cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Plasmid Strategies for Broad‐Host‐Range Replication in Gram‐Negative Bacteria

This chapter emphasizes on the mechanisms that enable promiscuous plasmids of gram-negative bacteria to replicate in diverse hosts. Three different replication strategies have been identified thus far for circular plasmids: theta, strand displacement, and rolling circle. Each replication strategy has specific plasmid-directed initiation events leading to the establishment of the replisome and different host protein requirements. IncP plasmids can replicate in diverse gram-negative bacteria and can be conjugally transferred into an even broader group of organisms. Recent molecular studies have provided evidence that the mechanism utilized for recruitment of the host-encoded replicative helicase to the origin of plasmid RK2 is host specific and is dependent on the form of the TrfA protein present in the cell. Plasmids belonging to the IncQ group, including RSF1010 or R1162, are relatively small in size and have a moderate copy number. The final products of replication initiating at one of the two available ssi sites are a double-stranded replicated molecule and a single-stranded displaced circle. The studies with the IncQ plasmids reveal that providing the proteins essential for the establishment of the replisome allows sufficient flexibility for replication in different bacterial hosts. Recently an Escherichia coli mutant was isolated that allowed efficient replication of wild-type pPS10 at 37°C.
The Effects of Internet Experience and Attitudes Toward Privacy and Security on Internet Purchasing

Using the Theory of Reasoned Action as the theoretical base, data collected through a semi-annual survey of web users was used to determine if beliefs about privacy and Internet security helped determine attitudes towards the Internet, which were thought to affect intent to make Internet purchases. Intent, in turn, was thought to affect actual purchasing behavior. Taking Internet experience into account, general support for the model was found, although security beliefs were stronger indicators of attitude than privacy beliefs.
Determination of free and bound manganese(II) in hepatocytes from fed and fasted rats.

Free and total Mn(II) content of hepatocytes from fed and fasted rats has been determined by EPR. The difference spectra of cumulative scans of cell samples and the mother medium allows a sensitivity of 0.1 PM free Mn(II). The free and total Mn(II) content was 0.71 2 0.10 and 34.4 f 4.4 nmol/ml of cell H20 in hepatocytes from fed animals and was 0.25 -+, 0.15 and 35.9 +. 7.6 nmol/ml of cell HzO, respectively, in hepatocytes from fasted animals. These results demonstrate a 2.8-fold decrease in free Mn(I1) with no change in the total cell Mn(II) in response to fasting.
Rhythmic ictal nonclonic hand (RINCH) motions: a distinct contralateral sign in temporal lobe epilepsy.

Summary: Purpose: To describe a new ictal sign in temporal lobe seizures—rhythmic ictal nonclonic hand (RINCH) motions and to determine its lateralizing significance and other ictal manifestations associated with it. Methods: We identified 15 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy who demonstrated RINCH motions and reviewed video-EEG recordings of all their seizures. We analyzed the epilepsy characteristics and all clinical features of recorded seizures, with particular attention to RINCH motions. Results: RINCH motions were unilateral, rhythmic, nonclonic, nontremor hand motions. RINCH motions were usually followed by posturing, sometimes with some overlap. They involved the hand contralateral to the temporal lobe of seizure onset in 14 of 15 patients. Conclusions: RINCH motions are a distinct ictal sign that could be considered a specific type of automatism. They appear to be a lateralizing contralateral sign and are associated with dystonic posturing in temporal lobe epilepsy.
An effective method for full solder intermetallic compound formation and Kirkendall void control in Sn-base solder micro-joints

Kirkendall voids are defects that significantly reduce the mechanical properties as well as the electromigration (EM) resistance of Sn base solder joints. In this paper, an effective method was utilized in the micro-joints to fully convert Sn-Ag solder into intermetallics (IMC), to suppress the formation of Kirkendall voids. Silicon chip samples with Sn-based micro-joints (30um diameter) and Cu pillar structures were fabricated with different joint layer metallurgy to investigate the impact of the Cu pillar thicknesses, solder amount and with or without Ni layer on the IMC formation behavior. Both IMC growth and Kirkendall evolution was studied under high temperature storage (HTS) at 150C for 500 hours and 1000 hours. A process called short term 2nd reflow was used to enhance the Sn-Ag solder to IMC conversion. For comparison, Si chip samples with more typical joint diameter (82um) were also fabricated. We found the 2nd reflow process fully converted Sn-Ag solder into IMC in the micro-joint samples. However, the 2nd reflow process was not practical for samples with larger solder (82um diameter) volume, since this process consumed the Ni layer under bump metallurgy on the bottom side.
On the convergence of a block successive over-relaxation method for a class of linear complementarity problems

This paper develops a reduced block successive overrelaxation method for solving a class of (large-scale) linear complementarity problems. The main new feature of the method is that it contains certain reduction operations at each iteration. Such reductions are needed in order to ensure the boundedness (and therefore the existence of accumulation points) of the sequence of iterates produced by the algorithm. Convergence of the method is established by using a theorem due to Zangwill.
Next-Generation Sequencing: A Revolutionary Tool for Toxicogenomics

