cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Health-Related Quality of Life in Cancer Survivors with Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common, debilitating adverse effect of neurotoxic chemotherapy that significantly worsens cancer survivors' quality of life. Materials and methods Solid tumor survivors with persistent moderate-to-severe CIPN defined as numbness, tingling, or pain rated ≥4 on an 11-point numeric rating scale (NRS) were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to eight weeks of real acupuncture (RA) versus sham acupuncture (SA) versus usual care (UC). We previously reported the primary endpoint (NRS); here we report health-related quality of life endpoints: Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group-Neurotoxicity (FACT/GOG-Ntx), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI). For each endpoint, the mean changes from baseline and 95% confidence intervals were estimated within each arm and compared between arms using linear mixed models. Results We enrolled 75 solid tumor survivors with moderate to severe CIPN into the study. Compared to baseline, at week 8, FACT/GOG-Ntx, HADS anxiety, and ISI scores significantly improved in RA and SA, but not in UC. Compared to UC, at week 8, FACT/GOG-Ntx scores significantly increased in RA and SA arms indicating improved CIPN-related symptoms and quality of life (p=0.001 and p=0.01). There was no statistically significant difference between RA and SA. There was no difference in HADS depression or BFI among RA, SA, and UC at weeks 8 and 12. Conclusion Acupuncture may improve CIPN-related symptoms and quality of life in cancer survivors with persistent CIPN. Further large sample size studies are needed to delineate placebo effects. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03183037) IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: We conducted a randomized sham acupuncture- and usual care-controlled clinical trial to evaluate the impact of acupuncture on health-related quality of life outcomes in solid tumor patients with chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Statistically significant improvements in quality of life, anxiety, insomnia, and fatigue were achieved with eight weeks of real acupuncture when compared to baseline, without statistically significant differences between real and sham acupuncture. These findings suggest that acupuncture may be effective for improving CIPN-related symptoms and quality of life and reducing anxiety and insomnia in cancer survivors with persistent CIPN, with further study needed to delineate placebo effects.
An Exploratory Study on the Characterization of A1and A2Bloodstains Using a Fluorescence Immunoassay

A fluorescence immunoassay method is used in the differentiation of A1 and A2 bloodstains. Anti-A antiserum is first absorbed onto the stain. The IgM content in the eluate is then quantified by commercial Immuno-Fluor kits. The binding difference of A1 and A2 cells is retained in stains. This difference and the quantitative evaluation method provide a potential basis for blood typing or subtyping application.
A Review of “Geographical Perspectives on Sustainable Rural Change”

The Sixth Quadrennial Conference of British, Canadian, and American Geographers inspired the publication of Geographical Perspectives on Sustainable Rural Change, edited by Dick Winchell, Doug Rams...
Selective status reporting in information systems projects: a dyadic-level investigation

This study investigates selective reporting behaviors that are pursued by project managers when communicating the status of their information system initiatives to their executives. To understand the types, motivations, impacts, and antecedents of such behaviors, a message-exchange perspective is adopted and the prior literature on IS project status reporting is reviewed. This study incorporates an empirical investigation that examined the influence of five dyadic factors on selective reporting using a survey of 561 project managers. The findings of the study reveal a positive effect of reporting quality on project performance and indicate that a specific type of selective reporting behavior (optimistic biasing) has a degrading effect on reporting quality. Moreover, the findings show that all five antecedents have a significant influence on the propensity of project managers to report selectively. Specifically, the project executive's power, the project manager's trust in the executive, and the executive's quality of communication impact selective reporting directly; the executive's familiarity with the IS development process and the executive's organizational affiliation vis-a-vis that of the project manager have an indirect influence (it is mediated through other factors). The effects of each of these factors on the two types of selective reporting (optimistic and pessimistic biasing) are examined, and the implications of these findings for both researchers and managers are discussed in this article.
The future of populist parallelism

Summary form only given, as follows. This keynote covers past and future history of clusters. It will extrapolate the future from an observable cycle of cluster creation that has recurred several times in the past, combining that with the pieces and the glue that will be available in the future.
Position tracking for a nonlinear underactuated hovercraft: controller design and experimental results

This paper addresses the position tracking control problem of an underactuated hovercraft vehicle. A nonlinear Lyapunov-based tracking controller is developed and proved to exponentially stabilize the position tracking error to a neighborhood of the origin that can be made arbitrarily small. The desired trajectory does not need to be a specially chosen (e.g., a trimming trajectory). In fact, it can be any sufficiently smooth bounded curve parameterized by time. The nonlinear controller has been experimentally validated on the Caltech Multi-Vehicle Wireless Testbed (MVWT), a platform for the development and implementation of novel single-and multiple-vehicle control designs. Experimental results are given for tracking of prescribed trajectories and for target following.
Distributions of Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter in New York Harbor

