cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extraction of Mullerian inhibiting substance from newborn calf testis.

Abstract Using a dissociative solvent and a protease inhibitor, Mullerian inhibiting substance, a testicular substance responsible for regression of the Mullerian ducts in the mammalian male embryo, has been extracted from newborn calf testis. Data are presented which demonstrate that fractions with biological activity for Mullerian inhibiting substance can be extracted from whole tissue and that activity can be blocked by antisera raised to extracted testes components. Following extraction in guanidine hydrochloride the extract was fractionated by density gradient sedimentation, gel filtration chromatography, and ion-exchange chromatography. Fractions were subjected to amino acid and carbohydrate analyses and peptide constituents were determined by SDS gel electrophoresis. Fractions were dialyzed, concentrated, filtered, and added to an organ culture assay to detect Mullerian inhibiting substance activity, which was found (1) in the guanidine extract, (2) in a protein fraction of the cesium chloride gradient, (3) in constituents eluted with K av values between 0.19 and 0.38 on gel filtration chromatography using a Bio-Gel A-0.5 M column, and (4) in constituents eluted between 0.15 and 0.20 M NaCl on ion-exchange chromatography using a DEAE Bio-Gel A-50 ion exchanger. Sequentially this scheme effected a 30-fold purification of a fraction with Mullerian inhibiting substance activity. Biological activity was lost when positive extracts were absorbed with antiserum raised to guanidine extract. The strong dissociative conditions employed in the gradient and extraction procedures make it likely that the distribution of activity obtained in the density gradient procedure was due to a macromolecule, and not to an interaction between an active low molecular weight component and an inactive macromolecule acting as a carrier. Further fractionation on the Bio-Gel column using a dissociative solvent also indicated that the active component was a macromolecule. Amino acid and carbohydrate analyses indicate that the active fractions are composed of proteins and glycoproteins.
Oliver Ellsworth's Calvinism: A Biographical Essay on Religion and Political Psychology in the Early Republic

The year 1801 was a catastrophe for staunch Federalists. Thomas Jefferson became president, and a coalition opposed to the Federalists gained control ofthe Congress. In New England, Standing Order Cal­ vinist ministers hysterically railed that Jefferson was "a debaucher, an infidel, [and] a liar."l But one of New England's most prominent Fed­ eralists was more philosophical. Oliver Ellsworth, the third chief jus­ tice of the United States, was almost relieved that the Federalists would no longer have to try to make the national government work. Invoking the legend of Sisyphus, Ellsworth wrote, "So the anti-Feds are now to support their own administration, and take a tum at rolling stones up hill."2 At first glance, this imagery seems a common example of the eighteenth-century political elite's use of classical metaphors. This author has come to believe, however, that biblical revelation illu­ minated by a thoroughgoing Calvinism was the primary philosophical influence in Ellsworth's life. This essay will explore the influence of Calvinism upon Ellsworth's understanding of political psychology, and incidentally will suggest that for Ellsworth the legend of Sisyphus was essentially a Calvinist allegory.
Computerized design and generation of modified spiroid worm-gear drive with low transmission errors and stabilized bearing contact

The authors propose a modified geometry of a spiroid worm-gear drive with localized bearing contact, reduced level of transmission errors and a parabolic shape of function of transmission errors. Computerized design of the worm-gear drive that enables to discover and avoid singularities of the generated worm face-gear surface and pointing of teeth is developed. Simulation of meshing by TCA (Tooth Contact Analysis) computer program is developed to determine the shift of bearing contact and transmission errors caused by misalignment. Numerical examples that illustrate the developed theory are provided.
A model for the recA-dependent repair of excision gaps in UV-irradiated Escherichia coli.

We have tested and supported the hypothesis that, in UV-irradiated Escherichia coli, recA-dependent nucleotide excision repair only functions in the replicated portion of the chromosome (i.e., where sister duplexes exist). Using a dnaA(Ts) mutation to align the chromosomes (i.e., all rounds of DNA replication were completed, and new rounds could not be initiated), we studied the genetic control of excision repair (measured as the repair of excision gaps in DNA) in cells with unreplicated chromosomes, and also in cells with partially replicated chromosomes. The excision repair that occurred in cells with unreplicated chromosomes was recA independent, but the excision repair that occurred in cells with partially replicated chromosomes was partially recA dependent. We found no evidence of interchromosomal recombination in recA-dependent excision repair. The majority of this recA-dependent excision repair was recF dependent, and a small portion was recB dependent. The recF and recB genes are suggested to function in excision repair in a manner similar to their function in postreplication repair, i.e., in the replicated portion of a chromosome, the RecF pathway repairs gaps, and the RecB pathway repairs the DNA double-strand breaks that arise at unrepaired gaps.
Pushing electrons around

