cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surgical outcome after curative resection of rectal leiomyosarcoma

PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to present the prognosis and possible associated prognostic factors after curative resection of rectal leiomyosarcoma. METHODS: From 1979 to 1996 our hospital saw 40 patients with rectal leiomyosarcoma, including 19 females, who did not have metastasis initially and received curative resection and regular postoperative follow-up. RESULTS: The mean age of the 40 patients was 58.7 years. Anal bleeding and perianal pain were the two most common symptoms at initial diagnosis. Twenty-nine patients received a radical surgical resection, such as abdominoperineal resection or low anterior resection; the other 11 patients received a wide local excision, such as transrectal excision or Kraske's operation. Sixteen tumors were classified as high-grade leiomyosarcoma, and 23 as low grade. Nineteen patients (48 percent) developed recurrence or metastasis postoperatively (median follow-up, 35 months). The overall and disease-free (1-year, 3-year, and 5-year) survival rates were 97, 90, and 75 percent and 90, 59, and 46 percent, respectively. In univariate analysis, younger group (<50 years, n=9,P=0.033) and high-grade leiomyosarcoma (P=0.043) showed poorer prognosis in the disease-free survival curve. In the multivariate Cox model, gender, tumor size, tumor location, and operation type did not significantly affect disease-free survival, whereas histologic grade (P=0.037) and age divided by a level of 50 years (P=0.009) were shown to be independent factors. There was a strong trend toward higher local recurrence rate for the wide local excision group than for the radical resection group (55vs. 24 percent,P=0.067) despite the wide local excision group being composed of smaller tumors (5.1vs. 7.5 cm,P=0.069). There was no difference in the incidence of distant metastasis between the two groups with different operation types. The metastasis rates of the wide local excision and radical resection groups were 27 and 38 percent, respectively. CONCLUSION: A younger age (<50 years) and a high histologic grade of tumor were the two most significant poor prognostic factors for rectal leiomyosarcoma. Radical resection may be superior to wide local excision in the prevention of local recurrence but not distant metastasis.
Nuclear matrix proteins as cancer markers.

The transformation of normal cells to a malignant state has long been detected by light microscopy as visible changes in nuclear morphology. These changes include abnormal nuclear shape, increased nuclear to cytoplasmic ratio, and the presence of additional and abnormal nucleoli. Metaplasia,dysplasia, carcinoma-in-situ, and gross malignant tumors are diagnosed and graded pathologically by this traditional method. The resulting relative increase in DNA concentration within these cells produces a greater affinity for Hematoxilyn and Eosin staining, and thus, the characteristic blue color of cancerous tissues. As understanding of the cell structure expanded, the nuclear matrix emerged as an integral component of genetic processing and therefore, became an important cellular entity for study of malignant transformation. Also, several types of cancer have revealed discreet alterations in their respective nuclear matrices. One potential application of these nuclear matrix changes is development of detection and monitoring tests that would reveal the presence of abnormal cells. These tests could be utilized at a number of points in the disease process including prior to gross physical symptoms, and thereby significantly reduce patient morbidity and mortality. A second potential application of the nuclear matrix is to utilize it as a tissue specific protein targeting system to address narrowly directed therapeutic treatments, and thereby avoid the systemic side effects from broad-spectrum therapies like radiation. This paper addresses the role of the nuclear matrix in both normal cells and transformed cells, and highlights several research efforts that have advanced the ability to detect, track, and potentially treat neoplasms at the molecular level. J. Cell. Biochem. Suppl. 35:136-141, 2000.
The Effects of Play Period Duration on Children's Play Patterns.

Abstract This study investigated the relationship between the duration of indoor free play periods and the social and cognitive levels of preschoolers' play. The play of thirty-four 4- and 5-year-old children in two preschool class-rooms was observed during 15 and 30 minute play periods over an 8-week period using Rubin's social-cognitive scale. It was hypothesized that the children would exhibit a higher percentage of mature play categories relative to other forms of play during the longer play periods than during the shorter ones. Wilcoxon signed ranks tests confirmed this hypothesis, with subjects being found to engage in significantly higher percentages of group play, constructive play and group-dramatic play in the long periods.
Luminescence Sensing of Temperature in Oxides

The measurement of temperature based on the characteristic lifetime decay in luminescence intensity of dopant ions following excitation is described with illustrations drawn from europium doping in yttria-stabilized zirconia. The method is particularly attractive for making measurements in a temperature gradient, such as those in thermal barrier coatings.
Kelvin-Helmholtz instability in an Alfvén resonant layer of a solar coronal loop

A Kelvin-Helmholtz instability has been identified numerically on an azimuthally symmetric Alfven resonant layer in an axially bounded, straight cylindrical coronal loop. The physical model employed is an incompressible, reduced magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model including resistivity, viscosity, and density variation. The set of equations is solved numerically as an initial value problem. The linear growth rate of this instability is shown to be approximately proportional to the Alfven driving amplitude and inversely proportional to the width of the Alfven resonant layer. It is also shown that the linear growth rate increases linearly with m - 1 up to a certain m, reaches its maximum value for the mode whose half wavelength is comparable to the Alfven resonant layer width, and decreases at higher m's. (m is the azimuthal mode number.)
Hairpin DNA-functionalized gold colloids for the imaging of mRNA in live cells

