cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cancer of the breast in poor black women

The authors carried out a retrospective analysis of 708 patients (94% blacks) with breast cancer who were diagnosed, treated and/or followed at Harlem Hospital Center (New York) between 1964 and 1986: nearly all patients were of low economic status with almost 50% having no medical coverage. Surgical treatment was implemented in 512 patients (72%). Radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy alone were used in 94 patients (13%); 102 patients (14%) refused treatment or died before its initiation. The 5-year and 10-year survival rates for those treated surgically were 39% and 27%, respectively. For those patients undergoing surgery (47% of whom were in Stages III and IV), 5-year and 10-year survival rates were analyzed according to stage of the disease. They were 54% and 54%, respectively, for Stage I; 56% and 35%, respectively, for Stage II; 41% and 18%, respectively, for Stage III; and 11% and 0%, respectively, for Stage IV. There was significant difference in the 5-year survival rates between patients with pathologically negative lymph nodes (64%) and a single positive lymph node (71%), compared to those with multiple positive lymph nodes (33%; P = 0.001). The 10-year survival rates were 39%, 34%, and 15% (P = 0.001), respectively. The authors conclude that breast cancer survival in this population of poor black women is low compared to the survival rate of black women nationally and very low compared to white women.
Narrow nonlinear-optical resonances in CdSSe-doped glass

We describe frequency-domain spectroscopy studies of glasses doped with CdS1−xSex using low-power cw tunable dye lasers. The results show a narrow resonance (4.4 kHz at room temperature) in the backward nearly degenerate four-wave mixing spectrum, which we believe is determined by the phonon-mediated inverse lifetime of a deep level trap involved in the nonlinear response.
The development of the septum primum relative to atrial septation in the mouse heart

The septum primum in the mouse originates as a thickened primordium with a straight rather than a sickle-shaped ventral border. It is covered on its ventral border by anterior cushion material which is continuous over the roof of the atrium with the principal anterior cushion mass. A process of cavitation thins the septum primum and precedes actual fenestration. This process shifts the membranous septum to the left thereby providing room for the septum secundum to overlap on the right side. The septum primum cannot contact the posterior cushion until closure of the sinus venosus gutter which is described. The closure of the interatrial foramen, later the foramen primum, is accomplished by cell growth of the anterior cushion material. The ventral thick border of the septum primum contributes to the ventral limbus and the caudal thickened boundary of the fossa ovalis with some contribution from the left venous valve. These boundaries as well as the membranous portion of the interatrial septum are derived from the same primordium, namely the septum primum.
Describing first-order spatio-temporal distortions in ultrashort pulses using normalized parameters

We develop a first-order description of spatio-temporal distortions in ultrashort pulses using normalized parameters that allow for a direct assessment of their severity, and we give intuitive pictures of pulses with different amounts of the various distortions. Also, we provide an experimental example of the use of these parameters in the case of spatial chirp monitored in real-time during the alignment of an amplified laser system.
Ras‐mediated intestinal epithelial cell transformation requires cyclooxygenase‐2‐induced prostaglandin E2 signaling

Ras-mediated transformation is associated with upregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which in turn promotes prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis and secretion. Although recent studies have identified molecular mechanisms by which Ras mediates upregulation of COX-2, conflicting observations have been made. Furthermore, while COX-2 upregulation has been shown to be important for Ras transformation, the signaling pathways initiated by PGE2-stimulation of EP family of heterotrimeric G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) and contribution of PGE2 signaling to Ras-mediated transformation are issues that remain unresolved. In this study, we first determined that Raf effector pathway activation of the extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade alone was sufficient and necessary for COX-2 and PGE2 upregulation. However, Raf-independent regulation of the c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAPK cascades is also involved in COX-2 and PGE2 upregulation, with the JNK and p38 pathways exhibiting opposing roles in COX-2 and PGE2 upregulation. Furthermore, in contrast to previous studies, we found that an epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor autocrine growth mechanism, another Raf-independent signaling mechanism, was necessary for COX-2 and PGE2 upregulation. Second, we determined that inhibition of EP1/2 receptor function blocked growth transformation by Ras, demonstrating that PGE2 upregulation is a key transforming function of COX-2. Finally, we found that PGE2 stimulated the activation of Ras and ERK, but not Akt, and reduced matrix deprivation-induced apoptosis, in untransformed epithelial cells. In summary, our studies define additional, multiple signaling mechanisms that promote COX-2 and PGE2 expression and show that COX-2-stimulated PGE2-EP receptor signaling is required for growth and survival transformation by Ras.
Sphingosine-1-phosphate rapidly increases cortisol biosynthesis and the expression of genes involved in cholesterol uptake and transport in H295R adrenocortical cells.

