cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Trial of labor after cesarean delivery with a lower-segment, vertical uterine incision: Is it safe?

Abstract Objective: Our purpose was to assess maternal and perinatal outcomes associated with a trial of labor and attempted vaginal birth after prior low-segment vertical cesarian delivery. Study design: During a 10-year period in a single tertiary hospital, all patients with a prior low-segment uterine incision (whether vertical or transverse) were considered candidates for a trial of labor in the absence of other contraindications or patient refusal. Among the 1137 women who underwent low-segment vertial cesarean delivery, 262 were subsequently delivered of 322 live-born infants, and 174 (54%) of them were identified retrospectively as having attempted vaginal birth. The maternal and perinatal outcomes of patients who did or did not undergo a trial of labor were analyzed and compared. Results: No significant differences between the two patient groups were observed regarding demographic characteristics, antepartum complications, gestational age at delivery (mean 37.4 weeks), birth weight, and cord pH at delivery. Vaginal delivery was accomplished successfully in 144 of 174 (83%) patients who underwent a trial of labor. Abdominal delivery was necessary for 17 mothers with labor disorders and 13 with suspected fetal distress. Postpartum hemorrhage occurred more often in the trial of labor group (7174 [4.0%] vs 2148 [1.4%], p not significant), but endometritis developed significantly more often in patients with elective repeat cesarean delivery (16.9% vs 6.3%, p - 0.006)/ Rupture of the low-segment vertical cesarean group scar occurred in 2 patients during a trial of labor (1.1%) versus none in the elective repeat cesarean group. Neither mother experienced fetal extrusion or adverse maternal or fetal sequelae. Frequency of serious neonatal complications (8.1% vs 10%) and neonatal mortality (1.7% vs 2.0%) were similar between groups. All neonatal deaths were a result of extreme prematurity or congenital anomalies. Conclusions: Our experience indicates that a mother with a prior low-segment vertical cesarean delivery can undertake a trial of labor with relative maternal-perinata safety. The likelihood of successful outcome and the incidence of complications are comparable to those of published experience with a trial of labor after a previous low-segment transverse incision.
SU-E-T-38: Validating the Use of a New Tumor Irradiation Quality Metric for Lung and Head and Neck Tumors: Total Clonogen Survival

PURPOSE: Ideally, a single factor would allow objective ranking of dose distributions with respect to the probability of local control. The purpose of this work is to study the applicability of a new metric as a predictor of local control (LC) indicator in head and neck tumors and lungtumors. MATERIALS: Two datasets were used: (A) 80 head and neck (H&N) patients using IMRT, and (B) 56 non‐small cell lungcancer who received 3D conformal RT both treated at Washington University in Saint Louis at standard fractionation. 23 H&N and 22 lung patients failed locally. A simple model was used to derive the expectation value of the number of surviving clonogens per initial clonogen density (not initial number). Other dose‐volume parameters were compared to TCS. Correlation with LC for univariate and multivariate logistic models of the available parameters was assessed using the area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (Rs). We also tested bootstrap cross‐validation of the models. Results: Total Clonogen Survival was the most predictive variable on univariate analysis in both datasets using an optimal value of SF2=0.8 ((A) Rs=0.444 p‐value<0.0001 (B) Rs=0.441 p‐value<0.0001). In logistic regression for both datasets, all statistically significant multivariate models included TCS parameter. Multivariate logistic regression for (A) shows that a two parameter (TCS and stage_group) model was the most significant when cross‐validated (RsCV=0.4644, pCV‐value=0.02). Higher order models did not appear more predictive after cross‐validation. However, we report in an abstract at this meeting that machine learning using TCS can improve predictive power. Conclusions: TCS was shown to be a simple and useful parameter when predicting LC in these two datasets. It differs from cell‐kill based EUD by mechanistically accounting for tumor volume variation. Partially supported by NIH R01 grant CA85181.
The value of coastal wetlands for protection of property against hurricane wind damage

Abstract The paper has attempted to place a value on wetlands for their role in reducing wind damage to property because of diminished storm intensities. The study estimated a storm wind damage function for the Louisiana gulf coast, where inland distance of a location and wetlands traversed by a hurricane were among the independent was made of the increase in expected wind damage to property from the loss of intervening wetlands. The discounted value of the loss of a one mile strip of wetlands along Louisiana's gulf coast was estimated to be between $1.1 million and $3.7 million in 1980 dollars, using discount rates of 8% and 3%, respectively. Although it may not be too meaningful to place this on a per acre basis, this increased cost of property damage amounted to between $7 and $23 per acre. In order to place this in perspective, the market value of Louisiana wetlands is under $200 per acre. This market value is derived primarily from the mineral and hunting rights accompanying the surface area. This hurricane protection value is only one of many pure or quasipublic goods produced by wetlands. In order to make decisions regarding costly projects designed to retard wetlands erosion, such as revegetation or sediment transfers; or to consider wetlands destroying developments, such as pipeline canal construction, the value of these public goods must be estimated. The current study adds to our knowledge of these values. The next stage in this line of research is to evaluate the benefits that wetlands provide by reducing storm tidal surge. Flood damages to low-lying coastal areas are considerably greater than wind damage, and wetlands areas may be more useful for flood protection to these areas than for reducing storm intensities. Unfortunately, establishing a flood damage function similar to the wind damage function used in this study is difficult since it must consider unique hydrologic features of affected coastal areas.
Multiple signaling pathways establish both the individuation and the polarity of the oocyte follicle in Drosophila

