cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A keratinocyte-specific transcription factor, KRF-1, interacts with AP-1 to activate expression of human papillomavirus type 18 in squamous epithelial cells.

Abstract Human papillomavirus type 18 (HPV-18) infects genital squamous epithelium and is an etiological agent of cervical cancer. Cell-type-specific expression of HPV-18 is directed by the region upstream of the viral early genes that contains a transcriptional enhancer whose function is dependent solely on cellular factors. This element directs expression to high levels in squamous epithelial cells but is only weakly active in other cell types. We demonstrate by gel mobility-shift, methylation interference, and mutational analysis that the binding of two distinct factors to the enhancer is necessary for cell-type-specific transcriptional activation. One of these factors is identified as a keratinocyte-specific transcriptional activator, which we call KRF-1, while the other is a member of the AP-1 family. We also find that Oct-1 competes with KRF-1 for binding to enhancer sequences though it does not contribute to transcriptional activation. These results suggest a complex interplay of ubiquitous and cell-type-restricted transcriptional factors in the tissue- and differentiation-specific expression of HPV-18.
Facilitation of macroalgae by the sedimentary tube forming polychaete Diopatra cuprea

Marine foundation organisms such as seagrasses, corals, and kelps facilitate the distribution of numerous organisms by creating refuges from environmental stressors and by providing food and substrate for settlement and growth. Barren soft-sediment systems often have faunal organisms that facilitate other species by habitat modification. We investigated how an abundant (21 m 2 ) tube cap forming polychaete, Diopatra cuprea, facilitates macroalgal distribution in Hog Island Bay, a turbid shallow tidal lagoon in Virginia (USA). Seventy percent of the number of mudflat macroalgae were found incorporated into protruding D. cuprea tube caps and field experiments showed that D. cuprea facilitates algal persistence by providing a stable substrate retaining algae against hydrodynamic forces such as tidal flushing and storm surge. If tube caps were removed, simulating storm-induced erosion, they were rebuilt within days and new drift algae incorporated. Also, D. cuprea facilitated the algal assemblage by fragmenting thalli in the attachment process, thereby ensuring a constant fragment supply for vegetative re-growth if storm-induced pruning occurs. On a species-specific level, Gracilaria verrucosa and Ulva curvata benefited more from tube cap construction compared to Fucus vesiculosus, Agardhiella subulata and the alien Codium fragile ssp. tomentosoides. This was partly because G. verrucosa and U. curvata were incorporated and fragmented more readily, and partly because they probably have physiological, morphological and biomechanical traits that enable them to better co-exist with D. cuprea. These results suggest that macroalgal distribution throughout Hog Island Bay to a large extent is linked to the distribution of D. cuprea. The processes of algal attachment, retainment, recovery, re-growth and fragmentation, can have important ecosystem implications because of the sheer abundance of the DiopatraGracilaria/Ulva association. 2004 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Effect of various glucose/glutamine ratios on hybridoma growth, viability and monoclonal antibody formation

Cultivation of a model hybridoma cell line in Dulbecco's modification of Eagle's minimal essential medium (DMEM) at various glucose and glutamine levels showed that maxmium cell growth was obtained in a broad range of glucose/glutamine ratios of 0.6 to 6.0. A new parameter called the viability index is proposed to quantify cell viability. A strong correlation between viability index and monoclonal antibody (MAb) concentration was found at all glucose/glutamine ratios investigated.
Alteration in cellular RNAs during the in vitro lifespan of cultured human diploid fibroblasts.

Abstract An abrupt concommitant increase in total cellular RNA and protein was observed as cultured human diploid fibroblasts entered the senescent phase of their in vitro lifespan. DNA content remained stable from early to final passages. Fractionation of cellular RNAs by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated an increase in both 28S and 18S ribosomal and 4S transfer RNAs in these senescent cells. Separation of poly(A) RNA (mRNA) by oligo(dT)-cellulose chromatography suggests an increase in this group of RNAs. However, the ratios of 28S to 18S rRNAs, tRNA to rRNA, and mRNA to total cellular RNA were not significantly different in cells before and after senescence, indicating that the overall increase in total cellular RNA was not due to an accumulation of a single RNA class.
In vitro study of initial stability of a conical collared femoral component

This in vitro experimental study compared the initial stability of an uncemented conical collared femoral component to that of the same component with the collar removed. The two configurations examined simulated joint resultant forces encountered in single leg stance and stair climbing. For the simulated single leg stance loads, the data do not allow any inferences about relative component stability. With the exception of one collarless control, all micromotion for single leg stance loading was under 150 microns, measured approximately 1.5 cm below the resection line. For scaled stair-climbing loads, however, the conical collared component group was significantly more stable than the collarless control group in transverse (primarily rotational) micromotion. The overall average measured transverse motion for the collarless control group was more than 3.7 times greater than that of the conical collar group at scaled stair-climbing loads. The two conical collared components loaded to full peak stair-climbing load (2,100 N) exhibited micromotion under 160 microns. The results suggest that the conical collar may improve stability of an uncemented prosthesis under loads that include an out-of-plane (rotational) component.
High efficiency X-band class-E GaN MMIC high-power amplifiers

