cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhanced Myocardial Vascularity and Contractility by Novel FGF-1 Transgene in a Porcine Model of Chronic Coronary Occlusion

Background: Angiogenesis gene therapy has long been sought as a novel alternative treatment for restoring the blood flow and improving the contractile function of the ischemic heart in selected clinical settings. Angiogenic fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF-1) is a promising candidate for developing a promising gene therapy protocol due to its multipotent ability to stimulate endothelial cell (EC) growth, migration, and tube formation. Despite these advantages, however, FGF gene therapy has suffered setbacks mainly due to the inefficient delivery rate of the growth factor in vivo. Given the potent angiogenic effect of FGF-1, we reasoned that constitutively synthesized minute quantities of this polypeptide hormone, when empowered with the ability to escape the cellular constraint, could freely act in a paracrine/autocrine fashion on nearby existing capillary plexuses and lead to neovascularization and restoration of the blood flow to ischemic tissues for reparative purpose. Methods: We report the direct gene transfer of a retroviral-based mammalian expression vector encoding a secreted form of FGF-1 (sp-FGF-1) for the purpose of therapeutic angiogenesis into the porcine myocardium subjected to the surgical placement of an ameroid occluder to induce the chronic coronary occlusion of the left circumflex coronary artery (LCx) and regional myocardial ischemia. Coronary angiography, performed 3 weeks after surgery, confirmed the interruption of the blood flow in the LCx distal to the site of ameroid placement. Results: Immunohistochemical analysis using antibody specific to von Willebrand factor (vWF), an endothelial marker, showed a significant increase (p<0.05) in myocardial vascularity in the sp-FGF-1 hearts compared to the control (vector alone). Importantly, an assessment of the cardiac function by echocardiography, performed 3 weeks after surgery, demonstrated improved cardiac contractility due to increased left ventricular free wall contraction in the sp-FGF-1-treated animals only. Conclusion: These results suggest that the intramyocardial delivery of our chimeric secretory FGF-1 gene can enhance vascularity and improve cardiac contractility in a chronic ischemic heart. This protocol may serve useful for developing reparative angiogenesis strategies aimed at improving the pumping function of the ischemic hearts in human patients.
Selection Criteria for Focal Therapy of Prostate Cancer

A comprehensive literature review along with our own data was performed to establish selection criteria for focal therapy (FT) of localized prostate cancer (PCa) as a feasible modality in contemporary urological oncology. Recent data have demonstrated a significant pathologic stage migration towards earlier disease comprising unilateral pT2a/b PCa. The cancer volume of the clinically significant tumor (index lesion) has been proposed as a driving force of PCa progression and therefore should be identified and treated at an early stage. In general, the majority of secondary lesions do not appear to be life threatening to the patient. Some clinical and pathologic features such as clinical stage, baseline PSA, preoperative image-guided saturation, or multicore biopsy of the prostate (3D-TRUS or multiparametric MRI), with precise mapping of the spatial distribution of PCa within the prostate, remain important selective criteria for FT. Based on the current understanding of the tumor biology of early stage disease and promising outcomes of the first single- and two-institution trials, a solid background for the different types of ablation for early stage PCa has been created. While the identification of a unifocal lesion preoperatively is currently a challenging process, the detection of unilateral lesions seems to be a more feasible option with subsequent hemi-ablative treatment of the prostate.
Human hydrometry: comparison of multifrequency bioelectrical impedance with2H2O and bromine dilution

The traditional method of assessing total body water (TBW), extracellular water (ECW), and intracellular water (ICW) has been the use of isotopes, on the basis of the dilution principle. Although t...
The game of science: As played by Jean-François Lyotard

Abstract By comparing the insights of Jean-Francois Lyotard on various manifestations of the science question with feminists such as Luce Irigaray and Donna Haraway certain compromising contradictions in Lyotard's overall discourse are revealed.
Uniform treatment of fluctuations at critical points

Abstract A generalized critical point is characterized by the vanishing of certain linear relationships. In particular, the dynamics near such a point are non-linear. In this paper, we study fluctuations at such points of spatially homogeneous systems. We discuss thermodynamic critical points as a special case; but the main emphasis is on stochastic kinetic equations. We show that fluctuations at a critical point cannot be characterized by a Gaussian density, but more complicated densities can be used. The theory is applied to the critical harmonic oscillator.
Invariant structure in locomotion

Biological systems are hypothesized to control behavior with reference to invariants, because this would allow the variable but robust accomplishment of tasks observed in biological behaviors. Invariants for legged locomotion are specified. Combined with observed properties of locomotion, they lead to predictions of forms of control for legged locomotion.
Mono- and digalactosyldiacylglycerol composition of dinoflagellates. V. The galactolipid profile of Alexandrium tamarense (Dinophyceae) during the course of infection by the parasitic syndinian dinoflagellate Amoebophrya sp.