Over the past five years, DNA sequencing has been undergoing fundamental changes due to the rapid development of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies. NGS technologies have been offering unprecedented opportunities for high-throughput functional genomic research, and opening up new fields and novel applications in biology, life sciences, and biomedicine. The major advantages of NGS technologies over conventional Sanger sequencing include sequencing cost reduction from about 0.50 per kilobase to as little as 0.001 per kilobase, and massive parallelism that dramatically increases sequencing throughput. However, Sanger-based approaches provide advantages in terms of read-length and base call accuracy. In this chapter, we first describe the fundamental principles of four currently commercialized NGS platforms from Roche/454, Illumina, Life Technologies, and Helicos BioSciences. Next we discuss the challenges in analyzing short reads from NGS, and outline major applications of these new technologies. Finally, we compare data between NGS and microarrays with a toxicogenomics study aiming at gene expression profiling. Keywords: next-generation sequencing (NGS); ultra high-throughput sequencing; RNA-Seq; ChIP-Seq; transcriptome; toxicogenomics; sequence alignment
Isolation and Characterization of Bacteria That Grow on Methane and Organic Compounds as Sole Sources of Carbon and Energy

Bacteria capable of growth on methane and a variety of complex organic substrates as sole sources of carbon and energy have been isolated. Conditions used to rigorously establish the purity of the cultures are described. One facultative methylotroph has been studied in detail. This organism has peripherally arranged pairs of intracytoplasmic membranes characteristic of obligate methylotrophs. This isolate apparently utilizes the serine pathway of formaldehyde fixation. The location of methane oxidizers in a dimictic lake indicates that these organisms prefer less than saturating levels of dissolved oxygen. Laboratory experiments confirmed the preference of these organisms for atmospheres containing less oxygen than air.
Is the CEO’s In-House Experience Informative About Audit Risk?

Very little is known about whether personal characteristics of senior managers convey information about audit risk. We focus on one characteristic of the CEO, the number of years the CEO has worked in the firm before becoming the CEO (CEO in-house experience). We posit that the CEO’s in-house experience mitigates audit risk due to less uncertainty and more familiarity with the auditor. Using audit fees to proxy for audit risk, we find that audit fees are decreasing in CEO’s in-house experience. On average, audit fees are lower by 10% when CEO in-house experience changes from 2 to 6 years. Further, the relation between audit fees and the CEO’s in-house experience is conditional on the overall quality of corporate governance. While the CEO’s in-house experience is insignificant in firms with good governance, it is strongly significant in firms with weak governance.
Ubiquitous Video Conferencing for obectizing contents in a Semantic Network

This paper focuses on the development of Ubiquitous Video Conferencing (UVC) multicasting applications and their integration with a Semantic Network. The objectized contents of the CSULA SPACE Center1 Semantic Network will be generated in a hierarchical tree structure by users [1]. Such contents can be accessed, updated, and shared. The UVC facilitates the generation of objectized contents in a collaborative fashion among the UVC attendees, who may be identified as “birds of a feather (BoF).” The attendees may add newly generated contents to an existing tree, or trim some branches from it. The updated tree structure can, then, be published to the Semantic Network for future references. The ubiquity of video conferencing enhances the distant users' communication, and allows urgent or flexible scheduling for the collaborative needs of individual groups of BoF. In order to effectively accommodate this model, the UVC interface provides a collection of effortless controls The Extensible Markup Language (XML) is used to define the syntax based on the content structure [2]. Such efforts permit a seamless integration of the objectizing programming components with the decentralized servers using a “Tuple Space” programming paradigm [3].
Enhanced squeezing from a Kerr medium combined with two-photon absorption

Abstract It is shown that enhanced squeezing can arise in the quantum dynamics of a coherent state propagating through a Kerr medium, modeled as an anharmonic oscillator, embedded in a two-photon absorbing medium.
Radionuclide therapy for the treatment of microscopic ovarian carcinoma : An overview

Cancer comprises a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells that spread from the anatomical site of origin. For many types of cancer, surgery alone has proven inadequate, necessitating a broader approach to treatment incorporating chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Of particular recent interest has been the use of α-emitters in the treatment of microscopic carcinoma. The effective application of these materials requires an understanding of the physical and biological bases of radiation therapy. In addition, both radiochemical and radionuclidic purity are essential in all clinical applications. Recent work with the α-emitting radionuclide bismuth-212 offers considerable promise in the treatment of microscopic ovarian carcinoma resistant to conventional treatment modalities. Ongoing improvements in methods for its preparation are expected to further improve its therapeutic utility.
The Effect of Plasma Chemistry on the Damage Induced to Porous SiCOH Dielectrics

