cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fatigue crack initiation and strain-controlled fatigue of some high strength low alloy steels

Initiation and growth of fatigue microcracks were investigated in several Nb and V alloyed high strength low alloy steels, including conventional and dual phase microstructures. Fatigue microcracks initiated along prominent slip bands. Macrocracks formed by linking up of small microcracks. At low applied stress or strain, the number of cycles to crack initiation increased with the cyclic yield stress. Comparing the cyclic stress-strain curves to the monotonie stress-strain curves, cyclic hardening or softening occurred, depending upon strain amplitude. Plateau regions were observed in plots of cyclic stress amplitudevs cyclic plastic strain amplitude obtained by increasing the total strain amplitude in steps after 30 cycles at each step. In polycrystalline 0.03 pct Nb steel, the plateau region was identified with prominent slip band formation, as others have observed in single crystals of copper, C-doped iron, and other metals.
Gaussian molecular orbital calculations of hyperconjugation in the ethyl cation

Abstract A population analysis of an approximate Hartree—Fock wavefunction for the ethyl cation is tabulated. The analysis is indicative of hyperconjugation. A population analysis for ethane is compared to that for the ethyl cation.
Neuronal localization of M2 muscarinic receptor immunoreactivity in the rat amygdala

Muscarinic cholinergic neurotransmission in the amygdala is critical for memory consolidation in emotional/motivational learning tasks, but little is known about the neuronal distribution of different receptor subtypes. Immunohistochemistry was used in the present investigation to localize the m2 receptor (M2R). Differential patterns of M2R-immunoreactivity (M2R-ir) were observed in the somata and neuropil of the various amygdalar nuclei. Neuropilar M2R-ir was strongest in rostral portions of the basolateral nuclear complex (BLC). M2R-positive (M2R+) somata were seen in low numbers in all nuclei of the amygdala. Most M2R+ neurons associated with the BLC were in the lateral nucleus and external capsule. These cells were nonpyramidal neurons that contained glutamatic acid decarboxylase (GAD), somatostatin (SOM), and neuropeptide Y (NPY), but not parvalbumin (PV), calretinin (CR), or cholecystokinin (CCK). Little or no M2R-ir was observed in GAD+, PV+, CR+, or CCK+ axons in the BLC, but it was seen in some SOM+ axons and many NPY+ axons. M2R-ir was found in a small number of spiny and aspiny neurons of the central nucleus that were mainly located along the lateral and ventral borders of its lateral subdivision. Many of these cells contained SOM and NPY. M2R+ neurons were also seen in the medial nucleus, including a distinct subpopulation of neurons that surrounded its anteroventral subdivision. The latter neurons were negative for all neuronal markers analyzed. The intercalated nuclei (INs) were associated with two types of large M2R+ neurons, spiny and aspiny. The small principal neurons of the INs were M2R-negative. The somata and dendrites of the large spiny neurons, which were actually found in a zone located just outside of the rostral INs, expressed SOM and NPY, but not GAD. These findings indicate that acetylcholine can modulate a variety of discrete neuronal subpopulations in various amygdalar nuclei via M2Rs, especially neurons that express SOM and NPY.
Uterine artery embolization: pre- and post-procedural evaluation using magnetic resonance imaging

Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has become the preferred method in assessing the uterus and pelvis prior to and following uterine artery embolization (UAE). The multiplanar imaging capabilities, increased spatial and contrast resolution, anatomic detail and assessment of fibroid viability that MR provides over ultrasound allows for accurate pre-treatment planning and post-treatment assessment. The purpose of this article is to demonstrate the use of MR in the selection of patients, anatomic evaluation and procedural planning before UAE, describe the use of MR in evaluating treatment response after UAE and illustrate the use of MR in identifying post-UAE complications. An understanding of these principles is essential in guiding appropriate therapy, determining treatment effectiveness and identifying associated complications before and after UAE.
P-selectin and VWF tie the knot

By all accounts, P-selectin and von Willebrand factor (VWF) have been dating for quite some time. Both glycoproteins can be found in the same location (namely, Weibel-Palade [WP] bodies of endothelial cells and α-granules of platelets), they travel together (exported to the cell surface), and they
Is Diabetes Mellitus a Poor Prognostic Factor for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background There are scarce data regarding the impact of diabetes mellitus on the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma managed conservatively. The objective of this study was to compare the overall survival among diabetic and non-diabetic patients suffering from hepatocellular carcinoma and treated mainly by non-surgical means.
Thermal degradation of aqueous oxalate species

