cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TAMOXIFEN AZIRIDINES: EFFECTIVE INACTIVATORS OF THE ESTROGEN RECEPTOR

Two analogs of the antiestrogen tamoxifen, which bear a chemically reactive aziridine function in place of the dimethylamino group, bind to the estrogen receptor from rat uterus and from MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and appear to react irreversibly with the receptor at the estrogen binding site, in a time-and concentration-dependent fashion. Because these compounds are effective receptor inactivators in uterus and breast cancer cells, they should prove to be useful probes for investigating the role of receptor in regulating cellular responses to estrogen and in studying the dynamics of estrogen receptor synthesis and turnover.
Fabrication of sub-40-nm p-n junctions for 0.18-μm MOS device applications using a cluster-tool-compatible, nanosecond thermal doping technique

In this paper, we introduced an alternative deep-submicrometer doping technology, Projection Gas Immersion Laser Doping (P-GILD). Representing the marriage of lithography and diffusion, P-GILD is a resistless, step-and-repeat doping process that utilizes excimer laser light patterned by a dielectric reticle to selectively heat and, thereby, dope regions of an integrated circuit. Results of physical and electrical characterization are presented for ultra-shallow p{sup +} {minus}n and n{sup +} {minus}p junctions produced by gas immersion laser doping (GILD), a phenomenologically identical technique that utilizes an aluminum contact mask rather than a dielectric reticle to pattern the beam. Junctions produced using GILD exhibit uniformly-doped, abrupt impurity profiles with no apparent defect formation in the silicon. Electrically, sheet and contact resistivities of the ultra-shallow junctions are less than 100{Omega}/sheet and 1 {times} 10{sup {minus}6} {Omega}{sm_bullet}cm{sup 2}, respectively, while n{sup +} {minus}p and p{sup +} {minus}n diodes exhibit nearly ideal forward bias behavior and reverse leakage current densities less than 5 nA/cm{sup 2} at {minus}5V. Uniformity of both diode characteristics and sheet resistance for junctions produced by the step-and-repeat process is also shown to be better than {plus_minus}5% across a 4-inch wafer.
TH‐C‐AUD C‐03: Patient Setup Using 2D Projected Images and Setup Error Estimation

Purpose: Fiducial markers or bone structure are widely used in patient setup for image guided therapies and is also important in interventional radiology. A general approach (“2D‐2D”) for patient setup is based on 2D projected images on the anterior‐posterior (AP) and lateral (LAT) directions. However, it is still an open question to decide the number of fiducial markers required for patient setup, the optimal locations for marker plantation, the selection of fiducial markers versus bone structure, and the error estimations of different setup methods. Our work will address some of these issues and provide quantified information. Method and Materials: Clinical patient setup procedure (“2D‐2D”) is simulated using rigid registration. Least square metric is applied to minimize the alignment error of markers. Registration under different degree of freedom (DOF) are performed, including 3DOF (translation only), 4DOF (translation and AP couch rotation) and 5DOF (translation and rotation on AP and LAT). Registration errors are calculated based on absolute or percentage of missed volume between estimation tumor location and real tumor location. Results: Patient setup errors were investigated using different registration methods under various tumor motion conditions. The results showed that back and forth shifts using alternating projection planes can worsen the true registration of the target center with each “correction” step given target rotation. Second, for off center rotations of five degrees, no alignment can result in smaller errors than 2D‐2D registrations, despite a true translation of the target center. In addition, a 3DOF alignment process performs better against rotational shifts than both 4DOF and 5DOF that allow rotations within the projection planes. Conclusion: The quantitative analysis and setup error estimation using “2D‐2D” registration will provide better guidance for patient setup, which is important for effective radiation treatment of cancer patients.
Identification of the dominant precession-damping mechanism in Fe, Co, and Ni by first-principles calculations

The Landau-Lifshitz equation reliably describes magnetization dynamics using a phenomenological treatment of damping. This Letter presents first-principles calculations of the damping parameters for Fe, Co, and Ni that quantitatively agree with existing ferromagnetic resonance measurements. This agreement establishes the dominant damping mechanism for these systems and takes a significant step toward predicting and tailoring the damping constants of new materials.
Alcohol interventions for trauma patients treated in emergency departments and hospitals: a cost benefit analysis.

Objective: To determine if brief alcohol interventions in trauma centers reduce health care costs.
Treating apraxia of speech (AOS) with EMA-supplied visual augmented feedback

Background: Previous studies have suggested that visual augmented feedback provided by electromagnetic articulography (EMA) helps persons with apraxia of speech (AOS) recover speech motor control following stroke (e.g., Katz et al., 2007). However, the data are few, both in terms of the variety of participants and the speech motor targets investigated. Aims: This study was designed to determine whether EMA supplied feedback improves articulatory accuracy in an adult with acquired AOS. We also examined whether reduced feedback frequency results in (1) decreased performance during acquisition and (2) enhanced maintenance and generalisation of the targeted behaviours. Methods & Procedures: A multiple-baseline across-behaviours design was used to assess the efficacy of this treatment for an individual with AOS. Over a 27-week period, the participant received visual feedback provided by an EMA system for treatment of three groups of speech motor targets (SMTs): /j/, /θ/, and /t∫ / with various following VCs. ...
Mortality increases for octogenarians undergoing esophagogastrectomy for esophageal cancer.

