cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Poldip2 Knockout Results in Perinatal Lethality, Reduced Cellular Growth and Increased Autophagy of Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts

Polymerase-δ interacting protein 2 (Poldip2) is an understudied protein, originally described as a binding partner of polymerase delta and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Numerous roles for Poldip2 have been proposed, including mitochondrial elongation, DNA replication/repair and ROS production via Nox4. In this study, we have identified a novel role for Poldip2 in regulating the cell cycle. We used a Poldip2 gene-trap mouse and found that homozygous animals die around the time of birth. Poldip2−/− embryos are significantly smaller than wild type or heterozygous embryos. We found that Poldip2−/− mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) exhibit reduced growth as measured by population doubling and growth curves. This effect is not due to apoptosis or senescence; however, Poldip2−/− MEFs have higher levels of the autophagy marker LC3b. Measurement of DNA content by flow cytometry revealed an increase in the percentage of Poldip2−/− cells in the G1 and G2/M phases of the cell cycle, accompanied by a decrease in the percentage of S-phase cells. Increases in p53 S20 and Sirt1 were observed in passage 2 Poldip2−/− MEFs. In passage 4/5 MEFs, Cdk1 and CyclinA2 are downregulated in Poldip2−/− cells, and these changes are reversed by transfection with SV40 large T-antigen, suggesting that Poldip2 may target the E2F pathway. In contrast, p21CIP1 is increased in passage 4/5 Poldip2−/− MEFs and its expression is unaffected by SV40 transfection. Overall, these results reveal that Poldip2 is an essential protein in development, and underline its importance in cell viability and proliferation. Because it affects the cell cycle, Poldip2 is a potential novel target for treating proliferative conditions such as cancer, atherosclerosis and restenosis.
Imaging Of The Diffusion Of Individual Band 3 Molecules On Whole Erythrocytes From Patients With Hereditary Hemolytic Disorders

The plasma membrane of the human erythrocyte is a composite structure that consists of a fluid lipid bilayer (including membrane-embedded and membrane-associated proteins) and a sub-surface scaffolding consisting of a six-fold network of the tetrameric flexible structural protein spectrin. The spectrin network is pinned to the fluid bilayer through a series of transmembrane and membrane associated proteins both at the six-fold junctions and near the mid-points along the spectrin tetramers between junctions. Common to both of these pinning points is the presence of the transmembrane anion exchange protein band 3 (AE1). Band 3 ties the six-fold junction to the bilayer through interaction with the protein adducin and ties the midpoint to the bilayer through interaction with ankyrin. Much of the remarkable mechanical characteristics of the red cell have been attributed to this membrane architecture. Further, red cells become fragile in pathologies known to disrupt the spectrin network or its pinning points to the membrane. To assess changes in the structure of the plasma membrane of pathologic red cells at the single molecule level, the mobility of individual band 3 molecules was observed on normal red cells as well as those from patients with several types of hereditary diseases including spherocytosis, elliptocytosis, and pyropokilocytosis. Specifically, individual band 3 molecules on whole red cells were labeled by quantum dots through the band 3 inhibitor 4,4′-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2′-disulfonate (DIDS). We will present data on the mobility of band 3 in each of these cell types recorded at video imaging rates of 120 fps. The observation that membrane pathologies can be distinguished by the mobility of individual membrane molecules suggests that single particle tracking might constitute a useful tool for characterizing the “health” of a membrane.
HIV-associated salivary gland disease: a role for BK birus

HIV-associated salivary gland disease (HIV-SGD) is disfiguring and causes significant morbidity in the HIV population. Evidence detailing the epidemiology of HIV-SGD suggests the involvement of a viral opportunist in its pathogenesis, yet the specific etiology of HIV-SGD remains unclear. To determine the role for an opportunistic virus as the etiologic agent of HIV-SGD, we hypothesized that HIV-SGD was a manifestation of primary infection or reactivation with a DNA tumor virus, BKV, during immune suppression. The central hypothesis of this work is that viral pathogenesis is essential to the development of salivary gland disease. Results show for the first time that polyomavirus, BKV, is associated with HIV-SGD. BKV DNA, RNA, and protein were consistently detected in salivary gland biopsies and in the peripheral blood and oral fluids from HIV-SGD patients and not in control subjects. To confirm the in vivo findings, an in vitro model was created whereby parotid and submandibular salivary gland cells were productively infected with BKV, demonstrating each part of the viral life cycle. Salivary gland tropism was confirmed and the BKV receptor on salivary gland cells was defined. BKV transmission and pathogenesis is not well understood. Importantly, these studies suggest a role for BKV in HIV-SGD and that BKV transmission may occur via the oral route. The long-term goal of this project is to make critical strides toward understanding the etiology of SGD in order to go beyond the ineffective palliative treatment that is currently the standard of care.
On Two Fundamental Single-Subject Behavior Functions:

It is shown that there are two fundamental behavior functions associated with single-subject experimental research. One of these behavior functions represents the subject's orderly behavior actually occurring in the experiment of interest. This behavior function is identical to the well known individual behavior function of operant research. The other behavior function represents the subject's average orderly behavior across all possible theoretical replications of the experiment of interest. This behavior function represents, in the context of the experiment of interest, a kind of single-subject behavioral "law" peculiar to the subject under study. General approaches to investigating the two behavior functions are examined. The relationship between the two behavior functions and the importance of studying both of them are discussed.
Role of mixing in the chemical oxygen-iodine laser reactions

The thin shear-layer equations are solved for a two-dimensional parallel jet of molecular iodine I 2 , in an electronically excited, singlet-delta oxygen freestream, O 2 ( 1 Δ), in an effort to better understand the influence of mixing on the dissociation of I 2 . Comparisons of one-dimensional premixed cases with corresponding two-dimensional let-mixed cases of varying jet velocity ratios (and therefore mixing rates) indicate that, counter to common belief, imperfect mixing, which results in initial regions of high I 2 concentrations, can lead to faster dissociation
Emission factors of PM species based on freeway measurements and comparison with tunnel and dynamometer studies

Abstract Emission factors of various particle species from light- and heavy-duty vehicles (LDVs and HDVs, respectively), including organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC), sulfate, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), hopanes, steranes, trace metals, elements, and particle number (PN), were estimated based on roadway measurements. Sampling campaigns were conducted at two different roadways: the CA-110 highway (where only gasoline-powered vehicles are allowed), and the I-710 freeway (where about 20% of the total number of vehicles are diesel-powered trucks). The particulate matter (PM) emission factors determined in these roadways were compared to those reconstructed from recent source emission data from the Caldecott tunnel [Phuleria, H.C., Geller, M.D., Fine, P.M., Sioutas, C., 2006. Size-resolved emissions of organic tracers from light- and heavy-duty vehicles measured in a California roadway tunnel. Environmental Science and Technology 40 (13), 4109–4118], and those from previous tunnel and chassis dynamometer studies. Very good agreement between estimated and reconstructed emission factors was found for PN, EC, sulfate, high-molecular-weight (MW) PAHs, hopanes and steranes. This suggests that PM-speciated chemical data collected at roadsides can be used to calculate reliable emission factors for several important particle species at other locations characterized by a similar mix of on-road motor vehicles. The agreement between our results and other studies in the emission factors of trace elements and metals varied from very good (for species such as Cu, Mo, Ba, Pb) to poor (for species such as Mg, Fe, Ca), probably because the atmospheric concentrations of the latter elements are associated with both traffic and non-traffic sources, and the relative abundances of Mg, Ca, and Fe in road dust varies considerably across locations. The emission factors of OC and EC were clearly the highest for HDVs, and those of PAHs, hopanes, and steranes from our roadway measurements were well within the range of values reported in the literature from tunnel and dynamometer studies. The approach presented in this paper allows for a straight-forward estimation of PM emission factors from ambient, near-freeway measurements. Although the uncertainties inherent in the method proposed here must be acknowledged (e.g. assumptions were made to estimate the average fleet composition and the total carbon content in the vehicles’ exhaust), our results are generally in very good agreement with those in the available literature for most non-labile PM species.
Formation of Kondo clouds in U(Sn1−xMx)3 compounds (M = Al, Ga, Ge)

Abstract USn3 has an unusually high γ value of 169 mJ mole−1 K−2 in comparison with its neighboring compounds UAl3, UGa3, USi3, and UGe3. To study the formation of this high γ value we prepared pseudobinary U(Sn1−xMx)3 compounds (M = Al, Ga, Si, Ge, and x = 0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5). From X-ray diffraction, specific-heat and susceptibility measurements we conclude that the high γ value is not only due to f-ligand hybridization, but also to the formation of Kondo clouds (40%).
Communities of practice: dare to share the knowledge

Communities of practice are not a new idea, but they are being looked at more closely as an important tool for learning and mastering knowledge challenges. Communities of practice often lend themselves to a particular strategic intent for their existence.[6] The Help Desk with all of its ongoing training and sharing naturally lends itself to the purpose of a helping community. An inherent quality of communities of practice is that they connect people across organizational boundaries. By nurturing a community of practice that brings together student help desk staff, user services staff, and system support staff, the Help Desk is able to nurture a knowledge sharing culture that makes the student consultants feel more valued in their work, and willing to seek solutions from their peers as well as across traditional organizational boundaries.[3] The student consultants also contribute knowledge from their unique perspectives. This paper will review the history of our first attempts at developing a community of practice at the Help Desk and the ongoing cultivation process.[5] .
Neodymium, gadolinium, and terbium complexes containing hexafluoroacetylacetonate and 2,2'-bipyrimidine: structural and spectroscopic characterization.