Amoebophrya is a parasitic, syndinian dinoflagellate genus that must infect another host dinoflagellate in order to reproduce. Work by Park et al. [Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 227: 281–292 (2002)] has led to the hypothesis that Amoebophrya's development within a host cell nucleus disrupts the flow of genetic information involved in plastidial function. The possibility that genetic disruption by this parasite could lead to alterations in plastidial lipid composition during the course of an infection has not yet been elucidated. Our primary objective in this lipidomic study was to examine the chloroplast membrane galactolipid composition of Alexandrium tamarense infected by an Amoebophrya species in order to determine whether infection of A. tamarense causes a phenotypic alteration in the composition of mono- and digalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG and DGDG, respectively), two galactolipids that comprise the majority of photosynthetic membranes. Our secondary objective was to determine if non-photosynthetic Amoebop...
An investigation of the impact properties of irradiated beryllium

Abstract Impact tests were conducted on four unirradiated beryllium specimens, and on fourteen beryllium specimens irradiated in the range 1·75 × 1021 n/cm2 to 3·86 × 1021n/cm2 using apparatus designed to deliver repetitive axial compressive blows of 4·16 or 8·93 kg.m energy content per blow. Izod tests were performed on 7 unirradiated specimens, and on 19 specimens irradiated in the range 1·75 × 1021 n/cm2 to 4·39 × 1021 n/cm2, with three additional samples irradiated in the range 2·36 × 1021 n/cm2 to 2·65 × 1021 n/cm2 subjected to a 2 hr-600°C anneal prior to testing. Relationships are given for compressive and Izod failure energies as functions of fluence, and for the ratio of these energies as a function of fluence. Representative fractographs are shown for each irradiated material category, and scanning electron micrographs are presented for the unirradiated compressive impact samples. A prediction is made of a critical fluence at which beryllium loses essentially all of its resistance to impact.
An improved ant colony algorithm for winner determination in multi-attribute combinatorial reverse auction

This paper considers the problem of one buyer procuring multi-items from multiple potential suppliers in the electronic reverse auction, where each supplier can bid on combinations of items. From the perspective of the buyer, by considering multi-attributes of each item, a winner determination problem (WDP) of multi-items single-unit combinatorial reverse auctions was described and a bi-objective programming model was established. According to the characteristics of the model, an equivalent single-objective programming model was obtained. As the problem is NP-hard, an improved ant colony (IAC) algorithm considering the dynamic transition strategy and the Max-Min pheromone strategy is proposed for the problem. Experimental results show the effectiveness of the improved algorithm.
Delirium in the cardiac surgical ICU.

Purpose of reviewEvidence is emerging that delirium is associated with both short-term and long-term morbidity and mortality. This review highlights the epidemiology, outcomes, prevention and treatment strategies associated with delirium after cardiac surgery.Recent findingsThe incidence of delirium
Real-space renormalization-group study of hard-core dirty bosons

We investigate the critical phenomena of hard-core bosons in a disordered medium. Such a system is mapped onto a quantum spin-1/2 {ital XY} model with transverse random field. The system then is studied through a quantum real-space renormalization-group method. We find that randomness is always relevant in a one-dimensional (1D) system, in agreement with exact results. In two and three dimensions, there is a critical amount of disorder, below which the superfluid phase is stable. In 2D, the dynamic exponent {ital z}=1.7 for compressible states, and is close to the value of {ital z}={ital d} as predicted by Fisher {ital et} {ital al}. $z--- is smaller for incompressible states. The correlation length exponent {nu} is insensitive to {ital z}, and roughly equals 1.4. Unlike the superfluid--Mott-insulator transition without disorder, which has two distinct universality classes, we find there is only one universality class for the superfluid--Bose-glass transition.
Environmental Crime and Punishment in the Czech Republic: Penalties against Firms and Employees

Abstract This paper compares the enforcement of environmental protection laws under a communist, centrally planned political economy and that during a democratic, transitional market political economy in the Czech Republic. In particular, it seeks to identify the operative rule under each regime for enforcing water protection laws when firms and their employees jointly cause water-damaging accidents, e.g., oil spills. The enforcement rule involves two instruments, penalties, either corporate penalties only or both corporate and employee penalties, and the choice of a liability rule, strict liability versus negligence. Empirical tests of theoretically generated hypotheses regarding the choice of a liability rule under each politico-economic regime are performed. J. Comp. Econom., June 2000, 28(2), pp. 379–399. University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045.
Metabolism of 5-methyl-2-furaldehyde in rat. III. Identification and determination of 5-methyl-2-furylmethylketone

1. Continuous extraction, column chromatography and t.l.c. were employed to isolate a minor metabolite of 5-methyl-2-furaldehyde from rat urine. 2. The metabolite was identified by mass spectrometry and independent synthesis as 5-methyl-2-furylmethylketone. 3. A method for quantitative determination of the metabolite in urine was devised. About 7% of the parent compound was metabolized to 5-methyl-2-furylmethylketone.
Binaural release from informational masking in a speech identification task.

