cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonlinear dynamic modeling for smart material electro-hydraulic actuator development

Smart material electro-hydraulic actuators use hydraulic rectification by one-way check valves to amplify the motion of smart materials, such as magnetostrictives and piezoelectrics, in order to create compact, lightweight actuators. A piston pump driven by a smart material is combined with a hydraulic cylinder to form a self-contained, power-by-wire actuator that can be used in place of a conventional hydraulic system without the need for hydraulic lines and a centralized pump. The performance of an experimental actuator driven by a 12.7 mm diameter, 114 mm length Terfenol-D rod is evaluated over a range of applied input frequencies, loads, and currents. The peak performance achieved is 37 W, moving a 220 N load at a rate of 17 cm/s and producing a blocked pressure of 12.5 MPa. Additional tests are conducted to quantify the dynamic behavior of the one-way reed valves using a scanning laser vibrometer to identify the frequency response of the reeds and the effect of the valve seat and fluid mass loading. A lumped-parameter model is developed for the system that includes valve inertia and fluid response nonlinearities, and the model results are compared with the experimental data.
Genome encyclopedias and their use for comparative analysis of Rhodobacter capsulatus strains

This paper consists of two components: the use of gene encyclopedias in genomic studies and Rhodobacter capsulatus genome project. A survey of vectors used for encyclopedia construction includes a brief discussion of their relative advantages and limitations. Projects employing various methods of encyclopedia assembly including the comparison of restriction patterns, restriction maps, linking by hybridization, oligonucleotide fingerprinting, sequence tagged site (STS) fingerprinting and encyclopedias derived from genetic maps are listed and briefly described. The R. capsulatus SB 1003 genome project started with the construction of its cosmid encyclopedia, which comprises 192 cosmids covering the chromosome and the 134 kbp plasmid in strain SB 1003, with the exact map coordinates of each cosmid. In a pilot sequencing study, several cosmids were individually subcloned using the vector M13mp18 and merged into one 189 kbp contig. About 160 open reading frames (ORFs) identified by the CodonUse program were subjected to similarity searches. The biological functions of eighty ORFs could be assigned reliably using the WIT (what is there) genome investigation environment. Eighty percent of these recognizable ORFs were organized in functional clusters, which simplified assignment decisions and increased the strength of the predictions. A set of 26 genes for cobalamin biosynthesis, genes for polyhydroxyalkanoic acid metabolism, DNA replication and recombination, and DNA gyrase were among those identified. Recently, another 1.2 Mbp genome fragment of the Rhodobacter genome was sequenced using a slightly modified approach. These results together with some genome investigation tools, have been placed at our web site (http://capsulapedia.uchicago.edu). The sequence of R. capsulatus is expected to be completed by summer 1998. A project to construct a systematic set of deletion strains of R. capsulatus in order to assign functions to unknown ORFs has been started. Preliminary data demonstrate the extreme convenience of the unique gene transfer agent (GTA) system to perform such work.
Supplier competition: Theory vs. experiment

We use laboratory experiments to investigate the decisions made by suppliers when they compete for the demand share of a buyer in an outsourcing setup. More specifically, we consider a supply chain in which a single buyer outsources the manufacture of a product to suppliers not on the basis of price, but rather on service. Three different criteria on which suppliers compete are evaluated: 1) a guaranteed specific inventory fill-rate, 2) guaranteed level of base-stock, and 3) a parameter optimizing the supply chain in the buyer's favor. Our results show that in most cases, suppliers' decisions are significantly different than the Nash equilibrium, meaning that they do not maximize profit. To explain this deviation of experimental results from what theory predicts, we examine the impact of three behavioral factors: (a) loss aversion, (b) rival chasing, and (c) the gamesmanship behavior which is defined as the suppliers' tendency to beat the competition instead of maximizing the profit.
The relationship between adenosine diphosphate-ribosylation and mammary gland differentiation.

Poly(adenosine diphosphate [ADP]-ribosyl)ation, although associated with differentiation in many systems, exhibited a reciprocal relationship with mammary gland differentiation, and both the synthetic and degradatory pathways complemented each other in this regard. Poly(ADP-ribosyl)synthetase activity declined during pregnancy and lactation, while poly(ADP-ribose) degradatory activity rose late in pregnancy and peaked during lactation. In explant cultures, similar changes occurred and appeared to be under separate hormonal control; prolactin suppressed the synthetase activity, whereas insulin stimulated the poly(ADP-ribosyl)glycohydrolase activity. This latter effect may be mediated by a decline in cAMP levels for the following reasons: the glycohydrolase is known to be inhibited by cAMP, insulin decreased cAMP concentrations in mammary explants by 70%, and cholera toxin blocked the effects of insulin on poly(ADP-ribose) degradation. This reciprocal relationship between poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation and mammary gland differentiation is further supported by pharmacological studies: in the presence of insulin, cortisol, and prolactin, an inhibitor of the synthetase stimulated α-lactalbumin three-fold over hormone stimulation alone. However, this inhibitor was unable to induce differentiation in the absence of prolactin. Therefore, although there is a close association between a decline in enzyme activity and mammary differentiation, the data are insufficient to support a causal relationship.
Intrathecal Opioids for Combined Spinal-Epidural Analgesia during Labour

