do actual results mimic perception?

Purpose: Actual and perceived improvements from helmet molding therapy for deformational plagiocephaly are demonstrated here. Effective communication of these data by craniofacial teams can help avoid unrealistic expectations and inform parents of expected outcomes. Methods: Parents of 61 patients with plagiocephaly were asked to rate their children's head shape and ear position before and after helmet therapy (a score of 1 being abnormal and 10 being normal). Topographic laser head scans for an aged-matched cohort of 91 patients with deformational plagiocephaly were acquired. Cephalic ratio, overall symmetry ratio, radial symmetry index, ear offset, and left and right oblique were recorded before and after molding. The cranial vault asymmetry index (CVSI) score was calculated. Results: Parent ratings before and after molding, respectively, were head shape 2.99 ± 1.50 (mean ± SD) versus 7.88 ± 1.64 (p < .0001) and ear position 3.75 ± 2.5 versus 7.73 ± 2.34 (p < 0.0001). Measurements before and after moldi...
An accurate and reliable method for the diagnosis of seminal oxidative stress in infertile men.

SEMINAL OXIDATIVE STRESS IN INFERTILE MEN Ramadan A. Saleh, Navid Esfandiari, Saad S. Al-Dujaily, Rakesh K. Sharma, Anthony J. Thomas, Ashok Agarwal, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation Objective: There is a lack of consensus in the literature regarding the cut-off values of seminal oxidative stress (OS) despite a strong correlation between OS and male infertility. Since OS in semen is the result of an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and antioxidant strategies, we hypothesized that levels of ROS in neat semen of men undergoing fertility evaluation may reflect OS status in vivo. The objectives of this study were to 1) establish a cut-off value of seminal OS by measurement of ROS levels directly in neat semen in a group of normal healthy donors (controls) and comparing the results with a population of infertile men, and 2) evaluate the characteristics of laboratory variability of ROS measurement in neat semen.
Evaluation of X-ray sources for quantitative two- and three-dimensional imaging of liquid mass distribution in atomizing sprays

Abstract Quantitative measurement of liquid mass distribution is demonstrated in an impinging-jet atomizing spray using a broadband, ∼80 keV X-ray tube source for 2-D radiography and 3-D computed tomography (CT). The accuracy, precision, and sensitivity of these data are evaluated using narrowband, ∼10 keV, synchrotron radiation from the Argonne National Laboratory Advanced Photon Source (APS) at the same flow conditions. It is found that the broadband X-ray tube source can be used for 2-D measurement of the equivalent path length (EPL) and 3-D CT imaging of liquid mass distribution with typical error of 5–10%. Data are compared for cases with and without the use of potassium iodide (KI), which at 15% concentration by mass increases the attenuation coefficient eightfold and enables 2-D and 3-D measurement of EPL with a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of 5:1 down to 15 μm. At this concentration, the effects of energy-dependent attenuation (i.e., spectral beam hardening) are negligible for EPL up to 5 mm. Hence, the use of broadband X-ray tube sources is feasible for many practical engineering sprays with a dynamic range in EPL of ∼330:1. The advantages and limitations of using broadband and narrowband X-ray sources are discussed, and recommendations for improving performance are presented.
A High Productivity and Low Topography W CMP Process Enabled by a Dual Endpoint System and Novel Pad Conditioning

The growth of the flash memory market is driving the priority for new cost reduction methods for tungsten CMP. This paper focuses on productivity enhancements that boost the wafer throughput by 82% while achieving good results for topography, rate stability, non uniformity, and defects. A dual endpoint system is described that utilizes both an eddy current sensor for real-time thickness feedback and an optical sensor to signal transition points between materials. The dual endpoint system enables an improvement in platen time balancing and contributes to better erosion results. In addition, a new approach is developed for ex situ pad conditioning that results in a further reduction in cycle time.
Absolute propagation rates in emulsion polymerization. III. Styrene and isoprene

The study of the rate of polymerization per particle in emulsion systems has been extended to include the following monomers and initiator systems: Text Table Text. Monomer Initiator System Styrene Persulfate Styrene CHP-TETA Isoprene DIBHP-TEPA In all cases, linear rates of polymerization were obtained in the region where the number of particles can be considered as remaining constant (30–60% conversion). Furthermore, the addition of catalyst in this region did not affect the rate of polymerization, so that a rate per particle could be calculated. From the rates per particle, the following absolute propagation rates were calculated for styrene and isoprene, and are compared with values obtained for styrene from photoinitiation studies: Text Table Text. Monomer Catalyst system Eact. A kp at 60°C. Styrene Persulfate 7.4 4.1 × 107 277 Styrene CHP-TETA 8.4 3.3 × 107 221 Styrene Photoinitiation 7.8 2.2 × 107 176 Isoprene DIBHP-TEPA 9.8 1.2 × 108 50
Advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

The treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer requires histologic proof of diagnosis, careful staging, and assessment of each patient’s performance status and comorbidities. For patients with stage IIIB (pleural effusion) and stage IV disease who have a Cancer and Leukemia Group B performance status (PS) of 0 to 1, appropriate management consists of combination chemotherapy with a platinum (either cisplatin or carboplatin) combined with paclitaxel, gemcitabine, vinorelbine, docetaxel, or CPT-11. Dosages and schedules previously established by large phase II or phase III studies should be followed. Variations in the toxicity patterns, schedules of administra-tion, and economic considerations should guide the selection of the specific regimen. For patients who maintain a good performance status after first-line chemotherapy, second-line treatment may be considered. Current evidence supports the use of docetaxel as second-line treatment if the patient has not previously received this drug. Gemcitabine and paclitaxel may also have activity in this setting. Vinorelbine, ifosfamide, and CPT-11 appear to be inactive as second-line therapy for patients who have previously received platinum-based chemotherapy. For patients with a PS of 2, single-agent chemotherapy with vinorelbine, gemcitabine, or a combination of the two should be considered. Patients with poor performance status should be treated with supportive measures designed to relieve pain and acute complications because any tumor-directed therapy has limited benefit. Special situations exist in which curative therapy for metastatic disease is a possibility. Patients who present with solitary sites of metastatic disease, particularly after a long disease-free interval and in the CNS may undergo definitive surgery or radiotherapy with curative intent. Some have also reported favorable outcomes for patients with solitary adrenal or bone metastases as well. Surgical treatment or definitive radiotherapy should not be employed unless a thorough restaging evaluation is performed that includes computed tomography scan of the chest and abdomen through adrenals, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography scan. A plethora of new agents targeting angiogenesis, tumor invasiveness, the hypoxic environment of tumors, and the cell cycle are currently in development.
Identifying the components of asthma health status in children with mild to moderate asthma

Background Weak and inconsistent correlations between measurements of asthma health status suggest that the disease is composed of nonoverlapping components. Objective Factor analysis was used to explore the relationships between measures of asthma morbidity and to identify heterogeneous components of asthma health status in children 5 to 12 years old. Results were compared across time (baseline and 48-month visit) and treatment arms. Methods Analyses were conducted in 7 different study windows in a database from a large clinical trial of children with mild to moderate asthma (n = 1041). Measurements of lung function, symptoms, and health care utilizations from daily diary cards, serum IgE levels, total eosinophil count, skin test positivity, and airway hyperresponsiveness were included. Data on fractional exhaled nitric oxide and sputum eosinophil cationic protein were included in a subgroup of patients. Results In each of the study windows, factor analysis identified 5 factors that explained between 50% and 60% of the common variance. Factors identified included (1) inflammatory markers, (2) symptoms/medication use, (3) asthma exacerbations, and measures of lung function, which subdivided into (4) FEV 1 and forced vital capacity, and (5) bronchodilator response and the FEV 1 /forced vital capacity ratio. Exploratory analyses suggest that fractional exhaled nitric oxide account for the atopy/inflammatory marker factor, and sputum measurements account for a sixth, separate factor. Conclusion The consistent identification of a 5-factor structure across time and treatment arms suggests that each of these factors provides independent information in the assessment of asthma.
Electronic properties of CoO(100) surfaces: Defects and chemisorption

Ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy, Auger-electron spectroscopy, and low-energy electron diffraction have been used to study the electronic structure of CoO(100) surfaces obtained by cleaving single crystals in ultrahigh vacuum. Two distinct types of surface defect states that can be produced by ${\mathrm{Ar}}^{+}$-ion bombardment are identified. Both types of defects result from oxygen vacancies near the surface. The first type of defect consists primarily of surface oxygen vacancies; it forms after any degree of reduction of the surface and probably exists in small concentration even on cleaved surfaces. Its electronic structure is interpreted in terms of the occupation of exchange- and ligand-field--split d orbitals of Co ions at defect sites. The second type of defect appears only after heavy reduction of the surface and presumably consists of interacting oxygen vacancies or clusters of Co atoms. The interaction of ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$, CO, and ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$O with the nearly perfect surface and with surfaces containing one or both types of defects at room temperature has also been investigated. The nearly perfect surface is relatively inert to all three molecules studied, exhibiting either no reaction or minimal chemisorption only at residual defect sites below at least ${10}^{4}$ langmuir exposure. ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ initially adsorbs dissociatively at both types of defect site; high ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ exposures result in a molecularly adsorbed species. Exposure to CO further reduces surfaces that contain predominantly only the first type of defect, but not the more heavily reduced surfaces that contain both types of defects. ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$O adsorbs dissociatively on the heavily reduced surface, resulting in adsorbed ${\mathrm{OH}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ ions. The results for CoO(100) are compared and contrasted with those obtained previously for NiO(100) and MnO(100).
AP-2-dependent Internalization of Potassium Channel Kir2.3 Is Driven by a Novel Di-hydrophobic Signal