The use of molecules in electronic devices is expected to play a role in the future miniaturization of electronics. A device that uses molecular layers (rather than individual molecules) to control electrical behaviour represents a new approach to ‘molecular electronics’, because control is achieved indirectly without any electrons passing through the molecules.
Ergonomic Analysis of Movement Retraining of Computer Users: A Pilot Study

Two groups of movement retrained computer users with prior computer-related upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders underwent qualitative orthogonal video motion analysis. Ergonomic analysis of subjects' computer use habits suggests that movement retraining may decrease risk factors for work related musculoskeletal disorders and therefore warrants further study.
Using Existing Systematic Reviews in Complex Systematic Reviews

Systematic reviewers increasingly must decide whether and how to incorporate existing systematic reviews into complex systematic reviews that are commissioned to support clinical guideline development or for other health policy uses. To date, however, this issue has been largely unexamined. Reviewers seeking to incorporate existing reviews into new reviews face a set of important questions: Can this practice adhere to systematic review principles? Will it save time? When should it be avoided? Will it produce valid results and be acceptable to users? Drawing from their collective experience, the authors outline a series of steps that can help reviewers reach reasoned decisions about the incorporation of existing systematic reviews and enumerate potential hazards to consider in doing so. They highlight issues surrounding the main steps reviewers must undertake, including locating existing reviews; assessing their relevance to the new review; assessing the quality of relevant reviews; determining how to incorporate high-quality, relevant existing systematic reviews; and clearly reporting the methods used and the results from this process. Further specification of methods, including the development of reporting standards for this approach, is needed.
Combining Technology Acceptance and Culture in One Tool: Implications for Information Sharing within Coalitions

This paper describes a prototype relational database management system (RDBMS) that can help leaders in a coalition military headquarters understand the technology perspectives of individual members of their multinational staffs. Information sharing is an essential requirement and a primary challenge for coalition operations. How coalition members share information with technology and how well they share information due to procedures is related to more than hardware and software. National culture informs a person's perspective about technology. The national culture of people within coalitions may influence the success or failure of an information system or technology intensive tactics. An RDBMS containing technology perspectives of individuals and characteristics of national culture can help leaders relate culture and attitude of individual users to the systems within a coalition headquarters. Once technology perspectives are understood in the context of a particular organization, leaders can design strategies to take advantage of capabilities or mitigate shortcomings due to different perspectives about technology.
The effects of mating systems and selection on pupa weight in Tribolium.

An experimental evaluation of the effect of mating systems and selection upon an additive trait thought to be highly heritable was made. There were two similar replications. Each consisted of a mass selected and randomly selected group, with five mating systems within each group. Realized heritabilities in the mass selected lines were considerably less than was expected prior to the initiation of the experiment, and averaged approximately fourteen percentage points less than heritability estimated from the zero generation. This in turn resulted in smaller correlations between the genotypes of mates than had been previously expected in the assortatively and disassortatively mated lines. The average response of the mass selected, assortatively mated lines was slightly more than the mass selected, randomly mated lines, though not statistically significant. This result seems to conform to theoretical expectations. In the mass selected lines, estimates of phenotypic and genetic variance declined regardless of mating systems. There was a tendency for phenotypic variances to decrease in the randomly selected lines, but this was not the case for estimates of genetic variance. As an aid to selection, it seems that assortative mating would be of little value with traits of low or intermediate heritability but might be useful if the trait is highly heritable.
Human hoppers compensate for simultaneous changes in surface compression and damping.

Abstract On a range of elastic and damped surfaces, human hoppers and runners adjust leg mechanics to maintain similar spring-like mechanics of the leg and surface combination. In a previous study of adaptations to damped surfaces, we changed surface damping and stiffness simultaneously to maintain constant surface compression. The current study investigated whether hoppers maintain spring-like mechanics of the leg–surface combination when surface damping alone changes (elastic and 1000–4800 N s m−1). We found that hoppers adjusted leg mechanics to maintain similar spring-like mechanics of the leg–surface combination and center of mass dynamics on all surfaces. Over the range of surface damping, vertical stiffness of the leg–surface combination increased by only 12% and center of mass displacement decreased by only 6% despite up to 55% less compression of more heavily damped surfaces. In contrast, a simulation predicted a 44% decrease in vertical displacement with no adjustment to leg mechanics. To compensate for the smaller and slower compression of more heavily damped surfaces, the stance legs compressed by up to 4.1 ± 0.2 cm further and reached peak compression sooner. To replace energy lost by damped surfaces, hoppers performed additional leg work by extending the legs during takeoff by up to 3.1 ± 0.2 cm further than they compressed during landing. We conclude that humans simultaneously adjust leg compression magnitude and timing, as well as mechanical work output, to conserve center of mass dynamics on damped surfaces. Runners may use similar strategies on natural energy-dissipating surfaces such as sand, mud and snow.
Dedekind sums and class numbers