We have demonstrated 8.5–11.5 GHz class-E MMIC high-power amplifiers (HPAs) with a peak power-added-efficiency (PAE) of 61% and drain efficiency (DE) of 70% with an output power of 3.7 W in a continuous-mode operation. At 5 W output power, PAE and DE of 58% and 67% are measured, respectively, which implies MMIC power density of 5 W/mm at Vds = 30 V. The peak gain is 11 dB, with an associated gain of 9 dB at the peak PAE. At an output power of 9 W, DE and PAE of 59% and 51 % were measured, respectively. In order to improve the linearity, we have designed and simulated X-band class-E MMIC PAs similar to a Doherty configuration. The Doherty-based class-E amplifiers show an excellent cancellation of a third-order intermodulation product (IM3), which improved the simulated two-tone linearity C/IM3 to > 50 dBc.
Two Forms of Theorizing About Law

The conflation or better mixing together of legal formalism and the theory of law presented in Hart's Concept of Law (Oxford U.P., I96I) under the general heading of 'positivism' by Dworkin in his paper 'Is Law a System of Rules?' (in Summers, Essays in Legal Philosophy, Blackwells, I970) is a perfect illustration of the confusion which can ensue when a clear-cut distinction is not made between two crucially different general forms of theorizing about law which I will designate here as institutional and descriptive. This distinction, foreshadowed by Hart's distinction between the internal and external aspects of rules and the types of statement peculiar to each, allows us to see just how fantastically misguided Dworkin's attack on the Concept of Law really is, and brings into better focus the bearing of Hart's work on the various social sciences of law and the promise it holds out for them.
Petrochemistry of the Mantle beneath Thailand: Evidence from Peridotite Xenoliths

Spinel-lherzolites are most abundant among ultramafic xenoliths in Late Cenozoic alkali basalts, which were erupted on Thailand's two lithospheric fragments, namely the Shan-Thai and Indochina microcontinents. Major-element compositions of the Cr-diopside—group xenoliths (Type I) vary considerably—e.g., 0.92 to 5.80 wt% A12O3, 32.7 to 43.2 wt% MgO—covering a range from fertile to depleted compositions relative to primary mantle models. The extra-fertile mantle is evidenced in subchondritic Ca/Al ratios of whole-rocks and the occurrence of high modal orthopyroxene xenolith (websterite), suggesting metasomatism of mantle rocks. Interaction of the xenoliths with host basalts is observed as the formation of spongy rinds and symplectite on clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene, respectively. This results in a decrease of A12O3 and Na2O with increasing CaO and MgO in the primary clinopyroxene, and locally the formation of K-Na-rich, feldspathic glass within the spongy rinds. Subsolidus re-equilibration also produced ...
Attempts to Form a Circumferential Chelate by the Reaction of a Bidentate, Ambidentate Nucleophile with the Nickel(II) Complex of the Tetramer of O-Aminobenzaldehyde1

Abstract o-Aminobenzaldehyde has been shown to form a variety of trimeric and tetrameric macrocyclic ligands having a rich and significant coordination chemistry. Busch and his co-workers have shown that the formation of the tetramer can result from reaction with strong acid or a metal template synthesis. The synthesis of one such tetrameric ligand, tetrabenzo[b,f,j,n] [1,5,9,13] tetraazacyclohexadecine (C28H20N4), abbreviated TAAB, via an acid-catalyzed self-condensation, followed by reaction with Ni(C2H3O2)2 4H2O, has previously been shown to yield a Ni(II)-TAAB complex in which the four planar nitrogen atoms function as donors in forming what is best described as a square planar complex. Reactions involving nucleophiles of the types NaOR (R = CH3, C2H5) and (NaO(CH2)2Z(Z = NCH3, S) have been extended in this work to that involving two equivalents of the bidentate, ambidentate nucleophile NaO(CH2)2NH2, whereby the oxygen ends react with two trans methine carbons of the macrocycle, positioning the amine ...
Exploring the spectrum of existent, nonexistent and impossible biological form

Abstract Computational Approaches to Theoretical Morphology, was held at the Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, NM, USA from 16 to 21 November 2000.
MultiDefender security games on networks

Stackelberg security game models and associated computational tools have seen deployment in a number of high- consequence security settings, such as LAX canine patrols and Federal Air Marshal Service. This deployment across essentially independent agencies raises a natural question: what global impact does the resulting strategic interaction among the defenders, each using a similar model, have? We address this question in two ways. First, we demonstrate that the most common solution concept of Strong Stackelberg equilibrium (SSE) can result in significant under-investment in security entirely because SSE presupposes a single defender. Second, we propose a framework based on a different solution concept which incorporates a model of interdependencies among targets, and show that in this framework defenders tend to over-defend, even under significant positive externalities of increased defense.
Modification of Interfacial Properties of Polymer Blends with Diblock Copolymer

The effect of diblock copolymer on the phase-separation process of polymer blends has been investigated by using light scattering and optical microscopic observations. To quench the system into the two phase region, a shear-jump technique is employed instead of the conventional temperature-jump technique. The samples studied are blends of low-molecular-weight polystyrene and polybutadiene with and without added styrene-butadiene block copolymer as a compatibilizer. It was observed that the addition of diblock copolymers could accelerate the phase separation kinetics depending on the shear history. As the concentration of diblock copolymer increases, the distribution of domain sizes becomes narrower and the growth rate slows down. The extent of slowing-down depends on the molecular weight and concentration of the copolymer. The time dependence of domain growth is clearly observed with optical microscopy.
Hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis hormones and male rheumatoid arthritis: novel perspectives.

