cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The failed bladder closure in cloacal exstrophy: Management and outcomes

Abstract Purpose Cloacal exstrophy (CE) is the most severe presentation of the Exstrophy-Epispadias Complex (EEC) and is associated with an omphalocele, making the bladder and abdominal wall closure difficult. If the bladder closure fails, a secondary closure is necessary. The objective of this study is to identify patient or surgical factors associated with a successful secondary closure. Methods The institution's EEC database was reviewed for CE patients between 1975 and 2015. Inclusion criteria included a failed primary bladder closure with a secondary closure. Patient demographics, surgical factors and outcomes of the secondary bladder closure were reviewed. Results Twenty-four patients met inclusion criteria. 8/8 patients had a successful two-staged closure at the author's institution (100%); 2/16 patients had a successful closure at an outside institution (12.5%). Older median age at secondary closure was associated with outcome, p = 0.045. Pelvic osteotomy was associated with successful secondary closure, p = 0.013. Using Buck's immobilization with external fixation was associated with a higher proportion of successful secondary closures compared to Spica cast, p = 0.012. Conclusion Successful reclosure in CE patients is associated with the use of osteotomy as well as Buck's immobilization with external fixation. While successful reclosure can be achieved, it is often at the cost of multiple procedures and, therefore, all efforts should be expended to achieve a successful primary closure. Type of Study: Prognostic. Level of Evidence: III.
Automated scaffolding safety analysis: strain feature investigation using support vector machines

This study developed a methodology that can use real-time strain data for the assessment of scaffolding safety conditions. The researchers identified 23 safety cases of individual member failure wi...
Topoisomerase 1 cleavage complex enables pattern recognition and inflammation during senescence.

Cyclic cGMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) is a pattern recognition cytosolic DNA sensor that is essential for cellular senescence. cGAS promotes inflammatory senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) through recognizing cytoplasmic chromatin during senescence. cGAS-mediated inflammation is essential for the antitumor effects of immune checkpoint blockade. However, the mechanism by which cGAS recognizes cytoplasmic chromatin is unknown. Here we show that topoisomerase 1-DNA covalent cleavage complex (TOP1cc) is both necessary and sufficient for cGAS-mediated cytoplasmic chromatin recognition and SASP during senescence. TOP1cc localizes to cytoplasmic chromatin and TOP1 interacts with cGAS to enhance the binding of cGAS to DNA. Retention of TOP1cc to cytoplasmic chromatin depends on its stabilization by the chromatin architecture protein HMGB2. Functionally, the HMGB2-TOP1cc-cGAS axis determines the response of orthotopically transplanted ex vivo therapy-induced senescent cells to immune checkpoint blockade in vivo. Together, these findings establish a HMGB2-TOP1cc-cGAS axis that enables cytoplasmic chromatin recognition and response to immune checkpoint blockade. Here, the authors show that the topoisomerase 1-DNA covalent cleavage complex plays a critical role in mediating cytoplasmic chromatin fragments recognition by cyclic GMP-AMP synthase during senescence. The proposed axis is crucial to promote the inflammatory senescence-associated secretory phenotype and to enable the response to immune checkpoint blockade.
Intraprocedural ergonomics of vascular surgeons.

Abstract Objective The objective of this study was to estimate the ergonomic postural risk (EPR) for musculoskeletal posture of vascular surgeons performing open and endovascular procedure types and with various adjunctive equipment using wearable inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors. The hypothesis was that EPR will increase with increased physical and mental demand as well as with procedural complexity. Methods A prospective, observational study was conducted at a large, quaternary academic hospital located at two sites. Sixteen vascular surgeons (13 male) participated in the study. Participants completed a presurgery and postsurgery survey consisting of a body part discomfort scale and a modified NASA-Task Load Index. Participants wore IMU sensors on the head and upper body to measure EPR during open and endovascular procedures. Results Vascular surgeons have increased EPR scores of the neck as measured by the IMUs and increased lower back pain when performing open surgery compared with non-open surgery (P Conclusions Vascular surgeons should be aware of EPR during the performance of their duties. Procedure type and surgical adjuncts can alter EPR significantly.
Lung base CT findings in COVID-19 adult patients presenting with acute abdominal complaints: case series from a major New York City health system.