The localization and density of Kir2.3 channels are influenced by the balance between PDZ protein interaction at the cell surface and routing into the endocytic pathway. Here, we explore mechanisms by which the Kir2.3 channel is directed into the endocytic pathway. We found that Kir2.3 channels are constitutively internalized from the cell surface in a dynamin-dependent manner, indicative of vesicle-mediated endocytosis. The rate of Kir2.3 endocytosis was dramatically attenuated following RNA interference-mediated knockdown of either α adaptin (AP-2 clathrin adaptor) or clathrin heavy chain, revealing that Kir2.3 is internalized by an AP-2 clathrin-dependent mechanism. Structure-rationalized mutagenesis studies of a number of different potential AP-2 interaction motifs indicate that internalization of Kir2.3 is largely dependent on a non-canonical di-isoleucine motif (II413) embedded within the C terminus. Internalization assays using CD4-Kir2.3 chimeras demonstrate that the di-isoleucine signal acts in an autonomous and transplantable manner. Kir2.3 co-immunoprecipitates with α adaptin, and disruption of the di-isoleucine motif decreased interaction of the channel with AP-2. Replacement of the di-isoleucine motif with a canonical di-leucine internalization signal actually blocked Kir2.3 endocytosis. Moreover, in yeast three-hybrid studies, the Kir2.3 di-isoleucine motif does not bind the AP-2 αC-σ2 hemicomplex in the way that has been recently observed for canonical di-leucine signals. Altogether, the results indicate that Kir2.3 channels are marked for clathrin-dependent internalization from the plasma membrane by a novel AP-2-dependent signal.
Factors Affecting Success of an On-line M.S. Degree Program in the Human Sciences

Abstract At the University of Nebraska, we offer a complete M.S. program in Human Resources and Family Sciences to distance students. Students complete a 36 credit hour program, including 18 hours in Family and Consumer Sciences, and at least 6 hours in two content departments, 3 hours each in Research Methods and Statistics. Students must successfully complete a master's project and written comprehensive examinations. To date, 101 students have matriculated. Forty-six students have received the M.S. degree and forty-one students are currently enrolled. Distance education students are a “new audience,” that is, these students would not come to campus for the degree. The predominant factor in the success of the program is that it is a complete program of studies. Prospective students are more willing to enroll when they see the full set of requirements needed for the degree. Other factors contributing to the success of the program include: instructional design for experiential learning; using multiple medi...
Protection design and coordination of DC Distributed Power Systems Architectures

In this paper, a complete protection system for a DC distribution system was developed and presented. The developed protection scheme was designed to be implemented on the laboratory-based DC Distributed Power Systems Architecture (DPSA) testbed setup. This system consists of four AC generators in addition to a DC microgrid involving photovoltaic generation and battery storage. The total capacity of the DPSA is 72 kW. The developed protection scheme targets faults on the AC side as well as faults on the DC sides. Moreover, the coordination scheme between different types of faults was designed. The challenges associated with protecting DC systems such as arcing and system time constant were investigated. The results obtained verify the validity of the developed protection system.
Mechanistic investigation on the temperature dependence and inhibition of corn root plasma membrane ATPase

The kinetics of corn root plasma membrane-catalyzed Mg-ATP hydrolysis may be satisfactorily described by a simple Michaelis-Menten scheme. It was found that the Km of the process was relatively insensitive to changes in temperature. This property allowed us to conveniently estimate the activation energy of the enzyme turnover process as ~14 kcal mol−1 in the temperature range of 10 to 45 °C. The enzyme activity was inhibited by the presence of diethystilbestrol (DES), miconazole, vanadate, and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCCD). The inhibition caused by DES and miconazole was strictly uncompetitive and inhibition by vanadate was noncompetitive. The inhibition by DCCD showed a substrate concentration dependence, i.e., competitive at high and uncompetitive at low concentrations of Mg-ATP. The 1V vs [I] plots suggested that there were different but unique binding sites for DES, vanadate, and miconazole. However, the modification of the plasma membrane by DCCD exhibited interaction with multiple sites. Unlike yeast plasma membrane ATPase, the enzyme of corn root cells was not affected by the treatment with N-ethylmaleimide. Although the enzyme activity was regulated by ADP, a product of the reaction, the presence of inorganic phosphate showed no inhibition to the hydrolysis of Mg-ATP.
Oxygen stoichiometry and instability in aluminum oxide tunnel barrier layers