The development of the Drosophila oocyte depends upon a sequential series of interactions between the germline cells and the somatically derived follicle cells to produce individual follicles with appropriate polarities. In the germarium the control of germline cell division depends upon a proper interaction with somatic cells adjacent to the germline stem cells. Both gurken and brainiac are required in the germline, and the Egfr, daughterless, Notch, and Delta genes are required in the somatic cells to produce individual egg chambers with a continuous follicular epithelium. After a follicle forms, components in these same signaling pathways, plus additional genes, are then required for the establishment of the anterior-posterior polarity, followed by the dorsal-ventral polarity of the developing follicle. Initially, gurken mRNA is localized to the posterior edge of the oocyte, where it signals the posterior polar follicle cells to differentiate as posterior. The anterior-posterior assymmetry of the oocyte is then established by a reorganization of the microtubule network, which require a Notch-Delta-dependent signal sent from the posterior polar follicle cells to the oocyte and the activity of protein kinase A in the germ line. This reorganization leads to the localization of the maternal anterior-posterior determinants bicoid and oskar to opposite poles of the oocyte and the repositioning of the oocyte nucleus to the anterior-dorsal surface of the oocyte, gurken mRNA and protein are now concentrated between the oocyte nucleus and the adjacent anterior-dorsal follicle cells, where, in combination with Rhomboid, it locally activates the EGF receptor and its downstream cascade to direct the adjoining cells to adopt a dorsal fate. This process is thought to restrict the action of three follicle cell gene functions, encoded by windbeutel, nudal, and, pipe, to the ventral follicle cells, where they lead to the localized activation of a serine protease cascade required to produce the active Spatzle ligand to activate the Toll receptor. Finally, the termini of the embryo are dependent upon the activation of the Torso receptor, and this requires the localized expression of torso-like in a subset of follicle cells at the anterior and posterior poles of the follicle, which leads to the activation of Trunk, the putative ligand for Torso. In summary, the normal development of the oocyte requires a continuous sequence of germline-follicle cell interactions to provide the polarities responsible for normal development.
Flow phenomena and mechanisms in a field-scale experimental meandering channel with a pool-riffle sequence: Insights gained via numerical simulation

[1] Large-eddy simulation of turbulent flow through a natural-like meandering channel with pool-riffle sequences installed in the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory Outdoor StreamLab is carried out to elucidate the hydrodynamics at bankfull flow condition. It is shown that the shallow flow in the riffle is dominated by the presence of large-scale roughness elements that enhance turbulent mixing; increase turbulence anisotropy; and induce multiple, streamwise secondary cells driven by turbulence anisotropy. The flow in the pool, on the other hand, is dominated by the formation and interaction of the center region and outer bank secondary flow cells and the large horizontal recirculation regions along the inner bank. The collision of the counterrotating center region and outer bank cells at the water surface gives rise to a line of three-dimensional separation (flow convergence) in the time-averaged streamlines at the surface and the associated strong downward flow toward the bed that redistributes streamwise momentum and increases the bed shear stress along the channel thalweg. Intense turbulence is produced along the line of separation due to highly anisotropic velocity fluctuations. Our results make a strong case that the center region cell is driven by the curvature effects while the outer bank cell is driven by the combined effects of turbulence anisotropy and the curvature-induced centrifugal force. The inner bank horizontal recirculation zone consists of multiple eddies, which collectively span the entire point bar. A striking finding is that the center of the primary eddy is located directly above the crest of the point bar.
The Placebo Response: The Shared Construction of Reality and the Illusion of Autonomy

Autonomy defined by Beauchamp and Childress (2001) as the “personal rule of the self that is free from both controlling interferences by others and from personal limitations that prevent meaningful...
The Rise of Partisanship and the Expansion of Partisan Conflict within the American Electorate

Recent research has outlined important changes in partisanship among political elites in the United States. Specifically, the effect of partisanship on politicians’ vote choice and other political behavior has risen, and the number of issue areas where partisan conflict is present has increased. This article examines whether similar changes have taken place among the general electorate. Using data from the NES Cumulative Datafile, the findings presented here do point to changes in partisanship among the mass public. Once thought to be in decline, mass partisanship has rebounded significantly in recent years. In a related development that is perhaps more important, partisanship has become more pervasive within the electorate, with partisan conflict now penetrating into a greater number of issue areas. Partisanship has become relevant in the areas of racial and cultural issues while retaining its importance for issues involving economic equality.
Recent results using the high intensity γ-ray source facility