Background As the general population ages, it becomes increasingly important to understand the potential contribution of chronologic age to mortality after esophagectomy. Because this risk is poorly defined, we sought to determine whether extreme age (>80 years) is an independent risk factor after esophagectomy. Methods We analyzed a prospectively maintained, single-institution database of 858 consecutive patients who underwent esophagectomy between January 1996 and May 2005. Data evaluated included patient demographics, medical comorbidity, types of resections performed, length of stay, postoperative adverse events, and overall survival. We used univariate, multivariate, and Kaplan–Meier analysis to determine the influence of age on postoperative morbidity, in-hospital survival, and overall survival. Results Of 858 patients, 31 (10 female, 21 male) were older than 80 years of age. Preliminary analysis indicated that patients younger than 50 years (n = 107) had significantly fewer comorbidities; these were excluded from the analysis. In the remaining 751 patients, the age older than 80 cohort was compared with patients aged 50 to 79. Patients aged 50 to 79 were grouped because of similar characteristics (length of stay, hospital death). There were no significant differences in comorbidities, types of resections, or postoperative complication type or severity between the two groups. Postoperative death, length of stay, and survival, however, were significantly worse in patients older than 80. In a logistic regression model controlling for comorbidity, age older than 80 was significantly associated with increased perioperative mortality (hazard-ratio, 3.9; p Conclusions Patients older than 80 years have increased mortality risk after esophagectomy, independent of comorbidity. Octogenarian status should be a consideration in the management of these patients.
Convergence to equilibrium of the stochastic Heisenberg model

The stochastic Heisenberg model is a probabilistic model of the time evolution of a classical Heisenberg ferromagnet. It is proved that the stochastic process converges to equilibrium at sufficiently high temperatures, and that the equilibrium state is a Gibbs state of the Hamiltonian possessing the global Markov property. The principal technique employed is the expansion of observables on the state space into Laplace series.
Effect of fiber substrates on appearance and removal of aged oily soils

Aging of oily soils produces difficult-to-remove yellow stains on fabrics. This study examines the effect of different textile substrates on yellowing and removal of aged oily soils. Model oily, squalene and artificial sebum, were aged at 40°C on cotton, nylon, and polyester fabrics for 8 wk. Radiotracer and spectrophotometric analyses were used to quantify volatilization and color change of soiled fabrics upon aging as well as soil and color removal after laundering. Differences in volatility of oils from three substrates were insignificant, although cotton and nylon fabrics produced significantly more yellowness than polyester fabrics. Aging of oily soil enhanced detergency from all three fabrics. The largest increase in removal upon aging was found with cotton. Difference in removal from the three substrates became very small after aging. The effect of substrate was pronounced on yellowing due to aging with cotton and nylon having higher yellowness indices. Cotton visually appeared to be cleaner than indicated by the actual amount of residual oil present after washing, whereas nylon had less residual oil present even though it visually appeared more yellow than cotton. For polyester, the amount of residual oil correlated well with appearance after washing. We conclude that discoloration mechanisms differ among cotton, polyester, and nylon substrates. For polyester, discoloration is solely discoloration of oily soil that is physically bound in the fibrous structure, whereas for cotton, discoloration is a result of discoloration of oil as well as additional yellowing caused by retention of chromophores chemically bound to the cotton substrate. In the case of nylon, yellowing of nylon itself is an additional factor contributing to yellowness even though, most of the oil is removed upon washing. These results illustrate the importance of the method of detergency evaluation. Measuring color change in yellowness or reflectance is not the same as oil removal based on a quantitative measurement of soil mass. Thus, it may be necessary to measure both color and quantity of residual soil.
The SeniorWISE Study: Improving Everyday Memory in Older Adults

We tested whether at-risk older adults receiving memory training showed better memory self-efficacy, metamemory, memory performance, and function in instrumental activities of daily living than participants receiving a health promotion training comparison condition. We followed participants for 26 months. The sample was mostly female (79%) and Caucasian (71%), with 17% Hispanics and 12% African Americans; average age was 75 years, and average education was 13 years. The memory training group made greater gains on global cognition and had fewer memory complaints, but both groups generally maintained their performance on the other cognitive measures and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) throughout the 24-month study period. Black and Hispanic participants made greater gains than Whites did on some memory performance measures but not on memory self-efficacy. The unexpected finding that minority elders made the largest gains merits further study. This study contributed to the knowledge base of geropsychiatric nursing by providing evidence for an effective psychosocial intervention that could be delivered by advanced practice nurses.
Effects of a nonionic surfactant (C14–15AE‐7) on aquatic invertebrates in outdoor stream mesocosms