To describe demographic, clinical, and lung base CT findings in COVID-19 patients presenting with abdominal complaints. In this retrospective study, 76 COVID-19 patients who underwent abdominal CT for abdominal complaints from March 1 to April 15, 2020, in a large urban multihospital Health System were included. Those with positive abdominal CT findings (n = 14) were then excluded, with 62 patients undergoing final analysis (30M/32F; median age 63 years, interquartile range (IQR) 52–75 years, range 30–90 years). Demographic and clinical data were extracted. CT lung base assessment was performed by a cardiothoracic radiologist. Data were compared between discharged and hospitalised patients using Wilcoxon or Fisher’s exact tests. The majority of the population was non-elderly (56.4%, 0.165). COVID-19 patients can present with abdominal symptoms, especially in non-elderly patients with underlying health conditions. Lung base findings on abdominal CT are consistent with published reports. Radiologists should be aware of atypical presentations of COVID-19. • COVID-19 infected patients can present with acute abdominal symptoms, especially in non-elderly patients with underlying health conditions, and may frequently require hospitalisation (81%). • There was no difference in lung base CT findings between patients who were discharged and those who were hospitalised. • Lung base CT findings included multifocal and peripheral ground-glass opacities, consistent with published reports.
Association of cardiovascular risk factor profile and financial hardship from medical bills among non-elderly adults in the United States

Background While optimal cardiovascular risk factor (CRF) profile is associated with lower mortality, morbidity, and healthcare expenditures among individuals with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), less is known regarding its impact on financial hardship from medical bills. Therefore, we assessed whether an optimal CRF profile is associated with a lower burden of financial hardship from medical bills and a reduction in cost-related barriers to health. Methods We used a nationally representative sample of adults between 18 and 64 years from the National Health Interview Survey between 2013 and 2017. We assessed ASCVD status and the number of risk factors to categorize the study population into 4 mutually exclusive categories: ASCVD (irrespective of CRF profile) and non-ASCVD with poor, average, and optimal CRF profile. Adjusted logistic regression model was used to determine the association of ASCVD/CRF profile with financial hardship from medical bills and cost-related barriers to health (cost-related medication non-adherence (CRN), foregone/delayed care, and high financial distress). Results We included 119,388 non-elderly adults, representing 189 million individuals annually across the United States. Non-ASCVD/optimal CRF profile individuals had a lower prevalence of financial hardship and an inability paying medical bills when compared with individuals with ASCVD (24% vs 45% and 6% vs 19%, respectively). Among individuals without ASCVD and an optimal CRF profile, the prevalence of each cost-related barrier to health was <50% compared with individuals with ASCVD. Poor/low income and uninsured individuals within non-ASCVD/average CRF profile strata had a lower prevalence of financial hardship and an inability paying medical bills when compared with middle/high income and insured individuals with ASCVD. Non-ASCVD individuals with optimal CRF profile had the lowest odds of all barriers to health. Conclusion Optimal CRF profile is associated with a lower prevalence of financial hardship from medical bills and cost-related barriers to health despite lower income and lack of insurance.
Thermodynamic properties of rare‐earth alloys by electrochemical emf measurements

Thermodynamic properties of Nd–Bi and Nd–Sn alloys were determined via electromotive force (emf) measurements at 725–1075 K. The emf measurements of an Nd–Bi alloy at mole fraction xNd = 0.20 were conducted using a solid CaF2–NdF3 electrolyte relative to pure Nd(s). The emf values from the CaF2–NdF3 electrolyte were verified in separate experiments in molten LiCl–KCl–NdCl3 where pure Nd(s) was electrodeposited. The Nd–Bi (xNd = 0.20) exhibited two‐phase behavior with a peritectic reaction (L + NdBi = NdBi2) at 926 K from differential scanning calorimetry. The two‐phase Nd–Bi (xNd = 0.20) was employed as a stable reference electrode in molten LiCl–KCl–NdCl3 for emf measurements of Nd–Bi (xNd = 0.15–0.40) and Nd–Sn (xNd = 0.10) alloys. The emf measurements of these alloys were reproducible during thermal cycles over 50 h and were used to calculate thermodynamic properties, including the partial molar Gibbs energy, entropy, and enthalpy.
A survey of live Virtual Machine migration techniques

Abstract Live Virtual Machine migration is the process of moving a running VM from one physical host to another with minimal disruption to ongoing services. It is a powerful tool that facilitates hardware maintenance, load balancing, fault tolerance, and power saving in clusters and data centers. A key challenge with live migration is that it is difficult to simultaneously meet the goals of minimizing downtime, total migration time, and the CPU and network resources used. In this paper, we discuss weaknesses and strengths of state-of-the-art live migration techniques, and the impact of workload characteristics on the suitability of different migration mechanisms.
Consumer acceptability and monetary value perception of iced coffee beverages vary with drinking conditions using different types of straws or lids.

Abstract A recent trend of environmental sustainability has induced many coffee providers to offer alternatives to plastic straws. There has been little research regarding consumer perception of these alternative drinking conditions. This study aimed to determine differences in consumer perception of iced coffee beverages (without ice cubes) between plastic straw and alternative drinking conditions. Brewed samples of medium roast ground coffee beans blend were cooled down and served at 5 °C in the five drinking conditions using different straw materials (plastic, paper, or stainless steel), sippy cup lid, or no lid. Seventy-five consumers rated attribute intensities and acceptances of iced coffee beverages in all five drinking conditions. The results showed that both the mean hedonic ratings of flavor, mouthfeel, or overall impression and the mean amount consumers were willing to pay (US$) for iced coffee beverages were greater in the sippy-cup lid condition than in the paper straw condition. After analyzing consumer comments of the drinking conditions, it was also found that the sippy-cup lid condition induced a more pleasant drinking experience than the paper straw condition. Notably, no significant differences between the plastic and alternative drinking conditions were observed in attribute intensity, acceptance, and monetary value perception of iced coffee beverages. In conclusion, this study shows that consumer experience and acceptability of iced coffee beverages can vary with drinking conditions. Therefore, the coffee industry and sensory professionals should consider not only sensory aspects of coffee, but also drinking conditions to improve consumer experience with coffee beverages.
Extension and evaluation of MDS for geometric microphone array calibration