A strategy is presented for the live cell imaging of messenger RNA using hairpin DNA-functionalized gold nanoparticles (hAuNP). hAuNP improve upon technologies for studying RNA trafficking by their efficient internalization within live cells without transfection reagents, improved resistance to DNase degradation, low cytotoxicity, and the incorporation of hairpin DNA molecular beacons to confer high specificity and sensitivity to the target mRNA sequence. Furthermore, the targeted nanoparticle-beacon construct, once bound to the target mRNA sequence, remains hybridized to the target, enabling spatial and temporal studies of RNA trafficking and downstream analysis. Targeted hAuNP exhibited high specificity for glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GADPH) mRNA in live normal HEp-2 cells and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) mRNA in live RSV-infected HEp-2 cells with high target to background ratios. Multiplexed fluorescence imaging of distinct mRNAs in live cells and simultaneous imaging of mRNAs with immunofluorescently stained protein targets in fixed cells was enabled by appropriate selection of molecular beacon fluorophores. Pharmacologic analysis suggested that hAuNP were internalized within cells via membrane-nanoparticle interactions. hAuNP are a promising approach for the real-time analysis of mRNA transport and processing in live cells for elucidation of biological processes and disease pathogenesis.
Partial FI gene-independence of λ-21 hybrid phages specifying chimeric terminases

Abstract The role of the FI gene in the life cycles of a series of λ-21 hybrid phages that produce chimeric λ-21 terminases has been examined. An isogenic series of FI + and Fl − derivatives of the hybrids was constructed, and the growth properties of the phages were examined. It was found that three of the four hybrids (hybrids 51, 67, and 33) are able to form plaques and produce a small burst in the absence of the FI gene product (gpFI), but each of the three phages is much healthier in the presence of gpFI. It is concluded that each of the three chimeric terminases is dependent on gpFI. The ability of the FI − hybrids to grow better than λ FI − is postulated to be due to a minor qualitative or quantitative difference between the chimeric terminases and λ terminase. The fourth hybrid (54), known from earlier work to produce an infirm terminase, is more dependent on gpFI than the other hybrids and λ itself.
Cooperative Choice in Decomposed Social Dilemmas

In a study by Pruitt (1967) two-person decomposed prisoner's dilemma games (DPDs) were constructed from a 2 X 2 prisoner's dilemma game. Pruitt showed that some DPDs evoked greater cooperation than others, despite the fact that the payoffs were identical in all of the games. Pruitt's findings were interpreted in terms of Hamburger's (1973) "take-some" and "give-some" games, and it was hypothesized that DPDs in which the cooperative choice rewards the other members of the group would evoke greater cooperation than DPDs in which the competitive choice punishes the other members. This hypothesis was tested with three-person DPDs with college students as subjects. The results support the hypothesis and several explanations of the findings are discussed.
Symbolic ARMA Model Analysis

ARMA models provide a parsimonious and flexible mechanism for modeling the evolution of a time series. Some useful measures of these models (e.g., the autocorrelation function or the spectral density function) are tedious to compute by hand. This paper uses a computer algebra system, not simulation, to calculate measures of interest associated with ARMA models.
Influence of iron on the elastic properties of wadsleyite and ringwoodite

[1] We investigate by first‐principles the influence of iron on the elastic properties of the b–phase (wadsleyite) and g–phase (ringwoodite), polymorphs of olivine, the most abundant minerals of the upper and lower parts of the transition zone, respectively. Our study aims to complement experiments to understand details of the 410 km and 520 km discontinuities. The full elastic‐tensor Cij, bulk (K), and shear (G) moduli are determined under static conditions for b–g–(Mg1–xFex)2SiO4 with x = 0.125. Wave propagation anisotropy in single crystals and polarization anisotropy in aggregates with preferred orientation are investigated and compared with those of iron‐free wadsleyite and ringwoodite for a thorough understanding of the effect of iron. We examine the effect of iron on velocity contrasts due to phase changes and conclude that iron enhances DVP and DVS across the a → b transition but suppresses them across the b → g transition. The latter might contribute to suppress locally the 520 km discontinuity if this has a significant contribution from the b → g transition. We show that lateral variation of iron, dx, produces lateral velocity heterogeneity ratios similar to those produced by lateral variations of temperature, dT, both producing ratios comparable to values extracted from seismic tomography studies. However, in contrast with dT, dx produces negative values for density to longitudinal and shear wave velocity ratios. This might be considered the fingerprint of lateral variations of iron concentration. These negative ratios appear similar to results inferred from geodynamical models compiled by Karato and Karki (2001) for the upper mantle and transition zone.
The relative importance of sulfate availability in the growth of Spartina alterniflora and Spartina cynosuroides