We present x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy data that show that the chemisorbed oxygen previously observed to be on the surface of thin $\mathrm{Al}{\mathrm{O}}_{x}$ layers formed by room temperature thermal oxidation is bound by oxygen vacancies in the oxide. Increasing the electric field across the oxide, either by overcoating with a metallic electrode, or by electron bombardment, drives this surface chemisorbed oxygen into the vacancy sites. Due to the low bonding energies of these oxygen sites, subsequent oxygen exposures draw these ${\mathrm{O}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ ions back to the surface, reforming chemisorbed $\mathrm{O}_{2}{}^{\ensuremath{-}}$. $\mathrm{Al}∕\mathrm{Al}{\mathrm{O}}_{x}∕\mathrm{Al}$ tunnel junctions incorporating electron-bombarded $\mathrm{Al}{\mathrm{O}}_{x}$ barriers show a significant reduction in the low-frequency junction resistance noise level at $4.2\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$.
Purification of Chironex fleckeri venom components using Chironex immunoaffinity chromatography.

A. M. F. Naguib, J. Bansal, G. J. Calton and J. W. Burnett. Purification of Chironex fleckeri venom components using Chironex immunoaffinity chromatography. Toxicon26, 387 – 394, 1988. — A comparison of the purification of the nematocyst venom of Chironex fleckeri by affinity immunochromatography using 13 different monoclonal antibodies was made. Varying degrees of purification of mouse lethal factor, hemolysin and dermonecrotic factors, as well as antigen positive proteins were achieved with each of the monoclonal antibodies. Although the protein curves of the chromatography were similar, each of the monoclonal antibody columns had a distinctive pharmacological and SDS - PAGE profile. At least two hemolysins (120,000 and 70,000 molecular weight), two dermonecrotic principles (120,000, < 120,000) and three lethal factors (120,000, 70,000 and 14,500 molecular weight) were detected. The degree to which aggregation and fragmentation affects the molecular weights of these proteins is not known. It appears that multiple pharmacological activities are present within the same molecule since it is only with great difficulty that a pharmacological activity can be assigned to a specific molecular weight.
The predictors of persistence of depression in primary care

164 patients in primary care who were recognized as depressed by their physicians and started on antidepressants were interviewed at 1 and 4 months after initiation of treatment. Ten factors hypothesized to be related to persistence of depressive symptoms were entered into a multivariate analysis to determine predictors of persistence of affective symptoms. Patients with minor depression were significantly older, more likely to be married or cohabitating, more likely to have serious medical illness, and had significantly less comorbid panic disorder, recurrent depression and lower neuroticism scores compared to patients with major depression. Approximately half of the patients in this primary care sample with major depression and one-third of those with minor depression were still distressed at 4 months, although few met criteria for major depression. Severity of depression and high neuroticism scores were the best predictors of persistent depressive symptoms.
Efficient detection of 1310 nm light using silicon nanoscaled p/n junctions

Efficient 1310 nm light detection has been demonstrated in nanoscaled silicon p/n junction devices. The bias dependent response of the nanowire and waveguide devices shows efficient sub-bandgap photoresponse without involving any defects or surface states.
Diarrhoea associated with heat-stable enterotoxin-producing strains of Escherichia coli.

Five patients who developed acute watery diarrhoea while travelling in Mexico in October, 1974, were found to have enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in their stool which produced heat-stable enterotoxin (S.T.) without producing heat-labile enterotoxin (L.T.). These S.T.-only E. coli, which have previously been described as causing diseases in animals, must now be regarded as pathogenic for humans as well.
The silicon solution [silicon photonics]

As newer, faster microprocessors roll out, the copper connections that feed those processors within computers and servers will prove inadequate to handle huge amounts of data. To address this concern, this paper proposes the replacement of the copper with optical fiber and the electrons with photons. Called silicon photonics, this technology will allow manufacturers to build optical components using the same semiconductor equipment and methods they use now for ordinary integrated circuits. This would dramatically lower the cost of photonics while significantly improving performance.
The growth and in situ characterization of chemical vapor deposited SiO2

