cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mediastinal Nodal Involvement After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation for Siewert II/III Adenocarcinoma

Background Adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction (AEG) poses a management challenge, as preoperative prediction of occult mediastinal nodal metastasis is difficult. We sought to identify factors predictive of mediastinal involvement among patients undergoing trimodality therapy. Methods Patients undergoing trimodality therapy for Siewert II and III AEG at a single institution between 2000 and 2015 were identified. Mediastinal involvement was defined as pathologic nodal involvement after neoadjuvant chemoradiation (ypN+) in mediastinal stations or mediastinal recurrence 2 years or less after resection. Maximal χ2 analysis and Youden's J index were used to identify the pretreatment proximal tumor extent that best discriminated mediastinal involvement. Results In all, 204 patients (151 [74%] AEG II, 53 [26%] AEG III) were included, of whom 47 (23%) had clinical evidence of thoracic nodal disease. Thirty-one of the 204 patients (15%) met criteria for mediastinal involvement (24 of 31 ypN+, 10 of 31 mediastinal recurrence). Patients with mediastinal involvement had greater proximal tumor extent (median 2 cm [interquartile range, 1.0 to 3.0 cm] vs 1.4 cm [interquartile range, 0.7 to 3.0 cm], P = .030), were more frequently Siewert II lesions (27 of 31 [87.1%] vs 124 of 173 [71.7%], P = .071), and were more often observed to have clinical thoracic nodal metastasis (cN) evidence (13 of 31 [42%] vs 34 of 173 [20%], P = .007) than patients who did not. On multivariable analysis of patients with intrathoracic cN0, esophageal extent of 1.5 cm or greater was independently predictive of mediastinal involvement (odds ratio 5.46, P = .011), whereas Siewert classification was not (Siewert II odds ratio 3.48, P = .116). Conclusions Pretreatment proximal tumor extent, rather than Siewert classification, is an independent predictor of mediastinal involvement among AEG II/III patients without clinical evidence of mediastinal metastasis and should be considered during treatment planning.
Development of an Adrenocortical Cancer Humanized Mouse Model to Characterize Anti-PD1 Effects on Tumor Microenvironment

CONTEXT Although the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors has transformed treatment strategies of several human malignancies, research models to study immunotherapy in adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) are lacking. OBJECTIVE To explore the effect of anti-PD1 immunotherapy on the alteration of the immune milieu in ACC in a newly generated preclinical model and correlate with the response of the matched patient. DESIGN, SETTING, AND INTERVENTION To characterize the CU-ACC2-M2B patient-derived xenograft in a humanized mouse model, evaluate the effect of a PD-1 inhibitor therapy, and compare it with the CU-ACC2 patient with metastatic disease. RESULTS Characterization of the CU-ACC2-humanized cord blood-BALB/c-Rag2nullIl2rγnullSirpaNOD model confirmed ACC origin and match with the original human tumor. Treatment of the mice with pembrolizumab demonstrated significant tumor growth inhibition (60%) compared with controls, which correlated with increased tumor infiltrating lymphocyte activity, with an increase of human CD8+ T cells (P < 0.05), HLA-DR+ T cells (P < 0.05) as well as Granzyme B+ CD8+ T cells (<0.001). In parallel, treatment of the CU-ACC2 patient, who had progressive disease, demonstrated a partial response with 79% to 100% reduction in the size of target lesions, and no new sites of metastasis. Pretreatment analysis of the patient's metastatic liver lesion demonstrated abundant intratumoral CD8+ T cells by immunohistochemistry. CONCLUSIONS Our study reports the first humanized ACC patient-derived xenograft mouse model, which may be useful to define mechanisms and biomarkers of response and resistance to immune-based therapies, to ultimately provide more personalized care for patients with ACC.
Sensitivity of Colletotrichum Isolates Collected from Strawberries in Georgia to Pyraclostrobin, a Quinone Outside Inhibitor (QoI) Fungicide

Anthracnose fruit rot disease, caused by Colletotrichum spp., is the most significant disease problem of commercial strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) production in the southeastern United States. The hot, humid weather and continuous rainfall in Georgia make Colletotrichum-induced fruit rot a widespread problem in strawberry production. In order to control this disease, growers mainly rely on preventive fungicide applications from flower bud emergence to harvest. The most commonly used single-site fungicides are quinone outside inhibitors (QoIs); the QoI active ingredients azoxystrobin and pyraclostrobin are utilized to manage anthracnose fruit rot. In 2019, we collected 108 strawberry fruits with visible rot symptoms from seven different strawberry farms in Georgia. These farms had received multiple applications of QoI fungicides during the 2019 growing season, as well as in previous seasons. Sensitivities to pyraclostrobin were assessed on 1% malt extract agar using a mycelial growth inhibition assay. Our results demonstrated that a majority of Colletotrichum isolates collected in 2019 were not inhibited by pyraclostrobin, suggesting a growing resistance issue with the QoI fungicides. A PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay showed the presence of the G143A mutation in all QoI “resistant” C. acutatum isolates and none for isolates labeled “reduced sensitivity” or “sensitive”. These results further prove that C. acutatum isolates with the G143A mutation are highly resistant to the QoI fungicide. These findings suggest that there is a high risk of resistance development associated with using pyraclostrobin (likely all QoIs) for controlling anthracnose fruit rot of strawberry in Georgia.
Identification of the Potential of Residential Demand Response Using Artificial Neural Networks