In <25 years, intrathecal administration of opioids (i.e. spinal analgesia) has evolved from an experimental model into an important therapy for obstetric analgesia and anaesthesia. A small dose of opioid delivered into the CSF provides almost immediate relief from labour pain with minimal risks to the mother and fetus. Careful attention, and prompt treatment when needed, can ameliorate the adverse effects of fetal bradycardia, respiratory depression and pruritus. The major limitation of intrathecal opioids for labour analgesia is the short duration of effect: 90-180 minutes under ideal circumstances. To address this problem, and to increase flexibility for anaesthesia as well as analgesia, the combined spinal-epidural (CSE) technique was developed. The CSE technique involves injection of drugs into the CSF and placement of an epidural catheter. An intrathecally administered opioid provides a rapid onset of labour analgesia without motor block or significant haemodynamic perturbation. The epidural catheter allows ongoing administration of medications to maintain labour analgesia and provides a means of delivering anaesthesia for operative delivery. This review will focus on intrathecally administered opioids as used as part of CSE analgesia. Considerable research has focused on the optimum dose of opioids when delivered intrathecally, with or without adjuncts, in the CSE technique. Fentanyl and sufentanil, two of the lipophilic synthetic opioids, have emerged as the most useful. Bupivacaine, a long-acting local anaesthetic, is often added to prolong the duration of analgesia, although this tends to increase the likelihood of motor blockade of the lower extremities. Comparisons of the CSE technique with standard epidural practices have shown that both are effective means of providing analgesia during labour. Controversy revolves around the incidence of fetal bradycardia following CSE and whether this phenomenon increases the rate of operative deliveries. The rapid onset of analgesia with intrathecally administered opioids must be balanced against the added risks of dural puncture and considered in the context of the whole duration of labour. Ultimately, the decision to choose a CSE technique depends on the experience of the anaesthesia provider and the local availability of drugs, equipment and monitoring capabilities.
Recent Progress In Acoustic Processing By Coherent Optical Techniques

Real time coherent optical computation of the ambiguity function by a spatial integration architecture will be presented. The performances of acousto-optic Bragg cells and a space-variant linear phase shifter optical element will be examined. The results of real time processing of synthesized signals with noise will be shown.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effects of sulfinpyrazone on early graft closure after myocardial revascularization

Abstract The effect of sulfinpyrazone on the incidence of early postoperative closure of saphenous vein bypass grafts was compared with placebo in a prospective randomized study of 255 eligible patients. Treatment with sulfinpyrazone (800 mg/day) was started 24 hours after operation in 130 patients; 125 patients received placebo. Graft blood flow was measured at operation in 96 percent of all patients. Graft angiography was performed between the 7th and 14th postoperative days. There was no significant difference between the two groups in graft blood flow, number and diameter of the grafted arteries, left ventricular filling pressure or ejection fraction. During the study 73 patients (41 on sulfinpyrazone, 32 on placebo therapy) were excluded because graft angiography was contraindicated or because of concomitant use of anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs. The incidence rate of early graft closure in the remaining 182 patients (431 grafts) was 3.8 percent (8 of 212) in the sulfinpyrazone group and 9.1 percent (20 of 219) in the placebo group (p
Cyclic leukemic cell production in CML.

Marked cyclic oscillations of the leukocyte count were observed over a 4-year period in a 57-year-old man with untreated chronic myelogenous leukemia. The leukocyte count cycled between a nadir of 7,000 and a maximum of 178,000. Although transient reticulocytopenia and thrombocytopenia were noted during peak levels of leukocytosis, the patient did not develop progressive anemia until terminally. These observations suggest that leukemic cell production may be oscillatory in nature during the early or evolutionary stages of chronic myelogenous leukemia.
Possibilities for a Diffraction-Limited Upgrade of a Soft X-ray Light Source

Over the last few decades, synchrotron radiation generated by storage rings has been the dominant source of high-brightness photons in a spectrum spanning from infrared to hard X-rays for a multitude of scientific applications. During those years, accelerator and source development have seen several step changes denoted by three generations of ring-based synchrotron light sources. Since the advent of third-generation sources about 20 years ago, development has continued but, until recently, had been mostly evolutionary. In the meantime, free electron lasers (FELs) have emerged as alternative sources of soft and hard X-rays, offering peak brightness many orders of magnitude higher than storage ring sources, with ultra-short photon pulses having nearly complete transverse coherence and an energy bandwidth that approaches the transform limit with seeding. Yet, in spite of these spectacular beam properties, a consensus has emerged that ring-based sources will continue to play a vital role in X-ray science int...
The diagnostic challenge of peritoneal mesothelioma

