cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of SSO-ASTRO "No Ink on Tumor" Guidelines on Reexcision Rates among Older Breast Cancer Patients

The SSO-ASTRO consensus guideline on invasive breast cancer defined negative margin as no ink on tumor, obviating the need for reexcision in some patients. We evaluated the impact of these recommendations on the rates of reexcision in older breast cancer patients undergoing breast-conserving surgery (BCS). Women age ≥ 66 years with stage I–II breast cancer who underwent BCS and radiation were identified in the SEER-Medicare linked database (2012–2015). We divided patients into three cohorts: pre-guideline (January 2012 to September 2013), peri-guideline (October 2013 to March 2014), and post-guideline (April 2014 to September 2016). Descriptive statistics were used, and the relative change in reexcision rate between the pre- and post-guideline periods was calculated. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate factors associated with risk of reexcision. A total of 11,639 patients were included (pre-guideline, N = 5211; peri-guideline, N = 1366; post-guideline, N = 5062); overall, 21.7% of patients underwent reexcision. The reexcision rates decreased after the guideline was published (23.5% vs. 19.3%, p < 0.001). In the multivariable model, BCS during the post-guideline period was associated with a statistically significant decreased risk of reexcision (RR = 0.84; 95% CI 0.78–0.90). Lobular histology was associated with a higher risk of reexcision (RR = 1.32; 95% CI 1.19–1.46), and greater surgeon volume was associated with lower risk of reexcision (RR = 0.92; 95% CI 0.85–1.0). Among older breast cancer patients undergoing BCS for invasive cancer, reexcision rates decreased with the dissemination of the SSO-ASTRO consensus guideline. Identifying factors associated with higher rates of reexcision could improve guideline compliance and reduce the frequency of unnecessary interventions in older patients.
Combinatorial Cytotoxic Effects of 2,3-Dichloro-5,8-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone and 4-hydroxytamoxifen in Triple-negative Breast Cancer Cell Lines.

Background/aim Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive form of breast cancer (BC) and lacks targeted therapy and alternate therapeutic combinations. There is a necessity to increase disease-free survival in patients particularly within the first 5 years of diagnosis. 2,3-dichloro-5,8-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (Z285), a novel 1,4 naphthoquinone analog, has been shown to have cytotoxic activity in BC cell lines and in combination with 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT). A known metabolite of tamoxifen, was postulated to decrease cell proliferation. Thus, this study investigates the use of Z285 and 4-OHT alone or in combination as a novel therapeutic alternative for TNBC. Materials and methods Cell proliferation assays were performed on MDA-MB-231, Hs578T, MCF7 and HCC1806 cell lines at varying time points with Z285 and 4-OHT alone and in combination. Furthermore, ROS activity was measured to determine the changes in oxidative stress caused by both drugs. Results The results showed dose- and time-dependent decreases in proliferation for all cell lines when treated with Z285, 4-OHT and their combination. Combinatorial analysis performed at 72 h using Synergyfinder® showed additive effects in MCF7, HCC1806 and Hs578T and an antagonistic response in MDA-MB-231. Z285 caused a significant increase in ROS production in three cell lines after 8 h, but HCC1806 showed no change in effect. Conclusion These promising results suggest the independent ability of each compound as a stand-alone chemotherapeutic agent, or in combinatorial therapy for the treatment of TNBC.
Resource Use and Outcomes of Pediatric Congenital Heart Disease Admissions: 2003 to 2016

Background Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) are known to consume a disproportionate share of resources, yet there are limited data concerning trends in resource use and mortality among ...
Development of ejector performance map for predicting fixed-geometry two-phase ejector performance for wide range of operating conditions

Abstract Recent studies have expanded the operational envelope of ejector by utilizing both pressure recovery and liquid recirculation mechanisms. This necessitates finding a consistent representation of fixed-geometry ejector performance data using only operational variables for predicting ejector performance. Taking inspiration from the compressor performance maps, the study explores the appropriate motive, performance, and characterization variable for representing ejector performance while conducting experiments on a transcritical CO2 ejector system. The existing ejector efficiency is revisited by conducting ejector power analysis. Two possible motive variables, along with a new ejector efficiency is introduced. The trends of existing and new ejector efficiencies are studied in controlled motive variable experiments while changing suction flow conditions. The ejector performance can be represented with the help of a single curve, termed as ejector performance map, using the new ejector efficiency as performance variable and the volumetric entrainment ratio as characterization variable. The prediction accuracy for both the single-phase and the two-phase suction inlet conditions are evaluated while developing performance map using only the single-phase suction inlet data points. The methodology can predict 89.3% of the data within 20% accuracy. The applicability of the methodology is assessed for other datasets involving different refrigerants, cycle architectures, and applications. The proposed ejector performance map can be utilized in numerical ejector system analysis for investigating new cycle architectures based on ejector experimental data, thus, improving system model fidelity. It can also help system design engineers in making ejector system selection decisions after thorough system performance analysis.
Have you tried Neural Topic Models? Comparative Analysis of Neural and Non-Neural Topic Models with Application to COVID-19 Twitter Data

