cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prognostic determinants in patients with uterine and ovarian clear carcinoma

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study is to analyze and compare the demographics, treatment, recurrence, and survival rates in patients with uterine clear cell carcinoma (UCCC) and ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC). Methods A retrospective review of the Cancer Registry database was performed. All patients with UCCC and OCCC who underwent surgical staging at the two participating institutions, between January, 1995 and December, 2007, were identified. Categorical variables were evaluated by Chi square test. Survival estimates were plotted utilizing the Kaplan–Meier method. Results Analysis of 41 women with UCCC and 121 with OCCC was performed. In patients with OCCC, 48.4% had localized disease, 18.9% had regional spread, 31.1% had distant metastasis, and in 1.6% spread is unknown; compared to UCCC, 41.5% had localized disease, 12.2% regional spread, and 46.3% distant metastasis (p=0.2). The median progression free survival was 31.4months in women with UCCC, compared to 145months in patients with OCCC (p=0.04). UCCC women had a median overall survival of 39.5months, compared to 155.8months in patients with OCCC (p=0.002). In the multivariate Cox regression model, age>55years old, tumor extension, optimal cytoreduction, and platinum-based chemotherapy were identified as independent predictors of overall survival. UCCC vs. OCCC was not associated with decreased overall survival in multivariate analysis. Conclusion OCCC and UCCC have the same rate of localized disease, regional spread and distant metastasis. After controlling for age, tumor extension, optimal cytoreduction, and platinum based chemotherapy, UCCC was not associated with decreased overall survival compared to OCCC.
Human cancer cells have specifically lost the ability to induce the synergistic state caused by tumor necrosis factor plus interferon-β

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and the members of the interferon (IFN) family are major inducible cytokines that function to counteract viral infections or cellular transformation. Recently, our lab has characterized a novel antiviral state which is induced in primary human fibroblasts by co-treatment with TNF plus IFNβ. Here, we demonstrate that this synergistic state is both antiviral and cytostatic for primary human cells. Significantly, we observed that a wide spectrum of transformed human cancer cells have universally lost the ability to induce the TNF/IFNβ synergistic state, as defined by three separate criteria. We hypothesize that the ability to induce the TNF/IFNβ synergistic state is a unique feature of primary cells and is incompatible with cellular immortalization and/or transformation.
Backstage at Broadway: a demographic study.

Summary Objectives/Hypothesis To provide insight into the demographics and vocal habits of current Broadway musical theater performers. Study Design Prospective, Questionnaire. Methods Adult musical theater performers in Broadway Productions as defined by the League of American Theater Producers and the Actors' Equity Association were asked to complete a survey collecting demographic information, vocal health and habits, alcohol, tobacco, and drug use and information regarding their level of vocal comfort and threshold to miss performances based on their voice. Data were subjected to descriptive and statistical analysis based on sex and role type (lead vs ensemble). Results One hundred thirty-five performers completed the survey from seven actively running shows. Ensemble members were younger and had not been in the business as long as performers in lead roles. Over 25% of respondents had been diagnosed with a vocal injury, yet the number of days missed per year due to voice problems was relatively low (1.7–4.7). Across all respondents, only approximately 54.8% reported consistently warming up before a performance and 7.4% reported consistently cooling down afterward. Nearly 91% of respondents reported regular alcohol consumption and tobacco use was 10.4%; 23.0% reported illicit drug use. Conclusions This study marks the first time that vocal health has been addressed in this elite group of vocal professionals. The performer's low self-reported numbers of missed days is interesting particularly given that they appear to participate in harmful vocal health activities at the same rate as the general public.
Molecular Diagnostics for the Detection and Characterization of Microbial Pathogens

New and advanced methods of molecular diagnostics are changing the way we practice clinical microbiology, which affects the practice of medicine. Signal amplification and real-time nucleic acid amplification technologies offer a sensitive and specific result with a more rapid turnaround time than has ever before been possible. Numerous methods of postamplification analysis afford the simultaneous detection and differentiation of numerous microbial pathogens, their mechanisms of resistance, and the construction of disease-specific assays. The technical feasibility of these assays has already been demonstrated. How these new, often more expensive tests will be incorporated into routine practice and the impact they will have on patient care remain to be determined. One of the most attractive uses for such techniques is to achieve a more rapid characterization of the infectious agent so that a narrower-spectrum antimicrobial agent may be used, which should have an impact on resistance patterns.
Helicobacter pylori survival in gastric mucosa by generation of a pH gradient

Helicobacter pylori has been established as the major causative agent of human active gastritis and is an essential factor in peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer. The mechanism that has been proposed for H. pylori to control its inhospitable microenvironment happens to coincide with the pH control technique developed by us. This technique was developed to separate an acidic environment from a basic environment for a sequential enzymatic reaction by the hydrolysis of urea within a thin layer of immobilized urease. In this paper, a mathematical model is presented to consider how H. pylori survives the gastric acidity. The computed results explain well the experimental data available involving H. pylori.
Crossed perfusion of a sleep inducing brain tissue substance in conscious cats.

