cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Studies on Human DNA Polymerase ϵ and GINS Complex and Their Role in DNA Replication

In eukaryotic cells, DNA replication is carried out by the coordinated action of three DNA polymerases (Pols), Pol α, δ, and ϵ. In this report, we describe the reconstitution of the human four-subunit Pol ϵ and characterization of its catalytic properties in comparison with Pol α and Pol δ. Human Pol ϵ holoenzyme is a monomeric complex containing stoichiometric subunit levels of p261/Pol 2, p59, p17, and p12. We show that the Pol ϵ p261 N-terminal catalytic domain is solely responsible for its ability to catalyze DNA synthesis. Importantly, human Pol (hPol) ϵ was found more processive than hPol δ in supporting proliferating cell nuclear antigen-dependent elongation of DNA chains, which is in keeping with proposed roles for hPol ϵ and hPol δ in the replication of leading and lagging strands, respectively. Furthermore, GINS, a component of the replicative helicase complex that is composed of Sld5, Psf1, Psf2, and Psf3, was shown to interact weakly with all three replicative DNA Pols (α, δ, and ϵ) and to markedly stimulate the activities of Pol α and Pol ϵ. In vivo studies indicated that siRNA-targeted depletion of hPol δ and/or hPol ϵ reduced cell cycle progression and the rate of fork progression. Under the conditions used, we noted that depletion of Pol ϵ had a more pronounced inhibitory effect on cellular DNA replication than depletion of Pol δ. We suggest that reduction in the level of Pol δ may be less deleterious because of its collision-and-release role in lagging strand synthesis.
Radar Target Profiling and Recognition Based on TSI-Optimized Compressive Sensing Kernel

The design of wideband radar systems is often limited by existing analog-to-digital (A/D) converter technology. State-of-the-art A/D rates and high effective number of bits result in rapidly increasing cost and power consumption for the radar system. Therefore, it is useful to consider compressive sensing methods that enable reduced sampling rate, and in many applications, prior knowledge of signals of interest can be learned from training data and used to design better compressive measurement kernels. In this paper, we use a task-specific information-based approach to optimizing sensing kernels for highresolution radar range profiling of man-made targets. We employ a Gaussian mixture (GM) model for the targets and use a Taylor series expansion of the logarithm of the GM probability distribution to enable a closed-form gradient of information with respect to the sensing kernel. The GM model admits nuisance parameters such as target pose angle and range translation. The gradient is then used in a gradient-based approach to search for the optimal sensing kernel. In numerical simulations, we compare the performance of the proposed sensing kernel design to random projections and to lower-bandwidth waveforms that can be sampled at the Nyquist rate. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed technique for sensing kernel design can significantly improve performance.
Unaccounted Foundations: Black Girls, Anti-Black Racism, and Punishment in Schools

For nearly three decades, racial formations theory has influenced ideas, discourses and political projects surrounding race and racism in the United States. The theory holds that although race is a...
Quality of life in adult home parenteral nutrition patients.

Background: Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) is life-sustaining therapy in some disease states. Patients, however, report alterations in physical, psychologic, and social function that negatively affect perceived quality of life (QOL). Many generic tools have been used to evaluate QOL during HPN, but there is no gold standard measurement. QOL improvement can only result from identifying and addressing patient-specific problems. The purpose of this study was to identify the tools used by others to measure QOL in adults receiving long-term HPN and to identify factors that affect QOL in this population. Methods: An electronic search of CINAHL, MEDLINE, and Health and Psychosocial Instruments databases was conducted to identify studies of HPN and QOL in adults. Results: Thirty-four publications on HPN and QOL were identified. Twenty-four studies of HPN and QOL were included in this review; 10 papers were review articles or editorials. QOL was worse in HPN patients compared with healthy populations. Impaired QO...
Reading Capital for the Socializing Politics of Globalization

The prospects for politics at a world scale are a casualty in the polarizing discussions that too often characterize reflections on globalization. The three volumes of Marx's Capital are taken as a field in which to mine a conception of the socializing effects of what is often treated as global finance's sweeping reign. This reading is used to understand recent financial developments in an effort to return a redesigned conception of socialism to the political arena.
What legal risks should mental health care providers take during disasters

© 2012 Washington School of Psychiatry Edmund G. Howe, M.D., J.D., is Professor of Psychiatry, Director of Programs in Ethics, and Senior Scientist at the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress at the Uniformed Services of the University of the Health Science (USUHS) in Bethesda, Maryland. Address correspondence to Edmund Howe, M.D., Department of Psychiatry, USUHS, 4301 Jones Bridge Road, Bethesda, MD 20814. E-mail: Edmund.howe@usuhs.edu Commentary on “Practical Legal and Ethical Considerations” Howe
Multi-resource characterization and their (in)dependencies in production datacenters