Topic models are widely used in studying social phenomena. We conduct a comparative study examining state-of-the-art neural versus non-neural topic models, performing a rigorous quantitative and qualitative assessment on a dataset of tweets about the COVID-19 pandemic. Our results show that not only do neural topic models outperform their classical counterparts on standard evaluation metrics, but they also produce more coherent topics, which are of great benefit when studying complex social problems. We also propose a novel regularization term for neural topic models, which is designed to address the well-documented problem of mode collapse, and demonstrate its effectiveness.
Lifeboat Ethic versus Corporate Ethic: Social and Demographic Implications of Stem and Joint Families

Kinship systems profoundly influence household economic strategies and thereby affect a wide range of development outcomes. Das Gupta distinguishes the lifeboat ethic of Northern Europe's stem family system from the corporate ethic of North India's joint family system, which has much in common with that of China. She contrasts these family systems to show how norms of residence and inheritance - Profoundly influence our values and social constructs. - Shape patterns of conflict and cooperation between people, thus influencing many basic aspects of social organization and behavior. - Influence health outcomes by categorizing people according to whether their health is promoted or allowed to fail. - Shape a wide range of other development outcomes, including migration, strategies of household resource management, ways of exploiting commercial opportunities, and the operation of civil society. Das Gupta develops a number of hypotheses about the nature of these relationships. Some of these are substantiated quantitatively, and others can be tested empirically. This paper - a product of Regulation and Competition Policy, Development Research Group - is part of a larger effort in the group to study social institutions and development outcomes. Monica Das Gupta may be contacted at mdasgupta@worldbank.org.
Low-latency speculative inference on distributed multi-modal data streams

While multi-modal deep learning is useful in distributed sensing tasks like human tracking, activity recognition, and audio and video analysis, deploying state-of-the-art multi-modal models in a wirelessly networked sensor system poses unique challenges. The data sizes for different modalities can be highly asymmetric (e.g., video vs. audio), and these differences can lead to significant delays between streams in the presence of wireless dynamics. Therefore, a slow stream can significantly slow down a multi-modal inference system in the cloud, leading to either increased latency (when blocked by the slow stream) or degradation in inference accuracy (if inference proceeds without waiting). In this paper, we introduce speculative inference on multi-modal data streams to adapt to these asymmetries across modalities. Rather than blocking inference until all sensor streams have arrived and been temporally aligned, we impute any missing, corrupt, or partially-available sensor data, then generate a speculative inference using the learned models and imputed data. A rollback module looks at the class output of speculative inference and determines whether the class is sufficiently robust to incomplete data to accept the result; if not, we roll back the inference and update the model's output. We implement the system in three multi-modal application scenarios using public datasets. The experimental results show that our system achieves 7 -- 128× latency speedup with the same accuracy as six state-of-the-art methods.
Comments on “Molecular interaction studies of antidepressant drug with aqueous caffeine using volumetric and acoustic methods”

Abstract A polemic is given regarding the apparent molal volumes reported in the recent paper by Jamal and coworkers. The authors’ calculated apparent molal volumes for escitalopram oxalate dissolved in aqueous-caffeine solvent media were found to be miscalculated, and are inconsistent with the experimental densities given in the paper. Correctly calculated the numerical values do not show much of a concentration dependence as one would be led to believe by the values presented in the previously published paper.
Alexithymia disrupts emotion regulation processes and is associated with greater negative affect and alcohol problems.

OBJECTIVE Alexithymia is common among people who abuse alcohol, yet the mechanisms by which alexithymia exerts its influence remain unclear. This analysis tested a model whereby the three subscales of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale exert an indirect effect on alcohol problems through difficulties with emotion regulation and psychological distress. METHOD Men and women (n = 141) seeking alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatment completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Difficulties with Emotion Regulation Scale, the Brief Symptom Inventory, the Short Inventory of Problems, and the Alcohol Dependence Scale. RESULTS The Difficulty Identifying Feelings subscale of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale was positively associated with alcohol problems through emotion dysregulation and psychological distress. The other two subscales, Difficulty Describing Feelings and Externally oriented Thinking, were not associated with any other variables. CONCLUSION People with alexithymia may consume alcohol to help regulate undifferentiated states of emotional arousal. Given the prevalence of alexithymia among people who abuse alcohol, treatment supplements that enhance the identification of emotions are needed.
Palinode: The Heteronormative Re/production of Transsexual

This project began at the intersection of several conversations: Recently Jay Prosser (2005) wrote a palinode of his analysis of Del Lagrace's photograph of the genitals of a female-to-male transsexual. Recanting his original reading of the photograph as a referent directly linked to "male," Prosser re-read the photograph, suggesting "the referent [is] unsuturable with the signifier," in other words concluding that transsexuality…is…irreconcilable…within gender representation" (p. 176). This idea of a palinode caught my attention. How could I re-read my data to realize what was lost in the original, to find that which exceeded the bounds of signification so I might further glimpse the real (Prosser, 2005)? Concurrently, I was reading Pink's (2004) call to use hypertext as a means to critically reflect on the way arguments are constructed, and MacDougall's (2006) discussion on how the mode of representation influences meaning. Swimming with these thoughts, I began to use writing in and through Storyspace, a self publishing hypertext program, as a method of inquiry (Richardson & St. Pierre, 2005) to write this palinode. Key Words: Narrative Inquiry, Transsexual, Hypertext, Poststructural Methods, and Data Analysis
Molecular Characterization of Macrophage-Biomaterial Interactions

