cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rapidly induced drug adaptation mediates escape from BRAF inhibition in single melanoma cells

Despite increasing numbers of effective anti-cancer therapies, successful treatment is limited by the development of drug resistance. While the contribution of genetic factors to drug resistance is undeniable, little is known about how drug-sensitive cells first evade drug action to proliferate in drug. Here we track the response of thousands of single melanoma cells to BRAF inhibitors and show that a subset escapes drug within the first 3 days of treatment. Cell-cycle re-entry occurs via a non-genetic mechanism involving activation of mTORC1 and ATF4, validated in cultures of patient biopsies. These escapees cycle periodically in drug, incur significant DNA damage, and out-proliferate non-escapees over extended treatment. Our work reveals a mutagenesis-prone, expanding subpopulation of early drug escapees that may seed development of permanent drug resistance.
Professional Development Combining Cognitive Apprenticeship and Expectancy-Value Theories Improves Lab Teaching Assistants' Instructional Views and Practices.

A lab teaching assistant professional development program designed using cognitive apprenticeship and expectancy-value theory was successful in moving graduate student teaching assistants to a higher level of teaching effectiveness.
Unconditional Secrecy and Computational Complexity against Wireless Eavesdropping

Unconditional secrecy (UNS) of a wireless transmission scheme refers to the minimum amount of secrecy of the scheme subject to eavesdropping by eavesdropper (Eve) with any number of antennas and any noise level. For each coherence period of wireless channels, the UNS achievable is known to be limited by the entropy of user’s reciprocal channel state information (subject to a proper level of quantization). While UNS rate may be too limited for environment with low mobility, it is possible to design physical layer encryption methods to increase the computational complexities that Eve has to overcome in order to break further secrecy beyond UNS. In this paper, we quantify the UNS of several classic transmission schemes and examine the complexity needed to break further secrecy beyond UNS of these schemes. We also provide a UNS and complexity analysis of a recently proposed physical layer encryption scheme called randomized reciprocal channel modulation (RRCM), and show an example where the complexity may exceed Eve’s capability.
Influencing climate change attitudes in the United States: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Researchers interested in climate change communication have investigated how people respond to messages about it. Through meta-analysis, the current research synthesizes the multitude of experimental studies on this topic to uncover which interventions are most effective at influencing attitudes about climate change. The meta-analysis focuses on experimental studies that included a control condition and measured climate change attitudes among participants in the United States. After a large literature search, 396 effect sizes were retrieved from 76 independent experiments (N = 76,033 participants). Interventions had a small, significant positive effect on attitudes, g = 0.08, 95% CI [0.05, 0.10], 95% prediction interval [-0.04, 0.19], p
What's Interesting about Unicorn Ventures? An Exploratory Study

Unicorns—private new venture firms with over a billion dollars in valuation—are a category that has recently emerged in the entrepreneurship domain. New ventures valued at or above one billion doll...
Intervening on physical activity and sedentary behavior in older adults.

Abstract Participating in sufficient levels of physical activity is important for sustaining health and quality of life across the age span. The United States Physical Activity Guidelines recommend individuals of all ages “move more, more often” by frequently engaging in aerobic activity while avoiding prolonged bouts of sitting. This is indicative of a slow shift in focus in the study of active aging that has occurred in the last two decades. Historically, researchers interested in the influence of physical activity on older adults' health and quality of life focused on discrete sustained bouts of intense activity (i.e., structured exercise). More recently the widespread usage of accelerometers contributed to a large body of evidence demonstrating that long periods spent sedentary were associated with a host of negative health outcomes ranging from poorer cardiometabolic health to poorer physical functioning and elevated risk of death. These findings often persisted when controlling for time spent in higher-intensity physical activity, spurring separate fields of intervention research concerned with promoting exercise or reducing sedentary time. Novel data emerging in recent years on the importance of an individual's overall activity profile (i.e., amount and patterning of light and moderate-to-vigorous activity) has driven yet another shift in focus toward interventions focused explicitly on movement profiles. In this narrative review, we discuss the evolution of thought regarding older adults' physical activity behaviors. We highlight successes and challenges in first promoting structured and prolonged exercise, later in targeting sedentary behavior, and most recently in attempting to intervene on activity profiles. We end our review by highlighting current gaps in research and important future directions.
Differential binding of heavy chain variable domain 3 antigen binding fragments to protein A chromatography resins.

This work examines the binding of 15 different VH3 IgGs and their corresponding F(ab’)2 fragments to two different protein A chromatography resins: MabSelect®, which utilizes a recombinant protein A ligand, and MabSelect SuRe® (SuRe), which utilizes a tetrameric Z domain ligand. The results show that VH3 F(ab’)2 fragments can exhibit a variety of binding behaviours for the two resins. Contrary to previously published data, a subset of these molecules show strong interaction with the Z domain of SuRe®. Furthermore, the results show that sequence variability of residue 57 in the VH3 heavy chain CDR2 domain correlates with binding behaviour on MabSelect® and SuRe®. Site-directed mutagenesis of this residue confers gain or loss of VH3 F(ab’)2 binding to these resins in 3 mAbs, demonstrating that it plays a key role in both recombinant protein A and Z domain interaction. A fourth mAb with a longer CDR2 loop was not affected by mutation of residue 57, indicating that CDR2 domain length may alter the binding interface and lead to the involvement of other residues in protein A binding.
Is dumping socially inefficient