Abstract Twenty-six cats were prepared surgically with electrodes and a specially devised ‘push-pull’ cannula system in order to be chronically recorded and cross-perfused from the MRF during sleep and wakefulness. Eleven recipient cats were recorded for 60 min, 5 days before and 5 days after cross-perfusion with fluid obtained from either a sleeping or an awake donor. On the sixth post-perfusion day all recipients were perfused with a similar volume of Ringer solution. Latencies and durations of slow wave sleep (SWS) and fast wave sleep (FWS) observed with the diverse experimental procedures were compared. Before the end of the experiments, cats were perfused with Janus Green for 30, 60 or 120 min in order to measure diffusion. In a second series of experiments recipients received 0.5 ml of sleep perfusate, awake perfusate or Ringer solution, and their latencies for SWS and FWS over a period of 60 min were compared to those recorded in a previous control session. The results showed that the perfusate extracted from the mesencephalic reticular formation (MRF) of a sleeping donor increased the durations and decreased the latencies of SWS in recipient cats. No effect was seen on FWS. Perfusion with Janus Green showed that diffusion was restricted to a very small area of the MRF. The results are discussed in terms of the possible role of a humoral neurotransmitter in inducing sleep.
High-temperature oxidation of a rapidly solidified amorphous Ta-Ir alloy

The oxidation products formed at 500 and 700°C on an amorphous Ta-44.5 at% Ir alloy in an Ar-0.1% O2 gas mixture were characterized using SEM, XRD, EPMA, TEM, STEM, AES, and XPS. Initially, a thin (3–4 nm) layer of Ta2O5 formed at the surface of the alloy. Continued growth of the Ta2O5, which occurred very rapidly, involved diffusion of oxygen anions from the Ta2O5/gas interface to the alloy/Ta2O5 interface, where tantalum was selectively oxidized. Because the oxide grew more quickly than iridium could diffuse back into the alloy, the iridium coalesced into platelets of crystalline iridium-rich alloy that were oriented approximately parallel to the oxide/alloy interface, and which became embedded in a matrix of Ta2O5. The unoxidized core remained in the glassy state. The oxidation process and/or the dissolution of oxygen into the unoxidized alloy caused the alloy to become embrittled.
Effects of neuroticism and workload history on performance

This study manipulated workload levels to test Eysenck's theory of neuroticism by examining individuals' differential responses to the stress of sudden shifts in workload. A sample of 194 participants who had completed an inventory to assess neuroticism were randomly assigned to either a High-to-Low or Low-to-High testing condition. Participants performed an auditory vigilance task while reaction time and correct responses were assessed. Multiple regression analyses were conducted and results indicated that higher levels of neuroticism were associated with decreased reaction time in both conditions. In addition, individuals higher in neuroticism evidenced fewer correct responses in the Low-to-High workload condition. Results of this study are generally consistent with Eysenck's theory of neuroticism.
Deep-sea sedimentation and sediment-fauna interaction in Cascadia Channel and on Cascadia Abyssal Plain☆

Abstract The transport of sediments from shallow water by turbidity currents and their deposition within Cascadia Channel in the northeast Pacific Ocean have created a unique environment. Thick organic-rich turbidity current deposits of postglacial age in Cascadia Channel contrast markedly to the thin, less rich, hemipelagic clays overlying clean late Pleistocene sands on the adjacent abyssal plain to either side. The benthic animal population in the channel is four times as abundant as that of the adjacent plain. Burrowing organisms in Cascadia Channel have left many well-preserved burrows of distinct sizes and shapes within the successive turbidity current deposits. A variation in the depth and the frequency of burrowing within these deposits has been recognized and correlated over a distance of 65 km within Cascadia Channel. It is postulated that the turbidity flows create a unique environment in the channel and that the fauna is affected by differences in sediment size and composition and by the increased supply of utilizable organic material.
Probabilistic Demand Models and Fragility Estimates for Bridges Elevated with Steel Pedestals

Probabilistic seismic demand models are developed for bridges elevated with steel pedestals by adding correction and error terms to commonly used models. Separate probabilistic demand models are developed for the force demand on steel pedestals and the shear and deformation demands on concrete columns. Nonlinear time history analyses on detailed, three-dimensional finite-element models are used to generate virtual experimental data. By applying a Bayesian updating method to the generated data, parameters of the probabilistic models and their correlations are estimated. Comparisons between the demands from the developed probabilistic demand models and the demands from their corresponding demand models without correction and error terms reveal that the developed probabilistic models provide more accurate and unbiased predictions of the demands of interest. As an illustration of the developed framework, fragilities are estimated for a two-span bridge. The results show that pedestals are more vulnerable in the longitudinal direction, and columns are more vulnerable in the transverse direction. A sensitivity analysis on the studied bridges shows that decreasing the pedestal height, increasing the length of the pedestal anchor bolts within the concrete bent, and increasing the concrete cover on the anchor bolts are the most effective ways to decrease the probability of failure.
Regulation of apoptosis by steroid hormones

