cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
#114-S ethnic comparisons on health outcomes after radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy for clinically localized prostate cancer patients

PURPOSE: To compare the health related quality of life outcomes such as urinary, sexual and bowel function among different ethnicities following radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy for clinically localized prostate cancer, and the long-term effect of each treatment. METHODS: A multi-center cohort of African American (AA), Non-Hispanic white (NHW) and Hispanic (H) men treated for clinically localized prostate cancer with either radical prostatectomy or radiation therapy were followed for 5 years. Self-administered surveys on health related quality of life (HRQOL) were collected at 6-month, 12-months, 24-month and 5-years after diagnosis. Treatment-specific comparisons between ethnic groups were assessed at each time point using Generalize Estimating Equations (GEE) with Horvitz-Thompson weight that accounted for the cluster-correlated design. RESULTS: Ethnic groups differed in demographic variables. AA were less likely to be married (p < 0.0001). Fewer Hispanics graduated from high school (p < 0.0001). The initial treatments received differed according to ethnicity, although radical prostectomy (RP) was the most frequent treatment among all groups. For men who received RP, urinary function of H was worse than that of NHW men at baseline, but the difference decreased over the 5-year follow-up period. Compared with NHW, AA had better urinary control, a lower frequency of incontinence and a reduced level of frequent urination (p = 0.004, 0.02 and 0.02, respectively). At 5-years, both AA and H men had fewer problems with bowel function than NHW (p = 0.03 for both). For men who were treated with radiation therapy, H reported more problems with sexual function than NHW (p = 0.02). Overall HRQOL was better for AA than for NHW. The adjusted mean scores for all physiologic functions at 5 years following treatment were highest for AA in both treatment groups. The urinary and sexual function scores of AA were significantly higher than those of NHW at 5 years among patients treated with radical prostectomy, while AA had significantly higher scores for urinary function among patients treated with radiation therapy. For all ethnic groups, the HRQOL outcomes were lowest at six months following initial treatment, followed by some recovery of function that reached a plateau. CONCLUSION: NHW had the best HRQOL at baseline, but AA demonstrated the fastest recovery and experienced the best HRQOL five years after both radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy treatment for clinically localized prostate cancer compared to other ethnic groups.
An experimental and numerical study on the effect of the wall in a thermocline-type cylindrical enclosure—I Experments

In this, the first part of a two-part paper, axisymmetric natural convection flows in a thermocline-type cylindrical enclosure are studied experimentally with a laser Doppler velocimeter. A numerical model was developed using these experimental data and it is presented in the second part of this study. These enclosures find application as storage systems in solar energy power plants. It is shown that the walls of the container can have a strong effect in destroying the thermocline. This effect was studied for an initially established thermocline where the hot fluid (in the top) and the cold fluid (in the bottom) are separated by an adiabatic partition, and the container is well insulated outside. The flowfield that results from this initial condition is symmetric with respect to the partition (except for variations in the fluid and wall properties which were neglibible in our experiments), and it was only necessary to study the development of the initially cold fluid. Both the axial and radial components of the velocity were measured as a function of time and position. Two Rayleigh numbers (based on the temperature difference) were studied: 3.7 × 108 and 7.5 × 108. The velocities measured ranged between 0.01 cm/sec and 0.45 cm/sec. The error for typical velocities near the wall is ±10 per cent. Very good agreement was found with an available numerical solution.
Predicting VO2max in College-Aged Participants Using Cycle Ergometry and Perceived Functional Ability

The purpose of this study was to develop a multiple linear regression model to predict treadmill VO2max scores using both exercise and non-exercise data. One hundred five college-aged participants (53 male, 52 female) successfully completed a submaximal cycle ergometer test and a maximal graded exercise test on a motorized treadmill. The submaximal cycle protocol required participants to achieve a steady-state heart rate equal to at least 70% of age-predicted maximum heart rate (220-age), while the maximal treadmill graded exercise test required participants to exercise to volitional fatigue. Relevant submaximal cycle ergometer test data included a mean (±SD) ending steady-state heart rate and ending workrate equal to 164.2 ± 13.0 bpm and 115.3 ± 27.0 watts, respectively. Relevant non-exercise data included a mean (±SD) body mass (kg), perceived functional ability score, and physical activity rating score of 74.2 ± 15.1, 15.7 ± 4.3, and 4.7 ± 2.1, respectively. Multiple linear regression was used to gener...
Nonlinear control strategies for continuous fermenters

Abstract Nonlinear controllers based on exact linearization are designed and evaluated for continuous fermenters. The dilution rate and feed substrate concentration are considered as manipulated inputs in single-input/single-output strategies for productivity control. The resulting controllers are compared theoretically and via simulation. It is shown that state—space linearization techniques are not appropriate for this class of fermenters. Exact input—output-linearizing control employing the dilution rate as the manipulated input is shown to provide excellent regulatory behavior. Conversely, input—output linearization with the feed substrate concentration as the manipulated input is problematic. The exact approach yields unreasonably large control moves while an approximate technique recently proposed results in very sluggish responses. A modified approach to exact input—output linearization is proposed that results in satisfactory control.
Combination of corticosteroid therapy and allergen avoidance reverses allergen-induced airway remodeling in mice.