Responses of aquatic invertebrates to a C14–15 linear alcohol ethoxylate (LAE) nonionic surfactant with an average of seven ethylene oxide units per mole of alcohol were evaluated in outdoor stream mesocosms. Two experiments were carried out to evaluate responses of aquatic invertebrates to 28- and 30-d exposures in eight stream mesocosms. Changes in benthic invertebrate densities and in invertebrate drift were monitored during pretreatment, treatment, and posttreatment periods. In Experiment 1, mean measured concentrations of surfactant were 0.08, 0.16, and 0.33 mg LAE/L. In Experiment 2, mean measured concentrations were 0.11, 0.28, and 0.55 mg LAE/L. In each experiment, there were two treated streams at each surfactant concentration and two untreated streams that served as controls. No significant effects (p > 0.05) on population densities of Copepoda, Cladocera, Chironomidae, Nematoda, or Annelida were observed in either experiment. Moreover, no effects were detected on the numbers of any of these organisms collected in drift nets. However, there was a significant decrease (p ≤ 0.05) in the densities of Simuliidae at surfactant concentrations ≥0.16 mg LAE/L. This was accompanied by an increase in the numbers of Simuliidae collected in drift nets. Based on these results, the no-observed-effect concentration for aquatic invertebrates was 0.08 mg LAE/L, and the lowest-observed-effect concentration was 0.16 mg LAE/L.
A spectroscopic study of 1,3-dimethyl-2-(trimethylstannyl)-1,3-diaza-2-boracycloakanes

The vibrational spectra of 1,3-dimethyl-2-(trimethylstannyl)-1,3-diaza-2-boracyclopentane and the corresponding diazacyclohexane derivatives as well as those of some other 1,3-diaza-2-boracycloalkanes have been recorded. Boron-nitrogen valence vibrations are observed in the 1500±10 cm−1 frequency region and boron-tin stretching is assigned near 760 cm−1. These data are discussed in conjunction with the 11B and 1H NMR spectra of the various heterocycles and the tin Mossbauer spectra of the two boron-tin species.
Transferability of semantic functions in contact-induced grammaticalization: The case of Singapore Colloquial English one

Unlike Standard English, one in Singapore Colloquial English (SCE) not only functions as a numeral and a pronoun, it also functions as a nominalizer and a contrastive focus marker. Even though previous studies on SCE one have unequivocally proven that the expanded functions of one were a result of Chinese influence, few have provided an explanation for the non-transferability of the nominal modification marker function. Based on Heine & Kuteva’s (2005) theory that contact-induced grammaticalization conforms to the principles of grammaticalization, this paper argues that an alternative reason why certain functions of Chinese de were not transferred into SCE is due to an absence of ambiguous or bridging contexts, which are mediating conditions for grammaticalization to take place. A detailed analysis of Chinese and English data clearly demonstrates how similarities between one and de create ambiguity in the input of SCE, thereby allowing one to grammaticalize via the mediation of bridging contexts.
Higher-Order Analysis of Nutrient Accumulation Data

Biomass and nutrient accumulation data have often been obtained to determine rates of nutrient uptake. Traditionally calculated as the difference in accumulation divided by elapsed time, rate values thus obtained are slopes of linear interpolations between points on the accumulation curve. That implies an assumption of constant uptake rate during the observation period. Our objective was to illustrate a higherorder interpolant that is not subject to such assumptions. With it, one obtains smooth curves consistent with the assumption that daily uptake rates are somewhat related. The abrupt changes in rates determined with linear interpolation are consistent with daily rates that are unrelated. Analyses of historical and recent data showed that additional information may be obtained from higher-order analysis methods. Cubic interpolation methods were applied to the accumulation curve to obtain continuous, smooth nutrient uptake curves. The programs used are described, and two sample data sets of corn (L.) growth and N accumulation illustrate the strengths, weaknesses, and inherent assumptions of this analytical technique. In general, this technique can be used if the objective is to analyze intraseasonal variation in growth or uptake rates determined from sparse data.
Filling fraction dependent properties of inverse opal metallic photonic crystals