Binaural release from informational masking (IM) was examined in a speech identification task. Target and masker sentences were processed into mutually exclusive frequency bands, thus limiting energetic masking (EM), and presented over headphones. In a baseline condition, both were presented monotically to the same ear (TmMm). Despite minimal frequency overlap between target and masker, the presence of the masker resulted in reduced performance, or IM. Presenting the target monotically and the masker diotically (TmM0) resulted in a release from IM. Release was also obtained by imposing interaural differences in level (ILDs) and in time (ITDs) on the maskers (TmMILD,TmMITD). Any masker with a perceived lateral position that differed from that of a truly monaural stimulus resulted in a similar amount of release from IM relative to TmMm. For binaural targets and maskers (T0MILD,T0MITD), release was seen whenever ITDs or ILDs differed between target and masker. These results suggest that binaural cues can be very effective in reducing IM. Because mechanisms based on differences in perceived location make predictions that are similar to those of nonlocation-based binaural mechanisms, a variant of the equalization-cancellation model is also considered.
Encouraging contribution to shared sketches in brainstorming meetings

Brainstorming in small design groups typically involves one person taking notes and sketching at a whiteboard while other group members remain seated and contribute verbally. We believe that lowering the threshold for shared sketching improves idea generation from all members and supports building off the ideas of other members. We have designed and completed preliminary testing of a collaborative sketching system that enables simultaneous contribution to and viewing of a shared canvas through individual devices (Tablet PCs) and a digital whiteboard. A pilot study indicates that such a system helps equalize sketching contribution within a group although it reduces total sketching of the group as a whole. This finding suggests that individual access to a shared sketching space has implications for the brainstorming process such as a greater awareness of the quality and the relative amount of individual idea contribution.
Cross-sectional and contrast echocardiography in the diagnosis of interatrial communications through the coronary sinus

An interatrial communication through the mouth of the coronary sinus is a rare cardiac anomaly. It is usually associated with a left superior caval vein draining into the coronary sinus and is frequently part of a complex congenital malformation of the heart. Failure to recognize this defect before surgical repair of the primary cardiac lesion may lead to persistent interatrial shunting, which may in turn cause postoperative cyanosis. This report describes two cases of interatrial communication through the coronary sinus diagnosed prospectively by echocardiography. It demonstrates the important role of contrast echocardiography in the evaluation of patients suspected of having this malformation.
Pharmacokinetic Optimisation of Antiretroviral Therapy in Patients with HIV Infection

More than 7 years after the introduction of zidovudine for treatment of HIV infection, little use has been made of the pharmacokinetic properties of this or any of the subsequently approved antiretroviral agents to optimise therapy. This is partly because of the limits of technologies developed to measure clinically relevant forms and concentrations of these drugs, and partly because the clinical community has been slow to recognise the potential benefits of pharmacokinetic optimisation of nucleoside analogue therapy in any disease. Nonetheless, for some of these agents, progress in understanding the relationship between pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics has been made. With zidovudine, for example, even though plasma concentrations have little clinical utility, evidence suggests that concentrations of active phosphorylated forms of zidovudine inside target cells are related to disease progression and toxicity. Furthermore, a decreased ability to phosphorylate zidovudine might be a prerequisite for the emergence of zidovudine-resistant HIV strains. Measurements of phosphorylated zidovudine inside cells similarly suggest that 100mg of oral zidovudine every 8 hours approximates the optimal initial dosage regimen in asymptomatic patients. Increased plasma didanosine concentrations have been associated with several measures of clinical improvement in patients, and may be associated with an increased risk of toxicity as well. For zalcitabine and stavudine, however, the picture is much less clear. Their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic relationships have not been studied in patients. Furthermore, there is insufficient data on the effects of age, gender, race and concurrent underlying conditions on the pharmacokinetics of all of these agents. Mounting evidence suggests that monitoring of these compounds could lead to individually optimised intervention strategies. Given the marginal benefits of therapy with these agents, their proven toxic effects and the lack of proven alternatives, it is critical that the clinical community strive to make the most effective use of these agents in the treatment of their patients.
SED-ML Web Tools

This presentation gives a brief update of the current state of the libSedML library and its new capabilities (like the simulation of CellML models) and the SED-ML Script Editor.Following I introduce the SED-ML Web Tools, an online application for creating, editing, simulating and validating SED-ML documents. The web application also provides a W3C Web Service, exposing all functionality.
A Spectrofluorometric Study Of Selected Hallucinogens

Abstract A spectrofluorometric study of some of the hallucinogenic drugs has been made. The wavelengths of maximum excitation and maximum fluorescence emission are presented for several hallucinogens in various solvents and at various pH values. Practical detection limits, the optimum solvent systems, and some of the problems involved in the use of spectrofluorometry in the identification and determination of certain hallucinogens are given.
Effect of Inflammation on the Osmotic Response of Nucleus Pulposus Cells