Abstract We describe the high intensity γ-ray source, which produces nearly monoenergetic γ-ray beams with energies ranging from 2 to 58 MeV, intensities of 105–5×108 γ/s, and 100% linear polarization. Upgrades of the facility are in progress to increase the energy range and intensity. To illustrate some of the present capabilities of the facility, we describe the measurement of total photon attenuation cross-sections to ±0.5% in the energy range 3.451–14 MeV.
Nathan Widder, Reflections on Time and Politics

A review of Nathan Widder, Reflections on Time and Politics (State College: Penn State University Press, 2008), 208 pp.
Oligomeric Amyloid-β Inhibits the Proteolytic Conversion of Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), AMPA Receptor Trafficking, and Classical Conditioning

Amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide is thought to have a significant role in the progressive memory loss observed in patients with Alzheimer disease and inhibits synaptic plasticity in animal models of learning. We previously demonstrated that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is critical for synaptic AMPA receptor delivery in an in vitro model of eyeblink classical conditioning. Here, we report that acquisition of conditioned responses was significantly attenuated by bath application of oligomeric (200 nm), but not fibrillar, Aβ peptide. Western blotting revealed that BDNF protein expression during conditioning is significantly reduced by treatment with oligomeric Aβ, as were phosphorylation levels of cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB), Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CaMKIV), and ERK. However, levels of PKA and PKCζ/λ were unaffected, as was PDK-1. Protein localization studies using confocal imaging indicate that oligomeric Aβ, but not fibrillar or scrambled forms, suppresses colocalization of GluR1 and GluR4 AMPA receptor subunits with synaptophysin, indicating that trafficking of these subunits to synapses during the conditioning procedure is blocked. In contrast, coapplication of BDNF with oligomeric Aβ significantly reversed these findings. Interestingly, a tolloid-like metalloproteinase in turtle, tTLLs (turtle tolloid-like protein), which normally processes the precursor proBDNF into mature BDNF, was found to degrade oligomeric Aβ into small fragments. These data suggest that an Aβ-induced reduction in BDNF, perhaps due to interference in the proteolytic conversion of proBDNF to BDNF, results in inhibition of synaptic AMPA receptor delivery and suppression of the acquisition of conditioning.
RECONSIDERING BLUMER'S CORRECTIVE AGAINST THE EXCESSES OF FUNCTIONALISM

Blumer's corrective to Parsons' excesses is presented against a backdrop provided by two reformulations of Parsons' concepts: The problems of social order is recast as the problem of nonauthoritarian social order, and voluntaristic action is distinguished from normative action. Blumer's corrective, then, was to see that distinctively voluntaristic action is ineluctably the product of actors' negotiations of meaning (whereas both purposive-rational and non-rational action can more legitimately be abstracted from this process and treated as more reified by social analyses). Parsons' optimism about social order was unwarranted, as was Blumer's complacency about the problem of arbitrary power. It is suggested in conclusion that Parsons' theory ironically evinces more respect for the individual's integrity than does Blumer's.
Synthesis and biological activity of 5-fluorotubercidin.

The electrophilic fluorination of 4‐chloropyrrolo[2,3‐d]pyrimidine (1) was studied culminating a 59% conversion of compound 1 to 4‐chloro‐5‐fluoropyrrolo[2,3‐d]pyrimidine (2) using Selectfluor. This transformation proceeded via the 4‐chloro‐5,6‐dihydro‐5‐fluoro‐6‐hydroxypyrrolo[2,3‐d]pyrimidine (3) in a 9:1 trans:cis ratio. The trans isomer of compound 3 was studied by 1H NMR and 19F NMR, and the 5‐H tautomer (4) was observed as another intermediate. A modified Vorbruggen procedure of compound 2 and tetra‐O‐acetylribose gave 4‐chloro‐5‐fluoro‐7‐(2,3,5,‐tri‐O‐benzoyl‐β‐d‐ribofuranosyl)pyrrolo[2,3‐d]pyrimidine (6) in a 65% yield. Treatment of compound 6 with ammonia (l) in dioxane gave 5‐fluorotubercidin (7). No antibacterial activity was observed. An MTT assay (Promega) against Huh‐7 liver cells, normal mouse spleen cells stimulated with Con A (a T‐cell mitogen), and normal mouse spleen stimulated with LPS (a B‐cell mitogen) showed no significant toxicity. Increased activity of 7 over tubercidin was observ...
Preoperative Blood Reverse Transcriptase-PCR Assays for Prostate-specific Antigen and Human Glandular Kallikrein for Prediction of Prostate Cancer Progression after Radical Prostatectomy

