cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Robotic-assisted radical cystectomy is associated with lower perioperative mortality in octogenarians.

Abstract Objectives To compare perioperative outcomes between robotic and open radical cystectomy in octogenarians using real-world data Subjects and methods Using the Premier Healthcare Database, we found 13,127 patients who underwent robotic-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) between 2008 and 2017, of which 15.1% were ≥80 years old. Perioperative mortality was the primary outcome of interest. Secondary outcomes include complications, hospital length of stay, readmission rates, and disposition after discharge. Multivariable regression analysis was used to adjust for patient and hospital characteristics. Results In octogenarians, mortality at the index admission was 2.2% in those who underwent RARC, compared to 4.6% in those who underwent open surgery (P = 0.027). On multivariable analysis, robotic surgery was associated with lower in-hospital mortality in octogenarians (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.22–0.99, P = 0.047) even after controlling for patient, and hospital characteristics. Conclusion RARC is safe and feasible in octogenarians. Elderly patients may derive more benefit from minimally invasive radical cystectomy compared to a younger cohort.
Ex Vivo Modeling of Multidomain Peptide Hydrogels with Intact Dental Pulp

Preservation of a vital dental pulp is a central goal of restorative dentistry. Currently, there is significant interest in the development of tissue engineering scaffolds that can serve as biocompatible and bioactive pulp-capping materials, driving dentin bridge formation without causing cytotoxic effects. Our earlier in vitro studies described the biocompatibility of multidomain peptide (MDP) hydrogel scaffolds with dental pulp-derived cells but were limited in their ability to model contact with intact 3-dimensional pulp tissues. Here, we utilize an established ex vivo mandible organ culture model to model these complex interactions. MDP hydrogel scaffolds were injected either at the interface of the odontoblasts and the dentin or into the pulp core of mandible slices and subsequently cultured for up to 10 d. Histology reveals minimal disruption of tissue architecture adjacent to MDP scaffolds injected into the pulp core or odontoblast space. Additionally, the odontoblast layer is structurally preserved in apposition to the MDP scaffold, despite being separated from the dentin. Alizarin red staining suggests mineralization at the periphery of MDP scaffolds injected into the odontoblast space. Immunohistochemistry reveals deposition of dentin sialophosphoprotein by odontoblasts into the adjacent MDP hydrogel, indicating continued functionality. In contrast, no mineralization or dentin sialophosphoprotein deposition is evident around MDP scaffolds injected into the pulp core. Collagen III expression is seen in apposition to gels at all experimental time points. Matrix metalloproteinase 2 expression is observed associated with centrally injected MDP scaffolds at early time points, indicating proteolytic digestion of scaffolds. Thus, MDP scaffolds delivered centrally and peripherally within whole dental pulp tissue are shown to be biocompatible, preserving local tissue architecture. Additionally, odontoblast function and pulp vitality are sustained when MDP scaffolds are intercalated between dentin and the odontoblast region, a finding that has significant implications when considering these materials as pulp-capping agents.
Cellular Demolition and the Rules of Engagement

Does cell death occur by pulling the plug on Bcl-2 life support or pulling the trigger on Bax activation?
Maiden Tribute: A Life of W. T. Stead – By Grace Eckley

From William Booth to William Ewart Gladstone, Victorian Britain had its share of political, social, and moral crusaders. W. T. Stead, the subject of Grace Eckley's biography, Maiden Tribute, is pe...
Space Experiments Report of Workshop C2

The keynote report at GR10 on new results from space experiments was the invited paper “Testing relativity with solar system dynamics”, which was presented by R.W. Hellings earlier in the Conference. In that paper, the major improvements in solar system tests of general relativity made possible by adding the Viking Lander and Viking Orbiter tracking data to other existing information were discussed (see also Hellings et al., 1983, and Reasenberg, 1984). It is striking that the accuracy of some of the very interesting results is limited more by uncertainties in modeling the effects of many different asteroids on the orbit of Mars (Williams, 1984) than by any other factor. Further studies of the effects of the asteroids appear to be very important.
Local calcium signalling by inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate in Purkinje cell dendrites

The second messenger inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (InsP3) releases Ca2+ from intracellular Ca2+ stores by activating specific receptors on the membranes of these stores1. In many cells, InsP3 is a global signalling molecule that liberates Ca2+ throughout thecytoplasm1,2. However, in neurons the situation might be different3,4, because synaptic activity may produce InsP3 at discrete locations. Here we characterize InsP3 signalling in postsynaptic cerebellar Purkinje neurons, which have a high level of InsP3 receptors5. We find that repetitive activation of the synapse between parallel fibres and Purkinje cells causes InsP3-mediated Ca2+ release in the Purkinje cells. This Ca2+ release is restricted to individual postsynaptic spines, where both metabotropic glutamate receptors6,7 and InsP3 receptors5 are located, or to multiple spines and adjacent dendritic shafts. Focal photolysis of caged InsP3 (ref. 8) in Purkinje cell dendrites also produces Ca2+ signals that spread only a few micrometres from the site of InsP3 production. Uncaged InsP3 produces a long-lasting depression of parallel-fibre synaptic transmission that is limited to synapses where the Ca2+ concentration is raised. Thus, in Purkinje cells InP3 acts within a restricted spatial range that allows it to regulate the function of local groups of parallel-fibre synapses.
Scanning electron microscopy and petrography of glassy particles produced by lava fountain eruptions

