cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surgical Treatment of Thoracic Trauma: Lung

The vast majority of traumatic pulmonary injuries can be treated nonoperatively or with tube thoracostomy alone. The main indications for operative intervention are hemorrhage or large airway injury. Major pulmonary hemorrhage is most commonly caused by penetrating mechanisms, while large airway injury may result from blunt or penetrating mechanisms. Lung injuries may also be found at the time of thoracotomy performed primarily for management of other injuries. This chapter discusses the indications for surgical management of lung injuries, describes techniques for obtaining vascular control and addressing parenchymal and airway injuries, and explains basic considerations in postoperative care.
Diet and Alzheimer's disease: what the evidence shows.

Our understanding of dietary influences on Alzheimer's disease is in its infancy, and the number of epidemiologic studies examining promising associations is limited. Thus, at this time, we cannot say with certainty that any particular nutritional component causes or prevents Alzheimer's disease. With that caveat, much of the evidence from early studies in many ways reflects a pattern of dietary associations very similar to more established dietary risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease. Thus, patients who adopt these dietary practices will reduce their risk for heart disease and may also curtail their risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
DFT Study of Furfural Conversion to Furan, Furfuryl Alcohol, and 2-Methylfuran on Pd(111)

Dispersion-corrected density functional theory calculations were performed to investigate the adsorption of furan, furfural, furfuryl alcohol, and 2-methylfuran as well as the reaction barriers for their interconversion. The most stable configuration for furan, furfural, furfuryl alcohol, and 2-methylfuran entails the furan ring lying flat on the surface, centered over a hollow site. We performed an elementary step analysis for the reaction of furfural to furan, furfuryl alcohol, and 2-methylfuran. Thermodynamics favors the production of furan and CO. The activation energy for furfural reduction to furfuryl alcohol is lower than that for its decarbonylation to furan. The formation of 2-methylfuran occurs via dehydration of furfuryl alcohol or a dehydrogenation pathway through a methoxy intermediate. Our findings are in agreement with recently reported experimental results.
Non-magnetic semiconducting phase of (NMP) (TCNQ)☆

Abstract A monoclinic, non-magnetic, semiconducting phase of (NMP) (TCNQ) has been found. The unit cell and physical properties are described.
What Does Empowerment in Literacy Education Look Like? An Analysis of a Family Literacy Program for Guatemalan Maya Families

Educators in the field of family literacy have identified multiple approaches to family literacy programs (FLPs), and have underscored the need to identify and make explicit the philosophical orientations of their own programs. This was the task undertaken in this article, which focused on a FLP in south Florida that served the needs of Guatemalan Maya families where the adults were unable to read or write in any language upon program entry. This study analyzed the educational practices of the FLP to ascertain its ideological underpinnings, according to a tripartite typology derived from scholarship in literacy, multicultural, and immigrant education. This article addresses the complexity of identifying such ideological situatedness including the need to examine diverse program elements, the manner in which a program could have multiple ideological strands, and the ambiguity that sometimes emerges in such “readings” of programs in “real-world” contexts.
The Professional Development School: Building Bridges between Cultures:

This article discusses the professional development school (PDS) in the context of the vision, the change process, and the development of organizational structures that support collaboration betwee...
Soft Wall Ion Channel in Continuum Representation with Application to Modeling Ion Currents in α-Hemolysin

A soft repulsion (SR) model of short-range interactions between mobile ions and protein atoms is introduced in the framework of continuum representation of the protein and solvent. The Poisson-Nernst-Plank (PNP) theory of ion transport through biological channels is modified to incorporate this soft wall protein model. Two sets of SR parameters are introduced. The first is parametrized for all essential amino acid residues using all atom molecular dynamic simulations; the second is a truncated Lennard-Jones potential. We have further designed an energy-based algorithm for the determination of the ion accessible volume, which is appropriate for a particular system discretization. The effects of these models of short-range interactions were tested by computing current-voltage characteristics of the α-hemolysin channel. The introduced SR potentials significantly improve prediction of channel selectivity. In addition, we studied the effect of the choice of some space-dependent diffusion coefficient distributions on the predicted current-voltage properties. We conclude that the diffusion coefficient distributions largely affect total currents and have little effect on rectifications, selectivity, or reversal potential. The PNP-SR algorithm is implemented in a new efficient parallel Poisson, Poisson-Boltzmann, and PNP equation solver, also incorporated in a graphical molecular modeling package HARLEM.
Unfair Distribution of Resources in Africa: What Should be done about the Ethnicity Factor?