The association of the results reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assays for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) with prostate cancer stage and progression remains controversial. We have previously shown that RT-PCR amplification of a native human glandular kallikrein fragment (hK2-L), but not a splice-variant hK2 transcript (hK2-U), performed preoperatively on peripheral blood before radical prostatectomy is an independent predictor of metastases to lymph nodes [K. M. Slawin, et al., Cancer Res., 60: 7142-7148, 2000]. We evaluated the ability of preoperative peripheral blood RT-PCR for PSA and hK2 to predict prostate cancer progression after surgery. The study group consisted of 224 consecutive patients who underwent radical prostatectomy for clinically localized disease (median follow-up: 52.9 months). Also evaluated were 14 healthy men and 8 patients with hormone-naive, prostate cancer metastatic to bone. RT-PCR for PSA, hK2-L, and hK2-U were positive in 24, 25, and 26%, respectively, of prostatectomy patients; 88, 71, and 86%, respectively, of patients with metastases to bones; 7, 14, and 36%, respectively, of healthy men. Preoperative RT-PCR-hK2-L positivity was associated with higher final Gleason sum (P = 0.028), with an increased risk of metastases to lymph nodes (P = 0.019) and with overall and aggressive disease progression (P = 0.0231 and P = 0.028, respectively). Preoperative blood RT-PCR-PSA and RT-PCR-hK2-U were not associated with characteristics or outcomes of prostate cancer. Preoperative blood RT-PCR for PSA and hK2-U are neither therapy-guiding staging tools nor prognostic indicators in patients with clinically localized prostate cancer. In contrast, preoperative RT-PCR-hK2-L status is associated with established markers of aggressive prostate cancer.
Highly efficient genome editing via 2A-coupled co-expression of two TALEN monomers

Background Transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) are a useful tool for targeted gene editing. TALEN monomers are traditionally expressed from two different plasmids. Each encodes a different TALEN arm that binds to a user-defined sequence and mediates gene editing. Expression of TALEN monomers in two separate plasmids requires co-delivery of each plasmid to the cell. Efficacy of gene editing may be increased if each monomer was transcribed from the same reading frame.
CrossSearch, a User-friendly Search Engine for Detecting Chemically Cross-linked Peptides in Conjugated Proteins

Chemical cross-linking and high resolution MS have been integrated successfully to capture protein interactions and provide low resolution structural data for proteins that are refractive to analyses by NMR or crystallography. Despite the versatility of these combined techniques, the array of products that is generated from the cross-linking and proteolytic digestion of proteins is immense and generally requires the use of labeling strategies and/or data base search algorithms to distinguish actual cross-linked peptides from the many side products of cross-linking. Most strategies reported to date have focused on the analysis of small cross-linked protein complexes (<60 kDa) because the number of potential forms of covalently modified peptides increases dramatically with the number of peptides generated from the digestion of such complexes. We report herein the development of a user-friendly search engine, CrossSearch, that provides the foundation for an overarching strategy to detect cross-linked peptides from the digests of large (≥170-kDa) cross-linked proteins, i.e. conjugates. Our strategy combines the use of a low excess of cross-linker, data base searching, and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance MS to experimentally minimize and theoretically cull the side products of cross-linking. Using this strategy, the (αβγδ)4 phosphorylase kinase model complex was cross-linked to form with high specificity a 170-kDa βγ conjugate in which we identified residues involved in the intramolecular cross-linking of the 125-kDa β subunit between its regulatory N terminus and its C terminus. This finding provides an explanation for previously published homodimeric two-hybrid interactions of the β subunit and suggests a dynamic structural role for the regulatory N terminus of that subunit. The results offer proof of concept for the CrossSearch strategy for analyzing conjugates and are the first to reveal a tertiary structural element of either homologous α or β regulatory subunit of phosphorylase kinase.
Selective decontamination of the digestive tract in intensive care patients: review and commentary

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the benefits, risks, and costs of antimicrobial regimens used for selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients.DATA SOURCES:Information was obtained from clinical trials, review articles, abstracts, and textbooks. Key indexing terms included antibiotics, selective decontamination, and infections.STUDY SELECTION:Research articles describing controlled clinical trials of SDD in medical or surgical ICU patients were reviewed. Trials that investigated transplant, cirrhotic, leukemic, or oncology patient populations were excluded.DATA EXTRACTION:The details of studies that evaluated nosocomial infection or nosocomial pneumonia rates were extracted. These included study design, demographics, SDD regimens, severity of illness scores, and colonization, infection, and mortality rates.DATA SYNTHESIS:The use of SDD in mechanically ventilated surgical or trauma ICU patients reduces the incidence of colonization, nosocomial pneumonia, and overall in...
Caution! roadwork ahead: widening of the Defense Switched Network (DSN) information highway in the Pacific

Downsizing and centralization of military elements has caused an increase in user demands for the transport of large amounts of data within the Pacific theater. This demand has increased the need to modernize the Defense Switched Network (DSN) in order to offer higher speed data service to its customers. Increased requirements for the transport of textual, database, imagery and video products between various locations are exceeding the capabilities of voice grade modem networks. The Defense Information System Agency-Pacific (DISA-PAC) has embarked on a program to modernize system capabilities by "widening the information highway" to provide switched 56 kbps and integrated services digital network (ISDN) services to support these demands. This paper reviews the progress, pilot programs, problems, service availability and implementation status of this effort.
Stereotyped Axonal Arbors of Retinal Ganglion Cell Subsets in the Mouse Superior Colliculus