Implantation of biomaterials in vascularized tissues elicits the sequential engagement of molecular and cellular elements that constitute the foreign body response. Initial events include the non-specific adsorption of proteins to the biomaterial surface that render it adhesive for cells such as neutrophils and macrophages. The latter undergo unique activation and in some cases undergo cell-cell fusion to form foreign body giant cells that contribute to implant damage and fibrotic encapsulation. In this review, we discuss the molecular events that contribute to macrophage activation and fusion with a focus on the role of the inflammasome, signaling pathways such as JAK/STAT and NF-κB, and the putative involvement of micro RNAs in the regulation of these processes.
Carbon-rich hexagonal (BN)C alloys

Thin films of hexagonal boron nitride carbon, h-(BN)1−x(C2)x, alloys in the C-rich side have been synthesized by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) on c-plane sapphire substrates. X-ray diffraction measurements confirmed single hexagonal phase of h-(BN)1−x(C2)x epilayers. Electrical transport and Raman spectroscopy measurements results revealed evidences that homogenous h-(BN)1−x(C2)x alloys with x ≥ 95% can be synthesized by MOCVD at a growth temperature of 1300 °C. The variable temperature Hall-effect measurements suggested that a bandgap opening of about 93 meV with respect to graphite has been obtained for h-(BN)1−x(C2)x with x = 0.95, which is consistent with the expected value deduced from the alloy dependence of the energy gap of homogenous h-(BN)1−x(C2)x alloys. Atomic composition results obtained from x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements revealed that the carrier type in C-rich h-(BN)1−x(C2)x alloys is controlled by the stoichiometry ratio between the B and N via changing th...
Dietary antibiotics decrease taurine loss in cats fed a canned heat-processed diet

In a crossover design, cats were fed a canned heat-processed diet (18 g dry matter/kg initial body wt) either with (+) or without (-) antibiotics [a mixture of penicillin G, procaine (25 mg/18 g diet) and tetracycline (50 mg/18 g diet)]. The (-/+) group received no antibiotics during the first 5-wk period and received antibiotics during the second 5-wk period; the (+/-) group received the reverse. Plasma, whole blood, urinary and fecal concentrations of taurine, fecal bile acid excretion and cholyltaurine hydrolase activities were measured. Consumption of antibiotics for 5 wk resulted in a lower rate of depletion of plasma taurine. Taurine concentrations decreased more over the first 5 wk in cats in the (-/+) group than in cats in the (+/-) group [from 116 +/- 26 to 26 +/- 6 mumol/L (-/+) and from 109 +/- 6 to 77 +/- 7 mumol/L (+/-) for plasma, and from 546 +/- 8 to 292 +/- 29 mumol/L (-/+) and from 560 +/- 11 to 431 +/- 20 mumol/L (+/-) for whole blood]. Urinary total taurine excretions during the 5th week were 54 mumol/d for the (-/+) group and 135 mumol/d for the (+/-) group (pooled SEM, +/- 13). Fecal total taurine excretions during the 5th week were 184 and 53 mumol/d for the (-/+) and (+/-) groups, respectively, (pooled SEM +/- 9). Most of the fecal taurine was unconjugated (free). Fecal bile acid excretions during the 5th week were 235 +/- 18 and 106 +/- 11 mumol/d for the (-/+) and (+/-) groups, respectively. Dietary antibiotics suppressed fecal cholyltaurine hydrolase activity of cats. Fecal cholyltaurine hydrolase activities during the 5th week were 279 +/- 54 and 42 +/- 10 nmol cholic acid released.min-1.g dry feces-1 in the (-/+) and (+/-) groups, respectively. After the crossover, mean values for the groups were reversed, showing that the observed changes were due to the antibiotic treatment. These results support the hypothesis that the dietary taurine requirement of cats is largely determined by the extent of microbial degradation of taurine in the gastrointestinal tract.
MEDIEVAL AND EARLY MODERN COINAGE AND ITS PROBLEMS

This paper describes the chaotic monetary environment of medieval and early modern Europe. The poor quality of the coinage was a result both of problems with the supply of bullion and with deficiencies of monetary policy. The paper examines the supply and demand of bullion and the determinants of bullion flows. It then discusses the economics and politics of debasement. It concludes with a description of how commerce adapted to this inhospitable monetary environment.
Polynomial-Time Analysis for a Class of Communicating processes

"Can a process terminate prematurely?" is a computationally difficult question to answer for finite-state communicating processes. We present an algorithm for this problem that runs in polynomial (quadratic) time for a significant class of communicating processes. The underlying model is algebraic and represents a restriction of Milner's CCS to finite-state systems with one-to-one communication.
Pathologic physiology and chemotherapy of Plasmodium berghei: VIII. Liver enzymes and the influence of hexachloroparaxylene (WR 17,206)

