cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of Smoking on Oncologic Outcomes of Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma After Radical Nephroureterectomy

Abstract Background Cigarette smoking is a common risk factor for developing upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). Objective To assess the impact of cigarette smoking status, cumulative smoking exposure, and time from cessation on oncologic UTUC outcomes in patients treated with radical nephroureterectomy (RNU). Design, setting, and participants A total of 864 patients underwent RNU at five institutions. The median follow-up in this retrospective study was 50 mo. Smoking history included smoking status, quantity of cigarettes per day (CPD), duration in years, and years from smoking cessation. The cumulative smoking exposure was categorized as light-short-term (≤19 CPD and ≤19.9 yr), moderate (all combinations except light-short-term and heavy-long-term), and heavy-long-term (≥20 CPD and ≥20 yr). Interventions RNU with or without lymph node dissection. No patient received neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis Univariable and multivariable logistic regression and competing risk regression analyses assessed the effects of smoking on oncologic outcomes. Results and limitations A total of 244 patients (28.2%) never smoked; 297 (34.4%) and 323 (37.4%) were former and current smokers, respectively. Among smokers, 87 (10.1%), 331 (38.3%), and 202 (23.4%) were light-short-term, moderate, and heavy-long-term smokers, respectively. Current smoking status, smoking ≥20 CPD, ≥20 yr, and heavy-long-term smoking were associated with advanced disease ( p values ≤0.004), greater likelihood of disease recurrence ( p values ≤0.01), and cancer-specific mortality ( p values ≤0.05) on multivariable analyses that adjusted for standard features. Patients who quit smoking ≥10 yr prior to RNU did not differ from never smokers regarding advanced tumor stages, disease recurrence, and cancer-specific mortality, but they had better oncologic outcomes then current smokers and those patients who quit smoking Conclusions Cigarette smoking is significantly associated with advanced disease stages, disease recurrence, and cancer-specific mortality in patients treated with RNU for UTUC. Current smokers and those with a heavy and long-term smoking exposure have the highest risk for poor oncologic outcomes. Smoking cessation >10 yr prior to RNU seems to mitigate some detrimental effects. These results underscore the need for smoking cessation and prevention programs.
Refinement of a formula for decay after weak coherent excitation of a sphere

Abstract A new formula has been given recently by A.A. Svidzinsky and M.O. Scully to describe the temporal evolution of the excitation function β t , r → in a large sphere satisfying the Markov condition after excitation by a single photon. This formula is based on a physically reasonable Ansatz from which differential equations are inferred for the undetermined radial functions in the Ansatz. The solution to these differential equations leads to the formula for β. Numerical calculations from this formula yield a value ∼10% for the maximum probability of occupancy of secondary excited states. In this paper, we refine the formula of Svidzinsky and Scully by allowing the radial functions in the Ansatz to depend on the angular index l of the spherical Bessel functions. By using the Debye formula for the asymptotic behavior of j l ( u ) for large l as well as u, we obtain differential equations in each angular sector, similar to theirs but with a dependence on l. The solution to these equations yields our improved formula, from which we calculate 17.1% for the maximum probability of secondary excited states.
The committee outlier debate: A review and a reexamination of some of the evidence

An ongoing and controversial topic of congressional scholars is the question “Are committees ‘preference outliers’ vis-a-vis their parent chamber?” Despite numerous research efforts showing isolated cases of outlying committees, little evidence shows a systematic tendency for committees to be unrepresentative of their legislature. A paper which comes close to being an exception is Weingast and Marshall's (1988) analysis of “the industrial organization of Congress,” which reports evidence of many and very strongly outlying committees. However, the apparently strong evidence is due more to the authors' incorrectly executed methods than to a general tendency for committees to be outliers. In this note I review the state of the committee-outlier debate and also show that Weingast and Marshall's empirical results cannot be replicated. I accordingly provide the correct results once their statistical tests are properly executed.
A comparison of probe-level and probeset models for small-sample gene expression data.

Statistical methods to tentatively identify differentially expressed genes in microarray studies typically assume larger sample sizes than are practical or even possible in some settings. The performance of several probe-level and probeset models was assessed graphically and numerically using three spike-in datasets. Based on the Affymetrix GeneChip, a novel nested factorial model was developed and found to perform competitively on small-sample spike-in experiments. Statistical methods with test statistics related to the estimated log fold change tend to be more consistent in their performance on small-sample gene expression data. For such small-sample experiments, the nested factorial model can be a useful statistical tool. This method is implemented in freely-available R code (affyNFM), available with a tutorial document at http://www.stat.usu.edu/~jrstevens .
A general instance-based learning framework for studying intuitive decision-making in a cognitive architecture