Abstract The aqueous thermal degradation of oxalic acid (a naturally occurring dicarboxylic acid) and its anions has been examined experimentally under variable conditions of temperature (160–230°C), time (24–96 h), buffered pH (4–7), and ionic strength (0.2–0.5 M). Decomposition of oxalate species follows a first-order rate law. Degradation rate increases with decreasing pH; the effects of ionic strength are not significant. Changes in reaction rate over the temperature range studied give activation energies that range from 29–50 kcal/mol over a starting solution pH range of 5–7. Extrapolation of these data to sedimentary basin temperatures suggests that oxalate species may be long-lived in formation waters. At 80°C, half-lives range from 2500 to 28,000 years at pH values of 5 and 7, respectively. Formate species are relatively stable degradation products over the range of conditions studied. Comparison of these data with results of other thermal degradation studies of carboxylic acids and their anions indicate that acetate stability > formate stability > oxalate stability > gallate and malonate stability. These results are consistent with the high concentrations of acetate relative to oxalate and malonate observed in formation waters.
Profiling of county-level foster care placements using random-effects Poisson regression models

Concern regarding the removal of African American children from their homes in McLean county and Peoria County Illinois, and placing them into Foster care have been the center of considerable debate and concern in the state of Illinois. As a result, a county- level (McLean and Peoria counties) investigation and intervention was performed. To evaluate the success of this intervention, we developed a mixed-effects Poisson regression model for the analysis of these data, and used it to obtain case-mix adjusted empirical Bayes estimates of county-specific changes (2000-2002) in Foster care placement rates in all counties in the state of Illinois. Results of the analysis revealed that four out of the 85 counties with African American residents in the state of Illinois exhibited significant decreases in Foster care placement rates relative to the change in the overall state-wide rate between 2000 and 2002. The two counties that received the intervention (McLean and Peoria) were among the four counties out of 85 counties that exhibited significant de- creases in Foster care placement rates (OR = 14.7, P < 0.0001). Conceptual and statistical aspects of this type of statistical profiling are presented and discussed.
Quantitation of Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNA in Cerebrospinal Fluid by Competitive PCR in AIDS Patients with Different HCMV Central Nervous System Diseases

The current study was designed to quantitate human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of persons with AIDS with specific HCMV-related CNS disease. DNA present in CSF obtained from AIDS patients was initially detected by a qualitative PCR procedure and then quantitated using a competitive PCR assay. In a group of 21 AIDS patients with HCMV-related CNS disease, 12 patients with HCMV polyradiculopathy had a mean +/- SEM of 11,982 +/- 4,480 copies/microliters in their CSF compared to 1,747 +/- 929 for 9 patients with HCMV encephalitis p = 0.017). Of the 14 patients with > 1,000 copies/microliters of HCMV DNA in CSF, 11(79%) had HCMV polyradiculopathy including all 3 with > 10,000 copies/microliters. Ganciclovir treatment of 3 patients with HCMV-related CNS disease was associated with a decline in HCMV DNA detectable within CSF. These data indicate that quantities of HCMV DNA in CSF are higher in persons with HCMV-related polyradiculopathy than encephalitis, and that quantitation of HCMV DNA can be useful in monitoring antiviral therapy.
No Irish need apply: Patterns of and responses to ethnic discrimination in the labor market

(1973). No Irish need apply: Patterns of and responses to ethnic discrimination in the labor market. Labor History: Vol. 14, No. 1, pp. 56-68.
Asthma Scoring Systems-Reply

In Reply .—I am appreciative of the comments of Drs Newcomb and Akhter, and I echo their opinions regarding quantitative measurements of pulmonary function. All too often physicians try to invent clinical shortcuts, such as scoring systems, that invariably lack accuracy or applicability in a significant portion of patients. Objective measures, tempered with an individual patient's clinical attributes, yield the best prognostic guide for these children. I am hopeful that science will catch up with our management of this most common pulmonary disorder. Our opinions do, however, differ in one regard. It is my belief that it is feasible to determine, in some way, those admitted children who require less than 24 hours of hospitalization. If these children are able to be identified before admission, they could conceivably be hospitalized in a less-expensive short-stay unit, thereby reducing their hospital costs. It would seem that such a method of identification would
Performance of isoelectric focusing in uncoated and commercially available coated capillaries

A simple method for performing isoelectric focusing in uncoated and commercially available coated capillaries is described. Its main difference form other forms of CIEF is that electroosmotic flow (EOF) is not eliminated, but serves as the bulk flow to mobilize focused zones past a stationary detector. Separations of model protein mixtures in both uncoated and coated capillaries are shown. The coated capillary offers the best results in terms of separating both acidic and basic proteins, due to its constancy of EOF vs pH. The uncoated capillary can be used to successfully separate basic and neutral proteins. Limitations of the method in terms of nonlinear plots of migration time vs pl are addressed. The rigorous description of the experimental protocol that is given should allow performance of the technique on any commercial or home-made CE instrument.
Differential expression of the EF-hand calcium-binding protein calsensin in the central nervous system of hirudinid leeches