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is accompanied by elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, particularly IL-1β and TNF-α [1]. Disc cells from the nucleus pulposus (NPs) respond to cytokine stimulation with increased catabolic breakdown of the tissue, resulting in a positive feedback of disc integrity loss and further inflammation [2]. Previous studies by our group have examined the response of NP cells to Toll-Like Receptor-4 (TLR-4) activation through stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). TLR-4 is a pattern recognition receptor that is activated in innate immunity and by polysaccharide fragments from degenerated proteoglycans. TLR-4 activation by LPS results in stimulation of multiple cytokines by NP cells [3]. Moreover, we have shown that in vivo LPS injection results in catabolic changes in the IVD, including matrix breakdown, decrease in biomechanical properties and loss of disc height [4]. However, the specific cellular mechanisms for these catabolic changes remain to be elucidated.© 2012 ASME
Quantitative determination of aliphatic diamines and polyamines by an automated liquid chromatography procedure.

Abstract The naturally occurring aliphatic polyamines and diamines can be separated with an improved automated procedure on a sulfonated-type ion-exchange column. Quantitative determinations can be carried out on 2–20 nmoles of each amine. In addition to the simple diamines, spermidine, and spermine, this procedure separates a number of naturally occurring derivatives, such as monoacetyl-1,4-diaminobutane, monoacetylspermidine, carbamyl-1,4-diaminobutane, 1,4-diamino-2-hydroxybutane, and glutathionylspermidine. The method can be used for a variety of biological materials, including urine, animal tissues, and bacterial extracts.
Adducts of copper (II) β-diketone chelates with phosphorus esters☆

Abstract Spectrophotometric studies in the visible region have been made on benzene solutions of Cu(chelate)2 [chelate = anion of hexafluoroacetylacetone (HFA), thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTA), trifluoroacetylacetone (TFA) and acetylacetone (AA)] with phosphorus esters, S [S = tri-n-octyl phosphine oxide (TOPO). tri-phenyl phosphine oxide (TPPO), tri-n-butyl phosphate (TBP) and tri-phenyl phosphate (TPP)]. For each of the four phosphorus esters, the acidity of the Cu(chelate)2 increases in the order: CU(AA)2
Abstract LB-180: Prognostic analysis of invasive circulating tumor cells (iCTCs) to monitor epithelial ovarian cancer

Purpose: Cancer antigen 125 (CA125) is recognized as the leading biomarker in monitoring Epithelial Ovarian Cancer (EOC). More recently, invasive circulating tumor cells (iCTCs) have been introduced as a biomarker for metastatic potential. The goal of this research is to compare this biomarker with CA125 to determine the response to surgery and chemotherapy. Experimental Design: We compared clinical parameters with serial assays for iCTCs and CA125 in 129 fresh blood and 169 serum samples, respectively, from 31 patients who were receiving surgery and chemotherapy. iCTCs were capable of ingesting matrices (Cell Adhesion Matrix CAM+) and identified using positive tumor markers, Epi (EPCAM and CA125 or seprase and CD44), and negative selection markers, which exclude Epi-positive hematopoietic lineage (HL) cells, and enumerated by flow cytometry. iCTCs and CA125 levels were measured at time point less than 3-days apart. Results: A significant correlation was identified between changes in iCTC counts and CA125 levels (r=0.67, P 4 serial samples during therapy, changes in iCTC counts provided earlier measure of therapy response than CA125. Conclusion: This analysis showed that iCTC assay compared favorably with CA125 to monitor the response of chemotherapy in EOC patients, whereas changes of CA125 correlated better with reduced tumor burden after surgery. Citation Format: Wen-Tien Chen, Huan Dong, Qiang Zhao, Jie Yang, QIAO ZHANG, Stanley Zucker, Michael L. Pearl. Prognostic analysis of invasive circulating tumor cells (iCTCs) to monitor epithelial ovarian cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-180. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-LB-180
A School or a Stage? Tocqueville and Arendt on Politics and Education

Abstract Arendt and Tocqueville both celebrate a participatory notion of political freedom, but they have a fundamental disagreement about the role that political education should play in fostering an active citizenry. I contrast Tocqueville's “educative” conception of politics with Arendt's “performative” conception, and I explore an important but little-noted difference between the two theorists: whereas Tocqueville argues that it is the task of statesmen “to educate democracy,” Arendt warns that those who seek to “educate” adults are inappropriately aspiring to be their “guardians.” I argue that although Arendt's warnings about the dangers of intertwining politics and education are at times salutary, Tocqueville is ultimately correct that education must be a key task of democratic leadership, and he is right to suggest that politics can itself be educative in crucial ways.
Single wavelength silicon evanescent lasers

We review here recent work in the area of single wavelength silicon evanescent lasers that utilize distributed feedback, distributed Bragg reflector, and sampled grating distributed Bragg reflector laser topographies.
CHEMI-IONIZATION IN THE REACTION BETWEEN C2F4 AND ATOMIC NITROGEN-ATOMIC OXYGEN MIXTURES.