Performance studies on datacenter usage are usually limited (and perhaps even biased) due to the scale of the respective studies. In this paper, we present an extensive field study of several in-production datacenters that have been observed during a two-year time period. We present an extensive workload characterization study that sheds lights on the primary features of typical datacenter workloads, by focusing on how basic resources such as CPU, memory, and disk are used and their inter-dependencies across time. The outcome of this field study are baseline workloads that can be used to model, calibrate, manage, and plan resource management of future datacenters.
Relationships Between the Body Mass Index and Body Composition

The aims of this study were to evaluate the Body Mass Index (BMI) (weight/stature2) as a proxy for percent body fat (%BF) and to determine its association with fat-free mass (FFM). Multivariate analysis of variance and partial correlations were used to examine relationships between BMI and %BF and FFM from densitometry for 504 men and 511 women, aged 20 to 45 years. Sensitivity/specificity analyses used cut offs of 28 kg/m2 in men and 26 kg/m2 in women for BMI, and 25% in men and 33% in women for %BF. Significantly higher associations existed in each gender between BMI and %BF in the upper BMI tertile than in the lower BMI tertiles. In the lower BMI tertiles, correlations between BMI and FFM were approximately twice as large as those between BMI and %BF. The BMI correctly identified about 44% of obese men, and 52% of obese women when obesity was determined from %BF. BMI is an uncertain diagnostic index of obesity. Results of Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) analyses using %BF and total body fat, both provided a BMI of 25 kg/m2 in men and 23 kg/m2 in women as diagnostic screening cut offs for obesity.
Interpretation of Negative Transference in Nonanalytic Settings

This article presents a technique and attitude for dealing with problem or difficult patients, utilizing concepts generated from psychoanalysis for use in settings or contexts that are nonpsychoanalytic. The concepts of transference, counter-transference, resistance, and interpretation of transference are defined for use in nonanalytic contexts. The process of formulation of interpretations, and modes of patient response in nonanalytic contexts are discussed and illustrated with clinical examples. The possible benefits and limitations of this way of relating to problem patients are also discussed from clinical and theoretical perspectives.
The hodges residence: the first ten years

SYNOPSIS The Hodges Residence is a superinsulated direct gain passive solar home in Ames, Iowa (latitude 42.0°N, longitude 93.8°W). The architect was David A. Block, A.I.A., and the solar system was designed by Block and Laurent Hodges. The home was designed in 1978 and built in 1978–1979; it was a winner in the 1978 National Passive Solar Residential Design Competition. A notable feature of the home was its innovative use of concrete cored slabs as heat storage. The home has been occupied for ten years and has proved to have a very low Home Heating Index of less than 0.7W/°Cm2 (3 Btu/°-Fday ft2). The performance of the home during its first ten years of occupancy, its economics, and occupant reactions are described.
The kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of reduced spinach ferredoxin by molecular oxygen and its reduced products

Abstract Reduced spinach ferredoxin reacts with molecular oxygen in an autocatalytic reaction characterized by a hyperbolic dependence on oxygen concentration. The kinetics of the reaction indicate formation of a reduced ferredoxin-oxygen intermediate complex and production of superoxide anion which may also react with reduced ferredoxin. Hydrogen peroxide, which is formed from superoxide, in turn reoxidizes reduced ferredoxin at a rate nearly 10-times faster than that of the comparable reaction with oxygen. The kinetics of reaction of hydrogen peroxide with reduced ferredoxin are biphasic. The substrate dependence of the first phase of the reaction is consistent with a simple one-step equilibrium reaction. The second phase of the reaction could be eliminated by addition of the radical trapper, sodium formate.
A Simple Regularization of the Polynomial Interpolation for the Resolution of the Runge Phenomenon

A polynomial interpolation based on a uniform grid yields the well-known Runge phenomenon, where maximum error is unbounded for functions with complex roots in the Runge zone. In this paper, we investigate the Runge phenomenon with the finite precision operation. We first show that the maximum error is bounded because of round-off errors inherent to the finite precision operation. Then we propose a simple truncation method based on the truncated singular value decomposition. The method consists of two stages: In the first stage, a new interpolating matrix is constructed using the assumption that the function is analytic. The new interpolating matrix is preconditioned using the statistical filter method. In the second stage, a truncation procedure is applied such that singular values of the new interpolating matrix are truncated if they are equal to or lower than a certain tolerance level. We generalize the method, by analyzing the singular vectors of both the original and new interpolation matrices based on the assumption in the first stage. We show that the structure of the singular vectors makes the first stage essential for an accurate reconstruction of the original function. Numerical examples show that exponential decay of the error can be achieved if an appropriate truncation is chosen.
Symmetrically localized frames and the removal of subsets of positive density

The theorems of Balan, Casazza, Heil, and Landau concerning the removal of sets of positive density from frames with positive excess are extended using a more general, symmetric concept of localization of frames.
Erythrocyte metabolism in the goat

Abstract 1. 1. Enzymes and glycolytic intermediates were measured in the erythrocytes of the goat, Capra hirctu. 2. 2. Most of the enzyme activities were found to be higher than those reported for sheep. 3. 3. The mean value of erythrocyte reduced glutathione (GSH) was 2.54 μmoles/g. Hb. and the mean GSH regeneration rate was 0.323 μmoles GSH/min/g. Hb. 4. 4. Our data from relatively few animals indicate that goat erythrocytes do not exhibit GSH polymorphism.
Evaluation of anticoagulation therapy in an academic nursing home