Background Allergen avoidance and anti-inflammatory therapy are standard therapeutic approaches guidelines advocate to control asthma symptoms. Currently, it is not known whether such strategies reduce airway remodeling. Objective We have therefore used a mouse model of allergen-induced airway remodeling to determine whether allergen avoidance combined with corticosteroid therapy can reverse established airway remodeling. Methods Mice were sensitized to ovalbumin and then repetitively challenged with intranasal ovalbumin for 3 months to develop structural features of airway remodeling including peribronchial fibrosis and increased thickness of the peribronchial smooth muscle layer. At this time point, mice were treated with allergen avoidance, allergen avoidance and corticosteroids, or corticosteroids for 1 month to determine whether either strategy could reverse established airway remodeling. Results Mice repetitively challenged with ovalbumin developed peribronchial fibrosis (increased total lung collagen and increased peribronchial trichrome staining) as well as increased thickness of the peribronchial smooth muscle layer. Allergen avoidance significantly reduced airway inflammation and mucus expression, slightly reduced peribronchial fibrosis, and had no effect on the thickness of the peribronchial smooth muscle layer. Addition of corticosteroids to allergen avoidance significantly reduced levels of peribronchial fibrosis as well as the thickness of the peribronchial smooth muscle layer. Conclusion Allergen avoidance reduces airway inflammation and mucus expression but has more limited immediate effects on reducing structural features of established airway remodeling. The combination of allergen avoidance and corticosteroid therapy is effective in reversing established features of airway remodeling including peribronchial fibrosis and the increased thickness of the smooth muscle layer.
Relation of the childhood autism rating scale-parent version to diagnosis, stress, and age.

This study explored the relation of severity of functional impairment on the Childhood Autism Rating Scale-Parent version (CARS-P) to diagnosis, parenting stress, and child age. Twenty-two mothers of children with autism and 19 mothers of children with pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) completed the CARS-P and the Parenting Stress Index. The autism group received significantly higher (i.e., more severe impairment) CARS-P ratings that did the PDD-NOS group. For the total sample, severity of impairment was a significant predictor of child-related parenting stress. The CARS-P was inconsistently associated with age-significantly positive for the PDD-NOS group but nonsignificantly for the autism group. Implications for the use of the CARS-P in assessment of children and the evaluation of interventions are discussed.
Fashion industry professionals' viewpoints on creative traits and, strategies for creativity development

Through in-depth interviews, the study explored fashion industry professionals’ viewpoints, on creativity, focusing on traits of creative people and how creativity can be developed. Four creative, traits were identified, including different thought processes, determination, having an open mind, and, risk taking. About one-third of participants believed that creativity is innate, and therefore, some, people were born creative whereas others were not. Another third of participants maintained that, everyone has some creative potential that can be further developed. The remaining fashion, professionals distinguished artistic creativity from creative problem solving. Suggested strategies for, creativity enhancement and development included (1) practicing creative thinking strategies, (2), formal training, (3) diverse experiences and exposure to the world; and (4) creating a safe, yet, challenging environment.
Assigning Meanings to Programs

This paper attempts to provide an adequate basis for formal definitions of the meanings of programs in appropriately defined programming languages, in such a way that a rigorous standard is established for proofs about computer programs, including proofs of correctness, equivalence, and termination. The basis of our approach is the notion of an interpretation of a program: that is, an association of a proposition with each connection in the flow of control through a program, where the proposition is asserted to hold whenever that connection is taken. To prevent an interpretation from being chosen arbitrarily, a condition is imposed on each command of the program. This condition guarantees that whenever a command is reached by way of a connection whose associated proposition is then true, it will be left (if at all) by a connection whose associated proposition will be true at that time. Then by induction on the number of commands executed, one sees that if a program is entered by a connection whose associated proposition is then true, it will be left (if at all) by a connection whose associated proposition will be true at that time. By this means, we may prove certain properties of programs, particularly properties of the form: ‘If the initial values of the program variables satisfy the relation R l, the final values on completion will satisfy the relation R 2’.
An investigation of the instrumental variable-approximate maximum likelihood method of modeling and forecasting daily flows

The instrumental variable-approximate maximum likelihood (IV0AML) method provides a technique to develop better models for short-time increment hydrologic data. In this method, a recursive input-output model, which consists of a deterministic model and a stochastic noise model are used. These models handle the system and measurement noise separately. The instrumental variable method has been developed to eliminate the bias in parameter estimates.
Interpersonal Factors in the Risk for Sexual Victimization and Its Recurrence during Adolescence.