Abstract This paper investigates an efficiency implication of Medicare's prospective payment system (PPS) on the utilization of United States Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital inpatient services by elderly veterans. There is empirical evidence to suggest that non-VA hospitals are reacting to PPS by increasingly shifting veterans they expect may be high-cost to VA hospitals. We define as efficient, allocations that would occur if hospitals acted as perfect agents of the patient, then we show that some shifting would still occur if allocations were efficient. This is because VA and non-VA hospitals operate under different budget regimes, and within each diagnosis related group, veterans with different levels of illness severity (and different non-VA insurance packages) will self-select into VA and non-VA hospitals. We derive conditions of severity under which different hospital types become attractive to particular patients.
Piles, Piers, and Caissons

It is recognized that spread footings are the quickest and most cost effective way to transfer the loads of a building into the ground. There are situations, however, in which spread footings cannot reasonably be used. An examination of the test boring log given in Figure 8-1 illustrates this point.
Quantitative thermal analysis of carbohydrate-water systems.

The quantitative thermal analysis and interpretation on a molecular level have shown that starch has a surprising multistage glass transition which stretches over 100 degrees. Even dry starch has such a very broad partial transition which starts at about 250K, far below the decomposition temperature where the glass transition is not yet completed. Adding water, as in food applications, moves this transition to lower temperatures. This is the plasticizing effect of water which allows the study of more of the transition, and is, naturally, also the base of the application of starches in the food industry. Three steps were observed in starch-water systems (11–17 wt-% water). The first is indicated by a gradual deviation from the vibrational heat capacity of the glassy starch. The second is a jump in Cp, followed by the third, another deviation from linear Cp. The latter two are due to conformational and anharmonic motions. This new research resolves the old problem of gel-starch aging with moisture (11wt%) during food storage. Amorphous starch at room temperature absorbs 10–12 wt-% water. This starts at the gradual beginning of the transition and is far from the jump in Cp at about 372 K and ultimately leads to a semicrystalline starch. A similar, low-temperature beginning seems to exist in the glass-transition behavior of other biomaterials, such as proteins and poly(amino acid)s.
Sequential growth stage adjustment to acid soil stress in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor)

Shoot growth of sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] cultivars (Funk G522DR, GP140, TAM428, SC283, SC599, and SC574) was shown to respond similarly to increased [H+] and the response was explicable as a gibberellic acid (GA) sequestering and failure of GA translocation. Root growth inhibition by increased [H+] was explicable as a failure of indoleacetic acid (IAA) translocation. Mn2+ was shown to inhibit GA precursor biosyntheses and possibly, to increase IAA oxidation. Amylase and isocitric lyase activities were sensitive to H+, Ca2+, and Mn2+. Differences in growth patterns of acid soil tolerant and sensitive sorghum cultivars depended upon the physiology and biochemistry of the individual cultivars.
Inhibition of NF-κB activity by Temozolomide involves O6-methylguanine induced reduction of p65 DNA-binding.

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 14-18, 2007; Los Angeles, CA 3214 It is well documented that the cytotoxicity of SN1 type alkylating agents like temozolomide (TMZ) occurs through the processing of O 6-methylguanine ( O 6-MeG) adducts by the mismatch repair (MMR) system. However, the damage signaling pathways downstream of MMR are not as well described. In this study, we examined the affect of TMZ on the pro-survival transcription factor, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). Using an NF-κB-responsive luciferase reporter assay, doses as low as 10 µM TMZ were found to inhibit endogenous and TNFα-induced NF-κB activity (IC50 of 75 µM) without affecting a control luciferase reporter. Inhibition by TMZ of endogenous and TNFα-induced RNA expression was confirmed in-vivo with quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR of several NF-κB-dependent genes. Inhibition of NF-κB is independent of inhibitor of-κB alpha (IκBα) phosphorylation and degradation and, consistent with this, TMZ does not block TNFα-induced p65 nuclear translocation as analyzed by fluorescence imaging. The mechanism of NF-κB inhibition involves reduction of κB-element binding as assessed by EMSA, a finding confirmed in-vivo at the κB-site of the Bcl-XL and COX2 promoters. Time course studies demonstrate that inhibition of NF-κB begins after 6 hrs TMZ pretreatment and is maximal after 16 hrs. Using cells with varying O 6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) activities (formed by stable AGT transfection and pharmacological AGT inhibition) and with varying MMR gene deletions, the presence of both O 6-MeG adducts and of a functioning MMR system are seen to be necessary for inhibition of NF-κB. Consistent with this, the SN1 methylating agent, methylnitrosurea (MNU), also inhibits NF-κB activity whereas the chloroethylating agent, BCNU, does not. Apoptosis and cytotoxicity were then assessed using annexin V binding and clonogenic assay. There is a significant reduction in cell killing when TNFα is administered at the same time as TMZ compared to TMZ alone (TMZ does not inhibit TNFα-induced NF-κB when administered at the same time as TNFα). When TNFα is given 16 hrs after TMZ, killing is significantly increased but only in cells where TMZ can inhibit NF-κB (i.e. cells with low AGT activity). Finally, in cells over-expressing p65, TMZ can neither inhibit NF-κB activity nor enhance the induction of apoptosis. In conclusion, this work illustrates a mechanism whereby TMZ inhibits NF-κB activity, a cellular process closely linked to the cytotoxicity of SN1 type alkylating agents. The reduction of NF-κB-dependent gene expression, following alkylator-induced injury, demonstrates a pathway by which MMR processing of DNA-damage can signal cell death.
Characterization of the putative phosphorylation sites of the AQP2 C terminus and their role in AQP2 trafficking in LLC-PK1 cells