This paper reports the results of studies of the kinetics of remote (indirect) plasma enhanced low pressure CVD growth of SiO2 on Si and InP and of the in situ characterization of the electrical surface properties of InP during CVD processing. In the latter case photoluminescence was employed as a convenient and sensitive noninvasive method for characterizing surface trap densities. It was determined that, provided certain precautions are taken, the growth of SiO2 occurs in a reproducible and systematic fashion that can be expressed in an analytic form useful for growth rate prediction. Moreover, the in situ photoluminescence studies have yielded information on sample degradation resulting from heating and chemical exposure during the CVD growth.
Current Understanding on Aflatoxin Biosynthesis and Future Perspective in Reducing Aflatoxin Contamination

Traditional molecular techniques have been used in research in discovering the genes and enzymes that are involved in aflatoxin formation and genetic regulation. We cloned most, if not all, of the aflatoxin pathway genes. A consensus gene cluster for aflatoxin biosynthesis was discovered in 2005. The factors that affect aflatoxin formation have been studied. In this report, the author summarized the current status of research progress and future possibilities that may be used for solving aflatoxin contamination.
New analysis of soliton dynamics in trans-polyacetylene: Motional effects of dynamic nuclear polarization spectra.

We have developed a full, nonperturbative density-matrix treatment to simulate dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) spectra for the interaction of a single electronic defect with a single nucleus, that incorporates motion. The theory predicts standard DNP theory in the slow and fast motion limits, and smoothly goes between the two as the motional rate increases. Asymmetric DNP line shapes are simulated at intermediate motional rates. Hence, it is not necessary to adduce more than one defect to explain asymmetric DNP spectra.
Thermodynamics of mucopolysaccharide–dye binding. I. Identification of free and bound dye via membrane filtration: Acridine orange–dermatan sulfate system

Stoichiometric mixtures of acridine orange with dermatan sulfate at total dye concentrations ⩽ 1 × 10−5M show fluorescence maxima at 540 nm and 660 nm on excitation at 436 nm. By means of membrane filtration, it is directly demonstrated that the species emitting at 540 nm is due only to unbound dye whereas the 660-nm emitting species is due to bound dye. It is, therefore, possible to differentiate unbound acridine orange from its dermatan sulfate complex solely by spectroscopic methods. Thermodynamic binding parameters can be calculated from rapid spectroscopic measurements without disturbing the system.
Slip band formation and mobile dislocation density generation in high rate deformation of single fcc crystals

The mechanisms for the nucleation, thickening, and growth of crystallographic slip bands from the sub-nanoscale to the microscale are studied using three-dimensional dislocation dynamics. In the simulations, a single fcc crystal is strained along the [111] direction at three different high strain rates: 104, 105, and 106 s− 1. Dislocation inertia and drag are included and the simulations were conducted with and without cross-slip. With cross-slip, slip bands form parallel to active (111) planes as a result of double cross-slip onto fresh glide planes within localized regions of the crystal. In this manner, fine nanoscale slip bands nucleate throughout the crystal, and, with further straining, build up to larger bands by a proposed self-replicating mechanism. It is shown that slip bands are regions of concentrated glide, high dislocation multiplication rates, and high dislocation velocities. Cross-slip increases in activity proportionally with the product of the total dislocation density and the square roo...
Methotrexate pharmacokinetics in infants with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

We performed a pharmacokinetic evaluation of methotrexate (MTX) in infants with acute lymphoblastic leukemia enrolled on the Pediatric Oncology Group (POG) 9407 Infant Leukemia Study to evaluate the effects of age on MTX pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. A pharmacokinetic database of 61 patients was developed by combining MTX data obtained from 16 patients in a pharmacokinetic sub-study with data obtained for clinical care in other patients enrolled on the POG 9407 protocol. The data were analyzed for the first dose of MTX given to patients in induction/intensification therapy. Patients received MTX (4 g/m2) over 24 h at week 4 of therapy. Toxicity data were also reviewed to evaluate the incidence of common MTX toxicities during the first 6 weeks of therapy (the induction/intensification phase). Steady-state clearance (mean ± standard deviation) for infants aged 0–6 months was 89 ± 32 ml/min/m2 compared to 111 ± 40 for infants aged 7–12 months (P = 0.030). In the subgroup of infants aged 0–3 months the mean steady-state clearance was 84 ± 30 ml/min/m2 (P = 0.026 vs. the 7–12-month group). The incidence of renal toxicity (all grades) during induction/intensification therapy was 23% in the 0–3 months age group compared to 0% (for n = 27) in the group 7–12 months of age (P = 0.029). There were no significant differences in hepatoxicity or mucous membrane toxicity between age groups. A modest difference in steady-state MTX clearance is observed between younger infants (0–6 months) and older infants (7–12 months). Very young infants (0–3 months) also experienced a slightly higher incidence of renal toxicity during induction/intensification therapy. Steady-state clearance for the older infants is similar to values reported for children in other studies.
Supersensitivity of the cat nictitating membrane to dopamine