In the acute phase of adrenocortical steroidogenesis, adrenocorticotrophin (ACTH) activates a cAMP/PKA-signaling pathway that promotes the transport of free cholesterol to the inner mitochondrial membrane. We have previously shown that ACTH rapidly stimulates the metabolism of sphingolipids and the secretion of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) in H295R cells. In this study, we examined the effect of S1P on genes involved in the acute phase of steroidogenesis. We show that S1P increases the expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO), low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), and scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI). S1P-induced StAR mRNA expression requires Gαi signaling, phospholipase C (PLC), Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CamKII), and ERK1/2 activation. S1P also increases intracellular Ca2+, the phosphorylation of hormone sensitive lipase (HSL) at Ser563, and cortisol secretion. Collectively, these findings identify multiple roles for S1P in the regulation of glucocorticoid biosynthesis.
Hypoglycemia in Hospitalized Adult Patients without Diabetes

Objective: To study hypoglycemia in hospitalized patients without diabetes and to assess the role of underlying illness in the development of hypoglycemia and its association with outcome. Methods: We undertook a retrospective review of medical records at a university-affiliated tertiary care teaching hospital to identify adult patients without diabetes, admitted between 1994 and 2002, who presented with a blood glucose level of £50 mg/dL (£2.8 mmol/L). Results: We identified 88 patients (51 men and 37 women) who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The mean age of the study group was 64 years. Specific contributing comorbid illnesses that could cause hypoglycemia were found in 63 patients (72%), 24 (38%) of whom had more than one comorbid condition. Chronic renal failure was found in 22 patients (25%); alcohol intoxication was present in 13 patients (15%); and liver failure, sepsis, cancer, and endocrine disorders each accounted for 11 cases of hypoglycemia (12%). Of the 88 patients, 14 (16%) died. These pa...
Schema Model of the Self-Concept to Examine the Role of the Self-Concept in Alcohol Dependence and Recovery:

In this article, we review the existing research on the self-concept in alcohol dependence and recovery and describe a theoretical model of the self-concept, called the schema model, that can be used to interpret the findings from the existing literature and serve as a framework for further research studies. Next, we provide some empirical evidence from a recent study based on the schema model that demonstrates that specific content and structural properties of the self-concept are associated with alcohol dependence and recovery. We then discuss implications for nursing research and practice.J Am Psychiatr Nurses Assoc, 2007; 13(1), 31-41.
Transforming growth factor-β inhibits prostaglandin production in amnion and A431 cells

Abstract We studied the effect of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) on prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) production and mitogenesis in human amnion cells and compared the response in amnion cells with that in A431 cells. Both amnion cells and A431 cells respond to epidermal growth factor (EGF) with increased production of PGE 2 whereas EGF promotes mitogenesis in amnion cells but not in A431 cells. In amnion cells, TGF-β was not mitogenic, and did not alter the mitogenic response of cells to EGF. Treatment of amnion cells with TGF-β did, however, cause a decrease in PGE 2 production relative to untreated cells, although EGF stimulated PGE 2 production was not attenuated. In A431 cells, TGF-β acted to decrease PGE 2 production relative to untreated cells and to attenuate the stimulation of PGE 2 production effected by EGF. The inhibitory action of TGF-β on PG production in amnion and A431 cells is contrary to the stimulation of PG production in mouse calvaria reported by others and is suggestive that the effect of TGF-β on prostaglandin production, like its effect on growth, varies between different cell types. Inhibition of PG production by treatment of amnion or A431 cells with mefenamic acid did not alter thymidine incorporation into DNA in response to EGF; similarly, the addition of PGE 2 or PGF 2α to culture media of amnion or A431 cells had no effect on mitogenesis (in the absence or presence of EGF). Based on these findings, we conclude that PG production and EGF action on proliferation (stimulation in amnion cells; inhibition in A431 cells) are dissociated.
Hurricane-induced carbonate enrichment of a Holocene coastal bay sequence, Sarasota Bay, Florida

Abstract Sarasota Bay is a shallow, somewhat ovoid coastal bay, landward of a Holocene barrier complex on the west-central, microtidal Gulf of Mexico coast of Florida. The general stratigraphy of the west Florida coastal area consists of a thin veneer of Quaternary siliciclastic sand overlying Tertiary carbonates and argillaceous materials. Biogenic carbonate debris is typically less than 10% by weight of the total volume of coastal sand. Due to lack of significant fluvial influence and source material, coupled with higher energy levels than adjacent bays, mineral mud deposition within Sarasota Bay has been minor; consequently, continuous infilling of the bay has not occurred. Instead, the passage of major hurricanes has resulted in sporadic, event-related deposition. At least three major hurricanes are represented within the bay stratigraphy. Major hurricanes opened inlets and deposited a Storm Facies within the bay. The Graded Storm Facies comprises conspicuously fining-upward units of highly porous, sandy shell-gravel to slightly shelly quartz sand, formed by rapid deposition as sediment-charged water passed into the bay through inlets. The Homogeneous Storm Facies comprises mixed shelly sand units formed from reworking of Graded Storm Facies or older deposits. Storm Facies, which contain about 42wt% bioclastic carbonate, dominate central bay areas, and have resulted in significant carbonate enrichment of the total bay sediment complex. Transgression of quartz-sand dominated Barrier Island Facies across the bay may preserve basal carbonate-enriched facies and result in a coastal bay sequence in which the mean grain size and carbonate content generally decrease upward.
Directional ad hoc networking technology (DANTE) performance at sea