Abstract Cognitive architectures (e.g., ACT-R) have not traditionally been used to understand intuitive decision-making; instead, models tend to be designed with the intuitions of their modelers already hardcoded in the decision process. This is due in part to a fuzzy boundary between automatic and deliberative processes within the architecture. We argue that instance-based learning satisfies the conditions for intuitive decision-making described in Kahneman and Klein (2009) , separates automatic from deliberative processes, and provides a general mechanism for the study of intuitive decision-making. To better understand the role of the environment in decision-making, we describe biases as arising from three sources: the mechanisms and limitations of the human cognitive architecture, the information structure in the task environment, and the use of heuristics and strategies to adapt performance to the dual constraints of cognition and environment. A unified decision-making model performing multiple complex reasoning tasks is described according to this framework.
Xanthine oxidase, but not neutrophils, contributes to activation of cardiac sympathetic afferents during myocardial ischaemia in cats

Activation of cardiac sympathetic afferents during myocardial ischaemia causes angina and induces important cardiovascular reflex responses. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important chemical stimuli of cardiac afferents during and after ischaemia. Iron-catalysed Fenton chemistry constitutes one mechanism of production of hydroxyl radicals. Another potential source of these species is xanthine oxidase-catalysed oxidation of purines. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) also contribute to the production of ROS in some conditions. The present study tested the hypothesis that both xanthine oxidase-catalysed oxidation of purines and neutrophils provide a source of ROS sufficient to activate cardiac afferents during ischaemia. We recorded single-unit activity of cardiac afferents innervating the ventricles recorded from the left thoracic sympathetic chain (T1-5) of anaesthetized cats to identify the afferents' responses to ischaemia. The role of xanthine oxidase in activation of these afferents was determined by infusion of oxypurinol (10 mg kg(-1), I.V.), an inhibitor of xanthine oxidase. The importance of neutrophils as a potential source of ROS in the activation of cardiac afferents during ischaemia was assessed by the infusion of a polyclonal antibody (3 mg ml(-1) kg(-1), I.V.) raised in rabbits immunized with cat PMNs. This antibody decreased the number of circulating PMNs and, to a smaller extent, platelets. Since previous data suggest that platelets release serotonin (5-HT), which activates cardiac afferents through a serotonin receptor (subtype 3,5-HT3 receptor) mechanism, before treatment with the antibody in another group, we blocked 5-HT3 receptors on sensory nerve endings with tropisetron (300 microg kg(-1), I.V.). We observed that oxypurinol significantly decreased the activity of cardiac afferents during myocardial ischaemia from 1.5 +/- 0.4 to 0.8 +/- 0.4 impulses s(-1). Similarly, the polyclonal antibody significantly reduced the discharge frequency of ischaemically sensitive cardiac afferents from 2.5 +/- 0.7 to 1.1 +/- 0.4 impulses s(-1). However, pre-blockade of 5-HT3 receptors eliminated the influence of the antibody on discharge activity of the afferents during ischaemia. This study demonstrates that ROS generated from the oxidation of purines contribute to the stimulation of ischaemically sensitive cardiac sympathetic afferents, whereas PMNs do not play a major role in this process.
Commentary: Improving treatment for youth with callous‐unemotional traits through the intersection of basic and applied science – reflections on Dadds et al. (2014)

There is increasing evidence that callous-unemotional (CU) traits delineate a distinctive group of youth with antisocial behavior (AB). While controversies surrounding the construct of CU traits remain, the Dadds et al. (2014) study in this issue is emblematic of recent research that has focused on understanding the development of CU traits among antisocial youth. We explore four pertinent issues in the study of youth AB highlighted by this study, and highlight this study as exemplar research program that will ultimately help youth and families through translation from the lab to the clinic.
Bacterial activity, community structure, and centimeter-scale spatial heterogeneity in contaminated soil.

In an anthropogenically disturbed soil (88% sand, 8% silt, 4% clay), 150-mg samples were studied to examine the fine-scale relationship of bacterial activity and community structure to heavy metal contaminants. The soils had been contaminated for over 40 years with aromatic solvents, Pb, and Cr. Samples from distances of <1, 5, 15, and 50 cm over a depth range of 40–90 cm underwent a sequential analysis to determine metabolic potential (from 14C glucose mineralization), bacterial community structure [using polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE)], and total extractable Pb and Cr levels. Metabolic potential varied by as much as 10,000-fold in samples <1 cm apart; log–log plots of metal concentration and microbial metabolic potential showed no correlation with each other. Overall, metal concentrations ranged from 9 to 29,000 mg kg−1 for Pb and from 3 to 8500 mg kg−1 for Cr with small zones of high contamination present. All regions exhibited variable metal concentrations, with some soil samples having 30-fold differences in metal concentration in sites <1 cm apart. Geostatistical analysis revealed a strong spatial dependence for all three parameters tested (metabolic activity, Pb, and Cr levels) with a range up to 30 cm. Kriging maps showed that in zones of high metal, the corresponding metabolic activity was low suggesting that metals negatively impacted the microbial community. PCR-DGGE analysis revealed that diverse communities were present in the soils with a random distribution of phylotypes throughout the sampling zones. These results suggest the presence of spatially isolated microbial communities within the soil profile.
A 58-year-old woman with mental status changes.