Formulas for the class number of an imaginary quadratic number field are proved. Some of these formulas were previously established byBerndt and byGoldstein andRazar with the use of analytic methods. The proofs given here use Dirichlet's classical class number formula, but otherwise the proofs are completely elementary. A key ingredient in the proofs is the reciprocity theorem for Dedekind-Rademacher sums.
Accelerated AC contingency calculation on commodity multi-core SIMD CPUs

Multi-core CPUs with multiple levels of parallelism (i.e. data level, instruction level and task/core level) have become the mainstream CPUs for commodity computing systems. Based on the multi-core CPUs, in this paper we developed a high performance computing framework for AC contingency calculation (ACCC) to fully utilize the computing power of commodity systems for online and real time applications. Using Woodbury matrix identity based compensation method, we transform and pack multiple contingency cases of different outages into a fine grained vectorized data parallel programming model. We implement the data parallel programming model using SIMD instruction extension on x86 CPUs, therefore, fully taking advantages of the CPU core with SIMD floating point capability. We also implement a thread pool scheduler for ACCC on multi-core CPUs which automatically balances the computing loads across CPU cores to fully utilize the multi-core capability. We test the ACCC solver on the IEEE test systems and on the Polish 3000-bus system using a quad-core Intel Sandy Bridge CPU. The optimized ACCC solver achieves close to linear speedup (SIMD width multiply core numbers) comparing to scalar implementation and is able to solve a complete N-1 line outage AC contingency calculation of the Polish grid within one second on a commodity CPU. It enables the complete ACCC as a real-time application on commodity computing systems.
Image Enhancement By Estimated A Priori Information

Two different a priori source probabilistic information functions are formulated with estimated probable strengths and variances of source elements. Correspondingly, two solutions for maximizing a posteriori probability with the different a priori source information are presented via Bayes' Law. Iterative imaging algorithms for the solutions are derived by employing the expectation-maximization technique of Demspter et al. These imaging algorithms are applied to computer generated and experimental phantom imaging data and improved images are obtained, compared to that of standard maximum likelihood algorithm.© (1988) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
IMPACT OF IMF-SUPPORTED PROGRAMS ON ECONOMIC SENTIMENTS: A MULTINOMIAL ORDERED PROBIT ANALYSIS ON TRANSITION ECONOMIES

This paper analyses the effect of IMF-supported programs on economic agents' sentiment in transition countries. Using multinomial ordered probit models, we find that IMF-supported programs during periods of economic collapse reinforce underlying sentiments; they strengthen confidence in the future for those with an optimistic outlook and weaken sentiments for those with a weak outlook. This reflects the "confirmation bias", a tendency for individuals to prefer information that confirms their preconceptions. Once recovery is underway, IMF arrangements cease to be consequential for the outlook, implying that the biggest impact on sentiments occur during periods of great uncertainty and not during minor shocks.
Evolution of the ENSO signal over the tropical Pacific-Atlantic domain

[1] Space-time evolution of the dominant El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) signal in the tropical eastern Pacific-Atlantic domain is investigated (1979–2004). Multi-Taper-Method, Singular Value Decomposition (MTM/SVD) and complex empirical orthogonal functions (CEOF) are applied to four variables: sea surface temperature (SST), upper ocean heat storage (HST), zonal surface wind (ZSW), and sea level pressure (SLP). Anomalous evolution for all variables find a dominant ENSO signal (3.4–5.7 years band period) composed of mixed standing modes and propagating modes. The latter evolve eastward from the eastern Pacific Ocean, into the tropical Atlantic basin at ∼20 cm s−1. As such, peak signals in the equatorial Atlantic lag that in the eastern equatorial Pacific by ∼12–18 months. The slow SST/SLP coupled wave propagating through the Caribbean Sea resembles the global ENSO wave identified by White and Cayan (2000).
The application of chemical–mechanical polishing for planarizing a SU-8/permalloy combination used in MEMS devices

Abstract Chemical–mechanical polishing (CMP) allows the planarization of wafers with two or more materials at its surface. Subject of this investigation was to apply CMP for planarizing electroplated permalloy (NiFe 81/19) in micromolds formed by photosensitive epoxy (SU-8). This material remained in the structure as an insulation and planarization layer. This material combination was intended for fabricating magnetic Micro Electro-mechanical Systems (MEMS). For planarizing a SU-8/permalloy combination, metal CMP slurry was used in conjunction with standard CMP polishing pads. SU-8 effectively served as a polishing stop. For this reason it was necessary to optimize the SU-8 properties to exhibit an optimal hardness and wear resistance. The mechanical properties of the SU-8 depended on the thermal treatment during hard bake after development. The resulting SU-8 layer not only had a sufficient hardness to stop the removal of permalloy, but also could be planarized quite well.
Velocity and angular distributions of H2 (v=1, J=1) scattered from Cu (110) and Cu (111)

