cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of pharmacokinetic interaction between everolimus and erlotinib in patients with advanced cancer

AACR Centennial Conference: Translational Cancer Medicine-- July 20-23, 2008; Monterey, CA B3 Background: Combined VEGF, EGFR, and mTOR inhibition with bevacizumab, erlotinib, and everolimus, respectively, may provide complimentary targeting of both tumor and stromal compartments. Everolimus and erlotinib are metabolized by, and potential inhibitors of, CYP450 3A4. Potential pharmacokinetic interactions between these agents were evaluated in a phase I /pharmacokinetic study of bevacizumab, erlotinib, and everolimus (aka BEE study). Methods: Patients were enrolled onto this phase I/pharmacokinetic study who had confirmed malignancy which was metastatic or unresectable and for which standard curative or palliative measures did not exist or were no longer effective. Bevacizumab was administered by IV infusion (10 mg/kg) every two weeks, while everolimus (5 mg), and erlotinib (75 mg) were given as daily oral doses. Patients were enrolled onto one of two administration schedules so that within-patient pharmacokinetic comparisons could be made for both everolimus and erlotinib. Patients in treatment group A had initiation of erlotinib delayed for 1 week from initiation of erlotinib and bevacizumab (n = 9) while those in treatment group B delayed everolimus for 1 week (n = 9) on the first cycle. The systemic pharmacokinetics of everolimus, erlotinib, and its principle metabolite (OSI-420), were analyzed by LC-MS-MS methods from serial blood samples collected on days 8 and 22. Pharmacokinetic parameters of everolimus, erlotinib and OSI-420 were determined on each day and compared using standard, two stage, non-compartmental approaches. Signed rank test p-values are presented for comparing the central tendencies of day 8 to day 22 PK measures. Results: The oral clearance of everolimus was 14.3 ± 4.8 and 11.7 ± 4.1 L/h on days 8 and 22, respectively (p = 0.039). Similarly, systemic exposure of everolimus was significantly higher on day 22 (476 ± 161 ng*hr/mL) compared to day 8 (393 ± 156 ng*hr/mL; p = 0.020). Erlotinib oral clearance was 4.6 ± 2.3 L/h on day 8, and 4.4 ± 2.7 L/h on day 22 (p = 0.65). There was also no significant difference in systemic exposure to erlotinib or OSI-420 between days 8 and 22. Erlotinib systemic exposure was lowest among those who smoked tobacco, as was systemic exposure to OSI-420. Conclusions: The systemic exposure of erlotinib was not affected by everolimus. However everolimus exposure is increased when administered concomitantly with erlotinib. These data are consistent with previous reports demonstrating reduced clearance of another CYP450 3A4 substrate (midazolam) by erlotinib.
Genome-wide analysis of group A Streptococcus

The human pathogenic bacterium group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The genomes of seven GAS strains commonly causing pharyngitis and invasive disease have been sequenced recently. These genome sequences have yielded extensive new information important for GAS pathogenesis research, and have provided new insight into the extent of strain variation within and between serotypes. Importantly, these studies have revealed that bacteriophages are the primary source of variation in gene content between strains. Genome-wide studies also have provided important new data bearing on the molecular mechanisms underlying changes in GAS epidemic behavior. Expression microarray analyses have identified genes and gene networks used by GAS to respond and survive in various environments, including exposure to human polymorphonuclear leukocytes and whole blood. Taken together, genome-wide study of GAS is an area of intensive research that has greatly enhanced our understanding of this pathogen. Keywords: genome; group A Streptococcus; evolution; prophage; pathogenesis; microarray
Multiple factors underlying the maximum motility of Escherichia coli as cultures enter post-exponential growth.

Motility and chemotaxis allow cells to move away from stressful microenvironments. Motility of Escherichia coli in batch cultures, as measured by cell swimming speed, was low in early-exponential-phase cells, peaked as the cells entered post-exponential phase, and declined into early stationary phase. Transcription from the flhB operon and synthesis of flagellin protein similarly peaked in late exponential and early post-exponential phases, respectively. The increase in swimming speed between early-exponential and post-exponential phases was correlated with twofold increases in both flagellar length and flagellar density per cell volume. This increased investment in flagella probably reflects the increased adaptive value of motility in less favorable environments. The decrease in speed between post-exponential and stationary phases was correlated with a threefold decrease in torque produced by the flagellar motors and presumably reflects decreased proton motive force available to stationary-phase cells. Images
Single-center comparative outcomes of the Edwards SAPIEN and Medtronic Melody transcatheter heart valves in the pulmonary position