The female to male (F:M) incidence ratio in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is almost 3:1, being exaggerated in child-bearing ages (5:1), as opposed to 2:1 in juveniles and older (50+ years) adults1. Female preponderance also occurs in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE; 9:1), particularly in child-bearing years2, when its age-specific incidence is highest2,3. In RA, however, the incidence is notably higher in postmenopausal than in premenopausal women. The age-specific gender differential in RA is attributable to adult men having significantly delayed disease onset1. Such incidence data imply that gonadal hormones may be protective of RA in younger adult men (testosterone), but may predispose to SLE in women (estrogens)2,3. In this issue of The Journal , Tengstrand, et al 4 report a longitudinal study of gonadal hormones in early diagnosed (within 1 year of symptoms) male RA. The baseline hormonal data on RA cases were compared to healthy control values. The longitudinal design over a 2-year duration of therapy permitted analyses of the change in hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) hormones as correlated with the change in RA disease activity. At baseline, the main findings were that the younger (< 50 yrs of age) RA males had lower mean serum levels of total testosterone (T) as well as bioavailable T, i.e., free T or non-sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG)-bound T than the healthy control subjects. The 2-year interval changes revealed an increased total T level from baseline that was associated significantly with decreased disease activity, as measured by Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28), but without change in serum luteinizing hormone (LH)4. Cross-sectional (or longitudinal) studies cannot indicate whether observed baseline hormonal alterations reflect a primary risk effect or are secondary to disease severity4,5. Such question of a … Address reprint requests to Dr. Masi; E-mail: amasi{at}uic.edu
Temperature Regulation by the Inflorescence of Philodendron

The inflorescence of Philodendron selloum temporarily maintains a core temperature of 38 degrees to 46 degrees C, despite air temperatures ranging from 4 degrees to 39 degrees C, by means of a variable metabolic rate. The heat is produced primarily by small, sterile male flowers that are capable of consuming oxygen at rates approaching those of flying hummingbirds and sphinx moths.
Equations of state and spinodal lines — a review

Abstract Modern thermal processes in the power industry involve ever increasing heat fluxes and rapid transients. Simulating such processes requires accurate thermodynamic properties and correlations that encompass stable as well as metastable states. Here we review the development of cubic equations of state that can be made to yield very accurate thermodynamic properties of liquids in saturation and metastable (superheated) states. These cubic equations enable us to develop predictions and correlations for a number of other quantities which are either useful in themselves or for application to boiling and two-phase flow. Examples of such results include predictions of the saturation pressure, the limiting liquid superheat, the destructive energy available to a superheated liquid, the surface tension of a saturated fluid and the approach of the specific heat at constant pressure to infinity at the spinodal point. These topics are described and discussed, and it emerges that these seemingly separate topics can be unified by the use of cubic equations of state. We pay particular attention to the issue of a possible connection between the limit of liquid superheat and the liquid spinodal line.
ISOLATION AND CHARACTERISTICS OF AN ACTINOPHAGE ACTIVE ON STREPTOMYCES KANAMYCETICUS

The isolation and characteristics of actinophage (PK-66, PK-69, and PK-46) for Streptomyces kanamyceticus were described.Phage PK-66 were characterized with respect to the medium components essential for propagation, influence of pH, and medium components on stability, thermal inactivation rates, enzyme treatments, host range, and electron micrograph.The adsorption of phage PK-66 to Streptomyces griseus was found to decrease as the age of the recipient mycelium increased.
Environment-sensitive manipulator control

The general structure of environment-sensitive manipulator control is discussed. A brief technology overview is presented on the state of the art in environment-sensitive manipulator control. Work at JPL on proximity control in manipulation, and application of articulated and adaptively controlled hand to environment-sensitive manipulator control is described. The JPL work is illustrated by movies.
Sexual size dimorphism of the musk duck