Being a victim of sexual aggression from a peer is a common experience among adolescents and poses a significant risk for various forms of psychopathology. Unfortunately, little is known concerning specific interpersonal factors that increase an adolescent’s risk for experiencing sexual aggression. The current study assessed the contribution made by several interpersonal factors both for the first and repeated experience of becoming a victim of sexual aggression from a peer. Data were collected annually from a longitudinal sample of 200 adolescents over a period of 4 years and were analyzed using multiple-spell, discrete-time survival analysis. Approximately 46% of the adolescents reported experiencing some form of sexual aggression by the end of wave 4. Further, 65% of victims reported experiencing a repeat incident of aggression. Females were at higher risk both for initial and repeated victimization, as were adolescents with more sexual experience and higher levels of rejection sensitivity. Results are discussed in terms of implications for future prevention efforts.
Recognition of PSA-derived peptide antigens by T cells from prostate cancer patients without any prior stimulation

Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a valuable marker antigen for prostate cancer. Lately considerable interest has been generated in the prospect of developing a vaccine for prostate cancer with PSA-derived peptide epitopes to induce cytotoxic T-cell (CTL) response. We report here that T cells capable of exhibiting PSA epitope-specific effector function-in their native state, i.e, without having to be further stimulated, in vitro-are detectable in more than half of the prostate cancer patients we studied. Ex vivo cultured autologous dendritic cells (DC) were used to present four HLA-A2-binding PSA peptide epitopes to freshly isolated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from patients and healthy volunteers. Ten out of 14 patients' PBL recognized at least one of the four peptides and 6 out of 10 patients' PBL recognized more than one peptide antigen as measured by IFN-gamma secretion upon stimulation of the PBL with the peptide antigen. Intracytoplasmic cytokine analysis for IFN-gamma in purified CD8(+) cells after stimulation with peptide antigens was tested in 6 patients and this technique demonstrated a similar response. Freshly isolated and purified CD8(+) cells when tested, also recognized the epitopes, as measured by IFN assay, when presented by transporter associated with antigen-processing (TAP) deficient T2 cells in an MHC-I restricted fashion. PBL from 9 normal donors when tested in identical fashion did not show any IFN-gamma production in recognition to the peptide antigens. Interestingly, neither of these CD8(+) T cells having IFN-gamma-producing ability did show any cytolytic activity in their native state against peptide loaded target cells or tumor cells when tested in cytotoxicity assay. In long term cocultures stimulation of purified CD8(+) T cells with matured DC pulsed with PSA peptides generated a PSA-specific CTL response in 4 of 6 patients studied and in 2 of 9 normal donors. While our observations of CTL generation are consistent with the prior reports that have demonstrated that specific CD8(+) CTL could be generated which recognize PSA-derived epitopes by in vitro stimulation by one means or another, this observation that IFN-gamma-producing CD8(+) T cells are present in patients which are antigen experienced, and do not require in vitro stimulation, is novel and has major implications for prostate cancer vaccine preparation.
Binding and circular dichroism data on bilirubin-albumin in the presence of oleate and salicylate

Abstract The binding of equimolar amounts of bilirubin to human and bovine serum albumin in 0.1 m phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, in the presence and absence of various concentrations of oleate or salicylate was studied by the use of an ultracentrifugal technique. The resultant data showed salicylate to be a poor competitor for the bilirubin binding sites; in the presence of a considerable excess of salicylate, only small amounts of bilirubin were liberated from the proteins. The dissociation of bilirubin from albumin by oleate was very dependent on the oleate concentration. No bilirubin was liberated from the proteins at oleate:albumin molar ratios below 5. All the bilirubin was liberated from the proteins at oleate:albumin molar ratios above 8. Marked changes in the absorption and circular dichroism spectra of the bilirubin-albumin solutions were observed on the addition of salicylate or oleate even under conditions in which little or no bilirubin was liberated from the proteins. While the binding characteristics and absorption spectra of the human and bovine albumin-bilirubin complexes in the presence and absence of oleate or salicylate were very similar, the Cotton effects generated by the addition of bilirubin to the human albumin were very different from those obtained with the bovine protein.
Poincaré against the logicians

Poincare was a persistent critic of logicism. Unlike most critics of logicism, however, he did not focus his attention on the basic laws of the logicists or the question of their genuinely logical status. Instead, he directed his remarks against the place accorded to logical inference in the logicist's conception of mathematical proof. Following Leibniz, traditional logicist dogma (and this is explicit in Frege) has held that reasoning or inference is everywhere the same — that there are no principles of inference specific to a given local topic. Poincare, a Kantian, disagreed with this. Indeed, he believed that the use of non-logical reasoning was essential to genuinely mathematical reasoning (proof). In this essay, I try to isolate and clarify this idea and to describe the mathematical epistemology which underlies it. Central to this epistemology (which is basically Kantian in orientation, and closely similar to that advocated by Brouwer) is a principle of epistemic conservation which says that knowledge of a given type cannot be extended by means of an inference unless that inference itself constitutes knowledge belonging to the given type.
Factors affecting microbiological colony count accuracy for bioaerosol sampling and analysis.