Lanthanide complexes of the form Ln(hfa)3bpm (where Ln = Nd(III), Gd(III), or Tb(III); hfa = 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetone and bpm = 2,2‘-bipyrimidine) have been structurally characterized. The Nd and Gd complexes form one-dimensional arrays when X-ray-quality crystals are grown by the slow evaporation of concentrated solutions of the complexes. Each metal is 10-coordinate with repeating Ln−bpm units. The Tb complex does not form a one-dimensional array under these conditions. Its structure is 9-coordinate with the ninth position occupied by a covalently bonded water molecule that is hydrogen-bonded to the bpm group from another complex in solution. Luminescent studies show that the Nd complex undergoes nonradiative relaxation through solvent vibrational deactivation, while the lowest excited state of the Gd complex, 6P7/2, is higher in energy than the T1 state of the hfa ligand, making luminescence improbable for both of these complexes. In contrast, the Tb complex emits in the visible region of th...
Exhaling so that we can catch our breath and sing: Reflections on issues inherent in publishing race-related communication research

This article features a cyberspace discussion involving four communication scholars reflecting a variety of perspectives based on race, gender, age, regionality, and tenure within the academy. After reading each of the essays contained in this special issue, we engaged in an on-line discussion of our reactions to, perceptions of, and experiences with the issues raised by the collective voices contained in this volume. In short, this “finale piece” features diverse voices coming together to discuss the implications of issues raised throughout the special issue.
Apparent protein kinase activity in oligodendroglial chromatin after chronic morphine treatment

Abstract The oligodendroglial nuclei were purified from mouse brain with more than 97 per cent homogeneity. Cyclic AMP-independent phosphorylation of non-histone protein in oligodendroglial chromatin was studied. Morphine sulfate, in vitro, had no effect on phosphorylation. However, chronic morphine treatment resulted in an increase of phosphorylation in high molecular weight regions of sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) electrophoresis gel. The increase was not the result of a decrease in phosphoprotein phosphatase activity.
EFFECT OF LIGHT INTENSITY ON PHOTOSYNTHESIS BY THERMAL ALGAE ADAPTED TO NATURAL AND REDUCED SUNLIGHT1

Thermal algae in alkaline hot springs of Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming) grow as compact mats in which self-shading is extensive, as shown by measurement by autoradiography of photosynthetic activity of cells at different levels in the mat. The effect of light intensity on photosynthesis of the algal mats was studied using neutral density filters during incubation with 14CO2. Despite the intense sunlight at the altitude of Yellowstone, light inhibition by full sunlight was observed only occasionally; the rate of photosynthesis fell progressively with decreasing light, although the most efficient use was at 7–14% of full sunlight. Later, the light intensity over portions of the algal mats was reduced to 18% of full sunlight by installing neutral density glass plates, and changes of chlorophyll content, cell number, and response of photosynthesis to light intensity were determined over the next year. Although the chlorophyll content of the algae at the surface of the mat rose quickly, the chlorophyll content of the mat as a whole rose slowly or not at all; the photosynthetic response of the algal mats to full and reduced sunlight also changed slowly or not at all. Although individual algal cells can adapt rapidly to changes in light, the entire population, because of its existence in compact mats, adapts slowly. At the latitude of Yellowstone there is sufficient light throughout the year to enable algal growth to occur even at temperatures near the upper limit at which blue-green algae can grow; in Iceland, hot spring algae cannot grow during several winter months. Natural ultraviolet radiation neither inhibited nor stimulated photosynthesis.
The conformation of γ-globulin adsorbed on polystyrene latices determined by quasielastic light scattering

Abstract Measurements of the conformation of γ-globulin adsorbed on monodisperse polystyrene latices, and the subsequent rates of flocculation of the latices, have been carried out in situ using quasielastic light scattering. The molecular extension was found to depend on the protein solution concentration, with end-on adsorption indicated at high surface coverage. Application of the Deutch-Felderhof model for the translational friction coefficient of microscopic multisubunit assemblies established, through a comparison of calculated with experimental values of the molecular extension, the possibility of a flattening in the adsorbed conformation at low surface concentration. Changes in adsorbed conformation as a function of pH were also found. Although the initial rate of flocculation was too great to measure, the particle radius at a given time after mixing varied with the concentration exhibiting a maximum at approximately 0.05 mg · ml −1 final protein concentration.
Factor structure of the WAIS-R by educational level: An examination of elderly persons

A factor analysis of the WAIS-R by educational level for persons 75 years and older was conducted. Two- and three-factor solutions were generated for persons with 0 to 11 years of education and for high school graduates. A two-factor solution composed of verbal and perceptual-organization factors best explained the WAIS-R scores for subjects with 11 or fewer years of education. However, a three-factor solution emerged for persons with 12 or more years of schooling and consisted of the verbal comprehension, perceptual-organization, and freedom from distractibility factors. Clinicians must be aware of the potentially different factor structures generated by educational level to provide the most accurate interpretation of WAIS-R scores for elderly persons.
Acute changes in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide during hospitalization and risk of readmission and mortality in patients with heart failure

