cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Attitudes toward the genetic testing of children among adults in a Utah-based kindred tested for a BRCA1 mutation.

Advances in molecular biology and geneticshave led to the identification of the breast/ovarian cancer susceptibility genes BRCA1and BRCA2, along with tests to detect muta-tions in these genes. Although the appropri-ateness of BRCA1/2 genetic testing for chil-dren has been debated in the literature,little is known about the attitudes of indi-viduals who have undergone cancer suscep-tibility testing. The present study focusedon attitudes toward BRCA1 testing for chil-dren among 218 adults from a Utah-basedkindred who had received BRCA1 test re-sults. Results indicated that approximatelyone-fourth of the participants would permitBRCA1 testing for children under the age of18. General attitudes about genetic testingwere predictive of attitudes toward the test-ing of children. In addition, men and indi-viduals without a BRCA1 mutation weremore likely to agree that minors should beallowed BRCA1 testing. Individuals whosemother had been affected with breast can-cer were less likely to permit testing for mi-nors. Among parents of minor children, lessthan one-fifth indicated that they wouldwant BRCA1 testing for their own children;carrier status was not predictive of atti-tudes toward testing their own children. Asbreast/ovarian cancer susceptibility testingcontinues to be disseminated into clinicalsettings, there may be an increase in thenumber of test requests for minors. Thefindings of the present study represent animportant step in exploring attitudes aboutgenetic testing of children among individu-als who have received cancer susceptibilitytest results. Am. J. Med. Genet. 92:25–32,2000.
Solubility of twelve iron fertilizer products in alkaline soils

Iron EDDHA has long been regarded as the preferred iron (Fe) chelate for application to calcareous soils. Two newer products, Fe-EDDHSA and Fe-glucoheptonate, have been proposed as chelates for alkaline soils. The objective of this study was to compare the residual solubilities of twelve Fe products when incubated with two calcareous soils. Iron, as ferrous sulfate, Fe-lignosulfonate (2 products), Fe-gluconate, Fe-glucoheptonate (3 products), Fe-EDTA, Fe-DTPA, Fe-EDDHA (2 products), and Fe-EDDHSA were incubated with two soils from 1 day to 8 weeks. Remaining Fe in the soil solution was determined after extraction with 0.01 M CaCl2. Negligible Fe from ferrous sulfate or Fe-lignosulfonate remained in solution after 1 day of incubation. Iron from Fe-gluconate or Fe-glucoheptonate was largely precipitated by 1 week of incubation. Low, but measurable, levels of Fe from Fe-EDTA remained in solution for 4–8 weeks, depending on the soil. Only Fe-DTPA, Fe-EDDHA, and Fe-EDDHSA kept a significant amount of the appli...
Linking the Impact of IT Investments to Productivity and Profitability

Implementing IT information technology systems such as ERP enterprise resource planning requires huge investments. Measuring the impact of these investments on productivity and profitability is extremely important for business managers. Many studies have failed to show the direct relationship between IT investments, organizational productivity and profitability, a phenomenon known as productivity paradox. The failure might relate to problems with the measurement techniques. This paper describes a measurement model, known as the PPP model "Profitability = Productivity + Price Recovery", that can fill the gap and show a link between IT investments, productivity, and profitability. The spreadsheet-based implementation of the PPP model, using multi-period data, generates performance trend charts of productivity, price recovery, and profitability. These performance charts provide a multi-period perspective to managers in identifying and understanding the impact of IT investments. This model is useful to managers considering heavy investments in IT as well as for managers interested in assessing their organizational performance and taking corrective actions in a timely manner.
Fundamental aspects of vapor growth and epitaxy

Abstract Vapor phase growth processes have become standard for many applications. This paper will deal specifically with the vapor phase growth (mainly epitaxial) of III/V semiconductor materials. This process has increased in importance in direct proportion to the need for elaborately structured materials such as heterojunctions, quantum wells, and superlattices for the fabrication of advanced electronic and photonic devices. As the vapor growth techniques become more advanced, and more stringent requirements on uniformity and reproductivity are imposed by the move to the production environment, it has become evident that only the techniques giving sufficient control of growth will be useful. This demand for increased control can be met only if we thoroughly understand the fundamental aspects of the growth processes. Thus, the emphasis of this paper will be a review of our current understanding of the fundamental aspects of vapor phase growth. Emphasis is on the design and selection of precursor materials and the thermodynamics and the kinetics of growth. The latter topic includes both the reaction mechanisms and rates of the pyrolysis of the precursor molecules as well as the physical surface processes, including the attachment of atoms at steps on the surface.
Synthesis of soluble elastin by aortic medial cells in culture.