We examined sexual size dimorphism of a lek-displaying diving duck from Australia, the Musk Duck (Biziura lobata). Like other lek-displaying species, Musk Ducks exhibit extreme sexual size di- morphism in addition to structural dimorphism. Body mass ratios (male:female) for Musk Ducks are among the highest reported for birds (more than 3:1). Multivariate analyses of 16 anatomical measurements indicated that body plans of male and female Musk Ducks have diverged isometrically except for the addition of a pendant lobe on lower mandibles of males. Within males, pendant lobe length, depth, and breadth were positively correlated with center rectrix length and bill width. Lobe area also was positively related to bill width, but not to center rectrix length. Lobe breadth and center rectrix length were positively related to overall body mass. Our results suggested that information about male physical quality may be conveyed to other Musk Ducks by parts of the anatomy most conspicuously exposed during sexual advertising displays. In contrast, anatomical features that function in foraging activity showed no sexual differences in anatomical shape relative to other parts of the anatomy that do not serve obvious foraging functions. We argue that foraging niche divergence or use of different food resources, if they have occurred, probably are secondary consequences of sexual size dimorphism. Received 28 March 2000, accepted 18 August 2000. The Musk Duck (Biziura lobata) is a lek- displaying diving duck endemic to deep water wetlands, river systems, and coastal oceanic waters of temperate Australia (Frith 1967, Marchant and Higgins 1990, Johnsgard and Carbonell 1996). As an undivided basal line- age distant from other waterfowl, Musk Ducks show marked morphological and ecological convergence with Nomonyx-Oxyura stifftail ducks and deep-water divers such as eiders (Somateria, Polysticta) and steamer ducks (Tachyeres; McCracken et al. 1999; but see Livezey 1986, 1995). Musk Ducks also show extreme sexual size dimorphism. The heaviest male Musk Duck reportedly weighed 3870 g (Serventy and Whittell 1962), whereas the smallest female weighed 993 g (Frith 1967), more than a three-fold difference in overall body mass. The average size di- morphism ratio (male : female) reported by Frith (1967) for a sample of 535 Musk Ducks was 1.55:1 (max. 5 3.14) and ranks sixth among 47 lek-breeding bird species surveyed by Oakes (1992). With the exception of a few
Prostate cancer incidence and agriculture practices in Georgia, 2000–2010

AbstractBackground:Georgia has prostate cancer incidence rates consistently above the national average. A notable portion of Georgia's economy is rooted in agricultural production, and agricultural practices have been associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer.Methods:Statistical analyses considered county age-adjusted prostate cancer incidence rates as the outcome of interest and three agricultural variables (farmland as percent of county land, dollars spent per county acre on agriculture chemicals, and dollars spent per county acre on commercial fertilizers) as exposures of interest. Multivariate linear regression models analyzed for each separately. Data were obtained from National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) 2000–2010, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 1987 Agriculture Survey, and 2010 US Census.Results:In counties with equal to or greater than Georgia counties' median percent African-American population (27%), dollars per acre spent on agr...
Biochemical analysis of active site mutations of human polymerase η.

Abstract DNA polymerase η (pol η) plays a critical role in suppressing mutations caused by the bypass of cis–syn cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) that escape repair. There is evidence this is also the case for the oxidative lesion 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-guanine (8-oxoG). Both of these lesions cause moderate to severe blockage of synthesis when encountered by replicative polymerases, while pol η displays little no to pausing during translesion synthesis. However, since lesion bypass does not remove damaged DNA from the genome and can possibly be accompanied by errors in synthesis during bypass, the process is often called ‘damage tolerance’ to delineate it from classical DNA repair pathways. The fidelity of lesion bypass is therefore of importance when determining how pol η suppresses mutations after DNA damage. As pol η has been implicated in numerous in vivo pathways other than lesion bypass, we wanted to better understand the molecular mechanisms involved in the relatively low-fidelity synthesis displayed by pol η. To that end, we have created a set of mutant pol η proteins each containing a single amino acid substitution in the active site and closely surrounding regions. We determined overall DNA synthesis ability as well as the efficiency and fidelity of bypass of thymine–thymine CPD (T–T CPD) and 8-oxoG containing DNA templates. Our results show that several amino acids are critical for normal polymerase function, with changes in overall activity and fidelity being observed. Of the mutants that retain polymerase activity, we demonstrate that amino acids Q38, Y52, and R61 play key roles in determining polymerase fidelity, with substation of alanine causing both increases and decreases in fidelity. Remarkably, the Q38A mutant displays increased fidelity during synthesis opposite 8-oxoG but decreased fidelity during synthesis opposite a T–T CPD.
Engineering Antifragile Systems: A Change In Design Philosophy

While technology has made astounding advances in the last century, problems are confronting the engineering community that must be solved. Cost and schedule of producing large systems are increasing at an unsustainable rate and these systems often do not perform as intended. New systems are required that may not be achieved by current methods. To solve these problems, NASA is working to infuse concepts from Complexity Science into the engineering process. Some of these problems may be solved by a change in design philosophy. Instead of designing systems to meet known requirements that will always lead to fragile systems at some degree, systems should be designed wherever possible to be antifragile: designing cognitive cyberphysical systems that can learn from their experience, adapt to unforeseen events they face in their environment, and grow stronger in the face of adversity. Several examples are presented of on ongoing research efforts to employ this philosophy.
THE WAVEFRONT CONTROL SYSTEM FOR THE NATIONAL IGNITION FACILITY