Background Two transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (tPVR) systems (Edwards SAPIEN and Medtronic Melody) are available; however, comparative studies evaluating outcome data are lacking. The aim of this study was to compare short- with medium-term outcome data of these valves in the pulmonary position from a single institution. Methods Retrospective data analysis of all patients undergoing tPVR from April 2008 until April 2012. Pre-procedural investigations, patient demographics, procedural hemodynamics, and clinical and echocardiographic follow-up data were included. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. Results Thirty-three patients underwent successful tPVR (SAPIEN (S) n = 20, Melody (M) n = 13). Patient age and weight were similar between the two groups. Primary indication included regurgitation (S (n = 2), M (n = 3)), stenosis (S (n = 13), M (n = 7)), or mixed (S (n = 5), M (n = 3)). There was no difference in pre-procedural peak Doppler gradients across the pulmonary outflow (S = 47.73 ± 21.14 mm Hg, M = 42.62 ± 15.59 mm Hg, P = 0.46). All but one patient underwent pre-stenting prior to valve implantation. Immediately following valve deployment, the transvalvar gradient was not statistically different between the two groups (S = 11.5 ± 8.07 mm Hg, M = 8.15 ± 4.56 mm Hg, P = 0.18). There were no procedural deaths. Follow-up mean pulmonary Doppler gradients were higher with the SAPIEN cohort (18.43 ± 9.06 mm Hg (S) and 11.17 ± 5.24 mm Hg (M), P = 0.016); however, no differences were seen when similar procedural epochs were assessed. All but one patient remained with PR grade = 2. Conclusions In a single-center series, the SAPIEN and Melody valves demonstrated comparable medium-term valve function. Greater residual gradients with the SAPIEN valve may represent a more conservative early pre-stenting approach with this valve. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Stochastic integration without tears

Stochastic integration theory is developed by axiomatizing the concept of semi-martingale in terms of a continuity property of integrals of simple functions. Using this approach, stochastic integration for left-continuous integrands, the change of variables formula and properties of the quadratic variation process are established in an elementary way. Submartingale decomposition theorems are introduced at a late stage in order to extend the results to general predictable integrands.
Regulation of contraction in mammalian striated muscles--the plot thick-ens.

Contraction of vertebrate striated muscles is regulated via switch-like activation of the thin filament due to Ca2+ binding to the troponin C (TnC) subunit of troponin, which together with tropomyosin comprise the thin filament regulatory strand. This mechanism has been known for nearly 50 years,
Abstract IA04: Cancer-promoting immunity

Tumors often promote the expansion and recruitment of a variety of circulating immune cells. Among them, macrophages can accumulate in large numbers in the tumor stroma and participate actively in cancer growth; however, our understanding of the origins and dynamics of these cells remains not fully explored. By using various modalities, including in vivo imaging, we have started to define where, when and how macrophage precursors are produced and traffic to the tumor stroma. The findings suggest new cancer-induced mechanisms that foster tumor-promoting immunity and identify novel cellular and molecular targets for therapeutic intervention. Citation Format: Mikael Pittet. Cancer-promoting immunity. [abstract]. In: Abstracts: AACR Special Conference on Cellular Heterogeneity in the Tumor Microenvironment; 2014 Feb 26-Mar 1; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(1 Suppl):Abstract nr IA04. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.CHTME14-IA04
Production data based similarity coefficient for machine-component grouping decisions in the design of a cellular manufacturing system

SUMMARY This paper presents a similarity coefficient based approach to the problem of machine-component grouping. The proposed method incorporates relevant production data such as part type production volume, routing sequence and unit operation time in the early stages of grouping decisions for cellular manufacturing. The algorithm also suggests a methodology for evaluating alternative solutions from different algorithms on a quantitative basis using a modified version of an existing coefficient. The modified quantitative measure is a comprehensive indicator for the goodness of a grouping solution. The algorithm then identifies bottleneck machines and corresponding cell candidates for their duplication using percentage utilization in each cell as a criterion. Finally, additional constraints can be applied to determine the best grouping solution among alternative solutions generated by the algorithm. A software package has been developed to verify the implementation.
some inhibitory properties of 6-N-Hydroxylaminopurine: An analog of adenine and hypoxanthine☆

Abstract 6-N-Hydroxylaminopurine (HAP) prolonged the survival time of mice bearing sarcoma 180 ascites cells; several other ascitic neoplasms were less sensitive to this agent. The rate of incorporation of 2- 14 C-glycine into both polynucleotide adenine and guanine of sarcoma 180 was depressed 90% or more by treatment with HAP, and the utilization of 8- 14 C-hypoxanthine and 8- 14 C-adenine for nucleotide formation was decreased by approximately 85% and 50% respectively. HAP competitively inhibited the formation of adenylic acid from adenine in cell-free extracts of sarcoma 180; the inhibition of inosinic acid formation from hypoxanthine by this analog was complex, being only partially competitive. Dialyzed extracts of either sarcoma 180 or of a variant resistant to purine analogs formed nucleotide from HAP at similar rates, whereas extracts of the L1210 lymphoma formed 5.6-fold more HAP-nucleotide than did those from a 6-mercaptopurine-resistant subline. The extracts from drug-sensitive and -resistant L1210 cells converted adenine to the nucleotide level at equal rates ; only the susceptible neoplasm converted guanine to guanylic acid at a significant rate. In cultured 14L5178Y lymphoblasts, capable of synthesizing purine nucleotides de novo , both hypoxanthine and adenine prevented inhibition of cell reproduction by HAP; on a molar basis adenine was the more effective. In amethopterin-treated L5178Y cells, high levels of HAP supported cell growth in the presence of thymidine and serine. The results suggest that HAP may function as both an antagonist of adenine and hypoxanthine in mammalian cells. Furthermore, the inhibition of cell reproduction caused by this compound appears to be attributable to interference with the biosynthesis of purine nucleotides.
Epistemological Implications of Fieldwork and Their Consequences