Abstract The marsh cordgrass Spartina alterniflora Loisel. dominates temperate coastal marshes on the Atlantic coast of North America, and it is an aggressive invader in other coastal wetlands around the world. However, it also flourishes at much lower salinities, extending well into the mesohaline region of major estuaries such as Chesapeake Bay. This species survives even in oligohaline marshes, usually disappearing in the natural environment at salinities below about 2‰ The possibility that this distribution is related to sulfate limitation was investigated in a long-term greenhouse experiment. Sulfate uptake kinetics were first determined for S. alterniflora . The long-term growth response to four different concentrations of sulfate was then evaluated for S. alterniflora and for Spartina cynosuroides (L.) Roth, a low salinity species of overlapping distribution. Growth indices included the total number of leaves, total leaf length, and the relative growth rate of shoots and of whole plants. Spartina alterniflora responded positively to increasing sulfate concentration; however, S. cynosuroides did not exhibit a growth response. These results suggest that S. alterniflora distribution in oligohaline marshes is limited by sulfate supply, and that the plant may have an uncommonly high sulfate requirement.
Estimation of Standardized Regression Coefficients

Abstract Often in reporting the results of a regression analysis, researchers, particularly in the social sciences, choose to standardize the estimators of the regression coefficients into what are called “beta coefficients.” Most studies in which beta coefficients are reported involve linear models which contain stochastic predictor variables. However, in dealing with regression models in which thep redictor variables are nonstochastic, standardized regression coefficients can be defined which are analogous to those found in the models with stochastic predictor variables. We consider the problem of estimating these parameters. Several estimators are introduced and their properties are discussed. Two data examples are included to demonstrate the empirical behavior of the various estimators.
Direct equilibrium dialysis compared with two non-dialysis free T4 methods in premature infants.

Objective To compare the incidence of low free T 4 values reported by a direct equilibrium dialysis method to their incidence reported by 2 non-dialysis methods. Study design Ninety-five infants, ≤33 weeks gestational age at birth, admitted to Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital before day 3 of life were studied. Infants were grouped by gestational age ranges: ≤27, 28-30, and 31-33 weeks. Free T 4 determinations were measured at 3, 7, and 14 days of life with 3 different free T 4 methods. Gestational age–specific newborn reference ranges were available for the direct equilibrium dialysis method only. The only reference ranges available for the non-dialysis free T 4 methods were not gestational age specific. Using available reference ranges we classified free T 4 values as either low or not low. The incidence of low free T 4 values was compared at 3, 7, and 14 days of life. Results Low direct equilibrium dialysis free T 4 values were substantially less frequent than non-dialysis free T 4 values. Conclusion Substantial free T 4 inconsistencies occur between dialysis and non-dialysis free T 4 methods in preterm infants. It is unclear how much of this inconsistency is method dependant and how much is reference range dependant.
Electricity consumption and energy savings potential of video game consoles in the United States

Total energy consumption of video game consoles has grown rapidly in the past few decades due to rapid increases in market penetration, power consumption of the devices, and increasing usage driven by new capabilities. Unfortunately, studies investigating the energy impacts of these devices have been limited and potential responses, such as ENERGY STAR requirements, have been difficult to define and implement. We estimate that the total electricity consumption of video game consoles in the US was around 11 TWh in 2007 and 16 TWh in 2010 (approximately 1 % of US residential electricity consumption), an increase of almost 50 % in 3 years. However, any estimate of total game console energy consumption is highly uncertain, and we have determined that the key uncertainty is the unknown consumer behavior with regards to powering down the system after use. Even under this uncertainty, we demonstrate that the most effective energy-saving modification is incorporation of a default auto power down feature, which could reduce electricity consumption of game consoles by 75 % (10 TWh reduction of electricity in 2010), saving consumers over $1 billion annually in electricity bills. We conclude that using an auto power down feature for game consoles is at least as effective for reducing energy consumption as implementing a strict set of energy efficiency improvements for the devices, is much easier to implement given the nature of the video game console industry, and could be applied retroactively to currently deployed consoles through firmware updates.
The role of eigensolutions in nonlinear inverse cavity-flow theory

Abstract : The method of Levi Civita is applied to an isolated fully cavitating body at zero cavitation number and adapted to the solution of the inverse problem in which one prescribes the pressure distribution on the wetted surface and then calculates the shape. The novel feature of this work is the finding that the exact theory admits the existence of a 'point drag' function or eigensolution. While this fact is of no particular importance in the classical direct problem, we already know from the linearized theory that the eigensolution plays an important role. In the present discussion, the basic properties of the exact 'point drag' solution are explored under the samplest of conditions. In this way, complications which arise from non-zero cavitation numbers, free surface effects, or cascade interactions are avoided. The effects of this simple eigensolution on hydrodynamic forces and cavity shape are discussed. Key words include: Cavity flows, Inverse hydrofoil design, and Mathematical properties.
A renal-hepatic comparison of metallothionein in the sheep fetus