Abstract Hexachloroparaxylene prolonged the survival of the mouse and rat infected with Plasmodium berghei . The cardiac effects of this compound consisted of: (a) Depression of respiratory enzymes of the heart homogenate of the mouse; and (b) prolongation of effective refractory period and increase in excitability of the isolated rat atrial muscle. The respiratory enzymes of liver homogenate were also depressed by the administration of hexachloroparaxylene to the control and infected mice. The development of malarial infection caused a depression in activity of liver enzymes associated with an elevation in lactic acid level in the blood.
Correlation Effects on Stability in Pu Metal and Its Alloys

The existence of six crystallographic allotropes from room temperature up to the solid-liquid transition just above 913 K at atmospheric pressure makes solid Plutonium unique among the elements in the periodic table. Among these phases (labeled α, β,γ,δ, δ’, and S the δ phase, stable between 593 K and 736 K, has commanded considerable interest in the metallurgical and solid state communities 1. In contrast to the low-temperature monoclinic a phase, which is brittle, the face-centered cubic (fcc) δ phase is ductile, a property that makes it convenient for engineering applications. This phase can also be stabilized through alloying with a number of other elements such as Ga, Al, Sc, and Am.
Contract Law in Context: The Case of Software Contracts

The membership of The American Law Institute unanimously approved the “Principles of the Law of Software Contracts” in May of 2009. In this essay for a symposium in the Wake Forest Law Review, I draw on my experience as Reporter on the ALI project to add my perspective on an interesting general question: Is specialization of contract law wise and, if so, in what contexts? I certainly cannot definitively answer the question of whether in the abstract society is better off with general or specialized law, but my experience in drafting the software rules, along with Associate Reporter, Maureen O'Rourke, sheds some light.
Constitutionalism Outside the Courts

This essay is a chapter to be included in the forthcoming Oxford Handbook on the U.S. Constitution. Using the actions of Arkansas Governor Orville Faubus during the Little Rock crisis of 1957 and the U.S. Supreme Court’s subsequent decision in Cooper v. Aaron as a lens, it explores constitutional interpretation and enforcement by extrajudicial institutions. I explore the critique of Cooper’s notion of judicial supremacy by departmentalists like Walter Murphy, empirical scholars skeptical of judicial efficacy like Gerald Rosenberg, and popular constitutionalists like Larry Kramer and Mark Tushnet. I also consider four distinct institutional forms of extrajudicial constitutional interpretation and enforcement: protection of constitutional values through political processes and checks and balances; the role of social movements in shaping constitutional meaning; resolution of particular constitutional controversies in the political branches through processes of “constitutional construction”; and the role of “administrative constitutionalism.” The critique of judicial supremacy and the analysis of extrajudicial interpretation and enforcement have had a salutary impact in broadening the horizons of constitutional law. To the extent that theories of constitutionalism outside the courts are used to go further and attack judicial review, however, I find them less persuasive. One need not believe in judicial supremacy to value the courts’ ultimate settlement function in litigated constitutional controversies. If the Constitution is to continue to act as an external constraint on political action, then constitutionalism outside the courts can never be wholly autonomous of constitutionalism inside.
Surgery for bilateral outflow tract obstruction in elastin arteriopathy.

Abstract Objective: A number of patients with Williams syndrome or other forms of elastin arteriopathy have stenoses of pulmonary arteries in addition to supravalvular aortic stenosis. We sought to investigate the effect of the degree of pulmonary arterial stenosis on the prognosis after an operation for supravalvular aortic stenosis to help define the optimal treatment strategy for patients with severe forms of elastin arteriopathy. Methods: Between 1960 and 1999, 33 patients underwent operations for supravalvular aortic stenosis while having significant stenoses of the pulmonary arteries. We retrospectively reviewed patient charts, obtained current follow-up information, and determined risk factors for survival and reoperation. Results: Fifteen patients with moderate right-sided obstructions (confirmed by pulmonary artery Z-scores and right ventricular/descending aortic pressure ratio) underwent operations for supravalvular aortic stenosis only. Eighteen patients had more severe right-sided obstructions and underwent surgical relief of pulmonary arterial stenoses or right ventricular outflow tract obstruction in addition to operations for supravalvular aortic stenosis. Eight patients had undergone preoperative balloon dilations of stenotic pulmonary arteries. There were 6 early deaths and 1 late death in our series. Survival at 10 and 20 years was 76% (70% confidence interval, 68%-84%) and freedom from reintervention was 59% (70% confidence interval, 46%-71%) at 10 years and 49% (70% confidence interval, 35%-62%) at 20 years. Multivariate analysis revealed that patients with a right ventricular/descending aortic pressure ratio of 1.0 or more were at higher risk for reintervention but not for death. Conclusions: Surgical treatment of pulmonary artery obstructions in elastin arteriopathy is palliative but, in conjunction with balloon dilation of peripheral pulmonary arteries, offers good long-term survival to patients with the severest form of elastin arteriopathy. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2000;120:755-63)
Has the Learning Disabilities Field Lost Its Intelligence