Fieldwork is anthropology's primary data-gathering device, providing a boundary marker from related disciplines. Since data obtained through fieldwork form the bases of anthropological theory, it is crucial that their truth value be analyzed. The paper discusses reasons for both the relative lack of epistemological concern in anthropology until recent times and its current vogue. The empirical foundations of fieldwork are examined and a grid is presented for judging the philosophical position of fieldworkers. Application of the methods suggested is illustrated by a case study of missionary/anthropologist field interaction. Finally, an argument is outlined against both rationalism and phenomenology as being antiscientific. These last two positions are seen as the logical result of anthropology's neglect of epistemology. [epistemology, fieldwork, methodology, recurrent relationships, empiricism]
Generalization of the Effect of Vertical Shear of Mean Zonal Flow on Tropical CISK-Wave Excitation

This paper investigates the effects of vertical shear of the mean zonal flow on CISK waves in a spherical geometry. A linearized primitive equation model, including mean zonal flow, on a sphere is designed to generalize the previous results about the effects of the vertical shear of the mean zonal flow on the excitation of fast tropical waves with periods shorter than 20 days. In the case of linear CISK heating, the eastward propagating Kelvin waves are most unstable when the vertical shear of the mean zonal flow is easterly with height, and the westward propagating gravity waves (not mixed Rossby-gravity waves) are preferentially excited when the vertical shear of the mean zonal flow is westerly. The vertical structure of these unstable waves is in agreement with the previous results. In the troposphere, both the temperature and vertical velocity fields of the unstable waves tilt backward with height, and the tilt is smaller for the vertical velocity field than for the temperature field. In contrast, forward phase tilts are found above the troposphere, consistent with upward propagation of wave energy. In the case of positive-only (nonlinear) CISK heating, antisymmetric waves (with zonal wind antisymmetric about the equator) are suppressed, and an eastward propagating symmetric nondispersive wave packet with negligible meridional wind is excited. This unstable wave packet not only has zonally asymmetric structure but also has a change of zonal scale with height. Unlike in the linear case, the vertical shear of the mean zonal flow is unable to excite westward propagating gravity waves, but it does affect the instability of the wave packet in the same way as in the linear heating case. As was found for a single wave in the linear heating case, the unstable wave packet is shown to have a backward phase tilt with height in the troposphere. However, the effect of the vertical shear of the mean zonal flow on the wave packet works not by changing its phase tilt but by changing its zonal scale.
The Role-Based Performance Scale: Validity Analysis of A Theory-Based Measure

This study introduces a theory-based measure of employee performance, the Role-Based Performance Scale (RBPS), that is supported with results from a validation study using ten data sets from six co...
Over 10-W linearly-polarized single cavity fibre laser at 1180 nm wavelength with slope efficiency of 56 % using Yb-doped polarization-maintaining solid photonic bandgap fibre

We have demonstrated an 1180-nm linearly-polarized single cavity fibre laser with an output power of 10.8 W using an Yb-doped polarization-maintaining solid photonic bandgap fibre. A slope efficiency of 56 % has been achieved.
Differential scanning calorimetric study of the Transition heats of some dibenzazepines, carbazoles and phenothiazines

Abstract The transition temperatures and heats of two dibenzazepines, three carbazoles and three phenothiazines have been obtained. This represents a continuation of an earlier study of a series of acyldibenzazepines. Additional evidence for a back-folded acylchain in the solid state has been developed and good correlation of these bent ring molecules with well known spherical molecules on the basis of transition entropy is possible. The behaviour of the alkyl chain in acyl substituted dibenzazepines, carbazoles and phenothiazines is contrasted with other alkyl substituted ring systems.
Relativistic continuum mechanics part I—mechanics and thermodynamics☆

Abstract The basic laws of a special relativistic theory of continuous media suitable for the treatment of electromagnetic interactions with materials are formulated. The kinematics, dynamics and thermodynamics of a continuum are discussed from a relativistic viewpoint. Constitutive equations are deduced for thermoelastic solids, thermoviscous fluids and electromagnetic materials. Part I considers the mechanical and thermodynamical aspects of the theory of continuous media from a relativistic viewpoint. Part II considers the electromagnetic interaction with matter.
Department of Defense Picture Archiving and Communication System Acceptance Testing: Results and Identification of Problem Components