Abstract : The long-term goal of the project is to investigate the distributions of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in the New York/New Jersey Harbor and New York Bight system so as to facilitate a deeper understanding of the source and processes that control CDOM distributions in estuarine and coastal waters. CDOM source strengths and photochemical degradation processes were incorporated into a calibrated/validated three dimensional estuarine and coastal ocean forecast circulation model. The model results were compared with high resolution 4-dimensional measurements of physical water properties as well as CDOM data. The detailed distributions of modeled currents, temperatures, salinities, water levels and CDOM were used to help interpret the CDOM data. The objective was to develop a capability for incorporating CDOM source strengths and chemical processes into the currently operational New York Harbor Observation and Prediction System (NYHOPS, www.stevens.edu/maritimeforecast/). The first year objective was to build CDOM into NYHOPS and conduct simulations of CDOM distributions initially treating CDOM as a conservative tracer on the original NYHOPS model grid. In the second year we updated NYHOPS and its CDOM component to a higher-resolution model grid, updated CDOM sources and strengths in the model based on field observations, and included in the model CDOM photodegradation due to ultraviolet light based on a first-order decay rate measured through laboratory incubation experiments.
Predicting Individual Success in Programing Self-Instructional Materials.

In essence, this study has completed a triad of efforts to identify and weigh factors critical to the proper selection of individuals for training as self-instructional programers. It would now appear that we have reliable measures that can be used as guidelines. The most powerful of these selection criteria is the combined Otis IQ and Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking scores. It was found in the 1963 study that these two scores, working in concert, were more powerful and sensitive than either working alone. This result was confirmed in the present study with the finding of significance beyond the 001 level, indicating that the difference could be attributed to chance in only one case out of one thousand. In Figure 1, we find a representation of the utility of this predictor in assessing the success of programers in the upper and lower quartiles. Using figures to be explained below, we sought to determine whether a combined score of 187 or less would indicate failure while a combined score of 207 or more would indicate success.
Essential role of Dkk3 for head formation by inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin and Nodal/Vg1 signaling pathways in the basal chordate amphioxus

To dissect the molecular mechanism of head specification in the basal chordate amphioxus, we investigated the function of Dkk3, a secreted protein in the Dickkopf family, which is expressed anteriorly in early embryos. Amphioxus Dkk3 has three domains characteristic of Dkk3 proteins-an N-terminal serine rich domain and two C-terminal cysteine-rich domains (CRDs). In addition, amphioxus Dkk3 has a TGFβ-receptor 2 domain, which is not present in Dkk3 proteins of other species. As vertebrate Dkk3 proteins have been reported to regulate either Nodal signaling or Wnt/β-catenin signaling but not both in the same species, we tested the effects of Dkk3 on signaling by these two pathways in amphioxus embryos. Loss of function experiments with an anti-sense morpholino oligonucleotide (MO) against amphioxus Dkk3 resulted in larvae with truncated heads and concomitant loss of expression of anterior gene markers. The resemblance of the headless phenotype to that from upregulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling with BIO, a GSK3β inhibitor, suggested that Dkk3 might inhibit Wnt/β-catenin signaling. In addition, the Dkk3 MO rescued dorsal structures in amphioxus embryos treated with SB505124, an inhibitor of Nodal signaling, indicating that amphioxus Dkk3 can also inhibit Nodal signaling. In vitro assays in Xenopus animal caps showed that Nodal inhibition is largely due to domains other than the TGFβ domain. We conclude that amphioxus Dkk3 regulates head formation by modulating both Wnt/β-catenin and Nodal signaling, and that these functions may have been partitioned among various vertebrate lineages during evolution of Dkk3 proteins.
MSX, 2MASS, and the Large Magellanic Cloud: A Combined Near- and Mid-Infrared View

The Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) has been observed by the Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) in the mid-infrared and the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) in the near-infrared. We have performed a cross-correlation of the 1806 MSX catalog sources and nearly 1.4 million 2MASS cataloged point and extended sources and find 1664 matches. Using the available color information, we identify a number of stellar populations and nebulae, including main-sequence stars, giant stars, red supergiants, carbon- and oxygen-rich asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, planetary nebulae, H II regions, and other dusty objects likely associated with early-type stars. A total of 731 of these sources have no previous identification. We compile a listing of all objects, which includes photometry and astrometry. The 8.3 μm MSX sensitivity is the limiting factor for object detection: only the brighter red objects, specifically the red supergiants, AGB stars, planetary nebulae, and H II regions, are detected in the LMC. The remaining objects are likely in the Galactic foreground. The spatial distribution of the infrared LMC sources may contribute to understanding stellar formation and evolution and the overall galactic evolution. We demonstrate that a combined mid- and near-infrared photometric baseline provides a powerful means of identifying new objects in the LMC for future ground-based and space-based follow-up observations.
Ionospheric scatter communication