L'auteur examine les raisons et les justifications du recours a l'intelligence dans les recherches sur les difficultes d'apprentissage alors que cet objet d'etude est l'un des plus controverses de la psychologie. Plusieurs eclaircissements sont proposes sur cette relation
Modulation of PDGF-C and PDGF-D expression during bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis

PDGF isoforms are a family of polypeptides that bind to cell surface receptors and induce fibroblast proliferation and chemotaxis. The PDGF-A and -B chain isoforms have been implicated in fibroproliferative lung injury in animal models and in human disease. Two recently recognized PDGF polypeptides, PDGF-C and -D, differ from the PDGF-A and -B isoforms in that they require proteolytic cleavage before they can bind and activate the PDGF receptors. Our findings demonstrate that administration of bleomycin to murine lungs leads to a significant increase in PDGF-C mRNA expression and a significant decrease in PDGF-D mRNA expression. PDGF-C expression was localized to areas of lung injury by in situ hybridization, and PDGF-C expression was not upregulated in the lungs of BALB/c mice that are resistant to bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis. Moreover, there is in vivo phosphorylation of the PDGF-receptor that binds PDGF-C in response to bleomycin administration. These observations strongly suggest a role for PDGF-C in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.
Hall Effect in Oriented Single Crystals of n -Type Germanium

Hall measurements have been made on oriented single crystals of $n$-type germanium confirming the variations of the Hall coefficient with the direction and magnitude of the magnetic field, and with the direction of the current, which are predicted by theories based on the eight-ellipsoid model. Although other assumptions must be made to secure exact agreement, these measurements, when made under suitable conditions, can be explained by a theory assuming an energy-independent scattering time $\ensuremath{\tau}$. This type of measurement may be useful in determining symmetry properties of the energy surfaces near a band edge in other semiconductors.
Carbon oxidation catalyzed by lead

Abstract The pronounced catalytic effect of lead on the reaction of carbon and oxygen was studied by gravimetric measurements of reaction rates. In addition, the lead distribution was investigated with a scanning electron microscope. Impregnation of graphite by 0.001–1 atom% of lead resulted in a reaction rate increase by up to five orders of magnitude. Reaction parameters were derived from Arrhenius plots. Data analysis shows that the rate increase by lead is primarily caused by a massive increase in the density of reaction sites. No lowering of the activation barrier associated with the carbon oxidation is indicated. The apparent activation energy remains constant at 196 ± 20 kJ/mol for graphite with and without lead. Based on absolute rate theory the site density is consistent with the geometry of the graphite crystals and indicates that every carbon atom in the carbon structure can be transformed into a reaction site. The conclusion is supported by a comparison of graphite topography and the elemental maps of lead on the carbon crystals. The study includes carbons of lesser structural perfection.
Who's to blame? Counterfactual reasoning and the assignment of blame

The role of counterfactual reasoning and the assignment of blame within a context involving product failure, personal injury, and luck was examined. In the first study, it was determined that directing attention to the focal individual in an event increased the perceived mutability of that individual's actions in an exceptional circumstance but not in a common circumstance. Study 2 explored how the availability of different counterfactual alternatives influenced assignments of blame for a negative outcome. The results of this experiment showed that presenting information that directed attention to the focal individual increased the mutability of that individual's actions, which in turn, increased the blame observers assigned to that individual. However, this assertion needs to be qualified; when attention was already focused on the focal individual, directing further attention to that person seemed to have little additional impact. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A formal solution to a classical initial-boundary value problem in groundwater hydraulics

Classical descriptions, dating to the early 1950s, of the fully saturated Darcian flow of pumped groundwater through layered, confined geological media with leaky interfaces have avoided what has been recently described as an ''analytically intractable'' problem (Freeze and Cherry). The main results due to the work of Hantush, Jacob, Neuman, and Witherspoon, reported during the past 20+years, have circumvented the ''intractability'' by using various clever averaging procedures to take account of the leaky interfaces, and have obtained closed form solutions to problems which, in effect, have averaged away certain complications due to inhomogeneous driving terms. For many applications, these solutions have been quite sufficient. The work here describes a Green's kernel which integrates with the boundary leakage inhomogeneity in the original initial-boundary value problem, thus supplying a computable Fourier expansion for the solution in each layer which avoids modifying the original differential equations as performed in the classical methods. It is seen that the indicated kernel arises from a consideration of a two point boundary value problem for a linear, inhomogeneous ordinary differential equation, B"0[u] = f on (0, ~), where B"0 is the modified Bessel operator of order zero. The condition as r -> + ~ involves a somewhat different manipulation which eventually takes account of the leaky boundary contribution over the entire interface. The specific integral equations obtained here are soluable from the practical standpoint, and the author has obtained useful physical information not available from earlier works.
Eosinophilic pneumonitis secondary to pegylated interferon alpha-2b and/or ribavirin therapy

Eosinophilic pneumonitis secondary to pegylated interferon alpha-2b and/or ribavirin therapy
Controlled growth and critical currents of bi-textured YBa2Cu3O7−δ films on yttria stabilized zirconia substrate