SPAWAR Systems Center Pacific has spent several years developing directional wireless networks. These networks harness the power of highly directive antennas (range extension, higher data rates, lower power consumption, etc.) and have software to deal with the additional beam-steering complexity. The directional networking technology, DANTE, is outlined first. Three Trident Warrior at-sea tests of DANTE are then described, with summaries of each of their successes and limitations. Finally, we briefly relate ongoing DANTE-2 research efforts on the antennas and networking software.
Evaluation of a Carbon Adsorption Method for Sampling Gasoline Vapors in the Subsurface

Monitoring of the vapor phase has emerged as a very convenient method for detecting volatile organic contaminants in the subsurface. It can provide a reliable way of placing ground water monitoring and recovery wells. The most common method uses a driveable ground probe (DGP) to extract a vapor-phase sample followed by direct injection of the vapor into a portable gas chromatograph (GC). However, many regional offices of regulatory agencies and consultants do not have ready access to such equipment. This research explores an alternative–the carbon adsorption method—in which the vapor is withdrawn by the DGP but concentrated on a small activated carbon trap (150mg). The carbon traps can be returned to a central laboratory for solvent extraction and GC analysis. This provides the advantages of increased sensitivity, reduction in field equipment and convenience of in-lab analyses (multiple GC injections are possible). A simple DGP and carbon trap system was constructed and tested at a field site. Vapor-phase concentrations of target compounds present in gasoline were mapped quite conveniently, ranging from 10,000μg/liter (vapor phase) to less than 10μg/L. These concentrations were also shown to decrease in the direction of the ground surface, as expected. Measurements of target compounds in soil showed that the vapor phase contributed a large fraction of the total contaminant burden where a non-aqueous-phase layer (NAPL) had been identified; as important, however, is the rather uniform contamination of the soil outside the NAPL region. Finally, the concentrations of target compounds in the vapor phase and ground water could be related in a manner roughly described by a simple equilibrium model, although exceptions were noted.
A more realistic locking model and its analysis

The performance of transaction processing systems as affected by standard locking, i.e., the strict two-phase locking concurrency control method with the general waiting policy, has been reported in numerous studies based on analytic solutions and simulation. However, most studies assume a homogeneous database access model, i.e., all transactions follow the same access pattern of uniform or nonuniform database accesses. This paper is a major departure from previous works in that it considers a heterogeneous database access model, i.e., there are multiple transaction classes and accesses of each transaction class to the different regions of the database for different transaction steps is determined according to transaction's input parameters and the database state. The performance of the system is analyzed using an approximate low-cost iterative solution method, whose accuracy is ascertained by validation against simulation results. Numerical examples are provided to gain a better understanding of the implications of the model on the performance of transaction processing systems, with special attention being paid to the issue of detecting the onset of thrashing. The insights gained from this study should be useful in developing transaction scheduling methods to prevent thrashing.
Rejection treshholds and seasonal variability of epifluorescent sperm tunel assay

OBJECTIVE: To determine: seasonal and batch effects on positive and negative controls results of TUNEL assay. To analyze cut-off points for rejection of assay. DESIGN: Retrospective review. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TUNEL assay was performed using 10 ul sperm spread on each of 5 microscope slides. Two slides for negative and 2 for positive controls were analyzed. 200 sperm per slides were counted. All positive controls were incubated with 500 ul of DNAse type I for 10 min at 37C incubator prior to adding enzyme solution and labeling solution. For negative controls only labeling solution was added. All slides were then incubated for 1 h at 37C, counter stained with DAPI and analyzed by the same observer. Results were reported as percentage of TUNEL positive (FITC) sperm per total number of sperm (DAPI). RESULTS: 125 positive and 126 negative assays were scored between April of 2009 and 2012 by the same observer. Mean % TUNEL and 95% CI for negative control was 1.02 (0.94-1.13) and 98.6% (98.5-98.8) for positive controls. Distribution curves fitting showed Weilbull as most appropriate model. Normal Q-Q plot and weighted percentiles analysis revealed that assay should be rejected if negative TUNEL is> 2% or positive TUNEL1⁄4 2% or positive control is <1⁄497%. TUNEL assays is extremely reproducible as evident by very close clustering of values. Seasonal variability although surprising may be explained by variability in temperatures in the culture rooms or other factors like DNAse stability. Seasonal variability does not increase assay rejection rate. Supported by: Robert Dow.
Naloxonazine antagonism of levorphanol-induced antinociception and respiratory depression in Rhesus monkeys

