cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Implementation of a stepwise process for somatic testing in women with a new diagnosis of epithelial ovarian cancer

Objectives: Women with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) who have a germline mutation, somatic mutation or are found to have homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) have been shown to have an improved survival with use of a PARP inhibitor after completion of first-line chemotherapy. A quality improvement project aimed to develop a pathway for somatic/HRD testing in all patients with EOC. Methods: Standard quality improvement methodology was employed to complete a stakeholder analysis, process mapping, an Ishikawa diagram, a pro/con brainstorming session and a provider survey. Additionally, we benchmarked with another academic institution. Patient education material on genetic testing was developed. Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles were employed throughout the quality improvement process. All newly diagnosed patients with EOC who underwent surgery between January - June 2019 (preimplementation) and June-August 2020 (post-implementation) were identified. Data was abstracted from medical records to determine which patients were referred to genetics and which patients were provided with somatic testing recommendations. Results: Prior to implementation, 42.9% (30/70) patients who completed primary treatment of EOC had somatic testing ordered prior to completing primary adjuvant chemotherapy. Post-implementation, 63% (17/27) of patients had somatic testing recommended. Confining analysis to those patients who returned for a postoperative visit at the surgical institution, 77.8% (14/18) had somatic testing recommended. Germline testing referral and rates (countermeasure) did not change 88.6% (62/70) vs 85.3% (29/34) (pre versus post-implementation). Conclusions: Development of a structured process for somatic/HRD testing after surgery for EOC results improved rates of somatic testing discussion. A stepwise process ensures that these patients still receive the necessary counseling about germline testing prior to undergoing somatic/HRD testing.
STAT3 is required for Smo-dependent signaling and mediates Smo-targeted treatment resistance and tumorigenesis in Shh medulloblastoma

Sonic hedgehog (Shh)-driven medulloblastoma (Shh MB) cells are dependent on constitutive Shh signaling, but targeted treatment of Shh MB has been ineffective due to drug resistance. The purpose of this study was to address the critical role of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in Shh signaling and drug resistance in Shh MB cells. Herein, we show that STAT3 is required for Smoothened (Smo)-dependent Shh signaling and, in turn, is reciprocally regulated by Shh signaling, and demonstrate that STAT3 activity is critical for expression of HCK proto-oncogene, Src family tyrosine kinase (Hck) in Shh MB. We also demonstrate that maintained STAT3 activity suppresses p21 expression and promotes colony formation of Shh MB cells, whereas dual treatment with inhibitors of both Smo and STAT3 results in marked synergistic killing and overcomes drug resistance in vitro of Smo-antagonist-resistant Shh MB cells. Finally, STAT3 inhibitor treatment significantly prevents in vivo tumor formation in genetically engineered Shh MB mice. Collectively, we show that STAT3 is necessary to maintain Shh signaling, and thus is a potential therapeutic target to treat Shh MB and overcome anti-Smo drug resistance.
Parametric Studies in Eclipse with TAU and PerfExplorer

With support for C/C++, Fortran, MPI, OpenMP, and performance tools, the Eclipse integrated development environment (IDE) is a serious contender as a programming environment for parallel applications. There is interest in adding capabilities in Eclipse for conducting workflows where an application is executed under different scenarios and its outputs are processed. For instance, parametric studies are a requirement in many benchmarking and performance tuning efforts, yet there was no experiment management support available for the Eclipse IDE. In this paper, we describe an extension of the Parallel Tools Platform (PTP) plugin for the Eclipse IDE. The extension provides a graphical user interface for selecting experiment parameters, launches build and run jobs, manages the performance data, and launches an analysis application to process the data. We describe our implementation, and discuss three experiment examples which demonstrate the experiment management support.
Investigation of power transfer density enhancement in large air-gap capacitive wireless power transfer systems

This paper introduces a new capacitive wireless power transfer approach with the potential to significantly enhance power transfer density in large air-gap applications. This enhancement is achieved through the use of multiple phase-shifted capacitive plates that reduce fringing fields in areas where field levels must be limited for safety reasons. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is evaluated using an analytical framework and validated using finite-element and circuit simulations. It is shown that a 6.78-MHz eight plate-pair system based on the proposed approach reduces fringing fields by a factor of five relative to a two plate-pair system while retaining the same power transfer density.
Optimal Design for Heart Defibrillators

During heart defibrillator implantation, a physician fibrillates the patient’s heart several times at different test strengths to estimate the effective strength necessary for defibrillation. One strategy is to implant at the strength that de-fibrillates 95% of the time (ED95). Efficient choice and use of the test strengths in this estimation problem is crucial, as each additional observation increases the risk of serious injury or death. Such choice can be formalized as finding an optimal design in, say, a logistic regression problem with interest in estimating the ED95. In practice, important features specific to this problem are the very small sample sizes; the asymmetry of the loss function; and the fact that the prior distribution arises as the distribution for the next draw of patient-specific parameters in a hierarchical model.
The Trend of Online Travel Behaviours: Cohort Analysis of 2000 and 2002