A conceptual model of a lava fountain consists of a vent, spatter ramparts, fountain column, downwind plume and associated pumice deposits. Glassy particles produced by lava fountain eruptions consist primarily of sideromelane glass and minor to moderate amounts of vesicles and crystals. Particles are classified on the basis of morphology as: (1) spherical, (2) elongate, (3) glass-coated mineral grain, (4) shard, (5) reticulite, (6) composite particle, and (7) lithic fragment.
Cosmology and galactic rotation curves

We explore the possibility that the entire departure of galactic rotational velocities from their luminous Newtonian expectation be cosmological in origin, and show that within the framework of conformal gravity (but not Einstein gravity apparently) every static observer sees the overall Hubble flow as a local universal linear potential which is able to account for available data without any need for dark matter. We find that the Universe is necessarily an open one with 3-space scalar curvature given by $k = -3.5\times 10^{-60}$cm$^{-2}$.
Impact of APOE ε4 on the Cognitive Performance of a Sample of Non-Demented Puerto Rican Nonagenarians

Abstract APOE epsilon4 is a major risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. It has also been associated with cognitive impairment and cognitive decline in young-olds, but the impact of the epsilon4 allele on cognitive function in very late life is still unclear. The object of this study was to evaluate the association of the epsilon4 allele of APOE with the cognitive performance of a sample of non-demented oldest-olds. Eighty-seven Spanish-speaking Puerto Rican non-demented nonagenarians were administered a complete neuropsychological assessment and provided a blood sample used for APOE genotyping. A factor analysis generated two factors: 1) verbal memory; and 2) visuo-spatial, naming and attention tasks, accounting for 43.6% of the overall variance in the 13 original neuropsychological variables. The multivariate analysis reflected, after controlling for gender, education, and age, the APOE epsilon4 carriers performed better in overall cognition (both factors analyzed together) than non-carriers (T ;{2} = 0.082, F(2,80) = 3.289, p = 0.042). Neither gender nor the gender by APOE epsilon4 status interaction was associated with differences in cognition. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that, among these Puerto Rican non-demented nonagenarians, being an APOE epsilon4 allele carrier is associated with better cognition.
Building Java applets by using DJ-a Java-based constraint language

DJ (Declarative Java) is an extension of Java that supports constraint programming. On the one hand, DJ can serve as a high-level specification language for Java applets. To construct a graphic user interface (GUI) with DJ, the users only need to specify the components that compose the GUI and the relationships among the components by using constraints. On the other hand, DJ, as a constraint language, improves the current constraint languages in that problems and solutions can be described in the same language. In addition, since DJ is a compiling language that uses Java as the object language for compilation, solutions can be distributed on the WWW as Java applets. We present DJ by examples, aiming at illustrating the power and programming methodology of DJ.
Derivatization of pinacolyl alcohol with phenyldimethylchlorosilane for enhanced detection by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

A derivatization procedure for the qualitative gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of pinacolyl alcohol (PA) that employs phenyldimethylchlorosilane (PhDMClS) and the promoter N-methylimidazole is described. While PA, underivatized, can be detected using conventional gas chromatographic methods, its polarity and low boiling point make its detection in complex matrices challenging. The silylation procedure described herein generates a PA-derivative exhibiting an increased on-column retention time, thus shifting its GC-MS signal away from commonly encountered, volatile, interfering analytes. Derivatized PA could be distinguished from other PhDMClS-derivatized isomeric alcohols by its unique retention time and mass spectrum. The derivatization was demonstrated to perform well in the GC-MS analysis and identification of PA in samples from Proficiency Tests administered by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW).
Effects of Li additions on precipitation-strengthened Al–Sc and Al–Sc–Yb alloys

Abstract Two Al–Sc-based alloys (Al–0.12Sc and Al–0.042Sc–0.009Yb, at.%) and their counterparts with Li additions (Al–2.9Li–0.11Sc and Al–5.53Li–0.048Sc–0.009Yb, at.%) are aged at 325 °C. For both base alloys, the addition of Li results in greater peak hardness from incorporation of Li in the L1 2 -structured α′-Al 3 (Sc,Li) and α′-Al 3 (Sc,Li,Yb) precipitates, and a concomitant increase in number density and volume fraction of the precipitates and a reduction in their mean radius. These changes result from a combination of: (i) an increase in the driving force for precipitate nucleation due to Li; (ii) a decrease in the elastic energy of the coherent misfitting precipitates from a decrease in their lattice parameter mismatch due to their Li content; and (iii) a decrease in the interfacial free energy, as determined from measurements of the relative Gibbsian interfacial excess of Li. In Al–2.9Li–0.11Sc (at.%), the Li concentration of the precipitates decreases from 9.1 at.% in the peak-aged state (8 h) to 5.7 at.% in the over-aged state (1536 h). As a result, the precipitate volume fraction decreases from 0.56% at peak aging time to 0.45% at 1536 h. In Al–5.53Li–0.048Sc–0.009Yb (at.%), the relatively limited Li concentration produces only a small increase in Vickers microhardness from precipitation of metastable δ′-Al 3 Li upon a second aging at 170 °C following the primary aging at 325 °C.
ArF laser photochemical deposition of amorphous silicon from disilane: Spectroscopic studies and comparison with thermal CVD ☆