The scope of this study was to compare the plasma damage produced on porous dielectrics by different chemistries under identical plasma conditions and evaluate different techniques for characterization of the damage. We have investigated the effects of He + H 2 , N 2 + H 2 , and NH 3 plasmas on the properties of three porous SiCOH dielectrics. All plasma treatments have been performed in the same plasma tool under identical conditions. The plasma treatment caused modifications to the bonding structure of the films, loss of film thickness, and increase in refractive index and dielectric constant that varied with plasma and among the films. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy indicated the type of structural modification caused by a certain plasma treatment but could not be used to predict the damage to the dielectric constant. No correlation was observed between the shrinkage of the film and the corresponding increase of its dielectric constant. The increases of the dielectric constant correlated only to the increases of refractive index after the plasma treatments. The largest damages to the dielectric constants were caused by plasma treatments at room temperature. The most damaging to the porous SiCOH films was the He + H 2 plasma, while the overall lowest damage was produced by the NH 3 plasma at 180°C.
Numerical comparison processes

The relative lengths of two rows of objects systematically affected the time to make judgments of the relative number of objects. The time to decide which row contained more objects generally increased with the amount of incongruity between length and number (e.g., reaction time was long when the numerically larger row was the shorter of the two). In addition, the time to decide that the rows contained an equal number of objects increased with the disparity in length between the rows. These results suggest that length information was used in the numerical comparison process. A model that uses an internal transformation of row length is proposed to account for the results.
Fluvial transport of bovid long bones fragmented by the feeding activities of hominins and carnivores

This study explores the hydraulic transportability of bovid long bone fragments created through hominin and carnivore carcass consumption in order to determine the effect of fluvial transport on the incidences of hominin- and carnivore-induced bone surface modifications. Transportability was determined using an oval race track flume and 311 long bone fragments from modern control collections of hominin- and carnivore-modified bone. Results show that the fluvial transport of long bone fragments is predicted by animal size class and bone specimen size, as measured by maximum cortical thickness, maximum length, and maximum width. All of these variables can be measured on fossil specimens. Long bone portion (midshaft, near-epiphysis, and epiphysis) does not affect transport and hydraulic transport does not substantially modify the incidences of tooth, percussion, and cut marking in transported or lag assemblages in low energy fluvial environments. Implications of this study are: 1) animal size classes, and cortical thickness, length, and width of long bone fragments can be used to identify fluvial winnowing in fossil assemblages; 2) analyses concerning the relative timing of hominin and carnivore carcass consumption based on the proportions of long bone fragments bearing tooth, percussion, or cut marks can be meaningfully applied to fossil assemblages deposited in low-energy fluvial environments.
Gabor filter for enhanced recognition of assisted turning events

Nursing facility residents at high risk for pressure ulcers are turned in bed by staff at regular intervals. In an ongoing large, multi-site randomized clinical trial (RCT) the impacts of 2, 3, and 4 hour turning intervals are being studied on pressure ulcer outcomes. In the RCT, it is necessary to objectively confirm the reported times of assisted turning by certified nurse assistants using activity data. Activity peaks in Gaussian-smoothed activity data were unable to confirm all turning events in a supporting pilot study with observer notes of assisted turns. A new technique is presented using one-dimensional Gabor filters that enhances activity peaks due to turning events and diminishes the signal during extended activity. As a result, all assisted turns in the pilot study were detected and confirmed. Moreover, the dependence of detection sensitivity on decision threshold is lowered in this method.
Development and evaluation of an instrument to measure community pharmacists' self-efficacy beliefs about communicating with Spanish-speaking patients.

Abstract Background Hispanics are the largest growing population in the United States, and their use of prescription medications can be influenced by the education and counseling they receive from pharmacists. However, little is known about pharmacists' communication with patients who speak Spanish or factors that can influence such communication. Objectives The objective of the study was to develop and validate an instrument to measure pharmacists' self-efficacy in communicating with Spanish-speaking patients. Methods An initial pool of 15 items developed from previous research and suggestions from communication experts and practicing pharmacists was subjected to cognitive interviewing. Nine retained items were administered to 1022 licensed pharmacists by mail survey. Summary statistics and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) were conducted. Retained factors were determined by the examination of eigenvalues and scree test results. Cronbach's alpha coefficients were calculated to assess internal consistency. Results A total of 540 community pharmacists completed the survey. Item means ranged from 2.93±1.47 to 1.58±0.88 based on a 5-point scale (1: not at all confident to 5: extremely confident). EFA resulted in a 2-factor solution, accounting for 71% of the variance. The 2 factors consisted of health and drug information (alpha=0.92) and opening the encounter (alpha=0.75). The alpha for the overall scale was 0.88. Conclusions The results provide evidence to support the reliability and validity of an instrument to measure pharmacists' self-efficacy beliefs about communicating with Spanish-speaking patients in community practice. Practitioners and researchers may use this instrument to inform pharmacy education, pharmacy practice improvement, and research efforts around communicating with Spanish-speaking clients.
Images in clinical medicine. Pulmonary and peritoneal ossification.