Classical multidimensional scaling (MDS) is a simple, global, non-iterative technique for determining the locations of microphones given their interpoint distances, even when all such distances are not available. We extend this technique by showing how it can be used with a calibration target consisting of synchronized sound sources, which facilitates automatic calibration of large arrays when such a target is available. We also evaluate the sensitivity of the algorithm to the size and location of the target, as well as to the basis points in general, on several different microphone array configurations. Simulations and experiments demonstrate the accuracy of the algorithm for practical scenarios, yielding errors on the order of 1 cm.
Alterations in glucose metabolism in chick embryo cells transformed by Rous sarcoma virus. Transformation-specific changes in the activities of key enzymes of the glycolytic and hexose monophosphate shunt pathways.

Abstract Effects of transformation by Rous sarcoma virus of Schmidt-Ruppin strain on the activities of key enzymes of the glycolytic and the hexose monophosphate shunt pathways in chick-embryo cells were investigated. Activities of hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, pyruvate kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and glucose-6- P dehydrogenase were increased about twofold in the transformed cells, but that of 6- P -gluconate dehydrogenase remained unaltered. The transformation-mediated increase in the activity of hexokinase was confined entirely to the bound form of the enzyme. Cells infected with a temperature-sensitive mutant (Ts-68) of Schmidt-Ruppin strain of Rous sarcoma virus showed the typical increase in the rate of 2-deoxyglucose uptake and the activities of hexokinase, phosphofructokinase, pyruvate kinase, and glucose-6- P dehydrogenase at the permissive temperature (37 °C), but when the infected cells were grown at the nonpermissive temperature (41 °C), the increases in the sugar uptake and activities of these enzymes were abolished. Unlike the regulatory enzymes, lactate dehydrogenase activity was increased at both the permissive and the nonpermissive temperatures.
Bacteriophage T7 deoxyribonucleic acid replication in vitro. V. Synthesis of intact chromosomes of bacteriophage T7.

Gently lysed extracts of Escherichia coli infected with bacteriophage T7 carry out extensive DNA synthesis in the presence of an exogenous T7 DNA template ( Hinkle & Richardson, 1974 ). The amount of DNA synthesized in the in vitro reaction is two to three times the amount of template DNA added to the reaction. Analysis by zone sedimentation through alkaline sucrose gradients indicates that the products synthesized by extracts prepared from phage-infected E. coli mutants deficient in DNA polymerase I are considerably smaller than intact T7 DNA strands. However, when extracts of phage-infected wild-type E. coli are used in the in vitro reaction, the average molecular weight of the product DNA is increased; up to 50% of the DNA is the same length as intact T7 DNA. Such high molecular weight DNA is also synthesized when extracts of T7-infected E. coli polAl mutants are supplemented with homogeneous E. coli DNA polymerase I. As judged by isopycnic analysis, the product DNA is not covalently attached to the template. The accompanying paper ( Masker & Richardson, 1976 ) describes the biological activity of the high molecular weight DNA synthesized in the in vitro system.
Modeling of the orbital evolution of vaporizing dust particles near the sun

The Poynting-Robertson (P-R) effect (Robertson, 1937, Wyatt and Whipple, 1950), assisted by a pseudo P-R effect due to the sputtering (Whipple, 1955, 1967), is known to cause small dust particles in interplanetary space to spiral toward the sun. Evaporation from the surface of such particles thus increases progressively with time and their size is being reduced accordingly. When the rate of evaporation is no longer negligibly low, it induces on the particle a measurable dynamical effect, which is associated with the implied variations in the magnitude of solar radiation pressure relative to solar attraction. By gradually reducing solar attraction, the particle evaporation tends to increase the orbit dimensions, thus acting against P-R. The P-R inward spiraling, far exceeding the dynamical effect from evaporation at larger heliocentric distances, slows gradually down as the particle approaches the sun, and virtually ceases when the critical distance is reached, where the two forces approximately balance each other. Then, typically, the perihelion distance stabilizes, while the eccentricity starts increasing very rapidly until the particle is swept out of the solar system. This, in brief, is the orbital evolution of a vaporizing particle in the absence of other potentially important but rather poorly known processes, such as particle collisions, rotational bursting, electric charging and interactions with the solar wind and with the interplanetary magnetic field.
Molecular characterization and outer membrane association of a chlamydia trachomatis protein related to the hsp70 family of proteins