Abstract The classical theory of Easson and Stedman6 emphasizes a 3 point attachment of a catecholamine with a hypothetical receptor, and suggests that the desoxy derivative of an amine should act like its corresponding L(+)-isomer. Our observations on normal and sensitized tissue tend to be compatible with this theory in that dopamine, which has no hydroxyl group on the beta - carbon, was found to behave more like L(+)-norepinephrine where the hydroxyl group of the beta -carbon is presumably in an unfavorable position for attachment to the receptor than like D(-)-norepinephrine with a favorably placed hydroxyl group on the beta carbon.
One-Year Experimental Study of the ACT Objective Test with Non-Traditional Students.

The Curriculum Committee of the General College (GC) at the University of Minnesota selected the ACT Objective Test to assess general educational outcomes, educational gains, and to provide an individual assessment of academic achievement for graduating Associate of Arts degree candidates.
Assessment of the Validity of Maturity Metrics for Predicting the Volatile Composition of Concord Grape Juice

Total soluble solids (TSS) are typically used as the sole metric for maturity of Concord grapes. However, the reliability of TSS in predicting the aroma composition of finished juice for grapes sourced from multiple sites has not been investigated. This study sought to determine the validity of TSS in predicting the aroma composition of the juice while also investigating other potentially useful indicators, including pH, titratable acidity (TA), and TSS:TA ratio. Grapes were harvested from 9 sites in the Lake Erie Concord Grape Belt and stratified from north to south and east to west. The key aroma compounds methyl anthranilate ("grapey") and trans-2-hexenal ("herbaceous") were quantified along with several other odorants. It was observed that while TSS was a robust predictor of monomeric anthocyanin content across sites, it was a poor predictor of aroma compounds in the finished juice. Conversely, pH, TA, and TSS:TA ratio were all significantly correlated with methyl anthranilate and trans-2-hexenal concentrations (P < 0.05) in samples equal to or exceeding 15 Brix, the industry minimum for grape maturity. These results indicate that parameters related to acidity are better predictors of aroma composition than TSS, which may aid in efforts to minimize herbaceous off-aromas and optimize the aroma composition of the finished juice.
Comparison of symmetrical and asymmetrical hot-electron injection in MOS transistors

Abstract The effect of nonuniform injection and trapping on the characteristics of long-channel MOS transistors is investigated. Long-channel transistors are symmetrically injected with carriers introduced from adjacent diode stripes which are parallel to the length of the transistor. Asymmetrical injection is performed by introducing carriers from diodes which are closer to the drain of the device under test. The rate of change in the extrapolated threshold voltage is higher for asymmetrical injection, since the same amount of injected charge is submitted to a smaller portion of the channel region. The maximum transconductance rises over the period of stressing for the asymmetrical injection situation, while the transconductance consistently decreases with stress time for symmetrical injection.
A note on the growth of the use of statistical tests in Perception & Psychophysics

Articles in Perception & Psychophysics that include no statistical tests have become rarer over the journal’s first 24 years of publication. This change does not seem to represent an obvious improvement in the journal’s content, but it may be a symptom of an unfortunate trend in the teaching and conduct of research.
Haloaldehyde polymers. V. Polymer blends involving chloral polymers.

Blends and interpenetrating networks of polychloral with polystyrene, poly (methyl methacrylate), and poly(methyl acrylate) as addition polymers have been successfully prepared in the forms of cylinders (plugs) or of films of 0.03-mm thickness by sequential polymerization. The addition polymers are completely extractable, but about 30% of the polychloral is degraded during the extraction. The polystyrene extracted from the polychloral—polystyrene blends was of relatively low molecular weight. This is attributed to the high chain transfer activity of chloral for styrene polymerization in the presence of chloral. Poly (methyl methacrylate) has a comparable molecular weight, as judged by its inherent viscosity, whether the polymer has been prepared in the presence or in the absence of chloral or polychloral. In the presence of crosslinking agents, divinylbenzene for styrene, and ethylene dimethacrylate for methyl methacrylate, interpenetrating networks of polychloral were obtained; it appears that about 30% of the olefinic polymer (polystyrene) is not crosslinked and can be extracted. Poly(methyl methacrylate) is completely crosslinked. TGA was found to be a simple technique to analyze the composition of the polymer blends.
Invited Editorial Comment: How to Forecast a Crisis

1. Robert F. Engle 1. is the director of the Volatility Institute at the New York University Stern School of Business in New York, NY. Volatility forecasts are commonly used by practitioners to assess the risk in financial markets. At the Volatility Lab, or VLAB, website of the Volatility
Enhanced stability of PEG-block-poly(N-hexyl stearate l-aspartamide) micelles in the presence of serum proteins.