Metallic photonic crystals, metal-based structures with periodicities on the scale of the wavelength of light, have attracted considerable attention due to the potential for new properties, including the possibility of a complete photonic bandgap with reduced structural constraints compared to purely dielectric photonic crystals, unique optical absorption, thermally stimulated emission behavior, and interesting plasmonic physics. Photonic applications may include high-efficiency light sources, chemical detection, and photovoltaic energy conversion. Other applications for 3D porous metals, so-called “metal foams”, include acoustic damping, high strength to weight structures, catalytic materials, and battery electrodes. The photonic properties of metallic inverse opal structures have been of significant interest because of the simplicity of fabrication and potential for large-area structures. However, in practice, experiments on metal inverse opals have been inconclusive, presumably because of structural inhomogeneities due to synthetic limitations. In this work, we demonstrate an electrochemical approach for fabricating high-quality metal inverse opals with complete control over sample thickness, surface topography, and, for the first time, the structural openness (metal filling fraction (FF)). Optical measurements conclusively demonstrate that metal inverse opals modulate the absorption and thermal emission of the metal and that these effects only become 3D in nature at high degrees of structural openness. Various metals, for example, Au, Ag, W, Pt, Pd, Co, Ni, and Zn, have been formed into inverse opals. Here, Ni is selected because of its high reflectivity in the IR, temperature stability, and ease of electrochemical processing. Ni inverse opals are fabricated by using electrodeposition through a polystyrene (PS) opal template that was first deposited on a surface-treated Au film evaporated on a Si wafer. PS opals formed from microspheres ranging in diameter from 460 nm to 2.2 lm were used as templates; this paper focuses on metal inverse opals formed using 2.2 lm microspheres. Templated electrodeposition is observed in all systems; this range of microsphere diameters is not an upper or lower limit. The final thickness of the sample is regulated by controlling the total charge. After electrodeposition, the PS microspheres are removed with tetrahydrofuran, resulting in a Ni inverse opal. Although the electrodeposition is quite homogeneous, gradual thickness variations do occur over the sample surface. These variations turn out to be useful, as they generate regions of different number of layers and surface terminations over the same sample (Fig. 1). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals a direct correspondence between the color, C O M M U N IC A IO N
Improvement of Cloud Thermodynamic Phase Assessment Using Infrared Hyperspectral Measurements

We discuss the difficulties inherent in the bispectral infrared thermodynamic phase retrieval of potentially mixed-phase clouds and how the phase retrievals of these clouds may be improved by including hyperspectral infrared measurements.
A Colorimetric Method for Estimating the Quality of Butter.—A Preliminary Report

Summary A simple method of estimating the quality of butter is described. It consists in dissolving 1ml. of the melted milkfat in chemically pure xylol saturated with the base of neutral red, and comparing the color with standards containing known quantities of oleic acid. The preparation of the base of neutral red is described. The test, which is a measure of the degree of hydrolysis of the butter fat, is found to be of value in quickly detecting bad samples and the majority of fair or good samples of butter, and in adding precision to the judgment of the expert.
An approximation for the bias function of the maximum likelihood estimate of a latent variable for the general case where the item responses are discrete

Lord developed an approximation for the bias function for the maximum likelihood estimate in the context of the three-parameter logistic model. Using Taylor's expansion of the likelihood equation, he obtained an equation that includes the conditional expectation, given true ability, of the discrepancy between the maximum likelihood estimate and true ability. All terms of orders higher thann−1 are ignored wheren indicates the number of items. Lord assumed that all item and individual parameters are bounded, all item parameters are known or well-estimated, and the number of items is reasonably large. In the present paper, an approximation for the bias function of the maximum likelihood estimate of the latent trait, or ability, will be developed using the same assumptions for the more general case where item responses are discrete. This will include the dichotomous response level, for which the three-parameter logistic model has been discussed, the graded response level and the nominal response level. Some observations will be made for both dichotomous and graded response levels.
Are CIO's Any Different? Analyzing the Job Tenures of C-Suite Executives in the Public Sector

We often hear anecdotes that suggest the real meaning of the acronym "CIO" is "career is over," rather than chief information officer. The premise of the quip is that CIOs' career paths and tenure (or survivability) in their positions may not the same as those of other C-suite executives: the chief executive officer (CEO), the chief financial officer (CFO) and the chief operating officer (COO). Is this truly the case? What evidence is available to assert that CIOs exhibit shorter job tenure than their C-suite executive colleagues? This research explores three alternate theoretical interpretations that compare and contrast reasons why team-building, the turbulence of the business and organizational environment, and the gender of the executive appear to have different impacts on the tenures of the different categories of executives. Our empirical research takes advantage of a new data set acquired during Spring 2009 from the State of California that provides information on C-suite executives from 223 state agencies. The data consist of 504 observations of executive tenure, including their start and finish dates, and the relevant variables for their organizational, market and technological environments that permit us to assess their survivability. To conduct this exploratory analysis of the empirical regularities of public sector executive tenure, we utilize statistical methods from epidemiology and public health. Our results cast doubt on many of the enduring beliefs about public sector CIOs by showing the relative infrequency of their job changes and by showing that job changes are, unlike for other C-suite executives, more closely tied to instances of environmental turbulence. In all, this exploratory paper suggests a reexamination of the way that public sector CIOs are viewed relative to other C-suite executives.
Nucleotide action on spontaneous electrical activity of calcium deficient nerve.