VHF propagation by means of ionospheric scatter has been under intensive investigation at the National Bureau of Standards since its discovery in early 1951. The main characteristics of this mode of propagation are now well known and are reviewed. Particular emphasis is placed on practical engineering considerations, such as spaced antenna diversity requirements, choice of polarizations and antennas, and antenna siting. Results are given for such matters as the optimum range of distances and optimum range of frequencies for practical communication. A complete two-way communication system, extending in three stages from Main to Northern Greenland, has been built for the United States Air Force. This system, which provides four radioteletype channels continuously, has been in operation for more than a year and performs entirely satisfactorily from the viewpoint of propagation for considerably better than ninety-nine per cent of the time on the two northern links.
CORR Insights®: Does Cup-cage Reconstruction With Oversized Cups Provide Initial Stability in THA for Osteoporotic Acetabular Fractures?

This CORR Insights® is a commentary on the article “Does Cup-cage Reconstruction With Oversized Cups Provide Initial Stability in THA for Osteoporotic Acetabular Fractures?” by Solomon and colleagues available at: DOI: 10.1007/s11999-015-4460-1 . The author certifies that he, or any member of his immediate family, has no funding or commercial associations (eg, consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest, patent/licensing arrangements, etc) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article. All ICMJE Conflict of Interest Forms for authors and Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research ® editors and board members are on file with the publication and can be viewed on request. The opinions expressed are those of the writers, and do not reflect the opinion or policy of CORR ® or The Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons®. This CORR Insights® comment refers to the article available at DOI: 10.1007/s11999-015-4460-1 .
The actions of serotonergic agonists and antagonists on the activity of brisk ganglion cells in the rabbit retina

Extracellular electrophysiological recordings were obtained from rabbit retinal ganglion cells in either a superfused eyecup or an in vivo preparation. Selective antagonists or agonists of serotonin at the 5-HT2 or 5-HT1A receptors were applied, and the changes in light-evoked and spontaneous activity were studied. Both 5-HT1A agonists and 5-HT2 antagonists reduced the ON-components of the light-evoked responses of all classes of brisk ganglion cell; spontaneous activity was reduced in these cells as well. These results suggest that the indoleamine-accumulating amacrine cells of the rabbit retina serve to facilitate the output of the depolarizing rod bipolar cell and thereby increase the efficacy of transmission between this and other cells in the rabbit retina, and that this process is mediated by 5-HT2 receptors. On the basis of the similarity of the actions of the 2 classes of drug studied, we hypothesize further that 5-HT1A receptors mediate an inhibitory process that serves to terminate the indoleamine-induced facilitation. This process may be located either in the bipolar terminal or presynaptic to it in the terminal of the putative indoleaminergic cells.
Volcaniclastic aeolian deposits at Sunset Crater, Arizona: terrestrial analogs for Martian dune forms

Sunset Crater in north-central Arizona (USA) is a 900-year-old scoria-cone volcano. Wind action has redistributed its widespread tephra deposit into a variety of aeolian dune forms that serve as a terrestrial analog for similar landforms and aeolian processes on Mars. Fieldwork was conducted to collect essential geomorphological and sedimentological data, and to establish a baseline for the type and morphometry of dunes, physical properties, interactions with topography, and saltation pathways. Our analyses focused primarily on coppice dunes, falling dunes, wind ripples, and sand streaks. For all collected volcaniclastic aeolian sediment samples, the sand-size fraction dominated, ranging from almost 100% sand to 74.6% sand. No sample contained more than 1.6% silt. The composition is overwhelmingly basaltic with non-basaltic particles composing 2 to 6% of the total. Coppice (nebkha) dunes form where clumps of vegetation trap saltating particles and create small mounds or hummocks. Mean grain size for coppice dune samples is coarse sand. Measured dune height for 15 coppice dunes ranged from 0.3 to 3.3 m with a mean of 1 m. Mean length was 6.7 m and mean width was 4.8 m. Falling dunes identified in this study are poorly developed and thin, lacking a prominent ramp-like structure. Mean wavelength for three sets of measured ripples ranged from 22 to 36 cm. Sand streaks extend downwind for more than a kilometer and are up to 200 m in width. They commonly occur on the lee side of mesas and similar landforms and are typically the downwind continuation of falling dunes. Falling dunes, wind ripples, and sand streaks have been identified on Mars, while coppice dunes are similar to Martian shadow or lee dunes in which sand accumulates in the lee of obstacles. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Genetic Map of Randomly Amplified DNA Polymorphisms Closely Linked to the Mating Type Locus of Tetrahymena Thermophila