One route by which Chlamydia trachomatis is internalized into host endometrial epithelial cells is receptor-mediated endocytosis. Although this implies an adhesin-receptor interaction exists, specific chlamydial surface molecules have not been identified. We are investigating potential adhesin molecules using an in vitro functional assay to select for chlamydial recombinant Escherichia coli expressing an adherent phenotype. We have previously shown that E. coli JM109(pPBW58) attaches to epithelial cells by a specific process paralleling C. trachomatis and expresses at least three plasmid-encoded proteins (18, 28, and 82 kDa; Schmiel, D. H., Knight, S. T., Raulston, J. E., Choong, J., Davis, C. H., and Wyrick, P. B. (1991) Infect. Immun. 59, 4001-4012). In this report, we demonstrate that (i) the 82-kDa protein is associated with the outer membrane of both E. coli JM109-(pPBW58) and C. trachomatis serovar E elementary bodies; (ii) the plasmid-encoded protein is identical to the native chlamydial protein by mass, charge, antigenicity, and partial proteolytic peptide profiles; (iii) a highly homologous protein is present in C. trachomatis biovariant lymphogranuloma venereum; (iv) the 82-kDa protein is not covalently linked by disulfide bonds to other protein species in either E. coli JM109(pPBW58) or C. trachomatis; (v) sequence analysis of the open reading frame indicates this protein is a relative of the heat shock 70 family of proteins; and (vi) the inferred amino acid sequence contains a contiguous 73-amino acid region having 51% identity with the extracellular sperm receptor binding domain in Strongylocentrosus purpuratus (Foltz, K. R., Partin, J. S., and Lennarz, W. J. (1993) Science 259, 1421-1425). The potential involvement of an hsp70 protein in attachment may provide new insight on adherence mechanisms by obligate intracellular pathogens.
Euphorbiaceae Cactaceaeque novae vel criticae colombianae.- I

The botanical investigations now so vigorously conducted in the Republic of Colombia bring forth a continuous stream of novelties or critical forms in the Euphorbiaceae and the Cactaceae, which it is the purpose of these and following notes to describe and to discuss as they become known. Monographic work on selected groups is a clear necessity, but it is to my regret that I must set it aside for a later date. The study of large groups must often take into account material which proves impossible to secure at present on loan. The plant-world of Colombia is so vast and rich that tolerably correct guesses-such as can made on smaller floras-are not possible Without consulting the type-specimens needed. Little else beyond descriptions and passing notes can be given at present.
Unspoken facts: a history of homosexualities in Africa

The past 20 years have seen an unprecedented increase in the visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Africa. The activities of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender advocate...
In vitro study of antispasmodic effects of dicyclomine hydrochloride on vesicourethral smooth muscle of guinea pig and rabbit

Abstract Dicyclomine inhibition of acetylcholine-induced and barium chloride-induced isotonic contractions of the smooth muscle from three segments of the lower urinary tract (bladder body, bladder base, and proximal urethra) of the guinea pig and the rabbit was studied in vitro. In the guinea pig dicyclomine caused competitive inhibition of acetylcholine-induced contraction of the bladder body (1 × 10 −7 M to 1 × 10 −5 M) and the bladder base (1 × 10 −6 M, 1 × 10 −5 M) and was less potent than atropine and propantheline. In the rabbit significant blockade of acetylcholine-induced contractions occurred at dicyclomine concentrations of 5 × 10 −6 M to 3 × 10 −5 M in the bladder body and at 1 × 10 −5 M and 3 × 10 −5 M in the bladder base. In both species dicyclomine inhibitory effects were most marked in the bladder body, moderate in the bladder base, and minimal in the proximal urethra. Dicyclomine failed to cause inhibition of the barium chloride-induced contractions in the guinea pig vesicourethral smooth muscle. In rabbits, however, significant antagonism (P −5 M in both bladder body and the bladder base. The clinical implication of such properties of dicyclomine are discussed.
TREATMENT OF PRIMARILY LIGAMENTOUS LISFRANC JOINT INJURIES: PRIMARY ARTHRODESIS COMPARED WITH OPEN REDUCTION AND INTERNAL FIXATION A PROSPECTIVE, RANDOMIZED STUDY

BackgroundOpen reduction and internal fixation is currently the accepted treatment for displaced Lisfranc joint injuries. However, even with anatomic reduction and stable internal fixation, treatment of these injuries does not have uniformly excellent outcomes. The objective of this study was to com
Patient literacy levels within an inner-city optometry clinic.