Abstract A renal-hepatic comparison of cytosolic zinc content in the 125–130 day sheep fetus revealed that hepatic levels were at least 7-fold higher than renal levels. Using gel-filtration techniques, it was found that a metallothionein(MT)-like protein present in the hepatic cytosol, but not in the renal cytosol, appeared to be at least partly responsible for these differences. The zinc which was normally associated with the hepatic protein could be successfully displaced from its binding sites by in vitro exposure to saturating levels of cadmium chloride.
Asymptotic Behavior of Gaussian Samples in Fréchet Spaces

Abstract In this article we investigate unnormalized samples of Gaussian random elements in a separable Frechet space &#x1d544;. First we describe a connection between shifts of a Gaussian measure μ in a separable Frechet space and the infinite product of standard normal distributions in ℝ∞, and on the basis of this result we derive the so‐called self‐sufficient expansion for Gaussian random elements in a Frechet space. Moreover, we find lower bounds for the Gaussian measure μ of shifted balls in &#x1d544; and estimate the metric entropy of balls in the Hilbert space ℍ ⊂ &#x1d544; which generates μ. Finally, applying the Brunn–Minkowski inequality we prove a kind of the logarithmic law of large numbers. The last result is an extension of the analogous theorem obtained by Goodman (Characteristics of normal samples. Ann. Probab. 1988, 16, 1281–1290), for a sequence of Gaussian random elements in a separable Banach space.
The excess solubility of 4-phenylvaleric acid in aqueous cesium hydroxide

Abstract The reaction between 4-phenylvaleric acid and aqueous solutions of alkali metal hydroxides has been studied. Potentiometric titration curves showed a well-defined break at the expected 1:1 equivalence point. Nephelometric titration curves showed very well-defined breaks at points corresponding to the addition of two moles of the acid to one mole of the base. The solubility of the second mole of acid is attributed to the formation of an organic acid anion-molecule dimer in the aqueous phase. Infra-red and NMR data have been used to corroborate this conclusion.
Habitats and Characteristics of the Sea Urchins Lytechinus variegatus and Arbacia punctulata (Echinodermata) on the Florida Gulf-Coast Shelf

Abstract Lytechinus variegatus and Arbacia punctulata have been studied primarily in inshore, shallow-water areas. However, they are abundant in deeper waters on the Florida gulf-coast shelf and seem important components of the benthic communities there. Lytechinus variegatus occurs alone on sand bottoms and A. punctulata occurs alone on rubble bottoms in these deeper waters. The species also co-occur there on ­heterogeneous bottoms, each in a distinct microhabitat with A. punctulata on rubble and L. variegatus on surrounding sand. Characteristics of the sea urchins in these different deeper-water habitat types and at one nearshore site with a heterogeneous rubble-sand bottom were compared. Over the 2-year study, offshore individuals of both species had low gut and gonad indices and the maximum size of individuals did not change. This suggests food limitation and low production. Offshore, A. punctulata had a higher Aristotle's lantern index and lower gut and gonad indices in populations where it ­co-occurred with L. variegatus compared to populations where it occurred alone. The ­Aristotle's lantern index of L. variegatus did not differ among the offshore sites. Neither species seemed food limited at the nearshore site. Although productivity is lower at the offshore sites, both species extend their distribution and reproduction potential by existing there.
Effect of Local Standards on the Implementation of National Guidelines for Asthma: Primary Care Agreement with National Asthma Guidelines

OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of modification by local primary care doctors of key aspects of the National Asthma Education Program (NAEP) Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Asthma.
TU-E-ValB-04: Impact On Nodal Dose Distribution From Daily Fiducial Tracking for IMRT Prostate and Pelvic Node Treatments

Purpose: In prostate only treatments, fiducial seeds can be implanted in the prostate and used for accurate daily targeting of the prostate. For high‐risk disease, the regional nodes are simultaneously treated with the prostate using intensity‐modulated radiotherapy thereby sparing the rectum, bladder, bowel, and femoral heads. However, the implanted fiducials do not indicate the position of the nodes as the nodes are anchored to the patient's bony anatomy.Method and Materials: We measured the displacement of the fiducials with respect to the bony anatomy for each treatment fraction as a surrogate for the displacement of the nodes with respect to the prostate from their original planning position. The displacements, taken from the clinical cases were measured to the nearest 0.01 cm, in LR, AP, and SI directions and were used to perform a forward calculation of the IMRT plan that the patient received during treatment. The dose coverage to the nodes, femoral heads and bowel were evaluated using isodose curves and dose volume histograms. Results: Our results indicate for an average patient, the maximum shifts of the seeds with respect to the original DRR position was 0.78 cm inferior, 0.28 cm left, and 0.46 cm posterior. A weighted average of the same directions would be: 0.46 cm, 0.05 cm and 0.13 cm. Forward planning using the weighted average shifts, shows changes in the nodal maximum dose of −0.6% and mean dose −0.2%. The maximum bowel dose changed by −0.5% and the mean dose by −1%. The dose to the left and right femoral heads increased by +2% and +1.2%, respectively. Conclusion: The results indicate that for an average patient the difference in the dose planned to the nodal targets and the organs‐at‐risk are not clinically significant to those received during treatment using fiducial tracking of the prostate.
Specific binding of the type C viral core protein p12 with purified viral RNA.