Abstract Photodissociation of Si2H6 at 193 nm under conditions optimized for deposition of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) films produces electronically excited SiH and SiH2 fragments which were detected by emission spectroscopy. Various gases such as He, H2, Ar and N2 were used as carrier gases in a flowing-gas type deposition chamber in order to investigate whether there was a correlation between the fluorescence intensity from photodissociation products and the a-Si:H film deposition rate. It was found (1) that the rate-controlling process in the laser-induced a-Si:H film deposition is a thermally activated surface process, and (2) the general features of the relationship between the deposition variablees (substrate temperature, deposition rate) and a-Si:H film optical properties could be described by a model based on the probability of adatom transfer to a lower energy configuration during film deposition.
An Experimental Study on the Effect of Machining-Induced White Layer on Frictional and Wear Performance at Dry and Lubricated Sliding Contact

The frictional and wear performance of a machined component depends strongly on the surface properties. A white layer on the machining surface is often produced at abusive machining conditions. However, the effect of white layer on frictional and wear performance has received little attention. Dry and lubricated sliding contact tests for white layer surfaces by turning and grinding were carried out at different load levels on a ball-on-disk tribometer with real-time monitoring of the wear process using an acoustic emission sensor. The experimental results show that the existence of a turned white layer slightly decreases the coefficient of friction (COF), while a ground white layer significantly increases COF at dry conditions. At lubricated conditions, the turned white layer only slightly increases COF while the ground white layer slightly reduces it. The trends of acoustic emission (AE) amplitude are consistent with those of COF at dry conditions for the turned or ground surfaces. At lubricated conditio...
Does vitamin D3 dosing schedule influence treatment efficacy in nursing home residents with vitamin D deficiency

Does vitamin D 3 dosing schedule influence treatment efficacy in nursing home residents with vitamin D deficiency?
Cellular organization in germ tube tips of Gigaspora and its phylogenetic implications

Comparative morphology of the fine struc- ture of fungal hyphal tips often is phylogenetically informative. In particular, morphology of the Spit- zenkorper varies among higher taxa. To date no one has thoroughly characterized the hyphal tips of members of the phylum Glomeromycota to compare them with other fungi. This is partly due to difficulty growing and manipulating living hyphae of these obligate symbionts. We observed growing germ tubes of Gigaspora gigantea, G. margarita and G. rosea with a combination of light microscopy (LM) and transmis- sion electron microscopy (TEM). For TEM, we used both traditional chemical fixation and cryo-fixation methods. Germ tubes of all species were extremely sensitive to manipulation. Healthy germ tubes often showed rapid bidirectional cytoplasmic streaming, whereas germ tubes that had been disturbed showed reduced or no cytoplasmic movement. Actively growing germ tubes contain a cluster of 10-20 spherical bodies approximately 3-8 mm behind the apex. The bodies, which we hypothesize are lipid bodies, move rapidly in healthy germ tubes. These bodies disappear immediately after any cellular perturbation. Cells prepared with cryo-techniques had superior preservation compared to those that had been processed with traditional chemical proto- cols. For example, cryo-prepared samples displayed two cell-wall layers, at least three vesicle types near the tip and three distinct cytoplasmic zones were noted. We did not detect a Spitzenkorper with either LM or TEM techniques and the tip organization of Gigaspora germ tubes appeared to be similar to hyphae in zygomycetous fungi. This observation was supported by a phylogenetic analysis of microscopic characters of hyphal tips from members of five fungal phyla. Our work emphasizes the sensitive nature of cellular organization, and the need for as little manipulation as possible to observe germ tube structure accurately.
Generation and characterization of tabalumab, a human monoclonal antibody that neutralizes both soluble and membrane-bound B-cell activating factor

B-cell activating factor (BAFF) is a B-cell survival factor with a key role in B-cell homeostasis and tolerance. Dysregulated BAFF expression may contribute to autoimmune diseases or B-cell malignancies via effects on abnormal B-lymphocyte activation, proliferation, survival, and immunoglobulin secretion. Monoclonal antibodies were generated against human BAFF, characterized for species specificity and affinity, and screened for the ability to neutralize both membrane-bound and soluble BAFF. In addition, studies were undertaken to determine the relative potency of membrane-bound and soluble BAFF. Tabalumab has a high affinity for human, cynomolgus monkey, and rabbit BAFF. No binding to mouse BAFF was detected. Tabalumab was able to neutralize soluble human, cynomolgus monkey, or rabbit BAFF with equal potency. Our data demonstrate that membrane-bound BAFF can be a more potent stimulus for B-cells than soluble BAFF, and tabalumab also neutralized membrane-bound BAFF. Tabalumab prevented BAFF from binding to BAFF receptors and demonstrated pharmacodynamic effects in human BAFF transgenic mice. Tabalumab is a high-affinity human antibody with neutralizing activity against membrane-bound and soluble BAFF. Given our findings that membrane-bound BAFF can have greater in vitro potency than soluble BAFF, neutralization of both forms of BAFF is likely to be important for optimal therapeutic effect.
Daniel Kahneman: Judgment, Decision, and Rationality