Mouse retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) have been classified into around 20 subtypes based on the shape, size, and laminar position of their dendritic arbors. In most cases tested, RGC subtypes classified in this manner also have distinct functional signatures. Here we asked whether RGC subtypes defined by dendritic morphology have stereotyped axonal arbors in their main central target, the superior colliculus (SC). We used transgenic and viral methods to sparsely label RGCs and characterized both dendritic and axonal arbors of individual RGCs. Axon arbors varied in size, shape, and laminar position. For each of 12 subtypes defined dendritically, however, axonal arbors in the contralateral SC showed considerable stereotypy. We found no systematic relationship between the laminar position of an RGC's dendrites within the inner plexiform layer and that of its axon within the retinorecipient zone of the SC, suggesting that distinct developmental mechanisms specify dendritic and axonal laminar positions. We did, however, note a significant correlation between the dendritic field sizes of RGCs and the laminar position of their axon arbors: RGCs with larger dendritic areas, and hence larger receptive fields, projected to deeper strata within the SC. Finally, combining these new results with previous physiological analyses, we find that RGC subtypes that share similar functional properties, such as directional selectivity, project to similar depths within the SC.
A generalized subspace approach for enhancing speech corrupted by colored noise

A generalized subspace approach is proposed for enhancement of speech corrupted by colored noise. A nonunitary transform, based on the simultaneous diagonalization of the clean speech and noise covariance matrices, is used to project the noisy signal onto a signal-plus-noise subspace and a noise subspace. The clean signal is estimated by nulling the signal components in the noise subspace and retaining the components in the signal subspace. The applied transform has built-in prewhitening and can therefore be used in general for colored noise. The proposed approach is shown to be a generalization of the approach proposed by Y. Ephraim and H.L. Van Trees (see ibid., vol.3, p.251-66, 1995) for white noise. Two estimators are derived based on the nonunitary transform, one based on time-domain constraints and one based on spectral domain constraints. Objective and subjective measures demonstrate improvements over other subspace-based methods when tested with TIMIT sentences corrupted with speech-shaped noise and multi-talker babble.
Xenophon's Cyropaedia and military reform in Sparta

Xenophon's Cyropaedia can be read as a proto-novel, a biography, or as an essay on leadership or constitutional theory. This article argues that the Cyropaedia can and should also be read as a pamphlet on practical military reform with special relevance to the Spartan state. The inclusion of a series of proposals for the reform of the Spartan army in the Cyropaedia has not heretofore been recognized because Xenophon presented those proposals in the guise of a reform of the Persian army undertaken by Cyrus. There was no historical basis for this part of the Cyropaedia, and there is no trace of a major military reform in either the Greek or the Persian tradition about Cyrus as it existed before Xenophon. Cyrus' military reform was thus an authorial invention that presumably served some important narrative purpose. Xenophon inserted a military reform into the Cyropaedia as a way of presenting a proposal for the restructuring of the Spartan army. When Xenophon wrote the Cyropaedia, the Spartans were struggling desperately to maintain their position in the face of a powerful Boeotian army. The Boeotians could put many more hoplites into the field and had a large cavalry force that they were using to excellent effect. The obvious response on the part of the Spartans was to take whatever measures were necessary to increase the number of men in their phalanx and to assemble a sizeable, highly trained group of horsemen. The programme of military reform enacted by Cyrus in the Cyropaedia produces just this result. If implemented in Sparta, this programme would have involved the wholesale addition of non-Spartiates to the Spartan phalanx and the conversion of the Spartan homoioi into an all-cavalry force. Xenophon thus used Cyrus' army in the Cyropaedia to show what a revamped Spartan military might look like. The use of fictional narrative to explore ideas with immediate application to the real world has long been recognized as an integral part of the Cyropaedia. This aspect of the Cyropaedia has in the past been explored largely in regard to Xenophon's thinking about leadership and ethics, but it can and should be extended to include military reform in Sparta.
Phase I Trial of an Oral Immunomodulator and Interferon Inducer in Cancer Patients

Imiquimod [1-(2-methylpropyl)-1H-imidazo[4,5c]quinolin-4-amine] is a compound of low molecular weight that, when administered p.o., induces interferon-alpha in several animal species and inhibits tumor growth in mice. To determine maximum tolerated dose, toxicity, and biological response in humans, a phase I clinical trial was conducted with 14 eligible cancer patients who received 100-500 mg imiquimod p.o. either once or twice weekly. Imiquimod induced interferon-alpha in serum in 10 of 19 doses of 200-300 mg. Interferon serum levels peaked 8-24 h after treatment and reached a maximum of 23,000 IU/ml in one patient. Significant mean increases (P < 0.01) in serum beta 2-microglobulin (1.5-fold), serum neopterin (3.5-fold), and 2-5A synthetase activity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (7.9-fold) indicated that 200-300 mg imiquimod had biological and immunological activity in all evaluable patients. Increases in serum interferon, beta 2-microglobulin, and neopterin correlated significantly with dose (P < 0.001). No patient developed measurable antibody to interferon-alpha. Dose-limiting side effects included fatigue, malaise, fever, headache, and lymphocytopenia; no hepatic or renal toxicity or other hematological changes exceeded the normal range. Patients tolerated weekly doses of up to 500 mg, with the longest treatment lasting 4 weeks at 200 mg weekly. Twice-weekly doses up to to 300 mg were tolerated, with the longest twice-weekly treatments being 200 mg for 9 weeks and 100 mg for 25 weeks. No clinical responses were observed. Imiquimod, as an oral inducer of interferon, may have therapeutic usefulness in human cancers, viral infections, and other diseases. However, before initiation of phase II trials, additional work will be required to establish a tolerated dose and schedule for continued administration.
Identification of the transcriptional start site of the cyd operon from Escherichia coli