The scattering of vibrationally and rotationally state-selected H2 from Cu(110) and Cu(111) surfaces has been studied. Stimulated Raman scattering is used to pump a fraction of the incident flux in a supersonic beam of H2 into the J equals 1 rotational state of the first excited vibrational state. Resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization (REMPI) is used to detect incident and scattered H2 in this state. Time-of-flight spectra are recorded as a function of the distance from the REMPI probe to the surface and scattering angle. These data are fit to a model whose parameters describe the velocity and angular distribution of the scattered molecules. The model permits a determination of flux from the density-sensitive measurements. Its use to derive a quantitative estimate of the absolute survival probability for the pumped state is discussed.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
An RNA external guide sequence ribozyme targeting human interleukin-4 receptor α mRNA

Abstract RNA oligonucleotides termed External Guide Sequence (EGS) and RNAi have been described that target specific gene expression by site-specific cleavage of mRNA. EGS serve as an RNA catalyst or ribozyme by directing bound mRNA to the ubiquitous cellular enzyme RNAse P. We describe an EGS targeting human interleukin (IL)-4 receptor α mRNA, an important cytokine receptor in the pathogenesis of asthma and allergic disease expressed in pulmonary tissues. This EGS was designed to explore pulmonary delivery of catalytic RNA oligonucleotides as a novel therapy in asthma and other atopic diseases. Inhaled DNA oligonucleotides termed Respirable Antisense OligoNucleotide Sequences (RASONS) are selectively internalized in lung tissues in a complex with endogenous lipid surfactants present in normal lung and can alter pulmonary gene expression. Potential applications of inhaled RNA oligonucleotides in therapy of pulmonary and related systemic diseases are discussed.
Matrix metalloproteinase gelatinase B (MMP-9) is associated with leaking glaucoma filtering blebs

MMP-g may be involved in the mechanism of formation of bleb leaks. Precise description of the cascade of events leading to bleb leakage may allow the design of therapeutic interventions to prevent, stabilize or reverse bleb leakage.
Body Image Issues of Older Women

Psychological researchers have all but ignored body image issues of mid-life and older women, and medical researchers havelimited their concern to the impact of surgery or chronic disease on body image. The purpose of this article is to point out that body image concerns are not restricted to eating disordered clients and can occur in women of any age. The impact of various aspects of aging on body image is described, and implications for the practice of feminist therapy are discussed.
Lipoproteins in bacteria

Covalent modification of membrane proteins with lipids appears to be ubiquitous in all living cells. The major outer membrane (Braun's) lipoprotein of E. coli, the prototype of bacterial lipoproteins, is first synthesized as a precursor protein. Analysis of signal sequences of 26 distinct lipoprotein precursors has revealed a consensus sequence of lipoprotein modification/processing site of Leu-(Ala, Ser)-(Gly, Ala)-Cys at -3 to +1 positions which would represent the cleavage region of about three-fourth of all lipoprotein signal sequences in bacteria. Unmodified prolipoprotein with the putative consensus sequence undergoes sequential modification and processing reactions catalyzed by glyceryl transferase, O-acyl transferase(s), prolipoprotein signal peptidase (signal peptidase II), and N-acyl transferase to form mature lipoprotein. Like all exported proteins, the export of lipoprotein requires functional SecA, SecY, and SecD proteins. Thus all precursor proteins are exported through a common pathway accessible to both signal peptidase I and signal peptidase II. The rapidly increasing list of lipid-modified proteins in both prokaryotic as well as eukaryotic cells indicates that lipoproteins comprise a diverse group of structurally and functionally distinct proteins. They share a common structural feature which is derived from a common biosynthetic pathway.
Cavernous hemangioma of tunica albuginea testis manifesting as testicular pain

Cavernous hemangioma of the tunica albuginea of the testis is very rare; only 2 cases have been reported in published studies. Both cases presented as testicular masses. We report what we believe to be the third case of cavernous hemangioma of the tunica albuginea that manifested as pain without any mass.
Physiological and psychophysiological responses to an exer-game training protocol

Abstract Objectives Exer-games and virtual reality offer alternative opportunities to provide neuro-rehabilitation and exercise that are fun. Our goal was to determine how effective they are in achieving motor learning goals and fitness benefits as players gain experience. Design We employed a repeated measures design to determine changes in physical exertion and engagement with training. Methods Fourteen healthy adults trained on the XBOX Kinect video game Dance Central using a skill-based protocol to examine changes in energy expenditure (EE), heart rate (HR), METs, limb movement, game proficiency, and player engagement in initial, post-training, and transfer-testing of a full-body dance exer-game. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance, p Results Both EE, HR, and METs increased from initial (EE 4.89 ± 1.35, HR 103 ± 18, METs 4.25 ± 0.72) to post-training (EE 5.92 ± 1.25, HR 110 ± 15, METs 5.05 ± 0.75) and were greatest during transfer-testing (EE 6.34 ± 1.35, HR 115 ± 17, METs 5.42 ± 0.88, p ≤ 0.001). Proficiency, measured by game scores, also increased from initial to post-training and transfer-testing (p ≤ 0.002). Limb movement and player engagement remained unchanged. Conclusions It is important to understand whether player physiological and psychophysiological responses change with continued game-play. Although Dance Central involves whole-body movement, physical exertion remained at moderate levels after training. As exer-game and virtual reality systems move from their initial novelty, research about how players react to continued involvement with a game can guide game developers to maintain a freshness through game progression that preserves the participant's attentional focus, minimizes attrition and maintains a prescribed level of energy exertion.
Bio-fuel reformation for solid oxide fuel cell applications. Part 1: Fuel vaporization and reactant mixing