Steroid hormones play major roles in regulation in growth, development, homeostasis, and cell death. Together with other hormones and growth factors, steroids regulate both the function and cellular composition of organs throughout the body. In this article we will discuss the mechanisms of steroid hormone regulated apoptosis. Emphasis will be placed on the effect of glucocorticoids on lymphoid cells.
Determination of the binding affinity of an anti-CD34 single-chain antibody using a novel, flow cytometry based assay

A single chain antibody (scFv) was constructed from a hybridoma expressing the anti-CD34 monoclonal antibody My10. The scFv was expressed in the mouse fibroblast cell line NIH 3T3, and purified from culture supernatant via an epitope tag fused to the C-terminus of the protein. The scFv equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) was determined to be 2.4 X 10(-7) M using a fluorescence based flow cytometry assay involving recognition of the epitope tag, and bound approximately 24-fold less avidly to CD34 expressing KG-1a cells than the native antibody My10. This novel and previously unreported method for determining antibody binding affinity offers several advantages over alternative methods. It is rapid and simple, and unlike methods that directly label the antibody, it involves no covalent modifications of antibody variable domain residues that could potentially interfere with antigen binding. The KD for the anti-CD33 antibody HuG1 (Caron et al. (1992) The biological and immunological features of humanized M195 (anti-CD33) monoclonal antibodies. Cancer Res. 52, 6761-6767) was determined as well. The close agreement of this value and the previously reported value, determined by a radioligand competition method, validates the use of this assay for antibody affinity determination. We discuss various potential applications for this anti-CD34 scFv.
Kinetics and Product Studies for Ozonolysis Reactions of Organic Particles Using Aerosol CIMS

The recently developed technique of aerosol chemical ionization mass spectrometry is used to study the reaction of ozone with particles consisting of unsaturated organic molecules, including oleic acid, linoleic acid, oleyl alcohol, and 1-octadecene. The reactive uptake coefficients, γ, for polydisperse aerosols with mean diameters of 800 nm are determined from the rates of loss of the particle species to be (7.5 ± 1.2) × 10-4 for oleic acid, (1.1 ± 0.2) × 10-3 for linoleic acid, (7.5 ± 1.3) × 10-4 for oleyl alcohol, and (2.4 ± 0.4) × 10-4 for 1-octadecene. The ozonolysis products of oleic acid particles are studied in detail with simultaneous detection of the four primary products: nonanal, nonanoic acid, 9-oxononanoic acid, and azelaic acid. All four products are found to exist in the reacted particles, though nonanal is also detected in the gas phase indicating that it partially evaporates. The yield of azelaic acid is determined to be 0.12 ± 0.04, and the yields of nonanal and 9-oxononanoic acid are ...
An imaging informatics-based ePR (electronic patient record) system for providing decision support in evaluating dose optimization in stroke rehabilitation

Stroke is one of the major causes of death and disability in America. After stroke, about 65% of survivors still suffer from severe paresis, while rehabilitation treatment strategy after stroke plays an essential role in recovery. Currently, there is a clinical trial (NIH award #HD065438) to determine the optimal dose of rehabilitation for persistent recovery of arm and hand paresis. For DOSE (Dose Optimization Stroke Evaluation), laboratory-based measurements, such as the Wolf Motor Function test, behavioral questionnaires (e.g. Motor Activity Log-MAL), and MR, DTI, and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) imaging studies are planned. Current data collection processes are tedious and reside in various standalone systems including hardcopy forms. In order to improve the efficiency of this clinical trial and facilitate decision support, a web-based imaging informatics system has been implemented together with utilizing mobile devices (eg, iPAD, tablet PC's, laptops) for collecting input data and integrating all multi-media data into a single system. The system aims to provide clinical imaging informatics management and a platform to develop tools to predict the treatment effect based on the imaging studies and the treatment dosage with mathematical models. Since there is a large amount of information to be recorded within the DOSE project, the system provides clinical data entry through mobile device applications thus allowing users to collect data at the point of patient interaction without typing into a desktop computer, which is inconvenient. Imaging analysis tools will also be developed for structural MRI, DTI, and TMS imaging studies that will be integrated within the system and correlated with the clinical and behavioral data. This system provides a research platform for future development of mathematical models to evaluate the differences between prediction and reality and thus improve and refine the models rapidly and efficiently.
Complex mtDNA constitutes an approximate 620-kb insertion on Arabidopsis thaliana chromosome 2: Implication of potential sequencing errors caused by large-unit repeats