The PACS implementation process is complicated requiring a tremendous amount of time, resources, and planning. The Department of Defense (DOD) has significant experience in developing and refining PACS acceptance testing (AT) protocols that assure contract compliance, clinical safety, and functionality. The DOD’s AT experience under the initial Medical Diagnostic Imaging Support System contract led to the current Digital Imaging Network–Picture Archiving and Communications Systems (DIN-PACS) contract AT protocol. To identify the most common system and component deficiencies under the current DIN-PACS AT protocol, 14 tri-service sites were evaluated during 1998–2000. Sixteen system deficiency citations with 154 separate types of limitations were noted with problems involving the workstation, interfaces, and the Radiology Information System comprising more than 50% of the citations. Larger PACS deployments were associated with a higher number of deficiencies. The most commonly cited systems deficiencies were among the most expensive components of the PACS.
Intracellular Ca2+ Release Triggers Translocation of Membrane Marker FM1–43 from the Extracellular Leaflet of Plasma Membrane into Endoplasmic Reticulum in T Lymphocytes

Stimulation of T cell receptor in lymphocytes enhances Ca(2+) signaling and accelerates membrane trafficking. The relationships between these processes are not well understood. We employed membrane-impermeable lipid marker FM1-43 to explore membrane trafficking upon mobilization of intracellular Ca(2+) in Jurkat T cells. We established that liberation of intracellular Ca(2+) with T cell receptor agonist phytohemagglutinin P or with Ca(2+)-mobilizing agents ionomycin or thapsigargin induced accumulation of FM1-43 within the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), nuclear envelope (NE), and Golgi. FM1-43 loading into ER-NE and Golgi was not mediated via the cytosol because other organelles such as mitochondria and multivesicular bodies located in close proximity to the FM1-43-containing ER were free of dye. Intralumenal FM1-43 accumulation was observed even when Ca(2+) signaling in the cytosol was abolished by the removal of extracellular Ca(2+). Our findings strongly suggest that release of intracellular Ca(2+) may create continuity between the extracellular leaflet of the plasma membrane and the lumenal membrane leaflet of the ER by a mechanism that does not require global cytosolic Ca(2+) elevation.
Cardiac glycogen depletion in Amphiuma means during induced anoxia

Giant salamanders, Amphiuma means, measuring 240 to 280 mm from snout to vent, tolerate induced anoxia for six hours. Most of the cardiac glycogen (beta units) is depleted within the first hour of anoxia but a few scattered units remain after six hours. The suggestion that cardiac glycogen is a stand-by energy source which enhances the energy available to the heart during anoxic strain is reasonable. Beta units are stored in the heart as opposed to the larger alpha units in the liver. The smaller beta units are probably more easily metabolized than the larger alpha units due to their greater surface area per volume ratio and dispersal around the numerous cardiac mitochondria.
The Laursen-Metzler Employment Effect

Using an intertemporal model and incorporating wealth effects in consumption and leisure decisions, this paper reexamines the Laursen-Metzler question of the effect of terms of trade changes on employment and current account, with particular emphasis on employment. It does find support for the original Laursen-Metzler result that a (temporary) terms of trade decline increases current employment. However, the mechanism through which this happens is quite different from Laursen-Matzler's own Keynesian mechanism. [431, 433]
Can psychology be objective about free will

Abstract This paper takes up the question of free will in behaviour, what it can mean, and how it might be said to occur. The case is made that, thanks to psychology's commitment to a 17th century conception of natural science, it has been effectively insulated from putting teleology to a proper empirical test. After presenting a justification and definition of free will in terms of the human being's telosponsive capacities, the paper closes by surveying aspects of the psychological literature which have gathered data relating to telic behaviour only to explain them away via traditional nontelic “scientific” theories.
Stratigraphy and Palynology of Late Quaternary Sediments in the Puget Lowland, Washington

Paleoclimatic fluctuations from 50,000 yr BP to the present are recorded in pollen assemblages from buried Pleistocene peat and in postglacial bogs in the Puget Lowland of Washington. Two peat beds in Possession Drift, radiocarbon-dated at 47,600 + 3.300/− 1,800 and 34,900 + 3,000/− 2,000 yr B.P., contain high percentages of pine with minor spruce, fir, and western red cedar. Significant representation of total NAP suggests an open landscape dominated by herbs, with intermittent patches of lodgepole pine, characteristic of a cool climate and unstable physiographic conditions. The nonglacial interval immediately preceding the last glacial advance was originally defined as the Olympia Interglaciation, but new radiocarbon and palynological evidence now suggest that it should be considered to be a nonglacial interval of less than interglacial rank. Olympia peat beds yielded radiocarbon dates of 22,700 ± 550, 22,700 ± 600, 24,800 ± 600, 26,850 ± 1,700, 27,200 ± 1,000, and 27,600 ± 1,000 yr B.P. Pine maintains a dominant role throughout the units, although spruce, mountain hemlock, and total NAP increase in the younger units, suggesting a trend toward a cooler climate. Pollen from sediments of the Everson Interstade of the Fraser Glaciation is dominated by lodgepole pine, suggesting that the environment was characterized by extreme edaphic disturbance and severe climatic conditions. Postglacial bogs show a lower pine–Douglas fir zone and an upper western red cedar–western hemlock zone, separated by an ash younger than 7,140 ± 600 yr B.P. The Hypsithermal is marked by high pollen values for Douglas fir about 7,000 yr ago, followed by increased western red cedar and western hemlock, implying a moister, cooler climate.
Intracellular dye heterogeneity determined by fluorescence lifetimes