The cydAB operon encodes the two subunits of the cytochrome bd ubiquinol oxidase from Escherichia coli. This enzyme is one of two terminal oxidases in the aerobic respiratory chain of E. coli. It has been demonstrated that expression of the cyd operon is transcriptionally regulated by oxygen via both the fnr and arcA gene products. Whereas arcA clearly serves as a positive regulator at low oxygen tension, there is no consensus concerning the role of the fnr gene product (FNR). In this paper, the transcriptional start site of the cyd operon is identified at position −287 with respect to the translational start. This is located 53 basepairs downstream from the center of dyad symmetry of the putative FNR recognition sequence.
PLASMA SPECTROSCOPY IN THE VACUUM ULTRAVIOLET AND SOFT X-RAY REGIONS.

Techniques involved in the spectroscopy of pulsed plasma sources in the vacuum ultraviolet and soft x-ray spectral regions are described in connection with recent developments in a high temperature plasma physics program. The time-integrated spectrum between 15 A and 1800 A has been analyzed using semiautomatic computer techniques for the grazing incidence portion. Time resolved absolute intensity measurements of O iii–O viii ion lines are described as related to recent results on energy losses and impurity content, as well as excitation rate coefficients. Broadband measurements of x-ray continuum radiation with four simultaneous detection channels are also described, and typical results of computer calculations necessary for the interpretation in terms of electron temperature are included.
The stoichiometry of nitrogen and phosphorus spiralling in heterotrophic and autotrophic streams

Summary 1. Nutrient spiralling provides a conceptual framework and a whole-system approach to investigate ecosystem responses to environmental changes. We use spiralling metrics to examine how the coupling of nitrogen and phosphorus uptake varies between streams dominated by either heterotrophic (i.e. bacteria-dominated) or autotrophic (algal-dominated) microbial communities. 2. Algae generally exhibit greater capacity to store nutrients than bacteria because of differences in cellular structures. These differences led us to hypothesise that the uptake of N and P in heterotrophic ecosystems should have reduced stoichiometric variation in response to changes in supply N : P compared to autotrophic ecosystems when assimilation dominates nutrient uptake. 3. To test this hypothesis, we used an array of serial nutrient additions in several streams in the South Fork Eel River watershed in Northern California. In one set of experiments, N and P were added alone and simultaneously in separate experiments to two small, heterotrophic streams to assess uptake rates and interactions between nutrient cycles. In a second set of experiments, N and P were added simultaneously at a range of N : P in one heterotrophic and one autotrophic stream to assess differences in uptake responses to changes in supply N : P. 4. Results of these experiments suggest two important conclusions. First, increased N supply significantly shortened P uptake lengths, while P addition had little impact on N uptake in both streams, indicating that uptake of non-limiting nutrients is tightly coupled to the availability of the limiting element. Second, changes in P uptake and uptake ratios (UN : UP) with increased supply N : P supported our hypothesis that heterotrophic streams are more homeostatic in their responses to changes in nutrient supply than autotrophic streams, suggesting that physiological controls on nutrient use scale up to influence ecosystem-scale patterns in nutrient cycling.
Design a progressive video caching policy for video proxy servers

Proxy servers have been used to cache web objects to alleviate the load of the web servers and to reduce network congestion on the Internet. In this paper, a central video server is connected to a proxy server via wide area networks (WANs) and the proxy server can reach many clients via local area networks (LANs). We assume a video can be either entirely or partially cached in the proxy to reduce WAN bandwidth consumption. Since the storage space and the sustained disk I/O bandwidth are limited resources in the proxy, how to efficiently utilize these resources to maximize the WAN bandwidth reduction is an important issue. We design a progressive video caching policy in which each video can be cached at several levels corresponding to cached data sizes and required WAN bandwidths. For a video, the proxy server determines to cache a smaller amount of data at a lower level or to gradually accumulate more data to reach a higher level. The proposed progressive caching policy allows the proxy to adjust caching amount for each video based on its resource condition and the user access pattern. We investigate the scenarios in which the access pattern is priorly known or unknown and the effectiveness of the caching policy is evaluated.
Performance of Juvenile Coho Salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch Fed Diets Containing Meals from Fish Wastes, Deboned Fish Wastes, or Skin‐and‐Bone By‐Product as the Protein Ingredient