Abstract Bi-textured YBa2Cu3O7−δ films of grains with different ratios of [100] to [110] can be grown controllably on (001) yttria stabilized ZrO2 substrates using pulsed laser deposition. The grain orientations were studied by X-ray measurements. It was found that the ratio of [100] to [110] grains was determined predominantly by the laser fluence. Both transport and intragranular critical currents were measured and correlated to the texture. It is shown that 45° grain boundaries (GB's) are responsible for only about 18 × reduction in Jc across polycrystalline bi-textured samples. By using a percolation calculation, the relationship between Jc reduction across a single GB and in a polycrystalline thin film sample with many GB's was investigated. The simulation results show that the maximum Jc reduction across a polycrystalline bi-textured sample is ≈ 1 18 even if all the 45° GB's are not conducting.
Suramin Interacts with the Calmodulin Binding Site on the Ryanodine Receptor, RYR1

Apocalmodulin and Ca2+calmodulin bind to overlapping sites on the ryanodine receptor skeletal form, RYR1, but have opposite functional effects on channel activity. Suramin, a polysulfonated napthylurea, displaces both forms of calmodulin, leading to an inhibition of activity at low Ca2+ and an enhancement of activity at high Ca2+. Calmodulin binding motifs on RYR1 are also able to directly interact with the carboxy-terminal tail of the transverse tubule dihydropyridine receptor (DHPR) (Sencer, S., Papineni, R. V., Halling, D. B., Pate, P., Krol, J., Zhang, J. Z., and Hamilton, S. L. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276, 38237–38241). Suramin binds directly to a peptide that corresponds to the calmodulin binding site of RYR1 (amino acids 3609–3643) and blocks the interaction of this peptide with both calmodulin and the carboxyl-terminal tail of the DHPR α1-subunit. Suramin, added to the internal solution of voltage-clamped skeletal myotubes, produces a concentration-dependent increase in the maximal magnitude of voltage-gated Ca2+ transients without significantly altering L-channel Ca2+ channel conducting activity. Together, these results suggest that an interaction between the carboxyl-terminal tail of the DHPR α1-subunit with the calmodulin binding region of RYR1 serves to limit sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release during excitation-contraction coupling and that suramin-induced potentiation of voltage-gated Ca2+ release involves a relief of this inhibitory interaction.
Concerning "anisotropic" contributions of chemical reactions to flow equations and active transport.

Abstract A statistical mechanical development of the flow equations in the presence of sources and sinks of chemical reactions shows (1) that the Nernst-Planck type of flow equations can be applied to thin membranes and (2) that a vectorial coupling may arise between a scalar source or sink and vectorial flow whenever the source or sink is a momentum source or sink. The coupling coefficient in the local or differential forms for the flow equations is shown to be the average molecular velocity of the particles when they first or last appear. Several cases are examined which suggest that the local momentum source or sink contribution to active transport is probably negligible for biologically plausible situations. The primary means of coupling chemical reactions to mass flow, appearing only in the integrated macroscopic or global equations, is due to the spatial distribution of mass sources and sinks.
Allelic expression imbalance of human mu opioid receptor (OPRM1) caused by variant A118G.

As a primary target for opioid drugs and peptides, the mu opioid receptor (OPRM1) plays a key role in pain perception and addiction. Genetic variants of OPRM1 have been implicated in predisposition to drug addiction, in particular the single nucleotide polymorphism A118G, leading to an N40D substitution, with an allele frequency of 10–32%, and uncertain functions. We have measured allele-specific mRNA expression of OPRM1 in human autopsy brain tissues, using A118G as a marker. In 8 heterozygous samples measured, the A118 mRNA allele was 1.5–2.5-fold more abundant than the G118 allele. Transfection into Chinese hamster ovary cells of a cDNA representing only the coding region of OPRM1, carrying adenosine, guanosine, cytidine, and thymidine in position 118, resulted in 1.5-fold lower mRNA levels only for OPRM1-G118, and more than 10-fold lower OPRM1 protein levels, measured by Western blotting and receptor binding assay. After transfection and inhibition of transcription with actinomycin D, analysis of mRNA turnover failed to reveal differences in mRNA stability between A118 and G118 alleles, indicating a defect in transcription or mRNA maturation. These results indicate that OPRM1-G118 is a functional variant with deleterious effects on both mRNA and protein yield. Clarifying the functional relevance of polymorphisms associated with susceptibility to a complex disorder such as drug addiction provides a foundation for clinical association studies.
IT Consulting: Communication Skills Are Key

IT consultants are professionals who have joined an existing consultancy or have established a consulting business as a single individual or with colleagues. Regardless of their origin, IT consultants perform a variety of tasks, from idea generation to design to project management support. Chief among the success factors in IT consulting is effective communication - an idea that seems to have eluded most of the research purporting to help IT consultants. IT consultants must be proactive in opening communication lines with customers. Ensuring that expectations are clear is a major benefit of effective communication because it helps minimize the damage from an outcome in which the customer is unhappy
Ryanodine receptor of skeletal muscle is a gap junction-type channel