Vasopressin (VP) stimulates a signaling cascade that results in phosphorylation and apical membrane accumulation of aquaporin-2 (AQP2), leading to water reabsorption by kidney collecting ducts. However, the roles of most C-terminal phosphorylation events in stimulated and constitutive AQP2 recycling are incompletely understood. Here, we generated LLC-PK1 cells containing point mutations of all potential phosphorylation sites in the AQP2 C terminus: S226, S229, T244, S256, S261, S264, and S269, to determine their impact on AQP2 trafficking. We produced an All Null AQP2 construct in which these serine (S) or threonine (T) residues were mutated to alanine (A) or glycine (G), and we then reintroduced the phosphorylation mimic aspartic acid (D) individually to each site in the All Null mutant. As expected, the All Null mutant does not accumulate at the plasma membrane in response to VP but still undergoes constitutive recycling, as shown by its membrane accumulation when endocytosis is blocked by methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD), and accumulation in a perinuclear patch at low temperature (20°C). Single phosphorylation mimics S226D, S229D, T244D, S261D, S264D, and S269D were insufficient to cause membrane accumulation of AQP2 alone or after VP treatment. However, AQP2 S256 reintroduced into the All Null mutant maintains its trafficking response to VP. We conclude that 1) constitutive recycling of AQP2 does not require phosphorylation at any C-terminal sites; 2) forced "phosphorylation" of sites in the AQP2 C terminus is insufficient to stimulate membrane accumulation in the absence of S256 phosphorylation; and 3) phosphorylation of S256 alone is necessary and sufficient to cause membrane accumulation of AQP2.
Semen collection efficiency using an artificial vagina plastic liner

Abstract A one-piece plastic single-service liner and collection cone has been developed and tested for use in the bovine artificial vagina semen collection method. The plastic liner was found to be equal to the standard rubber liner in terms of ejaculate volume and more efficient in terms of spermatozoa reaching the collection tube. Additionally, ejaculate volume had a smaller effect on collection efficiency with plastic liners than with standard rubber liners.
Understanding how leading bacterial pathogens subvert innate immunity to reveal novel therapeutic targets

Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and group A Streptococcus (GAS) are prominent Gram-positive bacterial pathogens, each associated with a variety of mucosal and invasive human infections. SA and GAS systemic disease reflects diverse abilities of these pathogens to resist clearance by the multifaceted defenses of the human innate immune system. Here we review how SA and GAS avoid the bactericidal activities of cationic antimicrobial peptides, delay phagocyte recruitment, escape neutrophil extracellular traps, inhibit complement and antibody opsonization functions, impair phagocytotic uptake, resist oxidative burst killing, and promote phagocyte lysis or apoptosis. Understanding the molecular basis of SA and GAS innate immune resistance reveals novel therapeutic targets for treatment or prevention of invasive human infections. These future therapies envision alternatives to direct microbial killing, such as blocking disease progression by neutralizing specific virulence factors or boosting key innate immune defenses.
Tests of symmetry in three-way contingency tables

Three-dimensional contingency tables are analyzed, with one variable (e.g., sex) as a factor, and with a natural relation between the other variables (e.g. left and right eye vision). Models of special interest, like symmetry and proportional symmetry between the related variables, and homogeneity across the factor levels, are investigated. Maximum likelihood estimators of parameters and partitions of chi-square goodness-of-fit statistics are explicitly presented; the independence of certain models is noted, and an example is discussed.
Expression patterns of focal adhesion associated proteins in the developing retina.