The suitability of meals derived from fish processing wastes as the protein fraction in practical diets for hatchery-reared coho salmon was investigated. The study compared the performance of coho salmon fed diets containing three products: a skin-and-bone meal (SB), a deboned meal (DM), and a whole-fish meal (WM) made directly from the fish wastes. A commercial trout diet (CO) was fed to a fourth treatment group. Diets were fed at 3% of body weight per day to juvenile coho salmon for 12 wk. Survival (> 94%) was not significantly different among treatment groups. Average fish weight, feed conversion ratio, whole body proximate and mineral composition, and protein and phosphorus retention were compared. There were no significant differences after 12 wk of feeding in fish weight between WM, DM, and CO, but SB had significantly lower weight and whole body lipid, and significantly higher ash. Compared to WM, DM had a significantly lower feed conversion ratio and higher retention of protein and phosphorus, but these indices were not significantly different from CO. It is concluded that DM is a potentially superior protein ingredient compared to WM, while specific characteristics of SB will limit its use as a protein source in feeds for salmonids. However, SB may prove to be a suitable mineral supplement when added at a low level. Utilization of fish processing wastes in salmonid diets could be a commercially viable alternative to direct disposal of processing wastes.
Localization of residues in a novel DNA-binding domain of DmSNAP43 required for DmSNAPc DNA-binding activity.

Transcription of snRNA genes depends upon the recognition of the proximal sequence element (PSE) by the snRNA activating protein complex SNAPc. In Drosophila melanogaster, all subunits of DmSNAPc (DmSNAP43, DmSNAP50, and DmSNAP190) are required for PSE-binding activity. Previous work demonstrated that a non-canonical DmSNAP43 domain bounded by residues 193–272 was essential for DmSNAPc to bind to the PSE. In this study, the contribution of amino acid residues within this domain to DNA binding by DmSNAPc was investigated by alanine-scanning mutagenesis. The results have identified two clusters of residues within this domain required for the sequence-specific DNA-binding activity of DmSNAPc.
An Apparent Mutualistic Association Between Invasive Exotics: Brazilian Pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius) and Black Spiny-tailed Iguanas (Ctenosaura similis)

Abstract Black spiny-tailed iguanas (Ctenosaura similis), invasive, exotic lizards native to Mexico and Central America, were studied on Gasparilla Island, Lee and Charlotte Counties, Florida, and found, during midwinter, to make extensive use of the fruit of Brazilian pepper (Schinus terebinthifolius), an exotic, invasive plant native to northern South America. The iguanas also find shelter and excavate burrows in thickets of Brazilian pepper. Seeds of the Brazilian pepper pass through the iguana's digestive tract intact and are likely deposited with a bit of fertilizer in areas conducive to the growth of the plant. This apparent mutualistic association is most significant to the iguanas in that the fruit of Brazilian pepper is available when the iguanas are under stress due to cold weather and short days and when other foods are limited. Control of Brazilian pepper may help control iguana populations.
Regional Variation, Holdouts, and Climate Treaty Negotiations

We develop a model of international agreements to price a transboundry externality and provide a new heuristic to aid in interpreting negotiation behavior. Under conservative assumptions a country's net benefits will be positive under an efficient pollution price if its share of global damages is less than half its share of world-wide abatement costs. We solve for a permit allocation scheme consistent with that heuristic such that every region will have positive net benefits in an agreement to price the pollution externality at the globally efficient level. We then apply this framework to climate change using regional data from Integrated Assessment Models and test the feasibility of a global climate change treaty. The results indicate that several regions have positive net benefits from a globally efficient price on carbon, including Western Europe, South Asia (including India) and Latin America. We then solve for a permit allocation scheme that should produce worldwide agreement on a climate treaty and show that allowing differential carbon taxes would produce tax rate differences of an order of magnitude. We argue that shares of global GDP might be an appropriate proxy for exposure to climate damages and a global climate treaty would be cost-benefit justified without transfers when viewed through that prism.
How An Inventory Cost Misinterpretation Led To Chaos For Purchasing And Operations In A LEAN System

A firm engaging in lean production has employed a computer system to revise order quantities and lot sizes in real time. What appears to be a minor misinterpretation of costs leads to radical fluctuations in inventory and efficiency. Volumes of resources and products grow, contrary to the intent of the system and drastic action is taken to reduce costs, leading to a period of shortages and high administrative costs.
A Review of Howard University's Financial Literacy Curriculum.