Thirty years ago she underwent gastric bypass surgery for obesity. Now she presents with mental status changes, a bicarbonate level of 16 mmol/L, and an anion gap of 15. What is the most likely cause of her acidosis?
Semi-global stabilization of the `ball and beam' using `output' feedback

We present a semi-globally stabilizing family of feedback controls for the simplified "ball and beam" example which requires measurement only of the ball position and beam angle and does not require exact knowledge of the ball mass or beam inertia.
Synthesis and characterization of biocompatible hydrogel using Pluronics-based block copolymers

Abstract The tri-block copolymer (PEO) 99 -(PPO) 69 -(PEO) 99 (commercially known as F127, with PEO and PPO representing polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide, respectively), a member of Pluronics copolymers, was chemically modified by introducing vinyl groups at the terminal ends of the polymer chain. With or without the addition of Pluronics or PEO chains, the modified copolymer could be cross-linked by UV irradiation to form a soft but tough gel-like scaffold. This cross-linked polymer has material properties, such as storage modulus (11–40 kPa), comparable to native human breast tissue. Swelling studies revealed that the strength of the cross-linked polymer networks could be adjusted to be comparable to human adipose tissue. Exposure of pre-adipocytes to the constituents of the Pluronics hydrogel and the cross-linked gel did not show any adverse effects on the cells, thus confirming the biocompatibility of the cross-linked hydrogel. Taken together, these findings suggest that cross-linking of modified Pluronics hydrogel can potentially yield a promising candidate scaffold for the regeneration of native tissue, such as breast tissue to repair defects resulting from lumpectomies.
Our Clients in Mid-Century: Welfare in the Modern State

should give training of immediate practical benefit to the youth of this community, and they intended to start a great institution of learning that would rival, in time, its earlier counterparts in the East. Those who created the department of social work three-quarters of a century later and so began the present George Warren Brown School were proceeding in accordance with these aims. They proposed to train a profession dedicated to offering help in behalf of society to persons in difficulty so that happier and more useful lives can be lived and, as Professor Towley has said recently,3 to increasing knowledge of human behavior, of social forces, of interpersonal relations The same dual purpose of rendering human service and of increasing knowledge runs through all American higher education and through much of the work of our great professions. The ministry endeavors to serve many immediate needs of parishioners and at the same time to penetrate into the meaning of the universe. Medicine and its supporting sciences exist to strengthen human health and to inquire into the conditions f its maintenance. Engineering and law a universal disciplines are more neutral with regard to welfare, since they can and do serve many masters in the world large without violating any principles to which they are inherently committed; but in a democracy they too are dedicated to the service of mankind and to research to this end.
Stage-specific mortality of Rhagoletis indifferens (Diptera: Tephritidae) exposed to three species of Steinernema nematodes

Abstract Mortality of larval, pupal, and adult western cherry fruit fly, Rhagoletis indifferens (Tephritidae) exposed to the steinernematid nematodes Steinernema carpocapsae, Steinernema feltiae, and Steinernema intermedium, was determined in the laboratory and field. Larvae were the most susceptible stage, with mortality in the three nematode treatments ranging from 62 to 100%. S. carpocapsae and S. feltiae were equally effective against larvae at both 50 and 100 infective juveniles (IJs)/cm2. S. intermedium was slightly less effective against larvae than the other two species. Mortalities of R. indifferens larvae at 0, 2, 4, and 6 days following their introduction into soil previously treated with S. carpocapsae and S. feltiae at 50 IJs/cm 2 were 78.6, 92.5, 95.0, and 77.5% and 87.5, 52.5, 92.5, and 70.0%, respectively, and at 100 IJs/cm 2 were 90.0, 92.0, 100.0, and 84.0% and 90.0, 50.0, 42.0, and 40.0%, respectively. There was no decline in mortality caused by S. carpocapsae as time progressed, whereas there was in one test with S. feltiae. Larval mortalities caused by the two species were the same in a 1:1:1 vermiculite:peat moss:sand soil mix and a more compact silt loam soil. In the field, S. carpocapsae and S. feltiae were equally effective against larvae. Pupae were not infected, but adult flies were infected by all three nematode species in the laboratory. S. carpocapsae was the most effective species at a concentration of 100 IJs/cm 2 and infected 11–53% of adults that emerged. The high pathogenicity of S. carpocapsae and S. feltiae against R. indifferens larvae and their persistence in soil as well as efficacy in different soil types indicate both nematodes hold promise as effective biological control agents of flies in isolated and abandoned lots or in yards of homeowners.
Oxidation of palmitate and lactate by beating myocytes isolated from adult dog heart.