The differential diagnosis of diffuse malignant intraabdominal process in women may be a strenuous and long process. We report such a challenging, problematic case of peritoneal mesothelioma and present review of literature in search for best diffeentiating technique.
Cooperation in Ongoing Organizations

This paper argues that overlapping games can provide a natural theory of long-lived organizations. It shows that participation in organizations of infinite duration changes the incentives of agents with finite lives, and will induce more cooperation than a static model would predict. After developing the general theory, we apply it to the description of career paths in organizations and show that it can be optimal to give the youngest workers the most arduous tasks.
We Don't Want Your Must-See TV: Transatlantic Television and the Failed “Coupling” Format

NBC's failed attempt to remake the BBC's Coupling generated a significant amount of press coverage in summer 2003. At the core of the debate was a struggle to reconcile an increasingly integrated transatlantic television market with traditional assumptions about culture and its authentic connection to space and place. The interest in the remake not only created a space where certain national differences were played out and performed but also facilitated an equally compelling transatlantic dialogue about creative ownership, appropriation, and a network's responsibility to its audiences. In doing so, the media attention highlighted how television formats are best understood not as innocuous commodities of international trade but as potential sites of articulation, contestation, and community in an increasingly transnational television environment.
Global marital satisfaction versus marital adjustment: An empirical comparison of three measures.

Two measures of marital satisfaction, the Quality of Marriage Index (R. Norton, 1983) and the Relationship Satisfaction Questionnaire (D. D. Burns & S. L. Sayers, 1992) were compared to a measure of marital adjustment, the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (G. B. Spanier, 1976). The measures showed excellent convergent validity (high correlations among each other and with other measures of marital functioning) and discriminant validity (low or nonsignificant correlations with psychopathology subscales). However, spouses' ratings of frequency of disagreements differed significantly from their ratings of satisfaction in the same areas. Formulas for converting scores among the measures are given, and the measures were found to have modest classification powers. The relative advantages and disadvantages of adjustment and satisfaction measures are discussed, and recommendations are made for when to use each type of measure
Relation of Increased Hemoglobin A1c Levels to Severity of Peripheral Arterial Disease in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus

The association between hemoglobin A 1c levels and the severity of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) was investigated in 224 patients with diabetes mellitus and PAD. The mean hemoglobin A 1c levels were 9.1 ± 2.1% in patients with diabetes with ankle-brachial indexes (ABIs) 1c levels 1c levels 1c levels 1c levels in patients with diabetes with PAD, the higher the prevalence of severe PAD.
Positive and negative contrast effects using delayed reinforcement

Abstract In the first experiments, four groups of rats received either 2 pellets (L) or 22 pellets (H) in two successive phases in a straight runway, with a 20 sec delay of reinforcement. The sequences of reward magnitudes were HL, HH, LH, and LL. Significant positive (LH vs HH) and negative (HL vs LL) contrast effects were obtained. A second experiment, utilizing only an increase in reward magnitude (1–8 pellets) and an unshifted control group, both receiving delayed reinforcement, confirmed the positive contrast effect observed in the first experiment. The positive contrast effect was discussed in terms of the possible inhibition generated by the use of delayed reinforcement.
Fibrinogen, a possible key player in Alzheimer’s disease

Summary. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive loss of cognitive function and subsequent death. Since the first case of this disease was diagnosed one century ago, much effort has been dedicated to find a cure. However, even though progress has been made in the knowledge of the pathogenesis of this disease, an effective treatment has not been found. Therefore, new approaches are needed urgently. AD patients have an abnormal cerebral vasculature and brain hypoperfusion, and a large body of research, including some from our lab, implicates cerebrovascular dysfunction as a contributing factor to AD. Reducing fibrinogen, a circulating protein critical in hemostasis, provides a significant decrease in the neurovascular damage, blood–brain barrier permeability and neuroinflammation present in AD. These studies implicate fibrinogen as a possible contributor to AD.
Poetry Behind the Walls

Organize these streets in time You'll have these devils petrified of a nigga in his right mind They tell us that we hopeless and hell bound This fo the brothers in penitentiaries jailed down I got ...
Electronic stopping in astrophysical fusion reactions

The stopping power of protons and deuterons in low energy collisions with helium gas targets is investigated with the numerical solution of the time-dependent Schrodinger coupled-channels equations using molecular orbital wavefunctions. It is shown that at low projectile energies the energy loss is mainly due to nuclear stopping, charge exchange, and the excitation of low energy levels in the target. The second and third mechanisms, called electronic stopping, dominate for Elab 200 eV. At lower energies it is also shown that a threshold effect is responsible for a quick drop of the energy loss. This investigation sheds more light on the long-standing electron screening problem in fusion reactions of astrophysical interest.  2004 Published by Elsevier B.V.
Energy deposition of pickup ions and heating of Titan's atmosphere