We have used the PCR-based randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) method to efficiently identify and map DNA polymorphisms in the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila. The polymorphisms segregate as Mendelian genetic markers. A targeted screen, using DNA from pooled meiotic segregants, yielded the polymorphisms most closely linked to the mat locus. A total of 10 polymorphisms linked to the mat-Pmr segment of the left arm of micronuclear chromosome 2 have been identified. This constitutes the largest linkage group described in T. thermophila. We also provide here the first crude estimate of the frequency of meiotic recombination in the mat region, 20 kb/cM. This frequency is much higher than that observed in most other eukaryotes. Special features of Tetrahymena genetics enhanced the power of the RAPD method: the ability to obtain in a single step meiotic segregants that are whole-genome homozygotes and the availability of nullisomic strains permitting quick deletion mapping of polymorphisms to micronuclear chromosomes or chromosome segments. The RAPD method appears to provide a practical and relatively inexpensive approach to the construction of a high-resolution map of the Tetrahymena genome.
Mediastinal Duplication Cyst: Percutaneous Aspiration and Cystography for Diagnosis and Treatment

Needle aspiration and metrizamide cystography of a mediastinal duplication cyst is described. The technique is a reasonable alternative to surgery for both the diagnosis and the treatment of asymptomatic benign mediastinal cysts.
Toxic interactions in the rat nose: pollutants from soiled bedding and methyl bromide.

Interactions between test chemicals and pollutants can confound toxicology studies. To test the sensitivity of the regenerating olfactory epithelium to additional challenge with the olfactory epithelial toxicant methyl bromide (MeBr), Fischer 344 (F344) rats received 2 6-hr inhalation exposures (separated by a 28-day recovery period) to either 0 or 175 ppm MeBr. The regenerating epithelium was resistant to the second MeBr exposure. In addition, histopathologic examination revealed squamous epithelial hyperplasia in the vestibule; inflammation, epithelial necrosis, mucosal erosions, and squamous metaplasia of the respiratory epithelium in the anterior nose; and olfactory sensory cell loss in the dorsal medial meatus. These changes could not be attributed to MeBr, but they were correlated with housing in filter-capped cages between MeBr exposures and were presumably caused by volatile pollutants from soiled bedding. Moreover, olfactory sensory cell loss in the dorsal medial meatus was associated with local ...
Another proof of the theorem on pattern reproduction in tessellation structures

In this paper a cellular automaton is regarded as a time sequence of polynomials with coefficients in the state alphabet; this is in contrast to the usual view as a mapping of lattice points of E^n to the state alphabet. The transition from one polynomial to the next can be expressed as a polynomial multiplication. When the state alphabet is the integers modulo a prime p, the theorem (X+Y)^p=X^p+Y^p (mod p) is translated into the notion of pattern reproduction.
The Changing Role of the Teacher: A Technology-Enhanced, Student-Centered Lesson on French Fashion

Absteact.This article describes the changing roles played by foreign language teachers in the new multimedia-enhanced, learner-centered classrooms. The article describes in detail the various parts that make up one technology-rich lesson on French fashion and analyzes the multiple roles that teachers may assume in their efforts to expand the language learning experience and accommodate the preferred learning styles of the students.
An assessment of the current and future thermal regimes of three streams located in the Wenatchee River basin, Washington State: some implications for regional river basin systems

We examine summer temperature patterns in the Wenatchee River and two of its major tributaries Icicle and Nason Creeks, located in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Through model simulations we evaluate the cooling effects of mature riparian vegetation corridors along the streams and potential increases due to global warming for the 2020s-2080s time horizons. Site potential shade influences are smaller in the mainstream due to its relatively large size and reduced canopy density in the lower reaches, proving a modest reduction of about 0.3°C of the stream length average daily maximum temperature, compared with 1.5°C and 2.8°C in Icicle and Nason Creeks. Assuming no changes in riparian vegetation shade, stream length-average daily maximum temperature could increase in the Wenatchee River from 1-1.2°C by the 2020s to 2°C in the 2040s and 2.5-3.6°C in the 2080s, reaching 27-30°C in the warmest reaches. The cooling effects from the site potential riparian vegetation are likely to be offset by the climate change effects in the Wenatchee River by the 2020s. Buffers of mature riparian vegetation along the banks of the tributaries could prevent additional water temperature increases associated with climate change. By the end of the century, assuming site potential shade, the tributaries could have a thermal condition similar to today's condition which has less shade. In the absence of riparian vegetation restoration, at typical summer low flows, stream length average daily mean temperatures could reach about 16.4-17°C by the 2040s with stream length average daily maxima around 19.5-20.6°C, values that can impair or eliminate salmonid rearing and spawning. Modeled increases in stream temperature due to global warming are determined primarily by the projected reductions in summer streamflows, and to a lesser extent by the increases in air temperature. The findings emphasize the importance of riparian vegetation restoration along the smaller tributaries, to prevent future temperature increases and preserve aquatic habitat.
Combustion instabilities: mating dance of chemical, combustion, and combustor dynamics

