cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Combining Intracavernous Injection and External Vacuum as Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction

AbstractWe studied the effect of combining intracavernous injection and an external vacuum in 10 men with erectile dysfunction who previously failed attempts at treatment with either method as single therapy. We measured the length, circumference and buckling pressure of the penis at baseline, after applying negative pressure (250 mm. Hg for 2 minutes), 15 minutes after intracavernous injection of 60 mg. papaverine or 30 microgram prostaglandin E1 and after combining both modalities. No patient achieved adequate rigidity (defined as a penile buckle pressure greater than 450 gm.) with single therapy. The mean buckle pressure using vacuum alone was 125.0 plus/minus 53.6 gm. After intracavernous injection the mean buckle pressure was 117.0 plus/minus 38.3 gm. In contrast, all 10 subjects responded to combination therapy with a mean buckle pressure of 565.0 plus/minus 56.8 gm. (p less than 0.0001). After 10 months of followup 3 subjects were still using the combination and were satisfied with the erectile res...
In vivo and in vitro incorporation of endogenous nucleotides by the energy-transducing ATPase of Streptococcus faecalis

The soluble ATPase isolated from Streptococcus faecalis membranes containing tightly bound endogenous nucleotides do not exchange in the presence of ATP and Mg2+ added during the purification of the enzyme. In this paper the stoichiometry of endogenous nucleotides in the soluble ATPase obtained from (a) growing cells, (b) nongrowing glycolyzing cells, and (c) isolated cell membranes has been denned. The time course of incorporation was also studied in nongrowing, glycolyzing cells and isolated cell membranes. In all cases, 1–2 mol of nucleotide was bound per mol of enzyme. Maximal incorporation required approximately 1 h at 38 °C. Incorporation of cytoplasmic nucleotide into the enzyme occurred by a process of slow exchange for bound nucleotide. N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, which inhibits the membrane-bound ATPase and prevents generation of the protonmotive force, had no effect on incorporation of endogenous nucleotides in glycolyzing cells. Treatment of gycolyzing cells with gramicidin D plus K+, which dissipates the protonmotive force but has no effect on ATPase activity, did not inhibit incorporation of nucleotide. These results support the view that the slow exchange-incorporation of endogenous nucleotide(s) is independent of ATP hydrolysis and a protonmotive force. An in vitro system for the study of nucleotide binding at endogenous sites is described.
Hacia la novela de burlas: Salas Barbadillo, Castillo Solórzano y el Tirso de Los tres maridos burlados

This article draws attention to a type of XVIIth century novella that has been neglected or simply studied as a derivation of other literary manifestations. My objective is to define the main characteristics of a short narrative that we can name «burlesque novella». I define it as a short story (the regular extension of the baroque novella) containing in the heart of its plot an elaborate trick with an exemplary purpose. From this perspective, the burlesque novella is a show organized by noblemen for noblemen, composed by educated writers, that incorporated ridiculous characters on stage. The burlesque novella —founded by Salas Barbadillo, and continued by Castillo Solorzano and Tirso de Molina— is a narrative genre still misunderstood and in need of further exploration. Tirso’s Los tres maridos burlados is a paradigmatic literary piece from this genre.
Relationship of physician estimate of underlying asthma severity to asthma outcomes.

Background Implementation of national guidelines for the treatment of asthma requires physician estimates of patients' underlying asthma severity. Asthma severity is commonly assigned based on respiratory symptoms. Objective To evaluate the relationship of guideline-based physician assessments to asthma control. Methods Data were collected by survey as part of a cohort study of adults with asthma. Physicians estimated the underlying severity of their patients' asthma as mild, moderate, or severe. We evaluated the relationship of these estimates to (1) general health status, asthma symptoms, and patient-reported emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations in the previous year and (2) outcomes in the following year. Results A total of 3,468 adults with asthma had physicians who completed assessments of their severity. Physician evaluation of severity was significantly associated with the patient's recent general health status, asthma symptom control, ED visits, and hospitalizations ( P P Conclusion This study provides evidence of the validity of physician assessments of patients' underlying asthma severity using the strategy recommended by national guidelines.
Superconducting Rotor Development for a 20 MVA Generator

Based on development studies of key components suitable for large superconducting generators, the authors' company has undertaken the design and construction of a 20 MVA generator to investigate the performance of these components as a system.
Genetic mediation of sex differences in horizontality: A rejoinder

Abstract Neither M. G. McGee (Developmental Review, 1981 , 1, 289–295) nor M. J. Allen, M. A. Wittig, and K. Butler (Developmental Review, 1981 , 1, 284–288) suggest any alternative explanation for our finding that water-level performance appears to have an X-linked genetic basis. The power calculations of Allen et al. are found to be faulty, and McGee confuses the hypothesis we tested with a weaker hypothesis. Although the X-linked genetic model is not an adequate model of water-level performance the water-level data fit the X-linked model far better than color blindness and HCN data McGee presents as exemplars of X-linked characteristics.
Monte Carlo simulations of supercoiling free energies for unknotted and trefoil knotted DNAs.