The effects of the following variables on the occurrence of colony masking (the indistinguishable merging or overlap of sufficiently close colonies) were evaluated experimentally using the bacterium Bacillus subtilis: spore density on a collection surface, concentration of nutrients in the culture medium, sample incubation time, and ability of an observation system to distinguish overlapped colonies. Increasing spore surface density and incubation time increased colony masking, whereas lowering nutrient concentration decreased colony diameter and, therefore, masking but also limited spore germination and growth. Overall, full-strength medium was best for accurate counting of early microcolonies examined with the aid of a microscope, whereas half- or quarter-strength medium was better for counting older readily observable macrocolonies. Masking bias was determined for varying spore surface densities and colony diameters and was applied to two widely used slit-to-agar bioaerosol impactors. Appropriate colle...
Cracking, damage and fracture in four dimensions

Concrete and cracking are nearly synonymous despite our best efforts and intentions. Relationships between cracking and the stress states that lead to cracking can be instructive. In an effort to better understand these relationships, X-ray microtomography was used to make high-resolution three-dimensional digital images of small concrete specimens under load. Using 3D image analysis, quantitative measurements of internal crack growth were made that include effects of crack tortuosity, branching and microcracking. Successive images at different levels of cracking and damage provide us with a detailed picture of internal crack progression. When coupled with load-deformation response, bulk material properties such as fracture toughness or damage variables can be quantitatively linked with cracking. Measurements to date have shown distinct fracture regimes linked to crack formation and propagation. In addition, the crack measurements offer a way to provide a physical basis for a scalar damage variable.
Effects of radiation on the optical properties of glass materials

Effects of 1 MeV electron and 5 MeV proton radiation on the optical transmittance of glass materials have been examined. Room temperature annealing of the radiation-induced transmission loss have been monitored. Results indicate that glass materials have different recovery rates.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Pre-practicum training in professional psychology to close the research-practice gap: Changing attitudes toward evidence-based practice

Despite the rapid proliferation of mental health interventions with proven benefit for youth, empirically supported interventions (ESIs) are underutilized in most service settings. Treatment outcome studies in these community-based settings suggest that the majority of youth do not show improvement, underscoring the importance of addressing the gap between research and practice. Clinician attitudes toward evidence-based practice (EBP) may limit the use of ESIs, and efforts to address these attitudes with post-graduate training pose significant challenges. Pre-practicum training in EBP may address these challenges by familiarizing students with the framework of EBP as well as with the current youth treatment evidence base and the theories and strategies of well-supported interventions. We describe a required EBP course within a professional psychology doctoral program. Forty-two students in two class cohorts completed a measure of attitudes toward EBP prior to the first class and after the final class lecture. Students were predominantly Caucasian women with bachelor's degrees. As expected, over the course of the class, student attitudes became significantly more favorable toward EBP. Students who had previously received a master's degree had more favorable attitudes prior to the class, and students with a prior bachelor's degree showed the greatest change in attitude. The results support the use of pre-practicum training in EBP to improve attitudes toward EBP, which may lead to use of effective practices with clients following training.
Abundance, diversity, and regulation of mRNA sequence sets in soybean embryogenesis.

Abstract Soybean embryo mRNA populations were compared with respect to complexity, abundance distribution, and sequence representation. RNA-excess hybridization experiments with cDNA and single-copy DNA showed that cotyledon-stage (30 days after flowering (DAF)) and mid-maturation-stage (75 DAF) embryos contained similar numbers of diverse mRNAs (14,000–18,000) but that their mRNA frequency distributions were vastly different. Hybridization experiments with kinetically selected mid-maturation-stage abundant and rare cDNAs demonstrated that the diverse mRNAs of cotyledon-stage and mid-maturation-stage embryos were similar, and that most embryonic mRNAs persist throughout development and are stored in the dormant seed. We have, however, identified a small number (7–10) of superabundant mRNAs which collectively comprise about 50% of the mid-maturation-stage mRNA mass. These mRNAs are quantitatively modulated in development, are embryo specific, and are encoded by low-frequency repetitive DNA sequences. This developmentally regulated mRNA set probably codes for a spectrum of seed proteins which accumulate during maturation.
Does availability of expanded point-of-care services improve outcomes for rural diabetic patients?