Abstract The μ-opioid receptor antagonist effects of naloxonazine on levorphanol-induced thermal antinociception and respiratory depression were examined in rhesus monkeys. Levorphanol (0.032–3.2 mg/kg) produced dose-dependent increases in tail-withdrawal latencies from 50°C water in a warm-water tail-withdrawal assay and dose-dependent decreases in ventilation in both air and 5% CO 2 mixed in air. Naloxonazine (0.1–3.0 mg/kg) antagonized both the antinociceptive and ventilatory effects of levorphanol to a similar degree, and the antagonist effects of naloxonazine were greater after 1 h than after 24 h. Under all conditions, the antagonist effects of naloxonazine were fully surmountable. Schild analysis of the antagonist effects of naloxonazine after 1 h pretreatment in the antinociception assay yielded a pA 2 value of 7.6 and a slope of −0.50; by comparison, quadazocine yielded a pA 2 value of 7.5 and a slope of −1.05. These results suggest that naloxonazine acts as a potent and fully reversible μ-opioid receptor antagonist with a moderately long duration of action in rhesus monkeys. In addition, these results suggest that the antinociceptive and ventilatory effects of μ-opioid receptor agonists in rhesus monkeys are mediated by pharmacologically similar populations of μ opioid receptors.
Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps: elevated serum immunoglobulin E is associated with Staphylococcus aureus on culture.

Background: Recent data has implicated Staphylococcus aureus (SA) superantigen as a potential disease modifier in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). The objective of this work was to compare total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and serum eosinophils in patients with CRSwNP and CRS without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) based on culture results of the 3 most commonly isolated bacteria. Methods: Retrospective review at a tertiary rhinology referral center of patients with CRS over a 4-year period. Results: Bacterial cultures and immunologic data were obtained from 62 patients with CRSwNP and 34 patients with CRSsNP. SA was the most prevalent bacteria in the CRSwNP group, isolated in 19 patients (31%). Patients with elevated total serum IgE (>114 IU/mL) were more likely to have SA on culture (p = 0.04) in this population. The percent serum eosinophil levels in the SA+ group compared with the SA− group was not significant (6.0 vs 5.1, p = 0.17). Lund-Mackay computed tomography (CT) scores, but not Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 20 (SNOT-20) scores were significantly higher in the SA+ vs SA− group (p = 0.03) in patients with CRSwNP. The CRSsNP group demonstrated no difference in IgE or serum eosinophils between different bacterial groups. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that there is an association between SA sinonasal presence and elevated total serum IgE in patients with CRSwNP. In addition, SA+ patients had higher Lund-Mackay CT scores, indicating a higher objective burden of disease in this group of patients. © 2011 ARS-AAOA, LLC.
Noninvasive quantification of postocclusive reactive hyperemia in mouse thigh muscle by near-infrared diffuse correlation spectroscopy

Many vasculature-related diseases affecting skeletal muscle function have been studied in mouse models. Noninvasive quantification of muscle blood flow responses during postocclusive reactive hyperemia (PORH) is often used to evaluate vascular function in human skeletal muscles. However, blood flow measurements during PORH in small skeletal muscles of mice are rare due to the lack of appropriate technologies coupled with the challenge of measurement setup resulting from the lack of large enough test sites. In this study, we explored adapting diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) for noninvasive measurement of the relative changes of blood flow (rBF) in mouse thigh muscles during PORH. A small fiber-optic probe was designed and glued on the mouse thigh to reduce the motion artifact induced by the occlusion procedure. Arterial occlusion was created by tying a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tube around the mouse thigh while the muscle rBF was continuously monitored by DCS to ensure the success of the occlusion. After 5 min, the occlusion was rapidly released by severing the PVC tube using a cautery pen. Typical rBF responses during PORH were observed in all mice (n=7), which are consistent with those observed by arterial-spin-labeled magnetic resonance imaging (ASL-MRI) as reported in the literature. On average, rBF values from DCS during occlusion were lower than 10% (3.1±2.2%) of the baseline values (assigning 100%), indicating the success of arterial occlusion in all mice. Peak values of rBF during PORH measured by the DCS (357.6±36.3%) and ASL-MRI (387.5±150.0%) were also similar whereas the values of time-to-peak (the time duration from the end of occlusion to the peak rBF) were quite different (112.6±35.0 s versus 48.0±27.0 s). Simultaneous measurements by these two techniques are needed to identify the factors that may cause such discrepancy. This study highlights the utility of DCS technology to quantitatively evaluate tissue blood flow responses during PORH in mouse skeletal muscles. DCS holds promise as valuable tool to assess blood flow regulation in mouse models with a variety of vascular diseases (e.g., hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, peripheral artery disease).
Thin-layer chromatography of mustard and its metabolites

Since its recently alleged use in the Middle East armed conflict, the chemical agent mustard has been in the news. Exposure to mustard causes extremely painful physiological manifestations. On entering the biological system, it is metabolized and converted into various products. This paper describes a rapid screening method for the identification of some of its common metabolites.
A Bloch-McConnell simulator with pharmacokinetic modeling to explore accuracy and reproducibility in the measurement of hyperpolarized pyruvate