The uncertain and volatile nature of renewable energy tends to cause imbalance in the supply and demand of electricity. Residential demand response has emerged as a methodology to alleviate such imbalances in the electricity grid. By utilizing the flexibility of the electricity demand, residential demand response programs offer monetary incentives to the customers to bring about temporary reductions in energy consumption when the grid faces supply shortage or is overloaded. Utilities are interested in enrolling residential customers in their demand response programs in order to maintain a healthy demand-supply balance. Selecting the right set of customers for this is a demanding task, and what makes it even more challenging is the lack of use of the temporal consumption data in the existing customer recruiting methodologies. In this paper, by utilizing the granular smart meter data, we develop a methodology that estimates a customer's potential reduction in consumption based on his/her sensitivity to external temperature, which is then used to train a mixture density recurrent neural network. The network outputs the probability distribution of the demand reduction of the customer. The results can be utilized to accurately select customers, which can then ensure the reliable performance of the demand response program.
Frequency and pattern of Paediatric Heart Diseases: Five years experience at The Children's Hospital, Multan.

Background & Objectives: Heart diseases in paediatric population are considered to be significant contributors to mortality and morbidity. Congenital heart disease (CHD) as well as acquired heart disease (AHD) are frequent causes of hospital admission among children. This study was aimed at finding out frequency and pattern of heart diseases in admitted patients at The Children’s Hospital, Multan. Methods: This study is a retrospective chart review of five years at Paediatric Cardiology Department of The Children’s Hospital and The Institute of Child Health, Multan, Pakistan, from January 2015 to December 2019. Children aged one month to 15 years, admitted as a diagnosed case of heart disease on the basis of echocardiography were included. Results: Out of a total of 4115 confirmed cases of heart disease admitted during the study period, 3250 (79.0%) were CHD while 865 (21.0%) were AHD. Overall, 2861 (69.5%) patients were aged less than one year. VSD followed by ASD were the commonest acyanotic heart lesion seen among 927 (28.5%) and 644 (19.8%) cases while TOF was the commonest cyanotic type heart lesion found in 396 (12.2%). Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) was the commonest type of AHD, seen in 330 (38.2%) cases followed by acute myocarditis found in 230 (26.6%) cases. Conclusion: Burden of heart diseases is rising in our region. VSD, ASD and TOF were the most common types of CHDs while RHD and acute myocarditis were the most frequent types of AHDs. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.6.2312 How to cite this:Arshad MS , Anwar-ul-Haq HM, Adnan M, Zulqarnain A. Frequency and pattern of Paediatric Heart Diseases: Five years experience at The Children’s Hospital, Multan. Pak J Med Sci. 2020;36(6):1308-1312. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.36.6.2312 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abnormal Anisotropic Nonlinear Absorption in Bulk ReS 2 Measured by Intensity-Scan Method

Polarization dependent nonlinear absorption in bulk ReS 2 is measured by Intensity-scan. Absorption under high peak power shows a transition from saturable absorption to reverse saturable absorption when rotating the polarization with respect to the b-axis.
Design flexibility of ultra-high efficiency 4-junction inverted metamorphic solar cells

We present recent improvements to the 4-junction inverted metamorphic solar cell. The device now includes a (Ga)InAsP buffer that transitions to lattice constants greater than InP, which allows access to GaInAs subcells with bandgaps < 0.74 eV and an additional 2 mA/cm2 of bottom junction photocurrent at AM1.5D. However, the optimal design depends on the spectrum and operating temperature. We show how the device flexibility can be used to fine-tune the design for various spectra in order to maximize energy yield for a given operating condition. 1-sun devices achieve 35.3% efficiency under the AM0 spectrum and 37.8% efficiency under the global spectrum at 25°C. Concentrator devices achieve 45.7% peak efficiency under 234x the direct spectrum and maintain over 45% efficiency at 700x at 25°C. Other device improvements include a 4-layer anti-reflection coating with low power loss, and reduced series resistance.
Data-driven chemical kinetic reaction mechanism for F-24 jet fuel ignition

Abstract A data-driven chemical kinetic mechanism for the military version of Jet A, F-24, is developed for numerical simulations of the ignition process. The main purpose of this study is to obtain a practical F-24 mechanism across wide temperature and equivalence ratio ranges, with a particular focus on the negative temperature coefficient and low temperature regions. The new mechanism (ARLMech-HC-F24) is based on the HyChem model of a similar fuel and optimized using a micro-genetic algorithm against an experimental ignition delay data set of the target fuel. The development and optimization processes include reaction selection, population creation, shuffled tournament implementation based on a merit function, and child-individual creation for the next generation. Several techniques and parameters are proposed to generate an accurate mechanism through an efficient process. The newly introduced data-driven mechanism based on these techniques shows better merit value convergence and represents the ignition behavior more accurately than that without the techniques. This practical mechanism is suitable for the numerical simulations of the F-24 or Jet A ignition problem, and the suggested strategies can be employed in similar problems of rate coefficients estimation.
Autism-linked gene FoxP1 selectively regulates the cultural transmission of learned vocalizations