Objective:To evaluate the warfarin management patterns in an academic nursing home and evaluate what predetermined factors are associated with variability in the international normalized ratio (INR).Setting:A 566-bed academic nursing home.Methods:A retrospective chart review of all residents receiving warfarin therapy for >3 consecutive months in a calendar year was conducted. Data were collected regarding the number of times the INR fluctuated during the follow-up period and the degree of fluctuation between each blood sampling. An INR that changed by 0.5–0.99 between samplings was classified as a small fluctuation; a change >0.99 was defined as a large fluctuation. The sample was divided into 2 groups, easy management and difficult management, based on variability in the INR. The easy-management group consisted of residents who had small fluctuations in the INR and who had INRs outside of the therapeutic range ≤10% of the time. The difficult- management group had large fluctuations in the INR, with the ...
Racial differences in the patterns of preterm delivery in central North Carolina, USA.

Summary. In order to assess racial differences in rates of idiopathic preterm labour, preterm premature rupture of membranes, and medically indicated preterm delivery, the authors analysed data on 388 preterm (< 37 completed weeks of gestation) births (7.9% of all births) occurring between 1 September 1988 and 31 August 1989, in three central North Carolina counties. The crude relative risk (RR) of preterm birth among black women compared with white women was 2.6 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.1, 3.1]. With adjustment for age, gravidity, marital status, education, and county of residence, the estimated relative risk for black women compared with white women was 2.1 (95% CI 1.1,4.1) for medically indicated preterm delivery, 1.6 (95% CI 1.1,2.3) for preterm birth as a result of preterm labour, and 1.9 (95% CI 1.2,3.1) for preterm premature rupture of membranes. Compared with white women, black women were at the highest risk of a preterm birth before 34 weeks of gestation (RR = 2.9; 95% CI 1.8, 4.7). The risk of medically indicated preterm delivery at 36 weeks was considerably higher for black women than for white women (RR = 3.4; 95% CI 1.1,10.2). For a better understanding and ultimately a reduction of the risk for preterm delivery among black women, investigation of specific aetiological pathways and gestational age groups may be required.
In vivo effects of a thymosin α1-containing colostral whey product on neutrophils and lymphocytes from lactating cows without and with experimentally induced Staphylococcus aureus mastitis

Two separate experiments evaluated ID-1 (a commercial bovine whey product containing 5200 pg of thymosin α1/ml) as an immunotherapeutic agent in lactating cows. In the first experiment, cows without mastitis were evaluated for blood leukogram, milk production, total and differential milk cell counts, lymphocyte (Lc) blastogenesis, and neutrophil (PMN) functions (random and directed migration under agarose, chemiluminescence, ingestion of bacteria, iodination, cytochrome C reduction, antibody-independent neutrophil-mediated cytotoxicity, and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity) before and after ID-1 therapy. ID-1 treatment resulted in a significant treatment group by time period interaction for the relative proportion of mononuclear cells (MNC) in milk (P<0.009) and for PMN random migration (P<0.01). Based on these interactions, ID-1 treatment appeared to slightly increase the proportion of small MNC in milk and to increase random migration from pretreatment levels by 73% more than increases observed in controls. No significant effect of ID-1 treatment on milk production, total milk somatic cell counts, Lc blastogenesis, or other PMN functions was observed. In cows with experimental Staphylococcus aureus intramammary infections, ID-1 treatment resulted in a significant decline in blood leukocyte count (P<0.001) and blood PMN count (P<0.02), and maintained PMN random migration (P<0.01) while controls declined and abrogated a depression in the ability of Lc to respond to mitogens (P<0.05) that developed in controls as a result of S. aureus mastitis. Injection of ID-1 into cows had no adverse effect on their overall health or level of milk production, but did cause subtle and potentially favorable changes in several in vitro immune parameters. In spite of these subtle changes which might indicate increased resistance to mastitis, cows actually developed a more severe S. aureus intramammary infection based on a 9% increase in log10 bacterial shedding in milk.
Vagal control of digestion: modulation by central neural and peripheral endocrine factors

Vago-vagal reflex control circuits in the dorsal vagal complex of the brainstem provide overall coordination over digestive functions of the stomach, small intestine and pancreas. The neural components forming these reflex circuits are under significant descending neural control. By adjusting the excitability of the different components of the reflex, alterations in digestion control can be produced by the central nervous system. Additionally, the dorsal vagal complex is situated within a circumventricular region without an effective "blood-brain barrier". As a result, vago-vagal reflex circuitry is also exposed to humoral influences which profoundly alter digestive functions by acting directly on brainstem neurons. Behavioral and endocrine physiological observations suggest that this "humoral afferent pathway" may significantly alter the regulation of food intake.
Diffusion-induced grain boundary migration in an irradiated Ti-modified austenitic stainless steel

Abstract A Ti-modified stainless steel recrystallizes during neutron irradiation at a temperature of 923 K. Cold-worked grains differ from recrystallized grains not only in their dislocation density, but also in their composition and precipitate content. The observed recrystallization is described by a diffusion-induced grain boundary migration process.
Effects of transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement on the hemodynamic and ventricular response to exercise in patients with obstructed right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery conduits.