By immunocytochemistry the distribution and developmental expression of the small EF-hand calcium-binding protein calsensin in the peripheral (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS) of the three hirudinid leech species Haemopis, Hirudo, and Macrobdella was compared. Labeling with calsensin-specific antibodies demonstrated that there was a pronounced difference in the distribution of calsensin immunoreactivity in the CNS of these leeches. In Haemopis more than 70 neurons were labeled, whereas the number in Hirudo was 51 and in Macrobdella only 8. Furthermore, the expression of calsensin in identified cells common to all three leech species also differed. Immunoblot analysis indicated that this variability was not likely to be due to multiple proteins or isoforms being recognized by the calsensin antibody. Labeling of embryos in various stages of development shows that the ontogeny of calsensin expression in the CNS is a gradual process with some neurons expressing calsensin immediately after completion of neurogenesis, about one-third of the way through embryogenesis, and others expressing calsensin only postembryonically. In contrast to the variability in the pattern and temporal expression by CNS neurons, the early embryonic calsensin expression in a small subgroup of sensillar PNS neurons was a shared feature by all three leech species. These findings suggest that calsensin may have different functional properties in CNS and PNS neurons.
Functional preservation of canine heart-lung preparations by perfusion with pure haemoglobin solution.

THIS study deals with classic ex-vivo, self-perfusing heart–lung preparations, in which the circulating medium is a pure human haemoglobin solution free of stroma. Although this scheme was first devised for preservation for subsequent transplantation, it also provides a convenient method of testing the effects of pharmacological agents on such preparations without interference from the figured elements of the blood for periods up to 6 h.
Effects of focus of attention on anxiety levels and social performance of individuals with social phobia

Self-focused attention has been linked to social anxiety and poor social performance, but the causal direction of this relationship has not been established. For this study, focus of attention was manipulated during a speech task, conducted in pairs for 38 individuals with generalized social phobia. Results indicated that intensifying self-focused attention increased anticipated anxiety and anxious appearance, regardless of whether the individual was giving a speech or passively standing before the audience. The self-focus manipulation also increased self-reported anxiety during the task, but only for individuals assigned to a passive role. Contrary to expectation, self-focused attention did not affect any measure of social performance. These results indicate that self-focused attention may play a causal role in exacerbating social anxiety.
Zinc and copper status in young patients following jejunoileal bypass

Abstract Zinc and copper nutrition has been investigated in eight young subjects aged 11–19 years at the time of jejunoileal bypass surgery. This study was performed an average of 30 months following the operations. Weight loss averaged 43%. However, all had stabilized in weight prior to the study and supplementary potassium or calcium was no longer required. Except for one patient who had the Prader-Willi syndrome, all were free of medical problems other than obesity. The results showed that six of the eight subjects had low serum zinc concentrations. In addition, five of the eight had subnormal serum copper concentrations. The data suggest apparent mal-absorption of zinc and copper resulting in depressed serum concentrations of these trace elements. Therefore, supplementation may be beneficial, especially if the operation is performed on children before the completion of growth and sexual maturation.
The structure and expression of a distantly related member of the beta-gamma crystallin super gene family from Xenopus.

Abstract In an attempt to understand amphibian crystallin gene regulation, we have isolated and partially characterized several genomic clones which hybridized to the γ1 cDNA probe from Rana temporaria . A complete sequence of one of these clones showed slight homology to the mammalian β and γ crystallins. The deduced amino acid sequence of the coding region and its alignment as a folding unit indicated that all the topologically equivalent residues involved in maintaining the protein folding pattern are highly conserved. Northern blot analysis of total RNAs derived from several adult tissues, including eye lens, suggested that an RNA of approximately 700 nucleotides long is present in lens, heart, spleen and embryos of later stages of development but not in retina, oocytes and embryos of early developmental stages.
The effect of bridge piles on stratification in lower Chesapeake Bay

Tidally-forced flow beneath the existing trestle of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel causes significant distortion of the ambient density field in the immediate vicinity of the trestle due to flow over the scour zone around the pilings. Effects are minimal a short distance away from the trestle. Contrary to previous studies, stratification was not appreciably stronger during neap as compared to spring tide periods at the time of these observations, but a tendency toward such a state was detected. Estimates of piling-induced destratification based on direct observations of temperature, salinity, and currents near the pilings indicate that piling effects are substantially less than naturally occurring destratification due to bottom and wind stresses.
Postisolation aggression and olfactory cues.

Socially isolated DBA/2J male mice chronically subjected to soiled bedding from group-housed males showed less aggressivity than isolates subjected either to soiled bedding from other isolated males or to fresh bedding. The findings suggest that postisolation aggression in mice may result from the gradual disinhibition from a primer pheromone, present in groups of male mice, which acts to suppress aggressive attack.
Improving the Accuracy and Efficiency of Partitioning Heritability into the Contributions of Genomic Regions

Quantifying heritability, the amount of genetic contribution in a complex trait, has been of fundamental interest to geneticists for decades. Recently, partitioning the heritability accounted for by common variants into the contributions of genomic regions has received a lot of attention given its important applications for understanding the genetic architecture of complex traits. Current methods partition the total heritability by jointly estimating the contributions of all regions. However, these methods are computationally intractable and can be inaccurate when the number of regions is large. In this paper, we present an alternative approach that partitions the total heritability into the contributions of an arbitrary number of regions. We demonstrate by using simulations that our approach is more accurate and computationally efficient than current approaches. Using a data set from a genome-wide association study on human height, we demonstrate the utility of our method by estimating the heritability contributions of chromosomes and subchromosomal regions.
The radiotherapeutic management of pulmonary metastasest