Abstract Previously conducted sequence analysis of Arabidopsis thaliana (ecotype Columbia-0) reported an insertion of 270-kb mtDNA into the pericentric region on the short arm of chromosome 2. DNA fiber-based fluorescence in situ hybridization analyses reveal that the mtDNA insert is 618 ± 42 kb, ≈2.3 times greater than that determined by contig assembly and sequencing analysis. Portions of the mitochondrial genome previously believed to be absent were identified within the insert. Sections of the mtDNA are repeated throughout the insert. The cytological data illustrate that DNA contig assembly by using bacterial artificial chromosomes tends to produce a minimal clone path by skipping over duplicated regions, thereby resulting in sequencing errors. We demonstrate that fiber-fluorescence in situ hybridization is a powerful technique to analyze large repetitive regions in the higher eukaryotic genomes and is a valuable complement to ongoing large genome sequencing projects.
Minimizing bleeding complications in spinal tumor surgery with preoperative Onyx embolization via dual-lumen balloon catheter.

Background Intraoperative bleeding is a significant risk in surgery for highly vascular spinal tumors, but preoperative embolization can safely decrease intraoperative blood loss in extrinsic spine tumors. Onyx, widely used for cerebrovascular embolization, has been increasingly used as an embolic agent for preoperative spinal tumor embolization. The Scepter catheter, a dual-lumen balloon catheter, may improve tumor parenchymal penetration without the danger and limitations of significant embolic reflux. This may reduce bleeding risk during spinal surgery. Methods Eleven consecutive cases of preoperative Onyx embolization of extrinsic spinal tumors were identified, all of whom had subsequent spinal surgery. Demographic data and clinical variables were collected. Patients were divided into Scepter (n=6) and non-Scepter (n=5) groups. The Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare continuous outcome variables and the Fisher exact test was used to compare categorical variables. Results Estimated blood loss in the Scepter group was significantly lower than in the non-Scepter group (584±124 vs 2400±738 mL, p=0.004). The volume of intraoperative transfusion was also significantly lower (1.2±0.4 vs 5.8±1.7 units, p=0.004). There was no significant difference in the number of vessels embolized, vials of Onyx used, use of coiling adjunct, contrast load, radiation dose, or fluoroscopy time per pedicle (p>0.05). Conclusions The addition of the Scepter catheter to preoperative Onyx embolization is safe and feasible. In this small series, the Scepter catheter was associated with a reduction of intraoperative bleeding by 76% and a 79% lower transfusion volume. This was not accompanied by any unwanted increase in vials of Onyx used, contrast load, radiation dose, or fluoroscopy time.
Results of a Pragmatic Effectiveness–Implementation Hybrid Trial of the Family Check-Up in Community Mental Health Agencies

This study reports the results of a pragmatic effectiveness–implementation hybrid trial of the Family Check-Up (FCU) conducted in three community mental health agencies with 40 participating therapists. Seventy-one families with children between 5 and 17 years of age participated. Intervention fidelity and level of adoption were acceptable; families reported high service satisfaction; and therapists reported high acceptability. Families in the FCU condition experienced significantly reduced youth conduct problems in comparison to usual care and completion of the FCU resulted in larger effects. This study provides promising evidence that implementing the FCU in community mental health agencies has the potential to improve youth behavior outcomes.
New synthetic, selective, high-affinity ligands for effective trivalent metal ion binding and transport

Abstract A series of new ligands containing 3-hydroxy-2-pyridylmethyl donor groups has been synthesized which form complexes of iron(III) having thermodynamic stabilities comparable to and greater than those of natural catecholtype siderophores. When this functional group is substituted on the triazacyclononane framework the resulting hexadentate ligand has an affinity for iron(III) which exceeds that of the natural siderophore, enterobactin, at physiological pH. Ethylenediamine and diethylenetriamine derivatives containing hydroxypyridyl and acetate donors also show high affinity for Fe(III) and other trivalent metal ions. The stabilities of the iron(III) chelates of the new ligands, particularly the triazacyclononane derivatives, are compared with those of other highly effective iron chelators published in the literature, such as the trishydroxamates and triscatecholate ligands.
Environmental Factors and Risk Areas of West Nile Virus in Southern California, 2007–2009

The West Nile virus (WNV) may post a significant health risk for mammals, including humans and insects. This study examines the spatial–temporal effects of environmental factors on WNV dissemination with a case study of ten counties in the southern California, where the epidemic was recently most prevalent within the USA. WNV surveillance data were obtained from the California Vectorborne Disease Surveillance System and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques were combined to derive environmental variables. Principal component analysis was performed to select the most relevant environmental variables. Two ecological zones were identified based on the selected variables. Identification of risk areas for WNV was limited to a zone with 95% mosquitoes surveillance records. Three time windows, the epidemiological weeks 18–26, 27–35, and 36–44 in each year of 2007–2009, were examined in details with risk area mapping. It is found that the southern part of San Joaquin Valley in Kern County and Los Angeles County (especially its southern part) were the most vulnerable locations for WNV outbreak. Main factors contributing to the WNV propagation included summer mean temperature, annual mean deviation from the mean temperature, land surface temperature, elevation, landscape complexity, landscape diversity, and vegetation water content. The result of this study improves understanding of WNV ecology and provides tools for detecting, tracking, and predicting the epidemic. The holistic approach developed for this study, which integrated remotely sensed, GIS-based, and in situ-measured environmental data with landscape metrics, may be applied to studies of other vector-borne diseases.
Feedback practices and signature pedagogies: what can the liberal arts learn from the design critique?