This 20-year-old man presented with fever and abdominal pain. He began peritoneal dialysis at the age of 4 years because of nephropathy.
Rest and Exercise Potassium-43 Myocardial Perfusion Imaging for the Noninvasive Evaluation of Aortocoronary Bypass Surgery

Sixteen patients undergoing aortocoronary bypass surgery were evaluated with rest and exercise potassium-43 (43K) myocardial imaging and contrast angiography an average of 5.5 months postoperatively. The results of 43K imaging allowed the division of these patients into two groups. Group 1 consisted of patients in whom there was either normalization or significant improvement in postoperative images when compared to abnormal preoperative studies (five patients), or patients in whom preoperative imaging was not accomplished but whose postoperative images both at rest and exercise showed a normal homogenous pattern of 43K distribution (four patients). All patients in this group had at least one patent bypass graft, and 13 of 16 total grafts were patent. Group 2 consisted of seven patients in whom postoperative rest and exercise 43K studies were either not significantly different from preoperative evaluation, or had worsened. Of these patients, three experienced intraoperative infarction, two demonstrated si...
Joseph Heller: From Your Mouth to God's Ear!

He wrote about things that no else had the nerve or the inclination or the patience to undertake, let alone express. He was willing to follow a thought, an idea, a joke, an observation so extensive...
Scattered light in photolithographic lenses

Scattered light, flare, is present in the images formed by all photolithography lenses and it reduces lithographic process tolerances. It varies from lens to lens and with time, but is easily measured by observation of images of opaque objects formed in positive photoresist. The scattered light halo of a lens is modeled and the model used to estimate the flare for any reticle used with that lens.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
INFLUENCE OF LIGHT INTENSITY UPON THE CONCENTRATION OF THIAMIN AND RIBOFLAVIN IN PLANTS.

It is a well known fact that the concentration of ascorbic acid and carotene is greater in plants grown in high light intensity than in low light intensity (5, 6). The knowledge of the effect of light on thiamin and riboflavin is very imperfect and almost negligible (7). In a previous paper (4) the writer noted that as the season changed from winter to spring and the light intensity increased there was an increase in the concentration of these two vitamins in the tomato plants. These observations were, however, incidental, and the present investigation was set up to study the influence of the intensity of natural light more carefully.
Determination of Niacinamide in Lotions and Creams Using Liquid-Liquid Extraction and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

Chemical separations are an important part of an undergraduate chemistry curriculum. Sophomore students often get experience with liquid–liquid extraction in organic chemistry classes, but liquid–liquid extraction is not as often introduced as a quantitative sample preparation method in honors general chemistry or quantitative analysis classes. This experiment offers a relevant, interesting way to use liquid–liquid extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to analyze popular lotions and creams for niacinamide content. After completing the experiment, students will have a better understanding of the extraction technique, Beer–Lambert law, and HPLC. The percent recovery from a spiked sample of Olay Original Active Hydrating Beauty Fluid was found to be 99.22% with a standard deviation of 0.01%.
Neoliberalism, Corporations, and Power: Enron in India

This article examines the role of Enron, an American corporation, in its promotion of the electric power sector in the Dabhol Power Project in India. Under the new economic regime in India, policy changes were followed by nine fast-track private electric power projects in different parts of the country with foreign companies as primary promoters or major collaborators. The new, privately promoted power projects brought into focus the power of foreign capital and neoliberal discourse. Neoliberalism is not about free markets, nor about freedom, nor development of the global South or postsocialist economies but rather a form of power that creates congenial spaces for the extraction of revenue by corporations in countries that were, until recently, relatively less accessible to capitalist exploitation. The research is based on interviews with key informants and archival data.
PEX7 gene structure, alternative transcripts, and evidence for a founder haplotype for the frequent RCDP allele, L292ter.

We recently reported cloning a cDNA encoding Pex7p, the peroxisomal PTS2 receptor. PEX7 mutations cause the peroxisome biogenesis disorder (PBD) rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata (RCDP). In a survey of 44 RCDP probands, we found that one PEX7 allele, L292ter, accounted for 50% of mutant PEX7 genes. Here we report the characterization of the PEX7 structural gene, which spans 102 kb on chromosome 6q21-q22.2 and contains at least 10 exons. In addition to the predominant full-length transcript, we identified eight smaller PEX7 transcripts generated by alternative exon splicing in several tissues. However, none of these splice forms was able to restore PTS2 protein import into peroxisomes when expressed in RCDP fibroblasts nor did they inhibit PTS2 protein import when expressed in normal fibroblasts. To determine whether the high frequency of the L292ter allele is due to a founder effect, we identified five polymorphic markers (four diallelic markers and one CA repeat) spanning the PEX7 gene. We show that all 12 L292ter homozygotes in our patient sample have an identical haplotype at these five sites, consistent with the hypothesis that the L292ter mutation arose once on an ancestral chromosome in the Caucasian population.
A densitometer for the evaluation of cell growth in primary cultures: Construction and operation

This report describes the design, construction and operation of a photovoltic cell densitometer. The densitometer has proven to be very useful in evaluating the effect of various culture medium supplements on the growth of primary cultures.
Synthesis of carbon-14 labeled (±)-2-methyl-3,3-diphenyl-3-propanolamine (2-MDP)