Abstract The cellular localization of a fluorescent probe molecule depends on both the chemical structure of the dye and the cellular environment. To study the number and types of environments in an epithelial cell line, we have measured in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells the fluorescence lifetimes of three structurally distinct fluorescent dyes — rhodamine-B, 3,3′-dihexadecylindocarbocyanine-(C 3 ) (diI), and Collarein — incorporated into these cells. The latter is a rhodamine-cardiolipin conjugate that we designed and synthesized for the property of exclusive localization in the plasma membrane. The former two dyes required at least two exponential components to fit their fluorescence decay curves, while the decay of Collarein was characterized by a single exponential. These data are consistent with fluorescence microscopic observations, in which diI and rhodamine-B exhibit heterogeneous spatial distributions, while Collarein appears to be located on the cell surface.
Reaction of Infectious RNA with Mammalian Cells. I. Attachment to Cells

SummaryInfectious polio virus RNA enters mammalian cells in tissue culture in a 2-step process: 1) “attachment” which is independent of time, temperature, osmolarity, pH or other factors in the ranges known to influence infectivity of RNA, and 2) “uptake” which is markedly influenced by these factors. An average of 75% of plaque producing RNA units exposed to cells in monolayers becomes attached to them in less than 1 minute.
The Effect of Forecast Error Accumulation on Four-Dimensional Data Assimilation

Abstract Updating experiments performed with 5° and 2.5° versions of the NCAR Global Circulation Model are described. Either wind or temperature is updated. Little difference in the asymptotic error of the induced field is found between updating the 5° model with data generated by the 5° model and updating the 2.5° model with data generated by the 2.5° model. This similarity is expected since both models are shown to have similar error growth rates. When the 5° model is updated with data generated by the 2.5° model, the error in the induced field approaches a much larger asymptote. However, this asymptotic error is still less than that of randomly chosen states. The larger asymptotic error is attributed to the rapid error accumulation in a 5° model forecast when compared to data generated by the 2.5° model.
In vitro chromatin assembly promoted by the Xenopus laevis S-150 cell-free extract is enhanced by treatment with RNase A

Cell-free extracts employed as chromatin assembly systems contain a myriad of proteins, polyanions and nucleic acids. The roles of ATP, MgCl2 and other cofactors in the catalysis of nucleosome formation by the Xenopus laevis oocyte S-150 have yet to be established unequivocally. In this study we examine the influence of RNA in the assembly process. Under reaction conditions that inhibit nucleosome formation (+ EDTA), pretreatment of the extract with RNase A revives the chromatin assembly machinery while the rate of DNA supercoiling is stimulated significantly. Addition of purified RNA blocks DNA supercoiling. Taken together, these data suggest that the parameters surrounding in vitro chromatin assembly are variable and subject to modulation by endogenous factors.
IS DIOECY ASSOCIATED WITH FLESHY FRUIT

The floras of the northeastern U.S. and California were analyzed with respect to the question whether dioecy is associated with fleshy fruit. These analyses control for mode of pollination, woodiness, and flower color. Weak associations between dioecy and fleshy fruit were observed, unconvincing because of the difficulty of controlling for phylogenetic constraint. Other such studies are reviewed, however, and, because the better studies all do show a weak association, it is concluded that the weak association may be real. An ecological explanation is postulated and defended. The much stronger association between dioecy and floral biology is noted.
Welfare dependency as a performance problem that requires a performance improvement approach

Leaving the welfare system does not necessarily equate to a sustainable self-sufficiency of the dependents, as the welfare reform stipulates. Therefore, the success of the welfare reform program should be determined not by the number of dependents who leave the welfare system but by the change that the welfare reform creates in recipients' lives. From a performance improvement perspective, welfare dependency can be viewed as a performance problem that requires a performance improvement approach.
Excitation Functions of the (p,pn) and (p,2p) Reactions on Te130 at 60-233 Mev.