Abstract Aims The purpose of this study was to assess compliance with American Diabetes Association screening recommendations at Salina Family Healthcare (SFHC) in Salina, Kansas, a large rural town, and to evaluate the impact of point-of-care (POC) dilated eye exams for uninsured patients. POC exams are those performed in the location where patients are treated. Methods There were 462 type II diabetic (DM2) patients seen at SFHC in 2009 and 537 DM2 patients seen in 2010. A chart review of all patients with DM2 was done to assess rates of recommended screening exams, including dilated eye exams and foot exams. Results In 2009/2010 urine microalbumin was checked in 57%/75% of DM2 patients. HbA1c and low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels at goal were 46%/48% and 58%/58%, respectively. 47%/67% of DM@ patients received foot exams and 21%/30% received eye exams. In 2009, 23% of the 155 uninsured diabetic patients at SFHC received a dilated eye exam. The following year, after implementation of on-site ophthalmologic services, rates of dilated eye exams increased 1.6 fold to 37% of the 196 uninsured patients. Conclusions SFHC performed similarly to national rates on some diabetic screening exams, but there is room for improvement in all recommended screening exams. The implementation of a novel approach to increasing dilated eye exam rates indicates that expanded POC services can improve outcomes for diabetic patients.
Electromigration Failure Under Pulse Test Conditions

Unpassivated aluminum thin-film conductors were subjected to pulsed dc currents at a frequency of 250 kHz, with duty factors ranging from 10% to 100%. Current densities of 4×106 A/cm2 and 1 × 107 A/cm2 were employed. Some tests were also performed at frequencies of 20 kHz and 100 kHz. The conductor lifetime was found to depend strongly on the pulse duty factor, with the mean time to failure, measured in on-time hours, showing a monotonic improvement as the duty factor of testing was decreased. At a pulse current density of 1 × 107 A/cm2, the results demonstrated the occurrence of electromigration in the direction of the "electron wind". A proportion of the improvement in the conductor lifetime is attributable to a decrease in the amount of conductor self-heating, particularly at a current density of 1 × 107 A/cm2; however, self-heating considerations cannot account for the entire improvement unless unusually large activation energies for grain boundary diffusion are assumed. The cause of the remainder of the improvement (not accounted for by self-heating) has not been determined; however, excess vacancy concentration, and its dependence on duty factor, may contribute to the lifetime improvement.
Initiated chemical vapor deposition of trivinyltrimethylcyclotrisiloxane for biomaterial coatings.

Organosilicon polymers show great utility as both biocompatible and electrically insulating materials. In this work, thin films of a novel organosilicon polymer are synthesized by initiated chemical vapor deposition utilizing trivinyltrimethylcyclotrisiloxane as a monomer and tert-butyl peroxide as a free-radical-generating initiator. Use of an initiator allows for the formation of polymer films at filament temperatures as low as 250 °C, significantly lower than those required to thermally polymerize the monomer species. The mild reaction conditions allow for the retention of all siloxane ring moieties within the resulting polymer. Films deposited at filament temperatures of 600 °C or higher exhibit damage to this moiety. The all-dry deposition process generates a highly cross-linked matrix material in which over 95% of the vinyl moieties present on the monomer units have been reacted out to form linear polymerized hydrocarbon chains. While each hydrocarbon backbone chain averages 8.9 monomer units in len...
China's Naval Ambitions in the Indian Ocean

Abstract This article argues that an increasingly sea-power-minded China will neither shelter passively in coastal waters, nor throw itself into competition with the United States in the Pacific Ocean. Rather, Beijing will direct its energies toward South and Southeast Asia, where supplies of oil, natural gas, and other commodities critical to China's economic development must pass. There China will encounter an equally sea-power-minded India that enjoys marked geostrategic advantages. Beijing will likely content itself with ‘soft power’ diplomacy in these regions until it can settle the dispute with Taiwan, freeing up resources for maritime endeavors farther from China's coasts.
Panel of synaptic protein ELISAs for evaluating neurological phenotype.

The purpose of this study was to develop ELISAs for key neural proteins, three synaptic and one glial, that exist in different intracellular compartments, which would be used as a measure of synaptic phenotype. These assays would be valuable to neurologically phenotype transgenic mouse models of human disease and also human disease itself using minimal amounts of post-mortem tissue. We showed that supernatant from crude brain tissue homogenates extracted in RIPA buffer containing 0.1% SDS bind to synaptophysin, synaptosome-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25), post-synaptic density-95 (PSD-95), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) antibody pairs with high affinity and selectivity. Overall, RIPA + 0.1% SDS were more efficient than RIPA + 2% SDS or a buffer containing only 1% Triton-X-100. Diluting the brain extracts resulted in dose-dependent binding to the antibody pairs for each neural protein, with EC50s that varied from 8.6 µg protein for PSD-95 to 0.23 µg for GFAP. The assays were used to measure synaptic marker protein levels at various times during mouse development and GFAP in a model of disease accompanied by neuroinflammation. Comparison of ELISAs with Western blots by measuring marker levels in brain extract from developing mice showed a greater relative difference in values derived from ELISA. These ELISAs should be valuable to phenotype the synapse in neurological disease and their rodent models.
Developmental Expression of Early Growth Response Genes in Fetal Rat Lung.† 1617