Abstract Background This study compares the literacy levels of patients seeking primary optometric care at the Illinois Eye Institute, located in a Chicago inner-city neighborhood, to the literacy demands of available near point cards and patient educational materials. Methods The revised large print Slosson Oral Reading Test was administered to 100 primary care patients 10 to 15 minutes after the instillation of mydriatic eye drops. In addition, the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level was calculated using the Spelling and Grammar component of the Microsoft® Word software package 2003 (Microsoft, Redmond, Washington) for available near point testing cards and patient education materials used in this clinic from the American Optometric Association and the National Eye Institute. Results A total of 37.4% of patients read 1 standard deviation or more below their age-expected levels. A total of 46.5% of patients read at or below an eighth-grade level. The literacy demands of the tested near point cards ranged from 2nd grade to 12th grade. The literacy demands of patient education materials ranged from 7th grade to 12th grade. Conclusions About one third to almost one half of the 100 patients in this sample from the Illinois Eye Institute optometry clinic read below their age-expected level. Therefore, near point testing materials and patient education materials may not be written at a suitable reading level to be effective in this population. Clinicians who provide eye care for patients in inner city settings should consider communicating important information using nonwritten methods to those patients with low literacy levels.
Biodiversity: Population Versus Ecosystem Stability

The relationships between biodiversity and stability were determined for both population and ecosystem traits in a long-term study of 207 grassland plots. Results demonstrate that biodiversity stabilizes community and ecosystem processes, but not pop- ulation processes. Specifically, year-to-year variability in total aboveground plant com- munity biomass was significantly lower in plots with greater plant species richness both for the entire 11-yr period and for the nine non-drought years. The change in total plant community biomass from before the drought to the peak of the drought was also highly dependent on species richness. For all three measures of total community biomass stability, multiple regressions that controlled for covariates showed similar significant relationships between plant diversity and stability. In contrast, year-to-year variability in species abundances was not stabilized by plant species richness for either all years or non-drought years. This difference between species vs. community biomass likely results from interspecific competition. When climatic vari- ations harm some species, unharmed competitors increase. Such compensatory increases stabilize total community biomass, but cause species abundances to be more variable. These results support both the predictions of Robert May concerning the effects of diversity on population stability and the diversity-stability hypothesis as applied to community and ecosystem processes, thus helping to reconcile a long-standing dispute.
Reply [to “Comment on ‘Discussions of ODP Leg 205 and drilling of Middle America seismogenic zone’”]

J.N. Murdock' comments regarding our International Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) proposal to penetrate the seismogenic zone in Costa Rica seem to state the following? The plate interface along the Deep Sea Drilling Program (DSDP) drilling transect off Guatemala must be a blind thrust fault; plate convergence may be only 2–3 km in the past 1 m.y.; and our proposed drilling fails to address the most important current scientific issues.
Diffraction and transmission of a detonation into a bounding explosive layer

The results of an experimental and analytical study of the propagation of a gaseous detonation past a bounding explosive layer are presented. Two adjacent 1.6 cm square detonation tubes, separated at the test section by a 50 nm thick cellulose film, were used to observe the interaction which occurs when a normal detonation in the primary gas comes into contact with a bounding explosive mixture. A pulsed argon ion laser and a high speed camera system were used to obtain Schlieren framing photographs of the interacting waves at 2μ sec intervals with an exposure time of 12 ns. Wave velocities and the pressure variation behind the incident detonation and the wave induced in the bounding gas were also determined. Experiments were made using a stoichiometric H 2 −O 2 mixture as the primary explosive, and using H 2 −O 2 mixtures with equivalence ratios ranging from 0.15 to 4.5 for the secondary bounding explosive. At the first instant of contact a bubble or blast wave was observed to propagate into the secondary explosive, and in some cases a micro-explosion in this bubble led to almost instant transition to oblique detonation. Otherwise an oblique shock is induced in the bounding explosive which is reflected from the shock tube wall. As the equivalence ratio of the bounding mixture increases, the reflection of the induced oblique shock changes from a regular to a Mach reflection, and in many cases a detonation is initiated behind the reflected wave. Shock polar analysis was used to compute the details of the interaction at the interface between the primary and secondary explosives. A simplified method for rapid computation of oblique detonation polars was developed for this purposes, and used to compute the conditions behind the induced oblique detonations and shock waves. There was good agreement between computed and measured shock angles; but computed oblique detonation angles, while showing the proper variation with the equivalence ratio, were always lower than the observed values. Calculation of induction lengths indicated that initiation was only possible behind reflected oblique shocks in agreement with experimental observation.
Further Studies on the Apparent Effect of Digestibility upon Growth, Weight-Maintenance and Egg Production

Abstract IN STUDYING the vitamin factors other than riboflavin present in dried milk by-products it was found that fibrous feeds such as wheat bran and ground oats tended to hold back the growth of chicks and thereby mask the growth-promoting effect of the unidentified factors contained in dried whey. In this study a chick ration known to be complete in all known nutrients and containing 20 percent of wheat flour middlings, 10 percent of wheat bran and 10 percent of pulverized oats was used as the basal diet, in which replacement of the bran and oats was made by adding corn meal and making any protein adjustment by means of casein. In one series, the average weights were increased over the basal lot by 40, 44 and 92 grams when the pulverized oats, wheat flour middlings, and wheat bran were omitted respectively. The grams of feed required to produce a gram . . .
The impact of race as a risk factor for symptom severity and age at diagnosis of uterine leiomyomata among affected sisters