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are characterized by impaired learning of social skills and language. Memories of how parents and other social models behave are used to guide behavioral learning. How ASD-linked genes affect the intertwined aspects of observational learning and behavioral imitation is not known. Here, we examine how disrupted expression of the ASD gene FOXP1, which causes severe impairments in speech and language learning, affects the cultural transmission of birdsong between adult and juvenile zebra finches. FoxP1 is widely expressed in striatal-projecting forebrain mirror neurons. Knockdown of FoxP1 in this circuit prevents juvenile birds from forming memories of an adult song model but does not interrupt learning how to vocally imitate a previously memorized song. This selective learning deficit is associated with potent disruptions to experience-dependent structural and synaptic plasticity in mirror neurons. Thus, FoxP1 regulates the ability to form memories essential to the cultural transmission of behavior.
Denosumab Discontinuation in Patients Treated for Low Bone Density and Osteoporosis

Denosumab (DMAB) is a potent antiresorptive treatment used for treatment of osteoporosis and low bone mineral density (BMD) in those at high risk for fracture. In postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, DMAB treatment for 10 years has been studied, with results showing continued gains in BMD, sustained fracture risk reduction, and low risk of adverse events. However, upon discontinuation of DMAB, there is a rapid reversal of effect, with increase in bone turnover, loss of BMD, and in a subset of patients, a greater risk for multiple vertebral fractures.
Flora of Oregon. Volume 2

Stephen C. Meyers, Thea Jaster, Katie E. Mitchell, Tanya Harvey, and Linda K. Hardison, eds. 2020. Flora of Oregon. Volume 2: Dicots A–F. (ISBN-13: 978-1-889878-61-4, hbk). Botanical Research Institute of Texas Press, 1700 University Dr., Fort Worth, Texas 76107-3400, U.S.A. (Orders: shop.brit.org, orders@brit.org, 1-817-332-4441). $85.00 US, 880 pp., 785 b/w figs., distribution maps, 96 landscape color photos, 7.5" × 10.5".
Portfolio Optimization Under Regime Switching and Transaction Costs: Combining Neural Networks and Dynamic Programs

The contributions of this paper are threefold. First, by combining dynamic programs and neural networks, we provide an efficient numerical method to solve a large multiperiod portfolio allocation p...
Downstream integrators of red, far-red, and blue light signaling for photomorphogenesis

Light energy capture by leaves, water, and mineral absorption by roots are crucial for plant survival. To guide their growth plant organs sense a variety of environmental cues, among which the direction of gravity and the direction of light are the most important. Other environmental factors dictating tropic responses like moisture and touch play minor roles in land plants and are discussed in a recent review (Blancaflor and Masson 2003).
The surgical mystique and the double standard. Controlled trials of medical and surgical therapy for cardiac disease: analysis, hypothesis, proposal.

Abstract Seventy therapeutic trials reported in specialty journals during 1971 were analyzed for evidence of a controlled design to compare standards employed in evaluating treatments for cardiovascular disease. Nine of 16 qualifying medical trials were controlled. None of 49 surgical trials were controlled. The general “double standard” of acceptability for reports of surgical versus medical therapeutic trials appears to arise from fundamental professional and lay attitudes. It is proposed that medical journals require comparable standards for reporting the results of all kinds of treatment.
Handoffs in Cellular Wireless Networks: The Daedalus Implementation and Experience

Network protocols in cellular wireless data networks must update routes as a mobile host moves between cells. These routing updates combined with some associated state changes are called handoffs. Most current handoff schemes in wireless networks result in data loss or large variations in packet delivery times. Unfortunately, many applications, such as real-time multimedia applications and reliable transport protocols, adapt to long term estimates of end-to-end delay and loss. Violations and rapid fluctuations of these estimates caused by handoff processing often result in degraded performance. For example, loss during handoff adversely affects TCP performance [4], and high packet loss and variable delays result in poor real-time multimedia performance. In this paper, we describe a multicast-based protocol that eliminates data loss and incurs negligible delays during a handoff. The basic technique of the algorithm is to anticipate a handoff using wireless network information in the form of received signal strengths and to multicast data destined for the mobile host to nearby base stations in advance. This routing, combined with intelligent buffering techniques at the base stations, enables very rapid routing updates and eliminates data loss without the use of explicit data forwarding. We have implemented this protocol using IP Multicast and Mobile IP-like routing. In our implementation, handoffs typically take between 8 and 15 ms to complete and result in no data loss.
A Beginner’s Introduction to Fukaya Categories