Adhesive interactions between integrin receptors and the extracellular matrix (ECM) are intimately involved in regulating devel- opment of a variety of tissues within the organism. In the present study, we have investigated the re- lationships between 1 integrin receptors and fo- cal adhesion associated proteins during eye devel- opment. We used specific antibodies to examine the distribution of 1 integrin ECM receptors and the cytoplasmic focal adhesion associated pro- teins, talin, vinculin, and paxillin in the developing Xenopus retina. Immunoblot analysis confirmed antibody specificity and indicated that 1 inte- grins, talin, vinculin, and paxillin were expressed in developing retina and in the retinal-derived Xe- nopus XR1 glial cell line. Triple-labeling immuno- cytochemistry revealed that talin, vinculin, paxil- lin, and phosphotyrosine proteins colocalized with 1 integrins at focal adhesions located at the ter- mini of F-actin filaments in XR1 cells. In the retina, these focal adhesion proteins exhibited develop- mentally regulated expression patterns during eye morphogenesis. In the embryonic retina, immuno- reactivities for focal adhesion proteins were ex- pressed in neuroepithelial cells, and immunoreac- tivity was especially strong at the interface between the optic vesicle and overlying ectoderm. At later stages, these proteins were expressed throughout all retinal layers with higher levels of expression observed in the plexiform layers, optic fiber layer, and in the region of the inner and outer limiting membrane. Strong immunoreactivities for 1 integrin, paxillin, and phosphotyrosine were ex- pressed in the radially oriented Muller glial cells at later stages of development. These results suggest that focal adhesion-associated proteins are in- volved in integrin-mediated adhesion and signal- ing and are likely to be essential in regulating ret- inal morphogenesis. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The t(4;11) chromosome translocation of human acute leukemias fuses the ALL-1 gene, related to Drosophila trithorax, to the AF-4 gene

The ALL-1 gene located at human chromosome 11 band q23 is rearranged in acute leukemias with interstitial deletions or reciprocal translocations between this region and chromosomes 1, 4, 6, 9, 10, or 19. The gene spans approximately 100 kb of DNA and contains at least 21 exons. It encodes a protein of more than 3910 amino acids containing three regions with homology to sequences within the Drosophila trithorax gene, including cysteine-rich regions that can be folded into six zinc finger-like domains. The breakpoint cluster region within ALL-1 spans 8 kb and encompasses several small exons, most of which begin in the same phase of the open reading frame. The t(4;11) chromosome translocation results in two reciprocal fusion products coding for chimeric proteins derived from ALL-1 and from a gene on chromosome 4. This suggests that each 11q23 abnormality gives rise to a specific oncogenic fusion protein.
The transport of electrons in quantized inversion and accumulation layers in III–V compounds

Abstract In physically small and/or high frequency metal-oxide-semiconductor devices the carriers are confined to regions sufficiently close to the interface for their motion to become quasi-two-dimensional in nature, even at room temperature. In this case the transport of carriers in the inversion or accumulation layers is much more susceptible to surface and/or interface properties. In this paper the transport of electrons (or holes) in quantized quasi-two-dimensional layers is discussed for III–V semiconductors, and the various scattering mechanisms are detailed.
Preoperative prediction of long-term outcome in poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate which presentation indices, demographics, and clinical information predict 12-month outcome in poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and to provide a preoperative index of prognosis. METHODS: Data were obtained on all patients with poor-grade (Hunt and Hess Grades IV and V) aneurysmal SAH from a prospectively maintained SAH database and health outcomes project. Demographics, medical history, presenting clinical condition, and health outcomes were analyzed. Survival analysis was performed and Kaplan-Meier curves were generated. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify significant predictors of poor outcome at 12 months after hemorrhage, as measured by the modified Rankin disability scale. RESULTS: Survival curves for open surgery and endovascular treatment did not differ significantly. Overall, 40% of the 98 definitively treated patients had a favorable outcome at 12 months. Multivariable analysis identified patient age older than 65 years (P < 0.001), hyperglycemia (P < 0.03), worst preoperative Hunt and Hess Grade V (P < 0.0001), and aneurysm size of at least 13 mm (P < 0.002) as significant predictors of poor outcome. These variables were weighted and used to compute a poor-grade aneurysmal SAH Prognosis Score (hereafter, Prognosis Score) for each patient. A Prognosis Score of 0 was associated with a 90% favorable outcome; Prognosis Score of 1 with 83%; Prognosis Score of 2 with 43%; Prognosis Score of 3 with 8%; Prognosis Score of 4 with 7%; and a Prognosis Score of 5 with 0%. CONCLUSION: Outcome in poor-grade aneurysmal SAH is strongly predicted by patient age, worst preoperative Hunt and Hess clinical grade, and aneurysm size. Hyperglycemia on admission after poor-grade aneurysmal SAH increases the likelihood of poor outcome, and is a potentially modifiable risk factor. The Prognosis Score is a useful tool for preoperatively assessing the likelihood of a favorable outcome for Door-grade aneurysmal SAH patients.
The Collateral Source version of the Geriatric Depression Scale: evaluation of psychometric properties and discrepancy between collateral sources and patients with dementia in reporting depression.

Background Depression is under-diagnosed and under-treated in older adults. The purposes of this study were to (a) evaluate the psychometric properties of the Collateral Source Geriatric Depression Scale (CS-GDS), (b) compare collateral source scores on the CS-GDS with patient scores on the GDS, and (c) examine factors associated with any discrepancies between the CS-GDS and the GDS. Methods This secondary analysis used data from 132 older adults and their collateral sources attending a geriatric assessment program over a 15-month period. Scores on the 30-, 15-, and 5-item CS-GDS were compared to clinician diagnoses of depression using DSM-IV-TR criteria and patient GDS scores. Results The three forms of the CS-GDS had acceptable internal consistency, sensitivity and specificity with recommended cut-off scores of 18, 9 and 3, respectively. Collateral sources reported more depressive symptoms than patients did themselves. Simple regression analysis showed that caregiver burden significantly influenced the discrepancy between CS-GDS scores and GDS scores (β = 0.147; p = 0.004). Functional limitations and collateral relations to the patient were not associated with these discrepancies. Conclusion All three collateral versions had acceptable psychometric properties, which supports the use of the CS-GDS to assess depression in older adults. The CS-GDS provides an important alternative for depression screening with older adults who cannot complete screening tools themselves; however, alternative cut-off scores must be used for high sensitivity and specificity.
The effects of levels of information conflict on visual selection