A new Monte Carlo (MC) algorithm is proposed for simulating inextensible circular chains with finite twisting and bending rigidity. This new algorithm samples the relevant Riemann volume elements in a uniform manner, when the constraining potential vanishes. Simulations are performed for filaments comprising 170 subunits, each containing approximately 28 bp, which corresponds to a DNA length of 4770 bp. The bending rigidity is chosen to yield a persistence length, P = 500 A, and the intersubunit potential is taken to be a hard-cylinder potential with diameter d = 50 A. This value of d yields the same second virial coefficient as the electrostatic potential obtained by numerical solution of the Poisson-Boltzmann equation for 150 mM salt. Simulations are performed for unknotted circles and also for trefoil knotted circles using two different values of the torsional rigidity, C = (2.0 and 3.0) x 10(-19) dyne cm2. In the case of unknotted circles, the simulated supercoiling free energy varies practically quadratically with linking difference delta l. The simulated twist energy parameter ET, its slope dET/dT, and the mean reduced writhe /delta l for C = 3 x 10(-19) dyne cm2 all agree well with recent simulations for unknotted circles using the polygon-folding algorithm with identical P, d, and C. The simulated ET vs. delta l data for C = 2.0 x 10(-19) dyne cm2 agree rather well with recent experimental data for p30 delta DNA (4752 bp), for which the torsional rigidity, C = 2.07 x 10(-19) dyne cm2, was independently measured. The experimental data for p30 delta are enormously more likely to have arisen from C = 2.0 x 10(-19) than from C = 3.0 x 10(-19) dyne cm2. Serious problems with the reported experimental assessments of ET for pBR322 and their comparison with simulated data are noted. In the case of a trefoil knotted DNA, the simulated value, (ET)tre, exceeds that of the unknotted DNA, (ET)unk, by approximately equal to 1.40-fold at magnitude of delta l = 1.0, but declines to a plateau about 1.09-fold larger than (ET)unk when magnitude of delta l > or = 15. Although the predicted ratio, (ET)tre/(ET)unk approximately equal to 1.40, agrees fairly well with recent experimental measurements on a 5600-bp DNA, the individual measured ET values, like some of those reported for pBR322, are so large that they cannot be simulated using P = 500 A, d = 50 A, and any previous experimental estimate of C.
Government Insurance versus Market Insurance

This paper compares the provision of insurance by the government to provision by private firms in the market. The topic is one that has been much addressed in the proceedings of this Association. It was the subject of the First Annual Lecture of the Geneva Association by Kenneth J. Arrow (Arrow, 1978). Arrow’s defense and advocacy of government-provided insurance constituted much of the work for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize on the economics of uncertainty. More recently, it was the subject of the 15th Annual Lecture by Tony Atkinson (Atkinson, 1991), the 17th, by Assar Lindbeck (Lindbeck, 1994), and the 18th, by Pierre Pestieau (Pestieau, 1994), and formed the major underlying issue of the 19th Lecture by Richard Zeckhauser (Zeckhauser, 1996) and the 21st by Howard Kunreuther (Kunreuther, 1997). And, of course, this topic has been the subject of multiple individual articles in the Geneva Papers (see, for example, Faure, 1998; Meyer, 1996). My approach to the topic, however, is somewhat different. What I hope to do here is to examine critically the basic foundational assumptions that have served to justify governmental provision of insurance by comparison with our understanding of market insurance, and then more carefully to compare the operation of governmental insurance regimes to the operation of private market regimes. There is a sophisticated economic justification for the provision of insurance services by the government. An important feature of the justification is that the government – the state – is able to provide insurance in contexts in which a private market for insurance is unavailable. It is an empirical fact that, in most contexts in which governments provide insurance, private market insurance is or becomes unavailable. This empirical fact, however, has meant that there have been no ready contexts in which to compare government versus market insurance operations. As a consequence, in the long history of discussion of government insurance, comparisons with the private insurance market have been neglected. This paper is a first attempt to remedy that neglect.
Psychiatric sequelae following breast cancer chemotherapy: a pilot study using claims data.

Despite attention to depression and cognitive disorders, the prevalence of other mental disorders following breast cancer chemotherapy has not been well described. The authors undertook a pilot study using insurance claims data to compare the prevalence of mental disorders other than depression in a population of breast cancer surgery patients who did versus did not receive post-surgical chemotherapy treatment. Women receiving chemotherapy in addition to surgery were more likely to be diagnosed with adjustment disorders (odds ratio = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.04–3.87). Prevalence of depression, anxiety, cognitive, and sleep disorders were not dependent on receipt of post-surgical chemotherapy treatment. These findings support the need for heightened awareness for mental conditions following chemotherapy.
Ramanujan continued fractions via orthogonal polynomials

Abstract Some Ramanujan continued fractions are evaluated using asymptotics of polynomials orthogonal with respect to measures with absolutely continuous components.
Subclinical reactivation of hepatitis B virus in liver transplant recipients with past exposure