In the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane of skeletal muscle, the ryanodine receptor forms an aqueous pore identified as the calcium-release pathway that operates during excitation-contraction coupling. The purified ryanodine receptor channel has now been shown to have four properties usually associated with gap junction channels: (i) a large nonspecific voltage-dependent conductance consisting of several open states; (ii) an inhibition of open probability by low pH; (iii) an inhibition of open probability by calcium; and (iv) a sensitivity to blockade by heptanol and octanol but not other alcohols. This functional homology may provide an insight into the mechanism of how muscle cells transduce depolarization into an intracellular release of calcium.
Effects of Breathing Parameters on Sidestream Cigarette Smoke Deposition in a Hollow Tracheobronchial Model

The effects of variations in cyclic breathing parameters (i.e., tidal volume and breath frequency) have been the subject of few studies devoted to the deposition of submicrometer aerosols in the human respiratory tract. Therefore, a series of experiments was performed to investigate whether the deposition efficiency (DE) of sidestream cigarette smoke is altered by varying tidal volume and breath frequency in a child-size hollow tracheobronchial (TB) model while maintaining a fixed minute ventilation rate of 5 L/min. Under cyclic flow conditions with tidal volumes of 100 mL (50 breaths/min), 250 mL (20 breaths/min), 500 mL (10 breaths/min) and 750 mL (6.7 breaths/min), sidestream cigarette smoke was passed through replicas of an idealized hollow TB model. The smoke deposits were extracted and then quantitated spectrophotometrically. The experiments revealed a significant difference in DE between the 100-mL tidal volume (DE=6.0%) and the 750-mL tidal volume (DE=11.1%). Under equivalent steady flow condition...
The Chicago School: Forgotten but Not Gone

hat was the Chicago school of political science? Has it been forgotten in contemporary American political science, as Gabriel Almond suggests? In speaking of the Chicago school, we perhaps should distinguish between what I will call Chicago 1 and Chicago 2. Chicago 1 refers to the University of Chicago's Political Science Department in the 1930s-1940s (the primary subject of Almond's essay). Chicago 2 began with the department's behavioral period, after the Second World War. The members of Chicago 1 were influenced by the sociological approach, frequently known as the ecological school, which advocated studying contemporary political problems using new field methods of inquiry.' Led by Charles Merriam and two key colleagues, Harold Gosnell and Harold Lasswell, Chicago 1 was instrumental in shifting the study of politics away from a reliance on historical and constitutional approaches and toward the more systematic and objective testing of political propositions through empirical data. Although there were a few nonChicago precursors,2 it was Chicago 1 that drove the intellectual movement reacting against the formal-legal-historical approach to political analyses of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.3
Digital subtraction pulmonary angiography—An internist's and radiologist's view

Cette technique permet le diagnostic de l'embolie pulmonaire mais aussi d'autres anomalies du mediastin et du parenchyme pulmonaire
Cell-cell affinity probed by countercurrent distribution in two-polymer aqueous phase systems.

Abstract Aqueous solutions of dextran and of polyethylene glycol when mixed form immiscible liquid two-phase systems with a polyethylene glycol-rich top and a dextran-rich bottom. Such phases can be buffered and rendered isotonic and are suitable for the partition of cells. The partition coefficient of cells (i.e., their relative affinity for the top or bottom phase or their adsorption at the interface) depends on the polymer concentrations, on the ionic composition and concentration and, most sensitively, on their membrane surface properties. When two cell populations are mixed the partition coefficient of each is unaffected by the presence of the other population unless an interaction takes place between them. By countercurrent distribution of two cell populations, in a phase system selected such that the partition coefficient of one population is high (i.e., more cells in the top phase) and of the other low, one should be able to detect subtle interactions between cells in the two populations should they occur. Results of experiments with a model system consisting of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and sheep red blood cells bear out the feasibility of this approach. At low ratios of sheep erythrocytes to mononuclear cells no interaction is apparent. With increasing ratios there is an increasing shift in the distribution curve of subpopulations of mononuclear cells (i.e., T-lymphocytes) as they interact with the sheep red cells. Substitution of rabbit red cells for sheep erythrocytes (at high ratios) reveals a small yet significant shift of a subpopulation of mononuclear cells as well. Distribution of human peripheral blood lymphocytes from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (all B-lymphocytes) are essentially unaffected by the presence of sheep red cells. This sensitive new method, still in its infancy, holds out the hope for the detection of previously unknown cell-cell affinities and for probing suspected cell-cell interactions.
Nested uniform sampling for multiresolution 3-D tomography

A nested uniform sampling over the sphere is presented. The set of sampling points contains a sequence of nested subsets, each providing an approximately uniform covering of the sphere. The proposed Matryoshka covering of the sphere allows multiresolution 3-D imaging. Simulation and electron paramagnetic resonance imaging results illustrate its application to 3-D tomography.
Dimeric pentapeptide enkephalin: a novel probe of delta opiate receptors.