Previous studies have reported an increasing monotonic relationship between stimulus incongruity and visual selection. The present investigation extended the former research to show the generality of this relationship by (1) using sets of stimuli with five increasing levels of novelty, (2) generating stimuli which have decreasing probabilities of occurring in the real world, and (3) extending the types of stimuli to include two new types of novelty-functional and role. The results support a theory of visual selection concerning the resolution of informational conflicts rather than a theory concerning optimal levels of arousal.
An Approach to the Optimum Design of Sucker-Rod Pumping Systems

Sucker-rod pumping system design is often a trial and error process. Many simplifying assumptions are used which may not be consistent with the well conditions. This paper presents a new methodology for the optimum design of pumping unit systems. In this approach, plunger diameter, polished rod stroke length, pumping speed and pump intake pressure are chosen as basic design variables. Production rate and rod string taper are determined by an iteration algorithm which systematically couples well inflow performance and vertical flow effects into the design process. Polished rod load, peak gear box torque, polished rod horse power and counterbalance effect are also determined at the end of the iteration calculation. Different design objective functions can be used to rate the pumping modes. Thus, the optimum design of pumping unit systems becomes a matter of solving for the combination of the four basic design variables which maximize or minimize an objective function within the limitations of available equipment by a mathematical programming method.
Characterisation of fly ash and bottom ash from a coal-fired power plant

ABSTRACT Fly ash and bottom ash are by-products of coal-fired power plants. They are coal combustion wastes and can contain many chemical elements that may be potentially harmful to the environment. Although some of the ashes are used as construction materials, most of them are still disposed of in settling ponds or landfills. The chemical and physical characteristics of typical fly ash and bottom ash are summarized. In order to determine how well these typical values describe the ash from a specific plant, both types of ashes from a coal-fired power plant in Kentucky were characterized. These values were then compared to the values reported in the literature. The effect of ash disposal upon groundwater was also investigated for the specific plant
Probing vortex-core dynamics using current-induced resonant excitation of a trapped domain wall

A magnetic vortex trapped by a notch in a nanowire is no larger than 10 nm, but both the direction and polarity of the vortex can now be measured without applying a magnetic field. In this set-up, the vortex is therefore both stable and switchable for use in possible device applications.
The impact of the religious freedom restoration act on prisons

Abstract In 1990, religious groups and their supporters were alarmed by a U.S. Supreme Court decision that appeared to curtail religious freedom by lowering the applicable standard in deciding religious cases. These groups convinced Congress to pass the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which also included prison religious cases. Corrections officials had unsuccessfully lobbied Congress to not include prisons within RFRA’s coverage, declaring that it would have a deleterious effect on prison management. In 1996, the U.S. Supreme Court decided to accept a case involving a dispute between the San Antonio city government and a Catholic church where RFRA was the issue. Correction officials and state attorney generals seized upon this case to urge the Court to disentangle prisons from RFRA, citing RFRA’s disastrous effect on prison security. The Court has subsequently held RFRA to be unconstitutional. Supporters of RFRA, however, have promised to write a new statute or seek a constitutional amendment to reestablish the principles of RFRA. RFRA may be resurrected, so relevant legal cases have been reviewed to examine the effect on prison management. The conclusion is that RFRA has had little or no effect on prison security or management.
Impaired working memory in geriatric depression: an FMRI study.

Objective Older adults with major depressive disorder (MDD) experience poor cognitive and behavioral outcomes as MDD occurs in the context of other age-related brain changes. Patients with depression often have impairments on measures of frontal lobe functioning such as working memory. Understanding the effects of depression on cognitive functioning in older adults is important for the development of treatment strategies that focus on cognitive changes as well as mood. Methods Eleven older adults with current MDD and 12 nondepressed comparison participants (all aged 60 years and older) performed the N-back test of working memory during fMRI. Results Depressed older adults performed worse than nondepressed participants on the N-back task. Depressed older adults had decreased lateral frontal and parietal activation during the most difficult working memory load condition on the N-back compared with nondepressed older adults. Conclusion Cognitive dysfunction in geriatric depression may be related to reorganization of brain networks involved in working memory.
Prospective randomized trial of two wound management strategies for dirty abdominal wounds.

ObjectiveTo determine the optimal method of wound closure for dirty abdominal wounds.Summary Background DataThe rate of wound infection for dirty abdominal wounds is approximately 40%, but the optimal method of wound closure remains controversial. Three randomized studies comparing delayed primary c
A MEASUREMENT OF THE TOTAL ABSORPTION RATE OF MUONS IN CARBON

Negative muons stopped in a propane bubble chamber form mesic atoms with carbon nuclei. Subsequently they either decay by their usual mode or interact with the nucleus. Based on a sample of 2 519 mesons, the probability for interaction is found to be (7.4±0.8)%, and the total absorption rate of muons in carbon becomes (0.36±0.04)·105 s−1. The result is found to be in satisfactory agreement with theory.
Nucleotide sequence analysis of DNA. XII. The chemical synthesis and sequence analysis of a dodecadeoxynucleotide which binds to the endolysin gene of bacteriophage lambda.