Abstract The deposition of energy, escape of atomic and molecular nitrogen and heating of the upper atmosphere of Titan are studied using a Direct Simulation Monte Carlo method. It is found that the globally averaged flux of deflected magnetospheric atomic nitrogen ions and molecular pickup ions deposit more energy in Titan's upper atmosphere than solar radiation. The energy deposition in this region determines the atmospheric loss and the production of the nitrogen neutral torus. The temperature structure near the exobase is also calculated. It is found that, due to the inclusion of the molecular pickup ions more energy is deposited closer to the exobase than assumed in earlier plasma ion heating calculations. Although the temperature at the exobase is only a few degrees larger than it is at depth, the density above the exobase is enhanced by the incident plasma.
Ultrafast Transient Absorption Spectroscopy Investigations of Excited State Dynamics in SWNT/Polymer Composites

Wavelength-resolved femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy is used to follow the electronic dynamics of single-walled carbon nanotubes in polymers following visible and near IR photoexcitation. Electron-hole (e-h) pairs give rise to sharp features in the transient spectra that decay in amplitude and exhibit rapid spectral shifts. The decay reflects (e-h) recombination on both short (1.3 ps) and long (35 ps) time scales. Transient spectra also exhibit a broad photobleach at early times that arises from the cooling of a hot electron gas created via excitation at the red edge of a π-plasmon band.
Effects of long term polyarthritis and subsequent NSAID treatment on activity with disassociation of tactile allodynia in the mouse

Chronic pain has profound effects on activity. Previous reports indicate chronic inflammatory conditions result in reduced activity, which normalizes upon pain treatment. However, there is little systematic investigation of this process. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder that causes significant joint pain. The K/BxN serum transfer mouse has been characterized as a model for rheumatoid arthritis and chronic pain. We investigated the activity of mice following K/BxN serum transfer vs. control serum and observed the activity changes following delivery of an NSAID, ketorolac. Previous studies have used running wheels and laser beams to monitor activity; we chose to validate a model using cost-effective infrared sensors on individual cages. Each mouse had its baseline activity obtained, which showed significant variation between individual C57Bl/6 mice. Arthritic mice had significantly decreased activity for only the first 11 nights. Conversely, previous work has shown that these animals display tactile allodynia that persists for at least 45 days. Mice were treated with ketorolac in their drinking water (10mg/kg, 15mg/kg, or 20mg/kg) for nights 6-8. The two highest doses showed significant normalization of activity levels. Four nights after ketorolac was stopped, treated animals were still significantly more active than control. The reversal of the reduced activity provides support that the depression relates to the arthritic pain state of the animal. These results indicate the efficacy of activity monitoring to better investigate behavior in persistent pain states. However, insofar as depressed activity reflects pain and disability, the present work raises questions as to the relevance of the tactile thresholds in defining behaviorally relevant pain states.
Deficiencies in public understanding about tobacco harm reduction: results from a United States national survey

Tobacco products differ in their relative health harms. The need for educating consumers about such harms is growing as different tobacco products enter the marketplace and as the FDA moves to regulate and educate the public about different products. However, little is known about the patterns of the public’s knowledge of relative harms. Data were analyzed from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 4 Cycle 2, a population-representative survey of US adults conducted between October 2012 and January 2013 (N = 3630). Participants reported their perceptions of the relative risks of e-cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and different types of cigarettes compared to “traditional” cigarettes. Relative risk perceptions for each product type, as well as the consistency and accuracy of harm reduction beliefs, were analyzed. About 65 % of the respondents accurately reported that no cigarettes were less harmful than any others. Slightly more than half of US adults perceived e-cigarettes to be safer than regular cigarettes, a belief in line with current scientific evidence. By contrast, only 9 % of respondents perceived some smokeless tobacco products to be safer, a belief strongly supported by the evidence. Only 3.5 % of respondents had patterns of relative risk perceptions in line with current scientific evidence for all three modalities. The discrepancy between current evidence and public perceptions of relative risk of various tobacco/nicotine products was marked; for most tobacco types, a large proportion of the population held inaccurate harm reduction beliefs. Although there was substantial awareness that no cigarettes were safer than any other cigarettes, there could be benefits from increasing the percentage of the public that appreciates this fact, especially among current smokers. Given the potential benefits of tobacco risk reduction strategies, public health education efforts to increase understanding of basic harm reduction principles are needed to address these misperceptions.
Child neurology: diagnosis of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome in children.