Transmission of hepatitis B infection has been reported in liver transplant recipients whose donor livers were negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and positive for antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). These infections usually have a mild clinical course and no adverse effects on survival. However, the outcome of liver transplant recipients with serologic evidence of past infection to hepatitis B virus (HBV) is unknown. The prevalence of HBV DNA positivity by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) pretransplantation in HBsAg-negative, anti-HBc-positive people is reported to be 0% to 32%. To assess the prevalence of HBV DNA in pretransplantation serum and liver tissue and to determine the clinical outcome of HBsAg-negative, anti-HBc-positive recipients, we retrospectively reviewed the first 693 orthotopic liver transplantations performed at Mayo Clinic between March 19, 1985, and May 25, 1996. Pretransplantation specimens of frozen serum and liver tissue were available for HBV DNA by PCR for 35 of 56 HBsAg-negative, anti-HBc-positive recipients. Twenty-two recipients had positive serologic findings for anti-HBc alone, and 13 were positive for anti-HBc and antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs). Pretransplantation prevalence of HBV DNA in HBsAg-negative, anti-HBc-positive recipients was 6% (serum) to 29% (liver). Of those recipients whose liver was HBV DNA-positive pretransplantation, 40% also had evidence of HBV DNA in posttransplantation liver biopsy specimens, and this finding was more common in patients co-infected with hepatitis C. None of the recipients became antigenemic (HBsAg-positive) or developed clinical hepatitis B posttransplantation. Thus, prophylactic intervention (eg, antiviral or antinucleoside analog therapy) is not warranted after liver transplantation in HBsAg-negative, anti-HBc-positive recipients. In our experience, infected donor livers are the most common source of de novo posttransplantation hepatitis B infection in transplant recipients.
The case for non-analytic performance appraisal

Abstract Two broad frameworks for the construction of performance appraisal systems exist, both aimed at increasing the reliability, validity, accuracy, and utility of appraisals. The analytic framework seeks to eliminate biases sometimes occuring in human judgment by eliminating or at least limiting judgment's role in appraisal. The non-analytic (intuitive and quasi-rational) framework seeks to retain and capitalize on the flexibility and adaptive power of human judgment by creating conditions favoring reliable, valid, and accurate ratings. I argue that the analytic model is inapplicable to many if not most jobs, fails to recognize its dependence on human value systems, and (where judgment enters) is based on assumptions about human information processing unlikely to be met in most circumstances. The alternative framework, based on current theories of information processing and judgment, proposes that a system based on explicit consideration of organizational value systems, the role of elaborated values and expert knowledge in judgment processes, and the effects of the conditions under which judgment occurs permits both accuracy and flexibility in appraisals. Methods for the construction and validation of such a system are presented.
Multiscale modeling of arsenic selenide glass

Abstract We develop model interaction potentials for the binary As–Se system using ab initio molecular simulations and a cluster expansion technique. These potentials are used with classical Monte Carlo simulations to characterize the structure of As 2 Se 3 , AsSe 2 , and AsSe glasses. Finally, we compute the fraction of soft modes in the As–Se system as a function of average coordination number. The results show evidence of a rigidity percolation threshold at an average coordination number between 2.3 and 2.4.
Paying for cost-effective health care: Does it violate both static- and dynamic efficiency?

Recent research has questioned the rationales of using cost-effectiveness metrics of medical technologies to guide reimbursement. I discuss here the underlying ideas of this research, which argues that reimbursement based on cost effectiveness criteria leads to both static- and dynamic inefficiencies.
Intraoral periosteal nodular fasciitis

Intraoral periosteal nodular fasciitis is an extremely rare tumor with only 2 cases having been previously recorded in the literature. We report here the 3rd case and review the characteristic features, the differential diagnosis and the treatment of intraoral periosteal nodular fasciitis.
Infectivity of a nuclear polyhedrosis virus from the alfalfa looper, Autographa californica, after passage through alternate hosts☆☆☆

Abstract A nuclear polyhedrosis virus isolated from the alfalfa looper, Autographa californica, was found to infect several species of caterpillars including the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni; the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua; and the saltmarsh caterpillar, Estigmene acrea. Studies were therefore conducted to determine the quantitative effects of passage through the alternate hosts, S. exigua and E. acrea, on the infectivity of this virus to newly hatched first-instar cabbage looper larvae. When 11 preparations of polyhedra obtained from a like number of primary passages through the original or alternate hosts were assayed and the mortality at 7-, 10-, and 14-day intervals were subjected to probit analysis, the LD50 s for the three intervals differed but those for the preparations at any given interval did not. Therefore, any of the three hosts could be used to propagate the virus, and whichever proves the easiest to rear and provides the highest yields of polyhedra can be selected.
Sex Differences in Romantic Attitudes toward Love among Engineering Students

Recently, Lester (1987) has reported that men are more romantic than women, a finding which may not generalize across a diversity of academic disciplines or professional orientations. T o test this alternative hypothesis, 180 engineering students (132 men and 48 women) were administered the Munro-Adams Love-Attirude Scale (Munro & Adams, 1978). Computer analyses were run by sex and by subscales, ( a ) Romantic Idealism, ( b ) Romantic Power, and (c) Conjugal Love. A table provides a comparison of means and standard deviations for men and women on each of these subscales.
Medroxyprogesterone acetate does not antagonize estrogen-induced increases in endothelium-dependent vasodilation: potential clinical implications.