The National Ignition Facility (NIF) requires that pulses from each of the 192 laser beams be positioned on target with an accuracy of 50 µm rms. Beam quality must be sufficient to focus a total of 1.8 MJ of 0.351µm light into a 600-µm-diameter volume. An optimally flat beam wavefront can achieve this pointing and focusing accuracy. The control system corrects wavefront aberrations by performing closed-loop compensation during laser alignment to correct for gas density variations. Static compensation of flashlampinduced thermal distortion is established just prior to the laser shot. The control system compensates each laser beam at 10 Hz by measuring the wavefront with a 77-lenslet Hartmann sensor and applying corrections with a 39-actuator deformable mirror. The distributed architecture utilizes SPARC AXi computers running Solaris to perform real-time image processing of sensor data and PowerPC-based computers running VxWorks to compute mirror commands. A single pair of SPARC and PowerPC processors accomplishes wavefront control for a group of eight beams. The software design uses proven adaptive optic control algorithms that are implemented in a multi-tasking environment to economically control the beam wavefronts in parallel. Prototype tests have achieved a closed-loop residual error of 0.03 waves rms.
Trabeculectomy and optic nerve head topography.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate changes in optic nerve head parameters, measured by confocal laser tomography, before and after trabeculectomy in order to identify outcome measures for the management of glaucoma. The optic nerve head of 22 eyes (22 patients) was analyzed by confocal laser tomography with the Heidelberg retinal tomogram (HRT) before and after trabeculectomy. The median time between the first HRT and surgery was 4.6 months (mean: 7.7 ± 8.3) and the median time between surgery and the second HRT was 10.8 months (mean: 12.0 ± 6.8). The patients were divided into two groups, i.e., those with the highest (group A) and lowest (group B) intraocular pressure (IOP) change after surgery. Differences in the 12 standard topographic parameters before and after surgery for each group were evaluated by the Wilcoxon signed rank test and the differences in these parameters between the two groups were compared by the Mann-Whitney rank sum test. Multiple regression analysis was used to evaluate the influence of the change in IOP (DIOP and DIOP%) and the changes in the other parameters. There were significant differences in the HRT measures before and after surgery in group A only for cup volume. In group B, no parameter was statistically different. The changes in group A were not significantly different than those in group B for any parameter (P > 0.004, Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons). DIOP and DIOP% had a statistically significant effect on D cup disk area, D cup volume and D mean cup depth. Changes in cup shape size were influenced significantly only by DIOP. Some optic disc parameters measured by HRT presented a significant improvement after filtering surgery, depending on the amount of IOP reduction. Long-term studies are needed to determine the usefulness of these findings as outcome measures in the management of glaucoma.
Porous Silicon Nanostructure Revealed By Electron Spin Resonance

Electron spin resonance (ESR) study of annealed porous Si (PS) samples shows the existence of 20% to 30% of oxygen related Pbl (·Si≡Si2O) centers, in addition to the Pb0 (·Si≡Si3) centers already reported by other groups. The 29Si hyperfine and superhyperfine lines are well-defined at room temperature. We find that the nanostructure of PS, although twisted as appeared in scanning electron microscopy images, is well aligned with the underlying crystal lattice, and the ESR line broadening is mainly due to the local strain around the dangling bonds and not to the nanoscale column or particle misalignment.
Delivery Through Meconium-stained Amniotic Fluid

Please read the following vignette and watch the video clip (Fig 1). Figure 1. A 40-3/7 week gestation infant is delivered through meconium-stained amniotic fluid after an uncomplicated pregnancy. Immediately after birth, the infant is nonvigorous. The infant is not stimulated, and the provider immediately intubates the trachea and suctions a trace amount of meconium. At 30 seconds after birth, during the intubation, the nurse reports that the heart rate is 40 beats per minute. Of the following, which is the most appropriate next step? 1. Apply the mask and begin positive pressure ventilation (PPV). 2. Begin chest compressions. 3. Intubate the trachea again and suction for meconium. 4. Intubate with an endotracheal tube and begin PPV. 5. Stimulate, warm, dry, and position the head. Correct Response A. Apply the mask and begin PPV. This infant is in secondary apnea, the heart rate is extremely low at 30 seconds after birth, and the team must prioritize provision of effective bag-mask ventilation after suctioning the trachea …
School-based obesity treatment and prevention programs: all in all, just another brick in the wall?

School-based obesity treatment and prevention programs: all in all, just another brick in the wall?
Intrapleural hemorrhage after administration of tPA: a case report and review of the literature:

Objective: Intrapleural fibrinolytic enzymes have been used for over 60 years in the treatment of complicated pleural effusions to lyse loculations and promote resolution. Despite this extensive hi...
Assessment of Two Commercial Susceptibility Test Methods for Determination of Daptomycin MICs