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of hyperpolarized (HP) agents has the potential to probe in-vivo metabolism with sensitivity and specificity that was not previously possible. Biological conversion of HP agents specifically for cancer has been shown to correlate to presence of disease, stage and response to therapy. For such metabolic biomarkers derived from MRI of hyperpolarized agents to be clinically impactful, they need to be validated and well characterized. However, imaging of HP substrates is distinct from conventional MRI, due to the non-renewable nature of transient HP magnetization. Moreover, due to current practical limitations in generation and evolution of hyperpolarized agents, it is not feasible to fully experimentally characterize measurement and processing strategies. In this work we use a custom Bloch-McConnell simulator with pharmacokinetic modeling to characterize the performance of specific magnetic resonance spectroscopy sequences over a range of biological conditions. We performed numerical simulations to evaluate the effect of sequence parameters over a range of chemical conversion rates. Each simulation was analyzed repeatedly with the addition of noise in order to determine the accuracy and reproducibility of measurements. Results indicate that under both closed and perfused conditions, acquisition parameters can affect measurements in a tissue dependent manner, suggesting that great care needs to be taken when designing studies involving hyperpolarized agents. More modeling studies will be needed to determine what effect sequence parameters have on more advanced acquisitions and processing methods.
Abstract 1545: Education of macrophages through modulation of NF-kappaB: an opportunity for targeted therapy.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Macrophages are a plastic cell type, capable of adapting to numerous signals within their environment. As part of the innate immune system, macrophages were traditionally considered anti-tumor (M1), but it has been well established that macrophages can also help to create a pro-tumor, pro-metastatic tumor niche (M2). NF-κB transcription factors can regulate both pro- (MMP's, VEGF) and anti-tumor (iNOS) downstream targets within macrophages, suggesting that modulation of NF-κB may play a role in the two different macrophage phenotypes. However, our understanding of NF-κB signaling specifically within macrophages during tumor progression is limited. To this end, we have developed murine transgenic models that enable us to induce expression of an activator or dominant inhibitor of NF-κB in macrophages by adding doxycycline to the drinking water of mice. We have combined these novel transgenics with the polyoma model of mammary cancer for our studies. We have recently shown that activation of NF-κB in macrophages significantly limits metastasis in a tail vein model of tumor progression. In this model, constitutive IKK2 activity within macrophages leads to an anti-tumor immune response including altered immune cell populations within the lung microenvironment, changes in chemokine and cytokine expression and rapid killing of tumor cells during the seeding phase mediated by reactive oxygen species. Our current work has extended these findings to an orthotopic mammary tumor model. Again, we find that activation of NF-κB in macrophages results in decreased primary tumor growth and decreased tumor seeding into the blood. To model this activation in vitro, we have utilized immortalized bone marrow derived macrophages from IκBα knock-out mice compared to a wild type line. IκBα KO macrophages display changes in morphology and adhesion relative to wild type macrophages. This correlates with increased cytotoxic behavior in co-culture with polyoma tumor cells, mirroring the in vivo phenotype of the cIKK2 expressing macrophages. Given these findings, we believe that targeted activation of NF-κB signaling in macrophages could be harnessed to overcome the education of macrophages by tumor cells, and could be exploited as a novel targeted therapy. Citation Format: Whitney Barham, Oleg Tikhomirov, Lianyi Chen, Ryan Ortega, Linda Gleaves, Halina Onishko, Taylor Sherrill, Linda Connelly, Timothy S. Blackwell, Fiona E. Yull. Education of macrophages through modulation of NF-kappaB: an opportunity for targeted therapy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1545. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-1545
Rapid natural acid weathering, physical erosion, and debris-flow hazards in scar areas developed on hydrothermally-altered rocks along the Red River Valley near Questa, New Mexico, USA

In southern Rocky Mountains, catchments characterized by acidic, metalliferous waters that are relatively unaffected by human activity usually occur within areas that have active or historical mining activity. The US Geological Survey has utilized these mineralized but unmined catchments to constrain geochemical processes that control the surfaceand ground-water chemistry associated with near surface acid weathering as well as to estimate premining conditions. Study areas include the upper Animas River watershed, Lake City, Mt. Emmons, and Montezuma in Colorado and Questa in New Mexico. Although host-rock lithologies range from Precambrian gneisses to Cretaceous sedimentary units to Tertiary volcanic complexes, mineralization is Tertiary in age and associated with intermediate to felsic composition, porphyritic plutons. Pyrite is ubiquitous. Variability of metal concentrations in water is caused by two main factors: mineralogy and hydrology. Parameters that potentially affect water chemistry include: host-rock lithology, intensity of hydrothermal alteration, sulfide mineralogy and chemistry, gangue mineralogy, length of flow path, precipitation, evaporation, and redox conditions. Springs and headwater streams have pH values as low as 2.5, sulfate up to 3700 mg/L and high dissolved metal concentrations (for example: A1 up to 170 rag/L; Fe up to 250 mg/L; Cu up to 3.5 mg/L and Zn up to 14 mg/L). With the exception of evaporative waters, the lowest pH values and highest Fe and A1 concentrations occur in water draining the most intense hydrothermally altered areas consisting of the mineral assemblage quartz-sericite-pyrite. Stream beds tend to be coated with iron floc, and some reaches are underlain by ferricrete. When iron-rich ground water interacts with oxygenated waters in the stream or hyporheic zone, ferrous iron is oxidized to ferric iron, which is less soluble, leading to the precipitation of iron oxyhydroxides. Ground-water wells have been drilled and sampled in two unmined, alpine catchments to characterize constituent concentrations, to identify hydrogeochemical processes controlling constituent concentrations, to determine rock hydraulic properties, and to delineate flow paths. By using an integrated approach to investigating surface and ground waters in these acidic catchments a more complete understanding of the hydrogeologic framework is gained.
Pinacol−Pinacolone Rearrangements in vic-Dihydroxychlorins and Bacteriochlorins: Effect of Substituents at the Peripheral Positions