The goal of these notes is to give a short introduction to Fukaya categories and some of their applications. The first half of the text is devoted to a brief review of Lagrangian Floer (co)homology and product structures. Then we introduce the Fukaya category (informally and without a lot of the necessary technical detail), and briefly discuss algebraic concepts such as exact triangles and generators. Finally, we mention wrapped Fukaya categories and outline a few applications to symplectic topology, mirror symmetry and low-dimensional topology.
The Supreme Court and the Conflict of Laws

status of the Missouri judgment. The only issue that has ever been in this case is the right of the Missouri claimant to participate in the Illinois assets on the basis of the face value of his judgment .... What was before that court [Illinois] and what is before this Court is whether a Missouri claimant may share in the distribution of a common fund not on the basis of a claim established according to a uniform procedure but on the basis of a judgment secured in Missouri subsequent to the passing of that fund to the Illinois liquidator." 67 Sup. Ct. 451, 462 (1947). 28. Vanston Bondholders Prot. Committee v. Green, 67 Sup. Ct. 237, 243 (1946) (concurring opinion). 29. 67 Sup. Ct. 451, 457 (1947). 30. 67 Sup. Ct. 451, 460 (1947). 31. Clarkv. Williard, 294 U. S. 211 (1935). 32. Id. at 211, 212.
Neutron Thresholds from the Reactions T 3 ( p , n ) He 3 , Li 7 ( p , n ) Be 7 , Be 9 ( d , n ) B 10 * , and O 16 ( d , n ) F 17

Techniques are described for observing low energy (15-60 kev) "threshold" neutrons in the presence of fast neutrons. The threshold of the ${\mathrm{T}}^{3}(p,n){\mathrm{He}}^{3}$ reaction was found to be 1020.3 kev, which gives a $Q$-value of the reaction equal to - 764.7 kev and a neutron-hydrogen mass difference of 783.2 kev. Interpretation of data near the threshold of the ${\mathrm{Li}}^{7}(p,n){\mathrm{Be}}^{7}$ reaction gives indication of a level in ${\mathrm{Be}}^{8}$ near 18.90 Mev. Three neutron thresholds have been observed in the reaction ${\mathrm{Be}}^{9}(d,n)^{*}\mathrm{B}^{10}$ at deuteron energies of 920, 985, and 1916 kev. The corresponding $Q$-values are -752, -805, and -1566 kev; these give excited states in ${\mathrm{B}}^{10}$ at 5.110, 5.163, and 5.924 Mev. The threshold of the reaction ${\mathrm{O}}^{16}(d,n){\mathrm{F}}^{17}$ was determined to be 1836 kev, giving a $Q$ value of -1631 kev and a mass of ${\mathrm{F}}^{17}$ equal to 17.007506.
Collective-flow correlations in 197Au-emulsion interactions at 10.6A GeV

Abstract We have studied the azimuthal angle correlations in pairs of alpha particles, in Intermediate Mass Fragments (IMFs), and in higher order multiplets observed in 197 Au-emulsion interactions at 10.6 A GeV. The correlation functions for higher fragment multiplets (greater than three or more fragments) exhibit characteristic signatures which are enhanced compared to those of two-fragment correlation functions. The pure multiplet contribution is extracted from the observed higher-order correlation functions. The measurements of collective flow correlations in heavy-ion collisions are best obtained by studying several fragments with mixed charges including He fragments.
The Cuban Missile Crisis and the Threat of Nuclear War: Lessons from History – By Len Scott

There has been no shortage of scholarly interest in the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, often described as the moment when the world came closest to nuclear destruction. In this work, Len Scott utilizes...
A dynamic measurement method for parasitic capacitances of high voltage SiC MOSFETs

The voltage dependent parasitic capacitances in high voltage semiconductor power devices such as MOSFET, JFET and IGBT play a vital role in the understanding and modeling of the device switching performance. In this paper, a simple but effective parasitic capacitance measurement method is proposed. The output capacitance C oss and the reverse transfer capacitance C rss can be measured simultaneously and directly in the proposed parasitic capacitance tester (PCT). The input capacitance C iss is measured based on gate driver waveforms during the turn on transient. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, a 10kV SiC MOSFET parasitic capacitances are measured as an example. The measured parasitic capacitance results are compared with those from a conventional LCR meter and theoretical calculation. Furthermore, a Matlab/Simulink compact circuit model for the 10kV SiC MOSFET is developed based on the measured parasitic capacitances, whose results also validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Undesirable equilibria in systematically designed neural networks

It is possible for neural networks which have been designed using a systematic methodology to possess stable states that do not fulfil network design objectives. Two types of undesirable equilibria are described along with strategies for avoiding or escaping them. The first strategy, introducing symmetry breaking noise, is a technique which is sufficient to escape from unstable equilibria. Other techniques must be used to prevent a network from settling in undesirable but stable states. Modifying the initial state of an amplifier and reducing its gain are two techniques which are capable of enabling certain networks to escape unfeasible but stable states. If the gain of an amplifier is reduced to escape an unfeasible state, it is important to return the gain to the minimum value which will enable it to reach a digital final state. Another strategy, introducing a noise component into the update increment, has also been used successfully to escape undesirable equilibria. >
Synthesis of 4% Glu-containing Val1 and Ile1-polypentapeptides: model protein systems for demonstrating mechanochemical coupling.