Objective The objective of the study was to identify risk factors for uterine leiomyomata (UL) in a racially diverse population of women with a family history of UL, and to evaluate their contribution to disease severity and age at diagnosis. Study Design We collected and analyzed epidemiologic data from 285 sister pairs diagnosed with UL. Risk factors for UL-related outcomes were compared among black (n = 73) and white (n = 212) sister pairs using univariate and multivariate regression models. Results Black women reported an average age at diagnosis of 5.3 years younger (SE, 1.1; P P Conclusion Self-reported race is a significant factor in the severity of UL among women with a family history of UL. Differences in disease presentation between races likely reflect underlying genetic heterogeneity. The affected sister-pair study design can address both epidemiological and genetic hypotheses about UL.
Distinct intervertebral disc cell populations adopt similar phenotypes in three-dimensional culture.

Tissue engineering strategies have the potential to improve upon current techniques for intervertebral disc repair. However, determining a suitable biomaterial scaffold for disc regeneration is dif...
Design, Synthesis, Biochemical Studies, Cellular Characterization, and Structure-Based Computational Studies of Small Molecules Targeting the Urokinase Receptor

Abstract The urokinase receptor (uPAR) serves as a docking site to the serine protease urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) to promote extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation and tumor invasion and metastasis. Previously, we had reported a small molecule inhibitor of the uPAR·uPA interaction that emerged from structure-based virtual screening. Here, we measure the affinity of a large number of derivatives from commercial sources. Synthesis of additional compounds was carried out to probe the role of various groups on the parent compound. Extensive structure-based computational studies suggested a binding mode for these compounds that led to a structure–activity relationship study. Cellular studies in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines that include A549, H460 and H1299 showed that compounds blocked invasion, migration and adhesion. The effects on invasion of active compounds were consistent with their inhibition of uPA and MMP proteolytic activity. These compounds showed weak cytotoxicity consistent with the confined role of uPAR to metastasis.
A summary of thinking on measuring the value of marketing

Scholars have been developing and evaluating schemes for measuring the performance of marketing activities for the past half century. This paper traces the evolution of research in marketing performance measurement. It discusses the movement from financial measurement to non-financial measures, and examines the marketing asset and customer-focused approaches to performance measurement. Managers desiring a comprehensive picture of marketing performance should draw on a number of these perspectives. All measures should be evaluated in the context of the organisation's strategy and customer and competitor benchmarks.
Reproductive Toxicity and Growth Effects in Rats Exposed to Lead at Different Periods during Development

The reproductive toxicity and growth effects of developmental lead exposure were assessed using a rat model in which 0.6% (w/v) lead acetate was administered in the drinking water ad libitum. Three series of experiments were conducted in which lead exposure was initiated beginning in utero, prepubertally, or postpubertally. Lead effects were measured on reproductive physiology and endocrinology, sexually dimorphic hepatic testosterone hydroxylation, and growth rates in both male and female animals. In male animals secondary sex organ weights were significantly decreased only in animals exposed prepubertally. In addition, serum testosterone levels were significantly suppressed, most severely in animals exposed from in utero (in the in utero group). Little effect was observed in adult female rats. However, in female animals exposed prepubertally, delayed vaginal opening and disrupted estrus cycling was observed. More severe reproductive disruption was accompanied by suppression of circulating estradiol in the in utero group. Effects on circulating sex steroids were accompanied by variable effects on circulating luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, pituitary LH, and pituitary LH beta mRNA, suggesting a dual site of lead action: (a) at the level of the hypothalamic pituitary unit, and (b) directly at the level of gonadal steroid biosynthesis. Prepubertal growth in both sexes was suppressed 25% in the in utero group. However, pubertal growth rates were significantly suppressed only in male animals and postpubertal growth was not significantly different from controls in any of the experiments, despite continued exposure to high lead levels in the drinking water. In addition, at age 85 days, male-specific hepatic hydroxylation of testosterone at positions 2 alpha and 16 alpha, which is catalyzed by a cytochrome P450 isozyme CYP 2C11, itself regulated by sexually dimorphic growth hormone secretion, was unaffected. This suggests that the growth effects of lead are possibly due to a delay in the development of sex-specific pituitary growth hormone secretion patterns rather than a persistent developmental defect. Thus, the reproductive and growth effects of lead are complex and sex-dependent, and appear to involve multiple sites on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis.
VOC removal from water and surfactant solutions by pervaporation: a pilot study