Abstract The major viral phosphoproteins (p12) of the Rauscher murine leukemia virus (R-MuLV) and the simian sarcoma-associated virus (SSAV) bind in vitro to their homologous 70S and 35S viral RNAs. Using purified 32 P-labeled RNA and 125 I-labeled p12 protein, complexes that are stabilized by formaldehyde cross-linking can be readily detected after velocity gradient centrifugation. The in vitro reconstructed ribonucleoprotein complexes are seen only with p12 proteins incubated with viral RNAs isolated from the same type C viruses; no such complexes form with heterologous protein-RNA mixtures. Homologous but not heterologous p12 molecules compete with radiolabeled p12 protein for the specific viral RNA binding sites. The competition assay permits the detection of 10 ng of viral p12 protein. The major internal protein of type C viruses (p30) does not bind to viral RNA using identical assay conditions. From the specific activities of the radiolabeled components and also by equilibrium sedimentation analysis, we estimate that fewer than 15 molecules of p12 protein bind to each molecule of viral RNA. Both the specificity and stoichiometry of the p12-RNA interactions suggest that these RNA tumor virus proteins have a regulatory role in cells.
The Risk of Action by the Drug Enforcement Administration Against Physicians Prescribing Opioids for Pain

Objective. Fear of government actions against physicians for prescribing opioids for their chronic pain patients is a cause for undertreatment of pain. This study was conducted to assess the risk of action by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Methods. The DEA responded to a written request with a list of all DEA arrests in fiscal 2003. The Federal Register was reviewed for all revocations of DEA registrations for 2003 and 2004. Results. There were 47 arrests in 2003 from among 963,385 doctors registered with the DEA and 56 revocations of registration seen in the 2003 and 2004 period. The reasons for these actions included loss of medical license, fraud, substance abuse by prescriber, sex in exchange for prescriptions, and prescribing without seeing patient. For the majority of cases, there was information to believe that a documented doctor–patient relationship with a chronic pain patient did not exist. Conclusion. When adequate documentation exists in the medical record, the risk of civil, criminal, or administrative action being taken by the DEA against a physician for prescribing opioids for a chronic pain patient is small.
Analysis:The Role of New Technology in the Early Detection of Hypoglycemia

115 YESTERDAY, A FRIEND CALLED . He told me about an incident that happened to his 18year-old son. His son (let’s call him Ryan) is a good student, a talented musician, and an accomplished athlete. Yesterday, Ryan finished soccer practice at 4 PM, got into his car, and drove towards home, normally a 10 minute drive. A few blocks from home, his car veered across the center line and hit two other cars. There were injuries, but none was serious. The forensic evidence showed that Ryan did not even apply his brakes. He evidently experienced the sudden onset of unconsciousness without prior warning. Ryan has no memory of the incident or of events immediately preceding the incident. Ryan was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 4. He wears an insulin pump and checks his capillary glucose levels very frequently. He has a family that cares for him; he sees his endocrinologist frequently and has a close relationship with a diabetes educator. In short, Ryan and the people around him are doing all that they can. So what’s the problem? The problem is that, in many people with Type 1 diabetes, hypoglycemia can appear suddenly and without warning. While the uncomfortable symptoms of hypoglycemia are a source of irritation to many patients, the lack of these symptoms is an even more serious problem. Many people with Type 1 diabetes experience hypoglycemic unawareness. In such individuals, their first symptom of falling blood sugar is typically neural or cognitive in nature and can be a seizure, stupor, or coma. In less severe cases, the symptoms can be manifested as the inability to attend to one’s environment or as inappropriate behavior. The consequences of unawareness can have serious consequences in the home or the workplace. One can imagine adverse scenarios, not only in vehicles, but in a courtroom, in an operating room, or in other situations such as that of a young mother looking after her infant child. In these situations, the consequences of hypoglycemia without prior warning can range from the embarrassing to the disastrous. Physicians and diabetes educators often warn people with diabetes about the possibility of hypoglycemic unawareness. A common answer is: “Don’t worry about that, Doc, I always have symptoms when I get low.” It is important to realize that even though patients have experienced symptoms in the past, there is no guarantee that they will experience symptoms in the future. Although some lucky souls never develop the syndrome, for many there is a transition point at which they go from hypoglycemic awareness to hypoglycemic unawareness. Where is diagnostic technology currently? Is current technology sufficient to take over for the body’s sometimes faulty detection system? What devices can assist in the detection of hy-
Loss of expression of von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor protein associated with improved survival in patients with early-stage clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Abstract Objectives To determine whether actual expression of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) protein product itself (pVHL) is associated with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CC-RCC) survival. Recent data have suggested that somatic mutations of the VHL tumor suppressor gene are associated with better cancer-specific survival in patients with CC-RCC. Methods Using a large, clinic-based cohort of 273 patients with CC-RCC, we tested the hypothesis that those patients with CC-RCC tumors lacking pVHL expression [pVHL(−)] will experience better cancer-specific survival than those patients with tumors that show pVHL expression [pVHL(+)]. Results Using a Cox proportional hazard model adjusting for age, patients with pVHL(−) tumors were not at a decreased risk of CC-RCC death compared with patients with pVHL(+) tumors (hazard ratio 1.0, 95% confidence interval 0.7 to 1.5). Adjustment for the Mayo SSIGN score had little effect on the risk estimate (hazard ratio 0.8; 95% confidence interval 0.5 to 1.2). In our stratified analysis, we found evidence of an inverse association with loss of pVHL expression among those patients presenting with early-stage disease (hazard ratio 0.4; 95% confidence interval 0.2 to 0.8), even after adjustment for the Mayo SSIGN score. Conclusions Although we report no overall association, the data from this investigation are consistent with earlier findings that suggest somatic VHL alteration is associated with better cancer-specific survival among those patients presenting with early-stage (pT1 and pT2) CC-RCC.
Phase II study of dose-intense chemotherapy with sequential topoisomerase-targeting regimens with irinotecan/oxaliplatin followed by etoposide/carboplatin in chemotherapy naive patients with extensive small cell lung cancer