The cross sections of the reactions ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{142}(p, pn){\mathrm{Ce}}^{141}$ and ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{142}(p, 2p){\mathrm{La}}^{141}$ have been determined for protons of 60, 120, 180, 200, and 233 Mev energy. A comparison is made of the observed yields with those predicted on the basis of Monte Carlo cascade-evaporation calculations at 83, 238, and 368 Mev. For protons of energy between 60 and 240 Mev the agreement is good for the ($p, \mathrm{pn}$) reaction and fair for the ($p, 2p$).
Optical Vortices in Intense Ultrashort Laser Field

We report on generating spatial-chirp-free optical vortices in intense femtosecond laser radiation pulses. A holographic technique is employed to introduce a doughnut-type vortex into a fundamental mode of laser radiation.
ENERGY TRANSFER FROM CHLOROPHYLL b TO CHLOROPHYLL a IN A HYDROPHOBIC MODEL SYSTEM

— Chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b purified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were subsequently adsorbed on the surface of a pellicular reverse phase packing normally used in HPLC. The granule surface is reacted with octadecyl groups and furnishes an hydrophobic substrate for pigment adsorption. Reflectance spectra of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b, each adsorbed at average spacings of about 11 nm2 per molecule, had red region maxima at 664 and 643nm respectively. Fluorescence excitation spectra for 740nm emission from these surfaces peaked at about 420nm for chlorophyll a and 460nm for chlorophyll b. Adsorbed pigments excited at either of the two wave lengths had a single fluorescence emission peak at 683nm for chlorophyll a and at 664nm for chlorophyll b. A surface having both pigments adsorbed in approximately equal amounts with an overall average spacing of about 5.6nm2 per molecule also had peaks at 420 and 460nm in the excitation spectrum. However, excitation of adsorbed molecules on this (latter) surface, at either 420 or 460nm, produced emission with the single chlorophyll a peak at 683nm. It is concluded that, under the conditions of our experiment, exciting adsorbed chlorophyll b contributes strongly to emission from adsorbed chlorophyll a.
Econometrics and Presidential Elections

This paper discusses an econometric equation that explains votes for president as a function of economic events and incumbency information. The history of the equation is reviewed, the update after the 1992 election is discussed, and a prediction for the 1996 election is made conditional on an economic forecast.
Towards a new philosophy of education: Extending the conversational metaphor for thinking

Recently, feminists like Jane Roland-Martin, Elizabeth Young-Bruehl, and others have advocated a conversational metaphor for thinking and rationality, and our image of the rational person. Elizabeth Young-Bruehl refers to thinking as a “constant interconnecting of representations of experiences and an extension of how we hear ourselves and others. There are numerous disadvantages to thinking about thinking as a conversation.
An Autocollimating F/1 Camera for Use with Echelle Spectrographs Using Image Converters

Two spectrograph configurations are considered for fast echelle spectrographs, one autocollimated and another with the camera placed at 45° to the collimator beam. An example is given where both cameras have the same focal length and gratings the same angular dispersion. The effect of different slit widths and astronomical seeing are considered. The effect of optical aberrations for the two cameras, an f/1.0 system for the 45° camera angle and 0.77 for the autocollimated configuration offsets the slit width advantage of the 45° camera angle case. The light losses due to the use of a slit re-imaging lens and double-pass through the camera are considered for the autocollimated configuration. The f/1.77 camera permits easy folding for use with an image tube, and if made of a solid block of optical material yields close to an f/1 camera with the same geometrical dimensions. All things considered, we recommend the autocollimated configuration for optimum use with echelle spectrographs.© (1979) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Solubility and transport of platinum-group elements in supercritical fluids: summary and estimates of thermodynamic properties for ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, and platinum solids, aqueous ions, and complexes to 1000°C and 5 kbar

Several correlation methods are used to estimate data and equation-of-state parameters that permit calculation of standard state thermodynamic properties at high pressures and temperatures for metals, oxides, and sulfides, as well as ions, and aqueous chloride, hydroxide, and sulfate complexes of Ru+2, Ru+3, Rh+2, Rh+3, Pd+2, and Pt+2. Estimates are based on a critical review of data from the literature at 25°C and 1 bar. The combined data for 14 minerals, 6 cations, and 56 aqueous complexes provide a foundation for quantitative predictions of aqueous speciation of these platinum group elements (PGE), as well as platinum group mineral (PGM) solubilities as functions of pH, oxidation state, and chloride and sulfate content of geologic fluids at temperatures to 1000°C and pressures to 5 kbar. Therefore, these estimates are the first to address PGE speciation at the pressure and temperatures of most PGM deposits. Comparisons are made to other theoretical predictions of platinum-group element (PGE) complex formation in aqueous solutions and to pertinent experimental data. We conclude that Pd-chloride complexes may be less stable at lower temperatures than previously predicted by other investigators, but that Pt-chloride complexes may be considerably more stable.
Telomeric repeat sequences

Chromosomes not only carry transcribed genes and their regulatory DNA sequences, but also contain regions that are required for the stability and maintenance of the chromosome as a unit. These include centromeres, telomeres and origins of replication. It is clear for replication origins and centromeres that the positions of these chromosomal organelles are determined by sites of the appropriate DNA sequences, but also that functional performance requires one or more contributing proteins. Telomeres are also structurally complex, with one or more DNA components, including simple telomeric repeats and more complex telomere-associated sequences, as well as one or more specific proteins that recognize these sequences. Accumulating evidence suggests that the simple telomeric repeats are required in most, but not all species, although they are not sufficient to determine the chromosomal position of a telomere.
A stochastic response surface formulation of acoustic propagation through an uncertain ocean waveguide environment