Objective: To report a case of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) in a child and review the existing literature of LEMS in children. Methods: We report a pediatric case of LEMS with the classic clinical triad of proximal weakness, autonomic dysfunction, and areflexia; the characteristic increment in compound motor action potential on high-frequency repetitive nerve stimulation; and positive serum P/Q-type voltage-gated calcium channel antibodies. Only 11 pediatric cases of LEMS have been reported in the literature. Results: The patient9s presentation with LEMS led to the diagnosis of occult neuroblastoma. Based on review of the existing pediatric literature, no consistent clinical or electrodiagnostic criteria exist to diagnose LEMS in children. Conclusions: There exists a need for consistent clinical criteria and electrodiagnostic testing for prompt diagnosis of LEMS in children. Prompt identification of LEMS will alert the physician to search for malignancy or another immune-mediated process.
Host mating system and the spread of a disease-resistant allele in a population

Abstract The model presented here modifies a susceptible-infected (SI) host–pathogen model to determine the influence of mating system on the outcome of a host–pathogen interaction. Both deterministic and stochastic (individual-based) versions of the model were used. This model considers the potential consequences of varying mating systems on the rate of spread of both the pathogen and resistance alleles within the population. We assumed that a single allele for disease resistance was sufficient to confer complete resistance in an individual, and that both homozygote and heterozygote resistant individuals had the same mean birth and death rates. When disease invaded a population with only an initial small fraction of resistant genes, inbreeding (selfing) tended to increase the probability that the disease would soon be eliminated from a small population rather than become endemic, while outcrossing greatly increased the probability that the population would become extinct due to the disease.
Mental Health in Sumatra After the Tsunami

The tsunami associated with the December 26, 2004, Sumatra–Andaman earthquake killed some 250000 people along the coastlines of the Indian Ocean. Indonesia was the country most devastated by the tsunami. Some 130000 Indonesians died, and more than 500000 were displaced.1 Survivors experienced stresses known to adversely affect mental health, including fear of dying, exposure to dead bodies, loss of loved ones, community disruption, and physical and economic hardship.2,3 We evaluated posttraumatic stress reactivity (PTSR) among adult tsunami survivors in Aceh and North Sumatra, the Indonesian provinces where damage was concentrated. Our study sample, unlike most studies of mental health after a disaster, was representative of the predisaster population living in areas directly affected by the tsunami, as well as those living in similar areas not directly affected. Respondents had been interviewed in February 2004 before the tsunami as part of the National Socioeconomic Survey (SUSENAS), an annual population-based cross-sectional survey conducted by Statistics Indonesia. The SUSENAS survey was representative at the district level and based on a stratified multistage cluster design. With assistance from Statistics Indonesia, we fielded the first wave of the Study of the Tsunami Aftermath and Recovery (STAR) between May 2005 and July 2006. We sought to recontact 39 500 individuals originally interviewed in 2004 in 585 survey communities. We focused on PTSR, the most commonly identified psychological problem among adult survivors of disasters.2 We had 3 primary objectives: (1) to describe the course of reactions over time, (2) to examine variation associated with degree of damage in the community in which the respondent was living before the tsunami, and (3) to assess the correlation of PTSR to pretsunami characteristics, with exposure to traumatic events, loss of family and friends, and property damage as a result of the tsunami. Because our sample included respondents from communities spanning a continuum of damage, the results provided a comparison of mental health after a disaster in heavily damaged areas against mental health in areas that were not directly affected by the tsunami. We used high-resolution remotely sensed imagery to quantify destruction in the aftermath of a disaster and thereby illustrate the potential value of combining remotely sensed imagery with survey data in public health research. Because we will be collecting several additional waves of data from the same respondents, the results presented here introduce a longitudinal study that will track the evolution of mental health during disaster recovery and rebuilding. This is important because there is very little scientific evidence on mental health trajectories after such events.4
Volume-activated transport systems in dog red blood cells

Abstract 1. 1. When dog red blood cells are shrunken or swollen, transport pathways are activated that do not function discernibly when the cell is at normal volume. Swelling the cells turns on two pathways, a Ca-Na exchanger and a Cl-dependent K pathway.li]2. Shrinking the cells activates a Na-H antiporter. 2. 3. The passive net flow of ions through these transporters is in such a direction as to correct the perturbation of cell volume: when the cell water content has returned to normal, the transporters turn off. 3. 4. Recently we have investigated agents that can lock or fix the volume-responsive transporters in the activated state. Na-H exchange, for example, can be fixed in the on position with either glutaraldehyde or N-phenylmaleimide. 4. 5. Ca-Na exchange can be locked on by the sulfhydryl-oxidizing agent, diamide. We have used these effects to investigate the relationships between cell volume and the transport mechanisms. 5. 6. It is possible, for instance, to distinguish whether certain inhibitors act on the transporters per se or on the apparatus that perceives cell volume and communicates with the transporters. 6. 7. Furthermore, in the case of the Ca-Na exchanger some indication of the membrane polypeptides involved in volume regulation has been possible, using radioactive compounds that bind covalently to sulfhydryl groups.
The nationalization of electoral change in the Americas