This paper1 depicts a common way African governments misuse resources: By letting ethnicities sway distribution decisions. Some analysts endorse ac? cepting the situation as simply how Africans choose to govern themselves (Chabal and Daloz, 1999). However, interviews conducted in Kenya brought to light two popular ? and conflicting ? alternatives: either taking people's ethnic allegiances as is, and devising a federal state based on ethnic regions; or continuing to discourage ethnic identification with a view to promoting statewide unity. After posing the two views as a central dilemma, I will next ask whether more academic debate about pluralistic/multicultural societies debates fueled by Hannah Arendt, Iris Young, Justin Ekennia, and recent stud? ies in social psychology can shed light on that dilemma. Finally, I will pro? pose a solution that rejects ethnic federalism, encourages nonethnic political organizations, and tentatively endorses nonethnic federalism.
Synthesis and evaluation of a monocationic copper(II) radiopharmaceutical derived from N-(2-pyridylmethyl)-N'-(salicylaldimino)-1,3-propanediamine

The monocationic 67Cu complex of N-(2-pyridylmethyl)-N'-(salicylaldimino)-1,3-propanediamine was obtained in high radiochemical purity by reaction of 67Cu2+ with the ligand in ethanol solution. Although this compound exhibited low heart uptake, the desired myocardial retention was observed over the 30 min time period studied in a rat model. Since the octanol/water partition coefficient of [67Cu]Cu(II)-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)-N'-(salicylaldiminato)-1,3- propanediamine] is lower than a value believed to be the optimal myocardial uptake, it is likely that derivatives of this compound with a higher lipophilicity merit further investigation for use in myocardial imaging with copper radioisotopes.
Testing of MOS Combinational Networks - A Procedure for Efficient Fault Simulation and Test Generation

The increasing use of large and very large scale integration (LSI and VLSI) have introduced many difficulties in testing large logic networks. This generated the need for designing logic networks for testability. Computer algorithms for designing diagnosable metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) networks, with and without fan-in, fan-out constraints, were described in previous papers. Procedures for efficient fault simulation and test generation will be presented here. First, a basic cell model will be introduced. Next, procedures for generating a complete fault detection set for the complex cell will be given. Both minimal and near-minimal solutions will be presented for both fan-out free and arbitrary cells respectively. The efficiency of this technique will be compared with conventional testing techniques (e.g. N-dimensional path sensitization automatic test generator with a parallel fault simulator) and the results will be reported. Finally, some future work problems will be introduced and the application of this technique for improving LSI and VLSI testability will be discussed.
Identification of vasculature-specific genes by microarray analysis of etsrp/etv2 overexpressing zebrafish embryos

Signaling pathways controlling vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, and myelopoiesis are still poorly understood, in part because not all genes important for vasculature or myeloid cell formation have been characterized. To identify novel potential regulators of vasculature and myeloid cell formation we performed microarray analysis of zebrafish embryos that overexpress Ets1-related protein (Etsrp/Etv2/ER71), sufficient to induce vasculogenesis and myelopoiesis (Sumanas and Lin [2006] Development 121:3141–3150; Lee [2008] Cell Stem Cell 2:497–507; Sumanas et al. [2008] Blood 111:4500–4510). We performed sequence homology and expression analysis for up-regulated genes that were novel or previously unassociated with the zebrafish vasculature formation. Angiotensin II type 2 receptor (agtr2), src homology 2 domain containing E (she), mannose receptor C1 (mrc1), endothelial cell-specific adhesion molecule (esam), yes-related kinase (yrk/fyn), zinc finger protein, multitype 2b (zfpm2b/fog2b), and stabilin 2 (stab2) were specifically expressed in vascular endothelial cells during early development while keratin18 expression was localized to the myeloid cells. Identification of vasculature and myeloid-specific genes will be important for dissecting molecular mechanisms of vasculogenesis/angiogenesis and myelopoiesis. Developmental Dynamics 238:1836–1850, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Impacts of beaver dams on hydrologic and temperature regimes in a mountain stream

Beaver dams affect hydrologic processes, channel complexity, and stream temperature in part by inundating riparian areas, influencing groundwater–surface water interactions, and changing fluvial processes within stream systems. We explored the impacts of beaver dams on hydrologic and temperature regimes at different spatial and temporal scales within a mountain stream in northern Utah over a 3-year period spanning pre- and post-beaver colonization. Using continuous stream discharge, stream temperature, synoptic tracer experiments, and groundwater elevation measurements, we documented pre-beaver conditions in the first year of the study. In the second year, we captured the initial effects of three beaver dams, while the third year included the effects of ten dams. After beaver colonization, reach-scale (~ 750 m in length) discharge observations showed a shift from slightly losing to gaining. However, at the smaller sub-reach scale (ranging from 56 to 185 m in length), the discharge gains and losses increased in variability due to more complex flow pathways with beaver dams forcing overland flow, increasing surface and subsurface storage, and increasing groundwater elevations. At the reach scale, temperatures were found to increase by 0.38 °C (3.8 %), which in part is explained by a 230 % increase in mean reach residence time. At the smallest, beaver dam scale (including upstream ponded area, beaver dam structure, and immediate downstream section), there were notable increases in the thermal heterogeneity where warmer and cooler niches were created. Through the quantification of hydrologic and thermal changes at different spatial and temporal scales, we document increased variability during post-beaver colonization and highlight the need to understand the impacts of beaver dams on stream ecosystems and their potential role in stream restoration.
Tillage System Effects on Soil and Plant Nutrient Distributions on Vertisols