The chemi-ion concentration observed in an atomic N-O mixture is increased by some two orders of magnitude in the presence of C2F4. This phenomenon has been discovered and studied in two Wood-Bonhoeffer-type electrical-discharge flow systems at pressures of 1 to 4 Torr and a temperature of about 300°K. In one system, a Langmuir proble monitors total ion concentrations; in the other, a mass spectrometer identifies individual chemi-ion masses. Apparently, the ionization mechanism is the same with or without C2F4: N2*+NO*→N2+NO++e− and/or N+N+NO*→N2+NO++e−. (The latter reaction is probably relatively unimportant in the N-O-C2F4 system.) This is concluded from the observations that (1) little or no chemi-ionization occurs in the reaction of either N or O atoms alone with C2F4, (2) the maximum ion concentration, with or without C2F4, occurs at a [N]/[O] ratio of 3, and (3) the primary chemi-ion is apparently always NO+. It is suggested that the increase in ion concentration is due to a homogeneously catalyzed increase in the atom recombination rate which results in increased N2* and NO* concentrations. The catalyst in this process can be C2F4 as well as a reaction intermediate such as CN. Other compounds that can similarly enhance the atom recombination rate, such as C2H2 and C2H4, are found to give chemi-ion concentration enhancement effects in atomic N−O mixtures similar to those obtained with C2F4. The NO+ concentration decreases much more rapidly with reaction time than does the total positive ion concentration. A large number of further positive ion masses have been detected. The lighter of these, together with their tentative identifications, are: 31(CF+), 43(C2F+), 47(CFO+), 50(CF2+), 59(C2OF+), and 69(CF2+).
An extended tabulation of effective dose equivalent from neutrons incident on a male anthropomorphic phantom.

Abstract The limiting quantity in radiation protection for whole body exposures in the United States is currently based on the effective dose equivalent (EDE). Because EDE is computed from the individual organ dose equivalents, it is essentially impossible to measure EDE directly. However, calculated organ dose equivalents, and the resulting EDE, can be correlated to the response of a detector located at one or more locations on the human body. Until now, calculations of the effective dose equivalent and corresponding organ dose equivalents have been tabulated for relatively few standard irradiation geometries and energies. In this work, a more extensive tabulation of EDE is compiled and compared to the works of other researchers. This tabulation includes calculations of the EDE for a total of 493 different combinations of source particle energy and angle of incidence. This extensive tabulation of the EDE should allow researchers to improve algorithms for the evaluation of neutron personnel dosimetry.
Fast verification, testing, and generation of large primes

We present a prime certification method which permits shorter certificates of primality than the method analyzed by Pratt. We analyze the expected time required by a stochastic method for showing that n is prime, given a factorization of n − 1. We use this method, together with Rabin's stochastic method for verifying compositeness, to obtain an algorithm for generating arbitrarily large primes and short certificates of their primality. We give plausibility arguments that this method can generate primes larger than n in expected time polynomial in log n. We analyze several such prime generation algorithms.
Examining Behavioral and Psychosocial Predictors of Antibody Testing among College Youth: Implications for HIV Prevention Education and Testing

Young adults continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV and AIDS. Despite efforts, antibody testing rates have remained stable. Utilizing a sample of 1,874 students from three universities and seven instruments, this study examined hypothesized demographic, behavioral, and psychosocial predictors of HIV antibody testing. Logistic regression indicated that sexual regulation, depression, attributional style, drug and alcohol use/abuse, HIV knowledge, and sexual risks significantly predicted the likelihood of testing among students. Comprehensive HIV prevention approaches among youth must examine the impact of personal and health locus of control and mood state, among other factors, on health promoting and protective behaviors.
Optical Engineering Of A 2 Meter Laser-Radar Simulator For Low Scatter Characteristics

A large-scale optical system with a primary mirror, 82" diameter, is presently being constructed in order to make scattering measurements from infrared to visible wavelengths on large objects. The necessity of having a spherical primary mirror and finite field of view lead to a three-mirror design. The need for low mirror backscatter required separate transmitting and receiving optics with only the primary common to both systems. The background behind the target is in the field of view; control of the resulting backscatter is discussed. Scatter from the room walls and objects in the room is analyzed for various test conditions. BRDF measurements were made on coated and uncoated Cervit samples in an effort to validate the predicted primary mirror scattering.
Spanish and English Versions of the PTSD Checklist – Civilian Version (PCL-C): Testing for Differential Item Functioning