Abstract A new configuration of a mixing chamber integrated with a customized porous nozzle has been developed to completely vaporize heavy hydrocarbon fuels (e.g., diesel, biodiesel) and achieve homogenous mixing of fuel/air/steam. This proposed configuration suppresses hydrocarbon thermal pyrolysis and solid carbon formation in the fuel vaporization step. The porous nozzle promotes the micro-explosion of emulsified fuel and accelerates secondary atomization to reduce the droplet size. The mixing chamber with customized nozzle was integrated in a single-tube reformer system in order to analyze its effect on diesel and biodiesel auto-thermal reforming (ATR). It has been demonstrated that the customized nozzle not only improved the hydrogen production rate and the reforming efficiency, but it also stabilized the chemical reactions within the reformer and prevented the reactor inlet from high temperature sintering. For diesel ATR, this mixing chamber–reformer combination enabled operation at relatively low reformer temperature without forming solid carbon. This study is one component of a three-part investigation of bio-fuel reforming, also including biodiesel (Part 2) and biodiesel–diesel blends (Part 3).
A survey of finite element techniques for mechanism design

Abstract During the creation of a modern machine system, the designer must generally develop a mathematical model to investigate the levels of vibrational activity, dynamic stresses, bearing loads and often the acoustic radiation associated with the system. Since all of these phenomena may be represented by field theories whose governing equations of motion may be stated as either differential, integral or integro-differential equations, they are all amenable to solution by the single most powerful computational tool available to the analyst: the finite element method. Mechanism design methodologies based on this versatile technique are reviewed herein, their different characteristics are highlighted and future trends indicated.
The tenacity of folk psychotherapy: A functional interpretation

In order to clarify the continued high utilization of the folk psychotherapist in East Africa, a total of 31 Tanzanian Shaman were studied. It was found that patients with emotional problems make use of both the traditional and western practitioner and that a clear conceptual distinction is made between the services offered. Analyses were made in terms of the style of service delivery, the underlying model of causation and the range of techniques utilized. It was concluded that the pre-scientific psychotherapist is not simply a comfortable habit but represents a dynamic approach to psycho-social disorders which must be considered in conjunction with western practices in future mental health planning.
Late Pleistocene and early holocene bryophytes from Battle Ground Lake, Washington, U.S.A.

Abstract Battle Ground Lake is located in a volcanic crater outside the limit of the last glaciation in the southern Puget Trough, Washington. Fossil bryophyte fragments extracted from sediment-cores provide information on the local vegetation between 20,000–4500 yr B.P. and complement existing interpretations based on pollen and macrofossil data. Species belonging to three ecological groups were identified. Wetland taxa and species present in exposed upper-slope habitats during the Late Pleistocene were replaced by epiphytes and forest-dwellers when the crater walls became forested in the Holocene. All the species found as fossil fragments grow in the Pacific Northwest now and most present-day phytogeographical elements of this region have a Pleistocene record.
Health care access of Hispanic young adults in the United States.

Abstract Purpose Hispanic persons in the United States experience higher rates of many chronic conditions than non-Hispanic whites. Access to care, especially during young adulthood, may afford opportunities for prevention or early management of these conditions. Given the heterogeneity of the Hispanic population, the specific aims of this study were to assess health insurance coverage and health care access and utilization for different Hispanic subgroups young adults in the U.S. Methods We analyzed data from 5189 Hispanic and 13,214 white young adults (19–29 years old) completing the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) from 1999–2002. Health care access/utilization measures included reports of 1) uninsurance, 2) lacking a usual source of care, 3) no health professional contact, and 4) delaying needed care because of cost. Multivariate analyses were used to estimate the risk of access barriers after adjusting for sociodemographic variables and citizenship. Results Young adults of Central/South American, Mexican, or Puerto Rican origins were more likely than whites to be uninsured (28%–64% vs. 22%; p Conclusions Substantial variability in rates of uninsurance and health care access/utilization measures exist among subgroups of Hispanic young adults participating in the NHIS. U.S. citizenship and sociodemographic factors explain much, but not all of the differences.
L-Edge X-ray magnetic circular dichroism of Ni enzymes: direct probe of Ni spin states