Heavy clay soils, such as vertisols of the Texas Blackland Prairie (Houston Black clay [fine, montmorillonitic, thermic Udic Pellusterts]), are difficult to manage for crop production. Such soils typically require high draft for tillage; have limited opportunities for mobility, tillage, and planting; and produce variable crop performance when associated with highly variable weather patterns. This study compared the soil and plant nutrient distributions and yield performance of an experimental no-till farming system with a farming system using modified conventional chisel-till soil management. Raised wide beds and controlled traffic were used for both systems [...]
Demonstration of nondegenerate spectrum reversal in optical-frequency regime

This Letter reports theoretical and experimental studies of spectrum reversal with tunable wavelength offset in the optical-frequency regime—two widely separated spectral sidebands can always behave as mirror images of one another with respect to the center frequency of the controlling pump pulse. We call this interesting physical phenomenon “spectral mirror imaging.”
The sensitive time of a wide gap spark chamber

Abstract The sensitive time of a typical 40 cm wide gap chamber operated in the spark mode and filled with 90% Ne−10% He at 1.1 atm has been determined using 158 MeV protons. It is found that the efficiency for obtaining good tracks is >98% when two or three particles arrive within 0.5 μsec of the application of the high voltage pulse and that this efficiency decreases rapidly with arrival times larger than 0.5 μsec.
Seasonal variation in the quality of a tropical ripe fruit and the response of three frugivores

Seasonality in tropical forests can be more subtle than that of temperate forests but still affects the resources available to wildlife. Much work has been done describing changes in fruit availability and dietary composition but the nutritional quality of any particular food item is assumed to be relatively constant. We investigated seasonal changes in the quality of the ripe fruit of Celtis durandii, a common tree that produces fruit year-round and is important in the diets of many species. The lipid content of the ripe fruit was found to be highly variable (0.3-30.8% dry matter) among months and this variation was positively correlated with the summed daily rainfalls of the previous and concurrent months. The amount of this fruit in the diets of three frugivorous primate species (Cercopithecus mitis, Cercopithecus ascanius and Lophocebus albigena) was positively related to measured or estimated lipid levels in the fruit. Such predictable changes in the quality of a constantly available fruit have not been previously reported and suggest that the resources provided by tropical forests may be more seasonal than shown by common measures of fruit availability.
Cheddar Cheese Flavor. II. Changes in Flavor Quality and Ripening Products of Commercial Cheddar Cheese during Controlled Curing

Summary Fourteen lots of Cheddar Cheese were obtained immediately following manufacture from commercial factories selected at random in New York, Wisconsin, Oregon, and Ohio. The cheese was cured for 2 mo. at 50° F., followed by curing at 40° F. for 10 mo. The following analyses were performed periodically: grading, evaluation for characteristic flavor, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, free fatty acids, free amino acids, acidic and neutral carbonyl compounds, pH, and total bacterial count. The initial quality of the cheese ranged from U.S. Grade A to Below Grade, with most of the cheese showing variation in quality during the 12-mo. curing period. In general, concentrations of ammonia, free amino acids, and free fatty acids increased continuously during curing, whereas hydrogen sulfide and total bacterial counts fluctuated. Raw milk cheese contained higher concentrations of hydrogen sulfide than pasteurized milk cheese, with no conclusive difference being apparent in ammonia, free amino acids, and free fatty acids. Statistical analysis of the results indicated significant correlations at the 5 and 1% level between characteristic Cheddar Cheese flavor scores and pH, ammonia, and hydrogen sulfide after 3 mo. of curing. The flavor of the Cheddar Cheese appeared to be related more to the ratio of free fatty acids and hydrogen sulfide concentrations than to any other compounds or combinations of the compounds included in this study. The merits of relating characteristic Cheddar flavor to free fatty acids and hydrogen sulfide, and the possibility of using these compounds as an index of Cheddar Cheese flavor, are discussed.
Perspectives on obesity, pregnancy and birth outcomes in the United States: The scope of the problem

Obesity poses a serious health challenge. In addition to being a serious disease in its own right, obesity has also added fuel to a multitude of other diseases. An increasing body of evidence indicates that obesity does indeed beget obesity: children of obese parents have a strong tendency toward obesity and a multitude of resultant complications. Although preventive measures are, in many cases, relatively straightforward and simple, the vicious cycle of obesity is rapidly spiraling upward as this tendency is passed from parent to child. Judging by the speed of its progression and the toll it is taking, obesity can truly be called America's newest and fastest-growing epidemic.
On Bennett's measure of sex dimorphism

A modified measure of sex dimorphism for quantitative traits is suggested considering the regions of nonoverlap of the distributions of the trait in the two sex groups. Some inadequacies of an earlier measure that disregards the presence of members of the opposite sex group beyond the threshold value discriminating the two distributions are indicated.
Effect of nimodipine-associated hypotension on recovery from acute spinal cord injury in cats