The Internet has caused a dramatic change in consumers’ travel behaviours. Increased awareness of online travel options, improved user-friendly interfaces and the expansion of easy access to travel information have played a part in attracting online consumers. According to the three year Pew Internet project research from 2000 to 2003, they claimed that the constant increase in the Internet usage over the years did not really translate into the increase in online travel users. Despite the rapid interests of online travel, the research on the online users’ usage pattern of travel search and purchase behaviour has received little attention. Therefore this paper is to add more to the existing literature regarding online travel behaviour through these research questions: How did the travel purchase behaviour change on the Internet?; How did the online search behaviour of travel information change?; and How did the total number of travel reservations made change from? These research questions were answered using the Glenn’s cohort analysis (1974) which examines birth cohort differences of the online travel behaviours through inter (between birth cohorts within same year) and intra (same birth cohorts between years) effects. For the analysis, the longitudinal data of 2000 and 2002 was adopted from the General Social Surveys, funded by National Science Foundation which is available through the ICPSR (Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research) Website.
A retrospective review of the progress in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis drug discovery over the last decade and a look at the latest strategies.

Introduction: Drug discovery for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) has experienced a surge in clinical studies and remarkable preclinical milestones utilizing a variety of mutant superoxide dismutase 1 model systems. Of the drugs that were tested and showed positive preclinical effects, none demonstrated therapeutic benefits to ALS patients in clinical settings.Areas covered: This review discusses the advances made in drug discovery for ALS and highlights why drug development is proving to be so difficult. It also discusses how a closer look at both preclinical and clinical studies could uncover the reasons why these preclinical successes have yet to result in the availability of an effective drug for clinical use.Expert opinion: Valuable lessons from the numerous preclinical and clinical studies supply the biggest advantage in the monumental task of finding a cure for ALS. Obviously, a single design type for ALS clinical trials has not yielded success. The authors suggest a two-pronged approach that ma...
Sun exposure and vitamin D sufficiency

Ultraviolet radiation is a carcinogen that also compromises skin appearance and function. Because the ultraviolet action spectra for DNA damage, skin cancer, and vitamin D(3) photosynthesis are identical and vitamin D is readily available from oral supplements, why has sun protection become controversial? First, the media and, apparently, some researchers are hungry for a new message. Second, the controversy is fueled by a powerful special interest group: the tanning industry. This industry does not target the frail elderly or inner-city ethnic minorities, groups for whom evidence of vitamin D(3) insufficiency is strongest, but rather fair-skinned teenagers and young adults, who are at highest risk of ultraviolet photodamage. Third, evolution does not keep pace with civilization. When nature gave humans the appealing capacity for cutaneous vitamin D(3) photosynthesis, life expectancy was <40 y; long-term photodamage was not a concern; and vitamin D(3) deficiency, with its resulting skeletal abnormalities (rickets), was likely to be fatal in early life. In the 21st century, life expectancy approaches 80 y in developed countries, vitamin D(3) is available at the corner store, and the lifetime risk of skin cancer is 1 in 3 among white Americans. Medical and regulatory groups should avoid poorly reasoned, sensationalistic recommendations regarding unprotected ultraviolet exposure. Instead, they should rigorously explore possible cause-and-effect relations between vitamin D(3) status and specific diseases while advocating the safest possible means of ensuring vitamin D(3) sufficiency.
Evaluating and improving protocol analysis by automatic proof

The paper summarizes the results of Automatic Authentication Protocol Analyzer (AAPA) analyses of 52 protocols from A Survey of Authentication Protocol Literature: Version 1.0 by Clark and Jacob, a continually updated library of protocols analyzed in the protocol-failure literature. The AAPA found no problems in 27 that Clark and Jacob did not identify as having problems, but also found no problems in 16 that Clark and Jacob did identify as having problems, though the attacks on 8 of these would be prevented by type checks that the AAPA assumes are always made. It found problems in 6 that Clark and Jacob also identified as having problems, and found problems in 3 that Clark anal Jacob did not identify as having problems. The paper defines a semantics for the AAPA's specification language, defines valid inference and protocol failure with respect to this semantics, identifies reasons for each of the AAPA's "misses", and sketches ongoing work that should correct all, or all except one, of these "misses".
Cell cycle-dependent transduction of cell-permeant Cre recombinase proteins.