INTRODUCTION Pulmonary metastases represent the major site of failure, often the only site of failure, in patients with Wilms’ tumor and Ewing’s sarcoma and in some patients with testicular tumors and sarcomas of bone and soft tissue.2”,” In primary tumors of bowel, kidney, and breast, pulmonary metastases are sometimes the first manifestation and occasionally the only manifestation of recurrent disease. Control or prevention of these pulmonary metastases could yield significant increases in cure rates. Combined radiotherapy-chemotherapy has improved the prognosis in Wilms’ tumor and Ewing’s sarcoma and probably in testicular tumors.4.13*‘5 However, chemotherapy alone has not eliminated pulmonary metastases as a major problem. Although the tolerance of the whole lung or entire thoracic contents is limited, small field booster or “rifle shot” irradiation of gross disease can be used in combination with whole lung irradiation to increase the control rate for gross metastases. The experience with such treatment alone and in combination with chemotherapy will be reviewed.
Comparative cytologic findings of in situ and invasive adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix.

The cytologic findings in 13 cases of cervical adenocarcinoma in situ (mean age 33.9 yr) were compared with those in 9 cases of cervical invasive adenocarcinoma (mean age 45.7 yr). All diagnoses were confirmed by biopsy. The major differences found were that a necrotic background (66% invasive vs. 0% in situ) and macronucleoli (77% invasive vs. 0% in situ) were more common in invasive cases, whereas associated squamous-cell dysplasia (69% in situ vs. 0% invasive) was more common in in situ cases. Other differences included syncytial tissue fragments with irregular cell borders, frequent cell-drop-off, and markedly atypical single columnar cells (or markedly atypical naked nuclei) seen more commonly in invasive cases, whereas monolayer sheets and/or syncytial tissue fragments with smooth borders and rare cell drop-off were more common in in situ cases. Although none of these features is diagnostic individually, in combination they are helpful in distinguishing between in situ and invasive adenocarcinoma. Nine of 13 of the in situ cases showed associated squamous-cell dysplasia. In all nine of these cases, the glandular dysplasia was overlooked or underestimated in severity on original cytologic diagnosis. This suggests that the presence of a squamous lesion may lead to decreased detection of glandular lesions, perhaps because the features of squamous lesions are more well known; thus they are more easily recognized, at the expense of glandular lesions. All invasive adenocarcinomas were identified as carcinoma in the original diagnosis with seven specific as invasive adenocarcinomas
Technical considerations in labeling of blood elements

The technical difficulties of labeling albumin, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are discussed with respect to the effect of procedural differences on the in vivo fate of the radiolabeled blood element. Albumin can be labeled with 99m Tc by a variety of procedures that have not been proved clinically. The labeling of erythrocytes with 51 Cr is well defined, but the demand for a better radionuclide has not led to a routine procedure for 99m Tc-labeled red blood cells. The procedure for labeling white blood cells and platelets with 51 Cr has been established, but the in vivo viability of the cells remains in question. Labeling techniques with other isotopes such as 67 Ga and 99m Tc are still being developed. Blood elements labeled with 51 Cr are by far the best defined species, but much remains to be done with isotopes having better physical properties.
Measurements and Simulations of Scrape-off Layer Flows in the DIII-D Tokamak

Flow velocities of the order 10-20 km/s in the direction of the high-field side divertor have been measured for deuterons and low charge-state carbon ions in the scrape-off layer at the crown of low-density L-mode plasmas, suggesting that these carbon ions at the crown move with the background plasma flow. Simulations with the multi-fluid edge code UEDGE including cross-field drifts due to E x B and B x del B yield calculated divertor conditions which are more consistent with the measurements, but flows at the crown that are stagnant or in the opposite direction than observed. The simulations indicate that both the ion temperature gradient force and deuteron frictional drag play a role in determining the flow direction and magnitude of low charge-state carbon ions. The effect of the assumed radial transport model, toroidal core rotation, and neutral pumping at the divertor plates on the flow at the crown is investigated. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Weighting functions with separated maxima and kernels of inverse problems for ground-based passive remote sensing

Abstract An approach is presented for the construction of weighting functions for temperature and mixing ratio retrievals for ground-based passive remote sensing that have maxima separated from the ground. The necessary mathematical and physical framework is also presented.
Metabolic implications of obesity : Before and after gastric bypass

Obesity is recognized as an inherited disease state, and attributes of modern civilization have enhanced its phenotypic penetrance greatly. Two thirds or more of obese persons suffer comorbidities,many of which are characteristic of (dys)metabolic syndrome of insulin resistance. Unfortunately patients with body mass index over 35 infrequently can achieve or maintain weight loss adequate to resolve these metabolic (and anatomic) issues by lifestyle or pharmacologic strategies and are served better by gastric bypass, in spite of its attendant risks, both surgical and nutritional. This article evaluates the metabolic consequences of obesity and highlights which of these are amenable to correction with weight reduction achieved by gastric bypass.
Overview of Tracheal Tissue Engineering: Clinical Need Drives the Laboratory Approach