Abstract Introduction Topoisomerase inhibitors are active agents in small cell lung cancer (SCLC), and preclinical models indicate that sequential administration of a topoisomerase I inhibitor followed by a topoisomerase II inhibitor can result in enhanced cytotoxicity. Patients and methods In this phase II study, patients with extensive SCLC were treated with two sequential topoisomerase-based regimens: irinotecan (150mg/m 2 )/oxaliplatin (85mg/m 2 ) [regimen A] on day 1 followed by etoposide (100mg/m 2 ×3)/carboplatin (AUC 6) [regimen B] on day 15. Regimen A was repeated 3 weeks later. The primary objective was objective response rate. Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), toxicity, and exploratory correlative analysis of the tumor expression of the excision repair cross complementing (ERCC1) and topoisomerase II-α. Patients received a maximum of 5 cycles of sequential therapy of regimen A→B. Results The overall response rate was 96%, the 6-month PFS was 76.9%, the median PFS was 8.95 months, and OS was 12.9 months in 26 evaluable patients. Grade 4 neutropenia (23%) and thrombocytopenia (58%) were observed with regimen B; and grade 2/3 nausea-vomiting (54%) and diarrhea (46%) with regimen A. Seven patients required dose reductions in regimen A and 19 patients in regimen B. The dose intensity, delivered during the first three cycles was 89%. No significant correlations were observed between the tumor expression of the ERCC1 and topoisomerase II-α and clinical outcomes (PFS or OS). Conclusions Although cross-study comparisons are difficult to make, our data suggests that sequential topoisomerase-targeting regimens may enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy in newly diagnosed SCLC patients (Clinical Trial Registration Number, 9 NCT00240097; Clinical Trials.gov number, NCT00240097).
Studies on histionicotoxin: rearrangement of the spirocyclic histrionicotoxin carbon skeleton into the fused pumiliotoxin skeleton

Abstract On treatment with acid the spirocyclic ketoamine 5 undergoes a retro-Mannich reaction followed by recondensation to give the unsaturated imine 8 , thus converting the histrionicotoxin carbon skeleton into the pumiliotoxin C skeleton.
One-loop corrections to the S parameter in the four-site model

We compute the leading chiral-logarithmic corrections to the $S$ parameter in the four-site Higgsless model. In addition to the usual electroweak gauge bosons of the standard model, this model contains two sets of heavy charged and neutral gauge bosons. In the continuum limit, the latter gauge bosons can be identified with the first excited Kaluza-Klein states of the ${W}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}$ and $Z$ bosons of a warped extra-dimensional model with an $SU(2{)}_{L}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}SU(2{)}_{R}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}U(1{)}_{X}$ bulk gauge symmetry. We consider delocalized fermions and show that the delocalization parameter must be considerably tuned from its tree-level ideal value in order to reconcile experimental constraints with the one-loop results. Hence, the delocalization of fermions does not solve the problem of large contributions to the $S$ parameter in this class of theories and significant contributions to $S$ can potentially occur at one-loop.
Production of Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin 1 in a Mouse Model of Staphylococcus aureus Abscess Formation

A mouse model of abscess formation is described in which toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (TSST-1) is produced by Staphylococcus aureus in vivo. Mice injected intravenously with S. aureus developed renal abscesses within 4-7 days. Kidneys excised from infected mice were cultured quantitatively, and extracts from the kidneys were assayed for TSST-1 with use of a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Animals with less than 10(7) S. aureus/g of kidney had less than 6 ng of TSST-1/mL of extract. Toxin levels ranged from less than 6 ng/mL to 271 ng/mL in kidney extracts from mice with greater than 10(7) S. aureus/g of kidney. Urine from infected mice also contained measurable levels of TSST-1 (range, less than 6-728 ng/mL). Mice developed serum antibodies to TSST-1 by 2 weeks after challenge. Serum samples collected 5-7 days after bacterial challenge did not show biochemical changes typical of a toxic shock-like illness in these animals.
Computationally guided organometallic chemistry: preparation of the heptacyclic pyrazine core of ritterazine N.