Summary Incubation of a long term culture of cells derived from newborn pig aortic media with [3H]proline and [3H]valine yielded a labeled protein that was isolated and purified with salt-soluble elastin from copper deficient pig aorta as carrier. The labeled protein was soluble in strong neutral salt solution in the cold. It coacervated reversibly at 37° and migrated in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in 6M urea with the carrier protein. The valine, proline and hydroxyproline of the newly synthesized protein had high radioactivity and the ratio of activities of hydroxyproline: proline were essentially the same (1:11) as the molar ratios of these amino acids in the carrier protein (1:10.3), indicating their identity.
Synthesis and characterization of maleimide and norbornene functionalized benzoxazines

Two types of monofunctional benzoxazines with imide functionalities have been synthesized for improved thermal properties. These materials achieve char yields above 55% and exhibit glass transition temperatures above 250 °C. The new benzoxazines have maleimide and norbornene functionalities that can further polymerize with mechanisms different from benzoxazine. The multiple polymerization mechanisms of the maleimide based benzoxazine monomer with different free radical initiators are monitored by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The extent and type of polymerization, which affect the final network structure of the benzoxazine polymer, are characterized.
A regulated response to impaired respiration slows behavioral rates and increases lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans.

When mitochondrial respiration or ubiquinone production is inhibited in Caenorhabditis elegans, behavioral rates are slowed and lifespan is extended. Here, we show that these perturbations increase the expression of cell-protective and metabolic genes and the abundance of mitochondrial DNA. This response is similar to the response triggered by inhibiting respiration in yeast and mammalian cells, termed the “retrograde response”. As in yeast, genes switched on in C. elegans mitochondrial mutants extend lifespan, suggesting an underlying evolutionary conservation of mechanism. Inhibition of fstr-1, a potential signaling gene that is up-regulated in clk-1 (ubiquinone-defective) mutants, and its close homolog fstr-2 prevents the expression of many retrograde-response genes and accelerates clk-1 behavioral and aging rates. Thus, clk-1 mutants live in “slow motion” because of a fstr-1/2–dependent pathway that responds to ubiquinone. Loss of fstr-1/2 does not suppress the phenotypes of all long-lived mitochondrial mutants. Thus, although different mitochondrial perturbations activate similar transcriptional and physiological responses, they do so in different ways.
ASBESTOS EXPOSURE AND LYMPHOMAS OF THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT AND ORAL CAVITY

Abstract An epidemiological case-control study of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas revealed an excess of male patients with large-cell lymphomas primary to the gastrointestinal tract and oral cavity who had evidence of substantial exposure to asbestos. Between 1977 and 1981, 28 men with large-cell lymphomas primary to these sites were interviewed about previous environmental exposure. Pathology slides from 26 of these cases were reviewed by haematopathologists, who confirmed each to be a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of large-cell type. Neighbourhood controls were matched to patients for age, race, and sex. 13 matched pairs were discordant for asbestos exposure, and in 12 of these the exposed individual was a lymphoma patient. 10 patients and 1 control also reported a history of malaria.
Tyrphostin analogs are GPR35 agonists

GPR35 is an orphan G protein-coupled receptor that is not well-characterized. Here we employ dynamic mass redistribution (DMR) assays to discover new GPR35 agonists. DMR assays identified tyrphostin analogs as GPR35 agonists, which were confirmed with receptor internalization, Tango β-arrestin translocation, and extracellular-signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation assays. These agonists provide pharmacological tools to study the biology and function of GPR35.
Which way for genetic-test regulation? Leave test interpretation to specialists

Although largely unregulated, genetic tests are increasingly used to diagnose conditions, map ancestry or predict disease risk. In this, the first of two related pieces, Arthur L. Beaudet advocates the US Food and Drug Administration banning direct-to-consumer medical tests but leaving the analysis of clinical diagnostics to specialists. In the second, Gail Javitt argues that the agency should implement a regulatory framework for all health-related tests.
Mutational analysis of sodium butyrate inducible elements in the human immunodeficiency virus type I long yerminal repeat

Abstract Sodium butyrate induces gene expression directed by the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) long terminal repeat (LTR) in HeLa cells. Inducible regions of the HIV-1 LTR were elucidated by using 5′ and 3′ LTR deletion mutants and LTR site-directed mutants within the Sp1 binding sites and the trans -activation responsive (TAR) region. Two LTR regions inducible by sodium butyrate were located: one at −117 to −103 (distal site) and one at −65 to −17 (proximal site). In HeLa cells trans -fected with pZ6 neo , a biologically active HIV-1 proviral clone, sodium butyrate stimulated virus production following a 3-day treatment. Inducibility of HIV-1 gene expression by sodium butyrate was unrestricted in many human cell types, including CD4 + lymphoid cells and non-CD + brain cells and fibroblasts. Additionally, sodium butyrate transiently induced HIV-2 LTR-directed gene expression in HeLa cells. Using the HIV-1 SF-2 tat gene cotransfected with pLTR-CAT site-directed TAR mutants in HeLa cells, the boundaries of tat-trans -activation were delineated more precisely. These results suggest that the induction of HIV-1 gene expression is mediated by the interaction of sodium butyrate with cellular transcription factors that bind to the HIV-LTR.
Recording and interpreting unipolar electrograms to guide catheter ablation.