Abstract This paper examines the nationalization of electoral change in multiparty settings. We present a method to measure the relative magnitude of national and sub-national shifts in electoral support across parties and elections that is appropriate for the compositional structure of multiparty electoral data. We apply this new method to the analysis of legislative elections in six Latin American countries and the United States. Our findings indicate the widespread influence of local (i.e., state-specific) factors in electoral change, but highlight the drastic impact that intermittent nationalized shifts have on partisan support.
The relationship of TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion between primary and metastatic prostate cancers ☆

Recent studies have revealed the presence of TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion in both primary and metastatic prostate cancers. However, the relationship between primary and corresponding metastatic prostate cancers with respect to the status of this gene fusion remains unclear. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, we evaluated the rearrangement of the ERG gene in the radical prostatectomy specimens and corresponding lymph node metastases from 19 patients with prostate cancer. The mean age of the patients was 61 years, and the median Gleason score in the radical prostatectomy specimens was 7 (4 + 3). Prostate cancer was unifocal in 6 cases and multifocal in 13 cases, including 10 with 2 foci and 3 with 3 foci. In the primary prostate cancers, rearrangement of the ERG gene was observed in 13 cases and associated with deletion of the 5' ERG gene in 8 cases. In the metastases, the ERG rearrangement was present in 10 cases and associated with deletion of the 5' ERG gene in 6 cases. In unifocal prostate cancers, the status of the ERG rearrangement was concordant between the primary prostate cancer and metastasis in 5 of 6 cases. In multifocal prostate cancer, despite a significant interfocal discordance, the status of the ERG rearrangement was concordant between the index (largest) primary tumor focus and metastasis in all 13 cases. Our study demonstrates a close relationship of the TMPRSS2-ERG gene fusion status between primary and metastatic prostate cancer. The concordance of the ERG gene rearrangement status between the index primary tumor focus and metastasis suggests that metastasis most likely arises from the index tumor focus in multifocal prostate cancer.
Analysis of the Fragile X mental retardation protein isoforms 1, 2 and 3 interactions with the G-quadruplex forming semaphorin 3F mRNA

Fragile X syndrome, the most prevalent inheritable mental retardation, is caused by the loss of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) expression. FMRP is an RNA-binding protein with nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttle activity, proposed to act as a translation regulator of specific mRNAs in the brain. It has been shown that FMRP uses its arginine–glycine–glycine (RGG) box domain to bind a subset of mRNA targets that form a G-quadruplex structure. FMRP has also been shown to undergo the post-translational modifications of arginine methylation and phosphorylation, as well as alternative splicing, resulting in multiple isoforms. The alternative splice isoforms investigated in this study, isoform 1 (ISO1), isoform 2 (ISO2), and isoform 3 (ISO3), are created by the alternative splicing acceptor site at exon 15. FMRP ISO2 and ISO3 are truncated by 12 and 13 residues, respectively, relative to the longest FMRP isoform ISO1. These truncations, which are in the close proximity of the RGG box domain, preserve the integrity of the RGG box in all three isoforms, but eliminate the in vivo phosphorylation sites, present only on FMRP ISO1. We have expressed and purified recombinant FMRP ISO1, ISO2 and ISO3 in Escherichia coli, free of post-translational modifications, and by using fluorescence spectroscopy, we show that each FMRP isoform binds G-quadruplex RNA, albeit with different binding affinities, suggesting that naturally occurring sequence modifications in the proximity of the RGG box modulate its G-quadruplex RNA binding ability.
The experience and evolution of trust: Implications for cooperation and teamwork

In this article we analyze the way that trust evolves in organizations and how it influences cooperation and teamwork. We propose that the experience of trust is determined by the interplay of people's values, attitudes, and moods and emotions. Then, using the perspective of symbolic interactionism, we examine how trust evolves and changes over time, describing two distinct states or forms of trust: conditional and unconditional. We look, too, at the factors involved in the dissolution of trust. Finally, we explore the relationship between trust and an important component of organizational performance and competitive advantage: interpersonal cooperation and teamwork.
The corticotroph of the rat adenohypophysis: A comparative study

The immunological and cytological specificity of antiserum to adrenocorticotrophic hormone was established and the corticotroph defined at the light microscopic level by immunocytochemistry. Our observations substantiated recent reports by several investigators. By comparing thin methacrylate sections with adjacent 1 μ-methacrylate sections immunochemically stained with anti-ACTH, the ACTH cell was identified at the ultrastructural level and its morphology studied. Using the criteria established at light and electron microscopic levels, the corticotroph was readily found in tissue which had been fixed in paraformaldehyde-osmium mixture and embedded in epoxy resin. Ultrastructural changes in this cell in response to experimentally designed alterations in the pituitary ACTH levels confirmed this identification. The ACTH cell was likewise identified in glutaraldehyde-fixed material. Thyrotrophs were tentatively defined. Several ultrastructural studies responsible for conflicting reports in the literature were investigated. It was concluded that the corticotroph is a unique cell type and that granule size and morphology remain important criteria for adenohypophyseal cell identification regardless of the fixation used. The need for a definitive immunocytochemical study of thyrotrophs at the ultrastructural level was recognized.
Synthesis of carbamoylpiperidine-type cholinesterase inhibitors.