The level of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) is a predictor of adverse events in patients with heart failure. We examined the relation between acute changes in NT-proBNP during a single hospitalization and subsequent mortality and readmission. The data from a cohort of 241 consecutive patients aged ≥ 25 years who had been admitted to an urban tertiary care hospital with a primary diagnosis of heart failure were analyzed. Creatinine and NT-proBNP were measured at admission and at discharge of the first admission. The patient demographics, co-morbidities, and length of stay were collected. The patients were prospectively grouped into 2 categories according to the acute changes in NT-proBNP: a decrease of ≥ 50% or <50% from admission to discharge. The primary composite outcome was readmission or death within 1 year of the first hospital admission. The unadjusted hazard ratio of readmission/death was 1.40 (95% confidence interval 0.97 to 2.01; p = 0.07) for those with a < 50% decrease in NT-proBNP compared to their counterparts with a ≥ 50% decrease. After adjustment for age, gender, race, and admission creatinine and NT-proBNP, the risk of readmission/death was 57% greater for those with a < 50% decrease (hazard ratio 1.57, 95% confidence interval 1.08 to 2.28; p = 0.02). An adjustment for co-morbidity, length of stay, and left ventricular ejection fraction did not significantly change this relation. Reductions in NT-proBNP of < 50% during an acute hospitalization for heart failure might be associated with an increased hazard of readmission/death, independent of age, gender, race, creatinine, admission NT-proBNP, co-morbidities, left ventricular ejection fraction, and length of stay. In conclusion, patients with a < 50% reduction in NT-proBNP might benefit from more intensive medical treatment, monitoring, and follow-up.
Acute Activation of β2-Adrenergic Receptor Regulates Focal Adhesions through βArrestin2- and p115RhoGEF Protein-mediated Activation of RhoA *

β2-Adrenergic receptors (β2ARs) regulate cellular functions through G protein-transduced and βArrestin-transduced signals. β2ARs have been shown to regulate cancer cell migration, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Here, we report that β2AR regulates formation of focal adhesions, whose dynamic remodeling is critical for directed cell migration. β2ARs induce activation of RhoA, which is dependent on βArrestin2 but not Gs. βArrestin2 forms a complex with p115RhoGEF, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for RhoA that is well known to be activated by G12/13-coupled receptors. Our results show that βArrestin2 forms a complex with p115RhoGEF in the cytosol in resting cells. Upon β2AR activation, both βArrestin2 and p115RhoGEF translocate to the plasma membrane, with concomitant activation of RhoA and formation of focal adhesions and stress fibers. Activation of RhoA and focal adhesion remodeling may explain, at least in part, the role of β2ARs in cell migration. These results suggest that βArrestin2 may serve as a convergence point for non-G12/13 and non-Gq protein-coupled receptors to activate RhoA.
Evaluation of Intracellular Polyphosphate Dynamics in Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal Process using Raman Microscopy

A Raman microscopy method was developed and successfully applied to evaluate the dynamics of intracellular polyphosphate in polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) in enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) processes. Distinctive Raman spectra of polyphosphates allowed for both identification of PAOs and quantification of intracellular polyphosphate during various metabolic phases in a lab-scale EBPR process. Observation of polyphosphate at individual cell level indicated thatthere are distributed states of cells in terms of polyphosphate content at any given time, suggesting that agent-based distributive modeling would more accurately reflect the behavior of an EBPR process than the traditional average-state based modeling. The results, for the first time, showed that the polyphosphate depletion or replenishment observed at the overall population level were collective results from shifts/transition in the distribution of abundance of PAOs with different amounts of polyphosphate inclusions during EBPR. Imaging construction based on simultaneous quantification of intracellular polyphosphate and protein revealed the spatial distribution of polyphosphate inside cells and showed that the polyphosphates accumulate in smaller or larger aggregates, rather than being evenly distributed within the cytoplasm. The results demonstated that Raman microscopy will allow for detailed cellular-level evaluation of polyphosphate metabolism and dynamics in EBPR processes and revealed mechanism insights, which otherwise would not be obtained using a traditional bulk measurement-based approach.
Dihydrotestosterone and Its Relationship to Testosterone in Infancy and Childhood

Abstract A cross-sectional and longitudinal study of the change in dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and testosterone (T) serum concentration was undertaken in infants from birth to 18 months to elucidate the differences in the concentration of DHT and T in male and female infants. In addition, changes in DHT, T, and the T:DHT ratio were studied in males from infancy to adulthood. Both DHT and T in cord blood were significantly higher in male than in female infants (P < 0.005 and P = 0.01, respectively). Postnatally, in male infants, there was a parallel rise in DHT and T to pubertal levels, resulting in a constant T: DHT ratio (mean ± sd, 4.9 ± 2.7). After hCG stimulation, the T: DHT ratio was similar in this age group (mean ± sd, 5.3 ± 1.7). Both DHT and T decreased sharply at age 6 months in young male infants. The T:DHT ratio rose significantly (P < 0.001) in late puberty (mean ± sd, 10 ± 1.9). The T:DHT ratio after hCG stimulation in older male infants and prepubertal boys (mean ± sd, 11 ± 4.4) with varying ...
Hazard assessment in freshwater ecosystems.