To examine the differences between feedback practices in liberal arts courses and in design courses, we surveyed 373 students with experiences of both. Our study found that students perceived the feedback they received in design courses as more effective in advancing their learning, and that the emotional effects of feedback presented verbally and in public did not significantly interfere with their learning experience. This article aligns our findings with existing literature on feedback in order to explore how elements of the ‘signature pedagogy’ of the design studio critique might be transformed to apply to feedback practices in the liberal arts.
On Dumont's polynomials

We derive two generating functions and an explicit formula for the polynomials {H"n(x)} studied by Dumont.
Investigation of hydrolysis and condensation in organically modified sol-gel systems: 29Si NMR and the INEPT sequence

The spectral editing properties of the {sup 29}Si NMR INEPT heteronuclear transfer experiment have been utilized for the identification and characterization of hydrolysis and initial condensation products in methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) sol-gel materials. {sup 29}Si NMR assignments in MTMS are complicated by a small spectral dispersion ({approximately} 0.5 ppm) and two different {sup 29}Si-{sup 1}H J couplings. By using analytical expressions for the INEPT signal response with multiple heteronuclear J couplings, unambiguous spectral assignments can be made. For this organomethoxysilane the rate of hydrolysis was found to be very rapid and significantly faster than either the water or alcohol producing condensation reactions. The hydrolysis species of both the MTMS monomer and its initial T{sup 1} condensation products follow statistical distributions that can be directly related to the extent of the hydrolysis reactions. The role of the statistical distribution of hydrolysis products on the production and synthetic control of organically modified sol-gels is discussed.
Molecular cloning of a membrane-associated human FK506- and rapamycin-binding protein, FKBP-13.

Abstract The 12-kDa FK506-binding protein (FKBP-12) is a cytosolic receptor for the immunosuppressants FK506 and rapamycin. Here we report the molecular cloning and subcellular localization of a 13-kDa FKBP (FKBP-13), which has a 21-amino acid signal peptide and appears to be membrane-associated. Although no internal hydrophobic region, and thus no transmembrane domain, is apparent within the 120 amino acids of mature FKBP-13, a potential endoplasmic reticulum retention sequence (Arg-Thr-Glu-Leu) is found at its C terminus. FKBP-13 has 51% nucleotide sequence identity and 43% amino acid sequence identity to FKBP-12; the N-terminal sequences are divergent, but the 92-amino acid C-terminal sequence of FKBP-13 has 46 identical and 20 related residues when compared with FKBP-12. The conserved residues that comprise the drug binding site and rotamase active site of FKBP-12 are completely conserved in FKBP-13. Therefore, the three-dimensional structures of FKBP-12 and the FKBP-12/FK506 complex are likely to be excellent models of the corresponding FKBP-13 structure.
Parametric Study of a Low-Pressure Theta-Pinch Discharge in Argon for Preliminary Analytical Optimization

The qualitative dependence of spectrochemical performance of a theta-pinch discharge on a variety of experimental variables including discharge gas pressure, sample positioning, discharge energy, and discharge current waveform is reported.
Intelligent and knowledge based instrumentation—An examination of basic concepts

Abstract The paper analyses what is meant by intelligent and knowledge based instrumentation, presenting, and as far as possible clarifying, the underlying concepts. It considers instruments as information machines and also as devices which emulate the functions of the human senses and brain, discussing, in the context of instrumentation, the concepts of knowledge, intelligence, artificial intelligence and briefly certain key psychological concepts. It considers instrumentation systems in terms of their functional architecture and on this basis discusses the capabilities of intelligent instrumentation.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MAXIMUM ENTROPY SPECTRA AND MAXIMUM LIKELIHOOD SPECTRA

In a long needed paper, R. T. Lacoss (1971) has presented many examples of spectra obtained by the maximum likelihood method and by the maximum entropy method and has shown that these newer techniques are in general superior to the more conventional spectral analysis methods. This short note shows that there exists a simple, exact relationship between maximum entropy spectra and maximum likelihood spectra when the correlation function is known at uniform intervals of lag. The data are of this form in almost all practical cases of time series analysis as well as in the special case of wavenumber spectral analysis of wave propagation as seen by a linear array of equally spaced sensors. The wavenumber case will be explicitly considered in this note since it requires the complex variable form of the theory.
A Review of the Literature on Elazar's Classification System for Libraries of Judaica

This review of the literature on A Classification System for Libraries of Judaica by Elazar provides a brief history of the System along with a summary of its basic functionality. The themes explored in this review are the purpose for which the Elazar System was developed, specifically how standard classification and cataloging schemes were problematic for libraries of Judaica, and the challenges of balancing the needs of specific user groups with the need for standards that can be understood and applied in ways that allow for the broadest possible access.
Long-term results of three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy for patients with rhabdomyosarcoma.