Abstract X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) measures the inner shell absorption difference between left and right circularly polarized X-rays in the presence of magnetic field, and provides us a direct probe of the spin values localized in the specific metal sites. In this study, using Desulfovibrio desulfuricans and Desulfovibrio gigas hydrogenases as examples, we have measured the L-edge XMCD of Ni enzymes for the first time and analyzed them in comparison with a doped high spin Ni II model complex. The reduced hydrogenases have a non-zero XMCD effect, which is consistent with a ‘high spin’ Ni II site. The magneto-optical sum rules have also been used to derive the orbital and spin angular momentum.
Long-Term Results of Endoureterotomy for Benign Ureteral and Ureteroenteric Strictures

AbstractPurpose: We reviewed the results of endoureterotomy for benign ureteral and ureteroenteric strictures to determine efficacy and factors associated with a successful outcome.Materials and Methods: Followup was available for 69 patients undergoing 77 endoureterotomies. Success was defined as symptomatic improvement and radiographic resolution of obstruction. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were constructed and data were analyzed with a Cox proportional hazards model.Results: None of 9 procedures in patients with the ipsilateral kidney contributing less than 25% of total renal function was successful. Among the 38 remaining benign ureteral stricture treatments with ipsilateral function 25% or greater with a median followup of 28.4 months among successful cases the 3-year success rate was 80%. No procedure failed beyond 11 months and there were 25 patients at risk beyond this point. Among the 30 remaining ureteroenteric stricture treatments with ipsilateral function 25% or greater the success rates at 1,...
Abstract 2981: Regulation of Snail by DDX3 and ATM in response to DNA damage

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is the initial step for cancer invasion and metastasis. The hallmark of EMT is the loss of expression of E-cadherin, a cell-cell adhesion protein, allowing cancer cells to gain mobility leaving the site of primary tumor to invade adjacent tissues. Snail, as a transcription repressor, binds to the E-boxes of E-cadherin and then inhibits E-cadherin expression. Thus, Snail is essential to trigger EMT during tumor progression and it has been implicated in the acquisition of invasive growth phenotype of tumors. There is a strong correlation of Snail over-expression with tumor invasion and metastasis. However, how Snail expression is regulated is not fully known. Here we report that Snail is regulated by DDX3, a DEAD box protein family member which contributes to cancer progression. Knock-down of DDX3 by shRNA reduces the basal level of Snail, and this is associated with reduced cell proliferation and migration. Snail protein and mRNA levels are increased in the presence of the HDAC inhibitors sodium butyrate or trichostatin A, and the increases are attenuated in cells with DDX3 knocked down. Treatment of cells with a DNA damaging agent camptothecin also enhances Snail protein levels in a DDX3 dependent manner. Therefore we conclude that DDX3 is required for the basal level and the increase in Snail induced by HDAC inhibitors or camptothecin, indicating that this action of DDX3 may contribute to its promotion of the progression of some cancers. This conclusion is supported by our clinical investigations that analysis of 31 glioblastoma patient samples has revealed a strong correlation between the levels of DDX3 and Snail. Snail is a phosphor-protein, and kinases responsible for phosphorylation include Pak1 and GSK3-β. We also find Pak-1 and GSK-3 independent Snail phosphorylation in response to DNA damage. Further we find that inhibition of the activity of the ATM kinase, a critical element in DNA damage responses, eliminated DNA damage-induced Snail stabilization. Taken together, these observations have highlighted a comprehensive signaling network regulating Snail in response to DNA damage and indicated a critical role of optimal DNA damage responses in tumor invasion and metastasis. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2981.
Soybean Yield Loss to Sudden Death Syndrome in Relation to Symptom Expression and Root Colonization by Fusarium solani f. sp. glycines.

ABSTRACT Field studies were conducted to determine the relationships between soybean yield and foliar disease index (FDX) of sudden death syndrome (SDS) as well as root colonization by Fusarium solani f. sp. glycines, the causal agent. Single-row plots in a soybean field with relatively uniform SDS incidence and severity were identified at growth stage R6 on cultivar Pioneer 9492 in DeSoto, IL, in 1997 and 1998. For each plot, foliar disease index (FDX), yield, and yield components were determined. In 1997, linear relationships between yield (Y, grams per meter of row) and FDX were obtained from the wide-row (Y = 207.84 - 1.09 FDX) and narrow-row (Y = 126.66 - 0.745 FDX) plots, respectively. A linear relationship (Y = 124.23 - 1.11 FDX) also was observed in 1998. Increase in each FDX unit caused yield loss from 18 to 29 kg/ha (0.7 – 1.1 g/m of row). FDX was negatively correlated with seed weight (grams per plant) in both years and with seed size (grams per 100 seeds) in 1997. A no-tilled field at Southern...
A Simple Method of Measuring Emission Spectra with an FT-IR Spectrometer