Daptomycin represents a bactericidal antimicrobial agent with activity against many highly resistant gram-positive bacterial pathogens, including methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), coagulase-negative staphylococci, and enterococci (including vancomycin-resistant enterococci [VRE]) (1, 4, 10, 11, 15). It is currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of skin and soft-tissue infections caused by various gram-positive bacteria (3). Resistance to daptomycin has been difficult to generate in vitro (14), although there have been several reports of development of daptomycin resistance or increases in MICs during prolonged therapy of infections due to MRSA or VRE (7, 8, 13). The strains with diminished susceptibility to daptomycin have been detected by broth dilution MIC testing methods. Disk diffusion testing has proven unreliable for detection of some nonsusceptible strains (7, 12a). Clinical microbiology laboratories will be called upon to determine accurately the susceptibility of clinical isolates involved in serious infections and to monitor for possible diminished susceptibility that might develop during treatment. This study has assessed the performance of commercially prepared agar gradient diffusion strips (Etest; AB BIODISK, Solna, Sweden) and dried microdilution panel strips (Just-One; TREK Diagnostic Systems, Cleveland, OH) compared to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) reference broth microdilution method with a selected group of 220 clinical isolates.
Anti-Cancer Effect of Angelica Sinensis on Women’s Reproductive Cancer

Objective : Danggui, the root of Angelica Sinensis , has traditionally been used for the treatment of women’s reproductive disorders in China for thousands of years. This study was to determine whether Danggui have potential anti-cancer effect on women’s cancer and its potential mechanism. Methods : Danggui was extracted by ethanol. The Cell Titer 96® Aqueous Non-Radioactive Cell Proliferation Assay was used to compare the effects of Danggui on human breast (MCF-7 and 7368) and cervical (CaSki and SiHa) cancer cells with its effects on normal fibroblasts (HTB-125). A revised Ames test was used to test for antimutagenicity. The standard strains of Salmonella typhimarium (TA) 100 and 102 were used in the test. Methyl methane sulfonate (MMS) and UV light were used as positive mutagen controls and ethanol and double distilled water (DDW) as controls. The SAS statistical software was used to analyze the data. Results : Danggui was found to be much more toxic to all cancer cell lines tested than to normal fibroblasts. There was a significant negative dose-effect relationship between Danggui and cancer cell viability. Average viability of MCF-7 was 69.5%, 18.4%, 5.7%, 5.7%, and 5.0% of control for Danggui doses 0.07, 0.14, 0.21, 0.32, and 0.64 ug/ul, respectively, with a Ptrend < 0.0001. Half maximal inhibitory dose (ID50) of Danggui for cancer cell lines MCF-7, CaSki, SiHa and CRL-7368 was 0.10, 0.09, 0.10 and 0.07 ug/ul, respectively. For the normal fibroblasts, ID50 was 0.58 ug/ul. At a dose of 0.32 ug/ul, Danggui killed over 90% of the cells in each cancer cell line, but at the same dose, only 12.3 % of the normal HTB-125 cells were killed. Revertants per plate of TA 100 decreased with the introduction of increasing doses of Danggui extracts with a Ptrend < 0.0001 when UV light was used as a mutagen. There was no difference in revertants per plate between ethanol and DDW control groups. Conclusions : Danggui could be used as a safe and effective adjuvant therapy to prevent and treat breast and cervical cancers. Anti-cancer effects may be due to its anti-mutagenicity. Danggui should be investigated as a potential adjuvant anti-cancer therapy for women’s cancer treatment and prevention of recurrence. Key words : Angelica Sinensis , Danggui, cancer, women’s reproductive disorders
Interventional Case Series: Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor (ACE-I)–Induced Cough: Is Rechallenge With a Second ACE-I Worthwhile?

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-Is) are a cornerstone of therapy with proven morbidity and mortality benefit in many disease states. The unpredictable, bothersome cough that occurs in 15% to 41% of patients oftentimes leads to noncompliance or discontinuation. Management of ACE-I-induced cough remains controversial. The authors’ objective was to determine whether patients experiencing an ACE-I-induced cough could be successfully switched to a different ACE-I without recurrent cough. A total of 10 participants deemed to have ACE-I-induced cough were enrolled in an interventional case series to assess whether they could tolerate rechallenge with an alternative ACE-I. During phase 1, ACE-I therapy was stopped for up to 4 weeks to allow the cough to resolve. During phase 2, participants were rechallenged with an alternative ACE-I and followed for 4 months. Of the 10 participants who consented to enroll, 6 were rechallenged with a second ACE-I. Cough recurred in 4 of these within 1 week (5-7 days...
Energy efficient application mapping to NoC processing elements operating at multiple voltage levels

An efficient technique for mapping application tasks to heterogeneous processing elements (PEs) on a Network-on-Chip (NoC) platform, operating at multiple voltage levels, is presented in this paper. The goal of the mapping is to minimize energy consumption subject to the performance constraints. Such a mapping involves solving several subproblems. Most of the research effort in this area often address these subproblems in a sequential fashion or a subset of them. We take a unified approach to the problem without compromising the solution time and provide techniques for optimal and heuristic solutions. We prove that the voltage assignment component of the problem itself is NP-hard and is inapproximable within any constant factor. Our optimal solution utilizes a Mixed Integer Linear Program (MILP) formulation of the problem. The heuristic utilizes MILP relaxation and randomized rounding. Experimental results based on E3S benchmark applications and a few real applications show that our heuristic produces near-optimal solution in a fraction of time needed to find the optimal.
Loss of meiotic rereplication block in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells defective in Cdc28p regulation.

Cdc28p is the major cyclin-dependent kinase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Its activity is required for blocking the reinitiation of DNA replication during mitosis. Here, we show that under conditions where Cdc28p activity is improperly regulated—either through the loss of function of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe wee1 ortholog Swe1p or through the expression of a dominant CDC28 allele, CDC28AF—diploid yeast cells are able to complete several rounds of premeiotic DNA replication within a single meiotic cell cycle. Moreover, a percentage of mutant cells exhibit a “multispore” phenotype, possessing the ability to package more than four spores within a single ascus. These multispored asci contain both even and odd numbers of viable spores. In order for meiotic rereplication and multispore formation to occur, cells must initiate homologous recombination and maintain proper chromosome cohesion during meiosis I. Rad9p- or Rad17p-dependent checkpoint mechanisms are not required for multispore formation and neither are the B-type cyclin Clb6p and the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor Sic1p. Finally, we present evidence of a possible role for a Cdc55p-dependent protein phosphatase 2A in initiating meiotic replication.
Theoretical dielectric loss effects in superconducting transmission lines

The author proposes a method based on a Fourier cosine Series approximation, using frequency as the variable. The series can fit the frequency-dependent resistance or conductance per unit length, automatically providing a sine series approximation to the frequency-dependent capacitive susceptance per unit length. The advantage of using a cosine series is that the coefficients are easily computed. The real and imaginary parts are easily determined numerically, and this model does not have poles, or other numerical singularities. An advantage of the proposed model over others is that it can be close to measured data with the frequency band of interest, although a wavefront is not very sensitive to the details of frequency dependence. >
Self-assembled monolayer growth on chemically modified polymer surfaces

Abstract We report a study of the self-assembled monolayer (SAM) growth of bis[3(triethoxysilane)propyl]tetrasulfide (Tetrasulfide) on low dielectric constant (low- k ) aromatic hydrocarbon SiLK whose surface chemistry was modified using sulfuric acid, He plasma treatment, and N 2 plasma treatment. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra show that there is no detectable growth of Tetrasulfide SAM on untreated SiLK surfaces. After the SiLK surfaces have been treated with sulfuric acid, He plasma, or N 2 plasma, the original chemically inert polymer surfaces are functionalized with polar groups resulting in a significant improvement of their wettability, which is confirmed by their reduction of water droplet contact angles. The introduction of polar functional groups thus facilitates the formation of Tetrasulfide SAM on the polymer surfaces. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis shows an insignificant change in the surface morphology after the growth of Tetrasulfide SAM on the chemically modified SiLK surfaces. Quantitative XPS analysis also showed that Tetrasulfide SAM growth is more prominent on He and N 2 plasma treated surfaces than those treated by sulfuric acid.
Irregularity of the Szegö Projection on Bounded Pseudoconvex Domains in {\mathbb{C}^2}

We construct bounded pseudoconvex domains in \({\mathbb{C}^2}\) for which the Szego projection operators are unbounded on Lp spaces of the boundary for all \({p\not =2}\).
Description of the male of Psyllaephagus euphyllurae (Masi) (Hymenoptera, Encyrtidae), a parasitoid of the olive psylla, Euphyllura olivina (Costa) (Hemiptera, Liviidae), with notes on its reproductive traits and hyperparasitoids

A colony of the encyrtid wasp Psyllaephagus euphyllurae (Masi) (Hymenoptera, Encyrtidae) has been established in the quarantine laboratory at the University of California, Riverside, California, USA as part of a classical biological control program against its invasive host, the olive psylla, Euphyllura olivina (Costa) (Hemiptera, Psylloidea, Liviidae), an important pest of olives in some parts of the world. The colony originators were reared from the same host found on abandoned, commercial olives in Catalonia, Spain; additional collections were made in Murcia. The parasitoid reproduces primarily by thelytoky; however, a few occasional males have been found in the field in Spain, but not in colonies reared under quarantine or laboratory conditions. Here, the female of P . euphyllurae is redescribed and its male is described and illustrated for the first time; the only previous mention of male P . euphyllurae was from Tunisia, reared from the same psyllid host but without any details on its morphology. A lectotype is designated for Encyrtus euphyllurae Masi. Information is given on the results of genetic matching between the two sexes of the parasitoid and also on the presence of the bacterial Wolbachia symbiont that apparently is affecting reproduction of this species, including its sex ratio in the field. Two species of hyperparasitoids have also emerged from the parasitized olive psylla nymphs from Catalonia: numerous specimens of Apocharips trapezoidea (Hartig) (Hymenoptera, Figitidae) and one specimen of a Pachyneuron sp. (Hymenoptera, Pteromalidae).
Studies in Andean Ocotea (Lauraceae) II. Species with Hermaphrodite Flowers and Densely Pubescent Lower Leaf Surfaces, Occurring Above 1000 Meters in Altitude