This article evaluates a financial literacy curriculum at the Howard University (HU) School of Business, by measuring the financial knowledge acquired after participating in a variety of programs. To evaluate the HU curriculum, the National Jump$tart Coalition (NJC) survey was administered to collect data on financial knowledge and demographic characteristics. Descriptive statistics and regression analysis were used to study the data. The results show that HU-Business students performance was comparable to Jump$tarts national average for college students and Business/Economics students. HU Business students scored higher than the Jump$tarts African American student sample. The regression analysis helped identity key factors that influence financial awareness for HU students including having checking account, electronic tax preparation, taking a course in personal finance or money management, GPA, and frequently balancing check book.
Proof of the Maximum Principle

This chapter is devoted to the proof of the maximum principle, Theorem V.3.1. We shall actually prove a theorem that is more general than the maximum principle and shall obtain the maximum principle as a special case of this theorem. An essential property of an optimal trajectory is used to motivate the introduction of a concept called ℱ-N extremality. A necessary condition for ℱ-N extremality is then stated (Theorem 3.1 of this chapter), and it is shown how this implies Theorem V.3.1.
VI. Political Limitations on Executive Reorganization

Time was, perhaps before the New Deal, when the limitations upon executive reorganization were largely self-limitations, which arose from a conception of administrative reform as primarily a technical problem. That is to say, students of administration assumed that their work had nothing to do with politics. The basic political decisions were to be acknowledged, and if changes were necessary they would be made by legislative enactment. Administrative analysis consisted in determining, according to criteria of efficiency and economy, the proper distribution and relationships of governmental functions. The responsibilities of the technician ended with the submission of a factual report and plans for reorganization, except that if the politicians insisted upon a different set of organizational objectives, he might give advice on the best arrangements for meeting those objectives. He might accept the responsibility of a consultant or adviser on organizational policy ; but in so doing he was acting in a professional capacity, contributing the results of his experience in investigating methods of policy execution.
Heavy p-type carbon doping of MOCVD GaAsP using CBrCl3

Abstract CBrCl 3 is shown to be a useful precursor for heavy p-type carbon doping of GaAs x P 1− x grown via metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) across a range of compositions. Structural and electrical properties of the GaAsP films were measured for various processing conditions. Use of CBrCl 3 decreased the growth rate of GaAsP by up to 32% and decreases x by up to 0.025. The dependence of these effects on precursor inputs is investigated, allowing C-doped GaAsP films to be grown with good thickness and compositional control. Hole concentrations of greater than 2×10 19 cm −3 were measured for values of x from 0.76 to 0.90.
Ruminant nutrition from an environmental perspective: factors affecting whole-farm nutrient balance

Nutrient budgeting strategies focus primarily on recycling manure to land as fertilizer for crop production. Critical elements for determining environmental balance and accountability require knowledge of nutrients excreted, potential nutrient removal by plants, acceptable losses of nutrients within the manure management and crop production systems, and alternatives that permit export of nutrients off-farm, if necessary. Nutrient excretions are closely related to nutrient intake and can be predicted by subtracting predicted nutrients in food animal products exported from the farm from total nutrients consumed. Intensifying crop production with double- or triple-cropping often is necessary for high-density food animal production units to use manure without being forced to export manure or fertilizer coproducts to other farms. Most manures are P-rich relative to N largely because of 1) relatively large losses of volatilized NH3, most of it converted from urea in urine, 2) denitrification losses in soil under wet, anaerobic conditions, and 3) ability of many crops to luxury-consume much more N than P. Most soils bind P effectively and P usually is permitted to accumulate, allowing for budgets to be based on N. However, P budgeting may be required in regions where surface runoff of P contributes to algae growth and eutrophication of surface waters or where soil P increases to levels of concern. Research is needed to determine whether dietary P allowances can be lowered without detriment to animal production or health in order to lower P intake and improve N:P ratios in manure relative to fertilization needs.
Agriculture and Ranching

Agriculture in the Southwest has distinctive features that influence how the sector responds to climate variability and change. First, the region accounts for more than half of the nation’s production of high-value specialty crops (fruits, vegetables, and nuts). California has the most counties where specialty crops (including melons and potatoes) account for a large share of total agricultural sales (Figures 11.3). Other areas that are important in terms of specialty crops include southwestern Arizona, the San Luis Valley of Colorado, and chili- and pecan-growing areas of New Mexico (along the Rio Grande Valley).
Load based automatic scaling in virtual IP based multimedia subsystem

Todays telecommunication networks are plagued with ever increasing demands of scalability and service agility. Network function virtualization (NFV) potentially addresses the issue of slow scaling and reduced time to introduce new services, which are hindered in network services built up on proprietary, dedicated hardware. In this paper we explore one of the merits of NFV of massive scalability in virtual networks particularly in virtual IP based multimedia subsystem (vIMS). In our practical approach we study the effect of different control parameters used for scaling policy. Moreover, we explore the behavior of the IP based multimedia subsystem deployed on a cloud by varying levels of load and stress.
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF THIN GDP SHELLS USED AS CRYOGENIC DIRECT DRIVE TARGETS AT OMEGA

OAK-B135 Thin glow discharge polymer (GDP) shells are currently used as the targets for cryogenic direct drive laser fusion experiments. These shells need to be filled with nearly 1000 atm of D{sub 2} and cooled to cryogenic temperatures without failing due to buckling and bursting pressures they experience in this process. Therefore, the mechanical and permeation properties of these shells are of utmost importance in successful and rapid filling with D{sub 2}. In this paper, they present an overview of buckle and burst pressures of several different types of GDP shells. These include those made using traditional GDP deposition parameters (standard GDP) using a high deposition pressure and using modified parameters (strong GDP) of low deposition pressure that leads to more robust shells.