Protein transduction has been widely used to analyze biochemical processes in living cells quantitatively and under non-steady-state conditions. The present study analyzed the effects of cell cycle on the uptake and activity of cell-permeant Cre recombinase proteins. Previous studies had suggested that the efficiency of recombination and/or protein transduction varied among individual cells, even within a clonal population. We report here that cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle undergo recombination at a lower rate than cells at other phases of the cell cycle, and that this variation results largely from differences in protein uptake, associated with differences in cell size. These results have implications regarding the mechanism of protein transduction and identify a source of heterogeneity that can influence the response of individual cells to cell-permeant proteins.
Standing magnetohydrodynamic wave modes in a viscous, gravitationally stratified cylindrical plasma

Abstract We consider standing wave solutions of the linearized magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations describing a perfectly conducting but viscous magnetofluid in a gravitationally-stratified cylindrical plasma. We assume a relatively strong homogeneous background magnetic field within the flux tube, which is oriented along the cylinder axis; the background atmosphere is in hydrostatic equilibrium, with gravity uniform and parallel to the cylinder axis; the vertical temperature profile (constrained by the stability conditions) is arbitrary. The MHD wave equations are separable, and appropriate boundary conditions are formulated. We employ a numerical shooting scheme to solve the coupled ordinary differential equations and to obtain the damping rates and eigenfrequency spectra for the standing MHD wave modes. Three series of modes are obtained for an isothermal flux tube: Alfvtnic, quasi-fast, and quasi-slow. The quasi-slow mode series is novel, having been missed previously. In the inviscid limit, with a st...
Spectrally discriminating time-resolved and space-related X-ray plasma diagnostics

The experimental study of laser-produced plasmas, particularly those relevant to laser fusion, has long motivated the development of new X-ray plasma diagnostic techniques. This paper summarizes the application of a number of novel space-resolved and time-resolved X-ray diagnostic systems to the study of plasmas produced by the 1 beam 0.35 μm GDL facility, and by the 24 beam 1.05 μm OMEGA facility at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics. Two time-resolving X-ray spectrometers are described, one utilizing a transmission grating as a dispersive element, the other employing an array of K -edge filters for spectral discrimination. A transmission grating is also used in conjunction with a Kirkpatrick-Baez microscope to provide spectrally dispersed high spatial resolution images of the laser-produced plasmas. The usefulness of these instruments in measuring specific plasma parameters and identifying particular spectral features, in some cases with the aid of other diagnostic instrumentation, is illustrated.
Development of a Scalable Process for the synthesis of trans-2-Methylcyclopropanecarboxylic Acid

A scalable process has been developed for the synthesis of trans-2-methylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid via the stereoselective cyclopropanation of ethyl crotonate with dimethylsulfoxonium methylide (Corey's ylide). This well-known reaction is generally low yielding and very challenging to scale up as it involves highly reactive reagents. A design of experiment (DoE) allowed us to quickly define the optimal ranges for the reaction parameters. A very significant increase of the yield was obtained by adding the ylide to ethyl crotonate in DMSO at 80 degrees C in anhydrous conditions. In view of a scale-up at a multikilogram scale, several experiments were then performed combining Process Analytical Technologies (PAT) and Calorimetry (Dynamic DSC, Adiabatic Reaction Calorimetry and Vent Sizing Package). For safety reasons at high temperatures on large scale the reaction was also evaluated in a continuous How reactor. Thanks to these studies, we were able to develop an efficient process avoiding the hazardous accumulation of the thermally unstable dimethylsulfoxonium methylide.
Getting Optics Through The Shop

IntroductionThere is a technique for successfully getting optics through the shop. It involvespaying attention to details and knowing at least as much about the fabrication process asthe people doing the work. By being smarter than the others involved in the fabricationprocess, we do not mean that you necessarily must be familiar with the craft side of thework, but that you should be aware of each of the necessary steps in fabrication so thatyou can ask intelligent questions about what is going on at any given time. Further, youshould be aware of a greater part of the process than the people in the shop and thus besmarter by having a better overall view of the procedures beginning with calculations andending with hardware.Finally, while maintaining a schedule means keeping up with detail, it is disastrous tolose sight of the larger picture. For example, having optics produced on schedule does nogood if the optics do not meet specifications. The larger picture is the awareness thatyou can invoice only for optics that leave your plant and meet the required specifications.That is the bottom line on getting optics through the shop.To this end, we will look at the entire cycle of producing optical components fromspecifications and prints to cost and scheduling. We will examine the areas of test equip-ment and tooling availability as well as the problems created by toxic or otherwise exoticmaterials. Finally, we will look briefly at whether optics should be done in -house to solvesome of the problems of buying optics from outside vendors.SpecificationsPerhaps the best way to avoid writing detailed specifications is to see if the opticsneeded are available as catalog items. An entire system can be designed around catalogitems if the designer is aware of what is available. Catalog items, if they appear to sat-isfy design demands, are the surest, quickest way of obtaining the optics you need.
An Automatic Curve Follower for Use with Physiological Recorders

The addition of an optional feedback loop to a previously described automatic analog curve reader, which was originally designed for reconversion of EEG ink recordings to electrical form, permits operation of the curve reader as a true line follower, often a more appropriate method for reconversion of polygraphic ink recordings having gradual to moderate slopes.
Cycloalkene budding: mass spectrometric studies of competitive and dual cycloalkene extrusion reactions from doubly unsaturated aldehyde N,N‐dimethylhydrazones