It is impossible to do justice to the full range of Kahneman's research in the limited space available here, and I restrict my focus to his research programs on judgment and on decision making. Each is defined by an extraordinarily influential article coauthored with Tversky: a 1974 Science article on “Judgment under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases” (which was followed by a 1982 anthology with the same title with Slovic and Tversky, and a 1979 Econometrica article on prospect theory).
Threshold measurements in laser-assisted particle removal

Laser assisted particle removal (LAPR) is a novel technique capable of removing particulate contamination from solid surfaces. LAPR uses an energy transfer medium which preferentially absorbs into capillary spaces under and around the particles on the contaminated substrate. Laser irradiation causes explosive evaporation of the energy transfer medium via absorption into the energy transfer medium itself or the substrate/particle system with subsequent conductive heat transfer. The explosive force propels particles off the substrate much like a small rocket engine. In our experiments, LAPR was used to remove 9.5 micrometers Al2O3, 5 micrometers Al2O3, and 1 micrometers polystyrene particles from Si surfaces at the wavelengths of 10.6 micrometers and 9.6 micrometers using water as the energy transfer medium. At these wavelengths the laser energy is absorbed predominantly in the water. Laser removal thresholds (J/cm2) were obtained using a degenerate threshold model. The temperature rise in the energy transfer medium was estimated, suggesting that superheating of the absorbed water is a reasonable mechanism for LAPR.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Do NMDA Receptor Kinetics Regulate the End of Critical Periods of Plasticity

Increasing NR2A subunit expression and the associated shortening of the NMDA-EPSC are thought to underlie the loss of diverse types of sensory cortical plasticity. Lu and colleagues (Lu et al., 2001 [this issue of Neuron]) now report that mice lacking the NR2A subunit display normal duration of critical periods of barrel cortex plasticity. Shortening of the NMDA-EPSC is therefore not responsible for the end of these critical periods.
Variability of residual stresses and superposition effect in multipass grinding of high-carbon high-chromium steel

The distribution of residual stresses (RS) and surface integrity generated in heat treatment and subsequent multipass grinding was investigated in this experimental study to examine the source of variability and the nature of the interactions of the experimental factors. A nested experimental design was implemented to (a) compare the sources of the RS variability, (b) to examine RS distribution and tensile peak location due to experimental factors, and (c) to analyze the superposition relationship in the RS distribution due to multipass grinding technique. To characterize the material responses, several techniques were used, including microstructural analysis, hardness-toughness and roughness examinations, and retained austenite and RS measurements using x-ray diffraction. The causality of the RS was explained through the strong correlation of the surface integrity characteristics and RS patterns. The main sources of variation were the depth of the RS distribution and the multipass grinding technique. The grinding effect on the RS was statistically significant; however, it was mostly predetermined by the preexisting RS induced in heat treatment. Regardless of the preceding treatments, the effect of the multipass grinding technique exhibited similar RS patterns, which suggests the existence of the superposition relationship and orthogonal memory between the passes of the grinding operation.
The hydrophobicity of proteins from hardy (freezing-resistant) and nonhardy species of grains

Abstract Soluble and insoluble (probably membrane) proteins of three hardy species of grains (wheat, rye, barley) and of three nonhardy species (corn, millet, sorghum) were analyzed for 17 amino acids by gas-liquid chromatography. Using Bigelow's values for the hydrophobicity of each amino acid, the average relative hydrophobicity per amino acid residue was calculated for each protein sample. The following results were obtained: 1. (1) The insoluble proteins were slightly but significantly more hydrophobic than the soluble proteins, as would be expected from their insolubility and probable location in membranes. 2. (2) Neither the soluble nor the insoluble proteins of the hardy species differed in average hydrophobicity from the corresponding proteins of the nonhardy species, in opposition to what would be expected from the hydrophobicity hypothesis of freezing resistance. 3. (3) The soluble (but not insoluble) proteins differed significantly in content of specific hydrophobic amino acids; isoleucine, leucine, and valine were consistently higher in all three nonhardy species, phenylalanine and possibly tyrosine and proline were lower in all three of the same species. These results are explainable by the hydrophobicity hypothesis if the first three amino acids are located in the active site of an enzyme.
On crop rotation in calculating NDVI-based agricultural drought indicators

The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) based agricultural drought indicators have been widely used in agricultural drought monitoring and assessment. However, current methods of calculating those indicators rarely consider effects of crop rotation despite the fact that crop rotation is a very common farming practice over the world. This paper presents both theoretic analysis and experimental tests of the impacts of crop rotation on monitoring agricultural drought with NDVI-based indicators. The results from this study, both qualitative and quantitative, can provide general guidance to and improve accuracy of remote sensing based drought monitoring, predication and analysis over crop-rotated agricultural fields.
Identification of lead-regulated genes by suppression subtractive hybridization in the heavy metal accumulator Sesbania drummondii