Combustion instabilities exist as consequences of interactions among three classes of phenomena: chemistry and chemical dynamics; combustion dynamics; and combustor dynamics. These dynamical processes take place simultaneously in widely different spatial scales characterized by lengths roughly in the ratios (10^(-3) - 10^(-6)):1:(10^3-10^6). However, due to the wide differences in the associated characteristic velocities, the corresponding time scales are all close. The instabilities in question are observed as oscillations having a time scale in the range of natural acoustic oscillations. The apparent dominance of that single macroscopic time scale must not be permitted to obscure the fact that the relevant physical processes occur on three disparate length scales. Hence, understanding combustion instabilities at the practical level of design and successful operation is ultimately based on understanding three distinct sorts of dynamics.
MICROPOROUS SIO2/VYCOR MEMBRANES FOR GAS SEPARATION

In this study, porous Vycor tubes with 40 A initial pore diameter were modified using low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) of SiO 2 . Diethylsilane (DES) in conjunction with O 2 or N 2 O were used as precursors to synthesize the SiO 2 films. Both “single side” (reactants flowing on the same side of porous membrane) and “counterflow” (reactants flowing on both sides of porous membrane) reactant geometries have been investigated. The flow of H 2 , He, N 2 , Ar, and toluene (C 7 H 8 ) was monitored in situ after each deposition period. Membranes modified by the “single side” reactants geometry exhibited good selectivities between small and large molecules. However, cracking in these membranes after prolonged deposition limited the maximum achievable selectivity values. Higher selectivities and better mechanical stability were achieved with membranes produced using the “counterflow” reactants geometry. Pore narrowing rate was observed to increase with oxidant flow (O 2 or N 2 O). For membranes prepared using both oxidants, selectivities on the order of 1000: 1 were readily attained for H 2 and He over N 2 , Ar, and C 7 H 8 . As compared to O 2 , the use of N 2 O caused improvements in both the pore narrowing rate and N 2 : C 7 H 8 selectivity. Membranes prepared using the “counterflow” geometry showed no signs of degradation or cracking after thermal cycling.
Rapid bioprocess optimization using the ellipsoid algorithm

Abstract A new optimization technique, the ellipsoid method, has been programmed and tested for bioprocess applications. This algorithm uses gradient information to construct a series of ellipsoids with reducing volume that contract about an optimal point. Some modifications allow planning of sequential sets of experiments that quickly bound the optimal conditions for a bioprocess. An important feature is simple handling of inequality constraints, providing a new tool for empirical optimization studies. Several examples highlight the robust performance of ellipsoidal design.
Effect of host age on the expression of acquired resistance to ticks

Young guinea-pigs (350 g) expressed significantly greater levels of acquired resistance to challenge by larvalAmblyomma americanum ticks than older guinea-pigs (520–800 g). This finding suggests that younger guinea-pigs are immunologically more responsive to tick infestation than older mature individuals. Therefore, host age is an important variable in evaluating acquired resistance to ticks.
CpG island in the region of an autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease locus defines the 5' end of a gene encoding a putative proton channel.

Abstract In an attempt to isolate candidate genes for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, a number of CpG-rich islands have been identified from a region defined genetically as the site of disease mutations. Genomic fragments adjacent to one of these islands were used to isolate cDNAs from both HeLa cells and cultured cystic epithelium that encode a 155-amino acid peptide having four putative transmembrane domains. The corresponding transcript was found in all tissues tested but was most abundant in brain and kidney. Potential control response elements were identified in the genomic region 5' to the initiation codon. The deduced amino acid sequence has 93% similarity to the 16-kDa proteolipid component that is believed to be part of the proton channel of the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase. Possible roles for a mutated proton channel in the pathogenesis of cystic disease were considered. However, sequencing of cDNAs corresponding to both alleles of an affected individual revealed no differences in the deduced amino acid sequence. Moreover, transcript size and abundance were not altered in cystic kidney.
Metal Ion Interactions with Urease and UreD-Urease Apoproteins†

Klebsiella aerogenes urease in a Ni-containing enzyme (two Ni per alpha beta gamma unit) that is purified as an apoprotein from cells grown in Ni-free medium. Partial activation of urease and UreD-urease apoproteins is achieved in vitro by incubation in the presence of Ni(II) and CO2, whereas incubation of these proteins with Ni alone leads to the formation of inactive species [Park, I.-S., & Hausinger, R. P. (1995) Science 267, 1156-1158]. Here we determined the kinetics of these inhibitory reactions and demonstrated the presence of two Ni ions per alpha beta gamma unit in the inactive proteins. Although metal-substituted urease has never been purified from Ni-deprived cell, several other metal ions were shown to bind to the urease apoproteins. Divalent Zn, C, Co, and Mn all inhibited Ni- and Co2-promoted urease activation at concentrations below that of Ni, whereas Mg and Ca ions did not inhibit this process. Ni-inhibited species recovered their ability to be partially activated after EDTA treatment. In contrast, samples that were exposed to Co or Cu ions were irreversibly inactivated, and EDTA treatment of Zn- or Mn-inhibited samples led to reduced levels of activation competence. Mn-substituted urease, generated from urease apoprotein samples in a Mn- and Co2-dependent manner, was shown to be active, whereas other metal-substituted forms if urease lacked activity. The Mn-protein possessed only 2% of the activity of Ni-activated apoprotein [ approximately 8.0 vs approximately 400 mumol min-1 (mg protein)-1], but its KM value was only moderately altered from that of the native enzyme (3.86 +/- 0.15 mM vs 0.2 mM). Unlike the Ni-containing enzyme, Mn-urease was inhibited by EDTA. Given the evidence that urease apoprotein binds numerous metal ions, we speculate on possible roles for the UreD, UreF, and UreG accessory proteins in urease activation.
Robotic-assisted single-incision laparoscopic partial cecectomy.