Interpretation of ethnic differences in PTSD is predicated on demonstration that differences are not due to measurement bias. This is difficult when multiple languages are used in the assessment. This study used confirmatory factor analysis to examine possible differential item functioning (DIF) across English and Spanish versions of the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C). Data were derived from two assessments of Hispanics (Ns = 304, 213), who were hospitalized with physical injuries. After correction for multiple testing, univariate tests revealed no statistically significant DIF effects; multivariate tests revealed some indication of DIF at the initial assessment only. This bias was inconsistent across waves and unlikely to be substantively consequential, indicating that the two versions of the PCL-C were generally equivalent.
Analysis of the primary translational product and integrated DNA of a new feline sarcoma virus, GR-FeSV

Abstract The Gardner-Rasheed strain of feline sarcoma virus (GR-FeSV), is a recent isolate of a naturally occurring cat sarcoma. The primary translational product of GR-FeSV (GR P70) was shown to be a phosphoprotein with associated tyrosine-specific protein kinase activity. The relationship between the GR-FeSV provirus and onc genes of other transforming retroviruses known to code for tyrosine kinases was examined by molecular hybridization. Probes repesenting onc genes of Snyder-Theilen and McDonough strains of feline sarcoma virus, Rous sarcoma virus, and Abelson murine leukemia virus did not detectably hybridize integrated GR-FeSV. These findings suggest that GR-FeSV contains a distinct tyrosine kinase-coding onc gene.
The fine structure of nuclear alterations in retinoblostoma and in the developing human retina: in vivo and in vitro observations

Ultrastructural studies of retinoblastoma were made in vivo and in cell culture, and the findings were correlated with those observed in a developing human retina. The nuclei of numerous cells, in all the tissues examined revealed a conspicuous margination of the chromatin in the form of a triple-membered structure (TMS). The latter occurred either membrane-bounded as a result of the nuclear envelope infolding or as layers of chromatin granules generally within the nucleoplasm. It is suggested that the nuclear transformations observed in retinoblastoma may represent a pathological exaggeration of a phenomenon which apparently exists normally in maturing retinoblasts.
Healthy Behaviors or Age Denials

There is considerable confusion in the media and the public about healthy behaviors in contrast to “antiaging” behaviors designed to make one look “younger.” As an aid in clarifying the differences between these two types of behaviors, we have developed a questionnaire called the Health Behavior Inventory (HBI). We also wanted to estimate differences in the frequency of different types of behaviors, differences between older and younger respondents, and differences between men and women. The HBI consists of 10 Healthy Behaviors and 10 Age Denial behaviors. We tested the HBI in a mailed survey to 250 older persons. The questionnaire was returned by 222 persons. We used Cronbach's alpha to test for consistency reliability of the two scales. Healthy Behaviors were reported much more often than Age Denials, but 1/3 reported 1 or more Age Denials. Younger persons and women tended to report substantially more Age Denials than men. The scales appear to have good face validity, and the Age Denials scale has fairl...
Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy for Breast Cancer and Risk-Reducing Surgery: The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center Experience

Background Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) has been gathering increased recognition as an alternative to more traditional mastectomy approaches. Initially, questions concerning its oncologic safety limited the use of NSM. Nevertheless, mounting evidence supporting the practice of NSM for both prophylactic and oncologic purposes is leading to its more widespread use and broadened indications.
Novel Synthetic SOD/Catalase Mimetics Can Mitigate Capillary Endothelial Cell Apoptosis Caused by Ionizing Radiation

Abstract Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that the endothelial cells of the microvasculature of the lung and kidney are damaged by exposure to ionizing radiation, and this sustained endothelial cell injury is involved in the early and late radiation effects observed in these tissues. It is well accepted that ionizing radiation causes the generation of reactive oxygen species during exposure that results in damage to DNA and cellular organelles. It is more controversial, however, whether additional biochemical events or long-lived radicals occur and persist postirradiation that amplify and initiate new forms of cellular damage. Two families of Eukarion (EUK) compounds have been synthesized that possess superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and peroxidase activities. The Mn porphyrins are available orally whereas the salen Mn complexes are administered by injection. In the present study we have examined the ability of these SOD/catalase mimetics to prevent apoptosis of endothelial cells when ...
Hyperspectral measurements of natural signatures: pedestrians

In the hyperspectral imaging community, there is a need for relevant and valid data for testing scientific principles. Several sets of data exist which support satellite and airborne HSI research applications. However, there is a need for data sets to support research looking at detecting and classifying smaller targets such as pedestrians. While many studies capture data on pedestrians, the data sets are often only related to the specific study being conducted. As a result, these types of data sets do not contain the necessary documentation or ground truth needed to apply the data in other contexts. This paper reports on a fully ground truthed HSI data set which was captured in June 2011 over an urban scene with pedestrians present. The imagery was collected using a modified airborne hyperspectral imager suited for ground level imaging in the 450 - 2500 nm wavelength region. The data captured are described along with the ground truth information and documentation which are part of the data package. Preliminary results from an initial study on material spectral separability using the data are included to demonstrate the utility of this particular data set. © (2012) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Constructive Capitalization of Operating Leases in the Hong Kong Fast-Food Industry