The effect of nimodipine on acute spinal cord trauma was studied in cats. Spinal evoked responses (SERs) were abolished after weight drop injury of 100 g-cm. All control animals showed spontaneous recovery of spinal cord function as measured by SERs. Treatment with a moderate intravenous dose of nimodipine resulted in a 32% drop in systemic blood pressure and delay in or failure of spinal cord recovery. We concluded that in this model, nimodipine treatment had deleterious effect on the spinal cord recovery due to the significant associated hypotension. It is likely that marked hypotension in the case of traumatic loss of autoregulation overrides the expected nimodipine-related increase in spinal cord blood flow with resultant additional ischemic damage.
Seismic structure of gneissic/granitic upper crust: geological and petrophysical evidence from the Strona-Ceneri Zone (northern Italy) and implications for crustal seismic exploration

SUMMARY We present a stochastic seismic model of gneissic/granitic upper crust by estimating the amplitude probability distribution and the autocorrelation function of the inferred seismic velocity field of the Strona-Ceneri Zone (northern Italy). Unlike previous investigations of the adjacent Ivrea Zone and the Lewisian gneiss complex (Scotland), the lithologies mapped in the Strona-Ceneri Zone cannot be directly correlated with laboratory-measured seismic velocities. The amplitude probability distribution of the extensive petrophysical database and the relatively uniform mineralogical composition of the lithologies indicate that the velocity distribution in the Strona-Ceneri Zone can be approximated as being continuous and Gaussian. Based on this assumption and using the spatial autocorrelation function measured from a digitized geological cross-section, we have modelled the fine-scale structure of the Strona-Ceneri Zone as a self-affine medium with a fractal dimension of 2.50 × 0.15 and horizontal and vertical characteristic scales of 2.6 × 0.4 km and 1.4 × 0.3 km, respectively. On near-offset shot-gather seismic data, Strona-Ceneri-type upper crustal heterogeneity produces a reflected field with the appearance of incoherent scattered noise characteristic of non-reflective, ‘transparent’ upper crust found in extended Phanerozoic provinces. This type of heterogeneity has a considerable effect on seismic imaging of underlying reflective lower crust: individual reflection segments are disrupted and shifted in time by up to several tenths of a second, and the boundaries of the reflective zone become distorted and blurred. At far offsets seismic scattering from heterogeneity of this type reproduces the commonly observed rapid decay and scattered distribution of Pg amplitudes. Comparable amplitude decay patterns result from layered deterministic upper crustal velocity structures with velocity inversions.
The COLUMBUS Standard Integral File Structure: A proposed interchange format

The integral file structure used in the COLUMBUS Program System is described.This file structure is proposed for use as an interchange format for the exchange of information between various electronic structure codes. Access to the integral and density matrix arrays stored in the file structure is simplified by a supporting subroutine library. This library is portable across various computers and is readily available to programmers from the COLUMBUS distribution files
Brimonidine tartrate for the treatment of facial flushing and erythema in rosacea

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory dermatologic condition that can often be disfiguring with significant negative impact on patients' quality of life. Sanrosa (brimonidine tartate) is a novel therapeutic agent targeting the facial flushing and erythema of rosacea through its α₂ adrenergic receptor agonist activity. The goal of this article is to discuss current treatment options for rosacea and the properties of brimonidine tartate as well as the evidence surrounding its efficacy and safety profile.
Flow cytometric method for analysis of cytokine expression in clinical samples

Abstract Evaluation of cytokine expression is becoming an increasingly useful approach for defining cell-mediated immunity. The interest in characterizing the role of these important molecules in a wide range of clinical conditions has provided impetus to develop new methods to assess cytokine expression in clinical samples. The whole blood flow cytometric procedure described in this report is compatible with both qualitative and quantitative analysis of cytokine expression in clinical samples and is potentially a useful method for evaluating the role of cytokines in disease pathogenesis.
Chronic alumina temporal lobe seizures in monkeys.

Abstract Chronic temporal lobe seizures were induced in 11 monkeys by bilateral implantation of aluminum hydroxide into the hippocampi. With unilateral temporal lobe implants of alumina little or no epileptic activity was found; however, with bilateral alumina implants clinical seizures similar to human psychomotor attacks were initiated in either of the affected temporal lobes. Spread of alumina through the ventricles and/or tissue in some animals resulted in other seizure types, most of which could be controlled by phenobarbital, without eliminating the temporal lobe seizures. The alumina temporal lobe seizures recurred spontaneously for indefinitely long periods; however, no monkey was studied longer than 14 months. The onset of seizure activity was followed by transient anorexia and adipsia which, with large alumina volumes or other debilitating factors, could progress to fatal status epilepticus. Histology revealed that tissue reactions to the alumina included cell loss, gliosis, and neovascularization, with the most severe reaction occurring adjacent to the alumina mass. Alumina which had leaked into the ventricles in some animals reentered the brain tissue at remote sites through the choroid plexus, resulting in multiple foci.
On the Capabilities and Computational Costs of Neuron Models