Mass spectral fragmentation pathways of four doubly unsaturated aldehyde N,N-dimethylhydrazones were investigated using EI-MS and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) under electron ionization and collisionally activated decomposition (CAD) conditions. Cyclopentene extrusion was found to be slightly favored over cyclohexene loss in a hydrazone capable of losing either cycloalkene. Evidence for the regeneration of a chain-shortened iminium radical cation as a result of cycloalkene extrusion was provided by studying substrates capable of undergoing successive cycloalkene budding sequences. EI-MS of these compounds shows sequential loss of both cyclopentene and cyclohexene, in accord with expectations for a cascade mechanism. Although these MS/MS experimental results are also compatible with alternative mechanismswhichwouldentail thesimultaneouslossof bothneutral cycloalkenes or of a macrocyclic diene, a rapid cascade of cycloalkene budding accounts best for the experimental observations. Copyright ! 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
School management and efficiency: An assessment of charter vs. traditional public schools

Abstract Publicly funded private schools, also known as charter schools in some countries, are an increasingly popular tool among ministries of education for improving school effectiveness; however, little is known about their efficiency. This study evaluates the efficiency of charter schools in Massachusetts by assessing their proficiency scores and per student spending as compared with traditional public schools. I find that charter schools outperform traditional public schools in both reading and math and that the difference is more salient in urban communities. Furthermore, urban charter schools spend significantly less per pupil than their traditional public school counterparts. Not only are charter schools outperforming traditional public schools academically, but they are doing so at a lower cost – particularly in urban communities. By introducing an efficiency component to the wider body of literature, this research explores what conditions are best suited for charter schools, taking into consideration the limited financial capabilities of underserved school districts and low-income countries.
Accelerated analyte uptake on single beads in microliter-scale batch separations using acoustic streaming: plutonium uptake by anion exchange for analysis by mass spectrometry.

The use of acoustic streaming as a noncontact mixing platform to accelerate mass-transport-limited diffusion processes in small-volume heterogeneous reactions has been investigated. Single-bead anion exchange of plutonium at nanomolar and subpicomolar concentrations in 20 µL liquid volumes was used to demonstrate the effect of acoustic mixing. Pu uptake rates on individual ∼760 µm diameter AG 1×4 anion-exchange resin beads were determined using acoustic mixing and compared with Pu uptake rates achieved by static diffusion alone. An 82 MHz surface acoustic wave (SAW) device was placed in contact with the underside of a 384-well microplate containing flat-bottomed semiconical wells. Acoustic energy was coupled into the solution in the well, inducing acoustic streaming. Pu uptake rates were determined by the plutonium remaining in solution after specific elapsed time intervals using liquid scintillation counting (LSC) for nanomolar concentrations and thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) analysis for t...
KARYAKARTIA EGYPTENSIS N. SP. (DIGENEA: LEPOCREADIIDAE) FROM THE JARBUA TERAPON, TERAPON JARBUA (FORSSKÅL) (PERCIFORMES: TERAPONTIDAE), FROM THE RED SEA AND EMENDATION OF KARYAKARTIA

Karyakartia egyptensis n. sp. (Digenea: Lepocreadiidae: Lepocreadiinae) is described from the intestine of the Jarbua terapon, Terapon jarbua (Forsskal), collected from the Red Sea off the coast of Hurghada, Egypt. Karyakartia egyptensis n. sp. differs from K. pambanense in that the former species possesses larger spiniform structures around the perimeter of the mouth (48–54 μm as compared with 25–30 μm), a uroproct rather than ceca that end blindly or form a cyclocoel, and a somewhat smaller egg (60–68 μm as compared with 70–73 μm).
Relative argininosuccinate synthetase mRNA levels and gene copy number in canavanine-resistant lymphoblasts

Mutants resistant to the arginine analogue, canavanine, have been isolated from two normal lymphoblast lines, MGL8B2 and MGL33. These mutants constitutively express up to 200-fold higher amounts of structurally normal argininosuccinate synthetase, the urea cycle enzyme that converts citrulline to argininosuccinate. Relative levels of argininosuccinate synthetase mRNA were compared among normal and canavanine-resistant lines using in vitro translation of poly(adenylic acid) RNA and blot hybridization of total cytoplasmic RNA to an argininosuccinate synthetase cDNA. Both of these approaches indicated that the canavanine-resistant lines contain increased steady-state levels of synthetase-specific mRNA relative to their sensitive parents and that these were roughly correlated with levels of enzyme activity. Blot hybridization of EcoRI-digested genomic DNA preparations revealed no detectable differences in argininosuccinate synthetase structural gene copy number between normal and canavanine-resistant lymphoblasts, demonstrating that the canavanine-resistant phenotype is not caused by gene amplification.
A study of motor nerve terminals on cat nuclear bag1 intrafusal muscle fibers using the ChE staining technique.