Heavy metal contamination of soils is of widespread occurrence as a result of human, agricultural and industrial activities. Among heavy metals, lead is a potential pollutant that readily accumulates in soils and sediments. Although lead is not an essential element for plants, it gets easily absorbed and accumulated in Sesbania drummondii, which exhibits a significant level of tolerance to lead. The response of a metal tolerant plant to heavy metal stress involves a number of biochemical and physiological pathways. To investigate the overall molecular response of a metal-tolerant plant to lead exposure, suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) was used to construct a cDNA library enriched in lead induced mRNA transcripts from lead-tolerant Sesbania. Screening the library by reverse Northern analysis revealed that between 20 and 25% of clones selected from the library were differentially regulated in lead treated plants. After differential screening, we isolated several differentially expressed cDNA clones, including a type 2 metallothionein (MT) gene which is involved in detoxification and homeostasis and shown to be differentially regulated in lead treated plants. The data from the reverse Northern analysis was further confirmed with conventional Northern analysis of a select group of genes including MT, ACC synthase/oxidase, cold-, water stress-, and other abiotic stress-induced genes, which are up-regulated rapidly in response to lead treatment. The mRNA levels of MT increased substantially after lead treatment indicating a potential role for it under lead stress in Sesbania. The present results show that SSH can serve as an effective tool for isolating genes induced in response to lead heavy metal tolerance in Sesbania. A better understanding of lead induced gene expression in Sesbania should help select candidates associated with remediation of heavy metal toxicity. The possible link between this result and the heavy-metal response of plants is discussed.
Predicting losses of residential structures in the state of Florida by the public hurricane loss evaluation model

Abstract As an environmental phenomenon, hurricanes cause significant property damage and loss of life in coastal areas almost every year. Although a number of commercial loss projection models have been developed to predict the property losses, only a handful of studies are available in the public domain to predict damage for hurricane prone areas. The state of Florida has developed an open, public model for the purpose of probabilistic assessment of risk to insured residential property associated with wind damage from hurricanes. The model comprises three components; viz. the atmospheric science component, the engineering component and the actuarial science component. The atmospheric component includes modeling the track and intensity life cycle of each simulated hurricane within the Florida threat area. Based on historical hurricane statistics, thousands of storms are simulated allowing determination of the wind risk for all residential Zip Code locations in Florida. The wind risk information is then provided to the engineering and actuarial components to model damage and average annual loss, respectively. The actuarial team finds the county-wise loss and the total loss for the entire state of Florida. The computer team then compiles all information from atmospheric science, engineering and actuarial components, processes all hurricane related data and completes the project. The model was submitted to the Florida Commission on Hurricane Loss Projection Methodology for approval and went through a rigorous review and was revised as per the suggestions of the commission. The final model was approved for use by the insurance companies in Florida by the commission. At every stage of the process, statistical procedures were used to model various parameters and validate the model. This paper presents a brief summary of the main components of the model (meteorology, vulnerability and actuarial) and then focuses on the statistical validation of the same.
Energy flow in the phycobilisome core of Nostoc sp. (MAC): Two independent terminal pigments

Abstract Two independent terminal fluorescence emitters were resolved by second derivative spectra in phycobilisomes of Nostoc sp. In energetically well-coupled phycobilisomes, fluorescence maxima were 678 and 682 nm at room temperature and 682 and 685 nm at liquid nitrogen temperature, respectively. We attribute the longer-wavelength phycobilisome component to a 94 kDa molecular weight ‘anchor polypeptide’, because such a peptide isolated from Nostoc phycobilisomes has a room-temperature emission at 683 nm (684 nm; −196°C). The short-wavelength component (678 nm; 20°C and 682 nm; −196°C) is probably from the special α-allophycocyanin-B subunit. Excitation of phycobilisomes through phycocyanin produced two levels in the fluorescence polarization spectra at both temperatures. It showed a lower degree of polarization for the short wavelength component (probably α-allophycocyanin-B) and a higher degree for the ‘anchor polypeptide’, which indicates that energy transfer between them is not likely. Energy flow from allophycocyanin seems to occur independently to both the ‘anchor polypeptide’ and the presumed α-allophycocyanin-B subunit. There is a nearly parallel orientation of the dipole moment between allophycocyanin and the ‘anchor polypeptide’, but the angle is much greater between allophycocyanin and the presumed α-allophycocyanin-B component, thus the transfer from allophycocyanin to the ‘anchor polypeptide’ is probably the predominant pathway. Evidence for the presence of the ‘anchor polypeptide’ in thylakoids and phycobilisomes was obtained by immunoprecipitation. Energy transfer from the phycobilisome to Photosystem II through the ‘anchor polypeptide’ is considered a likely pathway.
A smoothing technique for improving atmospheric reconstruction for planetary entry probes

Abstract Accelerometer instruments are commonly used on planetary entry probes to determine vertical profiles of atmospheric density, pressure, and temperature. A key consideration for the design and implementation of such investigations is extending the atmospheric results to the highest altitudes possible, which requires minimizing uncertainties in measured accelerations whilst maintaining adequate vertical resolution. Since atmospheric density depends exponentially on altitude, the arithmetic mean of a subset of raw acceleration data points is a biased estimate of the true acceleration at the center of the time interval in question. This diminishes the quality of derived atmospheric properties. Here we show how this problem can be alleviated by using a specialized averaging technique that takes advantage of the inherent exponential variation in acceleration with time at atmospheric entry. This technique is demonstrated successfully on Mars Phoenix data.
Formation of covalently bound protein adducts from the cytotoxicant naphthalene in nasal epithelium: species comparisons.