We review the Hodgkin-Huxley, Izhikevich, and leaky integrate-and-fire neuron models in regular spiking modes solved with the forward Euler, fourth-order Runge-Kutta, and exponential Euler methods and determine the necessary time steps and corresponding computational costs required to make the solutions accurate. We conclude that the leaky integrate-and-fire needs the least number of computations, and that the Hodgkin-Huxley and Izhikevich models are comparable in computational cost.
Biomarkers of Sleep Apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition of repetitive upper airway collapse, which occurs during sleep. Recent literature has emphasized the role of OSA in contributing to glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. OSA is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease, although definitive data are sparse with regard to the prevention of cardiovascular disease and CPAP therapy. CPAP provides effective treatment for OSA, but patient adherence remains challenging. Aside from daytime symptom improvement, it is difficult to monitor the adequacy of treatment response. Thus, the search for a biomarker becomes critical. The discovery of an ideal biomarker for OSA has the potential to provide information related to diagnosis, severity, prognosis, and response to treatment. In addition, because large-scale randomized controlled trials are both ethically and logistically challenging in assessing hard cardiovascular outcomes, certain biomarkers may be reasonable surrogate outcome measures. This article reviews the literature related to potential biomarkers of OSA with the recognition that an ideal biomarker does not exist at this time.
The political science of risk perception

Abstract Psychometric research on risk perception has frequently been invoked as evidence for a distinction between ‘actual’ risk as measured by experts and ‘perceived’ risk as experienced by laypersons. According to this view, perceived risk represents a distorted version of actual risk, shaped by the ignorance, prior beliefs, and subjective personal experiences of non-experts. The goal of risk perception research, it follows, is to illuminate the factors that account for deviations between ‘actual’ and ‘perceived’ risks. By contrast, qualitative social and political analyses of risk perception question the validity of the actual/perceived dichotomy and suggest that all perceptions of risk, whether lay or expert, represent partial or selective views of the things and situations that threaten us. Drawing on social studies of science and risk, as well as studies of quantitative risk assessment, this paper identifies three common models that link risk perception to regulatory policy — labeled for convenience the ‘realist’, the ‘constructivist’, and the ‘discursive’. It calls attention to the ways in which the assumptions underlying each model have influenced risk-related research and decisionmaking in the United States.
Differential positive inotropic effects of the IKr-blocker dofetilide and the ITO/IKur-blocker AVE0118 in canine atrial myocytes

Background: Patients undergoing cardioversion of atrial tachyarrhythmias might benefit from positive inotropic stimulation of the atria. The shape of the atrial action potential (AP) is a major determinant of atrial contractility. Newly developed Ito/IKur-blockers prolong early repolarisation and increase the ’plateau potential’ of the atrial AP while IKr-blockers (e.g. dofetilide) prolong final repolarisation without affecting the plateau phase. We compared the inotropic effects of dofetilide and the Ito/IKur-blocker AVE0118 on isolated atrial myocytes. Methods: Shortening transients (edge detection) and transmembrane APs of isolated canine atrial myocytes were recorded under current clamp conditions using the perforated patch technique (37°C). The ’plateau potential’ was defined as the average potential between 10 and 50ms after the upstroke of the AP. The effect of changes of: 1) plateau duration, 2) plateau potential, and 3) the time required for final repolarisation (prolongation of APD90 without change in APD30) on cellular shortening of atrial myocytes was studied in voltage-clamp experiments. Results: Dofetilide (1 M) prolonged APD90 from 318 25ms to 435 35ms but did not significantly change the plateau potential or the shortening of atrial myocytes (7 cells, 4 dogs). In contrast, AVE0118 increased the plateau potential from -5 6mV to 21 8mV and enhanced myocyte shortening from 4.0 1.0% to 9.8 1.3% (9 cells, 5 dogs). APD90 was unchanged. In voltage clamp experiments, prolongation of the plateau increased myocyte shortening from 1.9 0.4% at 50ms to 16.6 1.2% at 600ms. Increasing the plateau potential enhanced shortening from 0.7 0.1% at -20mV to 17.8 1.2% at 60mV. In contrast, prolongation of APD90 by 200ms without changes of plateau potential or duration did not enhance shortening (9 cells, 5 dogs). Conclusion: AVE0118 enhances atrial contractility by increasing the plateau potential due to prolongation of the early repolarisation. Dofetilide does not affect the plateau phase of the AP and therefore does not enhance atrial contractility.
Abstract 2932: Role of P53 in the negative regulatory function of PIAS3 with STAT3 in lung cancer