Myocytes were isolated from hearts of adult dogs by repeated digestion with collagenase and hyaluronidase in Ca2+-free phosphate buffer followed by centrifugation in the presence of Ficoll. The isolated myocytes were free of other tissue elements and were contracting autorhythmically. The oxidation of palmitate and lactate were studied by incubating cell preparation with [1-14C]palmitate or [U-14C]lactate either in the presence or absence of CaCl2 for 30 min at 37°C. [14C]O2 was collected by KOH-soaked filter paper. Cardiac myocytes oxidized 0.1 to 0.18 nmol/mg protein min of palmitate and 1.5 to 2.2 nmol/mg protein min of lactate. The oxidation was linear for 75 min. Maximal rate of oxidation was obtained at substrate concentrations of 0.2 mm palmitate or 5.0 mm lactate. Adenine or pyridine nucleotides had no effect on the oxidation of these substrates. Palmitate oxidation was enhanced by carnitine and also by an increase in the molar ratio of palmitate/albumin, but was depressed (15 to 50%) by CaCl2 (0.025 to 1.0 mm). CaCl2 (0.05 to 1.0 mm) increased the rate of lactate oxidation by 50 to 68%. Lactate oxidation was also enhanced (68 to 87%) in the presence of palmitate (0.4 to 0.8 mm). These findings demonstrate the suitability of isolated adult heart myocytes for the study of cardiac metabolism.
Desired control, felt control, and dental pain: Recent findings and remaining issues

This paper reviews a series of studies examining how desire for control among dental patients affects their reaction to dental treatment. This research (across eight samples) indicates that low perceived control is associated with heightened stressful responding before and during dental treatment only among patients reporting high desire for control Thus, the impact of low perceived control appears to be moderated by desire for control. An additional finding is that manipulations of control (e.g., providing information, stress inoculation training) primarily impact patients reporting both a high desire for control (during treatment) and low initial perceived control. These data suggest that consideration of patients' desire for control in addition to their perceived control increases our ability to predict their level of dental stress. Additionally, these data provide initial support for the view that the discrepancy between high desire for control and low perceived control play a causal role in patient's perceptions of dental pain and fear.
Evaluation of (89)Zr-pertuzumab in Breast cancer xenografts.

Pertuzumab is a monoclonal antibody that binds to HER2 and is used in combination with another HER2–specific monoclonal antibody, trastuzumab, for the treatment of HER2+ metastatic breast cancer. Pertuzumab binds to an HER2 binding site distinct from that of trastuzumab, and its affinity is enhanced when trastuzumab is present. We aim to exploit this enhanced affinity of pertuzumab for its HER2 binding epitope and adapt this antibody as a PET imaging agent by radiolabeling with 89Zr to increase the sensitivity of HER2 detection in vivo. Here, we investigate the biodistribution of 89Zr-pertuzumab in HER2–expressing BT-474 and HER2–nonexpressing MDA-MB-231 xenografts to quantitatively assess HER2 expression in vivo. In vitro cell binding studies were performed resulting in retained immunoreactivity and specificity for HER2–expressing cells. In vivo evaluation of 89Zr-pertuzumab was conducted in severely combined immunodeficient mice, subcutaneously inoculated with BT-474 and MDA-MB-231 cells. 89Zr-pertuzuma...
Quantification of global gross forest cover loss

A globally consistent methodology using satellite imagery was implemented to quantify gross forest cover loss (GFCL) from 2000 to 2005 and to compare GFCL among biomes, continents, and countries. GFCL is defined as the area of forest cover removed because of any disturbance, including both natural and human-induced causes. GFCL was estimated to be 1,011,000 km2 from 2000 to 2005, representing 3.1% (0.6% per year) of the year 2000 estimated total forest area of 32,688,000 km2. The boreal biome experienced the largest area of GFCL, followed by the humid tropical, dry tropical, and temperate biomes. GFCL expressed as the proportion of year 2000 forest cover was highest in the boreal biome and lowest in the humid tropics. Among continents, North America had the largest total area and largest proportion of year 2000 GFCL. At national scales, Brazil experienced the largest area of GFCL over the study period, 165,000 km2, followed by Canada at 160,000 km2. Of the countries with >1,000,000 km2 of forest cover, the United States exhibited the greatest proportional GFCL and the Democratic Republic of Congo the least. Our results illustrate a pervasive global GFCL dynamic. However, GFCL represents only one component of net change, and the processes driving GFCL and rates of recovery from GFCL differ regionally. For example, the majority of estimated GFCL for the boreal biome is due to a naturally induced fire dynamic. To fully characterize global forest change dynamics, remote sensing efforts must extend beyond estimating GFCL to identify proximate causes of forest cover loss and to estimate recovery rates from GFCL.
On linear rank tests for truncated binomial randomization

Abstract In this paper, we propose a modification of Rosenberger and Rukhin's (Nonparametric Statist. 15 (2003) 455–465) linear rank test following truncated binomial randomization. This modified test is asymptotically normal under much less strict conditions, and unlike Rosenberger and Rukhin's, can be used with standard score functions.
Pseudopotential calculations of relaxation and formation energy of a (1/2, 1/2, 1/2) interstitial defect in aluminum

Abstract The pseudopotential form factors used previously by the authors to study the vacancy formation in aluminum are employed to calculate the atom displacements around and formation energy of an interstitial aluminum atom placed at the center (1/2, 1/2, 1/2) of the face-centered cubic unit cell with encouraging results.
Models for the coupled Sr-sulfate budget in deep-sea carbonates