Abstract Objective: Determine the effect of combined 17β-estradiol benzoate (E 2 ) and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) administration on endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation to acetylcholine (ACh). Design: Prospective, ex vivo study. Setting: Academic research laboratory. Animal(s): Mature female rats. Intervention(s): Ovariectomized rats received one of the following interventions daily for 3 days: [1] corn oil via IM injection, [2] E 2 (20 μg/kg IM), or [3] E 2 (20 μg/kg IM) and MPA (10 mg/kg IM). Main Outcome Measure(s): Basal release of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilation from thoracic aortas obtained from each group. Result(s): Estradiol treatment potentiated the endothelium-dependent relaxation to ACh when compared with the control group. Administration of MPA with E 2 did not antagonize the beneficial effect of E 2 on endothelium-dependent relaxation. Estradiol treatment alone or in combination with MPA did not affect endothelium-independent vasodilation as compared with the case of the control group. Administration of E 2 resulted in increased basal NO release (assessed indirectly by measuring the constrictor response to N G -nitro-l-arginine [methyl ester (L-NAME)]) when compared with the case of the control group, and the addition of MPA to E 2 did not alter the effect of E 2 on basal NO release. Conclusion(s): Estradiol potentiates endothelium-dependent relaxant responses and increases basal endothelial NO release. Medroxyprogesterone acetate does not antagonize these effects of E 2 .
Reduction of acrylamide formation by vanadium salt in potato French fries and chips.

Abstract The effects of vanadyl sulphate on the formation of acrylamide have been studied in fried potato products, such as French fries and chips. Acrylamide formation was inhibited by 30.3%, 53.3% and 89.3% when the sliced potato strips were soaked in 0.001, 0.01 and 0.1 M vanadyl sulphate (VOSO4) solutions, respectively, for 60 min before frying. Moreover, 57.7%, 71.4% and 92.5% inhibition of acrylamide formation was observed when chips were soaked in the respective vanadyl sulphate solution before frying. In a separate model reaction, a solution containing an equimolar concentration of l -asparagine and d -glucose showed a significant inhibition of acrylamide formation when heated at 150 °C for 30 min in the presence of vanadyl sulphate (VOSO4). The results indicate that the binding of VO2+ to asparagine and the decrease in the pH of the potato samples resulted in a significant reduction of acrylamide formation in fried potato products.
The substance P fragment SP(1-7) stimulates motor behavior and nigral dopamine release.

Abstract Earlier studies have shown that the undecapeptide substance P (SP) alters motor behavior and dopamine metabolism following injection into the substantia nigra (SN) in rat, even though the SN appears largely devoid of SP-specific (NK-1) receptors. In this report, intra-nigral injections of the amino-terminal SP fragment SP(1–7) enhanced rearing, sniffing and locomotor activity, and increased the nigral DOPAC-to-DA ratio. In addition, SP(1–7) increased 3H-DA release from the SN in vitro. These findings suggest that some of the effects of nigral SP on motor behavior and dopamine release are mediated by amino-terminal fragments of SP.
Nuclear receptors in herb-drug interactions

Widespread usage of herbs as supplements or medicines raises the potential of herb-drug interactions (HDIs). Basically, HDIs occur by pharmacokinetic and/or pharmacodynamic pathways. Nuclear receptors (NRs) are a class of transcription factors whose role in drug interactions has been defined. A large number of herbs activate NRs, resulting in HDIs. NR-mediated HDIs are similar to drug-drug interactions, but are more complicated because of the presence of multiple compounds in herbs. Dosage and therapeutic sequence as well as various other factors, including the patient's gender, age, and genetic makeup, may affect outcomes of NR-mediated HDIs.
Distribution of phenotypes among Bacillus thuringiensis strains.

Abstract An extensive collection of Bacillus thuringiensis isolates from around the world were phenotypically profiled using standard biochemical tests. Six phenotypic traits occurred in 20–86% of the isolates and were useful in distinguishing isolates: production of urease (U; 20.5% of isolates), hydrolysis of esculin (E; 32.3% of isolates), acid production from salicin (A; 37.4% of isolates), acid production from sucrose (S; 34.0% of isolates), production of phospholipase C or lecithinase (L; 79.7% of isolates), and hydrolysis of starch (T; 85.8% of isolates). With the exception of acid production from salicin and hydrolysis of esculin, which were associated, the traits assorted independently. Of the 64 possible combinations of these six phenotypic characteristics, 15 combinations accounted for ca. 80% of all isolates, with the most common phenotype being TL (23.6% of isolates). Surprisingly, while the biochemical traits generally assorted independently, certain phenotypic traits associated with the parasporal crystal were correlated with certain combinations of biochemical traits. Crystals that remained attached to spores (which tended to be non-toxic to insects) were highly correlated with the phenotypes that included both L and S. Among the 15 most abundant phenotypes characterizing B. thuringiensis strains, amorphous crystals were associated with TLE, TL, T, and O (the absence of positive tested biochemical traits). Amorphous crystal types displayed a distinct bias toward toxicity to dipteran insects. Although all common phenotypes included B. thuringiensis isolates producing bipyramidal crystals toxic to lepidopteran insects, those with the highest abundance of these toxic crystals displayed phenotypes TLU, TLUA, TLUAE, and TLAE.
Minimal Changes and Missed Opportunities: A Decade Look at Nurse Practitioners in the Lower Mississippi River Delta States