Objectives This study sought to investigate the effects of exercise on the right ventricle in patients with an obstructed right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) conduit before and after transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR). Background Conventionally, assessment of the right ventricle in congenital heart disease patients with dysfunctional RVOT conduits is performed at rest. However, this does not reflect dynamic exercise changes. Methods Exercise stress echocardiography (ESE) before and 6 months after TPVR was performed. ESE protocol included measurement of rest and immediate post-exercise RVOT maximal instantaneous gradients (MIGs), right ventricular (RV) systolic pressure, 2-dimensional fractional area change, and global longitudinal strain (GLS). Results Twenty patients with RVOT conduit obstruction (median age, 18 years), the majority (n = 14) with tetralogy of Fallot, completed the study. Pre-TPVR, the median resting MIG across the RVOT was 53 mm Hg (23 to 95 mm Hg) and increased to 93 mm Hg (49 to 156 mm Hg; p o 2 after TPVR (p = 0.01). Conclusions In patients with obstructed RVOT conduits, TPVR resulted in significant improvement in conduit stenosis and RV function at both rest and at peak exercise and in exercise cardiopulmonary function. The ability to augment RV function at peak exercise before TPVR was associated with improved exercise capacity 6 months after TPVR.
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the setting of locally advanced olfactory neuroblastoma with intracranial extension

Olfactory neuroblastoma (esthesioneuroblastoma) is a rare malignant tumor of neuroectodermal origin. With only about 1,000 cases reported, there are no clear guidelines regarding management of this disease. Intracranial extension and orbital involvement have been shown to be independent risk factors associated with poorer outcomes. We hereby report a case of a 46-year old male presented with an 8-month history of progressive nasal obstruction and intermittent right-sided epistaxis associated with anosmia and increased pressure sensation in and around the right eye. Further evaluation revealed a large enhancing heterogeneous cystic and solid mass in the right nasal cavity measuring 5.0×5.3×4.6 cm with extension superiorly into the anterior cranial fossa and frontal lobes, ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses. A biopsy of this mass confirmed high grade olfactory neuroblastoma. Because of the intra-cranial extension, a decision was made to start neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin and etoposide. The patient had very good response to this treatment on a repeat imaging study and went on to have resection of this mass. Post-operatively, he received radiation therapy to the tumor bed and 2 more cycles of chemotherapy. He has been followed now for more than 8 months with no evidence of disease recurrence.
Structural and mechanistic characterization of L-histidinol phosphate phosphatase from the polymerase and histidinol phosphatase family of proteins.

l-Histidinol phosphate phosphatase (HPP) catalyzes the hydrolysis of l-histidinol phosphate to l-histidinol and inorganic phosphate, the penultimate step in the biosynthesis of l-histidine. HPP from the polymerase and histidinol phosphatase (PHP) family of proteins possesses a trinuclear active site and a distorted (β/α)7-barrel protein fold. This group of enzymes is closely related to the amidohydrolase superfamily of enzymes. The mechanism of phosphomonoester bond hydrolysis by the PHP family of HPP enzymes was addressed. Recombinant HPP from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis that was expressed in Escherichia coli contained a mixture of iron and zinc in the active site and had a catalytic efficiency of ∼103 M–1 s–1. Expression of the protein under iron-free conditions resulted in the production of an enzyme with a 2 order of magnitude improvement in catalytic efficiency and a mixture of zinc and manganese in the active site. Solvent isotope and viscosity effects demonstrated that proton transfer steps an...
The Entrainment and Deposition of Fine-Grained Sediments in Lake Erie

A series of entrainment and deposition experiments was performed with the general purpose of increasing our understanding of the parameters on which entrainment and deposition depend and the specific purpose of obtaining entrainment rates for a variety of sediments from the western basin of Lake Erie. The experiments were performed in an annular flume. A rotating top produced a turbulent flow which in turn exerted a turbulent shear stress on the sediments deposited on the bottom of the flume. Four different sediments from the western basin of Lake Erie were analyzed. Large variations in entrainment and deposition rates occurred and are shown to be dependent on the shear stress, water content (time after deposition), the type of sediment (grain size and mineralogy), and the manner of deposition. In the interpretation of the experiments, it is necessary to consider the frequency distribution of sediment properties as well as the average properties.
Adolescent abortions in the United States.

Despite the fact that adolescent females have a more negative reaction to abortion than older women, they are apparently more likely to use legal abortion to prevent unplanned births. The most important variable affecting abortions among teenagers is the significantly later gestational age at which their procedures are performed. After adjusting for this factor, teenagers have generally lower morbidity and mortality rates from legally induced abortions than do older women. The scientific literature is inconclusive about whether present abortion methods will have any harmful effects on subsequent desired pregnancies. Current efforts to restrict abortion services for teenagers will probably produce a negative public health impact by encouraging delay in obtaining abortions after deciding to terminate a pregnancy.
Optimization of unnatural base pair packing for polymerase recognition.