Stochastic basis expansions are applied to formulate and solve the problem of including uncertainty in numerical models of acoustic wave propagation within ocean waveguides. As an example, a constrained least-squares approach is used to estimate the intensity of an acoustic field whose waveguide environment has uncertainty in both source depth and sound speed. The mean intensity, a second moment of the field, and its probability distribution are computed and compared with independent Monte-Carlo computations of these quantities. Very good agreement is obtained, indicating the potential of stochastic basis expansions for describing multiple sources of uncertainty and their effect on acoustic propagation.
Bladder Autoaugmentation with Rectus Muscle Backing

ABSTRACTPurpose: Bladder autoaugmentation is a procedure which includes detrusoromyotomy or detrusorectomy to release intact urothelium which than prolapses and increases bladder capacity and compliance. The prolapsed urothelium is usually covered with de-epithelialized pedicled colonic or gastric patch. We present our initial experience with bladder autoaugmentation using rectus muscle backing.Materials and Methods: Between August 1999 and December 2000 autoaugmentation was performed in 4 girls and 3 boys 4 to 11 years old (median age 8). All patients had neurogenic bladder with small capacity and poor compliance. The technique is performed using an extraperitoneal approach through either an inferior midline longitudinal or transverse incision. The procedure is started with a semi-filled bladder to find the right plane and then continues with an almost empty bladder to avoid severe injury of the prolapsed urothelium. Both rectus muscles are dissected from the anterior and posterior sheaths and sutured to...
FinVis: Applied visual analytics for personal financial planning

FinVis is a visual analytics tool that allows the non-expert casual user to interpret the return, risk and correlation aspects of financial data and make personal finance decisions. This interactive exploratory tool helps the casual decision-maker quickly choose between various financial portfolio options and view possible outcomes. FinVis allows for exploration of inter-temporal data to analyze outcomes of short-term or long-term investment decisions. FinVis helps the user overcome cognitive limitations and understand the impact of correlation between financial instruments in order to reap the benefits of portfolio diversification. Because this software is accessible by non-expert users, decision-makers from the general population can benefit greatly from using FinVis in practical applications. We quantify the value of FinVis using experimental economics methods and find that subjects using the FinVis software make better financial portfolio decisions as compared to subjects using a tabular version with the same information. We also find that FinVis engages the user, which results in greater exploration of the dataset and increased learning as compared to a tabular display. Further, participants using FinVis reported increased confidence in financial decision-making and noted that they were likely to use this tool in practical application.
Denoising Manifold and Non-Manifold Point Clouds

The faithful reconstruction of 3-D models from irregular and noisy point samples is a task central to many applications of computer vision and graphics. We present an approach to denoising that naturally handles intersections of manifolds, thus preserving high-frequency details without oversmoothing. This is accomplished through the use of a modified locally weighted regression algorithm that models a neighborhood of points as an implicit product of linear subspaces. By posing the problem as one of energy minimization subject to constraints on the coefficients of a higher order polynomial, we can also incorporate anisotropic error models appropriate for data acquired with a range sensor. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach through some preliminary results in denoising synthetic data in 2-D and 3-D domains.
Ion beam analysis of combustion synthesized ceramics

Abstract Combustion synthesis is gaining importance as a means of producing ceramic materials from constituent powders with the borides, carbides and nitrides of the transition metals receiving the most attention. Impurities from the precursor powders and containment fixtures have been found to play significant roles in the quality of the final products. RBS, NRS, and PIXE have been used to: identify condensible impurities emanating from reacting samples; determine their concentrations on the precursor powders and product ceramics; and to positively identify TiO2 as a major effluent during the TiC reaction. RBS and NRS have also been used in the analysis of oxide layers on the fine metal powders which are precursor materials for the combustion synthesis process.
Drinking to cope and self‐medication: Characteristics of jobs in relation to workers' drinking behavior

This research extends recent studies of the relationship between characteristics of jobs and patterns of workers' alcohol consumption. Working within a ‘generalization perspective ’whereby job conditions are seen as having important effects on the mental health and behaviors of workers in non-work settings, the current research derives and tests a model of four job-related factors as they influence three aspects of alcohol use; the simple frequency—quantity of drinking, escapist-oriented reasons for drinking, and a combination of heavier drinking with escapist-oriented definitions which is labeled ‘self-medication’. Analyses of data drawn from the 1973 Quality of Employment Survey (QES) indicate that the relationship between jobs and drinking behavior is more complex than previously conceptualized. Specifically, we find evidence that for working men characteristics of jobs affect levels of alcohol consumption and the incidence of self-medicating drinking. These findings support and refine job-based explanations of drinking behavior. The implications of these findings for subsequent research and model-specification are discussed.
Regional and temporal variations in the accumulation of unesterified fatty acids and diacylglycerols in the rat brain during kainic acid induced limbic seizures.