Unipolar recordings A cardiac electrogram is the result of the voltage difference between two recording electrodes. For clinical systems, the exploring distal electrode is connected to the anodal (positive) input of the recording amplifier. For unipolar recordings, the cathodal (negative) input of the amplifier is connected to a remote electrode (referred to as an indifferent or reference electrode) that is distant from the heart. In most systems, selection of the unipolar recording mode connects the indifferent input to the Wilson central terminal, which can have substantial electrical noise. Noise may be reduced by using an indifferent electrode in the inferior vena cava. The amplifier is left in the bipolar configuration, but the negative input is connected to the intravascular electrode, which in our laboratory is located 15 to 20 cm proximal to the tip electrode of a custom hexapolar catheter positioned at the His bundle. The genesis of a unipolar recording is illustrated in Figure 1. A depolarization wavefront propagating toward the exploring electrode generates a positive deflection. As the wavefront reaches the electrode and propagates away, the deflection sweeps steeply negative. Thus, an RS complex is generated. In a sheet of uniformly conducting tissue, depolarization of tissue beneath the electrode coincides with the maximum negative slope (–dV/dt) of the signal. The morphology of the recording indicates the direction of wavefront propagation. When the exploring electrode is located at the site of initial activation (e.g., the left-hand side of the tissue in Figure 1A), depolarization produces a wavefront
Sexual Harassment Victimization and Perpetration Among High School Students

This large, population-based study is one of the few to examine prevalence rates of sexual harassment occurring during the past 12 months by victimization and perpetration among adolescents. In this large, cross-sectional survey of students attending 26 high schools, sexual harassment was defined using three questions from the Sexual Experiences Questionnaire. Among 18,090 students completing the survey, 30% disclosed sexual harassment victimization (37% of females, 21% of males) and 8.5% reported perpetration (5% of females, 12% of males). Sexual harassment perpetration was highly correlated with male sex, minority race/ethnicity, same-sex attraction, bullying, alcohol binge drinking, and intraparental partner violence.
Experimental demonstration of aperiodic patterns of directed self-assembly by block copolymer lithography for random logic circuit layout

We have experimentally demonstrated block copolymer lithography in conjunction with optical lithography features on dimensional scales close to the natural pitch of the self-assembling block copolymer. Within this context, the inherent self-assembled shape, size and arrangement will self-adjust to accommodate the external confinement. This added flexibility of directed self-assembly of aperiodic patterns can potentially be used for patterning contact holes for random logic circuit layout.
Healthy, wealthy, wise? Psychosocial factors influencing the socioeconomic status-health gradient.

The present research investigated psychosocial factors: control beliefs; social relations moderating the SES–health gradient. Participants included 3775 respondents from a national probability sample, Midlife in United States (t1: Age, M = 46.40, SD = 13.00, t2: Age, M = 55.47, SD = 12.43), who provided reports on control beliefs, social relations, and health at two assessment occasions (1994/1995 and 2002/2003). Hierarchical regression demonstrated that control beliefs, social support, and strain uniquely moderated relationships between SES and longitudinal health. The present study highlights the importance of psychosocial factors as protective mechanisms of socioeconomic disadvantages and associated long-term deleterious health outcomes.
Using Life Histories to Individualize Nursing Home Staff Attitudes Toward Residents

This study assesses the impact of life histories on nursing home staff attitudes. Nurse's aides at two institutions answered questions about their experience and knowledge of aging, and rated nursing home residents on a semantic differential (attitude) scale. Aides received one of two versions of an anonymous resident's medical chart, identical except for the inclusion of a one-page life history. Controlling for individual differences such as prior work experience and knowledge about aging, staff reviewing the chart with the life history rated that resident as more instrumental, autonomous, and personally acceptable than staff who reviewed the chart without the life history.
Long-term outcome after treatment of aortic graft infection with staged extra-anatomic bypass grafting and aortic graft removal

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine long-term outcome in patients with infected prosthetic aortic grafts who were treated with extra-anatomic bypass grafting and aortic graft removal. Methods: Between January 1989 and July 1999, 36 patients were treated for aortic graft infection with extra-anatomic bypass grafting and aortic graft removal. Extra-anatomic bypass graft types were axillofemoral femoral (5), axillofemoral (26; bilateral in 20), axillopopliteal (3; bilateral in 1) and axillofemoral/axillopopliteal (2). The mean follow-up was 32.3 ± 4.8 months. Results: Four patients (11%) died in the postoperative period, and two patients died during follow-up as a direct consequence of extra-anatomic bypass grafting and aortic graft removal (one died 7 months after extra-anatomic bypass graft failure, one died 36 months after aortic stump disruption). One additional patient died 72 months after failure of a subsequent aortic reconstruction, so that the overall treatment-related mortality was 19%, whereas overall survival by means of life table analysis was 56% at 5 years. No amputations were required in the postoperative period, but four patients (11%) required amputation during follow-up. Twelve patients (35%) had extra-anatomic bypass graft failure during follow-up, and six patients underwent secondary aortic reconstruction (thoracobifemoral [2], iliofemoral [2], femorofemoral [2]). However, with the exclusion of patients undergoing axillopopliteal grafts (primary patency 0% at 7 months), only seven patients (25%) had extra-anatomic bypass graft failure, and only two patients required amputation (one after extra-anatomic bypass graft removal for infection, one after failure of a secondary aortic reconstruction). Furthermore, primary and secondary patency rates by means of life table analysis were 75% and 100% at 41 months for axillofemoral femoral grafts and 64% and 100% at 60 months for axillofemoral grafts. Only one patient required extra-anatomic bypass graft removal for recurrent infection, and only one late aortic stump disruption occurred. Conclusions: Staged extra-anatomic bypass grafting (with axillofemoral bypass graft) and aortic graft removal for treatment of aortic graft infection are associated with acceptable early and long-term outcomes and should remain a primary approach in selected patients with this grave problem. (J Vasc Surg 2000;32:451-61.)
Careers Inside Organizations: A Comparative Study of Promotion Determination in Reforming China