The preparation of 14C labeled (±)-2-methyl-3,3-diphenyl-3-propanolamine (3) from [14C]-carbonyl-benzophenone is described.
Genotoxicants Target Distinct Molecular Networks in Neonatal Neurons

BackgroundExposure of the brain to environmental agents during critical periods of neuronal development is considered a key factor underlying many neurologic disorders.ObjectivesIn this study we ex...
7,7,8,8-Tetra-(Methoxycarbonyl)-Quinodimethane, a Reactive Electrophilic Monomer,

7,7,8,8-Tetra-(methoxycarbonyl)-quinodimethane, TMQ, was synthesized in improved yield from tetramethyl p-phenylenedimalonate by forming the dianion of the latter with potassium hydride and oxidizing it with iodine. Free radical and anionic initiators gave homopolymer quantitatively. The homopolymer, m.p. 295–315° was insoluble in all solvents except for the strong acids, sulfuric, chlorosulfonic, and trifluoromethane-sulfonic acid, in which it exhibited polyelectrolyte viscosity behavior.
Sol–gel-derived mesoporous γ-alumina granules

Abstract Synthesis of stable boehmite sols and structural properties of the sol–gel-derived γ-alumina using alkoxides, commercial boehmite powders, and aluminum chloride were studied for cost-effective preparation of high quality γ-alumina granules. Stable boehmite sols could be prepared from aluminum butoxide, aluminum isopropoxide, and commercial boehmite powders but not from aluminum chloride. The stable sol-derived γ-alumina has large surface area and nanopore size with uniform pore size distributions. Mesoporous spherical γ-alumina granules were prepared by an oil-drop process from aluminum butoxide, aluminum isopropoxide and a commercial boehmite powder under specific conditions. The sol–gel-derived γ-alumina granules are better than the commercial γ-alumina granules in terms of the pore structure and mechanical strength. The successful synthesis of γ-alumina granules by the sol–gel method from the commercial boehmite powder provides a basis for large-scale, cost-effective production of the high quality γ-alumina granules for use as sorbents or catalysts in industrial processes.
Neutron-scattering study of the structure of adsorbed helium monolayers and of the excitation spectrum of few-atomic-layer superfluid films

Elastic diffraction of neutrons from helium adsorbed on Grafoil shows that the surface monolayer forms as a highly compressed, ordered triangular lattice incommensurate with the structure of the underlying graphite basal planes. Inelastic scattering from thin superfluid films on top of the surface monolayers reveals the existence of bulklike rotons in films containing on average as few as three layers of atoms. (AIP)
YTTRIUM ALUMINATE CERAMIC FIBERS VIA PRE-CERAMIC POLYMER AND SOL-GEL ROUTES

ABSTRACT Yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG - Y3Al5O12) fibers have been prepared by dry spinning solutions of yttrium and aluminum carboxylate polymers (precursor route) and by dry spinning aqueous oxide sols (sol-gel route). Fibers from aqueous diphasic gels are prepared by mixing a colloidal alumina sol containing 50-nm hydrous alumina with a colloidal yttria sol containing 10-nm yttrium oxide, using polyvinylpyrrolidone as a spinning aid. Fibers by the precursor route are made from spinnable THF solutions of yttrium isobutyrate and aluminum isobutyrate or from aqueous solutions of polymeric aluminum formate and yttrium acetate. The isobutyrate materials decompose between 200-400°C to an amorphous residue. Crystallization occurs abruptly between 875°C and 900°C, forming the YAG phase directly. The formate-acetate also decomposes to amorphous residues, which form YAG at 900°C. In the diphasic gel, YAG forms gradually between 1000 and 1200°C, with intermediate products YAP (YalO3 perovskite) and/or YAM (Y4Al2O...
Valles Caldera geothermal systems, New Mexico, U.S.A.

Abstract Valles Caldera is part of a Quaternary silicic volcano in northern New Mexico that possesses enormous geothermal potential. The caldera has formed at the intersection of the volcanically active Jemez lineament and the tectonically active Rio Grande rift. Volcanic rocks of the Jemez Mountains overlie Paleozoic—Mesozoic sediments, and Precambrian granitic basement. Although the regional heat flow along the Rio Grande rift is ~2.7 HFU ∗ , convective heat flow within the caldera exceeds 10 HFU. A moderately saline hotwater geothermal system ( T > 260° C , Cl ⋍ 3000 mg / l ) has been tapped in fractured caldera-fill ignimbrites at depths of 1800 m. Surface geothermal phenomena include central fumaroles and acid-sulfate springs surrounded by dilute thermal meteoric hot springs. Derivative hot springs from the deep geothermal reservoir issue along the Jemez fault zone, 10 km southwest of the caldera. Present geothermal projects are: (1) proposed construction of an initial 50-MWel power plant utilizing the known geothermal reservoir; (2) research and development of the prototype hot dry rock (HDR) geothermal system that circulates surface water through deep Precambrian basement (∼5MWth); (3) exploration for deep hot fluids in adjacent basin-fill sediments of the Rio Grande rift; and (4) shallow exploration drilling for hot fluids along the Jemez fault zone.
Morbid obesity and outcomes of surgery for diverticulitis: Results from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) dataset