The U.S. southern region has one of most socioeconomically deprived and poorest health care outcomes in the county. The aims of this study were to determine changes of nurse practitioners (NPs) and their practice in lower Mississippi River Delta over the past decade and to examine differences of NPs' employment in health professional storage areas (HPSAs) and rural areas. A nonexperimental quantitative survey technique was used in the years 2000 and 2010. Other data sources included Health Resources and Services Administration that identified HPSA and the U.S. Census Bureau used to distinguish urban and rural areas. NPs are younger, and more are graduates of master's and doctorate degrees, but they are not reflective of the race they serve. Approximately, 25% of NPs worked in HPSA, and 50% worked in the rural area both in 2000 and in 2010. This proportion has remained blatantly steady during the past decade. Employment in rural health centers and family practice as a specialty declined; however, self-employment was on the rise. Nursing schools and health care institutions should be collaborating to develop plans and implementation strategies to recruit and retain NPs in the Mississippi River Delta rural and HPSAs.
Non-experimental aural pathology in some Prosimii.

Pathological findings in the hearing organ of three Prosimii are described followed by remarks on anatomical dispositions of significance in experimental surgery.
Hormonal modulation of pineal melatonin synthesis in rats and syrian hamsters: effects of adrenalectomy and corticosteroid implants

Pineal levels of tryptophan, 5-hydroxytryptophan, serotonin, N-acetylserotonin, melatonin, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and the activities of the enzymes N-acetyltransferase and hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase were determined in male albino rats and Syrian hamsters that were implanted with the appropriate corticosteroid or adrenalectomized two weeks earlier. Melatonin content and NAT activity were increased at 4 hours (during darkness) in adrenalectomized hamsters; conversely, no alterations in melatonin levels were observed in either adrenalectomized or implanted rats. It is suggested that the changes in adrenal function probably have a minor influence on pineal melatonin production.
Plant pyruvate dehydrogenase complex purification, characterization and regulation by metabolites and phosphorylation

The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex was purified from mitochondria of cauliflower, Brassica oleracea var. botrytis floral buds to a specific activity of 5.4 mumol of NADH/min per mg of protein. The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex required CoASH, NAD+, thiamine pyrophosphate and Mg2+ for the oxidative decarboxylation of pyruvate. The kinetic analysis of the complex gave a series of parallel lines for all substrates. Product interaction patterns showed that NADH is competitive with NAD+; acetyl-CoA is competitive with CoASH; and NADH and acetyl-CoA uncompetitive with pyruvate. These kinetic patterns suggest a multisite ping-pong mechanism as described by Cleveland ((1973) J. Biol. Chem 248, 8353). The noncompetitive inhibition of NADH versus CoASH, and acetyl-CoASH versus NAD are not predicted by this mechanism. Regulation of the complex was more sensitive to the NADH/NAD+ ratio than acetyl-CoA/CoASH ratio. Hydroxypyruvate and glyoxylate inhibited the complex noncompetitively versus pyruvate. The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex was inactivated and phosphorylated by ATP. The ATP dependent inactivation is believed to be enzyme catalyzed by a pyruvate dehydrogenase complex kinase. However, no evidence was found for a plant pyruvate dehydrogenase complex phosphatase. The results suggest that the cauliflower pyruvate dehydrogenase complex is regulated by a phosphorylation-dephosphorylation mechanism.
Cosmic X-ray background and intergalactic gas accretion onto intergalactic collapsed objects

The origin of the diffuse cosmic X-ray background (CXB) has become the subject of much speculation recently, with most theorists divided between the intergalactic hot gas bremstralung hypothesis and the QSO contribution theory. Stimulated by Sargent's recent argument about the existence of a cool, low density intergalactic gas, we investigate here the third possibility of its accretion onto intergalactic collapsed objects as the sources of the X-ray background. We conclude that if the CXB is hot thermal bremstralung (TB) from the accretion of Sargent type intergalactic gas onto intergalactic collapsed objects, a new class of faint (Lx≲1041 erg s−1) low mass (M∼107−1010M⊙) discrete X-ray sources must exist with no optical or IR images, some of which could be detected by the Einstein observatory.
Role of Adjuvant Radiation (External Beam/Brachytherapy) for Stage I NSCLC

The role of adjuvant radiation following surgical treatment of non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is reviewed in this article. There seems to be no role for adjuvant radiation in stage I NSCLC patients treated by lobectomy. Adjuvant brachytherapy in combination with sublobar resection is a promising approach that seems to decrease local recurrence rates similar to that reported following lobectomy. Radiofrequency ablation is an alternative for the high-risk patient with NSCLC who is considered too high risk even for sublobar resection. In particular, adjuvant stereotactic radiation should be investigated as a potential method of decreasing local recurrence and preserving lung function in these high-risk patients.
Interactions between mammals and trees: predation on mammal-dispersed seeds and the effect of ambient food