Breathing is a natural function that most of us do not even think about, but for those who suffer from disease or damage of the trachea, the obstruction of breathing can mean severe restrictions to quality of life or may even be fatal. Replacement and reconstruction of the trachea is one of the most difficult procedures in otolaryngology/head and neck surgery, and also one of the most vital. Previous reviews have focused primarily on clinical perspectives or instead on engineering strategies. However, the current review endeavors to bridge this gap by evaluating engineering approaches in a practical clinical context. For example, although contemporary approaches often include in vitro bioreactor pre-culture, or sub-cutaneous in vivo conditioning, the limitations they present in terms of regulatory approval, cost, additional surgery, and/or risk of infection challenge engineers to develop the next generation of biodegradable/resorbable biomaterials that can be directly implanted in situ. Essentially, the functionality of the replacement is the most important requirement. It must be the correct shape and size, achieve an airtight fit, resist collapse as it is replaced by new tissue, and be non-immunogenic. As we look to the future, there will be no one-size-fits-all solution.
A compression test for adhesion evaluation of diamond coatings

A key requirement of an effective coating is its adequate adhesion to the substrate. Thus, reliable test methods to evaluate coating adhesion and to characterize the deposition parameters affecting it are necessary for the systematic development of such coatings. The conventional technique for measuring diamond coating adhesion, the scratch test, is unreliable because of wear of the stylus and influences of the substrate. Thus, a noncontact technique (compression test) of evaluating the adhesion of diamond coatings on brittle substrates was modelled and developed. This method utilizes the differences in Young's modulus between the coating and the substrate via application of an external load in order to generate interfacial stresses and debond the coating. An innovative three-dimensional numerical model, based on combining the variational and boundary integral approaches, was utilized to link the indirect (i.e. load) to the direct (i.e. debond shear stress or elastic energy of delamination) characteristic...
Parametric Study of CO2 Fixed Carrier Facilitated Transport through Swollen Chitosan Membranes

Swollen and dry chitosan membranes were used to separate carbon dioxide from a feed gas composed of 10% CO2, 10% H2, and 80% N2 in a temperature range of 20−150 °C for a feed pressure of 1.5 atm. S...
The San Francisco earthquake of 1906

Summary Though among the most famous earthquakes in modern times, San Francisco (18 April 1906) has almost always been presented as nothing more than a great human disaster. While certainly that, we should regard it also as having had unusual significance in the development of seismology. Because the full extent of the San Andreas fault was thereafter recognized, and the association between faulting and earthquakes confirmed, we may consider the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 to be the first in which modern understanding of seismic causality prevailed.
Sensorineural hearing loss and pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency syndrome: Implications for cochlear implantation

Summary The pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) complex is an enzyme involved in the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl coenzyme A, an important and irreversible step in glycolysis. A deficiency in pyruvate dehydrogenase is a well defined but rare genetic defect of metabolism that is characterized by lactic acidosis. Variability exists in clinical presentation, radiographic imaging, and enzyme activity. We present a case of pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency syndrome in which profound sensorineural hearing loss and internal auditory canal abnormalities were also found. We highlight the findings on auditory brainstem response (ABR) and radiographic studies and discuss the implications for cochlear implantation.
The Role of Carbon and Point Defects in Silicon

An overview of the behavior of intrinsic point defects in silicon and their interaction with carbon is given for temperatures above about 500° C. The diffusive mechanism of carbon in silicon, which involves silicon self-interstitials, is treated in some detail and compared with the diffusion mechanism of oxygen. The solubility of interstitial carbon is estimated. Co-precipitation of carbon and self-interstitials or oxygen are dealt with in terms of simple volume considerations. It is proposed that the contradicting results on the influence of intrinsic point defect supersaturations on oxygen nucleation and precipitation may possibly be explained in the frame-work of opposite effects depending on the carbon concentration. Finally the influence of carbon on the incorporation and diffusion of gold in silicon is discussed.
Short-term memory of children with and without characteristics of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Abstract The effects of verbal interference and strategy instruction on recall of visual and auditory material were assessed in children with and without attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD). Children were randomly assigned to a strategy instruction or to a control group and (a) completed two sets (four administrations) of the Learning Efficiency Test (LET)-II, (b) a self-report measure of ‘task-unrelated thoughts (TUTs),’ and (c) an incidental sentence recall task. Recall of both visual and auditory material was greater for those children who received strategy instruction and when there was no added interference. Poor memory and failure to filter incoming stimulation were not supported as explanations of AD/HD under the conditions of this study.
Patterns of recurrence and survival of head and neck adenoid cystic carcinoma after definitive resection