BackgroundNaphthalene is a volatile hydrocarbon that causes dose-, species-, and cell type–dependent cytotoxicity after acute exposure and hyperplasia/neoplasia after lifetime exposures in rodents....
When the Press Fails: Political Power and the News Media from Iraq to Katrina . By W. Lance Bennett, Regina G. Lawrence, and Steven Livingston. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2007. 278p. $22.50 cloth, $15.00 paper.

It takes a vacuum for the American mainstream press to seize an opening to perform its vital role. And it takes a crack in what the authors portray as an edifice of official secrecy, lying, intimidation, and retribution for the mainstream press to do its job—holding public officials to standards of accountability.
Beyond Passion: Maximizing on Lessons Learned to Better Serve African American Males

A passion to ensure the educational and life success of all children, particularly young African American men, has propelled my work for all of my professional life. Although following one's passion can make for a fulfilling life, passion is not enough to create a successful and sustainable nonprofit organization. Like many leaders in the field, my passion is serving children, and so the skills needed to effectively grow and lead an organization came second. In the over two decades I've been in this industry I've learned a few key lessons along the way that have helped the organizations I have founded get to the place we are today. But throughout the ups and downs the stories of our scholars’ success have always sustained us.
High-temperature deformation mechanisms in superplastig ′n-22Al eutectoid

Abstract The temperature and the stress dependences of steady-state strain-rates in ′n-22Al eutectoid ′ere studied by tensile and creep testing using double shear type specimens in a normali′ed stress ( τ G ) range of ~5 × 10 −7 to ~5 × 10 −3 . The stress dependence of the strain-rate revealed three distinct regions ′ith stress exponents of 0.87 ± 0.12, 1.99 ± 0.15 and 3.73 ± 0.17. The activation energy for deformation obtained in the regions I and II ′as identified as that for grain-boundary diffusion ′hile that found in the region III ′as approximately e′ual to the self-diffusion value. The experimental results in the employed stress range obeyed the follo′ing phenomenological e′uation, γ ggkT D b Gb = A( b d ) m ( τ G ) n ( D D 1 ) α . From the experimental values of the creep parameters n , m , α and A , the mechanisms of deformation are identified. Dislocation climb and Coble creep ′ere found to be the controlling mechanisms in the regions III and I respectively. The present results in the region II are in close agreement ′ith the predictions based on Ball-Hutchison model for superplasticity, and the models based on grain boundary sliding yield strain-rates about 250 times the experimental values.
HORMONAL REGULATION OF CRUSTACEAN TISSUE METABOLISM.

Abstract Crayfish eyestalk factors have been shown to participate in regulation of the direction of tissue metabolism as it varies with stage in the intermolt cycle. The intermolt eyestalk factor causes a significant increase in NADP-dependent glucose-6-phosphate and 6-phosphogluconate utilization, whereas premolt eyestalk extract leads to a significant decrease in this utilization of these substrates. The effect is specific for the intermolt cycle stage of the eyestalk donor which significantly alters the metabolic conversions characteristic of the stage of the recipient animal. This points to a qualitative difference in hormonal factors in the crustacean eyestalk with respect to biochemical regulation. In the presence of iodoacetate, intermolt and premolt animal tissues show a difference in sensitivity to this Embden-Meyerhof inhibitor. Premolt animals and premolt eyestalk-treated intermolt animals demonstrate a higher sensitivity to iodoacetate than do intermolt animals and intermolt eyestalk-treated premolt animals. Animals in both of these stages show a similar tissue sensitivity to 5-bromouracil, indicating that the pentose pathway (HMS) is operative in both groups. However, premolt animal tissue shows a higher level of substrate utilization by way of the EmbdenMeyerhof route than through the HMS, as indicated by its sensitivity to iodoacetate. The data permit the suggestion that two distinct crayfish eyestalk factors regulate the metabolic pathway through which hexose phosphate passes. However, it is not yet clear whether this regulation is directly at the cellular level or is mediated through some other neurosecretory site.
Child Abuse, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and Unexpected Infant Death

• There is now evidence, from a variety of approaches, that indicate that between one tenth and one fifth of children currently diagnosed as cases of sudden infant death syndrome are not natural deaths. There is also equally strong evidence, where the possibility of filicide has been explored, that the majority of children diagnosed as cases of sudden infant death syndrome do die of natural causes. ( AJDC . 1993;147;1097-1100)
Determination of saponins and alkaloids in Caulophyllum thalictroides (blue cohosh) by high-performance liquid chromatography and evaporative light scattering detection