The synthesis of 4% Glu-polypentapeptide (PPP) (i.e., 4 Glu residues per 100 amino acid residues) and 4% Glu-Ile1-PPP, in which Val1 is substituted by a more hydrophobic Ile residue, is carried out by copolymerizing thep-nitrophenyl-active esters of GE(OMe)GVP and GE(OMe)GIP with their parent pentamers GVGVP and GVGIP in 1:4 ratios, respectively. After removal of the methyl ester on the side chain of Glu, these polymers exhibited a remarkablepH dependence of the temperature for their inverse temperature transitions, which are followed as turbidity development at 300 nm. On γ-irradiation crosslinking, the elastomeric bands obtained exhibited apH-mediated contraction and relaxation. Thus, for the first time, mechanochemical coupling is demonstrated in a synthetic polypeptide system. That the basic mechanism involves the hydrophobic effect (chemical modulation of an inverse temperature transition) and not ion-ion electrostatic repulsion is also discussed.
An ultrastructural study of spore germination in the myxomyceteStemonitis virginiensis

Spore germination inStemonitis virginiensis was investigated with electron microscopy. The spore wall contains two layers, an outer electron-dense component and an inner electron-transparent component. The outer component is more prominent over most of the spore surface. Each spore, however, has a distinct thickened region in the wall where the inner component is exaggerated and the outer component is relatively thin. The germination pore forms near the center of this thickened region. A break first occurs in the outer wall component. The more elastic inner component is then stretched out of the spore case through the germination pore and is finally ruptured by the emerging protoplast.
Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Is Produced by Dying Retinal Neurons and Is Required for Müller Glia Proliferation during Zebrafish Retinal Regeneration

Intense light exposure causes photoreceptor apoptosis in dark-adapted adult albino zebrafish (Danio rerio). Subsequently, Muller glia increase expression of the Achaete-scute complex-like 1a (Ascl1a) and Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) transcription factors and re-enter the cell cycle to yield undifferentiated neuronal progenitors that continue to proliferate, migrate to the outer nuclear layer, and differentiate into photoreceptors. A proteomic analysis of light-damaged retinal homogenates, which induced Muller glia proliferation when injected into an undamaged eye, revealed increased expression of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) signaling proteins relative to undamaged retinal homogenates. TNFα expression initially increased in apoptotic photoreceptors and later in Muller glia. Morpholino-mediated knockdown of TNFα expression before light damage diminished the expression of both Ascl1a and Stat3 in Muller glia and significantly reduced the number of proliferating Muller glia without affecting photoreceptor cell death. Knockdown of TNFα expression in the Muller glia resulted in fewer proliferating Muller glia, suggesting that Muller glial-derived TNFα recruited additional Muller glia to re-enter the cell cycle. While TNFα is required for increased Ascl1a and Stat3 expression, Ascl1a and Stat3 are both necessary for TNFα expression in Muller glia. Apoptotic inner retinal neurons, resulting from intravitreal injection of ouabain, also exhibited increased TNFα expression that was required for Muller glia proliferation. Thus, TNFα is the first molecule identified that is produced by dying retinal neurons and is necessary to induce Muller glia to proliferate in the zebrafish retinal regeneration response.
Lignin intermediates and simple phenolics as feeding stimulants for Scolytus multistriatus.

Abstract Comparative stimulation of Scolytus multistriatus feeding by tested dihydroxybenzenes and benzaldehydes showed that molecules with 1,4 substitutions on the benzene ring were most active; 1,3 and 1,2 substitutions were progressively less active. Methoxyl substitution adjacent to the 4-hydroxyl group on benzaldehydes reduced feeding and replacement of a hydroxyl by a methoxyl group on 1,2 disubstituted phenols destroyed the feeding response. Methoxyl substitution on benzaldehydes increased volatility and short-range attraction, but reduced feeding activity in the laboratory bioassays.
Effects of graveling on the primary productivity, respiration and nutrient flux of two estuarine tidal flats

This study was conducted in Puget Sound, USA, and investigated the effect of graveling intertidal mud and sandflats to enhance clam production on the benthic assemblage structure, primary productivity, respiration, and nutrient flux. The study was conducted between spring and autumn (1991), the period of greatest productivity and plant standing stock in Puget Sound. Graveled and control plots were established in the low intertidal zone on a mud flat in a protected embayment (Chapman Cove) and an exposed sandflat (Semiahmoo Bay). Gravel altered benthic assemblage structure, respiration, and nutrient flux rates. Graveled plots contained more surface coverage of sessile animals and seaweeds. Net productivity (NP), which differed relatively little between graveled and control plots, was negative for all but one sampling at the protected embayment plots. In contrast, NP was always positive at the exposed sandflat plots. The respiration rate was 13 to 57% greater in the graveled plot at Chapman Cove than in the adjacent control plot, and 7 to 54% greater in the gravel plot than the control plots at Semiahmoo Bay. Heterotrophy was greater in the graveled plots, as reflected by a lower net productivity to respiration ratio. Effects of graveling on water quality parameters such as dissolved oxygen and inorganic nitrogen concentrations were not detected. Graveling sandy and mud beaches increases secondary productivity, which is associated with increased rates of remineralization and release of dissolved nutrients to the water column.
Ordered dye-functionalized TiO2 nanostructures for photoelectrochemical applications