Mobility under state socialism has been known for the ubiquitous presence of political criteria in determining career opportunities, but how it evolves in the postsocialist era has yet to be well understood. This article examines the impact of market reform on promotion determination in China's hybrid urban economy. I propose an institutional and organizational explanation, highlighting the difference in resource dependence between firms and nonprofit organizations. I predict that in firms that depend significantly on market (vis-a-vis the persisting communist party/state) for resources, human capital plays a greater role in determining promotions, while political credential loses ground. Comparative analysis of data collected in two Chinese cities in 1994-95 produces provisional support to these predictions.
Feedback-Resistant Mutations in Bacillus subtilis Glutamine Synthetase Are Clustered in the Active Site

The feedback-inhibited form of Bacillus subtilis glutamine synthetase regulates the activity of the TnrA transcription factor through a protein-protein interaction that prevents TnrA from binding to DNA. Five mutants containing feedback-resistant glutamine synthetases (E65G, S66P, M68I, H195Y, and P318S) were isolated by screening for colonies capable of cross-feeding Gln− cells. In vitro enzymatic assays revealed that the mutant enzymes had increased resistance to inhibition by glutamine, AMP, and methionine sulfoximine. The mutant proteins had a variety of enzymatic alterations that included changes in the levels of enzymatic activity and in substrate Km values. Constitutive expression of TnrA- and GlnR-regulated genes was seen in all five mutants. In gel mobility shift assays, the E65G and S66P enzymes were unable to inhibit TnrA DNA binding, while the other three mutant proteins (M68I, H195Y, and P318S) showed partial inhibition of TnrA DNA binding. A homology model of B. subtilis glutamine synthetase revealed that the five mutated amino acid residues are located in the enzyme active site. These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that glutamine and AMP bind at the active site to bring about feedback inhibition of glutamine synthetase.
Using technology to enhance creative actions in decision making

Strategic decision makers are working in dynamic environments that are increasingly difficult to address using rational analysis. Specifically, the onslaught of great amounts of information that is increasingly sophisticated, conflicting, or even distracting for making plans about the future has led to the promotion of a more creative and action-based model of decision making. While technology has played a part in building this confusing information environment, it also offers tremendous advantages for boosting creative action-based decision making because of its unique capabilities at 1) randomizing and generating output; 2) iterating input "millions" of times; 3) accessing "millions" of inputs instantly; and 4) recreating exact conditions in a simulated environment. This paper offers four propositions about how technology can uniquely improve creative action-based decision making.
A centrifuge for rapid concentration of large fragile cells without extensive lysis.

SYNOPSIS. When large batches of Paramecium (more than 100,000 cells) are centrifuged in conventional centrifuges, extensive lysis occurs, typically lowering recovery to around 30%. An easily constructed centrifuge with a cylindrical plastic head operated at low accelerations permits centrifugation of large batches of Paramecium with about 90% recovery, even after exhaustive washing. Operation requires only a few minutes, and the system is easily cleaned. The inexpensive heads can be instantly interchanged, and cultures can even be centrifuged in their original low form glass culture vessels. This system, which should be applicable to any large fragile cells, permits timed experiments that are usually impossible because of the need for exhaustive washing or concentration from large initial volumes.
Engineering alternate cooperative-communications in the lactose repressor protein scaffold

To expand our understanding of the hallmarks of allosteric control we used directed-evolution to engineer alternate cooperative communication in the lactose repressor protein (LacI) scaffold. Starting with an I(s) type LacI mutant D88A (i.e. a LacI variant that is insensitive to the exogenous ligand isopropyl-β-d-thiogalactoside (IPTG) and remains bound to operator DNA, + or -IPTG) we used error-prone polymerase chain reaction to introduce compensatory mutations to restore modulated DNA binding function to the allosterically 'dead' I(s)(D88A) background. Five variants were generated, three variants (C4, C32 and C80) with wild-type like function and two co-repressor variants (C101 and C140) that are functionally inverted. To better resolve the residues that define new allosteric networks in the LacI variants, we conducted mutational tolerance analysis via saturation mutagenesis at each of the evolved positions to assess sensitivity to mutation--a hallmark of allosteric residues. To better understand the physicochemical bases of alternate allosteric function, variant LacI(C80) was characterized to assess IPTG ligand binding at equilibrium, kinetically using stopped-flow, and via isothermal titration calorimetry. These data suggest that the conferred modulated DNA binding function observed for LacI(C80), while thermodynamically similar to wild-type LacI, is mechanistically different from the wild-type repressor, suggesting a new allosteric network and communication route.
A reduced mathematical model of the acute inflammatory response II. Capturing scenarios of repeated endotoxin administration