Objectives/Hypothesis: To determine factors impacting recurrence and long-term survival of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the head and neck after definitive resection. Study Design: Retrospective cohort study at an academic tertiary care hospital. Methods: Patients with ACC of the head and neck treated at our institution were reviewed. Those not receiving surgery, or with metastatic disease were excluded. Clinicopathological data on each patient was collected. Results: Of 113 patients identified with ACC, 99 were studied. The overall median survival for the cohort was 71 months (mean ± standard deviation, 94 ± 79 months). American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) tumor stage and N stage were independent predictors of survival on multivariate analysis. Mean overall survival (P = .001) and time to recurrence (P = .006) were lower for patients with cervical lymph node positive disease (N+). Tumors in major salivary glands were associated with longer survival (P = .027). The overall recurrence rate was 53%, with a mean time to recurrence of 63 ± 64 months. The presence of lymphovascular invasion predicted recurrence on multivariate analysis (P = .002), with advanced tumor stage predicting early (≤36 months) recurrence (P = .013). Among the 57 patients who received adjuvant radiation therapy, there was no difference in survival, rate of recurrence, or time to recurrence, when compared to patients treated with surgery alone. Conclusions: Clinicopathological variables including AJCC tumor stage, tumor site, presence of N+ disease, and lymphovascular invasion may be used as prognostic factors in predicting survival and recurrence after a definitive resection of ACC of the head and neck. Laryngoscope, 2010
Sarcomere length influences μ-calpain-mediated proteolysis of bovine myofibrils

Muscle shortening and postmortem proteolysis both influence beef tenderness, but their interacting effects on tenderness are relatively unknown. Inherent myofibril structure and the extent of overlap between myosin and actin filaments are hypothesized to affect the availability of substrates for degradation by calpains. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of sarcomere length on the extent of calpain-induced proteolysis of bovine myofibrils in vitro. Bovine semitendinosus muscles were excised within 20 min postmortem and dissected into strips, which were stretched and attached to applicator sticks or allowed slack to generate samples with different sarcomere lengths upon rigor completion. Samples were allowed to undergo rigor in a neutral pH buffer containing a protease inhibitor. Myofibrils were isolated and incubated at room temperature with excess exogenous μ-calpain at a ratio of 1:800 (wt/wt; enzyme:myofibrillar protein) at pH 6.8 for 0, 2, 60, 1,440, or 2,880 min. Purified troponin was subjected to the same digestion conditions. Proteolysis of troponin T (TnT) was monitored using SDS-PAGE and Western blotting. Sarcomere length was greater (P < 0.0001) in stretched versus shortened samples (2.99 μm ± 0.03 vs. 2.12 ± 0.03 μm, respectively, means ± SE). Western blots for both stretched and shortened samples exhibited bands corresponding to intact TnT and TnT fragments. The abundance of intact TnT decreased (P < 0.0001) with incubation time across both treatments. At 1,440 and 2,880 min, less (P < 0.05) intact TnT was detected in samples with long sarcomeres. These data indicate proteolysis of TnT occurs to a greater extent in samples with longer sarcomeres, possibly due to easier access of proteases to their targeted substrates. Degradation patterns of TnT were qualitatively similar between myofibrils and purified troponin after incubation with μ-calpain. Therefore, it is unlikely that the mechanism by which proteolysis is limited in short sarcomeres involves an actomyosin-mediated interference of TnT.
Situational effects on brand preferences for image products

The purpose of the study was to provide evidence for the influence of situational variables on consumer preferences toward the image product of men's fragrances, and to illustrate how these situational variables can be used to create positioning strategies. In a 3 × 3 experimental design, male and female subjects provided purchasing preference ratings for, and rated each cologne on, a number of scales related to price, brand image and packaging, scent, and inferred characteristics of the typical consumer. ANOVAs and a constrained unfolding analysis using GENFOLD2 were used to analyze the data. The analyses revealed that subjects' preferences were influenced by the purchasing target (self or others), and suggested that people's preferences may be mediated by person prototypes and situation prototypes. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The life history of systolic murmurs in rheumatic heart disease

The physician who undertakes to interrogate the heart by auscultation is not to decide that the condition of his patient is alarming, simply because he finds a murmur which he satisfies himself is dependent on an organic lesion of some kind. The lesion may be at that time, and perhaps ever afterwards, innocuous; the evils arising from cardiac affections may be remote, and so far from plunging the patient into despair by the announcement of the fact that he has an incurable disease of the heart, there may be just grounds for holding out expectation of life and comfortable health for an indefinite period. Neither does it necessarily alter the case when more than one murmur is discovered; the existence of several murmurs by no means excludes the possibility of similar encouragement. We are to look to other sources of information than the murmurs in forming an opinion respecting the gravity of the affection. 1
THE ADAPTIVE SIGNIFICANCE OF GASTROPOD TORSION