Muscle spindles were traced in serial transverse sections of cat tenuissimus muscles. Histochemical staining for “myofibrillar” adenosine 5′-triphosphatase was employed to identify nuclear bag1 intrafusal muscle fibers. Staining for cholinesterases (ChE) was used to demonstrate the termination sites of motor axons along the fibers. Several types of ChE deposits could be distinguished along the bag1 fibers based on intensity of staining and morphological characteristics. Most ChE deposits could be classified as either the “pale” or the “nonpale” plates. Some ChE active areas fitted neither of these two categories. Among 328 ChE “plates” encountered on 192 bag1 fiber poles, 197 (60%) were of the “pale” and 27(8%) of the “nonpale” type with 104(32%) remaining unclassified. These histochemical observations are discussed with regard to the current structural and functional concepts of motor innervation of the nuclear bag1 fiber. It is suggested that the histochemical (ChE staining intensity) and morphological (length and form) characteristics of bag1 fiber motor endings are not determined solely by the nature of the corresponding motor axons.
Polymerase chain reaction-based assays of vitreous samples for the diagnosis of viral retinitis. Use in diagnostic dilemmas.

Objective: This study aimed to review the authors' results using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays for the diagnosis of viral retinitis. Design: The study design was a retrospective case series. Participants: Thirty-seven patients (38 eyes) with active retinitis from whom vitreous biopsy specimens were received in the authors' laboratory for diagnostic evaluation. Intervention: Vitreous biopsy specimens were evaluated with previously described PCR-based assays for cytomegalovirus (CMV), varicella zoster virus (VZV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV) DNA; clinical histories were reviewed. Main Outcome Measures: Laboratory findings and clinical course were measured. Results: The results of the authors' assays were consistent with the long-term clinical course of each patient. Cytomegalovirus, VZV, or HSV DNA was detected in the vitreous from 24 patients. Cytomegalovirus DNA was detected in vitreous biopsy specimens from 10 patients (11 eyes). Nine patients (ten eyes) with acquired immune deficiency syndrome ultimately were diagnosed with CMV retinitis as they were followed clinically over time. Varicella zoster virus DNA was detected in vitreous biopsy specimens from eight patients; seven adult patients were ultimately diagnosed with acute retinal necrosis or progressive outer retinal necrosis. Herpes simplex virus DNA was detected in vitreous biopsy specimens from six patients; five patients had previous or subsequent herpes encephalitis. No viral DNA was detected in the vitreous from 13 patients; all were ultimately diagnosed with toxoplasmosis, syphilis, Behcet disease, fungal endophthalmitis, or idiopathic inflammation. Conclusions: These data further support the use of PCR-based assays of vitreous specimens in the diagnostic evaluation of patients with infectious retinitis.
Computer planned collates

Little effort has been directed toward the creation of efficient, easy-to-use file merging routines. This lack of effort undoubtedly stems from the feeling that a process as simple and straightforward as merging two or more files does not lend itself to sophisticated techniques.
Recent advances in global optimization for process synthesis, design and control: Enclosure of all solutions

Abstract Recent advances in global optimization for process synthesis, design and control are discussed. After a review of the chemical engineering contributions, we focus on the enclosure of all solutions of nonlinear constrained systems of equations. Important theoretical results are presented accompanied with computational studies on the enclosure of multiple steady states and all homogeneous azeotropes.
Overview of grid connected renewable energy based battery projects in USA

Abstract Reliable source of energy is a topic of momentous concern in the world due to the uncertainty in conventional energy sources. The situation gets exacerbated with the impact of natural disasters on the transmission grid. The advent of cutting edge energy storage technology has provided a competent solution. Energy storage system is an integral part of a grid since it enhances the stability and performance by disengaging the energy generation source and the load especially when intermittent renewable energy sources are a part of the system. Battery technology should not only be able to demonstrate high performance but must be economically viable for project implementation. Several grid connected renewable energy based battery projects have been implemented for research and development as well as commercial application. The projects discussed in this review are considered based on the availability of information. This review paper will focus on grid connected battery projects powered by wind and solar energy generation sources.
β-Adrenergic Receptor Overexpression in the Fetal Rat: Distribution, Receptor Subtypes, and Coupling to Adenylate Cyclase Activity via G-Proteins