Nanomaterials are advantageous for photoelectrochemical solar cell devices for high efficient conversion of light to electrical power due to its large surface area at which photoelectrochemical processes take place. One of the current solar cell systems utilizes dye-functionalized mesoporous titania films that consist of an interconnected network of nanometer-sized crystals. This type of structure imparts a large surface area for efficient dye adsorption and, thus, efficient electron-hole formation. This structure formed with connected nanoparticles possesses mesoscopic pores with an irregular and non-uniform pore structure. Such a structure imparts two problems: the transport of electrons through such a random structure, particularly through the necks between two particles, may become a limiting step, and the irregular mesoporous structure may not be ideal for dye assembly. In addition, a liquid electrolyte has to be used to accommodate such irregular mesoporous structures. In this paper, we propose to explore and present some preliminary results of ordered dye-functionalized titania nanostructures for potential enhancement of electron percolation pathways and light conversion. Such dye-sensitized, uniformly-sized, and unidirectionally-aligned titania nanorods and indium-tin-oxide nanorods coated with a titania layer have been synthesized and characterized for discussion.
Evaluation of ACE‐inhibitor (ACE‐I) associated cough using modified prescription sequence analysis (PSA)

Objective — Identify whether the prescription sequence of cough suppressant within one year following patients' first ACE-I prescription can be used as an indicator for the occurrence of ACE-I associated cough. Design — Observational retrospective controlled cohort design using all patients receiving ACE-I as study cohort and patients having prescriptions for hydralazine, clonodine and prazosin as the control. Patient demographics and prescribing indications were controlled statistically using multivariate logistic regression. Setting — A large computerized clinical database encompassing the medical records of 450,000 patients seen over a 20-year period at a county medical centre ambulatory clinic. Patients — 5373 patients exposed to any of captopril, enalapril, lisinopril, clonodine, hydralazine or prazosin. Main results — This study identified an odds ratio (OR) of 1.53 [95% confidence interal (CI) 1.17 to 2.01] for receipt of an antitussive following patients' first ACE-I prescription. Other significant risk factors included female gender [OR = 1.52, CI 1.13 to 2.07] and diagnosis of congestive heart failure [OR = 1.47, CI 1.10 to 1.94]. Conclusion — The receipt of an antitussive following ACE-I prescription may be used to monitor for ACE-I associated cough, although its utility is unknown.
Axiomatic data type specifications: A first order theory of linear lists

A formal first order theory is given as a specification of the data type of linear lists. Various aspects and properties of the theory are explored, such as consistency, completeness and independence. In addition, implementation issues and their relation to the formal theory are also discussed.
The effects of 3-D anelasticity (Q) structure on surface wave phase delays

SUMMARY Lateral variations in anelasticity (Q) provide important constraints complementary to 3-D wave speed variations in mapping 3-D thermal and compositional structures in the mantle. In present-day joint tomographic inversions of global velocity and anelasticity (Q) structure, 3-D anelastic dispersion effects on surface waves have been ignored. In this work, we quantify the effects of 3-D Q structure on surface wave phase delays by simulating wave propagation in 3-D wave speed and 3-D Q models using a spectral element method (SEM). We compare phase delays caused by 3-D Q structure and those caused by 3-D velocity structure. Our results show that (1) roughly 15–20 per cent of the observed phase delays (traveltimes) in long-period surface waves are due to 3-D Q structure; this implies that neglecting 3-D anelastic dispersion effects can lead to biased velocity models in seismic tomography; (2) the effects of Q perturbations on surface wave phase delays are frequency dependent as a result of local S-wave anelastic dispersion, frequency-dependent depth sensitivity of surface waves as well as the 3-D distribution of Q anomalies. In our numerical experiments, the significance of 3-D anelastic dispersion increases with wave period, and the frequency dependence is most apparent in the period range between 60 and 150 s and becomes weaker at 150–200 s and (3) assuming a thermal origin, anelastic delays caused by ‘hot’ anomalies (or advances caused by ‘cold’ anomalies) are correlated with elastic delays (or advances), but their relation is not linear: the ratio between anelastic and elastic delays (or advances) becomes larger for ‘hotter’ anomalies than for ‘colder’ anomalies.
A comparison of the HL-60 cell line and human granulocytes to effect the bioactivation of arylamines and related xenobiotics. The binding of 2-aminofluorene to nucleic acids as the result of the respiratory burst.

Abstract Studies were made on the ability of the leukemic cell line, HL-60, to substitute for normal human granulocytes in research concerned with the bioactivation of arylamines. The arylamine carcinogen, 2-aminofluorene (2-AF), was used as the model substrate in the form of 2-[9-14C]AF, and was incubated with HL-60 cell cultures, both in the presence and absence of phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) which induces the respiratory burst. The HL-60 cultures were generally employed after having been induced to undergo differentiation to neutrophils by the action of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Comparisons of the amounts of DNA and RNA binding by 2-AF between HL-60 and normal human granulocyte cultures demonstrated close similarities in the amount and nature of nucleic acid binding by this arylamine substrate. HL-60 cells that had been induced to differentiate to neutrophils to the extent of about 80% showed high levels of the respiratory burst along with extensive covalent binding of 2-[9-14C]AF to cellular nucleic acids. Although normal human granulocytes tended to metabolize 2-AF slightly faster than did highly differentiated HL-60 cells, the extent of nucleic acid binding relative to the amount of 2-AF metabolized was similar. A major difference in the metabolic fate of 2-AF in these cell cultures was the unique ability of HL-60 cultures at all stages of differentiation to effect the slow N-acetylation of 2-AF to give 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF). Extensive analyses of incubation extracts showed that the major differences in apparant metabolites were quantitative. With few exceptions, both activated HL-60 and granulocyte cell cultures produced the same metabolites, most of which remain unidentified. Studies with inhibitors such as catalase, superoxide dismutase and azide ion further suggest that these two related cell cultures metabolize 2-AF in a similar manner. The DMSO-differentiated HL-60 culture is proposed as a convenient model with which to investigate the metabolism and bioactivation of arylamines by human granulocytes or pure neutrophils.
COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ANTIGEN-BINDING T CELLS IN GENETIC HIGH AND LOW RESPONDER MICE