The roots of Caulophyllum thalictroides, traditionally used for the treatment of menstrual difficulties and as an aid in childbirth, contain saponins, which are considered to be responsible for the uterine stimulant effects, together with teratogenic alkaloids. An HPLC method has been developed which permits the determination of the triterpene saponins in the plant and also the separation of four alkaloids. The best results were obtained with a C-12 stationary phase using ammonium acetate buffer (pH 8.0) and acetonitrile as mobile phase. Owing to their low UV absorbance, the saponins were detected by evaporative light scattering, whereas the alkaloids were monitored by UV at 310 nm. The identities of the compounds were confirmed in an LC-MS experiment. Different plant samples and commercial products have been analysed using the described method, and remarkable qualitative and quantitative variations were revealed. Comparing the daily uptake of total saponins, a difference of greater than 100-fold was observed within the various products; the alkaloid content on the other hand was more uniform. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Where they don’t value life

Abstract [Arnold JL. Where they don't value life. Ann Emerg Med . March 2001;37:356-357.]
Dispersion coefficients for ideal bubbly flow in truly vertical bubble columns

Abstract A novel moving-boundary technique using acid-base neutralization was applied to truly vertical bubble columns to find axial dispersion coefficient. In addition, the effect of slight vertical misalignment (0.25 and 0.5°) was measured and showed increases in dispersion coefficient as much as two orders of magnitude. Using a punctured rubber membrane as a sparger, it was observed that ideal bubbly flow was maintained up to superficial gas velocities of around 4 cm/s for a column 14 cm in diameter. Photographic evidence along with the moving-boundary measurements suggest the proper turbulence length scale is the diameter of the bubble. The Baird-Rice isotropic turbulence model, suitably modified to account for changing length scales, produced an excellent fit of the bubbly-regime data.
Relationship of lysozyme (muramidase) to histiocytic differentiation in malignant histiocytosis an immunohistochemical study

Malignant histiocytosis (MH) is a rare, usually fatal systemic disease considered to be a neoplasm of true histiocytes. Because MH may be difficult to differentiate from non-Hodgkin's lymphomas or carcinoma, we examined surgical and autopsy material from 10 patients with MH using the immunoperoxidase technique to determine if the presence of intracellular lysozyme is helpful in making this distinction. The cases of MH were divided into three groups based on the degree of cytologic atypia and the amount of phagocytic activity of the neoplastic cells: group I--minimal cytologic atypia and rare erythrophagocytosis; group II--minimal cytologic atypia with extensive erythrophagocytosis: group III--moderate to marked cytologic atypia and rare phagocytosis. Moderate to strong staining for lysozyme was observed in the neoplastic cells of group I, weak or absent staining in group II cells, and no staining in group III cells. These findings suggest the loss of detectable enzyme in poorly differentiated or dedifferentiated neoplastic histiocytes. Consideration must be given to these observations in evaluating the use of lysozyme as a possible serum or tissue aid to the diagnosis of MH.
Meeting seasonal demand in a dynamic production environment

Abstract Seasonal fluctuations in demand can cause difficulties in scheduling production for a firm. This is especially true when this demand pattern occurs in a growth market. One particular problem which arises is the coordination between production personnel and sales personnel. This article presents a model for determining the maximum annual demand which can be met given the seasonality of the demand pattern and the dynamic nature of the production environment. The model was developed for a plastics firm which manufactures closures for liquid containers.
Simplified time-sharing command language (interface)

One of the problems with time-sharing is the long list of commands that must be known and used effectively to take a program from source statements to a load module that would run. To alleviate this problem, my project was to write an interface for the student to use when dealing with the time-sharing system. In accomplishing this, my program uses compiler techniques for processing the interface commands with immediate execution. The commands that the interface handle and expand were specified in BNF and a SLR(K) analyzer was used to create the tables fr the semantic analysis in the interface program. As the commands are recognized each production is a further step in the processing of these shortened commands. The runtime support was altered to include a section of code that enabled the interface to overlay all programs it requires. This was done to save space and enable the immediate execution of the instructions.
Recent improvements in the human tumor cloning assay for sensitivity testing of antineoplastic agents.

IMPORTANT goals in the treatment of patients with malignant diseases are to minimize the side effects of chemotherapy and to optimize the chance for prolonged survival. Several attempts have been made over the past decades to develop in vitro assays to help predict sensitivity or resistance of an individual patient’s tumor. These in vitro assays might also help define the activity of new, experimental chemotherapeutic agents. Probably the best characterized in vitro assay is the human tumor cloning assay (HTCA), first described by Hamburger and Salmon [ 1, 2, fort review: 31. To perform this test, a biopsy (or effusion) containing tumor cells is taken and a single-cell suspension prepared. The cells are exposed to various antitumor drugs and then seeded in soft agar. A number of tumor cells will proliferate in this environment over the following l-2 weeks and will eventually form colonies. The number of colonies formed by drug-treated cells is then compared with colony formation by control cells to assess the antiproliferative effect of the agents. Over the past years, the clinical correlations of assay results have been investigated in retrospective and prospective studies. The results indicate a 60-80% chance for complete or partial response when patients are treated with a drug that inhibits colony formation in the HTCA. If,
DIVIDEND AND EARNINGS ANNOUNCEMENTS AND STOCKHOLDERS' RETURNS: FURTHER EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE

In a recent article Aharony and Swary considered the synchronous nature of earnings and dividends announcements in examination of the information content of dividend hypothesis. They concluded that their results support the information content of dividends hypothesis—that announcements of changes in dividends provide information beyond that contained in quarterly earnings announcements. A shortcoming of the Aharony and Swary study is that it considers only dividend and earnings announcements that occur at least 11 trading days from each other. In fact, as their Table I indicates the majority of such pairs of announcements occur within ten days of each other. Further, approximately one‐half of their observations of earnings and dividends announcements are separated by at least 21 trading days (close to one calendar month). These considerations lead one to wonder how synchronous their announcements are and whether their results can be generalized to earnings and dividend announcements that actually occur in close proximity to each other.
Modulation of Fibroblast Growth and Glycosaminoglycan Synthesis by Interleukin-1

Cellular response to inflammatory mediators is central to the regulation of new scar tissue formation. Fibroblasts derived from normal dermis and from 14-day old skin wound granulation tissue were compared with regard to production of non-collagenous extracellular matrix and response to interleukin-1 (IL-1). Following a serum-free 48 hour labeling with [3H]-glucosamine, the cellular, pericellular and medium fractions from the two cell types were collected, precipitated with cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), and analyzed by cellulose acetate electrophoresis. In addition, susceptibility of precipitates to the polysaccharidases Streptomyces hyaluronidase and chondroitinase ABC was determined. Labeled conditioned medium from both cell types contained dermatan sulfate (DS) and hyaluronate (HA), although the relative amounts of these glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) were different. Medium from normal dermal fibroblasts contained more DS than HA, while 14-day granulation tissue culture medium contained a proportionately larger amount of HA. The amount of HA in the medium fraction of normal dermal fibroblasts was increased approximately 10-fold in the presence of 5 U/ml IL-1, while HA in the medium of wound-derived fibroblasts was quantitatively unaffected by addition of the mediator. Pericellular GAG consisted of heparan sulfate (HS) and chondroitin sulfate (CS), with no observable differences between the two cell types and no effect of IL-1 on this profile for either cell type. Conditioned medium from both cell types contained IL-1 activity (measured by thymocyte proliferation assay), with medium from 14-day granulation tissue fibroblasts containing 10-fold higher activity than normal dermal fibroblast medium.
DNA sequence analysis: a procedure to find homologies among many sequences

Abstract SEQCMP, a program that analyzes and searches for homology among multiple nucleic acid sequences, is described. The sequences are compared by the dot matrix method and the consensus sequence is derived by superimposing all the dot matrices on one another. The program is written in MBASIC and runs on IBM-PC microcomputer. It is interactive and can be used by investigators with no computer background or experience.
Enhanced activity of punicalagin delivered via polymeric implants against benzo[a]pyrene-induced DNA adducts.

Abstract We investigated the effect of punicalagin (PC) on benzo[ a ]pyrene (BP)-induced DNA adducts in vitro and in vivo . Incubation of BP (1 μM) with rat liver microsomes, appropriate co-factors and DNA in the presence of vehicle or punicalagin (1–40 μM) showed dose-dependent inhibition of the resultant DNA adducts, with essentially complete (97%) inhibition at 40 μM. However, PC failed to inhibit anti -BPDE-induced DNA adducts when tested in an in vitro non-microsomal system, suggesting that the inhibition of the microsomal BP–DNA adducts occurred due to inhibition of P450 1A1 by PC. To determine its efficacy in vivo , female S/D rats were administered punicalagin via the diet (1500 ppm; ∼19 mg/day/animal) or subcutaneous polymeric implants (two 2-cm, 200 mg with 20% drug load; 40 mg PC/implant) and then treated with continuous low-dose of BP by a subcutaneous polymeric implant (2 cm, 200 mg with 10% load; 20 mg BP/implant) and euthanized after 10 days. Analysis of the lung DNA by 32 P-postlabeling showed significant (60%; p = 0.029) inhibition of DNA adducts by PC administered via the implants; the dietary route showed modest (34%) but statistically insignificant inhibition. Furthermore, total PC administered by implants was approximately 38-fold lower compared with the dietary route. Analysis of the lung microsomes showed significant inhibition of cytochrome P450 1A1 activity and induction of glutathione. Release of PC from the implants was found to be biphasic starting with a burst release, followed by a gradual decline. Ultra performance liquid chromatography analysis showed no detectable PC in the plasma but its hydrolyzed product, ellagic acid was readily detected. The plasma concentration of ellagic acid was over two orders of magnitude higher (589 ± 78 ng/mL) in the implant group compared with diet (4.36 ± 0.83 ng/mL). Together, our data show that delivery of PC by implants can reduce its effective dose substantially, and that the inhibition of DNA adducts in vivo occurred presumably due to the conversion of PC to ellagic acid.