Abstract Biogenic amines are hypothesized to play a role in the control of cell differentiation. We assessed the development of β-adrenergic receptors and their linkage to adenylate cyclase activity in order to determine whether catecholaminergic cell signaling can take place early in development. On Gestational Day 12, β-receptors were present in rat embryo in concentrations comparable to those in mature adrenergic target tissues; the concentrations climbed fivefold by Gestational Day 18. β-Receptor expression was higher in liver than in heart and brain, as identified both by binding to isolated membrane preparations and by receptor autoradiography; nevertheless, receptor distribution was quite widespread, with labeling visible throughout the fetus. Receptor subtype selectivities (β 2 in liver, β 1 in heart, predominantly β 2 in whole fetus) were already in place in early development, but receptor coupling to adenylate cyclase via G-proteins showed substantial developmental changes. Agonist-induced displacement of radioligand binding showed little or no GTP sensitivity on Gestational Day 12, suggesting relatively poor receptor linkage to G(s). In contrast, by Day 18, GTP produced a large shift in the agonist displacement curve. Receptor stimulation of adenylate cyclase by isoproterenol also showed a developmental spike by Gestational Day 18; the pattern for isoproterenol stimulation was distinct from the ontogeny of adenylate cyclase itself and from stimulation by forskolin-Mn 2+ (which bypasses the need for receptors or G-proteins) or by fluoride (which activates G-proteins nonselectively). Thus, β-receptors are highly expressed during fetal development and the receptors are readily capable of modulating intracellular cAMP production. Fetal catecholamines, which are produced and released by the adrenal medulla, extraadrenal chromaffin tissue, and cells that transiently express adrenergic phenotype, can thus have a direct impact on the differentiation of a wide variety of cells.
Strength characterization of MgO-partially stabilized zirconia

The flexural strength of MgO-partially stabilized zirconia was evaluated as a function of temperature (20–1300 °C in air environment), applied stress and time. The indentation-induced-flaw technique did not produce well-defined symmetrical cracks of controlled size, whose length (on the tensile surface) or depth (on the fracture face) can be measured unambiguously, and therefore it should not be used for measuring fracture toughness. The sudden decrease in fracture strength at moderately low temperatures (200–800 °C) is believed to be due to stability of the tetragonal phase and relative decrease in the extent of the stress-induced martensitic phase transformation of the tetragonal to monoclinic phase. Flexural stress rupture testing at 500–800 °C in air indicated the material's susceptibility to time-dependent failure, and outlines safe applied stress levels for a given temperature. Stress rupture testing at 1000 °C and above at low applied stress levels showed bending of specimens, indicating the onset of plasticity or viscous flow of the glassy phase and consequent degradation of material strength.
Optimal Numerical Methods for Choosing an Optimal Regularization Parameter

Five different computational methodologies are studied and evaluated for the purpose of determining optimal regularization parameters. These methods include the maximum likelihood (ML), the ordinary cross-validation (OCV), the generalized cross-validation (GCV), the L-curve method, and the discrepancy principle (DP). This is the first time that these five methods are compared simultaneously by using the same example problems for the inverse heat transfer problem. Testing results show that the discrepancy principle gives the best estimate of the regularization parameter. In many cases, the OCV and GCV are the second and third best methods, and the L-curve method is the fourth most accurate method among the five methods. The ML method is very stable but always estimates smaller regularization parameters than in the analytical solution.
The half-life and mass of 43Ti

Abstract The mass and beta-decay half-life for 43 Ti has been measured using the 40 Ca(α, n) 43 Ti reaction. The mass excess ( 12 C scale) was determined to be −29325±15 keV from a value of 12290±10 keV for the reaction threshold. The corresponding beta end-point energy was calculated to be 5.83±0.02 MeV. The half-life of 43 Ti was measured to be 0.49±0.01 sec. The corresponding log ft value is 3.47±0.03.
Temperature-controlled content release from liposomes encapsulating Pluronic F127

Temperature-dependent internal content release from liposomes was examined using di-oleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC)/cholesterol liposomes with encapsulated Pluronic F127 molecules. The interaction of Pluronic F127 with the lipid bilayer at elevated temperature causes the release of encapsulated contents. Content release was measured using fluorescent markers of two different sizes: small, carboxyfluorescein (CF), and large, bovine serum albumin-conjugated fluorescein iso-thiocyanate (BSA-FITC). Release of CF was studied using fluorescence de-quenching, while that of BSA-FITC was studied using fluorescence emission quenching due to fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Temperature-controlled complete internal content release was achieved at a precise temperature by controlling the concentration of the encapsulated Pluronic. Increasing cholesterol % in the liposome composition resulted in a sharper transition with temperature in content release. The onset temperature of content release increased with decrease in Pluronic concentration. For the same Pluronic concentration, the onset temperature also depended on the size of the encapsulated marker and was higher for larger markers. We have established that onset of content release is determined by the critical micellar temperature (CMT) of the Pluronic. Temperature-sensitive liposomes, made stealth using di-stearoyl(polyethylene glycol 5000) phosphatidylethanolamine (DSPEG5000PE) in conjunction with Pluronic F127, had similar temperature sensitivity and efficiency in content release compared to the non-stealth liposomes.
Long-term outcomes in patients with sickle cell disease and frequent vaso-occlusive crises.