Abstract A dimeric pentapeptide enkephalin (DPE2) consisting of two molecules of [D-Ala2, Leu5] enkephalin linked at C-terminal leucine with ethylenediamine, ( HTyrDAlaGlyPheLeuNHCH 2 ) 2 is a bivalent ligand for the δ enkephalin receptors of rat brain and neuroblastoma-glioma hybrid (NG108-15) cells. This new enkephalin analog shows dramatically increased affinity in radioligand assays using whole brain membranes when δ but not μ specific radioligands are employed. When membranes from NG108-15 cells are used, the dimer shows greatly increased activity irrespective of the μ or δ specificity of the tracer. The dimer DPE2 shows a four-fold, “sodium shift” in its IC50 for competition with [3H] naloxone, suggestive of agonist behavior. Agonist activity was confirmed by demonstrating that DPE2 inhibits cyclic AMP production in prostaglandin E1 stimulated NG108-15 cells, and by demonstrating very high potency in the mouse vas deferens bioassay. DPE2 binds to the same δ sites as the δ-selective monomer [D-Ala2, D-Leu5] enkephalin, since the two ligands show complete crossdisplacement. Radiolabeled 3H-DPE2 shows a five-fold higher affinity constant, a 2.5-fold higher association rate constant, and a two-fold lower dissociation rate than the monomer. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that the dimeric pentapeptide enkephalin can bridge two delta receptors. This enkephalin dimer provides a valuable new probe of opiate receptors and their organization in cell membranes.
Plasma catecholamines in resting rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, by high pressure liquid chromatography*

Plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine from cannulated trout were measured by high pressure liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. The catecholamines were extracted with acid-washed alumina using a microfilter assembly which permitted analysis of small volumes of plasma. Mean (± S.D.) values for plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine were 1.83 (0.97) pmol ml−1 and 8.95 (4.94) pmol ml−1, respectively. These values are compared with catecholamine levels from other vertebrate species.
The interferon-activatable gene 200 cluster: from structure toward function

The antimicrobial, cell growth-regulatory and immunomodulatory activities of the interferons (IFNs) are mediated by IFN-inducible proteins. One family of these (200 family) including the p202, p203, p204 and D3 proteins is encoded by a cluster of six or more structurally-related murine genes in the q21–q23 region of chromosome 1 (gene 200 cluster). Two homologous human genes (MNDAandIFI 16) were also identified. The 200 family proteins share one or two partially conserved 200 amino acid segments. At least four of the proteins are nuclear. One of these, p202, binds the hypophosphorylated form of the growth regulatory pRb protein and also the E2F-1 transcription factor that is involved in cell cycling. In transfected cells, p202 inhibits E2F activity and slows down cell proliferation. Information about the genes and proteins of the 200 cluster is surveyed. Abbreviations used: EAT, Ehrlich ascites tumor; IFN, interferon; pRb, retinoblastoma protein.
Nonselective read-out from iconic memory in normal, borderline and retarded adolescents

Abstract The hypothesis that retarded individuals read-out information from iconic memory at a slower rate, relative to their CA matched peers, was tested. Three IQ groups (normal, borderline and retarded) were selected with 10 subjects in each group. A tachistoscope presented a stimulus array and a post-stimulus cue for 100 msec. each, separated by a variable interstimulus interval (ISI). This stimulus array consisted of 10 letters arranged on two horizontal rows. The post-stimulus cue was a circle which surrounded the position of the correct letter. Nine ISIs were used and ranged from −100 (cue before array) to 500 msec. A 3 × 9 repeated-measures analysis of variance revealed non-significant effects for IQ and the IQ × ISI interaction. A significant effect was found for ISIs (p
NMR relaxation parameters in a two-spin system by selective nuclear overhauser effects

Abstract Relaxation rate parameters in coupled spin systems can be obtained by steady-state selective saturation experiments. The overdetermined relaxation matrix is calculated from experimental intensity changes by utilizing the concept of a generalized inverse of a singular matrix. The theory is applied to the two-spin AX system of C-13-enriched sodium formate in D2O. The simplicity of the method and its independence of specific relaxation models and motional assumptions make this type of experiment a feasible alternative to transient methods.
Diversity of the biosynthesis pathway for threonylcarbamoyladenosine (t6A), a universal modification of tRNA

The tRNA modification field has a rich literature covering biochemical analysis going back more than 40 years, but many of the corresponding genes were only identified in the last decade. In recent years, comparative genomic-driven analysis has allowed for the identification of the genes and subsequent characterization of the enzymes responsible for N6-threonylcarbamoyladenosine (t6A). This universal modification, located in the anticodon stem-loop at position 37 adjacent to the anticodon of tRNAs, is found in nearly all tRNAs that decode ANN codons. The t6A biosynthesis enzymes and synthesis pathways have now been identified, revealing both a core set of enzymes and kingdom-specific variations. This review focuses on the elucidation of the pathway, diversity of the synthesis genes, and proposes a new nomenclature for t6A synthesis enzymes.
Endobronchial Eosinophilic Granuloma: A Rare Cause of Total Lung Atelectasis

A 12-yr-old male presented with left lung atelectasis secondary to a mainstem endobronchial mass. At thoracotomy, a left mainstem bronchial sleeve resection successfully extirpated what later proved to be an eosinophilic granuloma. This is the first case report, to our knowledge, of endobronchial eosinophilic granuloma.