BACKGROUND The authors evaluated the outcome of patients with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) who were treated with three-dimensional (3D) conformal radiation therapy (RT) at a single institution. METHODS The records of all 69 patients with RMS who received 3D RT from 1989 to 2001 were reviewed. All patients received multiagent chemotherapy with or without surgical resection. Follow-up of surviving patients ranged from 1.0 year to 12.8 years (median, 4.3 years). RESULTS The median patient age was 6 years (range, 1–29 years), and there was a male:female ratio of 1.5:1. Forty-eight patients had embryonal sarcomas, 14 patients had alveolar sarcomas, and 7 patients had undifferentiated sarcomas. The parameningeal area (n = 22 patients) and the trunk (n = 21 patients) were the most common sites. Twelve percent of patients had Stage I disease, 10% of patients had Stage II disease, 51% of patients had Stage III disease, and 27% of patients had Stage V disease. Nine percent of patients were in clinical Group II, 64% of patients were in Group III, and 27% of patients were in Group IV. Regional lymph nodes were involved in 33% of patients, and 77% of tumors measured ≥ 5 cm in greatest dimension. The actuarial 5-year local and regional control rates were 90% and 91%, respectively. No predictive factors for local failure were identified; however, alveolar histology was correlated with regional recurrence (29% compared with 4%; P = 0.02). The disease free and overall survival rates were 60% and 63% at 5 years, respectively. Disease stage was most predictive of 5-year survival (76% of patients with Stage I–III disease compared with 24% of patients with Stage IV disease; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS High rates of local control were achieved in patients with RMS using 3D RT. Regional lymph node failure was increased significantly among patients with alveolar histology. Control of metastatic disease remains a formidable problem for patients with Stage IV RMS. Cancer 2003;97:179–85. © 2002 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11001
THE SYNERGISTIC ACTION OF THYROID ON FLUORINE TOXICITY11

IT HAS BEEN SHOWN by DeEds and Thomas (i) and by other investigators (2, 3) that a concentration of 0.0014% fluorine, corresponding to 14 parts per million, added to normal diet willproduce a distinctly noticeable degree of bleaching of the incisor teeth in 100%XS of the rats studied. Largely because of the interest in the relationship of mottled enamel to the fluorine content of drinking water, and the potentialities for producing the same tooth defect by spray residues containing fluorine, it has become customary to refer to toxic amounts of fluorine in terms of partsper million. Fluorine spray residue tolerance limits are expressed in this manner. However, it seems apparent that the absolute amount of fluorine ingested might be of more importance than the concentration of fluorine present in one or more constituents of the diet.
Blue semiconductor nanocrystal laser

We demonstrate tunable room-temperature amplified spontaneous emission and lasing from blue-emitting core-shell CdS∕ZnS nanocrystals (NCs) stabilized in a sol-gel derived silica matrix. Variable stripe length measurements show that these NC-silica composites have a modal gain of ∼100cm−1 at room temperature. Coating microspheres with a NC-silica composite film via a facile process resulted in uniform resonators that exhibit room-temperature lasing over long periods of continuous excitation. This work opens up a spectral window for emission tunable, microscale NC-based lasers.
Older Adult Performance on the Communication Profile for the Hearing Impaired

The Communication Profile for the Hearing Impaired (CPHI) (Demorest & Erdman, 1986) is a self-assessment inventory that was developed on a clinical population that included predominantly male, active-duty military personnel. They spanned a 50-year age range (M = 39.5 years) and typically demonstrated bilateral, noise-induced, high-frequency, sensorineural hearing loss. The present study examined CPHI data obtained from approximately equal numbers of advantaged older men and women (M = 75 years) with acquired, mild-moderate, sensorineural hearing loss. Mean, standard deviation, t-test, omega-squared statistics, response frequency distribution, and skewness data are reported. Comparisons of hearing handicap in older adults and generally younger members of the military group are highlighted. Performance differences potentially related to age, personality, lifestyle, and other factors are identified. Results describe the older adult’s approach to self-management of hearing loss and associated communication pr...
Polymerization initiation by N-p-tolylglycine: Free-radical reactions studied by pulse and steady-state radiolysis

The extensive use of N-p-tolylglycine (NTG) and analogous compounds in adhesive bonding technologies requires a better understanding of their role in initiating free-radical polymerization. The fast oxidation and reduction reactions of NTG proceed via the formation of various free radicals and radical cation and anion intermediates. These intermediates were identified and their reactivity with oxygen, to produce the corresponding peroxyl radicals, was measured. Hydroxyl radicals (ȮH) were used to initiate oxidation reactions of NTG, while the reduction reactions were initiated with hydrated electrons (e). OH radicals react with NTG predominately by addition to the aromatic ring followed by OHÞ elimination to produce NTG+· radical cations. In the presence of oxygen, the OH–NTG• adduct also reacts with oxygen to produce peroxyl radicals. The reaction of NTG with e forms the radical anion, which subsequently protonates on the aromatic ring to produce cyclohexadienyl radicals, or undergoes an amine elimination to yield an acetic acid free radical and 4-methylaniline. Hydroperoxyl radicals (HO) abstract hydrogen from the α position of NTG to form the corresponding alkyl free radical. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Comparison of two approaches to the waveguide scattering problem: TM polarization.