METHODS: A consecutive series of 119 rectal cancer patients were analyzed. Twenty match pairs were established identical regarding gender, tumor site, tumor stage, neoadjuvant radiotherapy and type of surgery. Urogenital and anorectal function was evaluated prospectively using standardized questionnaires (International Prostate Symptom Score, Quality of life due to urinary symptoms, Wexner score, International Index of Erectile Function and Female Sexual Function Index), measurement of residual urine volume and longterm-catheterization.
The shopping mall as consumer habitat

Abstract Although large enclosed shopping malls represent significant institutions in modem Western culture, consumers' activities within malls have been surprisingly underresearched. In the present study, consumers' interrelationships with malls as consumption sites are explored using the concept of a habitat drawn from the ecological sciences. An empirical study of consumer activity within multiple mall habitats is then discussed. Specifically, this research explores differences in mall habitat activity patterns and identifies mall related shopping orientations that are useful in explaining these differences.
Functional limb salvage with multimodality treatment in epithelioid sarcoma of the hand: a report of two cases.

Two cases of epithelioid sarcoma in the hand are reported. The first presented as a spaceoccupying lesion causing carpal tunnel syndrome, which has not been previously reported. The second case presented with a tumor in the palm that was initially misdiagnosed as a benign tumor and was treated inadequately and recurred. With treatment consisting of surgical excision, adjuvant local radiotherapy, and pulsed systemic chemotherapy combined with early detection and aggressive treatment of distant metastases, both patients have functional hands without local recurrence. They are presently free of obvious disease and remain under close observation at short follow-up of 6 and 4 years, respectively.
Structural resistance moments by quadrature

Abstract Numerical integration formulas are used to estimate the statistical moments of a function of random variables. Formulas are developed for the special cases of Normal and Lognormal distributed random variables. The moments of the ultimate resistance of two structural systems determined using the quadrature formulas are compared to the results of Monte Carlo simulation. The procedure is convenient to implement and direct use can be made of available deterministic computer programs. The method has applicability to more general problems of second moment reliability.
Radon-222 in the North Atlantic Trade Winds: Its Relationship to Dust Transport from Africa

The concentration of radon-222 in air was measured during a flight from Miami to Barbados to Dakar and return; concentrations ranged from 1 to 55 picocuries per standard cubic meter of air and were highest in areas of dense haze, which were present along most of the flight path across the Atlantic Ocean. The haze is attributed to dust originating from the arid regions of western Africa. Radon-222 may be useful as a tracer for African air parcels over the equatorial Atlantic.
Internal corporate prediction markets: “From each according to his bet”

Abstract Experimental markets (e.g., Iowa Experimental Markets) have been successful at capturing market price predictions of future events, such as who will win the U.S. Presidential election. As a result, prediction markets have been moved to corporations, in the form of internal corporate prediction markets, where participants bet on the occurrence of events of interest to the corporation. Corporations have used prediction markets for a number of different types of applications including project management, investment choice, forecasting sales, and others. Accordingly, prediction markets are an important emerging technology that can find use in these and other areas of applications. This paper examines some of the research issues that have emerged as markets are placed into a corporate setting. As a result, this paper analyzes some strengths and limitations of using internal prediction markets in corporate settings. I also examine the sources of information that get embedded in those markets, including the role of management using the market. In addition, I investigate multiple incentive approaches used in corporate prediction markets, and apparent biases that have been noticed in corporate prediction markets. Finally, this paper also analyzes some of the opportunities to use markets as an approach to investigate other issues, e.g., in accounting and finance.
An indirect test of inbreeding depression in the termites Reticulitermes flavipes and Reticulitermes virginicus

We analyzed tandem-running pairs of the termites Reticulitermes flavipes and Reticulitermes virginicus utilizing 13 and 12 microsatellite loci, respectively. Newly formed pairs in both species were significantly related to one another, but this average relatedness was considerably higher in R. flavipes (0.130 vs 0.060). These average relatedness levels resulted from some tandem pairs forming between nestmate termites: more than one quarter of all R. flavipes pairs (26.1%) met this criterion, while this was the case for only about one of every 20 R. virginicus pairs (5.1%). The likelihood that termites paired with siblings was inversely related to the inferred dispersal ability of the two species. FST, measured over identical spatial scales, was significantly higher in R. flavipes (0.034) than in R. virginicus (0.008). A comparison in R. flavipes of the observed proportion of nestmate pairs observed during tandem running vs the proportion found in established colonies revealed a significant excess of close relatives when pairs were first formed. There are two possible causes of this discrepancy: inbreeding depression (ID) may eliminate inbred colonies early in development, or related pairs may part late in the tandem-running phase or after it is completed. The latter explanation of inbreeding avoidance implies either historical or contemporary ID, and these results therefore suggest that, either directly or indirectly, ID could be a more potent force in the evolution of termite mating systems than is generally appreciated.
Cortisone-induced Lipaemia and Hepatic Steatosis in the Male Rat