Upon reaction with osmium tetraoxide a series of porphyrins and chlorins were converted into the corresponding vic-dihydroxychlorins and bacteriochlorins. The presence of an electron-withdrawing substituent at a peripheral position on the porphyrins or chlorins deactivated that particular pyrrole unit toward oxidation, and also directed the oxidation regioselectively to the pyrrole ring opposite to the one bearing the electronegative group. The vic-dihydroxychlorins and bacteriochlorins were converted into the corresponding oxochlorins and dioxobacteriochlorins under pinacol−pinacolone reaction conditions. The migratory behavior of the various substituents were found to be quite complex, since distant conjugated peripheral substituents were able to affect the stability of the carbocation intermediates during the process; the ability to rearrange was affected not only by the intrinsic nature of the migratory group but also by steric and electronic factors operative elsewhere on the porphyrin and chlorin ma...
ANTIGENIC VARIANTS OF INFLUENZA A VIRUS (PR8 STRAIN) : III. SEROLOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS OF A LINE OF VARIANTS DERIVED IN SEQUENCE IN MICE GIVEN HOMOLOGOUS VACCINE

Seven variant strains of influenza A PR8-S virus, each derived from the previous one by serial passage in the lungs of mice immunized with the homologous agent have been produced. With the H.I. and neutralization procedures these variants showed a progressive serological deviation from the parent PR8-S virus. The seven variants provoked antibodies in varying titers to the preceding variants and the parent virus but not in relation to their position in the series. Thus, the seventh variant provoked significantly more antibody to the PR8-S virus than did the fifth variant. A possible explanation for this is presented. The first four variant viruses showed progressively less ability to react with antisera of the preceding variants and the PR8-S virus, and the three most recently derived variants showed essentially no ability to react with PR8-S and first variant antisera. The variant viruses remained antigenically stable through numerous lung passages in normal mice. Cross absorption tests revealed common antigenic components among the variant viruses and also individual characteristics which classify them as being different from one another. The implications of these findings in relation to studies by others have been discussed.
A study of oxygen diffusion in and out of YBa2Cu3O7−δ thin films

The c-axis oriented YBa2Cu3O7−δ (YBCO) films with superconducting transition temperatures up to 89 K were prepared by ion beam sputter deposition on single crystal (100) MgO and (100) SrTiO3 substrates. The variation of the oxygen concentration δ during annealing in vacuum and in oxygen was measured in situ and in real time by means of spectroscopic ellipsometry. The ellipsometric measurables Δ and Ψ were quantitatively correlated with δ at a photon energy of 4.1 eV. Changes of the oxygen concentration below 1% were resolved. Measurements for different film thicknesses in the range from 15 to 100 nm provided information to elucidate the mechanisms for oxygen out- and in-diffusion. The oxygen out-diffusion rate depends on the layer thickness confirming a bulk diffusion mechanism. The oxygen in-diffusion is relatively independent of layer thickness suggesting that a surface/grain boundary diffusion mechanism is dominant in this case. Additionally, the effect of H2O on the oxygen diffusion was studied. It wa...
SWEDEN'S EXPERIMENT IN HUMAN SEXUALITY AND SEX EDUCATION

Swedish views about human sexuality and sex education are indicative of the Swedes way of life and although much progress has been made mu ch remains to be done. The following basic principles have emerged from historical development and serve as guidelines in teaching of sex educat ion: 1) the right of every person to self-fulfillment 2) an ecologic model of human sexuality 3) bisexual equality 4) pluralistic sexual morality 5) sexual permissiveness and 6) compulsory sex education. Se x education became compulsory in 1956 and the official Handbook on Sex Instruction in Swedish Schools in 1957 contains guiding principles pol icies and procedures for teaching sex education. Some of the teachers are interested and well-prepared and others are poor to mediocre. Efforts are being made to improve the teacher preparation through workshops conferences extension courses and university seminars. The Swedish experiment provides a testing ground for theory and practice an d we can learn from their efforts.
Similarities and Differences between Frozen-Hydrated, Rigor Acto-S1 Complexes of Insect Flight and Chicken Skeletal Muscles