Background Single-incision laparoscopic surgery is an emerging approach in the field of minimally invasive colon and rectal surgery. This modality utilizes a ‘scarless’ incision concealed within the umbilicus, and results in improved cosmesis with the potential for reduced trauma, pain and length of hospital stay. However, unique technical challenges have curbed its adaptation. Robotic-assisted technique may help overcome these limitations when applied to the single-incision approach. Methods A robotic-assisted single-incision laparoscopic partial cecectomy was performed using the da Vinci® robot and the GelPOINT™ access device. Modifications of the robotic set-up were utilized to optimize the technique. The robotic instruments were crossed below the abdominal wall to minimize internal conflict and maximize range of motion. Control of the robotic arms was reassigned on the robotic console to create a more intuitive surgical approach. The robotic camera was rotated and positioned vertically to reduce external conflict and enhance visualization. Results Robotic-assisted single-incision laparoscopic partial cecectomy was performed in a 53 year-old male without complication or need for conversion. The procedure required 120 min with an estimated blood loss of < 50 ml. Pathology revealed a sessile tubular adenoma of the cecum. The length of hospital stay was 2 days and no complications were encountered. The patient returned with a well-healed 2.5 cm incision and no postoperative complications at 6 weeks follow-up. Conclusions With appropriate modifications, robotic-assisted single-incision laparoscopic surgery may be applicable as a minimally invasive modality for partial colectomy. Further studies are warranted to establish the safety, efficacy, benefits, and limits of this technique. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Plagiarism in china.

I am glad that the Chinese scientific community finally succeeded in disclosing a case of plagiarism (News & Comment, [18 Oct., p. 337][1]). The case was an open secret, of which I became aware when I was conducting research in Beijing in early 1996. I talked with the two authors who disclosed the case in the Journal of Dialectics of Nature . From what I learned then, it appears that there was pressure not to publicly discuss the case. The article was first submitted to another journal for publication. I was told later by one of the authors that three journals declined to publish it. I applaud the Chinese scientists for adhering to their upright attitude toward scientific research and, most important, to their independence from interference. [1]: /lookup/doi/10.1126/science.274.5286.337
A fundamental relationship between hydrophobic properties and biological activity for the duocarmycin class of DNA-alkylating antitumor drugs: hydrophobic-binding-driven bonding.

Two systematic series of increasingly hydrophilic derivatives of duocarmycin SA that feature the incorporation of ethylene glycol units (n = 1–5) into the methoxy substituents of the trimethoxyindole subunit are described. These derivatives exhibit progressively increasing water solubility along with progressive decreases in cell growth inhibitory activity and DNA alkylation efficiency with the incremental ethylene glycol unit incorporations. Linear relationships of cLogP with −log IC50 for cell growth inhibition and −log AE (AE = cell-free DNA alkylation efficiency) were observed, with the cLogP values spanning the productive range of 2.5–0.49 and the −log IC50 values spanning the range of 11.2–6.4, representing IC50 values that vary by a factor of 105 (0.008 to 370 nM). The results quantify the fundamental role played by the hydrophobic character of the compound in the expression of the biological activity of members in this class (driving the intrinsically reversible DNA alkylation reaction) and define...
Induction of maternal behaviors in primigravid rats by ovariectomy, hysterectomy, or ovariectomy plus hysterectomy: Effect of length of gestation

Abstract The effects of terminating pregnancy by means of ovariectomy (O), hysterectomy (H), or ovariectomy plus hysterectomy (OH) at different stages of gestation upon the latency to initiation of maternal behavior were examined in primigravid rats. O, H, or OH on either Day 13 or 17 of pregnancy resulted in an accelerated onset of maternal behaviors (median range = 1.0–2.0 day latency for O, H, or OH animals vs 4.0–5.0 day latency for sham-operated intacts). However, O and H on Day 8 of pregnancy were ineffective in inducing a rapid onset of maternal behavior, while OH on Day 8 of pregnancy only slightly facilitated the onset of maternal behavior when compared to animals sham-operated on Day 8 of pregnancy. O, H, and OH on either Day 13 or 17 of gestation were also significantly more effective in rapidly inducing maternal behaviors than the corresponding surgeries performed on Day 8 of pregnancy. These data suggest that the onset of maternal behavior in the pregnant rat can be rapidly induced after mid-pregnancy by surgical procedures that presumably result in a rapid decline in serum steroids of ovarian origin.
Approximations to permutation and exchangeable processes