The Janzen-Connell escape hypothesis predicts that the success of tree propagules increases with distance from the parent tree. Fleshy fruits that are transported in the guts of frugivores are believed to have evolved to facilitate the wide dispersal of seeds. However, some frugivores deposit seeds in latrines, thus creating aggregations of seeds that are large enough to attract seed predators and negate the advantages of dispersal. Raccoons (Procyon lotor) often produce large seed deposits since they habitually defecate in latrines. The survival of wild black cherry (Prunus serotina) seeds in simulated raccoon latrines was monitored in areas with natural levels of food availability and in areas to which supplemental food had been supplied to the primary seed predators. Dispersal of seeds by raccoons did not necessarily provide effective protection from post-dispersal seed predation at natural food levels. Once the resident seed predators had located the latrines, the majority of the seeds were quickly removed. However, seed removal from raccoon latrines was reduced significantly and dramatically by the addition of alternative food. This implies that raccoon latrines may represent safe sites for tree recruitment during periods of high food availability such as during masting events, thus providing conditional support for the escape hypothesis.
Overview of midlatitude ionospheric storms

Solar flares and coronal mass ejections erupting from the roiling Sun can smash into the Earth's magnetosphere causing geomagnetic storms that penetrate deep into the atmosphere, which can short out satellites, upset radio communications, disrupt navigation, and even damage terrestrial electrical power grids. Though effects on other regions of the atmosphere have been analyzed, the mechanism by which geomagnetic storms influence the ionosphere's middle latitudes remains poorly understood. This brief report provides an overview of current knowledge in midlatitude ionospheric dynamics and disturbances, from the historic record to recent discoveries presented at a January AGU Chapman Conference.
A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF FOUR PRERETIREMENT EDUCATION MODELS

Four preretirement education models were analyzed in terms of their effectiveness in contributing to behavioral, informational, and attitudinal change. The two preretirement education models that provided processes to deal with the emotional implications of the retirement experience showed significant and consistent positive change on behavioral, informational, and attitudinal outcome measures. A statistical methodology for assessing the effectiveness of short‐term training programs is also presented.
Plastic deformation of Ti-Al single crystals in prismatic slip☆

Abstract Ti-Al single crystals up to 5.20 at. % Al oriented for prismatic slip {1010}〈1210〉 (Schmid factor, 0.49–0.50) were deformed in compression over the temperature range 77–600 K. Dislocation configurations were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Solid solution softening was observed in dilute alloys and attributed to scavenging of interstitials. Beyond 1 at. % Al, the CRSS increased linearly with at. % Al. The main increase in CRSS on cooling in Ti is thought due to an increase in the stress required to overcome the Peierls barrier but there is a component due to interstitials which is removed by adding Al. Below 600 K there is no true athermal region where the flow stress is controlled only by mechanisms which are not subject to thermal activation. Extensive work softening occurs in the 5.2 at. % Al alloy. This was attributed to destruction of short-range order. Mostly screw dislocations remain after small deformation at low temperatures and the screw component increases with per cent Al. However, in low Al alloys with high interstitial contents most of the remaining dislocations are edges.
Relation between film character and wafer alignment: critical alignment issues on HV device for VLSI manufacturing

Several continuous splits for wafer alignment target topography conditions to improve epitaxy film alignment were applied. The alignment evaluation among former layer pad oxide thickness (250 angstrom - 500 angstrom), drive oxide thickness (6000 angstrom - 10000 angstrom), nitride film thickness (600 angstrom - 1500 angstrom), initial oxide etch (fully wet etch, fully dry etch and dry plus wet etch) will be split to this experiment. Also various epitaxy deposition recipe such as: epitaxy source (SiHCl 2 or SiCHCl 3 ) and growth rate (1.3 micrometer/min approximately 2.0 micrometer/min) will be used to optimize the process window for alignment issue. All the reflectance signal and cross section photography of alignment target during NIKON stepper alignment process will be examined. Experimental results show epitaxy recipe plays an important role to wafer alignment. Low growth rate with good performance conformity epitaxy lead to alignment target avoid washout, pattern shift and distortion. All the results (signal monitor and film character) combined with NIKON's stepper standard laser scanning alignment system will be discussed in this paper.
Effects of fatty acids on apolipoprotein B secretion by McArdle RH-7777 rat hepatoma cells

Abstract The effect of oleic acid (OA), stearic acid (SA) and elaidic acid (EA) on cellular and secreted apolipoprotein (apo) B was examined in McArdle RH-7777 (McArdle) hepatoma cells and in primary rat hepatocytes. Apo B secretion by McArdle cells was significantly inhibited by 20% in 8 h incubations in medium containing EA and SA and by 50% in medium containing OA. In contrast, apo B secretion and cellular apo B of primary rat hepatocytes was relatively unaffected by incubations in medium containing fatty acids. Both B100 and B48 secretion in McArdle wild type and B48 in apo B mRNA editing enzyme catalytic polypeptide transfectants expressing B48 were inhibited to a similar extent indicating an effect of OA on both apo B species. The effect of OA occurred without changes in cellular apo B or in apo B mRNA abundance suggesting a post-transcriptional mechanism. Time course studies indicate that the suppressive effect of OA requires 4 h of incubation suggesting the depletion of a limiting factor important in apo B secretion. By increasing the proportion of palmitic acid to OA in the medium, apo B secretion by McArdle cells was progressively restored to control levels implicating an unique role for newly synthesized saturated fatty acid.
Dipalmitoyl lecithin and lung surfactant adsorption at an air-liquid interface by respirable particles