Abstract We have selected and chemically synthesized a dodecadeoxynucleotide which is nearly or completely complementary to a defined region of the endolysin gene of bacteriophage λ. The nucleotide sequence of the synthetic dodecanucleotide is determined and confirmed by using two independent methods which involve partial enzymatic hydrolysis followed by end-labeling techniques and two-dimensional “homochromatography.” This dodecanucleotide was found to bind to exonuclease III-treated λDNA and it can be used as a primer for the incorporation of deoxynucleotides to its 3′-end. In the presence of labeled dATP and DNA polymerase I, two molecules of dAMP were incorporated to the end of this primer which is expected if the primer binds to the λDNA specifically at the predicted site on the endolysin gene.
Chest radiography in the ICU

Proper positioning and assessment of abnormalities and complications of the above-mentioned devices have a significant impact on the management of critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). The timely assessment of new or rapidly evolving findings is critical. Optimal radiographic technique, availability of images to the clinicians, and rapid reporting by the radiologist all serve to maximize the efficacy of bedside chest radiography in the ICU. Sometimes, changes in cardiopulmonary status may only be appreciated on chest radiographs (CXRs). Complications from ventilatory assistance, such as barotrauma, occur frequently and must be detected promptly. The position of monitoring devices, an important component of critical care management, is best checked radiographically. Indications for CXRs and the recommended frequency for repeat follow-up CXRs are based on the existing literature and the consensus of an expert panel formed by the American College of Radiology.
Repressors benefit from reappraising a threatening emotional event.

Background and Objectives: The malleability of emotion-focused coping was investigated by manipulating the situational context so that dispositional repressors, who typically utilize an avoidant strategy when confronted with a stressor, were led to use reappraisal and then were reexposed to the stressor. Design: A mixed design with one measured between-subjects factor (dispositional repression), two randomized between-subjects factors (performance feedback and coping strategy), and multimodal assessments across phases of the experiment was used. Method: During a face-perception task, participants (170 female and 120 male university students) received bogus performance feedback that was inconsistent with and thus threatening to self-concept. Participants then completed a writing activity encouraging them to perceive a face-perception task as either an invalid (reappraisal) or a valid (control) assessment tool. Afterward, participants continued with the task. Results: A repressive disposition was associated...
Linear and bilinear estimates for oscillatory integral operators related to restriction to hypersurfaces

Abstract We obtain bilinear estimates for oscillatory integral operators which are variable coefficient generalizations of bilinear restriction estimates for hypersurfaces. As applications, we improve the known estimates for oscillatory integrals.
Shear-induced anisotropic plastic flow from body-centred-cubic tantalum before melting.

There are many structural and optical similarities between a liquid and a plastic flow. Thus, it is non-trivial to distinguish between them at high pressures and temperatures, and a detailed description of the transformation between these phenomena is crucial to our understanding of the melting of metals at high pressures. Here we report a shear-induced, partially disordered viscous plastic flow from body-centred-cubic tantalum under heating before it melts into a liquid. This thermally activated structural transformation produces a unique, one-dimensional structure analogous to a liquid crystal with the rheological characteristics of Bingham plastics. This mechanism is not specific to Ta and is expected to hold more generally for other metals. Remarkably, this transition is fully consistent with the previously reported anomalously low-temperature melting curve and thus offers a plausible resolution to a long-standing controversy about melting of metals under high pressures. The melting of transition metals at high pressures has been subject to intensive debate, given seemingly contradictory experimental evidence. Molecular dynamics calculations now demonstrate how, at high pressure, shear induces a transition from body-centred-cubic tantalum to a one-dimensional structure, offering a plausible explanation for experimental observations.
Cystic brain lesions : Cytologic examination and carcinoembryonic antigen assay in fine needle aspirates

Objective To compare the sensitivities of cytologic diagnosis by fine needle aspiration (FNA) with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) content of cystic brain tumors and to determine if CEA assay enhances the sensitivity of cytologic diagnosis and suggests a probable primary in carcinoma with an unknown primary source. Study design Thirteen consecutive aspirates were studied. Cytologic diagnosis was confirmed by histologic examination and follow-up. Fluid varied from 3 to 50 mL and from clear to bloody to mucinous. Cytologic examination was performed on Papanicolaou-stained smears. CEA was measured by enzyme immunoassay, with a cutoff of 5 ng/mL. Results Benign: 3 (subdural hematoma, 2; arachnoid cyst, 1). Malignant: 10 (medulloblastoma, 1; glioblastoma multiforme, 4; metastatic adenocarcinoma with an unknown primary, 1; of breast, 1; oat cell, 3). Sensitivities: cytology, 50%; CEA, 50%; combined, 60%; specificity, 100%. High CEA (> 880 ng/mL) differentiated papillary adenocarcinoma of lung/gastrointestinal tract from renal and thyroid carcinoma. Mean CEA: oat cell, 216.7 ng/mL; adenocarcinoma, 0.5, > 880 ng/mL; glioblastoma and medulloblastoma, 1.6 ng/mL; benign, 0.6 ng/mL. Conclusion High CEA content enhanced the sensitivity of cytologic diagnosis of cystic metastases and favored a primary carcinoma of the lung or gastrointestinal tract.
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION FINDINGS IN FIBROMUSCULAR DYSPLASIA: A REPORT OF THE UNITED STATES REGISTRY FOR FIBROMUSCULAR DYSPLASIA