Diels−Alder cycloaddition of 10 followed by Wittig homologation and intramolecular diene cyclozirconation of the resulting triene under equilibrating conditions led to the tricyclic 6−6−5 ketone 5 with high diastereocontrol. The derived α-azido ketone 16 cyclized efficiently to the heptacyclic pyrazine core of ritterazine N.
A seismic investigation over a near-surface cavern

Abstract A field experiment was conducted over a near-surface cavern with the principal objective of obtaining a spatial definition of the associated Cavity Resonance phenomenon, as reported by Watkins et. al. (1967) and by Godson and Watkins (1968). The results of the experiment were inconsistent with those of the earlier investigators in that all seismic events recorded in the vicinity of the cavity, having vertical velocity components, could be readily identified as standard modes of seismic wave transmission. A persistence of strong horizontal motion was observed for late record times. This horizontal motion was consistently oriented parallel to the cavity boundary, occured only over an extremely limited range of the traverse at approximately a 25° polar angle to the vertical axis passing through the center of the void, and did not appear to be propagating. This energy might qualify as a cavity resonance phenomenon.
In situ in etching technique for l.p.e. InP

An in situ In etch technique is described for l.p.e. growth of InP. This method eliminates substrate `sensitivity? to orientation difficulties and removes any need for melt supersaturation to obtain good morphology. In addition, in situ etching removes any substrate pitting or type conversion which degrades actual device performance.
Children's magical beliefs: A report on recent studies in developmental psychology

The study of religion has a double focus religious thought and religious prac tice, as well as their relation Part of the study of religious thought, therefore, must attend to the psychology of thought processes It may at first appear to anyone familiar with the types of analyses which engage the attention of de velopmental psychologists that the elementary operations to which they refer are far removed from the types of complex and elaborate theories capable of describing the mental life of adult religious participants However, as we will show, current studies in developmental psychology imply that there is a closer link between the types of basic operations which place a child in a designated developmentally distinct stage, and the particular form of detailed religious thought than has been previously supposed 1 Further, this research may suggest that the analysis of religious thought should not be evaluated as distinct from everyday conceptions but as part of the larger framework of human thought processes One facet of developmental psychology is to study children as an end in itself That is, the aim of many theorists who study children is to understand children But, there is greater significance to the findings of developmental psychology
ADIC: an extensible automatic differentiation tool for ANSI-C

In scientific computing, we often require the derivatives ∂f/∂x of a function f expressed as a program with respect to some input parameter(s) x, say. Automatic Differentiation (AD) techniques augment the program with derivative computation by applying the chain rule of calculus to elementary operations in an automated fashion. This article introduces ADIC (Automatic Differentiation of C), a new AD tool for ANSI-C programs. ADIC is currently the only tool for ANSI-C that employs a source-to-source program transformation approach; that is, it takes a C code and produces a new C code that computes the original results as well as the derivatives. We first present ADIC ‘by example’ to illustrate the functionality and ease of use of ADIC and then describe in detail the architecture of ADIC. ADIC incorporates a modular design that provides a foundation for both rapid prototyping of better AD algorithms and their sharing across AD tools for different languages. A component architecture called AIF (Automatic Differentiation Intermediate Form) separates core AD concepts from their language-specific implementation and allows the development of generic AD modules that can be reused directly in other AIF-based AD tools. The language-specific ADIC front-end and back-end canonicalize C programs to make them fit for semantic augmentation and manage, for example, the association of a program variable with its derivative object. We also report on applications of ADIC to a semiconductor device simulator, 3-D CFD grid generator, vehicle simulator, and neural network code. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mutagenesis of mouse myeloma cells with 'Melphalan'.

TECHNIQUES have been developed to study the potential mutagenic affects of various drugs on mouse myeloma cells. Cells from mouse plasmacytomas have been adapted to continuous culture, cloned in soft agar, and the clones have been overlayed with antisera specific for the immunoglobulin chains. The immunoglobulin secreted by the myeloma cells precipitates with the antibody in the agar surrounding the clones. Clones which have lost the ability to secrete immunoglobulin remain unstained by antigen-antibody precipitates and can be recovered and scored as variants1. Mouse myeloma cells which produce IgG spontaneously lose the ability to produce heavy chains and produce light chains at a rate of 1.1 × 10−3 per cell per generation. The incidence of variants is not increased by treatment with the alkylating agent, ethyl methane sulphonate. Nitrosoguanidine causes a two-to-three-fold increase in variants while the acridine half mustard, ICR-191, which is effective in producing frame shift mutations in microorganisms2, produces a twenty-fold increase in variants3.
Tendon transfer for the restoration of upper limb function after a cervical spinal cord injury