A numerical model for the Sr and sulfate budgets during deposition of deep-sea carbonate sediments was developed and used to fit porewater Sr2+ and SO42− data from DSDP Sites 593, 590, 574, 573, 572, 516, and 289. The Sr and sulfate budgets are coupled whenever the porewaters become saturated with respect to celestite (SrSO4). Models for the porewater Sr and sulfate at Sites 593, 590, 516, and 289 suggest that porewater Sr concentrations are controlled by the precipitation of celestite and predict maximum celestite concentrations of the order of 0.02 wt% for sediments at Sites 593, 590, and 289, and trace amounts of celestite at Site 516. The actual amount of celestite predicted by the model is not well constrained because it depends on the as yet poorly known value of the equilibrium distribution coefficient for Sr between calcite and porewaters. The fact that celestite has been found in sediments from Sites 590 and 593 is used to derive an upper bound for the Sr distribution coefficient, that suggests that all laboratory determined values for the Sr distribution coefficient between calcite and porewater are too large. The occurrence of celestite at Sites 593, 590, 516, and 289 does not significantly change earlier estimates of the rates of solution-reprecipitation of calcite and its consequences in terms of shifting the Sr content or Sr isotopic composition of the bulk sediment from what the sediment incorporated when originally deposited. The sulfate data at Sites 593 and 590 are best fit by invoking a flow of porewater within the sediments of the order of 75 m/Ma. The Sr and sulfate concentrations in porewaters from Sites 572, 573, and 574 never reach celestite saturation and thus the two budgets are decoupled. Both the Sr and the sulfate data require that all three Sites have abundant unaltered seawater flowing in the underlying basement and can only be modeled if seawater concentrations of Sr and sulfate are imposed as boundary conditions at both the sediment-water interface and the bottom of the section. Model sulfate profiles for Sites 572, 573, and 574 confirm prior estimates of the rate of porewater flow at these Sites that were made using Sr data.
Specification of Multi-Agent Systems in the Gamma Language

The suitability of using Chemical Reaction Metaphor (CRM) to model multi-agent systems (MASs) is justified by CRM's capacity in specifying dynamic features of multi-agent systems. This paper presents a case study that demonstrates the applications of CRM in specifying multi-agent systems. The case study is the specification of a navigation training system. Given the dynamic and concurrent nature of multi-agent systems, we find that the chemical reaction metaphor provides a mechanism for describing the overall architecture of the distributed multi-agent systems precisely and concisely, while giving the design of the real system a solid starting point and allowing step-by-step refinement of the system using transformational methods.
On the theory of Hill's matrices and related inverse spectral problems

Abstract Second order difference equations with periodic coefficients are shown to have a theory associated with them that is completely analogous to that for second order differential equations. Furthermore, it is shown that from certain spectral data one can draw conclusions regarding the coefficients in the difference equation.
C1-4: Preparing for FDA Bioresearch Monitoring (BIMO) and Good Clinical Research Practice (GCP) Inspections: Fundamentals for KP Clinical Trial Sites

Background/Aims With over 300 FDA-regulated clinical trials currently open at Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC), the need for a quality-based systems approach for managing clinical trials and preparing for FDA audit of these trials is paramount. Over the past five years, the FDA’s Division of Bioresearch Monitoring (BIMO) has conducted, on average, 325 to 350 inspections of medical device clinical trials each year. In 2011, FDA issued warning letters to Sponsors, IRBs, and Clinical Investigators, citing numerous GCP violations involving pharmaceutical trials. Non-compliance findings ran the gamut; from violations related to required regulatory submissions to deviations from written procedures, and failures to maintain study documents. This presentation will: (1) discuss the triggers and types of FDA audit and the procedures necessary to prepare KP investigators and sites for a successful audit, and (2) discuss the approaches to ensure GCP and audit-readiness at all times. A case study of a routine BIMO audit of a KPNC study site participating in an investigational device trial will be presented.
Early FCS Extension Specialist: Martha Van Rensselaer

A review of the early Extension career of Martha Van Rensselaer. It has been determined that hers was one of the first Extension home economics or family and consumer science programs in the United States, and this work led to contributions establishing new programs throughout the country and in parts of the world. She received many awards, but sadly few books or articles have been written about her. This historical study attempted to address and clarify aspects of her life.
In silico evidence for glutathione- and iron-related pathogeneses in Parkinson's disease