We obtain weighted approximations by a Brownian bridge to permutation and exchangeable processes and to appropriately defined inverse processes. Our results provide as special cases useful weighted approximations to the uniform empirical and quantile processes and to generalized bootstrapped versions of these processes. A number of other applications are discussed. Our approach is based on the Skorokhod embedding for martingales.
Gulls in urban environments: landscape-level management to reduce conflict

Abstract Populations of several species of gulls ( Larus spp.) have increased dramatically throughout coastal areas of North America and Europe during the past several decades. These increases have been attributed generally to protection from human disturbance, reduction in environmental contaminants, availability of anthropogenic food, and the ability of gulls to adapt to human-altered environments. Gull abundance in urban areas has resulted in numerous conflicts with people including hazards to aircraft, transmission of pathogens and parasites through contamination of water sources, damage to buildings from nesting material and defecation, and general nuisance. Various architectural and habitat management approaches presently are available to reduce gull/human conflicts. For example, gull use of putrescible-waste landfills may be reduced by covering refuse, diverting anthropogenic food to covered compost facilities, erecting wire grids over exposed refuse, and manipulation of turf height in loafing areas. Nesting on roofs can be alleviated through modifications of roofing substrate, reducing the number of roof structures present, and placement of overhead wires. Also, attractiveness of airports to gulls can be reduced through drainage of temporary water and by decreasing the availability of prey and loafing sites through habitat management. Architectural design and characteristics of adjacent habitat should be considered during the planning stages of new facilities in areas where use by gulls is likely. Although control activities can be effective at the site where the gull problem occurs, uncoordinated management efforts may cause relocation of the problems to surrounding areas. Also, site-specific management will rarely solve the problem across a larger scale (e.g., city-wide). A working group comprised of the respective city or county planning commission, affected businesses and other government agencies, private citizens, and wildlife professionals could be formed to provide overall direction for gull management. This working group would define the extent and nature of the problem, develop an appropriate management strategy incorporating ecology of the nuisance species, and conduct periodic assessments of program efficacy. An integrated, landscape-level management approach is necessary to ensure an overall reduction in conflict between gulls and people in urban environments.
Context interchange in a client-server architecture

Abstract Many organizations today require information from diverse information systems, and government efforts are moving toward a national information infrastructure for sharing information. However, the systems used by these organizations lack the capabilities to meaningfully translate information among semantically heterogeneous environments. Because the meaning of data acquired from a source environment is usually different from that needed or expected in the receiver's environment, the effectiveness of information exchange is dependent on the system's capability for context interchange, i.e., the representation, exchange, comparison, and transformation of context knowledge. We show here a practical means for developing context interchange capabilities in a client-server architecture by use of semantic values (i.e., data and their context(as the unit of data exchange. The key components in this architecture are the context mediator server, whose job is to identify and construct the semantic values being sent, determine when the exchange is meaningful, and convert the semantic values to the form required by the client (i.e., receiver), and the data environment server, whose job is to assist in the location, access, development, and maintenance of the context knowledge for all clients and servers.
The exact nonlinear driven response of a one-dimensional gas

Abstract The exact nonlinear driven response of a one-dimensional gas of hard rods to a time dependent uniform external field is obtained in terms of the single particle Green's function. Limiting cases of very large and very small field are examined and, for the latter, comparison is made between the linear approximation to the exact response and the response obtained from the linear response theory perturbation approximation. Strong disagreement between these results is observed. This supports van Kampen's contention that a macroscopic linear response to an external perturbation is not a manifestation of microscopic linearity.
Imaging dopamine transmission in the frontal cortex: a simultaneous microdialysis and [11C]FLB 457 PET study

Imaging dopamine transmission in the frontal cortex: a simultaneous microdialysis and [ 11 C]FLB 457 PET study
P300 topography differs in schizophrenia and manic psychosis