Polyethylene glycol-phospholipid micelles form a major class of nanocarriers in pharmacy and medicine due to proven capability in drug solubilization, sustained drug release, and evidence for targeted drug delivery in vivo. In this report, we have prepared micelles composed of PEG-block-poly(N-hexyl stearate l-aspartamide) (PEG-b-PHSA), having nine stearic acid side chains, and have studied their stability in the presence of serum proteins by Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) experiments. In the presence of serum albumin, alpha and beta globulins, or gamma globulins, there are minimal changes in FRET over two hours in vitro, indicating integrity of PEG-b-PHSA micelles. In contrast, 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[amino(polyethylene glycol)-5000] (PEG-DSPE) micelles lose FRET over two hours in vitro, especially in the presence of alpha and beta globulins, indicating the disruption of PEG-DSPE micelles and leakage of fluorescent probes. Owing to the aliphatic nature of DSPE and PHS...
John Quincy Adams: A Public Life, a Private Life

John Quincy Adams: A Public Life, A Private Life. By Paul C. Nagel. (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1997. Pp. xii, 432. $30.00, ISBN 0-679-40444-9.) John Quincy Adams seldom fares well in the rankings of U.S. presidents frequently compiled by historians. The reason is not hard to discover: during his administration (1825-29), Adams ran afoul of a rapidly changing political climate, the machinations of politicians eager to undercut him, and his own political clumsiness. If the criteria for historical reputation were to be expanded to include entire public careers, however, Adams would surely rank close to the top. Adams's non-presidential accomplishments are legion: lawyer; U.S. senator; Boylston Professor of Rhetoric and Oratory at Harvard; U.S. minister to the Netherlands, then Prussia, Russia, and Great Britain; poet and essayist; secretary of state and chief architect of the Monroe Doctrine; erudite author of a pathbreaking report on weights and measures; antislavery Congressman; and counsel for the Amistad mutineers before the Supreme Court. Few individuals in the entire history of American public life have amassed such a remarkable record of public service. Adams is seldom included in the American pantheon, in spite of his record, as a consequence not only of his failed administration but also of his irritable, often self-righteous manner and stubborn adherence to a fading, eighteenth-century political order in the raucously democratic, aggressively egalitarian world of nineteenth-century America. The biographies under review--alike in making the case for Adams's historical importance (alike as well in their lamentable lack of footnotes and other scholarly apparatus)--are notably dissimilar in approach and significance. Lynn Parsons's John Quincy Adams successfully meets the criteria of Madison House's American Profiles series of which it is a part: "to add a human dimension to the study of history" by offering "relatively concise and swiftly-paced sketches" of significant Americans. The series operates on the reasonable premise that "complex and often dry subjects ... can be enlivened and given meaning through a focus on ... individual stories (p. ix)." The story Parsons tells, well informed and carried forward by an engaging narrative style, moves briskly and hits the standard highpoints of Adams' s career. While it may effectively serve the needs of the elusive "general reader," however, scholars will find little new concerning either Adams or his times in these pages. Parsons tells us Adams was deeply conservative and ardently nationalist. He was a man who, although affirming his own political independence (he wanted desperately to be "the man of my whole country"), suffered rejection by the American people in spite of decades of personal sacrifice and public service. Far more ambitious and thus more engaging is Paul Nagel's magisterial John Quincy Adams: A Public Life, A Private Life. …
Rethinking Nonintervention: The Challenge of the UN Charter and Protecting the Dispossessed

Nonintervention remains axiomatic in affirming the sovereignty of the state and is underscored by Article 2(4)(7) of the UN Charter. Recent episodes of crimes against humanity and genocide have revealed the glaring inadequacy of nonintervention and the enormous challenge posed by the Charter. Furthermore, the seeming inability of the Security Council to act on manmade disasters historically has undermined the authority and ability of the UN to live up to the title of the Preamble to the Charter: "We the Peoples." A more recent rethinking of the concept of sovereignty lays bare the inadequacies of Article 2(4)(7) as protector of the nation-state from interference and intervention. This paper addresses the question of nonintervention, contending that there is scope for reinterpreting the Article and placing greater demands on the Security Council through nongovernmental organizations that increasingly represent the dispossessed.
Photoreduction of CO2 by TiO2 nanocomposites synthesized through reactive direct current magnetron sputter deposition