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS; endotoxin) is a potent immunostimulant that can induce an acute inflammatory response comparable to a bacterial infection. Experimental observations demonstrate that this biological response can be either blunted (tolerance) or augmented (potentiation) with repeated administration of endotoxin. Both phenomena are of clinical relevance. We show that a four-dimensional differential equation model of this response reproduces many scenarios involving repeated endotoxin administration. In particular, the model can display both tolerance and potentiation from a single parameter set, under different administration scenarios. The key determinants of the outcome of our simulations are the relative time-scales of model components. These findings support the hypothesis that endotoxin tolerance and other related phenomena can be considered as dynamic manifestations of a unified acute inflammatory response, and offer specific predictions related to the dynamics of this response to endotoxin.
Life history strategies

It has been indicated in section 1.4.1 that the residual component in the life cycles of many species of parasitic organisms represents an important strategy for local transmission as well as dispersal. Among those parasites with a residual component in their life cycle, many have larval stages that can remain in a habitat long after the definitive host has deposited the parasite’s propagules and disappeared from the scene. On the other hand, not all parasites have complicated life cycles. Many have direct life cycles where an egg, for example, may be directly ingested and the host thus infected. Despite the route of infection, whether direct or indirect, many parasites have co-evolved with their hosts to the extent that their survival strategies involve mechanisms that increase their reproductive fitness. Some strategies include those that ensure spatial or temporal overlap with a potential host. Indeed, as stated by Janovy and Kutish (1988), some’ studies suggest that temporal and spatial aggregation of infective stages may have equivalent effects on the structure of parasite populations’ (emphasis added); in other words, time and space are of equal importance in affecting the aggregation of parasites. Other parasites may repress a host’s immune responsiveness, allowing the parasite to successfully establish and thrive. Whatever the strategy, the outcome permits fecundity levels to remain high enough to sustain the parasite’s suprapopulation density above some threshold level.
Selection of patients with gastric adenocarcinoma for laparoscopic staging.

Abstract Background To refine selection criteria for laparoscopic staging of gastric adenocarcinoma, preoperatively available clinical and radiologic factors that may predict the risk of M1 disease were investigated. Methods During 1993–2002, laparoscopy was performed if patients had minimal symptoms and there was no definite M1 disease at computed tomography (CT) scanning. High-quality, spiral, CT scans were reviewed in detail for 65 recent patients. Results Laparoscopy was conducted for 657 patients and M1 was detected in 31%. M1 was significantly more prevalent with tumor location at the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ; M1 in 42%) or whole stomach (66%), poor differentiation (36%) or age ≤70 years (34%). On spiral CT scan, lymphadenopathy ≥1 cm (49%) or T3/T4 tumors (63%) were associated with significantly higher prevalence of M1. On multivariate analyses, only tumor location (GEJ or whole stomach) and lymphadenopathy were independently significant and M1 was not detected in any patient with neither risk factor. Conclusions With spiral CT staging, laparoscopy may be avoided if the primary tumor is not at the GEJ or whole stomach and there is no lymphadenopathy.
Content-addressable IBP - rationale, design and performance

This paper describes an extension to the Internet backplane protocol (IBP), called content-addressable IBP (IBPCA). IBP is an important protocol in distributed, Web, grid and peer-to-peer computing settings, as it allows clients in these settings to access, manipulate and manage remote storage depots in a scalable and fault-tolerant fashion. Content-addressability adds the ability to reference storage by hashes of its contents. In this paper, we discuss the rationale behind IBPCA, important design decisions, and performance implications.
Cerium isomorphism and the δ–α transformation in plutonium

Abstract We use the thermodynamic model introduced by Aptekar’ and Ponyatovskiy for the γ–α transformation in cerium metal to study the properties of plutonium metal. The model describes the δ–α transformation in Pu and explains the minimum in the melting versus pressure curves for both materials. Ga stabilization of the δ-phase of Pu is explained in terms of a first order transition between the two phases. The model parameters found for Pu are similar to those found earlier for Ce.
Model and Simulation of a Ported Kiln for Iron Oxide Pellet Induration

A mathematical model of a ported kiln for iron oxide pelletizing was developed to simulate the effects of under-bed air injection on kiln fuel requirements and magnetite oxidation. A tanks-in-series model was used to set up material and energy balance equations for countercurrent flow of solids and gas through the kiln. The diffusion-limited, shrinking core model was used for the magnetite oxidation reaction kinetics. The port air distribution in the model was adjusted by global optimization to minimize the fuel requirement. The simulation results show that magnetite oxidation may be completed in the kiln with significant fuel savings.
Expression analysis of thirty one Y chromosome genes in human prostate cancer.