Abstract These experiments tested the hypothesis that limbic seizures induced by kainic acid (KA) activate mechanisms (e.g. phospholipases) that degrade the cell membrane, causing a release and accumulation of free fatty acids (FFAs) and diacylglycerols (DGs) in brain areas susceptible to seizure-related damage. The possible link between these effects on lipids and the subsequent development of seizure-related brain damage was investigated by studying the temporal and regional relationship between alterations in lipids in the hippocampus, frontal cerebral cortex, amygdala, striatum and cerebellum, and the development and severity of seizures. Rats were treated with 10 mg/kg KA (s.c.) and sacrificed by head focused microwave irradiation at 1 h, 2 h, 24 h or 7 days. Levels of FFAs and DGs were determined by gas liquid chromatography (GLC). Brain regions from control rats differed markedly in the content and composition of both FFA and DG pools. Changes in FFAs and DGs during KA-induced limbic seizures also varied from region to region and over time after drug treatment. The largest increases in FFAs in amygdala, striatum, cortex and hippocampus occured during the peak of seizure activity. Although DG levels were altered in some areas at some time points, there was no apparent correlation between changes in DGs and seizure severity. However, increases in DGs occurred at later time points, coincident with the occurence of neuronal cell loss in amygdala, cortex, hippocampus and striatum. These data indicate that limbic seizures activate the accumulation of FFAs through increased neuronal activity, while accumulation of DGs may be related to the development of seizure-related brain damage.
Ecosystem development and natural succession in surface coal mine reclamation

Biotic and abiotic factors involved in surface coal mine reclamation were evaluated on 81 mine sites in Mercer County, Pennsylvania, USA. Soil moisture and organic content were the two most important factors in determining the establishment and growth of vegetation on mined lands. Soil bacteria and fungi populations were also related to these soil conditions, and soil micro-organisms were important in the decomposition of organic materials as well as factors in the rate and type of natural succession occurring on these lands. The succession of native plant species increases the density and stability of plant communities on mined lands. The importance of natural succession in mined-land reclamation and the use of these lands by wildlife is discussed.
Privacy-aware message exchanges for HumaNets

Abstract This paper describes a novel privacy-aware geographic routing protocol for Human Movement Networks (HumaNets). HumaNets are fully decentralized opportunistic store-and-forward, delay-tolerant networks composed of smartphone devices. Such networks allow participants to exchange messages phone-to-phone and have applications where traditional infrastructure is unavailable (e.g., during a disaster) and in totalitarian states where cellular network monitoring and censorship are employed. Our protocol leverages self-determined location profiles of smartphone operators’ movements as a predictor of future locations, enabling efficient geographic routing over metropolitan-wide areas. Since these profiles contain sensitive information about participants’ prior movements, our routing protocol is designed to minimize the exposure of sensitive information during a message exchange. We demonstrate via simulation over both synthetic and real-world trace data that our protocol is highly scalable, leaks little information, and balances privacy and efficiency: messages are approximately 20% more likely to be delivered than similar random walk protocols, and the median latency is comparable to epidemic protocols while requiring an order of magnitude fewer messages.
Mental Health Corner

Study Objective: To evaluate the implications of dating in pre- and early adolescent females. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: Child psychiatry clinic; pediatric clinic; family clinic. Participants: Pre- and early adolescent females (n 5 80)
Direct measurement of up-conversion processes in diode pumped erbium-doped YAG

Observation of the time dependence of the up-conversion fluorescence allows the determination of the relative importance of the excited state absorption and energy transfer up-conversion in 0.5% and 50% erbium-doped YAG. Pump radiation up to 10 kW/cm2 shows drastic changes in the effective life time of nearly all excited energy states.
Eos: The Next Generation

On 9 December a dynamic, new, broadly inclusive, and freely accessible Earth and space science news website will launch: Eos.org. This new site is inspired by AGU's vision to galvanize our community of Earth and space scientists to collaboratively advance and communicate our science.
Transtheoretical Measures for Adolescent and Adult Smokers: Similarities and Differences

Abstract Background. The prevalence of smoking among adolescents has remained stable and has increased in the past few years. Longitudinal results from a multitude of efforts to reduce adolescent smoking have been mostly disappointing. Methods. This paper discusses, in light of the theoretical knowledge obtained among adults and the empirical data collected among adults and adolescents, the applicability of the central concepts of the Trantheoretical Model of Change to the adolescent smoking problem. Results. According to the stage of change distributions, adolescent smokers appeared to be somewhat less prepared to quit than adults. Both adults and adolescents utilize identical cognitive and behavioral activities to change their smoking although teens' process use appears to differ from that of adults at each stage of change. According to the decisional balance measure, the pros of smoking among adults and teens exceeded the cons in early stages of change and then reversed once smokers took action to quit. The levels of temptations to smoke among adults and adolescents were almost identical at each stage. Conclusions. Both age groups turned out to be remarkably similar in the Transtheoretical measures, and, except for the processes of change, both groups exhibited similar behavior at different stages of the smoking cessation process.