A series of selected alkynyl, alkenyl, and aralkyl substituted carbamoylpiperidines was prepared for the evaluation of their effect upon isolated cholinesterase systems.
Evidence of evidence is evidence under screening-off

An important question in the current debate on the epistemic significance of peer disagreement is whether evidence of evidence is evidence. Fitelson argues (persuasively in my view) that, at least on some renderings of the thesis that evidence of evidence is evidence, there are cases where evidence of evidence is not evidence. I introduce a ‘screening-off’ condition and show that under this condition evidence of evidence is evidence.
Introduction: Multiple Dimensions of Caregiving and Disability

Many years ago, my wife, Nancy, and my daughter, Kate, and I moved to Atlanta, Georgia, from Michigan. Kate had belonged to the Girl Scouts in Michigan, and she joined a small troop in Atlanta once we got settled into our new home. She was about 11 then. Unlike in Michigan, Girl Scouts in Georgia not only sold cookies door-to-door but also set up stands at grocery stores.
Environmental hazards in African agriculture: factors influencing application of agrochemicals in Nakuru district, Kenya

This paper uses data from a 2003 survey of farming households in Nakuru, Kenya. The objectives were: to establish the quantities of agrochemicals applied as compared to recommendations thus detecting under use or over dose and to explore the factors influencing the applications of agrochemicals to see how far those factors can be manipulated to contribute to better implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) and integrated plant nutrition systems (IPNS). Both descriptive statistics and a decomposed tobit model were used. Two separate models for fertilizer and fungicides were estimated. Results indicate that a greater elasticity of application of fertilizer would be generated more by expected levels of application and less by marginal changes in the amounts applied. The greater influence to apply would come from those expected to gain any experience in tomato production and less from unit changes in length of experience. For the fungicides model, the person who makes the decision has a strong influence in the increase of application of fungicides. Implications for policy are drawn
Use of Dual-Energy CT and Iodine Maps in Evaluation of Bowel Disease

Dual-energy computed tomography (CT) relies on material-dependent x-ray absorption behavior from concurrently acquired high- and low-kilovolt peak data and has a range of imaging applications. This article focuses on use of dual-energy CT in assessment of bowel disease. After a summary of relevant dual-energy CT image acquisition and postprocessing principles, the authors describe dual-energy techniques of greatest utility in evaluation of benign and malignant pathologic conditions in the bowel, including neoplastic, vascular, infectious, and inflammatory disorders, as well as in assessment of abdominopelvic trauma. The dual-energy postprocessing techniques of iodine-selective imaging and virtual monochromatic imaging have the broadest applicability in bowel imaging. They may be used for improved visualization of subtle differences in bowel wall enhancement or for quantitative assessment of altered enhancement for evaluation of a neoplasm or bowel ischemia. Iodine images and virtual monochromatic low-kiloelectron volt images are particularly helpful for assessment of a neoplasm, ischemia, infection, or inflammation, while iodine maps paired with virtual nonenhanced images are most helpful to differentiate iodine from other dense materials, as in gastrointestinal bleeding or trauma. In most applications, radiation doses at dual-energy CT are comparable to those at traditional CT. However, dual-energy CT may allow reduction in radiation dose by using virtual nonenhanced images that obviate an additional nonenhanced CT acquisition. Limitations of dual-energy CT are discussed, including potential challenges in acquisition, postprocessing, and interpretation.
Survey on the Mercury Contamination in Food in Jiangxi of 2010

Objective:To understand the contamination situation of mercury in market selling food in Jiangxi province.Methods: The samples were collected and pretreated according to National plan of food contaminants monitoring and the mercury content in food was analyzed by hydride generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry according to the national standard methods(GB/T5009.17-2003).Results: Mercury in 609 food samples of 7 kinds were monitored,The results showed that the mean value was 0.013 mg/kg;detection rate was 47%;excessive rate was 0.5%.Conclusion: The contamination level of mercury in foodstuffs of Jiangxi wasnot serious by adopting the national standards.The contents of mercury in major dietary components are safe in Jiangxi district.
Instrumental narcissism in parents

Instrumental narcissism is a syndrome manifested by parents who feel compelled to transform their infants and young children into geniuses. The parents' effort devalues the child's own abilities and exaggerates the parents' self-perceived magical powers. Various historical and contemporary examples of instrumental narcissism provide the basis for the author's exploration of the syndrome in the context of contemporary clinical discussions of narcissism.
Clinical and ethical perspectives on rationing of high-cost drugs.