Abstract The structure and function of myosin crossbridges in asynchronous insect flight muscle (IFM) have been elucidated in situ using multiple approaches. These include generating “atomic” models of myosin in multiple contractile states by rebuilding the crystal structure of chicken subfragment 1 (S1) to fit IFM crossbridges in lower-resolution electron microscopy tomograms and by “mapping” the functional effects of genetically substituted, isoform-specific domains, including the converter domain, in chimeric IFM myosin to sequences in the crystal structure of chicken S1. We prepared helical reconstructions (∼ 25 A resolution) to compare the structural characteristics of nucleotide-free myosin0 S1 bound to actin (acto–S1) isolated from chicken skeletal muscle (CSk) and the flight muscles of Lethocerus (Leth) wild-type Drosophila (wt Dros) and a Drosophila chimera (IFI-EC) wherein the converter domain of the indirect flight muscle myosin isoform has been replaced by the embryonic skeletal myosin converter domain. Superimposition of the maps of the frozen-hydrated acto–S1 complexes shows that differences between CSk and IFM S1 are limited to the azimuthal curvature of the lever arm: the regulatory light-chain (RLC) region of chicken skeletal S1 bends clockwise (as seen from the pointed end of actin) while those of IFM S1 project in a straight radial direction. All the IFM S1s are essentially identical other than some variation in the azimuthal spread of density in the RLC region. This spread is most pronounced in the IFI-EC S1, consistent with proposals that the embryonic converter domain increases the compliance of the IFM lever arm affecting the function of the myosin motor. These are the first unconstrained models of IFM S1 bound to actin and the first direct comparison of the vertebrate and invertebrate skeletal myosin II classes, the latter for which, data on the structure of discrete acto-S1 complexes, are not readily available.
VEGF receptor Flk-1 plays an important role in c-kit expression in adipose tissue derived stem cells

It is known that c-kit + cells are increased in heart after infarction. The exact origins of the cardiac c-kit + cells re- main to be determined. We asked whether adipose tissue could be a potential source of c-kit + cells. Our data show that the number of c-kit + cells increased in adipose tissue derived stem cells when cultured with conditioned medium from neonatal cardiomyocytes grown under serum deprivation and hypoxia condition. We also found that VEGF receptor Flk-1 is involved in c-kit up regula- tion via ERK-mediated pathway. � 2007 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Pub- lished by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Measurements of radiation near an atomic spectral line from the interaction of a 30 GeV electron beam and a long plasma.

Emissions produced or initiated by a 30 GeV electron beam propagating through a {approx}1 m long heat pipe oven containing neutral and partially ionized vapor have been measured near atomic spectral lines in a beam-plasma wakefield experiment. The Cerenkov spatial profile has been studied as a function of oven temperature and pressure, observation wavelength, and ionizing laser intensity and delay. The Cerenkov peak angle is affected by the creation of plasma; estimates of plasma and neutral density have been extracted. Increases in visible background radiation consistent with increased plasma recombination emissions due to dissipation of wakefields were simultaneously measured.
Homosynaptic long-term depression: a mechanism for memory?

To date, the most popular model for the study of activity-dependent synaptic enhancement has been LTP in the hippocampus. Hippocampal LTP originally was induced in anesthetized rabbits with brief bursts of high-frequency synaptic stimulation (2, 3). It became a viable memory mechanism when it was subsequently demonstrated that LTP could also be induced in awake rabbits and that it could be very long lasting (4). Dissection of the molecular basis of LTP became feasible when the phenomenon was described in brain-slice preparations (5). Today, the vast majority of LTP studies are conducted in the CA1 region of hippocampal slices, which, for technical reasons, are usually prepared from young animals.
He diffusion systematics in minerals : Evidence from synthetic monazite and zircon structure phosphates

Abstract Helium diffusivity was measured in synthetic rare-earth-element orthophosphates with systematically varying properties to evaluate potential controls on He transport in minerals. In the zircon structure phosphates (in this study, the phosphates of Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu as well as synthetic xenotime, YPO 4 ), He diffusion is strongly anisotropic. Transport apparently proceeds preferentially through channels aligned with the c -axis. The activation energy for diffusion is almost the same (122 ± 6 kJ/mol) in all members of this family, but there is a monotonic decrease in D o with atomic number from TbPO 4 (∼10 5 cm 2 /s) to LuPO 4 (∼10 cm 2 /s). The c -parallel channels become increasingly constricted in the same sequence, likely accounting for the systematically decreasing diffusivity. The He closure temperature ( r = 1 cm, d T /d t = 10 °C/Myr) increases with atomic number from 44 °C for TbPO 4 to 88 °C for LuPO 4 . Diffusion of radiogenic helium from natural zircon and xenotime is much slower than these synthetic analogs predict, suggesting that coupled substitution of REE and P for Zr and Si and/or radiation damage profoundly modify the energetics of interstitial He diffusion. In particular, α-recoil may play a key role by damaging the continuity and integrity of the channels. Monazite structure phosphates (here La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, and Gd phosphate) are far more He retentive than those of the zircon structure. Activation energies increase smoothly with atomic number from LaPO 4 (183 kJ/mol) to NdPO 4 (224 kJ/mol) then decrease again to GdPO 4 (198 kJ/mol). D o values mimic this pattern, spanning a range from ∼10 −1 cm 2 /s (GdPO 4 ) to 10 4 cm 2 /s (NdPO 4 ). Nevertheless, He closure temperatures increase monotonically with atomic number, from 300 °C in LaPO 4 to 410 °C in GdPO 4 . No evidence was obtained bearing on diffusion anisotropy, but the monazite structure lacks through-going channels so it is not expected. Diffusion parameters for radiogenic helium in natural monazite are similar to those obtained on the synthetic analogs. Ionic porosity is not the primary control on He diffusion in the orthophosphates. Within a given structure and with limited elemental substitution, ionic porosity and He closure temperature are negatively correlated, as predicted. However, differences between crystal structures are far more important than ion packing density: at comparable ionic porosity the monazite structure phosphates have He closure temperatures ∼300 °C higher than the xenotime structure phosphates. Modifications to the structures by radiation damage likely play a similarly significant role in controlling He diffusion.
Optical processing of range imagery for segmentation