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Constitutive activation of Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription 3 (STAT3) and p53 mutations both play an important role in lung cancer pathogenesis. We have demonstrated a negative inhibitory role of Protein Inhibitor of Activated STAT3 (PIAS3) in STAT3 signaling (Kluge et al 2009 and Dabir et al. 2009) in lung cancer. Recent data suggests that p53 plays a role in oncogenic STAT3 signaling. We sought to determine the biochemical interaction between PIAS3, STAT3 and p53 at both protein and DNA levels in p53 wild-type (A549 and H1666), mutant (Calu1) and p53 null (H358) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) lines. We demonstrate that PIAS3 binds to STAT3 under Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) stimulation in p53 WT cell lines but not so significantly in p53 mutant cell lines. ChIP studies with PIAS3 antibody showed p53/PIAS3 binding to DNA under EGF stimulation. We observed in vivo binding of PIAS3 to the promoter region of RNSP1 (target of p53) in A549 (p53 WT) cells by Promoter Tiling Array. Our initial data suggests that PIAS3 negative regulatory effect on STAT3 is more prominent in p53 WT cells. Indeed, transfection of WT cells with a PIAS3 construct results in a significant decrease in STAT3 transcriptional activity in all cells but more significantly in WT cells. Knockdown of p53 using sh-p53 lentivirus construct tagged with GFP in p53 WT cells shows that it partially negates the effects of PIAS3 on STAT3 suggesting at least a partial requirement of WT p53 for full PIAS3 effects on STAT3 signaling. However our data suggests that PIAS3 induces apoptosis as demonstrated by TUNEL assay and changes of Bcl2 family members irrespective of p53 status suggesting that its growth inhibitory effects are p53 independent. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2932. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2932
Real-time voice communications over a token-passing ring local area network

This paper describes an implementation of a real-time, packetized voice communication system over a personal computer (PC) based token-passing ring local area network. System configuration and operation are presented. The system implements real-time, conversational transmission of voice packets between two stations on the network. An analysis is shown to calculate the maximum number of two way conversations that can be handled by the system without any reconstitution delay.
Proton irradiation of small choroidal malignant melanomas

Five patients with choroidal malignant melanomas were treated with proton irradiation with a cyclotron. We developed an accurate method of aiming the proton beam within the eye. Four to five tantalum rings, 2 mm in diameter, were sutured to the sclera at the edges of the tumor, which is localized by indirect ophthalmoscopy and transillumination. The rings were used as markers for stereotactic radiography to align precisely the tumors with the proton beam. The patients were given a total tumor dose of 4,730 to 6,670 rads, delivered in five equal fractions, over a period of eight to nine days. All patients tolerated the treatments well without any adverse effects. The tumor response to therapy could not be evaluated at the completion of treatment since there was no immediate observable reaction of the tumor or of the surrounding retina. Although there has been no definite regression in any patient, we observed a change in the "color" of the tumor in the first two patients and resolution of two serous retinal detachments.
The PDC-109 protein from bovine seminal plasma is similar to the gelatin-binding domain of bovine fibronectin and a kringle domain of human tissue-type plasminogen activator

PDC-109, a protein of unknown function, is a major component of bovine seminal plasma. Using a computer program designed to detect evolutionary relationships between proteins, I find that the PDC-109 protein is similar to the gelatin-binding domain of bovine fibronectin and part of a kringle domain of human tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA). The computer-based comparison of the amino acid sequence of PDC-109 with that of the gelatin-binding domain of fibronectin and part of the second kringle domain of t-PA yields scores that are 15.5 standard deviations and 7.8 standard deviations higher, respectively, than were obtained with a comparison of randomized sequences of these proteins. The probability (p) of getting these scores by chance is less than 10−50 and 3 × 10−15, respectively. The similarity between the amino acid sequences of PDC-109 and the gelatin-binding domain in fibronectin and the kringle of t-PA suggests some approaches for identifying the functions of PDC-109. Both t-PA and the gelatin-binding domain of fibronectin have adhesive functions, and the gelatin-binding domain promotes viral transformation of fibroblasts in culture. These functions may be associated with the PDC-109 protein.
The Effects of Computer Animated Elaboration Strategies and Practice on Factual and Application Learning in an Elementary Science Lesson

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of animation and practice on factual and application learning in computer-based instruction (CBI). Also studied was the extent to which animation and practice promoted near and far transfer of these learning outcomes. Subjects consisted of 192 elementary school students. The CBI content was an elementary physics lesson in Newtonian mechanics. Two levels of Practice (Relevant Practice, Irrelevant Practice) were crossed with three levels of Graphic Type (Graphic, Animated Graphic, No Graphic) and two levels of Text Type (Text, No Text). No significant differences were found for the between-subjects factors of Practice, Graphic Type, and Text Type. Among the within-subject factors (Learning Outcome, Transfer) a main effect was found for transfer: subjects performed significantly better on far transfer questions than near transfer questions. A significant interaction was detected between Learning Outcome and Transfer: far learning was facilitated for factua...
PRECURSORS OF AMORPHIZATION IN SUPERSATURATED NB-PD SOLID SOLUTIONS