Abstract Hazard assessment of chemicals in freshwater environments depends on comparing concentrations that are expected to occur in water and sediment i.e. expected environmental concentrations (EEC), with those that are estimated to have no biological effects i.e. the no-observed effect concentrations (NOEC). The difference between these two estimates is the margin of safety. The EEC can be estimated from data for chemical release rates, physicochemical properties and environmental parameters that affect transport and transformation. The NOEC can be estimated from the results of toxicity tests using aquatic plants, invertebrates and fish. When making these estimates it may be necessary to extrapolate from relatively limited laboratory data to the real world. Inevitably, this involves some degree of uncertainty. Such uncertainty can often be resolved by carrying out controlled field tests, using small, outdoor enclosures (microcosms), relatively large, outdoor ponds (mesocosms) and experimental streams. In this paper the advantages and disadvantages of various experimental approaches and systems will be reviewed.
Anticoagulation and Pediatric Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: Impact of Activated Clotting Time and Heparin Dose on Survival

Background Anticoagulation during pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is accomplished by titrating heparin administration to maintain an activated clotting time (ACT) of between 180 and 220 seconds. We hypothesized that an ACT of 180 to 220 seconds results in inadequate anticoagulation during pediatric ECMO and that increased heparin levels will lead to increased survival. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of 604 consecutive pediatric ECMO patients at a single institution between 1980 and 2001. Multiple logistic regressions were used to assess the impact on survival of ACT, heparin, age, weight, diagnosis, and previous surgery. Results There were 349 survivors (57.8%), and 255 (42.2%) nonsurvivors. Mean hours on ECMO were 182 ± 134 (range, 3 to 957 hours), mean ACT was 227 ± 50 seconds (range, 158 to 620 seconds), and the mean hourly heparin dose was 45 ± 21 U/kg (range, 6 to 134 U/kg). Regression analysis indicated that increased heparin administration was predictive of survival ( p p = 0.096). Although previous surgery was independently associated with an increased likelihood of ECMO death ( p p = 0.012). Conclusions Adherence to the recommended ACT of 180 to 220 seconds in pediatric ECMO patients may result in inadequate anticoagulation. Survival is improved by increased heparin administration independent of the ACT. The ACT may be too insensitive to maintain adequate long-term systematic anticoagulation, and other methods, such as heparin levels or functional parameters such as anti-Factor Xa activity or thrombin generation, should be investigated.
Nucleation and Growth of Stratospheric Aerosols

Formation mechanisms and nucleation processes are examined, and nucleation in the stratosphere is considered, taking into account binary nucleation, ternary nucleation, binary heterogeneous nucleation, and heteromolecular nucleation. Attention is also given to the growth of aerosol particles, nucleation and growth in models, and the role of aerosols in the upper atmosphere. It is pointed out that various sampling studies and numerical models have provided evidence that the in situ oxidation of sulfur-bearing gases is responsible for the sulfate mass of the stratospheric aerosol. Data obtained by Castleman et al. (1974) suggest that there is a common source of sulfur compounds for the stratosphere of both the northern and southern hemispheres.
Surface studies of TiO2SiO2 glasses by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Abstract The near-surface chemistry of titania-doped silicate glasses using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) has been investigated. It has been found that the Ti(2p) photoelectrons from these glasses have distinctly higher binding energy than those from pure titania (rutile) even though Ti has the same oxidation state in both solids. This difference has been attributed to differing oxygen co-ordinations, as previously shown by X-ray, infrared and Raman spectroscopic studies. This finding will be useful for future analysis of TiO systems. The oxygen 1s is peak has been successfully resolved into two components: one from SiOSi as in fused silica and the other from SiOTi, based on a four-coordinated Ti model. Silicon was found to be preferentially etched by ion bombardment, leaving a Ti-rich surface. High temperature annealing of both ion-etched and freshly cut samples led to substantial depletion of Ti from the near-surface region indicating that at the surface where the network is disrupted, occupancy by Ti is energetically less favored than by Si. This surface segregation phenomenon may have a major effect on the surface properties of these glasses.
Phase II study of low-dose paclitaxel with timed thoracic radiotherapy followed by adjuvant gemcitabine and carboplatin in unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer

Abstract Objectives The purpose of the proposed study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of low-dose paclitaxel with timed thoracic radiotherapy (TTR) for local control by inducing maximum radiosensitization through G2-M phase cell cycle arrest, followed by full dose adjuvant chemotherapy with gemcitabine and carboplatin for eradication of possible micrometastasis in unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Materials and methods This is a single-center, non-randomized prospective phase II study. Patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC were treated with paclitaxel 15 mg/m2 IV, followed by TTR 6 h later on Monday/Wednesday/Friday, and TTR only on Tuesday/Thursday mornings (total 55 Gy). Full dose adjuvant chemotherapy consisted of intravenous carboplatin (AUC 5) on day 1, gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8, every 21 days for 4 cycles. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints were overall response rate (ORR), and toxicities. Results Twenty-seven patients were eligible for the study. Patient characteristics were: 19 males (70%); median age 67 years (range 39–82); 15 (56%) stage IIIB; 89% with ECOG performance status ≥1. Three-year OS was 16.7% in all patients, and 27.3% in patients received three or more cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy, respectively. ORR was 63%. Grade 3 toxicities during paclitaxel plus concurrent TTR phase were radiation esophagitis (11%) and radiation pneumonitis (4%), no grade 4 toxicities occurred. One grade 5 hemoptysis. Grade 3/4 toxicities during adjuvant gemcitabine/carboplatin were pneumonitis (22%), anemia (30%), neutropenia (22%), and thrombocytopenia (33%), one grade 5 neutropenic fever. Conclusion Low-dose paclitaxel with concurrent TTR is an effective chemoradiotherapy regimen in unresectable stage III NSCLC. Improved survival benefit was observed in patients who have received three or more cycles of full dose adjuvant chemotherapy, yet, gemcitabine related radiation pneumonitis and hematological toxicities limited adjuvant chemotherapy delivery.
Hydrocarbon nucleation and aerosol formation in Neptune's atmosphere.

Photodissociation of methane at high altitude levels in Neptune's atmosphere leads to the production of complex hydrocarbon species such as acetylene (C_2H_2), ethane (C_2H_6), methylacetylene (CH_3C_2H), propane (C_3H_8), diacetylene (C_4H_2), and butane (C_4H_8). These gases diffuse to the lower stratosphere where temperatures are low enough to initiate condensation. Particle formation may not occur readily, however, as the vapor species become supersaturated. We present a theoretical analysis of particle formation mechanisms at conditions relevant to Neptune's troposphere and stratosphere and show that hydrocarbon nucleation is very inefficient under Neptunian conditions: saturation ratios much greater than unity are required for aerosol formation by either homogeneous, heterogeneous, or ion-induced nucleation. Homogeneous nucleation will not be important for any of the hydrocarbon species considered; however, both heterogeneous and ion-induced nucleation should be possible on Neptune for most of the above species. The relative effectiveness of heterogeneous and ion-induced nucleation depends on the physical and thermodynamic properties of the particular species, the abundance of the condensable species, the temperature at which the vapor becomes supersaturated, and the number and type of condensation nuclei or ions available. Typical saturation ratios required for observable particle formation rates on Neptune range from ∼3 for heterogeneous nucleation of methane in the upper troposphere to greater than 1000 for heterogeneous nucleation of methylacetylene, diacetylene, and butane in the lower stratosphere. Thus, methane clouds may form slightly above, and stratospheric hazes far below, their saturation levels. When used in conjunction with the results of detailed models of atmospheric photochemistry, our nucleation models place realistic constraints on the altitude levels at which we expect hydrocarbon hazes or clouds to form on Neptune.
Do you know your total cholesterol (TC) number

Total cholesterol (TC) measurements are subject to errors primarily because of temporal variations in cholesterol levels within each individual. These errors make it difficult to estimate the proportion of study subjects with true (error-free) TC in a specific range, an extremely important parameter to policy makers in health care management. To properly address this issue, it is key to accurately estimate the distribution function of the true TC, which typically deviates from the normal distribution. To better approximate the distribution function of the true TC, we propose a constrained maximum likelihood estimator based on a mixture-of-normals model. A simulation study illustrates that the proposed estimator performs better than an estimator based on the normality assumption that is frequently used in the literature to address the same issue. Finally, the proposed estimator is applied to data from a study, and its performance is once again compared with that of an estimator based on the normality assum...
Kinematic Low-Energy Electron-Diffraction Intensities from Averaged Data: A Method for Surface Crystallography

It is demonstrated that the interference of the low-energy-electron multiply scattered amplitudes can be in large part eliminated by averaging data taken with different diffraction geometry but at fixed momentum transfer. This essentially yields a measurement of the kinematic intensities, which are most directly useful for surface crystallography.
Correlation of45Ca incorporation with maturation ameloblast morphology in the rat incisor

Rats were injected with45Ca and horseradish peroxidase to determine the patterns of45Ca incorporation into incisor enamel and the morphological types of the overlying maturation ameloblasts.45Ca autoradiography showed no differences in the patterns of incorporation into enamel between routinely embedded and freeze-dried specimens. Enamel overlaid by ruffle-ended ameloblasts was much more heavily labeled while that overlaid by smooth-ended ameloblasts showed only moderate labeling. The observations lend further support to the hypothesis that the ruffle-ended cells are very active in mineralizing enamel and that the smooth-ended cells are in a passive, restorative phase.
Optimized magnetic sensors to measure speed and position in adverse environments

The paper reviews features and applications of the modified inductive sensor, able to operate in contact with exhaust gases of temperature even as high as 1200 K. The new design includes the metal-ceramic housing ensuring proper heat transfer, the magnetic circuit containing set of permanent magnets with various magnetic field values and Curie temperatures, the completely redesigned windings and current/voltage converter used instead of the electromotive force amplifier. Its principle of operation is based on electrodynamical interaction and therefore it may be referred as a passive eddy-current sensor. Two applications of the technique are presented such as blade vibration measurement in High Pressure Turbine of military turbofan (tip-timing) and speed monitoring of roller-element bearing supporting the shaft in a turbojet engine.
Source Separation in the Time-Frequency Domain by Maximizing an Information-Theoretic Criterion