Abstract Using multi-sensor image information aids in the interpretation of a represented scene. By segmenting the scene into meaningful parts, we can analyze each individual component and create a description of the scene. Range data is useful for segmenting an image into objects based on the distance relationships between pixels. In this paper, we demonstrate a hybrid optical/digital technique for segmenting range data into object and non-object regions. The object regions found are used as masks to be ANDed with other sensor imagery for identification of the regions.
Seeing the Forest and the Trees: Using Dynamic Systems Theory to Understand “Stress and Coping” and “Trauma and Resilience”

Although research is beginning to capture the complex interactions of biopsychosocial variables operating within experiences of stressors and trauma, the bodies of research have remained largely separate and limited. This study describes a scaffold of factors and pathways based on principles from dynamic systems theories (DST) to organize the literatures on stress and coping and trauma and resilience. As a process model, DST provides the language to understand both impact and response to stressors and trauma: not as a list of symptoms but as interactive processes within persons and between persons and their surroundings.
Effect of age, sex, hypophysectomy and gonadectomy on plasma corticosterone levels and adrenal weights following the administration of ACTH and stress.

Injektion von 2 IE ACTH in hypophysektomierte unreife Ratten beiderlei Geschlechts: kein Geschlechtsunterschied des Corticosteron-Plasma-Spiegels (CPS). Gleiche Behandlung von weiblichen hypophysektomierten, geschlechtsreifen Ratten: 1/2 h nach der Injektion bereits hoherer CPS. Kastrierte, weibliche unbelastete Ratten zeigten keinen Unterschied in der Hohe des CPS gegenuber kastrierten, unbelasteten mannlichen Ratten. Nebennieren-Belastung solcher weiblicher Ratten durch bilaterale Fraktur der Tibiae und Fibulae: hoherer CPS 1, 3 und 6 h nach Fraktur. Die Befunde deuten darauf hin, dass die weibliche Nebenniere eine grossere Empfindlichkeit fur ACTH-Wirkung hat.
Outcome Analysis in 654 Surgically Treated Lumbar Disc Herniations

This article reports the outcomes of 654 consecutive patients treated during a 4.5-year period. Patients had a microdiscectomy, a laminectomy plus microdiscectomy, or a decompressive laminectomy with a microdiscectomy. The causes of ruptured discs were lifting (31.4%), falls (10.2%), and sports (10.0%). Almost all patients had complained of leg pain (99%), and 79% had radicular pain in a dermatomal distribution. Thirty-three percent of the patients had been involved in industrial accidents, and 6% had legal claims pending during the surgical period. Almost 11% of the patients had complications, and there was one death caused by abdominal arterial bleeding. Patients were also rated according to the Prolo Functional-Economic Outcome Rating Scale to improve the ability to compare series in the future. Almost 80% of the patients had good outcomes as defined by scores on this scale of 8 (16.2%), 9 (33.2%), and 10 (26.9%). Several conclusions can be drawn from the results of this series: 1) most patients had good outcomes; 2) patients with nonindustrial injuries had better outcomes than did patients with industrial injuries; 3) professionals with legal concerns and laborers with industrial insurance had good outcomes; and 4) the Functional-Economic Outcome Rating Scale appears to be a useful tool for comparing different procedures more objectively and for comparing the outcomes across series.
Assessment of inter-slice bit-allocation strategies in the application of JPEG2000 to ultraspectral sounder data

Presented here is a study comparing various inter-slice bit-allocation strategies when applying JPEG2000 part 2 to ultraspectral sounder satellite data. Two families of algorithms are compared: the first is strictly variance based for which traditional approaches and some variations are used; the second uses rate distortion curves (RDCs) to optimally allocate slice bit-rates in the MSE sense, analogous to the way the PCRD algorithm uses RDCs of code-blocks in the baseline JPEG2000 method. The rate distortion curves are either experimentally gathered or analytically modeled using techniques discussed in previous papers. An additional approach to gather RDCs is considered using the slope-length information computed by a JPEG2000 encoder. The study is done using six different granules of ultraspectral sounder data made available by NOAA. Every subset contains 1,501 spectral bands, each consisting of 90 by 135 pixels, which are decorrelated using either a Karhunen-Loeve transform (KLT) or the discrete wavelet transform (DWT). The most complex RDC-based optimal approach is used to establish a lower distortion bound, in addition to characterizing the typical distortion performance achievable when compressing spectrally decorrelated sounder data with JPEG2000. The bound is used as the basis of comparison against the other methods studied. Moreover, the software tool CompressMD developed by our group is used to provide all data handling, algorithm implementations and collection of results.