The possibility that crystal-to-amorphous phase transformations can be induced by one or more underlying instabilities of the crystalline phase has been investigated in highly supersaturated solid solutions of Nb--Pd. Several unusual properties were discovered that may be identified as precursor effects of the collapse of the bcc [alpha]--Nb terminal solution to the amorphous phase. Elastic neutron diffraction measurements of [alpha]--Nb solutions found, with increasing Pd concentration, an anomalously large increase of the average atomic root-mean-square displacement to about half of the value at which the Lindemann criterion predicts the lattice should melt. Low-temperature heat capacity measurements yielded a concomitant decrease in the Debye temperature, suggesting that supersaturation causes an elastic modulus to soften. Single crystals of [alpha]--Nb solutions at high supersaturations have a highly anisotropic structure that is visible in transmission electron microscopy images; it is consistent with the development of a soft phonon mode leading to a bcc-to-[omega] phase transformation. Considered together with the results of other recent experiments, these findings suggest that shear instability of the crystalline phase plays an important role in the crystal-to-amorphous transformation and that the average static mean-square displacement of atoms in the lattice acts as a useful parameter for the stability of themore » crystal with respect to amorphization.« less
Effect of beta blockade and intrinsic sympathomimetic activity on exercise performance

Beta-adrenergic receptor blocking drugs with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity may have the advantage of not depressing myocardial function and pulse rate at rest. Little is known about their effects during exercise. Thus, the effects of small and large doses of pindolol, a nonselective β-adrenergic blocking drug with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity, were compared with the effects of small and large doses of propranolol in 13 normal men during treadmill exercise. Compared with placebo, all drug regimens decreased exercise duration (p
Blends containing polymers of epichlorohydrin and ethylene oxide. II. Polyacrylates

The phase behavior of blends of various polymethacrylates with poly(epichlorohydrin) (PECH); poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO); and a copolymer of epichlorohydrin and ethylene oxide [P(ECH/EO)], was examined using differential scanning calorimetery (DSC), dynamic mechanical properties, and optical indications of phase separation on heating, namely lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior. Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), was shown to be miscible with PECH, PEO, and P(ECH/EO), while only PECH was found miscible with the higher polymethacrylates: poly(ethyl methacrylate), poly(n-propyl methacrylate), poly(n-butyl methacrylate), and poly(cyclohexyl methacrylate). However, even PECH was found to be only partially miscible with poly(isopropyl methacrylate). In many cases, unusually broad glass transitions were observed by DSC for blends which are believed to be the result of equilibrium composition fluctuations. All mixtures showed LCST behavior and based on this and excess volume measurements, to the extent possible, qualitative conclusions were made concerning the relative strength of the interactions among the various blend pairs. For PECH, it appears that the interaction with polymethacrylates decreases with increasing size of the alkyl pendant group, with poly(cyclohexyl methacrylate) being a possible exception. The interaction with PMMA is apparently about the same for PECH and PEO, but somewhat less for P(ECH/EO). The latter is consistent with an intrachain attraction of ECH and EO believed to exist. The reasons for similar interactions of PEO and PECH with PMMA are not understood; however, it is clear that the chlorine moiety of PECH is needed for miscibility with higher polymethacrylates.
Maternal breast milk transforming growth factor beta and feeding intolerance in preterm infants

Feeding intolerance (FI) occurs commonly in the neonatal intensive care unit. Breast milk contains a large pool of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). Few studies describe TGF-β levels in preterm milk, and the relationship to FI remains unexplored. We measured TGF-β levels in preterm breast milk to investigate a correlation with FI in preterm infants. Prospective observational trial of 100 mother–infant pairs, enrolling infants born below 32 wk gestation and less than 1,500 g, and mothers who planned to provide breast milk. TGF-β levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Infant charts were reviewed for outcomes. TGF-β declined postnatally, most elevated in colostrum (P < 0.01). TGF-β2 levels were higher than TGF-β1 at all time points (P < 0.01). Colostrum TGF-β levels correlated inversely with birth weight (P < 0.01) and gestational age (P < 0.05). One-week TGF-β2 levels were reduced in growth-restricted infants with FI (P < 0.01). Of infants with necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), TGF-β2 levels appeared to be low, but small sample size precluded meaningful statistical comparisons. TGF-β levels decline temporally in preterm milk. TGF-β1 colostrum levels correlate inversely with birth weight and gestational age. TGF-β2 may play a role in FI in growth-restricted infants. The relationship of TGF-β2 and NEC merits future investigation.
The evolution of consent search law

This study examines the legal issues associated with consent searches conducted by law enforcement officers to gather evidence for criminal prosecutions. Through a review of the available case law relating to consent searches the study examines the requirements of a valid consent to search, the issues associated with these requirements, and the relationship between these requirements and the Fourth Amendment. While the paper focuses on Supreme Court decisions, lower court cases are included to illustrate specific points and examine general trends. The reader is given a general understanding of judicial preferences for procedures to be used when effecting consent searches.
An interaction between carotene-15,15'-monooxygenase expression and consumption of a tomato or lycopene-containing diet impacts serum and testicular testosterone.