Two theoretical formalisms, the most widely used version of coupled-mode theory and a first-order boundary-perturbation theory, are used to analyze the interaction between optical guided waves and surface roughness on an asymmetric planar waveguide. Each formalism is applied to two distinct problems for both TE and TM guided waves: (1) the determination of the far-field radiation patterns from randomly rough surfaces (with explicit results for the case of a sinusoidal roughness); and (2) the determination of guided-wave reflectivities from waveguide diffraction gratings. In all cases, the theoretical predictions agree for the TE polarization but disagree significantly for the TM polarization.
An examination of similarities and differences among adults' perceptions of instructional excellence in off-campus credit course programming

Similarities and differences among adults' perceptions of exemplary instruction in off-campus credit courses were explored using gender, age, student status, subject matter, profession, and career stage as bases for comparison. Descriptive and nonparametric statistics were employed to generate propositions for further study. Results suggest that commonalities and differences among adults' perceptions of instructional excellence can be understood within the context of the normative expectations that they have for instructor role performance. It is further suggested that these normative expectations are associated with the outcomes of students' socialization to the student role, as well as to profession-specific work roles.
Dynamic Changes in Single Unit Activity and Gamma Oscillations in a Thalamocortical Circuit during Rapid Instrumental Learning

The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and mediodorsal thalamus (MD) together form a thalamocortical circuit that has been implicated in the learning and production of goal-directed actions. In this study we measured neural activity in both regions simultaneously, as rats learned to press a lever to earn food rewards. In both MD and mPFC, instrumental learning was accompanied by dramatic changes in the firing patterns of the neurons, in particular the rapid emergence of single-unit neural activity reflecting the completion of the action and reward delivery. In addition, we observed distinct patterns of changes in the oscillatory LFP response in MD and mPFC. With learning, there was a significant increase in theta band oscillations (6–10 Hz) in the MD, but not in the mPFC. By contrast, gamma band oscillations (40–55 Hz) increased in the mPFC, but not in the MD. Coherence between these two regions also changed with learning: gamma coherence in relation to reward delivery increased, whereas theta coherence did not. Together these results suggest that, as rats learned the instrumental contingency between action and outcome, the emergence of task related neural activity is accompanied by enhanced functional interaction between MD and mPFC in response to the reward feedback.
The preparation of some new boron trihalide addition compounds with trimethylarsine and trimethylstibine

New 1 : 1 adducts of BBr3 and BI3 with (CH3)3As and (CH3)3Sb are reported. The (CH3)3As adducts are stable indefinitely at room temperature under an inert atmosphere while the (CH3)3Sb compounds slowly decompose at that temperature to form (CH3)3SbX2 (X = Br, I). Boron-11 and proton NMR data suggest that these species may exist as ions in chloroform solution.
The Riccati Transfer Matrix Method

The Riccati transfer matrix method is a new technique for analyzing structural members. This new technique makes use of an existing large catalog of transfer matrices for various structural members such as rotating shafts. The numerical instability encountered when calculating high resonant frequencies, static response of a flexible member on a stiff foundation, or the response of a long member by the transfer matrix method is eliminated by the Riccati transfer matrix method. The computational time and storage requirements of the Riccati transfer matrix method are about half the values for the transfer matrix method. A rotating shaft analysis demonstrates the numerical accuracy of the method.
Lipase-mediated production of ethyl butyrate and butyl butyrate in nonaqueous systems

Lipases (EC 3.1.1.3) from Candida cylindracea, porcine pancreas, and Aspergillus niger (two types) were compared as catalysts for ethyl butyrate and butyl butyrate synthesis at 30 and 50°C using hexane as a reaction medium. Each enzyme had a distinct pH profile. The esterification catalysed by each lipase was inhibited by increasing the substrate concentration beyond a defined amount, but the concentration required varied from enzyme to enzyme and with the ester being formed. When the reaction temperature was raised from 30 to 50°C, ethyl butyrate synthesis was inhibited while butyl butyrate synthesis was enhanced with all enzymes tested. Overall, Candida cylindracea lipase produced the highest concentrations and yields of both esters.
Rigorous swim training impairs mitochondrial function in post-ischaemic rat heart