As part of an effort to expand the genetic alphabet, we have been examining the ability of predominately hydrophobic nucleobase analogues to pair in duplex DNA and during polymerase-mediated replication. We previously reported the synthesis and thermal stability of unnatural base pairs formed between nucleotides bearing simple methyl-substituted phenyl ring nucleobase analogues. Several of these pairs are virtually as stable and selective as natural base pairs in the same sequence context. Here, we report the characterization of polymerase-mediated replication of the same unnatural base pairs. We find that every facet of replication, including correct and incorrect base pair synthesis, as well as continued primer extension beyond the unnatural base pair, is sensitive to the specific methyl substitution pattern of the nucleobase analogue. The results demonstrate that neither hydrogen bonding nor large aromatic surface area is required for polymerase recognition, and that interstrand interactions between sm...
The pharmacology of 1-cyclohexyl-1-phenyl-3-pyrrolidino-1-propanol methsulfate, compound 14045, a new parasympathetic depressant.

1-Cyclohexyl-1-phenyl-3-pyrrolidino-1-propanol methsulfate has been found to be a drug which possesses marked anticholinergic activity. This was particularly true for the gastrointestinal tract of anesthetized or trained animals. It also is shown to have pharmacological properties similar to many of the atropine substitutes. It inhibited gastric and salivary secretions and caused dilatation of the pupils. With relatively high doses sympathetic ganglionic blockade and a curare-like paralysis could be demonstrated. Toxicity studies indicated that the drug was much more toxic by vein than atropine but about equally toxic by mouth. Three-month subacute toxicity studies revealed the drug to be well tolerated by rats and dogs.
McBook: The Reader's Digest condensed books franchise

DeWitt and Lila Acheson Wallace began publishing theReader's Digest magazine in 1921. In the spring of 1950 their Reader's Digest Association launched the Reader's Digest Condensed Books direct-mail subscription series. More than 213 volumes have been published, as well as many other series and sets of condensed books. The Condensed Books series holds a unique and ubiquitous book publishing franchise that has vanquished all competitors. Like many other franchises, the Condensed Books are sold directly to the consumer, have a consistent and standardized format and quality, are mass-marketed, heavily promoted, and a popular product.
Holographic Scanners With An Aspherical Auxiliary Reflector

ABSTRACTThe special capabilities of 2 -D holographic scanners are described.The use of an aspherical AR to optimize the scanner resolution is proposed.IntroductionHolographic laser beam scanners using an auxiliary reflector (AR)offer many advantages in scanning applications 111. Two most important advan-tages are that the scanning beam is normal to the surface to be scanned and that a raster. (2 -D) scan can he very easily performed with a simple rotation 121. The characteristics of 2 -D scanning for scanners using a convex AR are now wellunderstood (21. High resolution is essential and desirable for many practicalapplications, such as computer input /output devices for data and graphics, andlong -wavelength devices for infrared (31, millimeter wave and ultrasonic scan-ning. In the case of visible optical wavelengths, high resolution can beachieved by means of highly corrected projection lenses (21. However, the sui- tuation is different for longwave scanners because lenses of sufficient qualityare not readily available. Also from the cost point of view, the high resolu-
Nonlinear Optical Reflection and Transmission in Overdense Plasmas

We show that our previous exact standing-wave solutions of the Maxwell cold-plasma equations may be generalized to describe partially reflected waves. Using these solutions, we find the transmission and reflection coefficients for intense circularly polarized light incident on a plasma slab. (AIP)
Hydrogenolysis of glycerol over carbon-supported Ru and Pt catalysts

Commercial carbon-supported Ru and Pt catalysts were evaluated in the batchwise hydrogenolysis of glycerol in aqueous solution at 473 K and 40 bar H2, with and without added base. At neutral pH, Ru was more active than Pt at converting glycerol to glycols. However, Ru favored the production of ethylene glycol over propylene glycol and also catalyzed methane formation. Although less active, Pt catalyzed propylene glycol formation with high selectivity. Addition of base enhanced the reactivity of Pt to a greater extent than Ru, but lactate formation was significant at high pH in the presence of either Pt or Ru. The cleavage of CC bonds leading to the formation of ethylene glycol from glycerol is proposed to occur primarily through a metal-catalyzed reaction on Ru, whereas this cleavage is thought to occur through a base-catalyzed reaction in the presence of Pt. An overall reaction network for glycerol hydrogenolysis is presented.
Laser processing of titanium aluminides