Abstract Background: Overall and left temporal scalp area reductions of P300 have been demonstrated in schizophrenia. P300 amplitude and topography in psychotic affective disorder, a crucial comparison in assessing the specificity of P300 abnormalities to schizophrenia, are not well studied. Methods: P300 was recorded from 35 schizophrenic, 20 psychotic manic, and 30 control subjects. All were right-handed men. Results: P300 was reduced in both psychotic groups relative to control subjects. Anteroposterior P300 topography differed between patient groups, with schizophrenic subjects showing posterior reduction and bipolar subjects showing anterior reduction. Schizophrenic subjects showed an abnormal asymmetry, with smaller P300 over the left temporal scalp site than the right. Both bipolar and control subjects showed a left greater than right asymmetry. Conclusions: Widespread auditory P300 reductions were present in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder with psychosis, but subtle topographic differences were present in the two diseases. Although unequivocal knowledge of neural generators cannot be derived from topography alone, differences in topography imply different generator configurations. Based on previous studies, the posterior P300 reductions in schizophrenia may reflect abnormalities of a generator located in the left superior temporal gyrus. The frontal reductions in bipolar psychosis may reflect abnormalities in a hypothetical frontal generator, consonant with reports of altered frontal lobe function in mania.
E‐ILL and Russian e‐books

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the challenges ILL librarians are faced with when trying to borrow or lend e‐books through traditional interlibrary loan channels, especially in the context of international lending and borrowing.Design/methodology/approach – The authors use Russian language e‐books and e‐readers as a model for understanding the challenges presented by numerous file formats and e‐reader types, multiple alphabets (e.g. Latin, Cyrillic), and national copyright laws and licensing restrictions.Findings – International ILL requests for e‐books present a host of challenges beyond the usual licensing restrictions encountered in one's home country. A wide variety of unfamiliar and perhaps incompatible file formats, a lack of compatible e‐readers, and national copyright laws are just a few of the barriers to obtaining e‐books from abroad. It may become a regular part of the ILL librarian's job to develop protocols for locating digitized materials and forming working relationships w...
IBD: Adalimumab for ulcerative colitis—is the glass half empty or half full?

Antibodies that target tumor necrosis factor are effective at inducing and maintaining remission in both Crohn's disease (infliximab, adalimumab and certolizumab) and ulcerative colitis (infliximab). The results of a randomized controlled trial of adalimumab for inducing remission in moderately to severely active ulcerative colitis have now been published.
Nursing Management of Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy

SUMMARY With CRRT becoming the preferred treatment for acute renal failure, more and more centers will be using this form of therapy. The preparation and on-going education of the nursing staff and their man-agement of the therapy determine the success of CRRT. It is imperative that nurses have clinical andtechnical expertise in the therapy in order for the patient to have positive outcomes on CRRT.
On Improving Utilization in ALOHA Networks

By the simple expedient of dividing users into two groups-one transmitting at high power and the other at low powerthe maximum utilization of a slotted ALOHA communication system can be increased from 36.8 percent to about 53 percent. Similar comments apply to the unslotted ALOHA case. An extension to more than two power groups also is described.
The biochemical and morphological response of hydrolytic enzymes in the developing brain to hypocholesterolemic agents

Administration of hypocholesterolemic agents to developing rats has been found to selectively induce brain hydrolases. Certain regimes also caused an appreciable increase in total brain protein content. The hypocholesterolemic agents AY-9944 and zuclomiphene were tested individually and in combination. A fourth type of treatment utilized the above drugs in combination with Triparanol. Whenever AY-9944 was used, singly or in combination with other compounds, the β-glucuronidase activity of developing brain was increased. Acid phosphatase and total brain protein were increased in animals treated with AY-9944 plus zuclomiphene or AY-9944 plus zuclomiphene and Triparanol. Neither AY-9944 nor zuclomiphene alone significantly affected brain total protein or acid phosphatase. Electron microscopic examination of tissue specifically reacted for acid phosphatase demonstrated that the increased enzyme activity was localized in cells in the perivascular spaces. Alkaline phosphatase and N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase, two other hydrolytic enzymes assayed, seemed to be much less influenced by the drug treatments.
Library instruction and technology in a general education ‘gateway’ course: The student's view

Abstract Freshman students in a new general education gateway course have varying reactions to library instruction and technology training. In order to assess student reactions to the course, small group discussions were held with user panels. Implications are that library instruction and hands-on technology training must be better integrated into the course.
Experience with abdominal wall closure for patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia repaired on ECMO

Abstract Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) and its attendant lack of abdominal domain can create major technical challenges with respect to diaphragmatic and abdominal wall reconstruction, especially in seriously ill infants who require extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The authors reviewed the medical records of all infants with CDH repaired on ECMO at their institution (group 1, 15 patients), and compared them with infants having CDH repair before ECMO (group 2, 20 patients) and with those who had CDH repair but did not require ECMO (group 3, 15 patients). Thirty-seven of 50 patients survived (74%): 10 in group 1, 12 in group 2, and all 15 in group 3. There was a statistically significant difference ( P P v groups 2 and 3). Infants who require ECMO before CDH repair are more likely to have large diaphragmatic defects that require prosthetic reconstruction, and abdominal wall closure problems resulting from loss of abdominal domain, which further complicate the management of the physiological derangements from pulmonary hypoplasia and persistent pulmonary hypertension.