During the past 22 years, 68 patients with cervical spinal cord injuries had 142 tendon transfers and tenodeses. The procedures were performed to provide improved upper limb control, including elbow extension, finger grasp, and thumb pinch for better prehension. The operations were effective in increasing function in all but four patients, who did not improve because of insufficient muscle strength. The educational, vocational, recreational, and social aspects of life improved for many patients. Tendon surgery should be considered for all tetraplegics 1 year after injury, provided that they have undergone an effective rehabilitation program and that their neurologic examination is stable.
Assessing sodium and potassium intake in essential hypertension

A growing body of evidence links habitual sodium intake to the incidence and prevalence of essential hypertension. 1+2 Interest has increased in measuring habitual levels of sodium chloride intake and changes in populations and individuals. Moreover, sodium restriction as prevention or therapy of essential hypertension’-* requires accurate yet convenient methods to assess patient compliance with dietary instructions. Evidence exists that potassium intake and the ratio of sodium to potassium intake may also be important in determining blood pressure and the occurrence of essential hypertension.ss lo This makes estimation of potassium intake of interest. However, information on sodium and potassium intake from population studies is scanty.” Most nutritional investigators who use dietary recall techniques have felt these measures would not yield reliable estimates of sodium and potassium intake. Collecting 24-hour urine samples to measure sodium and potassium excretion is often logistically infeasible in both population samples and patients. Hence, few studies have cross sectionally compared intake estimated by dietary recall or food diary with urinary excretion, and no studies have compared methods for assessing change in intake. Therefore, we undertook an evaluation of these methods, comparing them to 24-hour urine collections in free-living adult men. The results are contained in the present article, which also reviews the validity of various methods for assessing sodium intake.
Biochemical degradation of algal fatty acids in oxic and anoxic sediment–seawater interface systems: effects of structural association and relative roles of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria

To examine microbially mediated degradation of algal fatty acids in marine environments, we conducted a series of microcosm experiments by incubating Emiliania huxleyi cells in simulated oxic/anoxic sediment–water interface systems. Variations in concentration of fatty acids, lipid-degrading enzyme (lipase) activity, and bacterial abundance over 2-month incubations were followed to determine degradation rate constants of major algal fatty acids and responses of bacteria. In the cell-spiked experiments, fatty acids bound in the membrane and intracellular components were separated to examine effects of structural association of fatty acids on their degradation. Experimental results showed that algal fatty acids generally degraded faster (2–4×) under oxic than under anoxic conditions. Most membrane fatty acids seemed to more readily degrade than intracellular ones under anoxic conditions but the two classes degraded at similar rates under oxic conditions. Ratios of oxic to anoxic degradation rate constants were generally higher for intracellular fatty acids than for membrane fatty acids, implying that oxygen might play a more critical role in intracellular fatty acid degradation. Most algal fatty acids degraded almost completely under oxic conditions while a significant fraction (10–40%) of initially added algal fatty acids remained after 2 months under anoxic conditions. By contrast, variations in bacterial abundance during incubations were apparently greater under anoxic conditions compared to oxic conditions, suggesting that the function and relative effectiveness of aerobic vs. anaerobic bacteria rather than total bacterial abundance control biochemical degradation of algal fatty acids. Variations in potential lipase activity followed the same pattern as bacterial abundance in oxic and anoxic systems, indicating that bacteria might be a major source for lipase in these experimental systems. Bacteria-specific fatty acids varied differently during incubations and were not directly linked to bacterial abundance.
NEW LAGRANGIAN FORMALISM FOR INFINITE-COMPONENT FIELD THEORIES.

The infinite-component wave equation $({\ensuremath{\partial}}_{\ensuremath{\mu}}{L}^{\ensuremath{\mu}}\ensuremath{-}M)\ensuremath{\phi}=0$, whose fields are an infinite sum of ($\frac{1}{2}k$, $\frac{1}{2}k$) representations of the Lorentz group, is shown to be invariant under a set of gauge transformations of the second kind. This invariance leads us to consider a new class of second-order Lagrangians which are invariant under these gauge transformations. The Lagrangians are a generalization to the infinite component field of the ordinary Stueckelberg formalism for a spin-1 field. This new formalism allows us to use ordinary field-theory techniques to discuss canonical quantization and to introduce local interactions. We explore two separate theories, one with full invariance under the gauge transformation, and one with invariance only under a restricted set of transformations [$({\ensuremath{\square}}^{2}+{\overline{m}}^{2})\ensuremath{\Lambda}(x)=0$]. The former theory presents a natural framework for discussing the $\ensuremath{\rho}$ trajectory and conserved vector currents with an infinite number of poles. The gauge current in that theory is conserved, contains the $\ensuremath{\rho}$ and $\ensuremath{\rho}$ daughters, and has finite $c$-number Schwinger terms (as in the algebra of fields). The latter theory seems a possible framework for the $\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{-}{A}_{1}$ trajectory, the axial-vector obeying a generalized PCAC (partial conservation of axial-vector current) relation.