The effect of rigorous swim training (6 h day-1, 5 days week-1 for an average of 191 h) on mitochondrial respiratory function was investigated in rat heart subjected to in vivo ischaemia reperfusion (I-R). Mitochondria was isolated from the risk region of the left ventricle subjected to 60 min occlusion of the main left coronary artery followed by 30 min reperfusion. Heart weight and heart-to-body weight ratio was increased by 21 and 28% (P < 0.01), respectively, in the trained (T, n = 15) vs. control rats (C, n = 20). I-R per se showed minimal effect on heart mitochondria regardless of training status. In sham, state 4 respiration rate was 26 and 32% (P < 0.05) lower in T vs. C rats, using malate-pyruvate (M-P) and 2-oxoglutarate (OG) as substrates, respectively. Training also reduced state 3 respiration by 28% (M-P) and 50% (OG) (P < 0.01). The respiratory control index (RCI) was unaltered in T with M-P, but decreased with OG (P < 0.01). In vitro exposure to superoxide radicals severely reduced state 4 and 3 respiration and RCI, but T hearts showed greater reductions of state 4 and 3 rates than C. Mitochondria from T hearts also revealed a greater state 4 inhibition by H2O2 and HO. compared with C. A lower glutathione content and a higher gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity (P < 0.05) was observed in T vs. C. It is concluded that rigorous swim training impairs heart mitochondrial function, making them more susceptible to in vivo and in vitro oxidative stress, and that this damaging effect may be related to a diminished glutathione reserve.
Rupture Directivity of the 3 November 2002 Denali Fault Earthquake Determined from Surface Waves

The M w 7.9 earthquake that struck central Alaska on 3 November 2002 was preceded 11 days earlier by an Mw 6.7 strike-slip foreshock on 23 October 2002. Both events were predominantly strike-slip and ruptured structures associated with the Denali fault system. Previous studies have shown that the mainshock began with failure on a relatively small northeast-striking reverse fault, before breaking out for 300 km of right-lateral strike-slip rupture. Aftershock patterns suggest that the fore- shock ruptured a region west of the mainshock, which began near the eastern extent of the foreshock sequence and proceeded east-southeast. To constrain and to quantify source duration and directivity effects, we examine surface-wave displacement seis- mograms and use an empirical Green's function (EGF) to isolate and explore main- shock rupture kinematics. Our particular interest lies in large-amplitude focussing caused by directivity. We observe Love and Rayleigh wave amplification of two orders of magnitude in the period range from 10 to 33 sec. These remarkable directivity-enhanced surface waves triggered small earthquakes more than 3000 km from the mainshock rupture.
Effect of food fortification on folic acid intake in the United States

Background: The addition of folic acid to all enriched cerealgrain foods, mandated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), was initiated in January 1998. Although this program was designed such that typical folate intakes would be increased by � 100 � g/d and that the risk of intakes > 1000 � g/d (the FDA’s safe upper limit of daily intake) would be minimal, its actual effect on folate intake has yet to be determined. Objective: The objective was to estimate the effect of folic acid fortification on the amount of folate consumed by persons in the United States. Design: Linear regression analysis of data from published studies was used to determine the relation between a chronic folic acid dose and the resulting increase in steady state concentrations of folate in plasma or serum. Using this regression equation and reverse prediction, we quantified the increase in folic acid intake from fortification required to achieve the increase in plasma or serum folate observed in published studies. Results: The increase in circulating folate concentration was linearly related to folic acid intake over the range of 100‐1000 � g/d (r = 0.984, P < 0.0001). Predicted increases in folic acid intake from fortified food ranged from 215 to 240 � g/d. Conclusions: Typical intakes of folic acid from fortified foods are more than twice the level originally predicted. The effect of this much higher level of fortification must be carefully assessed, especially before calls for higher levels of fortification are considered. Am J Clin Nutr 2003;77:221‐5.
The Great Digital Broadband Migration

In the wake of the 1996 Act, the FCC is often cast as the Grinch who stole Christmas. Like the Whos, down in Who-ville, who feast on Who-pudding and rare Who-roast beast, the communications industry was preparing to feast on the deregulatory fruits it believed would inevitably sprout from the Act’s fertile soil. But this feast the FCC Grinch did not like in the least, so it is thought.
The Large Decapitating Fly Pseudacteon litoralis (Diptera: Phoridae): Successfully Established on Fire Ant Populations in Alabama

ABSTRACT The large fire ant decapitating fly, Pseudacteon litoralis Borgmeier, from northeastern Argentina was successfully released as a self-sustaining biocontrol agent of imported fire ants in south central Alabama in 2005. Five years later, this fly is firmly established at the original release site and has expanded outward at least 18 km. Nevertheless, populations remain very low considering P. litoralis is one of the most abundant fire ant decapitating flies in large areas of its range in South America. The reasons for low densities and why we were only able to establish this fly at 1 of 9 release sites in 4 states (2003–2006) are unknown, but problems with host-matching, release procedures, weather conditions, and competition with previously released decapitating flies are discussed as possible factors.