In concentrations having no effect on the evoked alpha-A fiber spike, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and several other nucleotides produced antagonism of spontaneous impulses in isolated desheathed frog nerve soaked in Ca free solution. ATP was only slightly more potent than AMP, indicating that high-energy phosphate bonds and Ca complexing are not important for stabilizing action. Furthermore, sub-effective concentrations of Ca potentiated the stabilizing action of ATP to a minimal degree and that of AMP not at all, suggesting a direct action of the nucleotide per se rather than a Ca-nucleotide complex. Ca45 washout experiments showed that the nucleotides did not depress efflux of Ca from nerve axons but, in fact, caused release of Ca. It was proposed that nucleotide stabilization is associated with replacement of nucleotide lost from the excitable membrane into the Ca free medium.
Characteristics of hydroxybenzoic acid‐ethylene terephthalate copolymers and their blends with polystyrene, polycarbonate, and polyethylene terephthalate

We present a basic study of the thermal, dielectric, Theological, and mechanical properties of hydroxybenzoic acid-ethylene terephthalate copolymers (PHB-PET). It is argued that they have two-phase structures, one rich in ethylene terephthalate (PET) and one rich in hydroxybenzoic acid (PHB). Polystyrene (PS) is immiscible in 60% PHB-PET (60-PHB-PET) blends. Polycarbonate (PC) is partially miscible with the high PET phase of 60-PHB-PET. PET seems completely miscible with this high PET phase. Shear viscosity measurements on blends indicate that 60-PHB-PET gives rise to large reductions of viscosity. Extrudates and melt-spun fibers have been prepared. The phase morphologies of low PHB-PET blends as determined by scanning electron microscopy indicate ellipsoids or long fibrils of the, 60-PHB-PET in PS or PC matrices. High extrusion rates and melt spinning produce fibrillar structures. The mechanical properties of films, extrudates, and melt-spun fibers were studied. Blends with 10% 60-PHB-PET exhibited significant increases in Young's modulus and tensile strength.
Some remarks on tautological sheaves on Hilbert schemes of points on a surface

We study tautological sheaves on the Hilbert scheme of points on a smooth quasi-projective algebraic surface by means of the Bridgeland–King–Reid transform. We obtain Brion–Danila’s Formulas for the derived direct image of tautological sheaves or their double tensor product for the Hilbert–Chow morphism; as an application we compute the cohomology of the Hilbert scheme with values in tautological sheaves or in their double tensor product, thus generalizing results previously obtained for tautological bundles.
Compressive Sampling for Feature Specific Compact Imagers

We investigate the use of estimation methods with multi-aperture imaging hardware that are noise robust and able to provide high resolution images from limited measurements.
Non-uniform transmission of supermirror devices for neutron polarization

Polarizing supermirrors have been widely used in neutron scattering facilities where they have been employed as neutron spin filters to polarize neutron beams as well as analyze their polarization. In the past, the performance of polarizing supermirrors has been limited by their small acceptance angle, which made them less suitable for use at short wavelengths or with highly divergent beams. Recent advances in supermirror coatings have led to an array of devices designed to, at least partially, overcome this limitation. V-polarizers and multi-channel polarizers have been employed in several different types of neutron scattering instruments. However, our observations in the field where these types of polarizers are in use have raised concerns about their performance. In this paper, we report on detailed MonteCarlo simulations performed on a multi-channel polarizer used on a prototype Spin-Echo Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SESANS) instrument to better understand its performance. Our results show that careful simulations of polarizers based on mirror reflection are needed to determine whether a particular design is suitable for SESANS applications. Published by Elsevier B.V.
11C-Fallypride: radiosynthesis and preliminary evaluation of a novel dopamine D2/D3 receptor PET radiotracer in non-human primate brain

Abstract Fallypride [benzamide, 5-(3-fluoropropyl)-2,3-dimethoxy-N-[(2S)-1-(2-propenyl)-2-pyrrolidinyl]methyl]-, CAS RN 166173-78-0] is a selective dopamine D2/D3 receptor antagonist. Carbon-11 labeled fallypride may serve as a radiotracer for use in biomedical imaging technique positron emission tomography (PET). The precursor, 5-(3-fluoropropyl)-2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-N-[(2S)-1-(2-propenyl)-2-pyrrolidinyl]methyl]benzamide was synthesized from 2-hydroxy-3-methoxy-5-(2-propenyl)benzoic acid, methyl ester in seven steps with approximately 10% overall chemical yield. Using this precursor 11C-fallypride was produced by radiolabeling with 11C-methyl iodide in 25–40% radiochemical yields with specific activities of 200–1000 Ci/mmol. PET imaging studies in nonhuman primates with 11C-fallypride showed radiotracer localization in dopaminergic brain regions such as caudate, putamen, thalamus and cortex. This regional localization of 11C-fallypride is similar to that observed previously for 18F-fallypride. The results suggest 11C-fallypride is a useful PET radiotracer for imaging dopamine D2/D3 receptors.
Outcomes in octogenarians undergoing high-risk cancer operation: a national study.