Post-mortem analyses and epidemiological studies strongly indicate metals have a participatory role in neurodegenerative diseases, but whether these roles are pathogenic and not simply subsidiary mechanisms is currently unclear. For Parkinson's disease (PD), iron content in the afflicted brain region, the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), has been consistently reported elevated whereas copper levels have been decreased. Both metals exhibit deleterious functions that occur during the late stages of PD, but mutations involving the regulation of these two metals have not been associated with PD. The pathogenesis of PD is undoubtedly multifaceted and may consist of various etiological factors participating in slow disease ascension. However, the extent to which certain factors may contribute to PD is unclear. To study whether iron and/or copper may facilitate a parkinsonian state, a computational model of neuronal metal regulation was initially developed and then the system was perturbed, corresponding to proposed etiological pathways for PD from the literature, in order to determine which iron- and copper-based pathogeneses would elicit a parkinsonian system. We report that a defective glutathione system and/or inhibited cellular iron efflux have the neurotoxic capacities to initiate a system characteristic of PD; furthermore, these capacities are greatly enhanced with mutated alpha-synuclein proteins.
Ecological Distribution of Polychaetous Annelids from the New England Outer Continental Shelf, Georges Bank

Four hundred and eight quantitative grab samples collected during the winter and spring of 1977 from the New England Continental Shelf (Georges Bank) yielded 333 species of polychaetes. Polychaetes comprised 53.8% of the number of all infaunal species, 53% of the density, and 60.5% of the wet weight biomass for all soft-bodied organisms, at least for the winter. Mean number of species and mean density was significantly higher in the spring than in the winter. Mean values of number of species, H', SDN, density, and biomass were associated with various environmental factors. Based on numerical classification (normal and inverse) five polychaete site groups were identified. To a great extent these site groups were molded by major physical, geologic and biologic processes which influence the productivity of this ecologically and economically important area.
Social Networks of Science and Patterns of Publication in Leading Sociology Journals, 1960 to 1985

This article examines the impact of editor-author networks of institutional ties on publication patterns in three leading sociology journals between 1960 and 1985. The "invisible college," a social network of elite scholars, is discussed as the major contributor to the editor-author connection. Results suggest a pattern of institutional connections between editors and authors over time beyond random chance alone. It appears, however, that fluctuations in academic labor markets have weakened this network, resulting in a reduction in the strength of the institutional connections in journal publication.
Effects of chromium(III) on DNA replication in vitro.

A number of metal compounds are important environmental carcinogens; however, the molecular mechanisms of metal-induced genotoxicity are not yet understood. Chromium, for example, is substantially mutagenic in vivo and has been shown to decrease the DNA replication fidelity in vitro. But the mechanism of chromium-induced mutagenesis is unkown and the role of replication fidelity in chromium-induced carciogenesis is unclear. We have used in vitro DNA replication assays to investigate the effects of chromium ions on DNA polymerase activity preliminary to studying their role in chromium-induced mutagenesis. Biologically active M13mp2 DNA was replicated with purified DNA polymerases in the presence of micromolar amounts of chromium with or without the normal divalent cation, magnesium. Nucleotide incorporation kinetics were determined and sequence specific pausing was analyzed by primer-extension. Our results have demonstrated an unexpected polymerase activation by low (0.5–5.0 μm) concentrations of chromium(III) although higher concentrations of chromium are increasingly inhibitory. The increased incorporation seem at low chromium(III) concentrations is the result of increased enzyme processivity and is not polymerase specific. The possible relationship between processivity and metal-ion mutagenesis is discussed.
Permeability prediction of coalbed methane reservoirs during primary depletion

Abstract Permeability increase in coalbed methane (CBM) reservoirs during primary depletion, particularly in the San Juan Basin, is a well accepted phenomenon. It is complex since it is influenced by stress conditions and coal matrix shrinkage associated with gas desorption. Understanding the variations in coal permeability is critical in order to reliably project future gas production, or consider other gas migration issues in the reservoir. Since sorption-induced strain plays a critical role in changing the permeability, typically observed, the theoretical strain model should be incorporated into the permeability prediction models. An effort is made in this paper to couple the recently developed Liu and Harpalani sorption-induced strain model with various permeability models. The model first calculates the theoretical coal matrix shrinkage strain and, using the calculated strain, various commonly used permeability models are applied to two sets of field data. The results of the coupled models show that the agreement between the predicted permeability and that observed in the field is very good. The merit of the coupled models is that it can theoretically predict the permeability with less experimental work, making it a more time efficient and economical technique compared to models used in the past.
Evaluating fiber–matrix interaction in polymer–matrix composites by inverse gas chromatography

Abstract Inverse gas chromatography was used to determine the surface energy characteristics of process-modified vapor-grown carbon fibers. These fibers have several physical and mechanical properties, including very high thermal conductivity and high aspect ratios ( l / d =100–1000), which are of interest in composite applications. However, due to the low bulk density of the `as-received' vapor-grown carbon fibers, and small physical size of the fibers, it was necessary to develop a sampling method which allowed for easy column preparation, but gave accurate, reproducible results. For this reason, the fibers were analyzed before and after modification by solvent washing to determine how removing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from the surface would affect measurement statistics. Oxidation of the fiber surfaces was evaluated by comparing modified fibers with a standard fiber. In addition, the effects of silylation on surface properties was examined in order to reveal the presence of active hydrogens on the fiber surface. In this paper, surface energy measurements for various surface treatments are compared and described. Results indicate that the dispersive surface energies ( γ d s ) of the fibers decrease when the fibers are oxidized due to disruption of the graphitic plains. Sampling methodology had a significant impact on reproducibility. Solvent washing of the fibers prior to packing of the column improved the relative standard deviation for the unoxidized fibers from 18.8% to 2.2% without dramatically altering the γ d s of approximately 50 dynes cm −1 . Furthermore, derivitization by N , O -bis(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide reveals the presence of active hydrogens on the surface of the fibers.
Origin and composition of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays.