IT has previously been reported that female rats develop lipaemia and fatty livers during treatment with cortisone1, and, more recently, the pathogenesis of this has been traced to a markedly enhanced mobilization of fatty acids from adipose tissue2. The mechanism thus seems quite different from that accounting for the fat accumulation in the livers of female, but not of male, rats during ethionine administration3, and it is not reversed or prevented by measures which are effective during ethionine treatment2. Nevertheless, it is important to clarify whether the effect could also be observed in male rats.
DNAzymes in Environmental Sensing

DNAzymes are biocatalysts with a promising capacity to selectively identify charged organic and inorganic compounds at ultratrace levels in industrial waste streams, chemical emissions, environmental samples, or biological systems for a variety of applications. Combining the specificity of nano-biological recognition probes and the sensitivity of laser-based optical detection, DNAzymes are capable of detecting and differentiating chemical constituents of complex systems to provide unambiguous identification and accurate quantification. This article reviews the state of the science of DNAzymes, as well as challenges to be met toward their widespread implementation. The results indicate that these nanosensors are transitioningfrom the proof-of-concept stage to field testing and commercialization. Promising areas of application include in situ monitoring of contaminated media, or industrial process streams that contain mixed organic wastes, such as heavy metals, organometallics, antibiotics, and other charged compounds. A new generation of DNAzyme-based sensors coupled with fiber-optic technology is emerging rapidly, exhibiting many advantages over state-of-the-art affinity sensors with applicability in environmental sensing. Although significant strides have been made in the area of selectivity, sensitivity, and catalytic rates of DNAzymes, challenges, by and large, remain in the development of efficient signal transduction technology for in situ applications.
LHHW and PSSA Kinetic Analysis of Rates and Adsorbate Coverages in CO/H2/C2H4Reactions on Mn–Rh/SiO2☆

Abstract The kinetics, adsorbate residence times and coverages, and isotopic transient responses for propionaldehyde formation from CO/H 2 /C 2 H 4 reaction have been studied over 4 wt% Mn–Rh/SiO 2 (Mn:Rh=0.1:1) catalyst at 513 K and 0.1 MPa. Reaction rates were measured under differential conditions; adsorbate residence times and coverages, and transient responses of 13 C propionaldehyde formation were measured by a steady-state isotopic transient method coupled with in situ infrared spectroscopy. Both Langmuir–Hinselwood–Hougen–Watson (LHHW) and pseudo-steady-state-approximation (PSSA) approaches were employed to develop rate laws (i.e., kinetic models) and isotherm equations for adsorbate coverages to fit the rate and coverage data. Although the LHHW kinetic model provides a good fit of the rate data, its adsorbed acyl ( * C 2 H 5 CO) isotherm equation fails to describe the dependence of adsorbed acyl coverage on H 2 and CO partial pressures. Use of the PSSA approach without assumption of a sole rate-determining step (RDS) resulted in a rate law and an acyl isotherm equation which describe both the kinetics and adsorbate coverages behaviors with high accuracy. The PSSA analysis suggests that both CO insertion into adsorbed ethyl species and hydrogenation of adsorbed acyl species are kinetically significant steps for propionaldehyde formation. The failure of LHHW isotherm equations for fitting the coverage data is due to lack of a sole RDS. The kinetics, adsorbate residence times and coverages, and transient responses of propionaldehyde formation on Mn–Rh/SiO 2 were compared with those on Rh/SiO 2 to unravel the effect of Mn promotion on the reaction. This study demonstrates that measurement of transient responses for product formation and adsorbate residence times and coverages provides essential information for verification of kinetic models with mechanistic significance.
The Infrared Absorption Spectra of Mixtures of Alcohol and Water

The absorption spectra of absolute ethyl alcohol and alcohol containing water were studied in the region from 1.5μ to 5μ. In the water-alcohol mixtures there appeared a band at 2.8μ not characteristic of either alcohol or water. For small concentrations of water the intensity of this band was found to increase with increasing water content. The presence of the band at 2.8μ was interpreted as indication of association between the water and alcohol molecules. This result is in agreement with the anomalous changes in volume and in specific heat which take place in mixtures of alcohol and water.
Numerical representation of transitive fuzzy relations

We show that there exists a continuous fuzzy quasi-order R on the set of real numbers R such that for any fuzzy quasiorder R on a finite set X there is a mapping f : X → R such that R(x, y) = R(f(x),f(y)) for all x, y ∈ X.
Effects of actinomycin D on regeneration give evidence of sequential gene activation.