Background Current information about outcomes in octogenarians undergoing cancer operations is limited largely to case series from selected centers. Population-based data can provide more realistic estimates of the risks and benefits of operations in this group. Study Design We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing major resections for lung, esophageal, and pancreas cancer. Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (1994 to 2003), we examined operative mortality and discharge disposition in octogenarians (aged 80+ years), relative to younger patients (aged 65 to 69 years) (n = 272,662). We then used the Surveillance and End Results-Medicare–linked database (1992 to 2001) to measure late survival in the elderly (n = 14,088). Results Operative mortality among octogenarians was substantially higher than that of younger patients (aged 65 to 69 years) for all three cancers (esophagectomy, 19.9% versus 8.8%, p Conclusions Population-based outcomes after high-risk cancer operation in octogenarians are considerably worse than typically reported in case series and published survival statistics. Such information might better inform clinical decision making in this high-risk group.
The Transcription Factors NF-κB and AP-1 Are Differentially Regulated in Skeletal Muscle during Sepsis

Abstract Sepsis is associated with increased muscle proteolysis and upregulated transcription of several genes in the ubiquitin-proteasome proteolytic pathway. Glucocorticoids are the most important mediator of sepsis-induced muscle cachexia. Here, we examined the influence of sepsis in rats on the transcription factors NF-κB and AP-1 in skeletal muscle and the potential role of glucocorticoids in the regulation of these transcription factors. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Control rats were sham-operated. NF-κB and AP-1 DNA binding activity was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) in extensor digitorum longus muscles at different time points up to 16 h after sham-operation or CLP. Sepsis resulted in an early (4 h) upregulation of NF-κB activity followed by inhibited NF-κB activity at 16 h. AP-1 binding activity was increased at all time points studied during the septic course. When rats were treated with the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU38486, NF-κB activity increased, whereas AP-1 activity was not influenced by RU38486. The results suggest that NF-κB and AP-1 are differentially regulated in skeletal muscle during sepsis and that glucocorticoids may regulate some but not all transcription factors in septic muscle.
A revisit to the experimental production of gastric ulcers by vascular ligation

Ligation of the antral branch of the left gastric artery and its accompanying vein in the rat, contrary to a previous report, did not result in antral ulcer formation on a purely vascular basis. In vivo microscopic observations demonstrated the excellent vascular anastomoses which result in the maintenance of an adequate circulation.
Radiation therapy for histologically confirmed primary central nervous system germinoma.

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate survival and patterns of recurrence in patients with primary central nervous system germinoma treated with radiation therapy. Methods and Materials: Data regarding 48 patients with histologically confirmed, primary central nervous system germinoma were reviewed. All had been operated on at the Mayo Clinic between the years 1935 and 1993. Thirty-two patients (67%) were treated since 1973. The study group included 39 males and 9 females, with a median age at diagnosis of 17 years (range, 6–42 years). Twelwe patients (25%) were treated with craniospinal axis irradiation, 11 (23%) received whole-brain irradiation without spinal axis irradiation, and 24 (50%) underwent partial-brain irradiation. Treatment volumes were unknown in one patient. The median dose to the primary tumor was 44.00 Gy (range, 7.44–59.40 Gy). The median follow-up was 5.5 years (range, 4 months to 37 years). Results: Actuarial 5-year and 10-year survival for the entire study group of patients was 80%. There was a trend toward improved survival in patients treated after 1973 (introduction of computed tomography) with 5-year and 10-year survival of 91% vs. 63% in prior years ( p = 0.07). For the group of 31 patients treated since 1973 with known treatment volumes, the spinal axis failure rate at 5 years was 49% for patients treated with partial brain fields (11 patients) vs. 0% for those having undergone whole brain (10 patients) or craniospinal axis (10 patients) irradiation ( p = 0.007). The rate of brain failure was also significantly higher in patients receiving less than whole-brain irradiation; at 5 years, 45% of the patients treated with partial-brain fields had intracranial recurrence of disease compared to 6% of patients treated with craniospinal axis or whole-brain irradiation ( p = 0.01). Among the 32 modern era patients, the rate of brain failure was higher in patients who received doses less than 40 Gy (median dose, 48.55 Gy; range, 30.60-59.40 Gy) to the primary tumor (5-year brain failure rate 52% vs. 11%, p = 0.002). Conclusion: The long-term survival of patients with histologically proven CNS germinoma treated with radiation is excellent. Whole-brain or craniospinal axis irradiation appears to result in fewer spine and brain failures than does partial-brain irradiation. Furthermore, the administration of doses greater than 40 Gy to the primary tumor is associated with better local control.
Economic Education: An Effective Vehicle for Making International Connections:

This article describes and evaluates an international educational project involving K-12 and higher education faculty, students, and administration from South Dakota and Costa Rica. This project was implemented in order to create an economic education infrastructure in Costa Rica, link the new infra-structure to South Dakota schools, and develop a technology-based curriculum to be piloted in K-12 schools in South Dakota and Costa Rica. The article includes a project history, project description, evaluation of impact, and ‘lessons learned’. The project builds a model that has potential to be used in other countries, states, and subject areas.
Responses in vitro of peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with myasthenia gravis to stimulation with human acetylcholine receptor α-chain peptides: Analysis in relation to age, thymic abnormality, and ethnicity

Peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) were isolated from 24 patients with myasthenia gravis of three ethnic groups (Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic) and ten healthy individuals. We determined the in vitro proliferative responses of the PBL samples to each of 18 overlapping synthetic peptides corresponding to the entire main extracellular domain (residues 1–210) of the α-subunit of human acetylcholine receptor. The profiles of the T-cell responses (expressed in stimulation index [SI]) to the peptides varied among the 24 patient samples. There was a significant difference in the overall patient responses relative to controls toward 17 of 18 peptides. T cells from the patients gave responses greater than control mean SI + 4 standard deviation (ZSI > 4) to 2∼9 peptides/sample. Six peptides, α23–38, α34–49, α78–93, α122–138, α146–162, and α182–198, were recognized with Z > 4 level by 42% to 58% of the patients’ PBLs. The grouped patient responses, divided according to age, thymic diagnosis, or ethnicity, were compared with controls and with each other. Significant differences were observed between early- and late-onset cases in recognition of residues α34–49 (p = 0.015) and α78–93 (p = 0.053), and in recognition of residues α12–27, α56–71, α134–150, and α146–162 (0.0072 < p < 0.064) when two ethnic groups were compared with each other.
THE CREATION OF PATRIARCHY IN JAPAN: WAKITA HARUKO'S “WOMEN IN MEDIEVAL JAPAN” FROM A COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE

Wakita Haruko. Women in Medieval Japan: Motherhood, Household Management and Sexuality. Translated by Alison Tokita. Clayton, Australia: Monash Asia Institute and Tokyo: University of Tokyo Press, 2006.
Coexistence of Inversion 16 and the Philadelphia Chromosome in Acute and Chronic Myeloid Leukemias Report of Six Cases and Review of Literature

We report 5 cases of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and 1 case of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with the dual presence of t(9;22) and inv(16). The 6 patients were 5 men and 1 woman with a median age of 42.5 years. All cases were BCR-ABL+ with p210 products detected in all CML cases and a p190 product detected in the AML case. An increase in bone marrow eosinophils was detected in 3 of 5 cases, and abnormal eosinophils were identified in these 3 cases. The CBFβMYH11 fusion gene was confirmed in all 3 CML cases and the 1 AML case tested, and this correlated with the presence of abnormal eosinophils with coarse basophilic granules. Of 5 patients with CML, 4 had a rapid transformation to myeloid accelerated phase of blast crisis. The coexistence of t(9;22) and inv(16) in CML seems to correlate with more rapid transformation. The coexistence of the Philadelphia chromosome (Ph+) and an inversion of chromosome 16 [inv(16)] in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is rare, and only limited numbers of cases are reported. 1-7 However, the presence of chromosome 16 abnor
How believing in affirmative action quotas affects White women’s self-image

Abstract Believing that affirmative action entails quotas may both help and hurt White women’s self-image – contingent on whether they perceive themselves as beneficiaries of affirmative action. Consistent with research on the affirmative action “stigma of incompetence” ( Heilman, Block, & Lucas, 1992 ), White women who think of themselves as affirmative action beneficiaries may report a more negative self-image the more they believe that affirmative action entails quota procedures. Conversely, White women who do not think of themselves as beneficiaries of affirmative action may report a more positive self-image as a function of quota beliefs, consistent with research suggesting that non-beneficiaries can derive self-image benefits from maintaining the belief that affirmative action entails quotas ( Unzueta, Lowery, & Knowles, 2008 ). Two studies provide evidence for the benefits of quota beliefs on White women’s self-image, but no support for the stigma of incompetence perspective. The lack of support for the stigma of incompetence perspective suggests that self-stigmatization may occur only under operationalizations of affirmative action that explicitly inform beneficiaries that they were selected on the basis of demographics and not merit. Absent such an operationalization, the affirmative action self-stigma may not emerge.
Ethanol as a reinforcer: Effects of fixed-ratio size and food deprivation

Rats having prior experience with ethanol drinking were subjected to geometrically increasing fixed-ratio (FR) schedules of ethanol reinforcement (8% W/V). The rats were tested first food deprived and then food satiated. Each third day ethanol was the reinforcer (0.25 ml/reinforcement), while on other days water, which served as the vehicle control, was available. Food satiating the rats decreased responding for ethanol whereas responding for water was not changed. Under both food conditions ethanol maintained responding at FR's up to 256 with response totals exceeding water control values. As the FR size increased to intermediate values, the number of ethanol responses increased. Further FR increases resulted in decreases in ethanol responding. The pattern of FR responding was similar to that maintained by other reinforcers. Maximum ethanol responding occurred at the beginning of the 6-h sessions, followed by a pause and then intermittent bursts of responding. Water responding was not characterized by a specific pattern. It was inferred that the odor of ethanol functioned as a discriminative stimulus, and it was concluded that ethanol served as a reinforcer for the rat.
Brief paper: An efficient fixed-lag smoothing algorithm for discrete linear systems