DISCUSSIONS of the problem of the origin of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays have centred on three characteristics of their energy spectrum: (1) an apparent steepening of the power-law integral spectrum, E−γ from γ≃ 1.7 to γ≃ 2.2 at an energy of ∼ 1015 eV ; (2) an apparent flattening of the spectrum at an energy above 3×1018 eV where γ≃1.6 and (3) the apparent absence of a cutoff in the energy spectrum of air-shower events at energies above 1019 eV. Recently, the validity of the second characteristic has been questioned and a new analysis of both the Haverah Park and Volcano Ranch air-shower data has indicated that γ≃2.2 for energies above 1017 eV (refs. 1 and 2). I suggest that, if this is the case, the absence of a flattening above 3 × 1018 eV may have implications for the debate about the origin of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays (UECR).
An economic analysis of transplant organs: A comment and extension

The recent paper by B-R should be applauded for bringing to light an extremely important and controversial public policy issue. The authors of this note have been students of antitrust, regulation, and related microeconomic policy issues for over fifteen years. Yet, they can safely say that they have never encountered a single policy that is more at odds with the public welfare than is the current organ procurement policy. As economists, it is easy to describe and analyze the tremendous inefficiencies, waste, and market distortions created by the current altruistic system. But as human beings, they authors are incensed at the unnecessary suffering and loss of life that is caused by the current policy and is so poorly revealed in formal diagrams. Hopefully, B-R's paper, along with this corrective note, will help to spawn a more rational public policy toward cadaveric organ procurement.
Preconception Gender Selection

Safe and effective methods of preconception gender selection through flow cytometric separation of X- and Y-bearing sperm could greatly increase the use of gender selection by couples contemplating reproduction. Such a development raises ethical, legal, and social issues about the impact of such practices on offspring, on sex ratio imbalances, and on sexism and the status of women. This paper analyzes the competing interests in preconception gender selection, and concludes that its use to increase gender variety in a family, and possible for selecting the gender of firstborn, might in many instances be ethically acceptable.
Insight into the salivary transcriptome and proteome of Dipetalogaster maxima.

Dipetalogaster maximais a blood-sucking Hemiptera that inhabits sylvatic areas in Mexico. It usually takes its blood meal from lizards, but following human population growth, it invaded suburban areas, feeding also on humans and domestic animals. Hematophagous insect salivary glands produce potent pharmacologic compounds that counteract host hemostasis, including anticlotting, antiplatelet, and vasodilatory molecules. To obtain further insight into the salivary biochemical and pharmacologic complexity of this insect, a cDNA library from its salivary glands was randomly sequenced. Salivary proteins were also submitted to one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (1DE and 2DE) followed by mass spectrometry analysis. We present the analysis of a set of 2728 cDNA sequences, 1375 of which coded for proteins of a putative secretory nature. The saliva 2DE proteome displayed approximately 150 spots. The mass spectrometry analysis revealed mainly lipocalins, pallidipins, antigen 5-like proteins, and apyrases. The redundancy of sequence identification of saliva-secreted proteins suggests that proteins are present in multiple isoforms or derive from gene duplications. Supplemental files can be downloaded from http://exon.niaid.nih.gov/transcriptome/D_maxima/Dm-S1-web.xls and http://exon.niaid.nih.gov/transcriptome/D_maxima/Dm-S2-web.xls.
Novel Method for Controlling Nano Thin Coatings on Particulate Materials

Particulate coatings have wide ranging applications in several new technologies such as flat-panel displays, sintering of advanced ceramics, rechargeable batteries, etc. In this paper, we show the feasibility of the pulsed laser ablation technique to make very thin, uniformly distributed and discrete coatings in particulate systems so that the properties of the core particles can be suitably modified. Presently, laser ablation techniques have been primarily applied to deposit thin films on flat substrate materials. To deposit discontinuous particulate coatings, the laser induced plume from the target comes in contact with an agitated bed of core particles. The pressure and nature of the background gas (inert or active) controls the cluster size of the nano particles in the laser plume. Experiments were conducted for laser deposition of Ag nano particles on Al 2 O 3 and SiO 2 core particles by pulsed excimer laser (wavelength = 248 nm and pulse duration = 25 nanosecond) irradiation of a Ag sputtering target The surface coverage and coating uniformities of the film were found to depend on the synthesis parameters (energy density, # laser pulses, gas pressure backfill gas, molecular weight) as well as the residence time of the core particles in the plume regime. The films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), wavelength dispersive x-ray analysis (WDX), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).
Axisymmetric deformation of power-law solids containing a dilute concentration of aligned spheroidal voids