Using a Nd-YAG laser, laser processing of a series of Ti-Al alloys including pure Ti and Ti-Al intermetallic compounds has been studied. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and optical microscopy were used to determine the surface morphological, chemical, and compositional characteristics of the laser-processed samples. Analysis of results showed that cracks along grain boundaries caused by rapid heating and cooling of laser processing were the dominant characteristics of the surface morphologies of the laser-processed samples. The Al content in the Ti-Al alloys played a very important role in crack initiation and/or development. The more Al content in the samples, the more severe the cracks that developed after laser processing under the same conditions. The experiments were conducted at ambient conditions, resulting in surface oxidation layers being observed on the processed samples. The XPS results indicated that the oxidation layer consisted of adsorbed O2, Al2O3, TiO2, and TiO. In addition, Al enrichment was found in the oxide film of TiAl as well as in the oxidation layers formed on the surfaces of TiAl and Ti3Al intermetallics that were processed by the laser; this differs from the reported results for traditional oxidation of TiAl at elevated temperature.
A note on the power of least squares tests for a unit root

Abstract Two least squares tests for a unit autoregressive root are inconsistent if the process being studied is stationary around a time trend, and a time trend is not included as a regressor.
Development of Polyoxometalate-Ionic Liquid Compounds for Processing Cellulosic Biomass

A unique approach was used in which polyoxometalate-based ionic liquids (POM-IL) were synthesized and employed for the one-pot dissolution and conversion of biomass. A library of four functional POM-IL compounds was synthesized using two cationic organic groups (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolim and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium) and two anionic POMs (phosphotungstate and tungstosilicate). The POM-IL compound serves a dual-purpose. First, it dissolves approximately 30 wt% of cellulosic biomass in 2 h at 200 °C. Second, analysis using HPLC confirmed that the POM-ILs catalyze conversion of biomass into commodity monosaccharides such as glucose and xylose. All of the prepared POM-IL compounds demonstrated dynamic thermal stabilities exceeding 300 °C and were characterized using IR and thermogravimetric analysis.
Impact of adjuvant external-beam radiation therapy in early-stage uterine papillary serous and clear cell carcinoma.

Purpose Adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) in early-stage high- to intermediate-risk endometrioid adenocarcinoma is well established and has been shown to improve locoregional control. Its role in the management of early-stage clear cell carcinoma and uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) remains controversial. Methods and Materials Using the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database, we identified women with American Joint Committee on Cancer Stage Sixth Edition. Stage IA–IIB clear cell carcinoma or UPSC who underwent hysterectomy with or without adjuvant RT between 1988 and 2003. We used Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis to compare overall survival (OS) for all patients. Results We identified 1,333 women of whom 451 had clear cell carcinoma and 882 had UPSC. Of those patients, 775 underwent surgery alone and 558 received adjuvant RT as well. For Stages I–IIB disease, the median OS with surgery alone was 106 months, vs. 151 months with adjuvant RT ( p = 0.006). On subgroup analysis, we saw the benefit from adjuvant RT only in Stage IB–C patients. For Stage IB disease, patients undergoing surgery alone had a median OS of 117 months, vs. median survival not reached with the addition of RT ( p = 0.006). For Stage IC disease, surgery alone had a median OS of 35 months vs. 120 months with RT ( p = 0.001). Although the apparent benefit of RT diminished when measured via multivariate analysis, the impact of RT on survival did show a trend toward significance (hazard ration 0.808, confidence interval 95% 0.651–1.002, p = 0.052) Conclusion In FIGO Stage IB–C papillary serous and clear cell uterine carcinoma, adjuvant RT seems to play an important role in improving survival.
STRUCTURAL CHANGES AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF INCOME BY SIZE: THE CASE OF INDIA

The interrelation between changes in the economic structure, i.e., industrial distribution of income and labor force, and the size distribution of income is studied in this paper in a case study of India (1951–1960). The change in the size distribution of income is the sum of changes due to (1) inter-sectoral factors and (2) intra-sectoral factors. The need for this distinction is emphasized by the result obtained for India, that 85% of the changes in the size distribution may be assigned to inter-sectoral factors, and only 15% to intra-sectoral factors. Since the inter-sectoral factors are significantly influenced by changes in the industrial distribution of income and labor force, our result points out a relation between economic growth and the size distribution which quite often is overlooked in studies of the size distribution. The results obtained in this paper support several cross-section results of Professor Kuznets. In particular some of these are: (a) inter-sectoral inequality in the economic structure widened with economic growth, (b) the inequality in the size distribution of India widened, (c) the level of inequality in India is higher than in any of the eight developed countries considered.
Determination of a novel growth hormone secretagogue (MK-677) in human plasma at picogram levels by liquid chromatography with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract A sensitive and specific method for the determination of N-[1(R){[1,2-dihydro-1-methylsulfonylspiro(3H-indole-3,4′-piperidin)-1′-yl]carbonyl}-2-(phenylmethoxy)ethyl]-2-amino-2-methylpropanamide (MK-677, I), a growth hormone secretagogue, has been developed. The method is based on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with tandem mass spectrometric (MS–MS) detection. The analyte and internal standard (II) were isolated from the basified plasma using a liquid–liquid extraction with methyl-tert.-butyl ether (MTBE). The organic extract was evaporated to dryness, the residue was reconstituted in mobile phase and injected into the HPLC system. The MS–MS detection was performed on a PE Sciex API III Plus tandem mass spectrometer using a heated nebulizer interface. Multiple reaction monitoring of parent→product ion combinations at m/z 529→267 and 527→267 was used to quantify I and II, respectively. The assay was validated in human plasma in the concentration range of 0.1 to 100 ng/ml, and the limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.1 ng/ml. The precision of the assay, as expressed as coefficients of variation (C.V.,%) was less than 7% at all concentrations within the standard curve range, with adequate assay specificity and accuracy. The HPLC–MS–MS method provided sufficient sensitivity to completely map the pharmacokinetic time-course following a single 5-mg oral dose of I.
Prevalence of vertebral fracture in oldest old nursing home residents