Background The frequency of vaso-occlusive crises correlates with mortality in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). We examined the degree to which a high number of hospitalization days for these events affected survival. Patients and Methods We reviewed data for 58 adult patients with SCD (mean age, 29.9 ± 7.3 years) treated at our hospital between 1986 and 1994 who had at least 100 hospitalization days during any of these years. Their mean follow up period was 6.65 years (median, 6.84 years; range, 0.15–14.51 years). Results Thirty-five patients (60.3%) died during follow-up. In multivariate analysis that included age, gender, and numbers of transfusions and hospitalization days, only age was significantly associated with mortality. The National Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease (CSSCD) estimates the 10-year mortality at 15% for all 20-year old SS patients and also for all 30-year-old women. For 30-year-old men, the CSSCD estimated a 10-year mortality of about 28%. Thus, the 60.3% mortality of our patients after a median follow-up of only 6.84 years was substantially higher. Fifty-one patients were still alive after 1992, when hydroxyurea became available for SCD. The median survival of 15 hydroxyurea-treated patients was 7.3 years, compared with 4.3 years in 36 patients who did not take the drug. Conclusions Mortality for patients with SCD with a high number of hospitalization days was much higher than that expected for patients with SCD in general. There was a (nonsignificant) trend for longer survival in these severely ill patients if they took hydroxyurea.
Online Synchronous Audio and Video Environments for Education, Training, and Human Service Delivery: A Review of Three Products

ABSTRACT This application review describes the Internet Video Virtual Classroom (IVVC). The IVVC is a synchronous online environment where instructors can deliver course curriculum to students in real time and at a distance. Features of the IVVC that are described include video, audio, and text communication between participants, information sharing, facilitating participation, promoting group work, and documenting interactions. In addition, problems and limitations that can exist in the IVVC are discussed. Finally, to further illustrate the IVVC, three specific products (Adobe Acrobat Connect Professional, Elluminate, and Flashmeeting) are described.
NORTH CAPE OIL SPILL NRDA PROCESS UNDER OPA 1990

ABSTRACT On January 19, 1996, the tank borge North Cape and the tug Scandia grounded on Moonstone Beach in southern Rhode Island, spilling 828,000 gallons of no. 2 heating oil into Block Island Sound. Just 2 weeks prior to the grounding, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had published the final natural resource damage assessment (NRDA) rule for the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA). The North Cape oil spill became the first opportunity to implement the new NRDA rules. One of the key provisions of the NRDA rule is the requirement that trustees must invite the responsible parties (RP) to participate in a cooperative assessment of damages. If the trustees and the RP can agree to perform the initial phases of an assessment cooperatively, the chances of achieving a fair settlement and avoiding protracted litigation are expected to be enhanced. The cooperative approach should also reduce overall transaction costs, facilitate settlement, and result in a more rapid implementation of restora...
Pressure–volume equation of state for solids

Abstract The equation V(P)=V o −B ln [(1+C(P−1)], where V is volume at any pressure ( P ), V o the volume at 1 bar and B and C fitted parameters, is shown to be useful as an equation of state for many solids over a large pressure range. The solids (maximum pressure in bracket) examined are iron (305), gold (145), platinum (666), bismuth (222) and periclase (MgO) (65) with bulk modulus of 152, 167, 267, 34 and 189 GPa, respectively.
A comparison of role differentiation in several situations

Abstract A study was conducted to determine whether role differentiation similar to that found by Bales and Slater would occur among MBA students in leaderless case discussion groups. Bales and Slater (1955) had found role differentiation, differentiation between task specialists and social-emotional specialists, in small leaderless groups using Harvard undergraduates. MBA students from two different years were required to participate in five-man groups to discuss organizational behavior cases for four sessions. In both sets of groups less role differentiation occurred than was found by Bales and Slater. Those groups for whom the case discussions had the greatest relevance to the MBA coursework, had the least role differentiation. This provided confirmation to Verba's hypothesis that those leaders that contribute to the accomplishment of a task that is important to the group members will be rewarded with positive effect from the group members.
No sex difference in perceived competence of computer use among male and female college students in 2002.

The present research examined sex differences in general computer knowledge and computer anxiety. Survey data about computer knowledge comfort, and interest were collected from 697 students, 579 from a previous study in 2001 at three types of colleges (a four-year liberal arts college, a business college, or a community college). With few exceptions, no differences associated with sex were detected. Implications for the present findings are discussed.
Impact of Federal Intervention on Higher Education.

One of the most serious crises currently facing institutions of higher education is federal intervention. The level which this crisis has reached is attested to by the fact that the presidents of three leading universities (Yale, Harvard, and Cornell) have in the past two years presented major reports addressed exclusively to this concern. The purpose of this article is to assess the impact of recent federal legislation and regulations on higher education. The author articulates the precepts posited in defense of such federal intervention, some of which are: financial contributions, social injustice, moral responsibility, student unrest, etc. The general costs of complying with federal laws and regulations are enumerated. In addition, the article considers the impact of a number of recent federal laws and regulations, including: Health Professions Educational Assistance Act of 1976; Copyright Law of 1976; Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity; and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The author explores the steps that have recently been undertaken to reduce costs of complying with federal regulations and suggests additional solutions to this problem. The article concludes with a prognosis for what higher education can anticipate from the federal government and how higher education best protects its interests.
Food and Water Intake Response of Turkeys to Intracerebroventricular Injections of Angiotensin II.