In response to extracellular stimuli, the phenotype of a cell changes rapidly. In these processes genes whose induction occurs in the preence of protein synthesis inhibitors are referred to as immediate early response genes(IEG). IEGs encode growth factors, growth factor receptors, cytoskeletal structures, and transcription factors. Immediate-early transcription factors comprise several “families”: fos, jun and Egr. While Egr has been strongly implicated in the development of the immune response, its role in other developing systems remains largely unknown. Mammalian lung morphogenesis, in preparation for air breathing after birth involves increased proliferation of cells and rapid induction of many diverse genes. It was therefore of interest to investigate the developmental expression of Egr-1, c-fos and c-myc genes in the developing fetal rat lung. We observed an abundance of Egr-1 message(1.8 Kb) in the fetal rat lungs at 19 and 20 days (d) of gestation, after which, there is a drop in transcription at 21d. c-myc is transcribed maximally at 19-21 d gestation followed by a drop at 21d. c-fos, which has a broader range of action, is transcribed 19-21 d and decreases at term. To identify the specific lung cells involved in Egr-1 gene expression, we isolated RNA from fetal lung fibroblasts and epithelial cells from 18-21d fetal rat lungs and using Northern hybridization, assessed the abundance of Egr-1 message in these cells. Although both the cell types expretal lung fibroblasts demonstrated a developmental expression of the gene, with a peak expression occurring at 19-20 d of gestation followed by a decline in expression thereafter. Fetal lung epithelial cells, on the other hand, expressed the gene constitutively throughout gestation. These data suggest a possible role of these immediate early genes in the regulation of lung proliferation during gestation.
Memory of the vernalized state in plants including the model grass Brachypodium distachyon.

Plant species that have a vernalization requirement exhibit variation in the ability to “remember” winter – i.e., variation in the stability of the vernalized state. Studies in Arabidopsis have demonstrated that molecular memory involves changes in the chromatin state and expression of the flowering repressor FLOWERING LOCUS C, and have revealed that single-gene differences can have large effects on the stability of the vernalized state. In the perennial Arabidopsis relative Arabis alpina, the lack of memory of winter is critical for its perennial life history. Our studies of flowering behavior in the model grass Brachypodium distachyon reveal extensive variation in the vernalization requirement, and studies of a particular Brachypodium accession that has a qualitative requirement for both cold exposure and inductive day length to flower reveal that Brachypodium can exhibit a highly stable vernalized state.
Hurricane Clusters in the Vicinity of Florida

AbstractModels that predict annual U.S. hurricane activity assume a Poisson distribution for the counts. Here the authors show that this assumption applied to Florida hurricanes leads to a forecast that underpredicts both the number of years without hurricanes and the number of years with three or more hurricanes. The underdispersion in forecast counts arises from a tendency for hurricanes to arrive in groups along this part of the coastline. The authors then develop an extension to their earlier statistical model that assumes that the rate of hurricane clusters follows a Poisson distribution with cluster size capped at two hurricanes. Hindcasts from the cluster model better fit the distribution of Florida hurricanes conditional on the climate covariates including the North Atlantic Oscillation and Southern Oscillation index. Results are similar to models that parameterize the extra-Poisson variation in the observed counts, including the negative binomial and the Poisson inverse Gaussian models. The autho...
Hybrid-Secondary Uncluttered Induction (HSU-I) Machine

A new hybrid-secondary uncluttered induction (HSU-I) machine is introduced. The hybrid secondary includes the effective-resistance, inverter, and magnetic switch options. The rotor current is magnetically coupled to the stator through an uncluttered rotating transformer. This machine can be used as a cost-effective slip-energy-controlled adjustable-speed induction motor that operates below synchronism and the wide speed-range motor drives and generators that operate below and above the synchronous speed of the line frequency.
Long-Term Surgical Complications in the Oral Cancer Patient: a Comprehensive Review. Part I

Objectives: Oral and oropharyngeal cancer remains among the top ten most common malignancies in the United States and worldwide. Over the last several decades the approach to treatment of oral cancer has changed very little with regards to primary tumour extirpation while the approach to the “at risk” lymph nodes has evolved significantly. Perhaps the most significant change in the surgical treatment of cancer is the introduction of free flap for reconstruction post resection. Despite these surgical advances, oral cancer ablation, still results in the sacrifice of several functional and aesthetic organs. The aim of this article was to provide a comprehensive review of the potential long-term complications associated with surgical treatment of oral cancer and their management. Material and Methods: The available English language literature relevant to long-term surgical complications associated with surgical treatment of oral cancer was reviewed. The potential common as well as rarer complications that may be encountered and their treatment are summarized. Results: In total 50 literature sources were obtained and reviewed. The topics covered in the first part of this review series include ablative surgery complications, issues with speech, swallowing and chewing and neurologic dysfunction. Conclusions: The early complications associated with oncologic surgery for oral cancer are similar to other surgical procedures. The potential long-term complications however are quite challenging for the oncologic team and the patient who survives oral cancer, primarily due to the highly specialized regional tissues involved in the surgical field.
Enhanced Human Decidual Cell-Expressed FKBP51 May Promote Labor-Related Functional Progesterone Withdrawal.