[125I](T,G)-A--L-binding T cells have been studied in mice whose ability to mount an immune response to (T,G)-A--L is under control of the H-2-linked Ir-1A gene. Nonimmunized high and low responder mice have approximately the same frequency of T-ABC. Following immunization, T-ABC proliferated only in high responders, but not in low responders, indicating expression of Ir-1A in T cells. When, for comparison, [125I]arsanyl-mouse serum albumin binding B and T cells were investigated in mice whose antibody response to the hapten arsanyl is controlled by an allotype-linked Ir gene, it was found that following immunization the number of B-ABC increased only in high responders. In contrast, T-ABC proliferated to the same extent in both high and low responders, suggesting exclusive expression of the allotype-linked Ir gene in the B-cell line. Preliminary studies indicate that anti-Ia sera inhibit neither B-ABC nor T-ABC.
Adoption of Policies to Treat Tobacco Dependence in U.S. Medical Groups

Background There remains an ongoing need to reduce tobacco use in the U.S. Physician organizations, such as medical groups, can support healthcare providers to be more effective in their delivery of tobacco cessation by adopting practices recommended in the Public Health Service Clinical Practice Guideline for Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence (PHS Guideline). Purpose To document the extent to which activities to reduce tobacco use, as recommended in the PHS Guideline as system-level interventions, are provided within large medical groups in the U.S. Methods During 2006–2007, data were collected on 339 medical groups operating in the U.S., with 20 or more physicians treating at least one of four chronic conditions. Organizations were surveyed regarding activities to reduce tobacco use as recommended in the PHS Guideline as system-level interventions (i.e., tobacco-use status documentation, policies to promote provider interventions, and staff dedicated to treating tobacco dependence). Between 2008 and 2009, bivariate associations and multivariate logistic regression models assessed the relationship of organizational characteristics and external incentives with adoption of systems strategies for treating tobacco dependence. Results Nearly 83% of medical groups with 20 or more physicians operating in the U.S. in 2006–2007 have adopted one or more strategies recommended as effective to support the treatment of tobacco dependence. However, only 5.6% of medical groups engage in all eight tobacco control activities examined in this study. The two factors that were associated most consistently with medical group policies to treat tobacco dependence were the patient-centeredness of the organization and participation in a quality demonstration program. Conclusions There is much room for improvement in increasing medical group adoption of systems strategies to reduce tobacco use. The findings in this paper suggest recommendations to achieve these improvements.
Occurrence of a unique MHC class I gene in distantly related members of the genus Mus.

There is unequivocal evidence that a relatively nonpolymorphic class I gene (designated Q10) from the Qa region of inbred mice encodes a secreted class 1 molecule. We have used a cDNA probe specific for this gene and an antiserum specific for its secreted protein product to investigate the occurrence and expression of this gene in different species of wild mice broadly representing the entire genus Mus. Evidence is presented that a Q10-like gene has been conserved and is transcribed and translated throughout the genus, suggesting that it serves an important function. However, the data also show that some differences have appeared in this gene over the period of evolutionary time covered by this sampling of wild mice. These results indicate that a specific class I DNA probe isolated from inbred mice can be used to discriminate a particular gene among the multiple class I genes present in other species.
The GEOSAT Altimeter Mission: A milestone in satellite oceanography

In April 1985 the U.S. Navy satellite GEOSAT began generating a remarkable data set that may change the way in which physical oceanographers view the global oceans. GEOSAT (Figure 1) carries a radar altimeter that provides a continuous record of sea level along the satellite ground track. Such records enable determination of sea level variability and have application in many areas of ocean dynamics. Experience with GEOS 3 (Geodynamics Experimental Ocean Satellite 3) and Seasat in the 1970s demonstrated the enormous potential of altimetry for oceanography. Seasat, for example, gathered sufficient altimeter data in its last 25 days alone to yield a global description of the mesoscale eddy field [Cheney et al., 1983], wave number spectra of sea level variability [Fu, 1983], and a global model of the M2 tide [Mazzega, 1985].
Pharmacophore modeling strategies for the development of novel nonsteroidal inhibitors of human aromatase (CYP19)