Rapid advances in positional cloning studies have identified most of the genes on the human Y chromosome, thereby providing resources for studying the expression of its genes in prostate cancer. Using a semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) procedure, we had examined the expression of the Y chromosome genes in a panel of prostate samples diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), low and/or high grade carcinoma, and the prostatic cell line, LNCaP, stimulated by androgen treatment. Results from this expression analysis of 31 of the 33 genes, isolated so far from the Y chromosome, revealed three types of expression patterns: i) specific expression in other tissues (e.g., AMELY, BPY1, BPY2, CDY, and RBM); ii) ubiquitous expression among prostate and control testis samples, similar to those of house-keeping genes (e.g., ANT3, XE7,ASMTL, IL3RA, SYBL1, TRAMP, MIC2, DBY, RPS4Y, and SMCY); iii) differential expression in prostate and testis samples. The last group includes X-Y homologous (e.g., ZFY, PRKY, DFFRY, TB4Y, EIF1AY, and UTY) and Y-specific genes (e.g., SRY, TSPY, PRY, and XKRY). Androgen stimulation of the LNCaP cells resulted in up-regulation of PGPL, CSFR2A, IL3RA, TSPY, and IL9R and down regulation of SRY, ZFY, and DFFRY. The heterogeneous and differential expression patterns of the Y chromosome genes raise the possibility that some of these genes are either involved in or are affected by the oncogenic processes of the prostate. The up- and down-regulation of several Y chromosome genes by androgen suggest that they may play a role(s) in the hormonally stimulated proliferation of the responsive LNCaP cells.
Magnets and Seekers: A Network Perspective on Academic Integration inside Two Residential Communities

Residential learning communities aim to foster increased academic and social integration, ideally leading to greater student success. However, the concept of academic integration is often conceptualized and measured at the individual level, rather than the theoretically more consistent community level. Network analysis provides a paradigm and measures that are more appropriate for conceptualizing and measuring the academic integration that learning communities purport to foster. This mixed methods study focuses on two individual residential communities to examine student structural embeddedness as measured by their peer academic networks and described by participants. Results show that the learning community allows for some students to become academic “magnets” who attract others to work with them, which is related to higher GPA. The study has theoretical and practical implications for how institutions measure community-based results and design subsequent community-level programs.
EXCELENTE ZONA SOCIAL

Writing culture suggests (1) allowing writing to take up the burden of theory, (2) practice Walter Benjamin's idea of denkbilden, or thought-images, (3) create culture as well as describe and analyze. Thus, this little sketch I call “Excelente zona social.”
Human inbreeding avoidance: Culture in nature

Much clinical and ethnographic evidence suggests that humans, like many other organisms, are selected to avoid close inbreeding because of the fitness costs of inbreeding depression. The proximate mechanism of human inbreeding avoidance seems to be precultural, and to involve the interaction of genetic predispositions and environmental conditions. As first suggested by E. Westermarck, and supported by evidence from Israeli kibbutzim, Chinese sim-pua marriage, and much convergent ethnographic and clinical evidence, humans negatively imprint on intimate associates during a critical period of early childhood (between ages 2 and 6).There is also much evidence that, like other social animals, humans do not seek to maximize outbreeding, but rather to maintain an optimal balance between outbreeding and inbreeding. Close inbreeding reduces fitness through inbreeding depression, but some inbreeding brings the benefits of nepotism. For simple, stateless, horticultural societies, the optimal balance seems to be achieved by a combination of precultural inbreeding avoidance of relatives with an r ≤·25 and cultural rules of preferential marriage with kin with r ≥·25. Adjustment of the coefficient of inbreeding to other ecological settings seems to be largely cultural. An interactive model of “culture in nature” is presented, in which culture is seen as coevolving with genes to produce the maxiniization of individual inclusive fitness.
Demonstration of programmable broadband packet multicasting in an oOptical switching fabric test-bed

Multicasting of broadband optical messages is experimentally demonstrated in a programmable optical switching test-bed. Wavelength-striped optical packets with 8×10 Gb/s payloads are multicasted error-free through the fabric, with confirmed scalability to 40 Gb/s data rates.
Possible Implications of Recent Microearthquakes In Southern New York State

Four microearthquakes occurred within a dense network of seismic stations in southeastern New York on September 13, 1983. The events occurred during a 75-minute period, had duration magnitudes (m c ) ranging from less than 0 to about 2 and were located at depths of about 9 to 10 km. A composite fault plane solution for the sequence indicates thrust or oblique thrust faulting on high-angle faults with northwest to north-northwest strikes. The direction of maximum compressive stress inferred from the P-axis is northeast to east-northeast. The composite solution for these events is similar to composite solutions of Pomeroy et al. (1976) and Seborowski et al. (1982) for microearthquakes located about 40 and 7 km, respectively, from the site of this sequence. The solution is at least locally inconsistent, however, with the proposal of Zoback and Zoback (1980) and Yang and Aggarwal (1981), that a distinct stress domain exists along the Atlantic coast with a west-northwest direction of maximum compressive stress. A re-examination of original data for one of the earthquakes on which Yang and Aggarwal (1981) base their interpretation, shows that a fault plane solution similar to the one for the recent sequence also fits the first motion data for that event. A hypothesis is proposed in which microseismicity in southeastern New York is the result of slip on northwesterly to north-northwesterly striking faults in response to a tectonic stress field characterized by a northeast to east-northeast direction of maximum compressive stress. Such a stress field is similar to that observed in northern and western New York.
Annals of Palliative Medicine is indexed in PubMed.