We evaluated vertebral fracture prevalence using DXA-based vertebral fracture assessment and its influence on the Fracture Risk Assessment (FRAX) tool-determined 10-year fracture probability in a cohort of oldest old nursing home residents. More than one third of the subjects had prevalent vertebral fracture and 50% osteoporosis. Probably in relation with the prevailing influence of age and medical history of fracture, adding these information into FRAX did not markedly modify fracture probability. Oldest old nursing home residents are at very high risk of fracture. The prevalence of vertebral fracture in this specific population and its influence on fracture probability using the FRAX tool are not known. Using a mobile DXA osteodensitometer, we studied the prevalence of vertebral fracture, as assessed by vertebral fracture assessment program, of osteoporosis and of sarcopenia in 151 nursing home residents. Ten-year fracture probability was calculated using appropriately calibrated FRAX tool. Vertebral fractures were detected in 36% of oldest old nursing home residents (mean age, 85.9 ± 0.6 years). The prevalence of osteoporosis and sarcopenia was 52% and 22%, respectively. Ten-year fracture probability as assessed by FRAX tool was 27% and 15% for major fracture and hip fracture, respectively. Adding BMD or VFA values did not significantly modify it. In oldest old nursing home residents, osteoporosis and vertebral fracture were frequently detected. Ten-year fracture probability appeared to be mainly determined by age and clinical risk factors obtained by medical history, rather than by BMD or vertebral fracture.
Stream restoration and environmental river mechanics

Abstract The impact of construction of dams and reservoirs on alluvial rivers extends both upstream and downstream of the dam. Downstream of dams, both the water and sediment supplies can be altered leading to adjustments in the river channel geometry and ensuing changes in riparian and aquatic habitats. The wealth of pre and post‐regulation data on the Middle Rio Grande, New Mexico, provides an excellent case study of river regulation, channel adjustments, and restoration efforts. Cochiti Dam was constructed on the main stem of the Rio Grande in 1973 for flood control and sediment retention. Prior to dam construction, the Rio Grande was a wide, sandy braided river. Following dam construction, the channel bed degraded and coarsened to gravel size, and the planform shifted to a more meandering pattern. Ecological implications of the geomorphic changes include detachment of the river from the floodplain, reduced recruitment of riparian cottonwoods, encroachment of non‐native saltcedar and Russian olive into...
Epigenetic Regulation of Cancer Stem Cell Marker CD133 by Transforming Growth Factor-β

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. CD133, a transmembrane glycoprotein, is an important cell surface marker for both stem cells and cancer stem cells in various tissues including liver. CD133 expression has been recently linked to poor prognosis in HCC patients. CD133+ liver cancer cells are characterized by resistance to chemotherapy, self-renewal, multilineage potential, increased colony formation, and in vivo cancer initiation at limited dilution. Recent studies demonstrate that CD133 expression is regulated by DNA methylation. In this study, we explored the role of transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), a multifunctional cytokine that plays a critical role in chronic liver injury, in the regulation of CD133 expression. TGFβ1 is capable of up-regulating CD133 expression specifically within the Huh7 HCC cell line in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Most important, TGFβ1-induced CD133+ Huh7 cells demonstrate increased tumor initiation in vivo. Forced expression of inhibitory Smads, including Smad6 and Smad7, attenuated TGFβ1-induced CD133 expression. Within CD133− Huh7 cells, TGFβ1 stimulation inhibited the expression of DNA methyltransferases (DNMT) 1 and DNMT3β, which are critical in the maintenance of regional DNA methylation, and global DNMT activity in CD133− Huh7 cells was inhibited by TGFβ1. DNMT3β inhibition by TGFβ1 was partially rescued with overexpression of inhibitory Smads. Lastly, TGFβ1 treatment led to significant demethylation in CD133 promoter-1 in CD133− Huh7 cells. Conclusion TGFβ1 is able to regulate CD133 expression through inhibition of DNMT1 and DNMT3β expression and subsequent demethylation of promoter-1. TGFβ1-induced CD133+ Huh7 cells are tumorigenic. The mechanism by which TGFβ induces CD133 expression is partially dependent on the Smads pathway.
Application of satellite visible band data to high latitude oceans