Sustained plasma progesterone (P4) levels suggest initiation of human term labor by functional P4 withdrawal, reflecting reduced progesterone receptor (PR) and/or glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression or activity. The steroid-induced immunophilin cochaperone FKBP51 inhibits PR- and GR-mediated transcription, suggesting a labor-initiating role. Gestational age–matched decidual sections were immunostained for FKBP51 and decidual cell (DC) and interstitial trophoblast (IT) markers, vimentin and cytokeratin, respectively. Term DC cultures were incubated with vehicle (control), estradiol (E 2 ) with or without medroxyprogesterone acetate, dexamethasone (Dex), or Organon 2058. FKBP51 histologic scoring was significantly higher in DC nuclei during labor versus prelabor decidua, whereas FKBP51 immunostaining was undetected in interstitial trophoblasts ( P 2 + medroxyprogesterone acetate or E 2 + Dex enhanced FKBP51 expression ( P 2 + Organon 2058 inhibited PR expression ( P 2 + Dex inhibited GR expression ( P in situ observations of significantly lower PR in labor versus prelabor DCs. In a milieu of sustained plasma P4 levels, these reciprocal changes will amplify functional P4 withdrawal in DCs via FKBP51-mediated PR resistance coupled with declining PR levels, whereas the lack of FKBP51 expression in interstitial trophoblasts suggests unopposed constitutive GR action.
Spontaneously beating cardiomyocytes derived from white mature adipocytes.

Aims Adipose stromal cells and dissociated brown adipose tissue have been shown to generate cardiomyocyte-like cells. However, it is not clear whether white mature adipocytes have the same potential, even though a close relationship has been found between adipocytes and vascular endothelial cells, another cardiovascular cell type. The objective of this study was to examine if white adipocytes would be able to supply cardiomyocytes. Methods and results We prepared a highly purified population of lipid-filled adipocytes from mice, 6–7 weeks of age. When allowed to lose lipids, the adipocytes assumed a fibroblast-like morphology, so-called dedifferentiated fat (DFAT) cells. Subsequently, 10–15% of the DFAT cells spontaneously differentiated into cardiomyocyte-like cells, in which the cardiomyocyte phenotype was identified by morphological observations, expression of cardiomyocyte-specific markers, and immunocytochemical staining. In addition, electrophysiological studies revealed pacemaker activity in these cells, and functional studies showed that a β-adrenergic agonist stimulated the beating rate, whereas a β-antagonist reduced it. In vitro treatment of newly isolated adipocytes or DFAT cells with inhibitors of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMP) and Wnt signalling promoted the development of the cardiomyocyte phenotype as determined by the number or beating colonies of cardiomyocyte-like cells and expression of troponin I, a cardiomyocyte-specific marker. Inhibition of BMP was most effective in promoting the cardiomyocyte phenotype in adipocytes, whereas Wnt-inhibition was most effective in DFAT cells. Conclusion White mature adipocytes can differentiate into cardiomyocyte-like cells, suggesting a link between adipocyte and cardiomyocyte differentiation.
Contribution of Endogenously Produced Reactive Oxygen Species to the Activation of Podocyte NLRP3 Inflammasomes in Hyperhomocysteinemia

Hyperhomocysteinemia (hHcys) is an important pathogenic factor contributing to the progression of end-stage renal disease. Recent studies have demonstrated the implication of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome activation in the development of podocyte injury and glomerular sclerosis during hHcys. However, it remains unknown which reactive oxygen species (ROS) are responsible for this activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes and how such action of ROS is controlled. This study tested the contribution of common endogenous ROS including superoxide (O2(-)), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)), and hydroxyl radical (OH) to the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes in mouse podocytes and glomeruli. In vitro, confocal microscopy and size-exclusion chromatography demonstrated that dismutation of O2(-) by 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl (Tempol) and decomposition of H2O2 by catalase prevented Hcys-induced aggregation of NLRP3 inflammasome proteins and inhibited Hcys-induced caspase-1 activation and IL-1β production in mouse podocytes. However, scavenging of ONOO(-) or OH had no significant effect on either Hcys-induced NLRP3 inflammasome formation or activation. In vivo, scavenging of O2(-) by Tempol and removal of H2O2 by catalase substantially inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome formation and activation in glomeruli of hHcys mice as shown by reduced colocalization of NLRP3 with ASC or caspase-1 and inhibition of caspase-1 activation and IL-1β production. Furthermore, Tempol and catalase significantly attenuated hHcys-induced glomerular injury. In conclusion, endogenously produced O2(-) and H2O2 primarily contribute to NLRP3 inflammasome formation and activation in mouse glomeruli resulting in glomerular injury or consequent sclerosis during hHcys.
Inter-nation influence revisited