Unique among mollusks, the Gastropoda are characterized by a curious asymmetry, resulting from a rotation of the visceral hump and shell. Thus in the earlier stages of their embryonic development, gastropods have the same arrangement of parts as other mollusks, with the rudiments of the mantle cavity, gills, coelomic ducts, and associated structures at the posterior end of the body. But eventually, the entire shell, and along with it the mantle cavity and its contained organs, undergoes a counterclockwise rotation, relative to the head and foot, of about 180 degrees. As a result, the mantle cavity, gills, etc., come to lie directly above the head, and the internal parts undergo a rearrangement (Figs. 1, 2). This displacement, referred to as torsion, should not be confused with the spiral coiling of the shell and visceral hump, which is a separate disturbance of symmetry. Common garden snails have both torsion and coiling; the shells of limpets are no longer coiled, but torsion may be seen in the twisted condition of the internal structures. The questions of how torsion originated and what, if anything, is its adaptive significance, are important for several reasons. Torsion is the diagnostic character of the second-largest class in the animal kingdom (in number of described species); an understanding of the process which gave rise to such a taxonomically important property may cast some light on major problems of macroevolution. In the historical analysis of the theoretical literature, one may also gain valuable insights into the validity of various kinds of phylogenetic arguments. It is especially revealing to consider the weakness of some arguments which are widely accepted. Finally, one theory explaining torsion invokes both paedomorphosis and what almost amounts to a macromutation. Not only is this theory widely held, but its truth is used as a premise in theoretical arguments (e.g., de Beer, 1958); the broad implications of such theoretical discussions necessitates rigorous testing of their fundamental premises. Even if one cannot discover which explanation is correct, the elaboration of alternatives removes the support for theories derived from one of them. The following discussion attempts a critical review and synthesis of the problem of torsion, and suggests a new explanatory theory.
Monitoring channel activities of proteoliposomes with SecA and Cx26 gap junction in single oocytes.

Abstract Establishing recordable channels in membranes of oocytes formed by expressing exogenous complementary DNA (cDNA) or messenger RNA (mRNA) has contributed greatly to understanding the molecular mechanisms of channel functions. Here, we report the extension of this semi-physiological system for monitoring the channel activity of preassembled membrane proteins in single cell oocytes by injecting reconstituted proteoliposomes along with substrates or regulatory molecules. We build on the observation that SecA from various bacteria forms active protein-conducting channels with injection of proteoliposomes, protein precursors, and ATP–Mg2+. Such activity was enhanced by reconstituted SecYEG–SecDF•YajC liposome complexes that could be monitored easily and efficiently, providing correlation of in vitro and intact cell functionality. In addition, inserting reconstituted gap junction Cx26 liposomes into the oocytes allowed the demonstration of intracellular/extracellular Ca2+-regulated hemi-channel activities. The channel activities can be detected rapidly after injection, can be monitored for various effectors, and are dependent on specific exogenous lipid compositions. This simple and effective functional system with low endogenous channel activity should have broad applications for monitoring the specific channel activities of complex interactions of purified membrane proteins with their effectors and regulatory molecules.
The emerging role of global situational awareness 2.0 resources in disaster response

Public Health organizations throughout the world are called upon to be at the forefront of responding to emerging infectious disease events or natural catastrophes such as the Haitian and Chilean earthquakes. One of the key components to effective public health engagement is situational awareness. Situational awareness means understanding what is going on around you. Whilst that may seem to be a simple statement it is not. True situational awareness means acquiring all relevant information about the event and translating that information into actionable knowledge.
Dearfield Dream Project: Developing an Interdisciplinary Historical/Cultural Research Network

The Dearfield Dream Project is a collaborative research initiative to conduct historical, cultural, archaeological, and environmental studies on the early 20th Century African-American colony site of Dearfield, Colorado, USA. Because the breadth and significance of the Dearfield Project requires an interdisciplinary research team, a network of research collaborators has been assembled. This research network seeks to discover, preserve, and disseminate knowledge of the site and its surrounding farmsteads’ economic, social, political, and environmental history for better understanding and interpretation of its contributions to Colorado and U.S. history. Herein, we detail progress that has been made on this important historical/cultural research project. Further, we outline the future of the Dearfield research network along with our current and anticipated subjects of inquiry.
Contribution of the Intrinsic Curvature to Measured DNA Persistence Length

The persistence length of DNA, a, depends both on the intrinsic curvature of the double helix and on the thermal fluctuations of the angles between adjacent base-pairs. We have evaluated two contributions to the value of a by comparing measured values of a for DNA containing a generic sequence and for an "intrinsically straight" DNA. In each 10 bp segment of the intrinsically straight DNA an initial sequence of five bases is repeated in the sequence of the second five bases, so any bends in the first half of the segment are compensated by bends in the opposite direction in the second half. The value of a for the latter DNA depends, to a good approximation, on thermal fluctuations only; there is no intrinsic curvature. The values of a were obtained from measurements of the cyclization efficiency for short DNA fragments, about 200 bp in length. This method determines the persistence length of DNA with exceptional accuracy, due to the very strong dependence of the cyclization efficiency of short fragments on the value of a. We find that the values of a for the two types of DNA fragment are very close and conclude that the contribution of the intrinsic curvature to a is at least 20 times smaller than the contribution of thermal fluctuations. The relationship between this result and the angles between adjacent base-pairs, which specify the intrinsic curvature, is analyzed.
An insulator with barrier-element activity promotes α-spectrin gene expression in erythroid cells