Freshwater discharge in the Northeast Pacific contains very fine sediments that can be detected using Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and Multi-spectral Scanner (MSS) imagery. From the TM data, several new coastal circulation features were discovered in the northern Gulf of Alaska. Flow around a coastal island produces a myriad of dipole eddies which are important to the cross-shelf transport of salt and heat. They also serve as sites to test numerical models to allow a better understanding of coastal flows and eddy formation elsewhere. Detection of these dipole eddies from their sediment distributions has allowed the comparison of different spectral bands from six imaging satellite sensors for their abilities to describe these features. It is concluded that, in addition to the TM sensor's capability, the sediments can be detected with MSS and CZCS sensors, but not with AVHRR or DMSP. As a consequence of this comparison of satellite visible data, it is confirmed that the dipole eddies here exist under low flow conditions (less than 1000 cu m/sec).
Population growth and allergen accumulation of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus cultured at 20 and 25°C

The house dust mites, Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and D. farinae are cultured commercially and in research laboratories and material is harvested from these cultures to make extracts that are used for diagnosis, immunotherapy and research. Temperature and other climatic conditions can influence population growth rates, dynamics of allergen production, and the associated endotoxin, enzyme and protein levels of the mite material harvested from these cultures. Here we determined how temperature affected these parameters. Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus was cultured at 20 and 25°C at 75% relative humidity, and at 2-week intervals the concentrations of mites, Der p 1 and Der p 2 allergens, endotoxin, and selected enzymes were determined. Mite density increased exponentially but growth rate and final population density were greater at 25°C compared to 20°C. The combined allergen (Der p 1 + Der p 2) concentrations accumulated in the cultures at about the same rate at both temperatures. However, individual Der p 1 and Der p 2 accumulation rates varied independently at the two temperatures. Der p 1 accumulated faster at 20°C whereas Der p 2 accumulated faster at 25°C. The amount of Der p 1 in whole cultures was greater than the amount of Der p 2. The concentration of allergen for washed mites harvested from the cultures was much less than for the whole cultures. Our study demonstrated that temperature is an important factor in population growth and the dynamics of allergen production in cultured mites.
Doubly regular tournaments are equivalent to skew hadamard matrices

Abstract Doubly regular tournaments and homogeneous tournaments are defined and shown to be equivalent. Existence of such a tournament of order n is equivalent to the existence of a skew Hadamard matrix of order n + 1. Thus, such a tournament of order n exists whenever n + 1 = 2 t k 1 , … k s , each k i of the form p r + 1 ≡ 0 (mod 4), p a prime, and for various other orders.
Measurement of dissolved organic nitrogen forms in wastewater effluents: Concentrations, size distribution and NDMA formation potential

Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), which may act as a nutrient and a disinfection by-product precursor, accounts for most of the dissolved nitrogen in nitrified-denitrified wastewater effluents. To gain insight into the behavior of wastewater-derived DON in engineered and natural systems, samples from treatment plants employing a range of different processes were characterized by several different methods. Dissolved free and combined amino acids accounted for the majority of the identifiable DON. Combined amino acids typically accounted for less than 10-20% of the wastewater-derived DON. Other organic-nitrogen containing species such as EDTA and humic substances from the water source only accounted for a few percent of the remaining DON. The remaining DON mainly consisted of hydrophilic, low-molecular weight compounds, capable of passing through a 1kDa ultrafilter. This fraction of the DON also contained most of the precursors of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). The chemical properties of wastewater-derived DON pose challenges to designers of wastewater treatment plants because most physical and chemical treatment processes will not remove low-molecular weight, hydrophilic compounds.
The Role of Eosinophils in the Pathophysiology of Asthma

From current information, a number of conclusions can be drawn. Antigen activation of the allergic reaction in the airways is associated with an immediate rise in mast cell derived mediators, including histamine and tryptase. Associated with antigen activation of the allergic reaction is recruitment of eosinophils to the airways. This can best be seen in the airway lavage 48 hours after challenge with antigen. An increased presence of eosinophils suggests that they are an important contributor to the late allergic reaction and may be one of the major constituents in the development of bronchial inflammation. Although many factors participate in the late allergic inflammatory response, eosinophil-derived proteins are known to cause airway injury. Regulation of eosinophils in this process is not clearly established; however, our findings of increased IL-5 in relationship to the presence of eosinophils and their granular proteins suggests that this cytokine may be an important modulator of eosinophil function and activation following allergen challenge. However, much remains unknown in understanding bronchial inflammation and the eosinophil's role in the process. In conclusion, the eosinophil is a major cellular participant in late phase allergic airway disease. Its presence and known functions suggest that the eosinophil is a significant cellular factor in the development of allergic airways disease in asthma. Further advances in this area will follow continued studies, particularly those which involve biopsy and correlation with airway physiology.
Mental content and evolutionary explanation

Cognitive ethology is the comparative study of animal cognition from an evolutionary perspective. As a sub-discipline of biology it shares interest in questions concerning the immediate causes and development of behavior. As a part of ethology it is also concerned with questions about the function and evolution of behavior. I examine some recent work in cognitive ethology, and I argue that the notions of mental content and representation are important to enable researchers to answer questions and state generalizations about the function and volution of behavior.