Abstract The removal of VOCs from aqueous solutions via pervaporation is an established technology that has been successfully demonstrated at the full scale. The purpose of this research was to measure the effect of an anionic surfactant (DOWFAX 8390) on pervaporation system performance and mass transfer of 1,1,1 trichloroethane (TCA) and toluene. This aqueous surfactant application of pervaporation targets the recovery and reuse of surfactant from SEAR (surfactant enhanced aquifer remediation) process fluids. In this study, a pilot scale pervaporation unit with 4 spiral wound modules was used to conduct 75 eight hour runs. Process variables included temperature (30, 40, 50, 60°C), permeate pressure (15, 25, 55 Torr), flow rate (0.25–2.0 gpm), and VOC feed concentration (17–265 mg/l TCA and 5–200 mg/l toluene). Surfactant addition reduced the removal of VOCs 0.7–29% depending on the system flowrate, feed temperature, and VOC. The reduced VOC flux resulting from the addition of surfactant was found to be attributed to an increase in the liquid viscosity due to the addition of the surfactant (10–13% increase) and partitioning of the VOC into the surfactant micellar phase (63–68% of TCA and 73–78% of toluene was in micellar form) under experimental conditions. Though the addition of surfactant causes a decrease in the VOC removal efficiency, this study demonstrates that pervaporation can be used to remove VOCs from surfactant solutions without affecting the surfactant, permitting surfactant recycle.
Measuring the Internet

Internet traffic behavior has been resistant to modeling. The reasons derive from the Internet's evolution as a composition of independently developed and deployed protocols, technologies and core applications. Moreover, this evolution has experienced no equilibrium thus far. A common complaint about traffic measurement studies is that they do not sustain relevance in an environment where the traffic, technology and topology change faster than we can measure them. Moreover, the proliferation of media and protocols make the acquisition of traffic data almost prohibitively complicated and costly, and finally, the time required to analyze and validate data means that most research efforts are obsolete by the time the findings are published. Thus, far from having an analytic handle on the Internet, we lack the ability even to measure traffic at a granularity that would enable infrastructure-level research. As a result, while the core of the Internet continues its rapid evolution, measurement and modeling of it progress at a leisurely pace. However, both active and passive measurements of the Internet do occur, as do analyses of the routing and IP addressing system.
Bilateral imaging using separate interleaved 3D volumes and dynamically switched multiple receive coil arrays

Multiple receive coil arrays are often designed for unilateral imaging of anatomy having bilateral symmetry. A technique is described for extending the utility of such arrays to simultaneously image both bilaterally symmetric anatomical features. A separate, complete multiple receive coil array is placed at each location. Two separate, noncontiguous 3D volumes are then acquired, one at each location, in an interleaved fashion. High-impedance blocking networks are alternately activated and deactivated to minimize coupling between the arrays. It is demonstrated that there is no degradation in image quality when compared to a unilateral exam. A general method for analyzing the interactions between separate multiple coil arrays is presented.
Imaging characteristics of a confocal cavity

Abstract Mode decomposition method is employed to determine the nature of image distortion on passage through a confocal cavity. It is shown that output image possesses either an even or an odd spatial symmetry, depending on resonance conditions. Possible methods of preventing image distortion are also discussed.
Suppression of feral Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) populations following the infusion of inherited sterility from released substerile males.

A pilot test was conducted in small mountain valleys from 1986 through 1990 in western North Carolina to assess the influence of released, substerilized males on wild populations of Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), and to measure the level of inherited sterility in wild populations. The number of wild males captured per ha was positively correlated with the distance from the release site of irradiated males. Analyses of seasonal population curves of wild H. zea males calculated from mark-recapture data suggest that seasonal increases of wild H. zea males were significantly delayed or reduced (or both) in mountain valleys where irradiated males were released. The incidence of larvae with chromosomal aberrations (progeny of irradiated, released males) collected from the testsites during the growing seasons indicated that irradiated males were competitive with wild males in mating with wild females, and were successful in producing F1 progeny which further reduced the wild population.
Rich social interaction in a synchronous online community for learning

Synchronous online communities for learning have been criticized because participant contributions do not seem to build on each other. But overt measures of building do not adequately characterize the nature of communication in successful real-time interaction. Other factors, such as whether the participants understand the meaning of remarks, the light in which they are presented, and the joint project the group is engaged in may ultimately prove to be more directly related to learning prospects. This paper starts the process of thinking about these more subtle measures in the context of one example from one session in TAPPED IN.
Polyethylene cross-linking by two different methods reduces acetabular liner wear in a hip joint wear simulator.

Abstract Advances in cross-linking have led to the development of wear resistant ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene for total joint replacement. This study compared wear reduction by two different cross-linking methods as measured in a hip wear simulator. One highly cross-linked polyethylene was treated with 7.5 Mrad gamma irradiation with post-irradiation annealing and a sterilization dose of 2.5 Mrad (10 Gamma), while the other used 9.5 Mrad warm irradiation with 10 MeV electron-beam (9.5 EB). Liners of the same design, made from nominally cross-linked (gamma sterilized) polyethylene were also tested. Gravimetric wear analysis was performed every 500,000 cycles for 5,000,000 cycles. After correcting for weight gain due to water absorption, the nominally cross-linked liners demonstrated mean wear rates of 15.7 (±1.7) and 12.5 (±1.0) mg/million cycles. Both highly cross-linked polyethylene liners demonstrated significantly less wear than their respective controls (with mean wear rates of 1.5 (±1.2) and −1.4 (±1.5) mg/million cycles). The 9.5 EB liners gained weight presumably due to increased fluid absorption, in addition to that measured in loaded–soaked control implants. Any wear occurring was therefore assumed to have been more than offset by weight gain. Highly cross-linked polyethylene was significantly more wear resistant than non- or nominally cross-linked polyethylene. The differences in wear rates between the two highly cross-linked polyethylene designs (9.5 EB or 10 Gamma) are probably too small to be clinically significant.
Terahertz/mm wave imaging simulation software