The modified Bryson-Frazier fixed interval smoothing algorithm [6], is an addendem to the Kalman filter. This algorithm when applied to the problem of fixed-lag smoothing is computationally more efficient than the algorithms recently reported in refs. [1-3]. Features of the algorithm are ease of implentation, computational efficiency, reduced storage requirements, and stability.
CHARACTERISTICS OF WOMEN IN TRADITIONAL AND NON-TRADITIONAL MANAGERIAL ROLES

This study investigated characteristics which distinguish women who choose traditional as opposed to non-traditional careers and who function at differing occupational levels. 156 nurses represented the traditional sample, and 147 women in business and industrial positions in which 20% or fewer of the job incumbents were female comprised the non-traditional career group. The women were matched according to age and education across three occupational levels. It was determined that women as a group in non-traditional business roles as compared to the traditionals were more achieving, emphasized production more, saw themsleves as having characteristics more like managers and men, and saw no self-characteristics which conflicted with those ascribed to male managers. The business women considered the domestic role as less important, had fewer children, and fewer children living at home, than did the nurses. The two groups did not differ in their attitude toward the importance of their careers, their perceptions of their husband's attitudes, nor in the education level of their spouse and parents. These findings lead to the conclusion that leadership attributes and behavior of women do vary between organizational settings and across occupational levels in predictable ways.
Markov Chain Modeling of Sequences of Lagged NWP Ensemble Probability Forecasts: An Exploration of Model Properties and Decision Support Applications

Abstract It is shown that sequences of lagged ensemble-derived probability forecasts can be treated as being realizations of a discrete, finite-step Markov chain. A reforecast ensemble dataset is used to explore this idea for the case in which the Markov chain has 12 states and 15 steps and the probability forecasts are for the event for which the 500-hPa geopotential height exceeds the climatological value at a specified point. Results suggest that the transition probabilities of the Markov chain are best modeled as first order if they are obtained from the reforecast ensemble dataset using maximum likelihood estimation. Most of the first-order-estimated transition probabilities are statistically significant. Also, the transition probabilities are inhomogeneous, and all states in the chain communicate. A variety of potential decision support applications for the Markov chain parameters are highlighted. In particular, the transition probabilities allow calculation of the conditional probability of taking ...
Vascular dysfunction precedes hypertension associated with a blood pressure locus on rat chromosome 12

We previously isolated a 6.1-Mb region of SS/Mcwi (Dahl salt-sensitive) rat chromosome 12 (13.4–19.5 Mb) that significantly elevated blood pressure (BP) (Δ+34 mmHg, P < 0.001) compared with the SS-...
Cell-type specific inactivation of hippocampal CA1 disrupts location-dependent object recognition in the mouse.

The allatostatin receptor (AlstR)/ligand inactivation system enables potent regulation of neuronal circuit activity. To examine how different cell types participate in memory formation, we have used this system through Cre-directed, celltype specific expression in mouse hippocampal CA1 in vivo and examined functional effects of inactivation of excitatory vs. inhibitory neurons on memory formation. We chose to use a hippocampus-dependent behavioral task involving location-dependent object recognition (LOR). The double transgenic mice, with the AlstRs selectively expressed in excitatory pyramidal neurons or inhibitory interneurons, were cannulated, targeting dorsal hippocampus to allow the infusion of the receptor ligand (the allatostatin [AL] peptide) in a time dependent manner. Compared to control animals, AL-infused animals showed no long-term memory for object location. While inactivation of excitatory or inhibitory neurons produced opposite effects on hippocampal circuit activity in vitro, the effects in vivo were similar. Both types of inactivation experiments resulted in mice exhibiting no long-term memory for object location. Together, these results demonstrate that the Cre-directed, AlstR-based system is a powerful tool for cell-type specific manipulations in a behaving animal and suggest that activity of either excitatory neurons or inhibitory interneurons is essential for proper long-term object location memory formation. [Supplemental material is available for this article.]
Mutation of the RIIβ Subunit of Protein Kinase A Prevents Diet-Induced Insulin Resistance and Dyslipidemia in Mice

The mechanisms by which obesity contributes to diabetic phenotypes remain unclear. We evaluated the role of protein kinase A (PKA) signaling events in mediating diabetes associated with obesity. PKA comprises two regulatory subunits and two catalytic subunits and is activated by cAMP. The RIIβ regulatory subunit is abundantly expressed in adipose tissue and brain. Knockout mice lacking this subunit are lean and display remarkable resistance to diet-induced obesity. We investigated whether these mice were also resistant to diet-induced diabetes and whether this effect was dependent on reduced adiposity. Mice were fed a high-fat, high-carbohydrate diet and weight gain and diabetes phenotypes were examined. RIIβ −/− mice displayed decreased body weights, reduced insulin levels, improved insulin sensitivity, and improved total-body glucose disposal as compared with wild-type controls. Plasma levels of VLDL and LDL cholesterol were also reduced in high fat–fed RIIβ −/− mice compared with wild-type mice. Taken together, these data demonstrate that loss of RIIβ protects mice from diet-induced obesity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia.