cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Target validation and structure-activity analysis of a series of novel PCNA inhibitors.

Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) plays an essential role in DNA replication and repair. Tumor cells express high levels of PCNA, identifying it as a potentially ideal target for cancer therapy. Previously, we identified nine compounds termed PCNA inhibitors (PCNA-Is) that bind directly to PCNA, stabilize PCNA trimer structure, reduce chromatin-associated PCNA, and selectively inhibit tumor cell growth. Of these compounds, PCNA-I1 was most potent. The purpose of this study is to further establish targeting of PCNA by PCNA-I1 and to identify PCNA-I1 analogs with superior potencies. We found that PCNA-I1 does not affect the level of chromatin-associated PCNA harboring point mutations at the predicted binding site of PCNA-I1. Forty-six PCNA-I1 analogs with structures of 1-hydrazonomethyl-2-hydroxy (scaffold A), 2-hydrazonomethyl-1-hydroxy (scaffold B), 2-hydrazonomethyl-3-hydroxy (scaffold C), and 4-pyridyl hydrazine (scaffold D) were analyzed for their effects on cell growth in four tumor cell lines and PCNA trimer stabilization. Compounds in scaffold group A and group B showed the highest trimer stabilization and the most potent cell growth inhibitory activities with a significant potency advantage observed in the Z isomers of scaffold A. The absence of trimer stabilization and growth inhibitory effects in compounds of scaffold group D confirms the essentiality of the hydroxynaphthyl substructure. Compounds structure–activity relationship (SAR)-6 and SAR-24 were analyzed for their effects on and found to reduce chromatin-associated PCNA in tumor cells. This study led to the identification of SAR-24, a compound with superior potencies and potentially improved solubility, which will be used for future development of PCNA-targeting cancer therapies.
Another Femininity Scale

The construction and validation of the Behavioral Self-report of Femininity is described. An initial sample of 32 male and 63 female undergraduates indicated the frequency of engaging in 91 “feminine” behaviors. The 59 items which showed good internal consistency as well as differentiation between genders were retained. Test-retest reliability over a 2-wk. period was .90. Convergent and discriminant validities were examined by comparing our results with those obtained from the Hyperfemininity Scale and the Personal Attributes Questionnaire. Responses of women in traditional and nontraditional majors were significantly different, indicating good within-sex validity. Finally, a principal components analysis identified six primary factors, accounting for 60% of common variance.
Distribution and homology of plasmids in several strains of Cyanothece

The plasmid distribution of several clonal isolates of the unicellular, diazotrophic, cyanobacterium Cyanothece sp. has been analyzed. The Cyanothece isolates contain three to four plasmids ranging in size from 4.8 kb to 40 kb. The plasmid profiles of three Cyanothece strains (BH63, BH68, BH93) indicated that strains BH68 and BH93 were closely related and that strain BH63 may be more distantly related. A small 4.8-kb plasmid (pSE480), from the clonal isolate Cyanothece sp. strain BH68F, has been subcloned and restriction mapped. Ten restriction sites have been mapped, five of which are unique and suitable for further subcloning. Southern hybridization revealed that this plasmid was present in two out of five clonal isolates of strain BH68 and in one isolate of strain BH93. A 10-kb plasmid from strain BH68F (pSE1000) was found in all of the BH68 isolates and was absent in the BH93 isolate, Cyanothece sp. strain BH93A. No notable physiological changes were observed in the absence of either the 4.8-kb or 10-kb plasmids. Therefore, these plasmids remain cryptic. Further analysis of these plasmids may provide insight into the function of these plasmids and will allow the construction of shuttle vectors for gene transfer experiments.
Response patterns to sound associated with labeled globular/bushy cells in cat

Abstract The mammalian cochlear nucleus (CN) consists of a diverse set of neurons both physiologically and morphologically that are involved in processing different aspects of the sound signal. One class of CN neurons that is located near the entrance of the auditory nerve (AN) to the CN has an oval soma with an eccentric nucleus and a short-bushy dendritic tree and is called a globular/bushy cell (GBC). They contact the principal cells of the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) with the very large calyx of Held that is one of the most secure synapses in the brain. Because MNTB cells provide an inhibitory input to the lateral superior olive (LSO), a structure purported to play a role in lateralizing high frequency sounds, GBC physiology is of great interest. Results were obtained with intracellular recording and subsequent labeling with neurobiotin of 32 GBCs along with a number of cells characterized extracellularly as likely GBCs in the cochlear nucleus (CN) of cat. Their poststimulus discharge response pattern to repeated tones varies from a primarylike pattern, i.e. similar to the AN, to a primarylike pattern with a 0.5–2 ms notch after the initial spike, to an onset pattern with a low-sustained rate. They can represent low frequency tones and amplitude modulated signals exceptionally well with a temporal code.
Lewis Base Coordination versus Cation−π Interaction in Monomeric and Hexameric Potassium Thiolates

The synthesis and structural identification of a family of crown-ether-coordinated and crown-ether-free potassium thiolates are described. [Li(15-crown-5)(SCPh3)] (1), [K(18-crown-6)(SCPh3)(C6H6)0....
An Epidemiological-Cohort Study of DAS Processing Speed Factor: How Well Does it Identify Concurrent Achievement and Behavior Problems?

This study evaluated the criterion-related validity for the Speed of Processing (SP) factor of the Differential Ability Scales (DAS; Elliott, 1990). The SP factor is comprised of one subtest score (Speed of Information Processing) based on results from factor analyses. Participants were an epidemiological sample (N= 1,400) stratified, within age levels, in proportion to census data on demography (e.g., race, gender, parents' educational levels). From this cohort, groups with unusual SP strengths and SP weaknesses were identified using General Cognitive Ability (GCA) scores from the DAS as contrasts (i.e., SP>GCA and GCA>SP differences at a population prevalence GCA group (n= 60) and the GCASP group (n = 60) were matched to respective controls (where each control n = 60) on the demographic variables listed above and GCAs. Each group and its control were compared across three norm-referenced measures of achievement and six teacher-rated indices of behavioral adjustment. Comparisons failed to s...
Optimal management of subfertility in polycystic ovary syndrome

The purpose of this paper is to provide a stepwise approach to treating the infertility/subfertility associated with polycystic ovary syndrome. Defining polycystic ovary syndrome in a patient requires first investigating other possible causes for polycystic ovary morphology, acne, hirsutism, obesity, and the metabolic derangements that often accompany polycystic ovary syndrome. Beginning with lifestyle modification and use of metformin, the progressive inclusion of more intensive therapies for induction of ovulation is described. Second-line treatments are discussed and the new findings from a large multicenter trial are discussed in the context of evidence-based treatment strategies for first-line agents. Finally, monofollicular development as a treatment goal and in vitro fertilization are discussed for those with recalcitrant disease.
Folic Acid Deficiency Related to the use of Goat Milk for Infant Feeding

The case history cited illustrates the diverse problems related to deficiency of folic acid. Even though this deficiency is unusual, it may occur when unsupplemented goat milk is used for infant feeding. Folic acid deficiency severely hinders cell replication and hemoglobin production. The clinical picture demonstrates the variety of pathological findings related to folic acid deficiency. The remarkable improvement in the infant following administration of folic acid illustrates the crucial role of a single nutrient in the promotion of growth, maintenance, and repair.
New high-yield, one-step synthesis of polyglycolide from haloacetic acids

In a new, one-step synthesis, polyglycolide was prepared by the reaction of bromo- or chloroacetic acid with triethylamine in a nitromethane solution. It was discolored, by iodoacetic acid possibly as a result of iodine formed by the decomposition of triethylammonium iodide. The structure of polyglycolide was characterized by hydrolysis, 1H-NMR and IR spectra, and x-ray powder diffraction, which indicated partial crystallinity. A mechanism is proposed for the formation of polyglycolide. A lower limiting value of the number-average molecular weight of 104 was determined by cryoscopy in 1,3-dinitrobenzene for polyglycolide prepared from bromoacetic acid; the measurement was inaccurate because of the low solubility of the polymer. No significant effect of solvent (acetone, ether, or chloroform) on yield or melting point was observed; a higher yield was obtained in nitromethane. The polymer obtained with tri-n-propylamine and bromoacetic acid had properties similar to that obtained with triethylamine. No polymer was obtained with N,N-dimethylaniline and bromoacetic acid or with triethylamine and bromoacetic acid in aqueous solution.
Let the Games Begin Politics of Olympic Games in Mexico and South Korea

This article discusses the political role of the Olympic Games and its implications on the hosting country’s political and social life by analysing two cases—South Korea (1988) and Mexico (1968). Contrary to the belief that the games were created as an event that transcends politics, this study concludes that Olympic Games have been and are used as a political tool for various purposes and specific political circumstances eventually influenced the selection of Mexico’s and South Korea’s priorities for national development. Moreover, the findings of this article demonstrate that the Olympic Games served as a catalyst accelerating democratic changes in South Korea, and this finding can be applied to heuristic analysis of the future Olympic Games.
Bi-scale LMS equalization for improved performance

Recent results show that an adaptive transversal least-mean-square (LMS) equalizer in a narrowband-interference dominated environment operates at a mean weight vector that is different from that of the Wiener equalizer of the same structure. In addition, the time-varying component of the LMS weight vector results in a steady-state mean square error (MSE) that can be substantially lower than that for the fixed Wiener equalizer. However, the MSE for this LMS equalizer is higher than the MSE prediction in which LMS is assumed to be operating in a neighborhood of the Wiener weight vector. We find that -although the transversal LMS equalizer itself does not produce the Wiener weight vector as its steady-state mean - the adaptive algorithm can be modified so that its mean weight vector is the fixed Wiener weight vector, while simultaneously facilitating the time-varying weight behavior that is responsible for the reduction in MSE. The resulting bi-scale LMS (BLMS) algorithm achieves further improvement in MSE.
The binding of ethacrynic acid to rabbit kidney cortex.

Abstract 1. 1. The uptake of labeled ethacrynic acid by slices of rabbit kidney cortex at 25 °C approached a steady state level by 1 h of incubation, was linearly dependent on the external concentration of the compound, and was not affected by metabolic inhibitors. 2. 2. The apparent steady state level of ethacrynic acid in the tissue considerably exceeded the external concentration. Evidence for binding of ethacrynic acid by tissue components was obtained as follows: (a) 40 % of the label could not be washed out; (b) the same fraction of the label was found in a well washed tissue solid sedimenting at up to 18 000 × g . 3. 3. The presence of the thiol reagents N -ethylmaleimide, HgCl 2 , and iodoacetic acid did not diminish binding of ethacrynic acid. 4. 4. Neither the uptake into nor the efflux from rabbit kidney cortex of ethacrynic acid was modified by the presence, in various concentrations, of materials presumably associated with sites of active transport of ions and sugars, e.g. ouabain, normally actively transported sugar, and Na + . 5. 5. It was concluded that the major part of the binding of ethacrynic acid by rabbit kidney cortex was not specific for either tissue sulfhydryl groups nor unique membrane active transport sites.
Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA): An Instructor's Development and Evaluation of an Embedded Signature Assessment in an Early Childhood Literacy Course.

As of May 2014, all candidates for teacher certification in New York State must successfully complete the teacher performance assessment (edTPA). This article describes an assignment piloted in an early childhood literacy class as an embedded signature assessment and has three goals: to explain the context that led to the development of the assignment, to describe how the assignment was created and piloted, and to describe the methodology and results of an action research project intended to collect data on candidates’ perceptions of the challenges and value of the assignment. Implications for candidates’ understanding and utilization of developmentally appropriate practice, academic language, and self-reflection, as well as for the design of embedded signature assessments are discussed.
Energy-aware delay-constrained routing in wireless sensor networks

Recent years has witnessed a growing interest in the applications of unattended wireless sensor networks. Due to the limitation of the energy supply that sensors have, almost all of the proposed routing protocols have aimed at energy efficiency as the ultimate objective and considered relaying data to a stationary gateway (sink). However, many new issues have been posed by the increasing interest in applications that demand certain quality of service (QoS) guarantees. Such issues even get more challenging when the gateway is mobile. In this paper, we propose an energy-aware approach for routing delay-constrained data. The approach pursues multi-hop packet relaying to minimize transmission energy and employs weighted fair queuing (WFQ) packet scheduling methodology along with leaky bucket constrained data sources in order to provide soft real-time guarantees for data delivery. Such employment of WFQ at each node provides a service differentiation between two different classes of traffic, namely real-time and non-real-time traffic. In the case of a mobile gateway, uninterrupted data flow for both types of traffic is achieved by dynamic adjustment of the route set-up to react to the gateway's departure out of transmission range of relaying nodes. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
VLA observations of 3C 295 - A young radio galaxy?

VLA observations of the luminous radio galaxy 3C 295 at 2, 3.6, 6, and 20 cm are presented. The combination of its extreme luminosity with small physical size results in a very high energy density and equipartition magnetic field strengths of about 500 microG. The spectrum is unusually steep for a radio galaxy, and shows curvature at all frequencies. In addition, the largest Faraday rotation measures (RMs) yet measured in an extragalactic source, exceeding 20,000 radians/sq m in places, has been found. These RMs are caused by cluster gas and magnetic fields of strength about 30 microG, and are not produced within the source or at its boundary. This is a young radio galaxy, less than 2 million years old. 33 refs.
Acephate insecticide toxicity: safety conferred by inhibition of the bioactivating carboxyamidase by the metabolite methamidophos.

Acephate is an important systemic organophosphorus insecticide with toxicity attributed to bioactivation on metabolic conversion to methamidophos (or an oxidized metabolite thereof) which acts as an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor. The selective toxicity of acephate is considered to be due to facile conversion to methamidophos in insects but not mammals. We show in the present investigation that a carboxyamidase activates acephate in mice and in turn undergoes inhibition by the hydrolysis product, i.e., methamidophos; thus, the bioactivation is started but immediately turned off. These relationships are established by finding that 4 h pretreatment of mice with methamidophos ip at 5 mg/kg has the following effects on acephate action: reduces methamidophos and acephate levels in liver by 30−60% in the first 2 h after ip acephate dosage; inhibits the liver carboxyamidase cleaving [14CH3S]acephate to [14CH3S]methamidiphos with 50% block at ∼1 mg/kg; strongly inhibits 14CO2 liberation from [CH314C(O)]ac...
A model for predicting the thermal-hydraulic performance of louvered-fin, flat-tube heat exchangers under frosting conditions

Abstract Correlations and a model are developed to predict the time-varying performance of folded-louvered-fin, microchannel heat exchangers. The model utilizes the correlations developed from the experimental data and incorporates a sub-model for frost properties. The model successfully predicts the heat transfer performance of the heat exchangers studied, but its ability to predict the pressure-drop behavior needs further improvement. The model can be used to evaluate geometry effects on the frosting behavior of the louvered-fin, microchannel heat exchangers, and can be easily generalized to other applications with simultaneous heat and mass transfer.
Zonisamide: chemistry, mechanism of action, and pharmacokinetics

Zonisamide is a synthetic 1,2-benzisoxazole-3-methanesulfonamide with anticonvulsant properties. The sulfamoyl group on zonisamide was expected to suppress seizures in a manner similar to another sulfonamide analogue, acetazolamide, through inhibition of carbonic anhydrase. However, this does not appear to be the primary mechanism of action since zonisamide requires much higher doses than acetazolamide to achieve equivalent titration in vivo. Studies with cultured neurons indicate that zonisamide blocks repetitive firing of voltage-sensitive sodium channels and reduces voltage-sensitive T-type calcium currents without affecting L-type calcium currents. Its dual mechanism of action may explain its efficacy in patients resistant to other antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Zonisamide has a pharmacokinetic profile favorable for clinical use. It is rapidly and completely absorbed and has a long half-life (63-69h in healthy volunteers) which allows twice-daily, or even once-daily, dosing. Zonisamide is not highly bound to plasma proteins. Consequently, it does not affect protein binding of other highly protein-bound AEDs. Furthermore, zonisamide does not induce its own metabolism and does not induce liver enzymes. However, since zonisamide is metabolized by cytochrome P450, liver enzyme-inducing AEDs will increase zonisamide clearance, and dosage adjustments may be necessary when it is used in combination with certain AEDs.
Leading charters How charter school administrators define their roles and their ability to lead

Charter schools have been studied from numerous perspectives. One topic that remains under-researched, however, is charter school leadership. Therefore, we examine how charter administrators define...
Formation And Properties Of Optical Waveguides In Strontium Barium Niobate (Sbn:60)

Single mode channel and planar waveguides have been formed in strontium barium niobate Sr 0.6 Ba 0.4 Nb 2 0 6 (SBN:60) by sulfur indiffusion.1 The vapor diffusion is performed in a sealed ampule and is followed by oxidation in an open tube. Present channel waveguide losses are high: approximately 15-20 dB/cm for the TM mode and 27-32 dB/cm for the TE mode in Z-cut substrates. After poling of the substrate, electro-optic modulation was observed. The effective electro-optic coefficient was determined experimentally as 3.3 ± 0.2 x 10 -10 m/V (over the frequency range 100 Hz-1 MHz) which is about 15 times greater than for the commonly used integrated optical materials, LiNbO 3 and LiTaO 3 . Diffusions were conducted with the S35 radio-isotope in order to determine the sulfur distribution within the SBN. The atomic sulfur concentration was estimated to be approximately 4 x 10 17 cm -3 in the region from the surface to a 2.5 tim depth and there was still a significant concentration (approximately an order of magnitude smaller) at depths of > 20 μm.
The Complexity of the Vocabulary of Bambara

In this paper I look at the possibility of considering the vocabulary of a natural language as a sort of language itself. In particular, I study the weak generative capacity of the vocabulary of Bambara, and show that the vocabulary is not context free. This result has important ramifications for the theory of syntax of natural language.
CUTANEOUS STIMULI, VIBRATORY AND SALTATORY

Cutaneous vibratory stimuli typically involve only a single point of contact with the skin, even though there is likely to be widespread propagation of the disturbance through it. If two or more somewhat widely separated contactors are made to share the individual impacts, seriatim, some new phenomena arise. A systematic mislocalization results if the temporal relations between two successive pulses fall within the limits of 20 to 260msec. The apparent displacement of cutaneous taps is regular and predictable; it is determined mainly by time but secondarily by pulse intensity. Control experiments show that the leaps from the veridical position ("saltation") are not to be accounted for by traveling waves in the skin; direct electrical stimulation elicits the same phenomena. Moreover, the same saltatory jumps can be evoked with hot and cold stimuli serving as attractants, with the time relations remaining unchanged. The saltatory leaps are also found even when the intervening skin is anesthetized. Compelling evidence shows the saltation effect to have a central seat. The fact that saltatory leaps apparently do not transcend dermatomal boundaries is of considerable neurologic importance. Attempts to identify the underlying mechanism of saltation have led to further evidence of the metastability of sensory systems.
An Investigation of Cyclic Transient Behavior and Implications on Fatigue Life Estimates

Current research focuses on proportional cyclic hardening and non-Massing behaviors. The interaction of these two hardenings can result in the traditionally observed overall softening, hardening or mixed behavior exhibited for fully reversed strain controlled fatigue tests. Proportional experiments were conducted with five materials 304 stainless steel, normalized 1070 and 1045 steels, and 7075-T6 and 6061-T6 aluminum alloys. All the materials display similar trends, but the 304 stainless steel shows the most pronounced transient behavior and will be discussed in detail. Existing algorithms for this behavior are evaluated in light of the recent experiments, and refinements to the Armstrong-Frederick class of incremental plasticity models are proposed. Modifications implemented are more extensive than the traditional variation of yield stress, and a traditional strain based memory surface is utilized to track deformation history. Implications of the deformation characteristics with regard to fatigue life estimation, especially variable amplitude loading, will be examined. The high-low step loading is utilized to illustrate the effect of transient deformation on fatigue life estimation procedures, and their relationship to the observed and modeled deformation.
Über den Wasserhaushalt bei Epilepsie

Die in verschiedenen Versuchsanordnungen durchgefuhrten Untersuchungen zum Wasserhaushalt ergaben, das die Anwendung des Vollhardschen Wasserstoses in der Modifikation nach Marx die sichersten Aufschlusse uber Veranderungen im Wasserhaushalt des Epileptikers aufzeigt. 1. Ein epileptischer Anfall bewirkt immer eine wenigstens 2 Std vorher einsetzende Diuresehemmung, die postparoxysmal anhalt. 2. Unter Heranziehung der Gesetzmasigkeit der Ausscheidung konnte gezeigt werden, das beim epileptischen Anfall zwischen einer akut einsetzenden und einer sich uber langere Zeit praparoxysmal auswirkenden Hemmung zu unterscheiden ist. 3. Eine Wasserretention konnte fur die Anfallsentstehung ausgeschlossen werden, da die Anfalle stets in der Phase der uberschiesenden Diurese auftraten. 4. Eine Arbeitshypothese wurde auf Grund der Befunde entwickelt, die ein anfallsbegunstigendes Moment nicht mit dem Vorgang der Quellung, sondern der Entquellung in Zusammenhang bringen kann.
Health Care Utilization and Expenditures for Children and Young Adults With Muscular Dystrophy in a Privately Insured Population

We provide estimates of medical care utilization and expenditures for children and young adults younger than age 30 with muscular dystrophies in the United States. Accurate estimates are essential for calculations of lifetime costs and for economic evaluations of screening and management strategies for muscular dystrophy. We compare the medical expenditures for persons with muscular dystrophy with others by age groups. The incremental annual expenditures of medical care for privately insured individuals with muscular dystrophy relative to others in 2004 averaged $18 930 and ranged from $13 464 at ages 5 to 9 to $32 541 at ages 15 to 19. Individuals with muscular dystrophy had average medical expenditures 10 to 20 times greater than individuals without muscular dystrophy. Individuals aged 15 to 19 years had the highest number of inpatient admissions related to respiratory infections and cardiac complications. The findings underscore the need for appropriate treatment options for individuals with muscular dystrophy as they age.
Hidden Chicano Cinema: film dramas in the borderlands

Hidden Chicano Cinema is a thoughtful exploration of New Mexican Chicana/os and their culture through their representation on film. Melendez analyzes films shot in New Mexico—both by natives and tr...
Effects of secretin on gastric secretion.

The effect of secretin on gastric secretory activity was studied in three dogs with Heidenhain pouches. A secretory plateau was elicited either by meat-feeding or by continuous administration of histamine. The effects of secretin were evaluated by comparison with identically performed control experiments in which saline alone was administered. Secretin inhibited free acid output by an average of 66% (single dose) and 51% (continuous injection), but even in large doses did not alter histamine-stimulated secretion. Inhibition by secretin was not affected by pancreatic-duct ligation. It is concluded that secretin (1) is a potent gastric secretory inhibitor; (2) is not the agent mediating gastric inhibition by fat or acid; (3) does not affect gastric secretion via the exocrine pancreas.
Gelatinization and Solubility of Corn Starch during Heating in Excess Water: New Insights

Starch gelatinization is associated with the disruption of granular structure causing starch molecules to disperse in water. This study was designed to examine starch granules as they were heated in water, and their resulting morphological, structural, and solubility traits. The results indicate that starch gelatinization is a more complex process than the previously suggested order-to-disorder transition. The energy absorbed by the granules facilitates the rearrangement or formation of new bonds among molecules prior to the temperatures normally associated with the melting of amylopectin crystallites during gelatinization. It is also evident that amylose plays an important role during the initial stages of corn starch gelatinization.
Inhibitors tethered near the acetylcholinesterase active site serve as molecular rulers of the peripheral and acylation sites.

The acetylcholinesterase (AChE) active site consists of a narrow gorge with two separate ligand binding sites: an acylation site (or A-site) at the bottom of the gorge where substrate hydrolysis occurs and a peripheral site (or P-site) at the gorge mouth. AChE is inactivated by organophosphates as they pass through the P-site and phosphorylate the catalytic serine in the A-site. One strategy to protect against organophosphate inactivation is to design cyclic ligands that will bind specifically to the P-site and block the passage of organophosphates but not acetylcholine. To accelerate the process of identifying cyclic compounds with high affinity for the AChE P-site, we introduced a cysteine residue near the rim of the P-site by site-specific mutagenesis to generate recombinant human H287C AChE. Compounds were synthesized with a highly reactive methanethiosulfonyl substituent and linked to this cysteine through a disulfide bond. The advantages of this tethering were demonstrated with H287C AChE modified with six compounds, consisting of cationic trialkylammonium, acridinium, and tacrine ligands with tethers of varying length. Modification by ligands with short tethers had little effect on catalytic properties, but longer tethering resulted in shifts in substrate hydrolysis profiles and reduced affinity for acridinium affinity resin. Molecular modeling calculations indicated that cationic ligands with tethers of intermediate length bound to the P-site, whereas those with long tethers reached the A-site. These binding locations were confirmed experimentally by measuring competitive inhibition constants K I2 for propidium and tacrine, inhibitors specific for the P- and A-sites, respectively. Values of K I2 for propidium increased 30- to 100-fold when ligands had either intermediate or long tethers. In contrast, the value of K I2 for tacrine increased substantially only when ligands had long tethers. These relative changes in propidium and tacrine affinities thus provided a sensitive molecular ruler for assigning the binding locations of the tethered cations.
Noninvasive Evaluation of Peripheral Arterial Disease

Doppler ultrasound is the most simple, inexpensive, accurate and versatile of the available noninvasive screening techniques to assess peripheral vascular diseases. The four fundamental components of peripheral arterial evaluation with this technique are assessment of blood velocity signal, measurement of resting ankle pressure, determination of segmental leg blood pressures, and measurement of ankle pressure response to exercise or reactive hyperemia. Plethysmography permits graphic recording of pulse-wave morphology, determination of digit blood pressure, and pulsatile responses to compression maneuvers. These techniques are useful in objectively quantifying peripheral arterial occlusive disease, predicting the results of operative therapy, monitoring the success of arterial reconstruction during surgery, and following the physiologic status of the patient after surgery.
Mandates, Honeymoons, and the Obama Administration

This paper considers whether President Obama won a mandate during the 2008 election, and whether he is experiencing the expected honeymoon with the press, public, and Congress in 2009. It finds that the electorate did instruct him to “fix” the economy, but that given his relatively narrow victory and the electorate’s indecisive rejection of conservative principles, the limited mandate he won is not necessarily going to help him govern. This paper also argues that he is experiencing a normal first-year honeymoon with the press and public, while his partisan advantage in Congress overwhelms any Republican reluctance to be deferential to him. Between the limited mandate, high public approval ratings, and large partisan majorities in Congress, prospects for his first year in office look fairly good.
Prediction of response to chemoradiation therapy in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck using dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Tumor microenvironment, including blood flow and permeability, may provide crucial information regarding response to chemoradiation therapy. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of pretreatment DCE-MR imaging for prediction of response to chemoradiation therapy in HNSCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: DCE-MR imaging studies were performed on 33 patients with newly diagnosed HNSCC before neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy by using a 1.5T ( n = 24) or a 3T ( n = 9) magnet. The data were analyzed by using SSM for estimation of Ktrans , ve , and τ i . Response to treatment was determined on completion of chemoradiation as CR, with no evidence of disease (clinically or pathologically), or PR, with pathologically proved residual tumor. RESULTS: The average pretreatment Ktrans value of the CR group (0.64 ± 0.11 minutes−1, n = 24) was significantly higher ( P = .001) than that of the PR (0.21 ± 0.05 minutes−1, n = 9) group. No significant difference was found in other pharmacokinetic model parameters: ve and τ i , between the 2 groups. Although the PR group had larger metastatic nodal volume than the CR group, it was not significantly different ( P = .276). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that pretreatment DCE-MR imaging can be potentially used for prediction of response to chemoradiation therapy of HNSCC. AIF : arterial input function CE : contrast-enhanced chemo : chemotherapy CM : cetuximab Conc. Chemo : concurrent chemotherapy CP : cisplatin CR : complete response DCE : dynamic contrast-enhanced DM : distant metastasis DT : docetaxol EGFR : epidermal growth factor receptor 5FU : 5-fluorouracil Gd-DTPA : gadolinium diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid GKM : general kinetic model HNSCC : head and neck squamous cell carcinomas immuno : immunotherapy Ind. Chemo : induction chemotherapy Ktrans : transfer constant 6MFU : 6-month follow-up N : negative NED : no evidence of disease P : positive PR : partial response Rs : treatment response Sg : surgery Pa : pathology SSM : shutter speed model T1WI : T1-weighted imaging T2WI : T2-weighted imaging TX : Taxol ve , : extravascular extracellular space volume fraction τi, : intracellular water lifetime Y : yes
Dermal exposure to a compounded pain cream resulting in severely elevated clonidine concentration.

Introduction Clonidine is an imidazoline derivative antihypertensive medication that is also used as adjunctive therapy for neuropathic pain disorders via topical administration. Clonidine overdose can manifest both central and peripheral alpha-adrenergic agonist effects.
A theoretical analysis of the dynamics of oxygen transport and exchange in the placental-fetal system

This paper presents a systematic mathematical analysis of the transient response of oxygen in the placental and fetal system when disturbances create changes in normal conditions. Particular emphasis is given to changes resulting from upsets in placental maternal flow such as may occur during the contractions of labor. Response in the placenta was found to be rapid, but when interconnected with the fetal system both the quality and quantity of response was altered. Oxygen response in the fetal system to changes in maternal placental flow was considerably damped at the organ level and relatively slow. Following a total cessation of maternal flow, several minutes were required theoretically to obtain anoxia in brain provided all other factors remained constant.
Modeling of structural steels and magnetite for NDE corrosion sensing

In this paper Jiles-Atherton model, a phenomenological model, is proposed to model physical properties of structural steel and magnetite(corrosion product). The Jiles-Atherton model parameters based on mean field approximation were optimized to simulate the curves obtained from magnetic measurements using conventional quasi-static method. Results from hot rolled steel, a low carbon steel, were simulated using Jiles model to understand and correlate the measured and simulated curves. Hysteresis curves for magnetite, one of the most prevalent corrosion product and the only ferromagnetic component, are obtained to simulate the effect of corrosion products on the magnetic measurements of corroded structural steel. Since corrosion is initially a surface phenomenon, high frequency measurements were suggested from the simulations obtained to reduce the skin depth estimates and increase the accuracy of corrosion measurement.
Behavior imaging and the study of autism

Computational sensing and modeling can play a key role in the measurement, analysis, and understanding of human behavior. We refer to this research area as Behavior Imaging, by analogy to the medical imaging technologies that revolutionized internal medicine. We outline the development of behavior imaging technologies to study dyadic social interactions between children and their care-givers, and describe a new Multi-Modal Dyadic Behavior (MMDB) dataset.
Comparative In Vitro Activity of Nafcillin, Oxacillin, and Methicillin in Combination with Gentamicin and Tobramycin Against Enterococci

The in vitro activity of nafcillin, oxacillin, and methicillin alone and in combination with gentamicin and tobramycin against 30 strains of enterococci was investigated. The penicillinase-resistant penicillins were less active than penicillin and ampicillin against the enterococci. Nafcillin was more active than oxacillin and methicillin. Sixty-six percent of strains were inhibited by nafcillin at 6.25 μg/ml, but none was inhibited by oxacillin and methicillin at the same concentration. At 12.5 μg/ml, 83, 16, and 0% were inhibited by nafcillin, oxacillin, and methicillin, respectively. By using a variety of criteria and analyses, it was shown that none of the antibiotic combinations studied demonstrated enhanced killing of all strains of enterococci. Nafcillin-gentamicin was the best combination, and enhanced killing was demonstrated against most strains. Oxacillin was more effective than methicillin when combined with gentamicin. Tobramycin was probably less effective than gentamicin in combination with the penicillinase-resistant penicillins against enterococci.
Asymmetrically Heteropycnotic X Chromosomes in the Grasshopper Melanoplus femur-rubrum

In short-horned grasshoppers the X chromosome is negatively heteropycnotic in at least some of the spermatogonia but is positively heteropycnotic (heterochromatic) during prophase I of spermatogenesis. In tetraploid (4n) spermatocytes in prophase I the two Xs present have so far been reported always to be heterochromatic and unpaired. In several males of the grasshopper Melanoplus femur-rubrum (Acrididae), however, some of the 4n primary spermatocytes contained one heterochromatic X (Xh) and one euchromatic X (Xe). This asymmetry of heteropycnosis (AH) was first observed in grasshoppers by M.J.D. White who observed it, however, only in 4n spermatogonia in which one X was negatively heteropycnotic and the other was isopycnotic (euchromatic). In M. femur-rubrum the AH involved both positive and negative heteropycnosis. In some of the 4n cells both Xs were heterochromatic and these cells were usually present in small groups but sometimes comprised whole cysts. The 4n cells with Xe+Xh always comprised several whole cysts in a follicle or whole follicles. The origin of the two cell types may be explained by assuming that heteropycnosis originated prior to the origin of the cysts, that when, as a result of polyploidization, two Xs were present in a 4n cell only one became heteropycnotic, and that the state of the X (Xh vs. Xe) usually persisted into meiosis. The 4n primary spermatocytes exhibiting AH divided regularly during the first meiotic division but following telophase I they usually failed to undergo cytokinesis and to enter the second meiotic division. The available evidence suggests that the arrest of these cells is the result of the genetic activity of the Xe in those stages in which the X is usually heterochromatic and genetically inactive. The relationship between AH and facultative heterochromatinization is discussed and it is concluded that the present observations put into question the validity of previous models attempting to explain facultative heterochromatinization (including that of the X in the mammalian female).
Peak Flow Forecasting with Radar Precipitation and the Distributed Model CASC2D

Abstract The processing speed of computers and availability of spatial hydrologic data make distributed watershed models a viable approach for many applications, including peak flow forecasting. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using radar precipitation data with a distributed watershed model to obtain increased lead-time for peak flow forecasting. The CASC2D watershed model is applied to the Hassyampa River watershed in central Arizona using radar-based rainfall estimates from the National Weather Service WSR-88D weather radar. An application of radar rainfall data as input to the CASC2D model is then presented by which precipitation forecasts are generated by extrapolation of precipitation patterns from radar images. The calibrated model is run for two rainfall events: with and without linear precipitation forecasts. Results of this study confirm that the precipitation forecasts based on extrapolation of rainfall patterns from radar can produce increases in the forecast lead-time. For the two ...
Behavioral biases in endogenous-timing herding games: An experimental study

Abstract We experimentally study behavior in an endogenous-timing herding game. We find that subjects respond to their type and to observed investment activity in a sensible way, but there are also substantial departures from Nash Equilibrium. Some departures can be viewed as mere noise in decision making while other departures represent systematic biases reflecting subjects’ failure to appreciate subtle aspects of the game.
Iron Mössbauer redox and relation to technetium retention during vitrification

Technetium-99 is a long half-life radioactive fission product whose high volatility during waste vitrification (National Research Council, 2001; Migge, Mat Res Symp Proc 127:205–213, 1989) is a factor in the safe disposal of radioactive waste. Oxidation states of +7, +4 mostly, and some traces of metal have been observed in the glass (Migge, Mat Res Symp Proc 176:411–417, 1990; Darab and Smith, Chem Mater 8:1004–1021, 1996) with Tc7 + more volatile than Tc4 + , leading to a range of technetium retention in the glass varying from 0.8% to 92%. In the present experiments, a simulated high-sulfate Hanford tank waste was vitrified using a slurry fed joule heated furnace producing about 30 kg of glass per day. Various combinations of sucrose and urea were used as denitration and reducing agents in order to optimize sulfate and technetium retention. Since iron oxide is used as a glass additive, Fe-Mossbauer spectroscopy was a vital tool to monitor the melt redox through its Fe2 + /Fetot ratio. A Mossbauer glass redox scale was designed to relate the technetium speciation to its retention in the glass.
Smoltification in the net-pen culture of accelerated coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch Walbaum: prediction of saltwater performance

Prediction of the success of coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, in making the transition from fresh water to salt water was investigated by the use of statistical comparisons between several freshwater variables and several measures of saltwater performance. Data were collected from two consecutive broodyears of coho salmon that were derived from a nested mating design, grown under enhanced rearing conditions, and raised in marine net-pens. Equations were developed that could successfully predict percentage smolts and saltwater growth from morphological measurements taken in fresh water. However, saltwater survival was not predictable from these measurements. Criteria for predictive equations and the value of these calculations, as well as directions for future research, are discussed.
Reevaluation of TNM staging of renal cortical tumors: Recurrence and survival for T1N0M0 and T3aN0M0 tumors are equivalent

Abstract Objectives The current TNM staging system for renal cortical tumors (RCTs) differentiates between tumors confined to the kidney (T1, T2) and tumors that extend through the renal capsule and invade into the perinephric fat (T3a). We examined the relative survival rates of patients with T1 and T3a tumors to determine the accuracy of the current TNM staging classification. Methods We analyzed the Columbia University Surgical Urological Oncology Database for all patients with clinically localized Stage T1, T2, and T3a RCTs treated surgically from 1988 to 2004. The primary outcomes included local and distant recurrence. Because the T3a classification is not limited by size, we compared T3a tumors with T1 tumors alone and tumors confined within the renal capsule (Stage T1 and T2 tumors combined). Results A total of 819 patients underwent partial or radical nephrectomy for RCTs at Columbia University during the study period. After the exclusion criteria were applied, 131 patients with T1N0M0, 19 patients with T2N0M0, and 82 patients with T3aN0M0 conventional renal cell carcinoma were eligible for analysis. The median follow-up was 37 months. The median tumor diameter was 3.2, 3.8, and 5.0 cm for Stage T1, T1 and T2 combined, and T3a lesions, respectively. The estimated 5-year disease-free survival was 95.2% and 90.6% for T1 and T3a RCTs, respectively ( P = 0.922). Conclusions Patients with Stage T3a tumors experienced similar outcomes as patients with tumors confined to the renal capsule. These data suggest that the T3a classification should be examined more closely to attempt to improve the prognostic validity of the TNM classification.
Improved separation and analysis of plasma amino acids by modification of the MassTrak™ AAA Solution Ultraperformance® liquid chromatography method.

Abstract Background Ultraperformance® Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) is increasingly used for quantitative amino acid screening. The Waters MassTrak™ UPLC Amino Acid Analysis (AAA) Solution kit offers rapid analysis with minimal sample preparation. We describe a simple modification of this method enabling enhanced chromatographic separation of previously problematic analytes with improvements in quantification. Methods The commercial UPLC method was compared with our modified version of the same method. The modification incorporates eluent buffer of increased organic content run at reduced column temperature. UPLC methods were compared by analyzing amino acids from 57 plasma samples. A comparison (n = 131) between the modified UPLC method and ion-exchange chromatography was also carried out. Results The commercial method produced a large negative bias for Tyrosine (− 22.72% ± 14.10) and ornithine (− 15.02% ± 10.07). Assay imprecision of Tyrosine using the commercial method (mean Tyrosine: 72.58 and 31.17 μmol/l) produced values of 10.86% and 21.12% respectively, compared with the modified method (3.39% and 4.47%). The comparison of modified UPLC and ion-exchange methods was favorable, validating the improvements observed in amino acid quantification. Conclusion The modified UPLC method has eliminated significant bias associated with the commercially available method. The modification is simple, robust and readily adaptable to the current MassTrak™ AAA Solution kit for clinical applications.
Free American Political Prisoners: Pacifist Activism and Civil Liberties, 1945-48

After World War II, the Committee for Amnesty led a three-year campaign to obtain amnesty for the 6,000 US conscientious objectors (COs) sentenced to prison for their refusal to participate in the war. In addition, the Committee for Amnesty sought to win freedom for those COs who remained in prison long after the war ended. As convicted felons, prison COs were `second-class citizens' deprived of their full civil rights, including the right to vote. During World War II, social actionist COs staged dramatic work and hunger strikes to protest racism, censorship, conscription, and the myriad policies that dehumanized prison and gutted the original vision of Civilian Public Service, a program of alternative nonmilitary service. After the war, these radicalized COs applied the techniques of Gandhian nonviolent direct action, developed in prison and Civilian Public Service camps, to advance peace and justice - most notably in the anti-war, civil rights, environmental, anti-nuclear, and civil liberties movements....