Abstract The photoreduction of CO2 into methane provides a carbon-neutral energy alternative to fossil fuels, but its feasibility requires improvements in the photo-efficiency of materials tailored to this reaction. We hypothesize that mixed phase TiO2 nano-materials with high interfacial densities are extremely active photocatalysts well suited to solar fuel production by reducing CO2 to methane and shifting to visible light response. Mixed phase TiO2 films were synthesized by direct current (DC) magnetron sputtering and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscope (AFM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). Bundles of anatase–rutile nano-columns having high densities of two kinds of interfaces (those among the bundles and those between the columns) are fabricated. Films sputtered at a low deposition angle showed the highest methane yield, compared to TiO2 fabricated under other sputtering conditions and commercial standard Degussa P25 under UV irradiation. The yield of methane could be significantly increased (~ 12% CO2 conversion) by increasing the CO2 to water ratio and temperature (
Attention span and generalization of task-related stimulus control: effects of reinforcement contingencies.

Abstract During training with an adult, two retarded children were presented three tasks, each associated with a different training regime (extinction, contingent or noncontingent reinforcement). The contingent task acquired discriminative properties, whereas other tasks did not. Control was maintained in familiar and unfamiliar settings and with novel adults. When tasks were presented in combination, subjects manipulated the contingent task. During choice probes the three tasks were presented simultaneously; the subjects chose the contingent and noncontingent tasks almost equally and never chose the extinction task. Results were replicated when reinforcement contingencies assigned to tasks were changed.
Effect of calcium sprays, time of harvest, cold storage, and ripeness on fruit quality of 'Anjou' pears

Abstract Calcium chloride (CaCl2), increased Ca concentrations in fruit cortex and peel of ‘Anjou’ pears (Pyrus communis L.). Calcium sprays reduced the fruit disorders: brown core, cork spot and superficial scald. Fruit size (weight) increased while fruit Ca concentrations decreased with fruit at the later harvest dates. The earliest harvest date was associated with a lower incidence of fruit disorders. Superficial scald increased in fruit held longer in cold storage and in ripened fruit. Shelf‐life and fruit quality of Ca‐sprayed fruit was improved due to higher Ca concentrations in fruit peel and cortex resulting in overall enhancement of fruit appearance, and in improvement in the control of the incidences of cork spot, scald, brown core, and external and internal rots, and in amelioration of fruit juiciness and fruit color.
Preparing to Hire the Best in the Perfect Storm.

Community colleges are facing difficult times. Resources are becoming increasingly scarce, enrollments are growing to unprecedented numbers, the student body is becoming increasingly diverse, the economic downturn continues to have an effect on curriculum and mission, increased demands for accountability are driving decisions, and faculty turnover is rapidly becoming a problem as baby boomers retire.
Eyeing Indonesia Through the Lens of Aceh

Indonesia is at a turning point, poised to either undertake deep reforms successfully or fall into chaos. What happens in Aceh is a barometer of what is to come for the country. Success can most likely be replicated countrywide; failure foreshadows chaos.
An empirical formula for computing the Beckmann-Spizzichino surface reflection loss coefficient

A simple empirical formula is presented for computing the reflection coefficient of a rough-sea surface using windspeed, angle of incidence, and frequency as parameters. The formula closely mimics the Beckmann-Spizzichino loss model, from which is was derived. Error contours are presented, which illustrate the closeness of fit between the two approaches. >
α1-Antitrypsin as model to assess glycan function in endoplasmic reticulum

Abstract It is now understood that a cohesive series of quality control checkpoints ensures the accuracy of gene expression in eukaryotic cells. Although initiated in the nucleus to monitor the integrity of inherited genetic information, the quality control program encompasses post-translational events that facilitate the structural maturation of encoded proteins or target them for degradation if unable to adopt native structure. Given the fact that many genetic mutations actually manifest themselves at the level of aberrant protein structure, a current challenge in the post-genomics era is to elucidate how post-translational checkpoints can modify the severity of numerous loss-of-function and gain-of-toxic-function diseases, possibly influencing an individual’s susceptibility toward the development of the associated pathologies. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the experimental methodology by which α1-antitrypsin has been used as a molecular reagent to define the mechanisms by which the processing and recognition of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides can orchestrate the fate of newly synthesized glycoproteins in the early secretory pathway. The conceptual framework, and associated techniques, can serve as a roadmap for the investigation of other mutated glycoproteins, many of which can contribute to disease.