We are excited to pass along the great news that Annals of Palliative Medicine (APM) will now be fully indexed in PubMed/MEDLINE. All accepted articles of future issues of APM will be indexed and available on PubMed, and all previously published APM articles will also be searchable in PubMed as soon as the indexation process is finished, which is expected to be completed within the month.
Paleodischarge of the Mojave River, southwestern United States, investigated with single-pebble measurements of 10Be

The paleohydrology of ephemeral stream systems is an important constraint on paleoclimatic conditions in arid environments, but remains difficult to measure quantitatively. For example, sedimentary records of the size and extent of pluvial lakes in the Mojave Desert (southwestern USA) have been used as a proxy for Quaternary climate variability. Although the delivery mechanisms of this additional water are still being debated, it is generally agreed that the discharge of the Mojave River, which supplied water for several Pleistocene pluvial lakes along its course, must have been significantly greater during lake highstands. We used the 10 Be concentrations of 10 individual quartzite pebbles sourced from the San Bernardino Mountains and collected from a ca. 25 ka strath terrace of the Mojave River near Barstow, California, to test whether pebble ages record the timing of large paleodischarge of the Mojave River. Our exposure ages indicate that periods of discharge large enough to transport pebble-sized sediment occurred at least 4 times over the past ∼240 k.y.; individual pebble ages cluster into 4 groups with exposure ages of 24.82 ± 4.36 ka (n = 3), 55.79 ± 3.67 ka (n = 2), 99.14 ± 12.07 ka (n = 4) and 239.9 ± 52.16 ka (n = 1). These inferred large discharge events occurred during both glacial and interglacial conditions. We demonstrate that bedload materials provide information about the frequency and duration of transport events in river systems. This approach could be further improved with additional measurements of one or more cosmogenic nuclides coupled with models of river discharge and pebble transport.
Spintronic logic circuit and device prototypes utilizing domain walls in ferromagnetic wires with tunnel junction readout

We present a prototype of a switch that encodes information in the position of a magnetic domain wall (DW) in a ferromagnetic wire. The information is written using spin transfer torque and/or spin hall effect and read out using a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). We build prototypes and show that a single three-terminal device can perform buffer/inverter operations, which can be used as AND/NAND gates. We demonstrate one device can drive two subsequent gates, and we show bit propagation in a circuit of three inverters.
THE BIFURCATION OPERATION

This is a study of results of the bifurcation operation in fourteen cases. The procedure is a palliative measure which has a definite field of indications. It is a simple method, carrying little surgical danger, but requiring strict attention to details in order to obtain good results. The series here reported included patients with fractured neck of the femur, osteo-arthritis of the hip, dislocated hip, Charcot and tuberculous hips. Eight good results were obtained by this operation.
Placing the Government in Fragile Democracies

This Essay - written for a symposium about constitution-making - argues that one of the most important decisions a fragile democratic system makes in writing a constitution is where to place its government. Constitutions usually do address where the national government will be located, simply because it is difficult to coordinate governmental actions without a consensus definition of where government convenes. This is an issue that those drafting constitutions have spent much time considering. Scholars, however, have not yet provided a framework for understanding how this important decision is to be made - and particularly how it shapes the representative nature of an emerging democratic regime. If one of the ambitions of democracy is to feature a representative government, then one of the key means by which that representative government can be achieved is through locational decisions related to the national government. The goal of this Symposium Essay is to sketch out very generally the different options that constitution designers have at their disposal in deciding where to locate national power and the central implications of each of these options for how representative the national government of an emerging democratic regime is likely to be.
CLUTCH SIZE AND FLEDGING SUCCESS IN THE TURQUOISE-BROWED MOTMOT

ABST•,ACT.--Clutches of 4 eggs accounted for 64-73% of all clutches laid in 3 yr by a population of Turquoise-browed Motmots (Eumomota superciliosa) in Yucatan, Mexico. The consistently high frequency of 4-egg clutches was associated with only a slight advantage in fledging success relative to clutches of 3 eggs, which ranged in frequency from 11% to 33%. Differences in number of young fledged and proportion of hatchlings fledged were not statistically significant over 3 yr or in any particular year. Clutches of 4 yielded more surviving young in 2 of 3 yr, averaging 2.02 compared to 1.71 for clutches of 3. The proportion of hatchlings that fledged was higher in broods of 3 (overall = 0.67) than in broods of 4 (overall = 0.55) in 2 of 3 yr. The proportion of hatchlings fledged from clutches of 5 (0.36) was lower over 3 yr than that fledged from clutches of 4 or 3. Approximately 40% of nestling mortality in nests that escaped predation was due to starvation. Other known causes included falls from nests and parasitism by maggots. Received 12 July 1984, accepted 9 April 1985.
Diphtheria: A Statistical Study of Certain Laboratory and Clinical Observations