Blind source separation aims at recovering the original source signals given only observations of their mixtures. Some common approaches to the source separation problem include second or higher order statistics based methods, and independent component analysis. Most of these methods are developed in the time domain, and thus, inherently assume the stationarity of the underlying signals. Since most real life signals of interest are non-stationary, there have been efforts to perform source separation in the time-frequency domain. In this paper, we propose a new approach for source separation on the time-frequency plane using an information-theoretic cost function. Jensen-Renyi divergence, as adapted to time-frequency distributions, is introduced as an effective cost function to extract sources that are disjoint on the time-frequency plane. The sources are extracted through a series of Givens rotations and the optimal rotation angle is found using the steepest descent algorithm. The performance of the proposed method is illustrated and quantified through examples.
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS IN BLOOD GLUCOSE REGULATION

To investigate the influence of environment on the level of blood glucose, 639 adult subjects were studied, in three groups. One-third consisted of married women; one-third consisted of their husbands; and one-third consisted of unrelated females (randomly drawn) age-paired to the wives. Blood glucose concentration was measured by the Dextrostix method. In the two male-female comparisons the blood glucose levels were alike only in the husband-wife group, and in this group the correlation became more marked with advancing age. Since the husbands and their wives presumably lived under similar conditions, this may constitute evidence for the role of environment in the regulation of blood glucose, without in any way minimizing the role of genetic factors.
Itraconazole Pulse Therapy for Onychomycosis

Itraconazole (Sporanox by Janssen) is a triazole antifungal agent. In September 1995, it was approved for the treatment of onychomycosis caused by dermatophytes of the toenail with or without finge...
Characterization and Immortalization of Woodchuck Hepatocytes Isolated from Normal and Hepadnavirus-Infected Woodchucks (Marmota monax)

Primary woodchuck (Marmota monax) hepatocytes from normal woodchucks and woodchucks with chronic woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) infection were cultured in either a conventional serum-containing medium or a serum-free medium. The de novo synthesis of the plasma proteins albumin, transferrin, fibrinogen, and complement C3 were identical under both conditions. However, expression of the WHV and the synthesis of nitric oxide were diminished under serum-free conditions. Primary woodchuck hepatocytes cultured in conventional, serum-containing medium were immortalized utilizing the simian virus 40 T antigen oncogene. Immortalized hepatic cell lines retained differentiated functions of nitric oxide synthesis and expression of complement C3. The woodchuck hepatocyte culture model will supplement current experimental methods, allowing investigation of hepadnaviral pathogenesis, including hepatocarcinogenesis in vitro.
Comparison of the Accu-Chek Aviva point-of-care glucometer with blood gas and laboratory methods of analysis of glucose measurement in equine emergency patients.

Background: More information is needed regarding accuracy of commonly used methods of glucose measurement in the critically ill horse. Hypothesis: Glucometry will have good agreement with a laboratory standard. Glucometry with plasma will have better agreement than when performed with whole blood. Animals: Fifty sequentially admitted equine emergency patients, aged >1year. Methods: Venous blood was collected at admission and immediately analyzed by point-of-care glucometry on both whole blood (POC/WB) and plasma (POC/PL), a multielectrode blood gas analyzer with whole blood (BLG), and a standard laboratory method with plasma (CHEM). Paired data were compared using Lin's concordance correlation, Pearson's correlation, and robust regression. Bias and limits of agreement were tested by the Bland-Altman technique. Bivariate regression analysis was used to explore confounding factors. Results: Concordance was significant for all comparisons, and was strongest for CHEM-POC/PL (0.977) and weakest for POC/WB-POC/PL (0.668). Pearson's correlation was excellent for all comparisons except those with POC/WB. All comparisons had excellent robust regression coefficients except those with POC/WB. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: POC glucometry with plasma had excellent agreement with a laboratory standard, as did blood gas analysis. POC glucometry with whole blood correlated poorly with a laboratory standard. These differences may be clinically important, and could affect decisions based on glucose concentrations.
Reliability of the aging lead free solder joint