The current study is undertaken to investigate the potential problems resulting from the proposed adoption of a new accounting standard concerning mandatory capitalization of all lease contracts. In 2010, the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued a joint exposure draft (ED2010/9) on accounting for leases. Under the new standard, lessees are required to capitalize all lease contracts as assets and liabilities. The distinction between operating leases and capital (finance) leases will no longer exist. The long-standing off-balance sheet treatment of operating leases will be prohibited. After the adoption of the proposed standard, companies with significant operating leases are likely to experience an increase in assets, increase in liabilities, and decrease in equity, resulting in the deterioration of their return-on- assets and debt-to-equity ratios. This research examines two large fast-food restaurant chains based in Hong Kong; and through constructive capitalization, demonstrates how the companies’ key financial ratios are negatively impacted if the new standard is implemented. The results indicate that both the return-on-assets and debt-to-equity ratios of the two companies, under various discount rates assumptions, suffer serious deterioration when their operating leases are capitalized.
Business to business governance structure and marketing strategy

This study tries to find an answer to the question: Are different marketing channel governance structural dimensions equally conducive for different marketing strategies? The results from an empirical study suggest that different dimensions of channel governance structure may not be equally conducive for different marketing strategies. Specifically, a high level of centralization in channel governance has no significant association with any of the marketing strategies; whereas a high level of formalization is positively associated only with a focus strategy. In comparison, participation is positively associated with both differentiation and price leadership strategies, but negatively associated with a focus strategy. Furthermore, a post hoc analysis was conducted to get more clarity of these relationships. A discussion of the findings along with their implications and limitations are also presented.
Development of a novel PCR assay capable of detecting a single Schistosoma japonicum cercaria recovered from Oncomelania hupensis

Location and time-specific variability in Schistosoma japonicum cercarial density has been shown to be high in the mountainous regions of Sichuan Province, China. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the detection of schistosome cercariae in these environments would aid in the determination of environmental risk, and the identification of individual-level risk factors. Here the authors present a highly sensitive and specific PCR assay for the detection of S. japonicum cercariae in laboratory samples. As few as 1 and as many as 300 cercariae, from both laboratory and field-collected S. japonicum strains, produced positive amplification results, and repeated assays showed no positive result for S. mansoni nor for non-japonicum cercariae isolated from infected snails collected in Sichuan Province. There was no difference found between the Chinese and Philippine S. japonicum strains. The results presented demonstrate the successful PCR amplification of a target sequence within the SjR2 retrotransposon from samples of S. japonicum cercariae, with the potential for application to natural water samples from endemic areas.
Exit Laws and Excessive Functions for Superprocesses

Let $\xi$ be a Markov process with transition function $p(r,x;\,t,\,dy)$ and let X be the corresponding Dawson--Watanabe superprocess (i.e., the superprocess with the branching characteristic $\psi(u)=\gamma u^2$). Denote by $\cal P$ the transition function of X and put $$ p_n(r,x;\,t,\,dy)=\prod_{i=1}^n p(r,x_i;\,t,\,dy_i). $$ To every $p_n$-exit law $\ell$ there corresponds a $\cal P$-exit law $L_\ell$ such that, for every t, $L_\ell^t(\mu)$ is a polynomial of degree n in $\mu$ with the leading term $\langle \ell^t,\mu^n\rangle $. Every polynomial $\cal P$-exit law has a unique representation of the form $L_{\ell_1}+\cdots+L_{\ell_n}$, where $\ell_k$ is a $p_k$-exit law.
A volcanic sedimentation model: Implications of processes and responses of deep-sea ashes

Abstract Deep-sea ash layers and dispersed ashes in over 500 piston cores have been examined. The regions include the sub-Antarctic sector of the south Pacific (S.P.), east of New Zealand (N.Z.), east of the Azores (Az.), east and west of Central America (C.A.), the eastern Mediterranean (E.M.), and east and west of the Lesser Antilles (L.A.). Analysis of over 4,000 samples in 118 selected cores enables one to determine the ash concentration variations in the cores. Dispersed ash is usually present in greater volume than ashes in discrete layers. The records of these variations have helped to formulate a volcanic sedimentation model. Ash deposition is explained by step-like sedimentation which is generally an outcome of Markov-chain and renewal-type processes. Three types of renewal processes are recognized, each with certain characteristics: type I—forming discrete ash layers from single eruptions with little or no vertical mixing between two consecutive ash layers (most L.A. and E.M. cores); type II—producing zones of mixed ashes from frequent, close-spaced eruptions and/or synchronous eruptions from multiple chambers (Az and C.A.); and type III—having the characteristics of both types I and II (N.Z. and S.P.). The ash distributions were governed by volcanic, atmospheric, and marine processes and by submarine topography. The sedimentation rates and density of volcanoes in the source areas play a major role in determining which type is formed. Both submarine air-fall ash and subaqueous pyroclastic flow deposits from a single eruption may co-exist in sediment cores. Both ash types have their distinct textural and compositional characteristics. Regional high-altitude wind conditions controlled the extent and concentration of air-fall ash. Marine processes play a major role in the formation of different ash types. Oceanic circulation and differential settling affect the distributions of certain components such as pumice fragments. Post-depositional processes can lead to further redistribution. Seven major resedimentation processes were recognized: littoral transports, slumping, turbidity currents, debris- and grain-flows, bottom currents, bioturbations, and fragmentation and/or solution. Each produces an ash-type associated with certain textural and compositional characteristics. Vertical mixing of ashes by the resedimentation processes often blurred the core records.
Invariants Under Group Actions to Amaze Your Friends