Lycopene, the red pigment of tomatoes, is hypothesized to reduce prostate cancer risk, a disease strongly dependent upon testosterone. In this study, mice lacking the expression of carotene-15,15’-monooxygenase (CMO-I−/−) or wild-type mice were fed either a 10% tomato powder (TP), lycopene-containing (248 nmol/g diet), or their respective control diets for 4 days, after which serum testosterone was measured. A significant diet × genotype interaction (P=0.02) suggests that the TP reduces serum testosterone concentrations in CMO-I−/− mice but not in wild-type mice. Similarly, testicular testosterone was lowered in TP-fed CMO-I−/− mice (P=0.01), suggesting that testosterone synthesis may be inhibited in this group. A similar pattern was also observed for lycopene fed mice. Interestingly, the CMO-I−/− mice showed a greater expression of the gene encoding the CMO-II enzyme responsible for eccentric oxidative carotenoid cleavage in the testes. Therefore, we hypothesize that serum testosterone is reduced by lycopene metabolic products of oxidative cleavage by CMO-II in the testes. Overall, these findings suggest that genetic polymorphisms impacting CMO-I expression and its interaction with CMO-II, coupled with variations in dietary lycopene, may modulate testosterone synthesis and serum concentrations. Furthermore, carefully controlled studies with tomato products and lycopene in genetically defined murine models may elucidate important diet × genetic interactions that may impact prostate cancer risk.
Protein and Mg2+-induced conformational changes in the S15 binding site of 16 s ribosomal RNA

The Bacillus stearothermophilus ribosomal protein S15 binds to the central domain of the 16 S rRNA inducing a conformational change in a three-way helical junction. To understand the nature of this conformational change, extended-helical junctions were prepared to examine the effects of S15 or Mg2+ binding on the relative helical orientation using native gel electrophoretic mobility and transient electric birefringence. The free junction is planar with ∼120° interhelical angles, whereas S15 and Mg2+ yield a junction conformation that remains planar in which two helices, 21 and 22, become colinear and the third, helix 20, forms a 60° angle with respect to helix 22. This conformational change is thought to be important for directing the assembly of the central domain of the 30 S ribosomal subunit.
Long-Term Outcomes of Therapeutic Pelvic Lymphadenectomy for Stage I Endometrial Adenocarcinoma

Abstract Objective. The treatment of patients with stage I endometrial adenocarcinoma is often shorter and less expensive if total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH), bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO), and therapeutic lymphadenectomy are used rather than TAH, BSO, pelvic lymph node sampling, and pelvic external beam radiation. We studied whether the survival and morbidity of patients treated with therapeutic lymphadenectomy are equal to or better than with these alternative treatments. Methods. We reviewed the medical records of patients with stage I endometrial adenocarcinoma who were enrolled in the MetroHealth Medical Center tumor registry between 1970 and 1993 after undergoing full pelvic lymph node dissection, in addition to total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and vaginal brachytherapy. The mean number of resected nodes was 33 (median, 31; interquartile range, 19). Patients were followed for 1.6–20 years (median, 8 years; interquartile range, 5.8 years). Morbidity and survival rates were compared to published series using similar treatment strategies and to those from studies using pelvic external beam radiation and pelvic lymph node sampling rather than lymphadenectomy. Results. Of 192 patients with pathologic stage I (FIGO 1988) endometrial adenocarcinoma, 178 patients had full pelvic lymph node dissection; 159 patients were evaluable. The 15-year overall survival was 98%; 10- and 15- year disease-free survivals were 96 and 94%, respectively. Overall morbidity was 18% (29/159), and moderate-to-severe morbidity was 13% (21/159). Recurrences were seen in 4.4% (7/159) of patients. Grade and myometrial invasion were not significant predictors of disease-free survival after full pelvic lymph node dissection (grade, P = 0.42; stage, P = 0.67). The results compare favorably with those of similar studies and with studies of pelvic external beam radiation. Conclusions. Primary surgical management with total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, therapeutic pelvic lymphadenectomy, and vaginal brachytherapy is a viable and possibly preferable option for patients with stage I endometrial adenocarcinoma.
Coulomb effects in high energy He4He4 elastic scattering

Abstract In this note we extend the results of previous work (Ref. [1]) for high energy He 4 He 4 elastic scattering to include the Coulomb corrections. We find these corrections important around the diffractive minima.
Analysis of the inductance and switching frequency trade-off in integrated DC-DC converters

In this paper we discuss design considerations for integrated DC-DC converters towards achieving optimal converter performance in the face of parasitic effects. Integrated converters are realized by utilizing spiral inductors, which allow for low area and high quality factor solutions. However, using spiral inductors in DC-DC converters requires accounting for the inter-dependency between inductance and resistance of the spiral inductor in the design of the DC-DC converter. We present techniques to mitigate this inter-dependency and discuss how the various converter parameters affect its performance.