We have developed a mm wave/terahertz imaging simulation package from COTS graphic software and custom MATLAB code. In this scheme, a commercial ray-tracing package was used to simulate the emission and reflections of radiation from scenes incorporating highly realistic imagery. Accurate material properties were assigned to objects in the scenes, with values obtained from the literature, and from our own terahertz spectroscopy measurements. The images were then post-processed with custom Matlab code to include the blur introduced by the imaging system and noise levels arising from system electronics and detector noise. The Matlab code was also used to simulate the effect of fog, an important aspect for mm wave imaging systems. Several types of image scenes were evaluated, including bar targets, contrast detail targets, a person in a portal screening situation, and a sailboat on the open ocean. The images produced by this simulation are currently being used as guidance for a 94 GHz passive mm wave imaging system, but have broad applicability for frequencies extending into the terahertz region.
Creating a community of inquiry in online environments: An exploratory study on the effect of a protocol on interactions within asynchronous discussions

The purpose of our research was to examine the influence of an online protocol on asynchronous discussions. A mixed-methods study compared two online graduate classes: one that used a protocol and one that did not use a protocol for the same discussion about a complex reading. Analysis of the data revealed that the online protocol more evenly distributed the presence of cognitive, social, and teaching elements necessary to create and sustain an online community of inquiry. Use of the protocol also promoted more shared group cognition and more student ownership of the discussion and empowered students to facilitate themselves, helping to reduce the instructor workload. These findings may enable educators to provide more dynamic interaction and richer learning experiences in asynchronous online environments.
Gibberellin metabolism enzymes in rice.

GAs form a large family of phytohormones that have long been recognized as plant growth regulators of numerous aspects of growth and development. They are additionally involved in the discernment of environmental stimuli, thus are important not only for a plant's growth and development but also in
Sesquiterpene lactone aglycones and glycosides from Hymenoxys lemmonii

Abstract The dichloromethane extract of Hymenoxys lemmonii afforded 13 sesquiterpene lactones, including four known and two new aglycones and two known and five new glycosides. Of the latter seven compounds, one is a glucoside and six are 6′-acetylglucosides. Structures of all compounds were established by NMR spectroscopic methods.
Reliability of Data Storage Systems under Network Rebuild Bandwidth Constraints

To improve the reliability of data storage systems, certain data placement schemes spread replicas corresponding to data stored on each node across several other nodes. When node failures occur, this enables parallelizing the rebuild process which in turn results in reducing the rebuild times. However, the underlying assumption is that the parallel rebuild process is facilitated by sufficient availability of network bandwidth to transfer data across nodes at full speed. In a large-scale data storage system where the network bandwidth for rebuild is constrained, such placement schemes will not be as effective. In this paper, it is shown through analysis and simulation how the spread of replicas across nodes affects system reliability under a network bandwidth constraint. Efficient placement schemes that can achieve high reliability in the presence of bandwidth constraints are proposed. Furthermore, in a dynamically changing storage system, in which the number of nodes and the network rebuild bandwidth can change over time, the data placement can be accordingly adapted to maintain a high level of reliability.
Discovery and Structure–Activity Relationship of Novel 2,3-Dihydrobenzofuran-7-carboxamide and 2,3-Dihydrobenzofuran-3(2H)-one-7-carboxamide Derivatives as Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 Inhibitors

Novel substituted 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-7-carboxamide (DHBF-7-carboxamide) and 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-3(2H)-one-7-carboxamide (DHBF-3-one-7-carboxamide) derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 (PARP-1). A structure-based design strategy resulted in lead compound 3 (DHBF-7-carboxamide; IC50 = 9.45 μM). To facilitate synthetically feasible derivatives, an alternative core was designed, DHBF-3-one-7-carboxamide (36, IC50 = 16.2 μM). The electrophilic 2-position of this scaffold was accessible for extended modifications. Substituted benzylidene derivatives at the 2-position were found to be the most potent, with 3′,4′-dihydroxybenzylidene 58 (IC50 = 0.531 μM) showing a 30-fold improvement in potency. Various heterocycles attached at the 4′-hydroxyl/4′-amino of the benzylidene moiety resulted in significant improvement in inhibition of PARP-1 activity (e.g., compounds 66–68, 70, 72, and 73; IC50 values from 0.718 to 0.079 μM). Compound 66 showed selective cytotox...