Vital statistics relative to diphtheria have been collected from time to time and have proved of great importance. Statistics relative to laboratory findings and their relation to the clinical aspects of the disease have, however, not been so systematically collected and studied, and there are comparatively few tables of much value. Those which are accessible refer almost entirely to urban conditions, very few to rural communities.
The use of coding methods to estimate the social behavior directed toward peers and adults of preschoolers with ASD in TEACCH, LEAP, and eclectic "bAU" classrooms

Momentary time sampling, partial-interval recording, and event coding are observational coding methods commonly used to examine the social and challenging behaviors of children at risk for or with developmental delays or disabilities. Yet there is limited research comparing the accuracy of and relationship between these three coding methods. By coding the low-frequency social behaviors of 100 preschool-aged children with autism spectrum disorder, the current study examines the associations among the three methodologies. Results indicated a strong relationship among all three coding methodologies. The findings provide information to researchers and practitioners considering the benefits and drawbacks of each coding methodology. & Various observational coding methods
Vimentin, colon cancer progression and resistance to butyrate and other HDACis

Dietary fibre protects against colorectal cancer (CRC) most likely through the activity of its fermentation product, butyrate. Butyrate functions as a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) that hyperactivates Wnt signalling and induces apoptosis of CRC cells. However, individuals who consume a high-fibre diet may still develop CRC; therefore, butyrate resistance may develop over time. Furthermore, CRC cells that are resistant to butyrate are cross-resistant to clinically relevant therapeutic HDACis, suggesting that the development of butyrate resistance in vivo can result in HDACi-resistant CRCs. Butyrate/HDACi-resistant CRC cells differ from their butyrate/HDACi-sensitive counterparts in the expression of many genes, including the gene encoding vimentin (VIM) that is usually expressed in normal mesenchymal cells and is involved in cancer metastasis. Interestingly, vimentin is overexpressed in butyrate/HDACi-resistant CRC cells although Wnt signalling is suppressed in such cells and that VIM is a Wnt activity-targeted gene. The expression of vimentin in colonic neoplastic cells could be correlated with the stage of neoplastic progression. For example, comparative analyses of LT97 microadenoma cells and SW620 colon carcinoma cells revealed that although vimentin is not detectable in LT97 cells, it is highly expressed in SW620 cells. Based upon these observations, we propose that the differential expression of vimentin contributes to the phenotypic differences between butyrate-resistant and butyrate-sensitive CRC cells, as well as to the differences between early-stage and metastatic colorectal neoplastic cells. We discuss the hypothesis that vimentin is a key factor integrating epithelial to mesenchymal transition, colonic neoplastic progression and resistance to HDACis.
Conference: Billy Joel and the Law, Foreword

On March 22-23, 2015, Touro Law Center hosted a Conference on Billy Joel and the Law. Speakers at the conference included judges, lawyers, law professors, and music scholars, who considered ways in which Billy Joel’s work relates to American law, society, and culture. The conference panels addressed a variety of interrelated topics, including: Billy Joel and Legal Doctrine; Billy Joel and the Practice of Law; Billy Joel, Law, and the Performing Arts; and Billy Joel, Law, and Society.In some ways, the conference was a sequel — or rather, the third in a series — following in the path of previous conferences exploring connections between the work of a singer-songwriter and the American legal system. In 2005, Widener Law School initiated this set of loosely-connected conferences, with The Lawyer as Poet Advocate: Bruce Springsteen and the American Lawyer, and in 2011, Fordham Law School hosted Bob Dylan and the Law, co-sponsored by Touro Law Center.Building on the success of these events, participants at the conference on Billy Joel and the Law engaged in a wide-ranging discussion of legal themes, as well as broader cultural and societal implications, that can be found in Billy Joel’s music. Along with the formal presentations, many of which revolved around recorded excerpts from Joel’s work, the conference proceedings included brief musical performances of a number of his songs, accompanied by scholarly commentary, further contributing to the educational focus of the conference. In addition, given Touro Law Center’s presence in Central Islip and Billy Joel’s well-known association with Long Island, the conference attracted a fair amount of media attention, both in New York outlets and beyond.Indeed, the conference’s setting, a law school located near the geographical center of Long Island, inspired several speakers to take a closer look at Billy Joel, both the person and the musical persona, uncovering themes that are, at once, both particular and universal in relevance and application. Many of the speakers likewise reflected upon their own personal and professional experiences, finding in Billy Joel’s words and music a lens through which they presented their insights into various aspects of American law, culture, and society. The articles from the conference published in this Symposium Issue of the Touro Law Review provide a sampling of the variety of topics and disciplines explored and the range of perspectives represented