In a normal Michelson interferometer, modulated radiation is transmitted and also reflected back toward the source of the radiation. The back-reflected radiation is generally ignored but it can be exploited to provide a very simple means of modifying an FT-IR spectrometer to measure emission spectra, without the necessity of access to the source or source optics. Radiation from the emission source is directed into the interferometer from the direction of the normal sample location. Modulated radiation is reflected back from the interferometer through the sample area to be measured by the normal detector. It has been noted previously that radiation originating from the sample area can contribute to the observed spectrum. However, this has been regarded as a problem rather than as a means of obtaining useful measurements.
Necrotizing Tracheobronchitis Following High Frequency Ventilation: Effect of Hydrocortisone

A piglet model of acute respiratory failure was used to determine whether necrotizing tracheobronchitis (NTB) produced during high-frequency pneumatic flow interrupter (HFFI) ventilation could be attenuated by prior administration of 2 mg/kg hydrocortisone IV. Fourteen piglets (x age 3.6 days, × wt 1.4 kg) were anesthetized and paralyzed before saline lung lavage. The animals were randomly assigned to either placebo (P) or hydrocortisone (H) group. Continuous HFFI (10 Hz) was interrupted five times per minute by a 1-second deflationary pause. All animals were kept on 1.0 FI02 with ventilators adjusted to maintain adequate arterial blood gases. Airway pressures were similar for both groups. After 8 hours of ventilation the animals were sacrificed and their lungs inflated with formalin to 40 cm H2O. Sections were obtained from trachea, carina, main stem, and peripheral bronchi. A total airway injury (TAIS) was calculated by a pathologist unaware of treatment assignment. There was a significant difference (p...
Quantitative Fourier-Domain Analysis. Part II: Determination of Boundary Conditions

A new approach for determining the boundary conditions of a Fourier-domain data set prior to performing quantitative multicomponent analysis has been developed. Processing boundary conditions were determined by calculating the condition number of the calibration matrix which contains the models used to describe the chemical system being studied. Once the boundary conditions for the Fourier-domain data set were determined, the Kalman filter was used to estimate the concentration of individual components in a multicomponent sample. Synthetic data were first analyzed to determine both the feasibility of the data analysis method and the effect that background variations would have on the concentration estimates. Raw interferograms of multicomponent samples, collected with the use of Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, were also analyzed. Validation samples were analyzed to verify the chosen boundary conditions.
Congenital microcephaly: Phenotypic features in a consecutive sample of newborn infants

Abstract Objective: We compared the prevalence of major and minor anomalies in a consecutive sample of newborn infants with congenital microcephaly with that among normocephalic infants. Study design: Head measurements from >19,000 liveborn infants at 1 hospital during the years 1991 and 1992 were reviewed. Infants whose head circumference was in the lowest quartile (n = 850) were remeasured by research assistants to identify all whose head circumference was 2 SD below the mean for gestational age; 106 infants with congenital microcephaly were identified. Infants with microcephaly (n = 65) and 294 infants in a control group were examined systematically for major malformations and minor physical features. Results: Four (6.2%) of the 65 infants examined either had a major malformation or were considered dysmorphic. One of the 4 had a specific multiple malformation syndrome, and 1 dysmorphic infant had a rare metabolic defect. Overall, the infants with microcephaly did not have a higher frequency of minor anomalies. However, there was a higher frequency of frontal bossing, small chin, and short nose with anteverted nares, which was associated with small body size rather than microcephaly. Conclusions: Congenital microcephaly is infrequently accompanied by major malformations and occurs rarely as part of a recognizable syndrome. (J Pediatr 2001;139:210-4)
Mice lacking Mrp1 have reduced testicular steroid hormone levels and alterations in steroid biosynthetic enzymes

The multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1/ABCC1) is a member of the ABC active transporter family that can transport several steroid hormone conjugates, including 17beta-estradiol glucuronide, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), and estrone 3-sulfate. The present study investigated the role that MRP1 plays in maintaining proper hormone levels in the serum and testes. Serum and testicular steroid hormone levels were examined in both wild-type mice and Mrp1 null mice. Serum testosterone levels were reduced 5-fold in mice lacking Mrp1, while testicular androstenedione, testosterone, estradiol, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) were significantly reduced by 1.7- to 4.5-fold in Mrp1 knockout mice. Investigating the mechanisms responsible for the reduction in steroid hormones in Mrp1-/- mice revealed no differences in the expression or activity of enzymes that inactivate steroids, the sulfotransferases or glucuronosyltransferases. However, steroid biosynthetic enzyme levels in the testes were altered. Cyp17 protein levels were increased by 1.6-fold, while Cyp17 activity using progesterone as a substrate was also increased by 1.4- to 2.0-fold in mice lacking Mrp1. Additionally, the ratio of 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase to 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, and steroidogenic factor 1 to 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase were significantly increased in the testes of Mrp1-/- mice. These results indicate that Mrp1-/- mice have lowered steroid hormones levels, and suggests that upregulation of steroid biosynthetic enzymes may be an attempt to maintain proper steroid hormone homeostasis.
Ambulatory Hypercholesterolemia Management in Patients with Atherosclerosis: Gender and Race Differences in Processes and Outcomes