Since 1950 social scientists have made impressive progress in clarifying and operationalizing the concept of power. The disciplines of psychology, sociology, and economics, as well as political science, have contributed to this undertaking. Strangely enough, students of international politics, who have traditionally invested so much time and effort in power analysis, have largely ignored this process. Although students of international politics have continued to analyze power relations and to reformulate the concept of power, they have remained relatively isolated from the thinking of other social scientists on this issue. International theorists2 have neither contributed to nor drawn on the power literature generated by other social scientists. Although there are exceptions to this rule, it is fair to say that one rarely finds references by students of international politics to the standard works on power by Lasswell and Kaplan
Quasi-phasematched materials for ultrafast optical applications

Quasi-matching (QPM) enables a variety of functions for ultrafast optics. Aperiodic QPM structures for tailoring wide mixing bandwidths for pulse shaping, broadband parametric amplification, and ultrasensitive pulse characterization in microstructured ferroelectrics and semiconductors are discussed.
Properties of Reduced Charge Montmorillonite: Tetra-Alkylammonium Ion Exchange Forms*

Surface properties of reduced charge montmorillonites (RCM) whose exchange capacities were saturated with tetra-alkylammonium cations, were studied with X-ray diffraction, nitrogen, and water adsorption. Methods were utilized for preparing montmorillonite of varying charge and of swelling reduced-charge clay with ethanol. As charge reduction proceeds, all layers retain some exchangeable cations until about half the original charge is reached at which point collapsed layers begin to appear and increase to about 60 per cent at maximum charge reduction. Charge reduction thus appears to proceed in a non-homogeneous fashion. When saturating exchange sites with tetra-alkylammonium ions in ethanol solvent, intercalation of salt in uncharged layers was noted if the samples were not completely washed. Nitrogen adsorption isotherms at liquid nitrogen temperatures showed considerable interlamellar penetration of tetramethylammonium (TMA+) clays, resulting in high calculated surface areas. Much less adsorption on the tetra-n-propylammonium (TPA+) clays was observed. Surface areas were increased upon reduction of charge up to the point where collapsed layers began to be appreciable, whereupon measured areas decreased. Water adsorption isotherms reflected the hydration properties of the exchangeable cation as well as the surface available for adsorption.
Dynamics of sea level rise and coastal flooding on a changing landscape

Standard approaches to determining the impacts of sea level rise (SLR) on storm surge flooding employ numerical models reflecting present conditions with modified sea states for a given SLR scenario. In this study, we advance this paradigm by adjusting the model framework so that it reflects not only a change in sea state but also variations to the landscape (morphologic changes and urbanization of coastal cities). We utilize a numerical model of the Mississippi and Alabama coast to simulate the response of hurricane storm surge to changes in sea level, land use/land cover, and land surface elevation for past (1960), present (2005), and future (2050) conditions. The results show that the storm surge response to SLR is dynamic and sensitive to changes in the landscape. We introduce a new modeling framework that includes modification of the landscape when producing storm surge models for future conditions.
Developing ethics guidance for HIV prevention research: the HIV Prevention Trials Network approach

More than 25eyears into the HIV epidemic, in excess of 2 million new infections continue to occur each year. HIV prevention research is crucial for groups at heightened risk for HIV, but the design and conduct of HIV prevention research with vulnerable populations worldwide raises considerable ethical challenges. The HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) is a global collaborative network that conducts clinical and behavioural studies on non-vaccine interventions to reduce the transmission of HIV. In 2003, the HPTN developed ethical guidance to enhance the responsible conduct of its research activities and as a distinctive contribution to global research ethics. In what follows, the developments that motivated the drafting of a revised ethics document in 2009 are described, including the process by which that revision took place and some of the key differences between the HPTN ethics guidance and other relevant guidelines in the field.
Maximum Power Point Tracking for Photovoltaic Optimization Using Ripple-Based Extremum Seeking Control

This study develops a maximum power point tracking algorithm that optimizes solar array performance and adapts to rapidly varying irradiance conditions. In particular, a novel extremum seeking (ES) controller that utilizes the natural inverter ripple is designed and tested on a simulated solar array with a grid-tied inverter. The new algorithm is benchmarked against the perturb and observe (PO) method using high-variance irradiance data gathered on a rooftop array experiment in Princeton, NJ. The ES controller achieves efficiencies exceeding 99% with transient rise-time to the maximum power point of less than 0.1 s. It is shown that voltage control is more stable than current control and allows for accurate tracking of faster irradiance transients. The limitations of current control are demonstrated in an example. Finally, the effect of capacitor size on the performance of ripple-based ES control is investigated.
Can Fantasies Become Facts

In EM'S Spring 1989 issue, Mehrens and Kaminski (1989) questioned both the ethics as well as the validity of some “teach-to-the-test” procedures, and particularly addressed Cohen's application of instructional alignment to teaching test wiseness. Cohen and Hyman now respond with their own questions about the educational value and the ethics of using the types of norm-referenced tests defended by Mehrens and Kaminski.