Results: Mean age at the time of enrollment was 55.7 +13.1 years (range 18-86 years) and 91% of pts were female. Mean BMI was 25.5 + 5.2 kg/ m2 and 48.8% of patients had a BMI > 25 kg/m2. Mean blood pressure on enrollment was 130/75 + 20/12.4 mmHg and 77.9% of pts were taking at least one blood pressure medication. 60% of pts reported significant headaches and 27.5% had pulsatile tinnitus. A cervical or epigastric bruit was a presenting sign that led to FMD diagnosis in 22.2% and 9.4% of pts, respectively. A neurological and vascular PE was recorded at the time of enrollment in 92.6% (414/447). Findings suggestive of Horner’s syndrome (pupil abnormality or ptosis) were reported in 12.4% of pts. Cranial nerve abnormalities were reported in 9.4% and other focal neurological deficits were reported in 13.6%. Bruits were reported over the carotid arteries (30.5%; 18.1% bilateral), epigastrium (17.5%), and flanks (6.1%; 3.2% bilateral). Among pts with reported imaging of the extracranial circulation (carotid and vertebral) and a documented PE, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of carotid bruit in predicting extracranial carotid FMD were 45.4%, 93.7%, 95.4%, and 37.4%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of epigastric and/or flank bruit in predicting renal and/or mesenteric FMD were 24.0%, 93.3%, 92.6%, and 26.0%, respectively.
Mediastinoscopy in Advanced Superior Vena Cava Obstruction

Abstract Superior vena cava syndrome can be a rapidly progressive, lethal process that is caused by a malignancy in 92 to 94% of cases. Since all effective therapy is inherently harmful, it would be reassuring to have a definitive tissue diagnosis before initiating treatment. Because easily accessible tissue is not always available, mediastinoscopy must be relied on to confirm the diagnosis in some patients. Twenty-nine patients with advanced superior vena cava syndrome were reviewed. Fifteen of them required mediastinoscopy to confirm the diagnosis, since lesser procedures, i.e., bronchoscopy, needle biopsy, and sputum cytology, were negative for malignant tissue. Contrary to reports in the literature, mediastinoscopy can be performed safely in patients with advanced superior vena cava syndrome and can yield a definitive diagnosis in each.
Reentrant and focal mechanisms underlying ventricular tachycardia in the human heart.

BACKGROUNDTo determine the mechanisms of ventricular tachycardia (VT) in humans, three-dimensional intraoperative mapping of up to 156 intramural sites was performed in 13 patients with healed myocardial infarction and refractory VT.METHODS AND RESULTSMapping was of sufficient density to define the mechanism of 10 VTs in eight patients. In five of 10 cases, sustained VT was initiated in the subendocardium or epicardium by intramural reentry with marked conduction delay as well as functional and anatomic block most prominent in the subendocardium and midmyocardium. The initiating beats of reentrant VT induced by programmed electrical stimulation arose in the endocardium or midmyocardium by progressive slowing of conduction leading to unidirectional block. Multiple simultaneous reentrant circuits can be present. In contrast, five of the 10 sustained VTs were initiated by a focal mechanism as defined by the absence of electrical activity between the termination of one beat and the initiation of the next desp...
Gravitational settling of conodont elements: Implications for, paleoecologic interpretations of conodont assemblages

Gravitational settling experiments show that conodont elements settle with a wide spectrum of velocities, ranging from 0.5 to 5.5 cm/s in synthetic seawater. Significant differences in settling velocity exhibited by representatives of the three major shape classes of conodonts (pectiniform, coniform, and ramiform elements) are due to differences in grain mass and cross-sectional area exposed to fluid shear and normal forces during settling. Settling trajectory is a spiral or helical pattern that is less variable than settling velocity, but differs from models that characterize most skeletal carbonate grains. Conodont elements exhibit viscosity-dominated (Stokesian) settling and are hydraulically equivalent to phosphate spheres of coarse silt to fine sand size. Thus, even under conditions of modest net horizontal currents, lateral separation and sorting due to differences in size and shape of conodont elements belonging to a single animal will occur during gravitational settling. Differential sorting related to gravitational settling probably influenced the formation of most preserved conodont assemblages. The disparity between observed element types, forms, and sizes compared to known or proposed species apparatus compositions can be used both as an indication of taphonomic disruption and as a useful factor in interpreting sedimentary environment.
The effect of surface thermal properties and finish on dropwise condensation