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether outpatient cholesterol management varies by gender or race among patients with atherosclerosis, and assess factors related to subsequent cholesterol control.
Examining the relationship between customer and entrepreneurial orientation on nascent firms’ marketing strategy

Is entrepreneurial marketing (EM) a “one type fits all” approach? Research suggests that EM is especially suitable for small firms. However, it is obvious that—despite their size—small firms show a myriad of different characteristics. In this paper, it is argued that different firm characteristics can be seen in different business orientations, namely customer orientation (CO) and entrepreneurial orientation (EO). In turn, different amounts of EO and CO lead to different forms of EM strategy. The Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics (PSED) serves as source to investigate relationships between EO, CO, and respective marketing strategies among nascent firms. The study suggests that innovativeness is strongly related to the importance of several marketing strategies, such as developing new or advanced product or process technologies. However, other strategies, such as lower prices or convenient location, are not related to either significant levels of CO or EO. The paper offers two main implications. Firstly, small business founders have to be aware of the fact that certain strategies cannot come “out of nowhere”. This paper shows that running proactive marketing strategies that aim for ongoing innovativeness require the existence of an underlying EO. Secondly, there are different forms of “small firm EM”; a finding that requires further research in the future.
Behavioral electrophysiology of the prefrontal cortex

The prefrontal cortex reaches maximum phylogenetic expansion in the human brain and it appears to have developed pari passu with the ability to form elaborate and temporally extended behavioral sequences. Neuropsychological data demonstrate that the functional integrity of the prefrontal cortex is essential for the organization of goal-directed actions in the time domain. Electrical recordings from single cells provide evidence of the involvement of prefrontal neurons in two cognitive functions which underly this ability: short-term memory and anticipatory set. Cells involved in both functions coexist, and seem to cooperate, within certain areas of prefrontal cortex.
Differential effects of intraventricular administration of 6-hydroxydopamine on behavior of rats in approach and avoidance procedures: Reversal of avoidance decrements by diazepam.

Abstract The administration of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-HD) and pargyline to rats produced similar selective in responding during the conditioned stimulus (CS) on a discriminated avoidance test where the unconditioned stimulus (US) was shock and on an analogous conditioned approach test where the US was water. Approach behavior during the CS generally recovered, however, while avoidance decrements in the same rats remained for the duration of testing. This suggested that 6-HD-induced avoidance decrement was a result of two independent but interacting processes: (1) a decrease in conditioned behavior as reflected by the similar decrease in responding on both tests; and (2) a hyper-reaction to aversive stimuli that resulted in a tendency to selectively suppress avoidance behavior after the animal received shock. In support of this hypothesis, it was found that 6-HD-induced avoidance decrements could be reversed (1) by treatment with diazepam, a drug that releases suppressed responses; or (2) by delaying avoidance testing until conditioned responding had recovered, thus minimizing the interaction of the two processes.
PIWI Goes Solo in the Soma

The recently discovered piRNA pathway serves to protect the genome from transposon activity in the germline. Now Li et al. and Malone et al. in a recent issue of Cell show that the piRNAs are made by more than one means and that their defensive function extends into the germline's circumjacent soma.
Assessment Center: A Technique for Evaluating Administrative Skills

Abstract With the increasing complexity of the business world and the pressures on executives' time, administrative support systems personnel have become very important members of the management team. To help make better decisions in selecting and promoting administrative support personnel, many organizations are using assessment centers. Similarly, to better evaluate whether students possess the necessary administrative skills, business educators could also use the assessment center technique. This article discusses the assessment center concept and provides ideas on how this approach can be used to evaluate administrative skills in business education programs.
Within-Die Variation-Aware Dynamic-Voltage-Frequency-Scaling With Optimal Core Allocation and Thread Hopping for the 80-Core TeraFLOPS Processor

In this paper, we present measured within-die core-to-core Fmax and leakage variation data for an 80-core processor in 65 nm CMOS and 1) populate a parameterized energy/performance model to determine the most energy-efficient operating point for a workload; 2) examine impacts of per-core clock and power gating on optimal dynamic voltage-frequency-core scaling (DVFCS) operating points; and 3) compare improvements in energy efficiency achievable by variation-aware DVFCS and core mapping on Single-Voltage/Multiple-Frequency (SVMF), Multiple-Voltage/Single-Frequency (MVSF) and Multiple-Voltage/Multiple-Frequency (MVMF) designs. Variation-aware DVFS with optimal core mapping is shown to improve energy efficiency 6%-35% across a range of compute/communication activity workloads. A new dynamic thread hopping scheme boosts performance by 5%-10% or energy efficiency by 20%-60%.