The effects of kaolin and flyash on synthetic dipalmitoyl lecithin and lung surfactant from the lavage of excised rat lungs were studied using a Wilhelmy-type surface balance. After control studies with dipalmitoyl lecithin and rat lung surfactant, particles were sprinkled onto the surface at minimum surface area and the surface tensions vs surface areas were recorded. The results showed increased minimum surface tensions and decreased hysteresis areas when the particles were added. More particles were required to change the hysteresis area of lung surfactant than were required for synthetic dipalmitoyl lecithin. The effects of changes in surface areas of alumina and zinc oxide particles on dipalmitoyl lecithin were also studied. The amount of particles required to reduce surface tension-surface area hysteresis increased as the particles' surface area per gram decreased. This study indicates that respirable dusts may adsorb dipalmitoyl lecithin or lung surfactant in vivo and, therefore, may prevent surface tension from reaching the low values generally thought to occur in vivo.
Characterization Of A Novel TRPC6 Mutant Identified In FSGS Patients

TRPC6 is a Ca2+-permeable non-selective cation channel. Gain of function mutations of TRPC6 have been shown to cause focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Among six mutants of TRPC6 indentified in FSGS, three of them cause increase in Ca2+ influx. It appears that the enhanced Ca2+ influx underlies TRPC6 mutation associated FSGS. However, it is unclear how different mutations lead to gain of channel function and increase in Ca2+ influx. Here we report a novel TRPC6 mutant, M132T, which causes early-onset FSGS. Whole cell patch clamp experiments showed that current amplitude of M132T was 3- to 5-fold larger (476.9 ± 55.9 pA/pF) than that of wild-type (wt) TRPC6. Interestingly, while the wt TRPC6 exhibited apparent time-dependent inactivation, M132T did not show inactivation or only minor time-dependent decline of inward current. Inward Ca2+ current of M132T measured in 10 mM Ca2+ external solution was 10-fold larger than that of wt TRPC6. Moreover, Ca2+ influx of M132T was also significantly bigger than wt TRPC6. To understanding the mechanism of slow inactivation kinetics of M132T, we applied various intracellular Ca2+ concentrations and compared inactivation processes of M132T and wt TRPC6. We found that higher Ca2+ concentration was required to induce M132T inactivation in comparison with wt TRPC6, suggesting that M132T is less sensitive to intracellular Ca2+ induced inactivation. Taken together, our results indicate that the lack of inactivation may confer the enhanced Ca2+ influx in M132T. Further investigation is required to understand the mechanism of enhanced channel functions of TRPC6 mutants in FSGS.
Differences in the quality of breast cancer care among vulnerable populations.

BACKGROUND It is unknown whether differences in the quality of breast cancer care among women from racial and ethnic minority groups, the elderly, and rural areas have changed over time across the continuum of care. METHODS The linked Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database identified 22,701 women ages 66–79 years diagnosed with early stage breast cancer from 1992–1999. Multiple breast cancer processes of care were measured, including breast-conserving surgery, radiation therapy, documentation of estrogen receptor status, surveillance mammography, and a combined measure of “adequate care”. RESULTS African-American and Hispanic women were significantly less likely to receive adequate care than White women in unadjusted comparisons (54.7% and 58.0% vs. 68.4% for African-American and Hispanic vs. White women) and adjusted comparisons (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.67; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.59–0.76, and AOR 0.77; 95% CI 0.66–0.90 for African-American and Hispanic women, respectively). The proportion of Asian/Pacific Islander women receiving adequate care was similar to White women. When considering only women diagnosed with breast cancer from 1997–1999, African-American women remained less likely than White women to receive adequate care (AOR 0.63; 95% CI 0.50–0.79). Women ages 75–79 years were less likely to receive adequate care compared with women ages 66–69 years (AOR 0.74; 95% CI 0.69–0.80), and women from rural (vs. metropolitan) areas were less likely to receive adequate care (AOR 0.81; 95% CI 0.73–0.89). CONCLUSIONS The quality of breast cancer care is lower among vulnerable populations across the continuum of care, and many of these differences have not improved in more recent years. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Evaluation of free and hydrostatic equibiaxial deformation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) by trirefringence measurement