(1999). Invariants Under Group Actions to Amaze Your Friends. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 72, No. 5, pp. 383-387.
Healthcare Utilization by Obese and Overweight Children

Objective To examine the relationship between childhood obesity and health care use in a large, nationally representative group of children with measured anthropometrics. Study design Analysis of 5 combined National Health and Nutrition Survey datasets from 2001 to 2010. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models assessed the relationship between health care use variables and weight status (overweight: body mass index 85th to Results Overweight and obese children are more likely to receive their routine medical care in an emergency department than a primary care setting (overweight OR 1.95; 95% CI 1.22-3.14 and obese OR 1.88; 95% CI 1.24-2.86) than their normal-weight peers. After we adjusted for relevant covariates, this finding persisted among overweight, but not obese, children. Other health care use variables were not significantly associated with weight status. Conclusion Overweight children may be more likely to use the emergency department than primary care settings for routine medical care. Interventions to establish primary care medical homes for overweight children merit consideration.
A new method of absolute neutron flux determination using an associated gamma-ray technique

Abstract The 7 Li(p,n 1 γ) 7 Be reaction is developed as a primary neutron standard for the determination of absolute neutron flux and neutron detector efficienty over a neutron energy range 0.350 ≤ E n ≤2.8 MeV. A new associated γ-ray method is used, in conjunction with a neutron time-of-flight spectrometer, whose essential feature is that the associated γ-ray to neutron ratio is known. For the 7 Li(p,n 1 γ) 7 Be reaction the ratio of the 431 keV γ-rays to n 1 neutrons is unity. It simplifies the method that the 431 keV γ-rays associated with the n 1 neutrons have an isotropic angular distribution. In this case, an accurate measurement of the 431 keV γ-rays emitted at any angle determines the total number of n 1 neutrons emitted independent of the 7 Li(p,n 1 ) 7 Be cross section, Li target thickness, and beam current. After the n 1 angular distributions are determined as a function of proton energy, the 7 Li(p,n 1 γ) 7 Be reaction can be used to determine the absolute n 1 neutron flux at any angle by measuring the 431 keV γ-ray production, for this purpose, twelve n 1 neutron angular distributions have been measured between 3.1≲ E p ≲4.9 MeV.
The Subsector as a Conceptual Framework for Guiding and Conducting Research

IN 1968 Jim Shaffer produced a set of ideafilled papers on economic research in which he suggested a need for programs of research having a "subsector" orientation [34, 35, 36]. A subsector was defined as "the vertical set of activities in the production and distribution of a closely related set of commodities" [35, p. 3]. It differs from an industry in its inclusion of all vertical components as opposed to only horizontal activities. Shaffer argued that this type of orientation was required in order to evaluate the impacts of what he called the "scientific industrialization" of the food and fiber sector. He felt that the most critical problems and issues of the food industry were associated with this process. Division of the total system into subsectors would provide more manageable units of observation and still permit consideration of the vertical relationships that were essential in evaluating coordination and performance of the industry.1 Shaffer's suggestion was viewed with approval and given further support at the 1968 Nebraska Seminar on Better Economic Research in the U. S. Food and Fiber Industry [50]. The following year subsector studies were recommended as a major area or program of research by the Joint USDA-SAES Task Force on A National Program of Research in Marketing and Competition [49]. Subsequently, there have been several efforts to develop this type of research orientation and it has been a much discussed
The History and Future of the Southern Bible Institute: A Post-Secondary School of Biblical Studies for African Americans.

The United States of America has a long history in higher education, but one area of its history not exhausted through research involves higher education for African Americans. Specifically, higher education for African Americans in the area of theology or biblical studies presents numerous opportunities for further research. Soon after the enslaved African Americans were freed in 1863 as a result of signing the Emancipation Proclamation, the government provided land grants through the Morrill Acts of 1862 and 1890, for the establishment of public institutions of higher education for White and African Americans. African-American ministers recognized the need to formally study the Bible. Segregation in the South prevented African-American ministers the opportunity to attend White seminaries. As a result, many African-American ministers spent time studying the Bible in small-group settings. In some instances, educated African-American ministers spent time teaching the uneducated ministers. Even though these...