Abstract Heat-transfer coefficient measurements for the dropwise condensation of steam at 1 atm on a horizontal surface facing down have been completed using oleic acid as the promoter. The test surfaces consisted of thick discs about 2 in. in diameter and 1. (a) gold plate on 1·125 in of copper, 2. (b) gold plate on 0·094 in of zinc and 1 in of copper, 3. (c) gold plate on 0·12 in of stainless steel and 1 in of copper. The heat-transfer coefficients were found to be independent of surface subcooling in the range of 2–20°F and equal to: h = 10000 Btu / h 2 degF for copper, h = 4500 Btu / h 2 degF for zinc, h = 2000 Btu / h ft 2 degF for stainless steel. It is concluded that: (1) a 20-fold reduction in base material thermal conductivity gives a 5-fold reduction in the heat-transfer coefficient; (2) dropwise condensation heat-transfer coefficients are conduction limited with nucleation effects negligible in the 2–20°F subcooling range; (3) unexplained discrepancies exist between the nucleation effects inferred from these experiments and the direct nucleation measurements presented in the literature.
First-principles mapping of fusion applications into the JDL model

The paper presents a formal approach for mapping from an entity-relationship model of a selected application domain to the functional components of the JDL fusion model. The resultant functional decomposition supports both traditional sensor, as well as human-generated text input. To demonstrate the generality of the mapping, examples are offered for three distinct application domains: (1) Intelligence Fusion, (2) Aircraft Collision Avoidance, and (3) Robotic Control. The first-principle's based approach begins by viewing fusion as the composition of similar and dissimilar entities. Next, the fusion triple (entity, location, time) is defined where entities can be either physical or non-physical. Coupling the fusion triple with this generalized view of fusion leads to the identification of eight base-level fusion services that serve as the building blocks of individual composition products.
Improved monitoring of bio-optical processes in coastal and inland waters using high spatial resolution channels on SNPP-VIIRS sensor

The dynamic and small-scale spatial variability of bio-optical processes that occurs in coastal regions and inland waters requires high resolution satellite ocean color feature detection. The Visual Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) currently utilizes five ocean color M-bands (410,443,486,551,671 nm) and two atmospheric correction M-bands in the near infrared (NIR; 745,862 nm) to produce ocean color products at a resolution of 750-m. VIIRS also has several high resolution (375-m) Imaging (I)-bands, including two bands centered at 640 nm and 865 nm. In this study, a spatially improved ocean color product is demonstrated by combining the 750-meter (M- channels) with the 375-m (I1-channel) to produce an image at a pseudo-resolution of 375-m. The new approach applies a dynamic wavelength-specific spatial ratio that is weighted as a function of the relationship between proximate I- and M-band variance at each pixel. This technique reduces sharpening artifacts by incorporating the native variability of the M-bands. In addition, this work examines the viability of replacing the M7-band (862 nm) with the I2-band (865 nm) to determine the atmospheric correction and aerosol optical depth at a higher resolution. These true (I-band) and pseudo (M-band) high resolution radiance values can subsequently be utilized as input parameters into various algorithms to yield high resolution optical products. The results show new capability for the VIIRS sensor for monitoring bio-optical processes in coastal waters.
Behavioral and metabolic aspects of cimetidine-ethanol interaction

Abstract The effect of cimetidine, an H 2 histamine receptor blocker, on spontaneous locomotor activity and ethanol-produced narcosis was studied in the male mouse. The separate and combined effects of cimetidine, and histalog (betazol), an H 2 histamine receptor agonist, on voluntary intake of diluted ethanol solution by the rat were also determined. The in vitro effect of cimetidine on rat liver alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase was assayed. Cimetidine treatment was associated with an initial moderate increase in locomotor activity which was increased significantly as a function of time. The central depressant action of ethanol, as measured by duration of ethanol-mediated narcosis, was decreased by pretreatment with a single dose of cimetidine. The drug did not alter voluntary drinking of ethanol by the rat but antagonized histalog-produced aversion to ethanol selection when administered prior to histalog. Cimetidine, 3 × 10 −3 M concentration, inhibited rat liver aldehyde dehydrogenase but not alcohol dehydrogenase in vitro. The results indicate cimetidine-ethanol interaction and suggest the implication of histamine in some of the ethanol-elicited responses studied.
Comparison Of CO 2 Laser Extinctions To HITRAN Calculations For 80 Lines-9.2 To 10.8μm

From February to May 1977, extensive atmospheric transmission measurements were carried out over a 5.08 km, over-water path at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station using NRL's Infrared Mobil Optical Radiation Laboratory. This paper will report transmission measurements of 80 CO2 laser lines for three measurement periods. These periods were typified by high visibilities, (> 20 km), and 7.4, 15.7, and 18.4 torr atmospheric water vapor contents, respectively. The set of laser lines include the following transitions: 00°1 - 10°0 P4 to P44 and R4 to R42 00°1 - 02°0 P4 to P42 and R4 to R40 The Hitran calculations of atmospheric extinction were made using a computer code adapted by NRL for our DEC 11/40. The December 1975 AFCRL line compilation was augmented by a current H2O continuum model. A comparison points out possible problems with some H2O absorption lines as well as the shape of the water continuum absorption profile.© (1979) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.