A revision of the Andean species of Ocotea Aubl. (Lauraceae) with hermaphrodite flowers and the lower leaf surface completely covered by the pubescence is presented. A key to the 22 recognized species is provided. Fourteen species are described as new: O. comata van der Werff, O. micrantha van der Werff, and O. stenophylla van der Werff from Bolivia; O. gentryi van der Werff, O. pedicellata van der Werff, and O. umbrina van der Werff from Colombia; O. loxensis van der Werff, O. palaciosii van der Werff, O. pautensis van der Werff from Ecuador; O. andina van der Werff, O. glabriflora van der Werff, O. pajonalis van der Werff, and O. trematifera van der Werff from Peru; and finally, the single species O. guaramacalensis van der Werff from Venezuela. Lectotypification is provided for the name O. jelskii Mez.
A mechanically steerable quasi-Yagi endfire array using dielectric phase shifters at 5.8GHz

A steerable 4times1 array of quasi-Yagi endfire radiators is developed for use at 5.8 GHz. The antenna utilizes a novel dielectric phase shifting technique, previously presented by Y. Kuga and J. Cha (2004). The electrical characteristics and far field patterns are numerically approximated using Ansoft HFSS and Designer. The 4times1 array is fabricated and tested on low-cost IS620 substrate.
Optimizing parallel execution of detailed wireless network simulation

With parallel and discrete event simulation (PDES) techniques, the runtime performance of detailed wireless network simulation can be improved significantly without compromising fidelity of the simulation results. However, modelling characteristics of wireless communications such as signal propagation and interference may severely hinder the potential speedup yielded by PDES. This paper proposes various optimization techniques to address three major concerns in achieving efficient parallel execution of wireless network simulation: i.e., (1) reducing communication and computation overhead of simulating signal propagation across multiple logical processes; (2) reducing synchronization overhead among logical processes; (3) minimizing event scheduling overhead within individual logical processes. These techniques have been implemented in a parallel version of GloMoSim and QualNet. The experimental results with mobile ad hoc networking scenarios demonstrate that the proposed optimization techniques can improve the performance of parallel wireless network simulation by up to an order of magnitude.
An HF batwing antenna

The batwing antenna is widely used at UHF frequencies, and typically has a 1.1:1 VSWR bandwidth of 30% or more. Particle Swarm Optimization was used to design HF versions of the antennas, which demonstrate a similarly wide VSWR bandwidth.
How to achieve successful lung separation

ABSTRACTRecent advances in surgical techniques for thoracic, cardiac, and oesophageal surgery have led to an increased use of lung separation techniques. Currently, double-lumen endotracheal tubes (DLT) and bronchial blockers (an Arndt wire-guided endobronchial blocker, a Cohen Flexitip endobronchial blocker, or the Fuji Uniblocker) are used.1–3 Achieving successful lung separation relies on knowledge of the anatomical distances of the airway, flexible fibreoptic bronchoscopy techniques, and familiarity with left and right-sided DLTs and bronchial blockers.In general, lung isolation techniques are designed to: facilitate surgical exposure for cases involving the thoracic cavity, to prevent contamination of the contralateral lung in cases where pus or haemorrhage is present, and to establish airway continuity such as in a patient who presents with bronchopleural fistula and requires mechanical ventilation. Specific indications with bronchial blockers include: patients with difficult airways, patients with ...
BODY SIZE ESTIMATES FROM THE LITERATURE: UTILITY AND POTENTIAL FOR MACROEVOLUTIONARY STUDIES

Abstract Images in the monographic literature represent an important but relatively untapped resource for paleontologists. In particular, they could provide vast amounts of body size data. It is possible, however, that images of specimens represent a biased sample of the fossil record. Thus, the quality of these data must be assessed before body size estimates from the literature can be used in analyses. Two complementary datasets were constructed for a group of bivalve and brachiopod species from the Paleozoic and the Cenozoic. The monograph dataset consisted of length measurements taken from all unique images of a species in a monograph. The counterpart bulk dataset consisted of comparable measurements taken from a set (n > 10) of bulk-collected specimens of the same species acquired from the same locality as those figured in the monograph. These paired datasets were used to assess the quality of monographic data. Bias direction and magnitude were assessed by using the bulk sample of a species as an est...
Calculation of Fundamental Groups

It was remarked in Chapter II that a rigorous calculation of the fundamental group of a space X is rarely just a straightforward application of the definition of π(X). At this point the collection of topological spaces whose fundamental groups the reader can be expected to know (as a result of the theory so far developed in this book) consists of spaces topologically equivalent to the circle or to a convex set. This is not a very wide range, and the purpose of this chapter is to do something about increasing it. The techniques we shall consider are aimed in two directions. The first is concerned with what we may call spaces of the same shape. Figures 14, 15, and 16 are examples of the sort of thing we have in mind. From an understanding of the fundamental group as formed from the set of classes of equivalent loops based at a point, it is geometrically apparent that the spaces shown in Figure 14 below have the same, or isomorphic, fundamental groups.