Understanding the deformation behavior of an amorphous thermoplastic, e.g., poly(ethylene terephthalate) (a-PET) and one of semicrystallinity, viz., i-PP, can be is of both fundamental and practical importance. Much has been done to study the influence of temperature and strain, but not the influence of deformation conditions on the three-dimensional orientation of many thermoplastic. In this study we consider the incremental effect of hydrostatic pressure and process geometry on strain-induced deformation. a-PET has been free drawn (i.e., no hydrostatic pressure) isothermally on a tenter frame device. The hydrostatic, equibiaxial deformation was achieved by a forging process involving squeezing between two circular plates. These two processes have been carried out at a series of deformation rates, with the three-dimensional refractive index measurements having been made on the PET and i-PP films using a modified Abbe refractometer, as per Samuels. The reported trirefringence measurement provides a sensitive scale for the planar deformation.
Implementation of conjunctive and disjunctive fuzzy logic rules with neural networks

Abstract The use of fuzzy logic to model and manage uncertainty in a rule-based system places high computational demands on an inference engine. In an earlier paper, we introduced trainable neural network structures for fuzzy logic. These networks can learn and extrapolate complex relationships between possibility distributions for the antecedents and consequents in the rules. In this paper, the power of these networks is further explored. The sensitivity of the output to noisy input distributions (which are likely if the clauses are generated from real data) is demonstrated as well as the ability of the networks to internalize multiple conjunctive clause and disjunctive clause rules. Since different rules (with the same variables) can be encoded in a single network, this approach to fuzzy logic inference provides a natural mechanism for rule conflict resolution.
High speed cinemicrographic studies on rabbit tracheal (ciliated) epithelia: determination of the beat pattern of tracheal cilia.

Extract: High speed cinemicrographs reveal that the ciliary configuration and beat pattern of rabbit tracheal cilia differ significantly from classic descriptions, although the basic forward and return pattern is still observed. The tracheal cilia are short and stout (about 6 μm in length) and are of a slightly bent original configuration. At the start of the forward stroke, the cilia bear about 75–90° to the epithelial surface in the direction of the forward stroke. The forward stroke is planar and consists of a simple “bowing” movement, without showing any progressive bending and without changing the original ciliary configuration. The complete forward stroke sweeps through an arc of about 35–40°, with the tips of the cilia penetrating the bottom of the mucous layer through an arc of about 5–8° at the start of each forward stroke. The return stroke starts from close to the epithelial surface and returns to the starting position of the forward stroke by reversing the planer forward pathway at a reduced speed. The stout nature of the cilia, the original bent ciliary configuration, the near vertical starting position of the forward stroke, the extent of the angular sweeps of the strokes, the peculiar “bowing” forward stroke movement, and the nature of the return stroke all serve to enhance efficiency in moving fluid forward. It has been documented that each forward stroke of the tracheal cilia causes and maintains a swift forward movement of the intermediate serous (liquid) layer of the mucociliary system. This movement, in turn, reacts hydrodynamically with the top mucous layer, and together with the clawing action of the tips of the cilia at the start of the forward stroke, causes the mucous layer to move cephalad in the manner of a conveyor belt. Speculation: This research report describes a method by which the ciliary activity of live rabbit tracheal cilia is documented. The exact ciliary beat pattern can then be determined and the clearance mechanism of tracheal mucus better understood. It is speculated that tracheal mucus stagnation in cystic fibrosis may be a hydromechanical and biochemical problem rather than a direct cilia control problem. Detailed analysis of the ciliary beat pattern and mucus clearance of the tracheal mucociliary system may serve to provide a reference baseline to investigate the possible physiologic effects of cystic fibrosis serum on ciliated epithelial cells (such physiologic effects will be dealt with in a separate report).
Carbon isotope composition of C4 grasses is influenced by light and water supply

The carbon isotope composition of C4 grasses has the potential to be used as an indicator of changes in the isotopic composition and concentration of atmospheric CO2, especially for climate reconstruction. The usefulness of C4 grasses for this purpose hinges on the assumption that their photosynthetic discrimination against 13C remains constant in a wide range of environmental conditions. We tested this assumption by examining the effects of light and water stress on the carbon isotope composition of C4 grasses using different biochemical subtypes (NADP-ME, NAD-ME, PCK) in glasshouse experiments. We grew 14 different C4 grass species in four treatments: sun-watered, sun-drought, shade-watered and shade-drought. Carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) rarely remained constant. In general, Δ values were lowest in sun-watered grasses, greater for sun-drought plants and even higher for plants of the shade-watered treatment. The highest Δ values were generally found in the most stressed grasses, the shade-drought plants. Grasses of the NADP-ME subtype were the least influenced by a change in environmental variables, followed by PCK and NAD-ME subtypes. Water availability affected the carbon isotope discrimination less than light limitation in PCK and NAD-ME subtypes, but similarly in NADP-ME subtypes. In another experiment, we studied the effect of increasing light levels (150 to 1500 μmol photons m−2 s−1) on the Δ values of 18 well-watered C4 grass species. Carbon isotope discrimination remained constant until photon flux density (PFD) was less than 700 μmol photons m−2 s−1. Below this light level, Δ values increased with decreasing irradiance for all biochemical subtypes. The change in A was less pronounced in NADP-ME and PCK than in NAD-ME grasses. Grasses grown in the field and in the glasshouse showed a similar pattern. Thus, caution should be exercised when using C4 plants under varying environmental conditions to monitor the concentration or carbon isotopic composition of atmospheric CO2 in field/glasshouse studies or climate reconstruction.