Abstract T he macroscopic response of an incompressible power-law matrix containing a dispersion of aligned, spheroidal voids is investigated. Attention is restricted to dilute concentrations of voids and to axisymmetric deformation of the solid. The essential step in the analysis is the solution of a kernel problem for an isolated void, and this solution is obtained accurately and efficiently using a Ritz procedure developed for this purpose. Results for macroscopic strain-rates are presented for void shapes ranging from penny-shaped cracks to infinitely long circular cylinders and for a wide range of triaxialities and matrix hardening exponents. These results are used to assess the role of void shape on the overall response of porous solids.
Automatisierte Optimierung der Aerodynamik

Beim traditionellen Verfahren kame jetzt der Solver zum Einsatz, um das CFD-Modell zu losen. Bei der neuen 50:50:50- Methode wird stattdessen ein in den Fluent-CFD-Solver integrierter Morpher eingesetzt, um durch Verandern der Fahrzeugform und des umgebenden Rechengitters eine Reihe von Designpunkten zu losen, ohne dass hierfur jeweils eine neue Geometrie und ein neues Gitter angelegt werden mussen. Hierzu legen die Ingenieure eine Reihe von Formparametern als Basis des Designraums fest. ➌ zeigt die entsprechende Einstellung fur die Simulation des Boattail-Winkels am Fahrzeugheck. Open image in new window ➌ Definition des Boattail-Winkels
Behavior in the cold after acclimatization.

Experimentally naive albino rats begin to press a lever for short bursts of radiant heat earlier in a 16-hour session at 2°C than rats that have been living at this temperature for about a month. This difference reflects the different rates at which body temperature in the cold falls in acclimatized and nonacclimatized animals.
Interaction of fibrinogen with staphylococcal clumping factor and with platelets.

Fibrinogen, a clottable plasma glycoprotein, participates in cell adhesion phenomena involving prokaryotic cells, e.g. staphylococci, and eukaryotic cell fragments, e.g. platelets. Among the three chains (alpha, beta, gamma) of human fibrinogen, the gamma chain bears the main site recognizing the staphylococcal clumping receptor and human platelet receptor induced by ADP. The platelet receptors are also recognized, albeit less avidly, by a site associated with the alpha chain. The gamma chain site recognizing staphylococcal clumping factor exists on the COOH-terminal segment of this chain encompassing the 15 residues (gamma 397-411) including the COOH-terminal valine. The location of the gamma chain site interacting with the human platelet receptor had been pinpointed to the 27 residue CNBr COOH-terminal segment (gamma 385-411). The results of enzymatic degradation of the 27-residue peptide indicate that the continuity of the last 15 amino acid residues at the COOH-terminal end of the gamma chain of human fibrinogen seems to be essential for its interaction with human platelets. The sequence of the gamma chain interacting with the platelet receptor (gamma 385-411) indicates that this segment is a unique region of fibrinogen endowed with three important functions: cross-linking of fibrin, clumping of staphylococci, and aggregation of platelets. [Note added in proof: Recently we obtained evidence that dodecapeptide gamma 393-411 fully retains platelet receptor recognition site (Kloczewiak et al. 1983. Clin. Res 31:534A.)]
Chemorheology of Aqueous‐Based Alumina‐Poly(vinyl alcohol) Gelcasting Suspensions

A new gelcasting system based on aqueous-based alumina-poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) suspensions cross-linked by an organotitanate coupling agent has been developed. The chemorheological properties of this system exhibited a strong compositional dependence. A sol-gel phase diagram was established, which yielded the critical titanium concentration ([Ti]c) required for gelation at a given PVA volume fraction as well as the minimum PVA volume fraction (φminPVA= 0.0245) and titanium concentration ([Ti]min= 9.984 × 10-4 g of Ti/mL) below which gelation was not observed irrespective of solution composition. The gelation time of suspensions of constant PVA volume fraction (φsolnPVA) decreased with increased cross-linking agent concentration, temperature, and solids volume fraction. The steady-state viscosity and elastic modulus of polymer solutions (φsolnPVA= 0.05) of varying [Ti] were well described by the percolation model, giving scaling exponents of 0.84 and 1.79, respectively. The steady-state elastic modulus of gelcasting suspensions, which provided a measure of their handling strength in the as-gelled state, increased with increased solids volume fraction.
Lesions of Experimental Flea Bite Hypersensitivity in the Dog

Hypersensitivity to fleas was induced in flea-naive dogs by controlled challenge exposure to virgin fleas. By week 10 of the investigation, immediate (15 minute) and delayed (24–48 hours) responses could be elicited in the skin by flea bites. Histologically, the immediate response consisted of edema and eosinophils which sometimes overlapped with a delayed inflammatory response comprised of perivascular lymphocytes and fewer histiocytes. These inflammatory patterns correlated with type I or immediate, and type IV or cellular, allergic reactions. The combined immediate and delayed responses to fleas in the dog are as observed by other investigators in man and guinea pigs.