Solder materials demonstrate evolving microstructure and mechanical behavior that changes significantly with environmental exposures such as isothermal aging and thermal cycling. These aging effects are greatly exacerbated at higher temperatures typical of thermal cycling qualification tests for harsh environment electronic packaging. In the current study, mechanical measurements of thermal aging effects and material behavior evolution of lead free solders have been performed. Extreme care has been taken so that the fabricated solder uniaxial test specimens accurately reflect the solder materials present in actual lead free solder joints. A novel specimen preparation procedure has been developed where the solder uniaxial test specimens are formed in high precision rectangular cross-section glass tubes using a vacuum suction process. The tubes are then sent through a SMT reflow to re-melt the solder in the tubes and subject them to any desired temperature profile (i.e. same as actual solder joints). Using specimens fabricated with the developed procedure, isothermal aging effects and viscoplastic material behavior evolution have been characterized for 95.5Sn-4.0Ag-0.5Cu (SAC405) and 96.5Sn-3.0Ag-0.5Cu (SAC305) lead free solders, which are commonly used as the solder ball alloy in lead free BGAs and other components. Analogous tests were performed with 63Sn-37Pb eutectic solder samples for comparison purposes. In our total experimental program, samples have been solidified with both reflowed and water quenching temperature profiles, and isothermal aging has been performed at room temperature (25 /spl deg/C) and elevated temperatures (100 /spl deg/C, 125 /spl deg/C and 150 /spl deg/C). In this paper, we have concentrated on reporting the results of the room temperature aging experiments. Variations of the temperature dependent mechanical properties (elastic modulus, yield stress, ultimate strength, creep compliance, etc.) were observed and modeled as a function of room temperature aging time. Microstructural changes during room temperature aging have also been recorded for the solder alloys and correlated with the observed mechanical behavior changes.
Literature review on adoption of energy efficient technologies from a demand side management perspective: Taxonomy of adoption drivers, barriers and policy tools

This paper attempts to grasp research streams in the context of energy efficient technology adoption literature from a demand side management perspective. Special emphasis has been put on taxonomy of adoption barriers, drivers and policy tools. A comprehensive list of adoption barriers, drivers and policy tools has been presented; problem statements, findings, further research initiatives studied by the field have been taken into consideration for proposing further research initiative suggestions.
Reducing false sharing and improving spatial locality in a unified compilation framework

The performance of applications on large shared-memory multiprocessors with coherent caches depends on the interaction between the granularity of data sharing, the size of the coherence unit, and the spatial locality exhibited by the applications, in addition to the amount of parallelism in the applications. Large coherence units are helpful in exploiting spatial locality, but worsen the effects of false sharing. A mathematical framework that allows a clean description of the relationship between spatial locality and false sharing is derived in this paper. First, a technique to identify a severe form of multiple-writer false sharing is presented. The importance of the interaction between optimization techniques aimed at enhancing locality and the techniques oriented toward reducing false sharing is then demonstrated. Given the conflicting requirements, a compiler-based approach to this problem holds promise. This paper investigates the use of data transformations in addressing spatial locality and false sharing, and derives an approach that balances the impact of the two. Experimental results demonstrate that such a balanced approach outperforms those approaches that consider only one of these two issues. On an eight-processor SGI/Cray Origin 2000 multiprocessor, our approach brings an additional 9 percent improvement over a powerful locality optimization technique that uses both loop and data transformations. The presented approach also obtains an additional 19 percent improvement over an optimization technique that is oriented specifically toward reducing false sharing. This study also reveals that, in addition to reducing synchronization costs and improving the memory subsystem performance, obtaining large granularity parallelism is helpful in balancing the effects of enhancing locality and reducing false sharing, rendering them compatible.
Response of Red Drum Larvae to Graded Levels of Menhaden Oil in Semipurified Microparticulate Diets

Abstract Larvae of red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) were reared from first feeding to 18 d posthatching at 26°C under a feeding protocol that combined artificial diets with live food (rotifers). Semipurified microparticulate test diets were formulated with graded levels (13.0, 18.3, 22.7, and 27.1 %) of total lipid (menhaden oil and red drum muscle lipid). Growth of larvae fed the test diets was compared with that of larvae fed a commercial microparticulate diet (Kyowa-A) containing 24.8% crude lipid. In separate, repeated feeding trials, standard length and dry weight of 18-d-old larvae fed the Kyowa-A diet were significantly greater than lengths and weights of larvae fed the test diets. However, dry weight of larvae fed the diet containing 18.3% total lipid was significantly greater than weights of larvae fed the other test diets. Additionally, the semipurified diets were readily accepted and ingested by larvae. Digestion of the diets was evident in the significant growth of the larvae.
Messengers without Borders: Mediators of Systemic Inflammatory Response in AKI

The list of signals sent by an injured organ to systemic circulation, so-called danger signals, is growing to include multiple metabolites and secreted moieties, thus revealing a highly complex and integrated network of interlinked systemic proinflammatory and proregenerative messages. Emerging new data indicate that, apart from the well established local inflammatory response to AKI, danger signaling unleashes a cascade of precisely timed, interdependent, and intensity-gradated mediators responsible for development of the systemic inflammatory response. This fledgling realization of the importance of the systemic inflammatory response to the localized injury and inflammation is at the core of this brief overview. It has a potential to explain the additive effects of concomitant diseases or preexisting chronic conditions that can prime the systemic inflammatory response and exacerbate it out of proportion to the actual degree of acute kidney damage. Although therapies for ameliorating AKI per se remain limited, a potentially powerful strategy that could reap significant benefits in the future is to modulate the intensity of danger signals and consequently the systemic inflammatory response, while preserving its intrinsic proregenerative stimuli.