Abstract The effects of intracerebroventricular (ICV) injections of angiotensin II on food and water intake were studied in adult Medium White turkey hens. Food intake was not significantly affected by ICV injections of angiotensin II. The ICV injection of 50, 100, and 200 ng of angiotensin II significantly increased water intake in a dose-dependent manner. The dipsogenic effect of angiotensin II was significantly attenuated by Saralasin, an angiotensin blocker. These results suggest that angiotensin II functions in neural pathways within the central nervous system to control water intake, but not food intake, in turkeys.
JUVENILE WILSON'S DISEASE: HISTOLOGICAL AND FUNCTIONAL CORRELATIONS DURING PENICILLAMINE THERAPY

Clinical improvement and cupruresis occur during penicillamine(PCN) therapy for Wilson's Disease(WD), but long-term effects of the drug on hepatic morphology are virtually unknown. We studied 6 patients(pts) with WD (diagnosed at 7-24 yrs) who were clinically asymptommatic at follow-up(f/u) liver biopsy 2-7 yrs after onset of treatment. By comparison to pre-treatment biopsies (3 pts), there was marked reduction in portal fibrosis in 1 (7 yr f/u) and significant but less impressive decreases in 2 (2 yr f/u). Portal inflammation was greatly diminished in all 3, with periportal necrosis still present in 1 (2 yr f/u). None had complete restitution of normal architecture. At f/u, 3 pts on therapy for 3,5 or 7 yrs (without initial biopsy) had dense portal cirrhosis; in 2, portal lymphocytic infiltration was prominent; in 1, there was marked fatty change. Hepatocellular non-bilirubin pigment was abundant in 5/6 f/u specimens. Hepatic Cu++ levels were 80-750 μg/g (n1<50) and did not correlate with the degree of pigment deposition or healing. Liver function reverted to normal in 5/6 pts; serum Cu++ levels fell 50% and remained low. Hypoceruloplasminemia persisted in all. K-F rings faded or disappeared. One pt has hepatic dysfunction, cirrhosis and K-F rings despite therapy. The data show that morphological improvement occurs in some PCN-treated pts with WD, but that this is not predicted by function tests. Sequential biopsies are needed to evaluate fully the extent of healing.
A new species of Cosmocerca (Nematoda, Cosmocercidae) and other helminths from Genyophryne thomsoni (Anura, Microhylidae) from Papua New Guinea

Cosmocerca tyleri sp. nov. (Ascaridida, Cosmocercidae) from the large intestine of Genyophryne thomsoni (Anura, Microhylidae) is described and illustrated. Cosmocerca tyleri sp. nov. represents the 23rd species assigned to the genus and the 6th from the Australian realm. Of the 5 Australian species previously described, C. tyleri sp. nov. differs from C. limnodynastes and C. novaeguineae in number of plectanes, 4 pairs in C. tyleri, 5 pairs in C. limnodynastes and C. novaeguineae. Cosmocerca australis has 3–4 pairs of plectanes, C. archeyi and C. zugi each have 4 pairs of plectanes; however, in each species the plectanes lie in the fourth quarter of the body and just anterior to the cloaca. In C. tyleri sp. nov. the plectanes lie in the third quarter of the body and there is significant space between the cloaca and the posterior pair of plectanes.
Cardiac-specific NRAP overexpression causes right ventricular dysfunction in mice.

Abstract The muscle-specific protein NRAP is concentrated at cardiac intercalated disks, plays a role in myofibril assembly, and is upregulated early in mouse models of dilated cardiomyopathy. Using a tet-off system, we developed novel transgenic lines exhibiting cardiac-specific NRAP overexpression ~ 2.5 times greater than normal. At 40–50 weeks, NRAP overexpression resulted in dilation and decreased ejection fraction in the right ventricle, with little effect on the left ventricle. Expression of transcripts encoding brain natriuretic peptide and skeletal α-actin was increased by cardiac-specific NRAP overexpression, indicative of a cardiomyopathic response. NRAP overexpression did not alter the levels or organization of N-cadherin and connexin-43. The results show that chronic NRAP overexpression in the mouse leads to right ventricular cardiomyopathy by 10 months, but that the early NRAP upregulation previously observed in some mouse models of dilated cardiomyopathy is unlikely to account for the remodeling of intercalated disks and left ventricular dysfunction observed in those cases.
An accurate split step scheme for viscous incompressible fluid flow

Abstract The conceptual basis underlying pressure splitting schemes in fluid mechanics is clarified by deriving a split step scheme using a rational approximation procedure, and it is shown that a modified version of the method provides accurate solutions for both the velocity and the pressure. In the most effective of the algorithms proposed here the velocity is advanced in time using a variant of a current split step scheme, and the pressure is corrected by solving an additional Poisson equation ad libitum. The method is demonstrated for a sample problem.