Understanding mechanisms controlling expression of the α-spectrin gene is important for understanding erythropoiesis, membrane biogenesis, and spectrin-linked hemolytic anemia. We showed previously that a minimal α-spectrin promoter directed low levels of expression only in early erythroid development, indicating elements outside the promoter are required for expression in adult erythrocytes. Addition of noncoding exon 1′ and intron 1′ conferred a 10-fold increase in activity in reporter gene assays. In this report, we used a transgenic mouse model to show that addition of exon 1′ and intron 1′ to the α-spectrin promoter conferred tissue-specific expression of a linked Aγ-globin gene in erythroid cells at all developmental stages. Expression was nearly position-independent, as 21 of 23 lines expressed the transgene, and γ-globin protein was present in 100% of erythrocytes, indicating uniform expression. Additional in vivo studies revealed that exon 1′ functions as an insulator with barrier-element activity. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that this region was occupied by the upstream stimulatory factors 1/2 (USF1/USF2), similar to the well-characterized chicken HS4 insulator. These data identify the first barrier element described in an erythrocyte membrane protein gene and indicate that exon 1′ and intron 1′ are excellent candidate regions for mutations in patients with spectrin-linked hemolytic anemia.
Effects of GTPγS and other nucleotides on phosphoinositide metabolism in crude rat brain synaptosomal preparations

Abstract Crude nerve-ending preparations from rat brain were labeled with either [ 32 P]phosphate or myo[2- 3 H]inositol in order to observe effects of guanosine 5′-[γ-thio]triphosphate (GTPγS) and other nucleotides on phosphoinositides, phosphatidate and inositol phosphates. This system exhibited typical responses to muscarinic agonists, including acetylcholine—a decrease in net labeling of [ 32 P]polyphosphoinositides, an increase in labeling of [ 32 P]phosphatidate, and a stimulation of [ 3 H]inositol phosphate formation. GTPγS and other nucleotides may not readily penetrate intact synaptosomal membranes to cause activation of phospholipase C via an interaction with G proteins, and, as might be expected, there was no indication that G-protein interaction occurred in these preparations. However, other effects were observed. GTPγS decreased net [ 32 P] incorporation in phosphatidylinositol (PI) and polyphosphoinositides in a dose-dependent manner. GTPγS also caused an initial marked stimulation of [ 32 P] labeling of phosphatidate, suggesting a possible inhibition in the conversion of phosphatidic acid to PI. Other nucleotides [GTP, ATP, Gpp(NH)p, GMP] produced qualitatively similar effects on phosphoinositides. Thus GTPγS and other nucleotides, at physiologically relevant concentrations, may influence phosphoinositide turnover via extracellular or other mechanisms, in addition to the proposed interaction of GTP with G-proteins within membranes.
Use of an ethanol lock to prevent catheter-related infections in children with short bowel syndrome ☆

Abstract Background Children with short bowel syndrome (SBS) requiring central venous catheters (CVCs) may experience frequent catheter-related infections (CRIs). Treatment strategies include antibiotic- and ethanol-containing locks, with CVC removal if the CRI cannot be cleared. Ethanol lock therapy has been reported for CRI treatment in children but not for CRI prevention. Methods Medical records of children with SBS receiving cycled home parenteral nutrition via a silicone CVC and who received a daily 70% ethanol lock at some time during their therapy were reviewed retrospectively. Main Results Ten patients had 26 CVCs for a total of 3556 catheter-days and received a daily ethanol lock for 4 to 14 hours during a total of 3018 catheter-days. Before ethanol lock therapy (n = 5), there were 6 CRIs in 538 catheter-days (rate, 11.15 per 1000 catheter-days). During ethanol lock therapy in the same 5 patients, the CRI rate decreased to 2.06 per 1000 catheter-days (4 CRIs in 1936 catheter-days). In the 5 patients with no ethanol lock-free period, the CRI rate was 1.85 per 1000 catheter-days. Overall, CRI rate with ethanol lock therapy was 1.99 per 1000 catheter-days (2 CRIs in 1081 catheter-days). Four patients developed 6 CRIs during ethanol lock therapy. Four of these CRIs were cleared with systemic anti-infective and ethanol lock therapy; 2 CVCs were removed owing to infection. No adverse reactions were reported during ethanol instillation. Conclusion A daily 70% ethanol lock for CRI prevention was safe and effective in a series of 10 patients with SBS.
High-Q whispering gallery modes from a composite system of GaAs quantum well and fused silica microsphere

We demonstrate a composite system consisting of a GaAs quantum well structure placed in the evanescent field of a fused silica microsphere and show evanescent coupling between excitons in the quantum well and high-Q whispering gallery modes of the composite system. The composite system allows separate engineering of photonic and electronic confinement and can take advantage of high-Q factor and small mode volume of fused silica microspheres.