ACTINOMYCIN D, a potent inhibitor of nucleic acid syntheses1, has been used in many developing systems to determine immediately gene-dependent events2. Gabriel3 concluded that actinomycin inhibits cephalic regeneration of the planarian Dugesia gonocephala “mainly during the first 24 hours following amputation”. Previous investigations4, however, have suggested that this early period is one of non-specific proliferation and that the definitive gene-dependent events occur later in development.
Optimal stopping, exponential utility, and linear programming

This paper uses linear programming to compute an optimal policy for a stopping problem whose utility function is exponential. This is done by transforming the problem into an equivalent one having additive utility and nonnegative (not necessarily substochastic) transition matrices.
Purification and DNA-Binding Activity of the PacA Subunit of the Bacteriophage P1 Pacase Enzyme

Abstract The bacteriophage P1 packaging site (pac) cleavage enzyme (pacase) consists of two phage encoded proteins, PacA and PacB. Both proteins are necessary for the recognition and cleavage of pac and for subsequent packaging of cleaved DNA into phage particles. We have purified PacA to homogeneity from a bacterial strain that overproduces the protein. Purified PacA complements an Escherichia coli extract containing the PacB protein for DNA cleavage at the pac site and recognizes and binds to methylated pac DNA independently of PacB in gel retardation experiments. The latter property of PacA is absolutely dependent on the presence of a wild-type E. coli extract, suggesting that E. coli host proteins play a role in the pac cleavage reaction.
Effects of alpha(1)-adrenoceptor (alpha(1)-AR) antagonists on cell proliferation and apoptosis in the prostate: therapeutic implications in prostatic disease.

BACKROUND Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer established that disruption of the molecular mechanisms that regulate apoptosis and cell proliferation among the stromal and epithelial cell populations, may underlie the neoplastic development that characterizes the aging gland. This work examined the effects of selected alpha1-adrenoceptor (α1-AR) antagonists (blockers) on cellular dynamics to determine whether induction of apoptosis or inhibition of proliferation could contribute to the overall clinical profile. METHODS Our efforts were focused on investigating whether α1-AR antagonists of two different chemical classes affect prostate pathophysiology via mechanisms other than smooth muscle contraction. In in vitro experiments, the two clinically used quinazoline α1-adrenoceptor antagonists terazosin and doxazosin and the chemically-distinct sulphonamide, tamsulosin, were examined for effects on prostatic tumor growth, by inhibiting cell proliferation and'or inducing apoptosis. RESULTS Our findings suggest that α1-AR antagonists, terazosin and doxazosin, suppress prostatic growth by inducing apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner and without affecting cell proliferation. Tamsulosin exerted no effect on prostate cancer cell growth. The apoptotic effect of terazosin and doxazosin appears to be independent of the α1-adrenoceptor block. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our findings demonstrate the ability of the quinazoline alpha-blockers, terazosin and doxazosin, but not the sulphonamide, tamsulosin, to suppress prostate growth by inducing apoptosis among the epithelial cells in the benign and malignant prostate. These studies underwrite the durability of the response seen in long-term studies with terazosin, and suggest the potential of this drug in the treatment of prostate carcinoma. Prostate Supplement 9:42–46, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Dynamic Programming and the Calculus of Variations

Abstract Problems in the Calculus of Variations can be viewed as multistage decision problems of a continuous type. It follows that their solutions can be characterized by the functional equation technique of dynamic programming [1]. In this paper, it will be shown that the functional equation approach yields, in simple and intuitive fashion, formal derivations of such classical necessary conditions of the Calculus of Variations as the Euler-Lagrange equations, the Weierstrass and Legendre conditions, natural boundary conditions, a transversality condition and the Erdmann corner conditions. The more general “problem of Bolza” in which the final time is defined implicitly and in which the expression to be extremized is the sum of an integral and a function evaluated at the end point is also considered. The principal necessary condition, usually called the “multiplier rule,” is deduced. We shall also derive necessary conditions for the case where the decision variables are restricted by inequality constraints. Finally, it is shown that the functional equation characterization readily yields the Hamilton-Jacobi partial differential equation of classical mechanics.
Eradicating HIV-1 infection: seeking to clear a persistent pathogen

Effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) blunts viraemia, which enables HIV-1-infected individuals to control infection and live long, productive lives. However, HIV-1 infection remains incurable owing to the persistence of a viral reservoir that harbours integrated provirus within host cellular DNA. This latent infection is unaffected by ART and hidden from the immune system. Recent studies have focused on the development of therapies to disrupt latency. These efforts unmasked residual viral genomes and highlighted the need to enable the clearance of latently infected cells, perhaps via old and new strategies that improve the HIV-1-specific immune response. In this Review, we explore new approaches to eradicate established HIV-1 infection and avoid the burden of lifelong ART.
Fuel/cladding compatibility in U-19Pu-10Zr/HT9-clad fuel at elevated temperatures☆

Abstract Twenty-five elevated-temperature tests were conducted on irradiated U-19wt%Pu-10wt%Zr fuel clad with HT9 at the Alpha-Gamma Hot Cell Facility at Argonne National Laboratory, Illinois. Samples with burnups as high as 11 at% were tested, and the cladding penetration rates all fall within the data band previously defined. Highlights of the test results are presented, as are discussions of the cladding penetration mechanism found in elevated-temperature testing of irradiated metallic fuels.