The present study utilizes for the first time the structural information of aromatase, an important pharmacological target in anti-breast cancer therapy, to extract the pharmacophoric features important for interactions between the enzyme and its substrate, androstenedione. A ligand-based pharmacophore model developed from the most comprehensive list of nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitors (AIs) is described and explained, as well. This study demonstrates that the ligand-based pharmacophore model contributes to efficacy while the structure-based model contributes to specificity. It is also shown that a 'merged' model (i.e., a merged structure-based and ligand-based model) can successfully identify known AIs and differentiate between active and inactive inhibitors. Therefore, this model can be effectively used to identify the next generation of highly specific and less toxic aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer treatment.
Response Patterning under Fixed-Ratio Punishment

Punishment with various intensities of bar shock of every 2nd, 4th, or 8th response by rhesus monkeys was studied against a variable-interval schedule of food reinforcement. Negatively accelerated response rates between punishments appeared as shock intensity increased. Increasing the intensity of punishment increased the latency of the first response after food reinforcement more than the latencies of other responses. The interaction of punishment with time since last reinforcement may indicate that response strength on unpunished variable-interval schedules increases between reinforcements.
The generation of transition radiation by relativistic particles in plastic foam radiators

The design of large area transition radiation detectors for highly relativistic particles can be greatly simplified if plastic foam radiators are employed. Using electron beams with energies 1-9 GeV at the Cornell synchrotron, we have studied the properties of a large variety of transition radiators consisting of commercially available foam materials. In most cases, a measurable transition radiation signal has been observed, but only a few materials have been found to be suitable for practical purposes. The observed radiation yield is in these cases very similar to that of equivalent multifoil radiators. A detailed discussion is given of the particle detection efficiency that can be obtained with high yield foam radiators.
HyperCard-assisted journal article filing system.

The author describes his own system of filing and accessing articles by means of a computerized representation of the articles. This system, using HyperCard stacks, provides an easy and quick method to store and retrieve useful articles.
Prolonged exercise potentiates sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ uptake in rat diaphragm.

The effects of a single bout of prolonged treadmill exercise [mean=81 (13) min] on sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ release, uptake and ATPase activity were determined in the costal region of rat diaphragm (D) and red gastrocnemius (RG). Glycogen depletion measurements made immediately following exercise suggested that treadmill running substantially recruited the fibers throughout both muscles. SR Ca2+ ATPase activity, measured in isolated SR vesicles, decreased in the RG by 33% but remained unchanged in D in response to the exercise bout. This effect in RG was matched by a 37% decline in Ca2+ uptake and a 28% depression in Ca2+ release when measured in muscle homogenates. Conversely, Ca2+ uptake increased between 157% and 263% in the D in the absence of any change in Ca2+ release. These data show that the attenuation of SR function that has been consistently observed in limb muscle over the last several decades is absent in diaphragm despite the fact that its fibers appear to experience sufficient activity to deplete their glycogen. In fact, the large increase in Ca2+ uptake in D shows that prolonged activity actually potentiates the ability of SR vesicles to sequester Ca2+ in the absence of any increase in energy cost. Thus, it appears necessary to re-evaluate the role of exercise in regulating Ca2+ sequestration by the SR as different muscles may respond in ways that are dictated by their function.
Snow Leopards in Nepal

Snow leopards are shy and nocturnal, inhabiting high and difficult mountain country. Nevertheless the author, who spent two months in the winter of 1976–77 in the Langu Valley in the Nepalese Himalaya, is convinced that numbers are declining due to over-hunting, a decline in their natural prey, and the increased use of alpine pastures by man and his livestock. Probably none of Nepal's mountain parks harbour snow leopards, and a large sanctuary for them is urgently needed.
Postural maintenance during fast forward bending: a model simulation experiment determines the “reduced trajectory”

A recent article by Crenna et al. (1987) has shown that fast, forward bending movements are accompanied by a backwards motion of the hips and lower limbs. The ongoing research presented in this brief note expands upon the experimental data described by Crenna and colleagues, concerning the postural activities associated with rapid forward bending in standing man. Our primary experimental tool is the computer simulation method, with the standing subject being represented by a double-joint system: the trunk is modeled as a rigid link mechanically coupled (via a “hip” joint) to the lower body link fixed to the ground (via an “ankle” joint). Each of the two joints in this system is independently controlled by a neurological control model for single joint movements, consisting of an idealized pair of antagonistic muscles (flexor and extensor), their common load, and proprioception from the muscle spindles. This model thereby integrates descending commands with proprioceptive feedback in controlling the joint movements. Our early simulation experiments determine a “reduced trajectory”, that is, the physical perturbation to the postural system, due to the voluntary movement, in the absence of any stabilizing activities. These simulation experiments clearly show that an important component of the backward movements in the hips and lower limbs during forward bending is indeed due to the mechanical (physical) coupling between the upper and lower body segments and thus not solely a consequence of the anticipatory postural muscle activity. Simulations also predict that any postural activities in the hips and lower limbs should be a two-fold process: first, some preprogrammed, descending control to the lower body would be required to actively enhance the passive, backwards motion (this is consistent with, though not strictly identical to, the hypothesis of Crenna and colleagues); secondly, there must be a subsequent activation in the anterior muscles of the lower body in order to arrest this backwards motion, since otherwise the uncountered momentum would carry the body backward to the floor in less than half a second after the upper body movement has terminated.