OBJECTIF: Un cas illustrant l'utilisation de medicaments couteux est analyse selon l'approche d'une prise de decision clinique et selon la perspective ethique du rationnement des ressources. CAS: Le cas d'un sideen de 26 ans, connu pour abus de drogues intraveineuses, souleve la question de comment rationner les medicaments couteux tels le foscarnet, les anticorps monoclonaux pour le choc septique, et le facteur de stimulation des colonies de granulocytes. EVALUATION: Est-ce qu'un patient avec d'une maladie terminale devrait recevoir des medicaments couteux dans le contexte de ressources limitees en soins de sante? L'information clinique pertinente incluant les algorithmes de traitement, ainsi que les rapports risques/benefices et cout/efficacite, est evaluee. Le rationnement, particulierement lorsque realise par le clinicien au chevet du patient, est a rejeter puisque ceci va a l'encontre du principe de bienveillance inclus dans le code d'ethique des cliniciens. L'autonomie et les desir du patient peuvent aussi entrer en conflit avec l'interet de la societe a distribuer les ressources de facon equitable. Le traitement pourrait etre refuse si les couts excedent les benefices encourus et que cela prive d'autres patients de soins de sante de base. De meme, il n'existe aucune obligation pour un clinicien d'offrir des traitements medicaux futiles ou pour un patient d'accepter de recevoir des soins medicaux extraordinaires. CONCLUSIONS: Un argument ethique en faveur du rationnement ne peut etre presente a cause de l'absence d'un consensus clinique et social clair quant aux criteres specifiques guidant le rationnement des depenses en soins de sang. La decision d'utiliser des medicaments couteux dans ce cas se fait par la prise d'une decision clinique basee sur les guides de traitement disponibles. Ceci se fait en assumant que le patient est toujours consentant et qu'il existe un benefice a obtenir du traitement
Predicting gene function from images of cells

This dissertation shows that biologically meaningful predictions can be made by analyzing images of cells. In particular, groups of related genes and their biological functions can be predicted using images from large gene-knockdown experiments. Our analysis methods focus on measuring individual cells in images from large gene-knockdown screens, using these measurements to classify cells according to phenotype, and scoring each gene according to how reduction in its expression affects phenotypes. To enable this approach, we introduce methods for correcting biases in cell images, segmenting individual cells in images, modeling the distribution of cells showing a phenotype of interest within a screen, scoring gene knockdowns according to their effect on a phenotype, and using existing biological knowledge to predict the under-lying biological meaning of a phenotype and, by extension, the function of the genes that most strongly affect that phenotype. We repeat this analysis for multiple phenotypes, extracting for each a set of genes related through that phenotype, along with predictions for the biology of each phenotype. We apply our methods to a large gene-knockdown screen in human cells, validating it on known phenotypes as well as identifying and characterizing several new cellular phenotypes that have not been previously studied. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)
Recurrent embedded substorms during the 19 October 1998 GEM storm

The October 18-19, 1998 GEM (Geospace Environment Modeling) storm was associated with a long interval of remarkably steady southward IMF (Interplanetary Magnetic Field). In this study we demonstrate that classical substorms occurred throughout the interval and that the storm appears to be comprised of the typical two-mode response consisting of a recurrent loading/unloading cycle on a time-scale of approximately 2-4 hours together with an episodic/bursty continuously-driven component operating on a time-scale of 5-15 minutes. The loading/unloading activity is manifested as typical poleward expanding “embedded” substorms (embedded into the auroral oval) emerging from the equatorward regions of the auroral distribution, while the continuously-driven component is manifested by the episodic ejection of streamers equatorward from poleward boundary activations. The streamers subsequently produce torches and eastward-drifting omega-bands which likely moderate the need for substorms to occur more frequently than observed.
Iris abscess a rare presentation of intravenous drug abuse associated Candida endophthalmitis

Abstract Purpose To describe an unusual case of intravenous drug abuse associated endogenous endophthalmitis presenting with an iris abscess. Observations A 30-year old female with history of intravenous drug use presented with a two-week history of redness and blurry vision in the right eye. An initial diagnosis of anterior uveitis was made. However, she worsened on topical steroids and mydriatics. She was found to have a hypopyon and an iris abscess. She received broad spectrum antibiotic and antifungal treatment with voriconazole, this lead to significant clinical improvement. She was discharged on oral fluconazole and lost to follow up. The patient was noncompliant with the antifungal treatment. The hypopyon and iris abscess recurred, and she required a vitrectomy with iridectomy, along with intravitreal and systemic antifungal treatment. The vitreous cultures and surgical specimen of iris issue were positive for Candida albicans , and she received voriconazole. This led to resolution of the condition with a final visual acuity of 20/20 at six month follow up. Conclusions and importance An iris abscess is a rare clinical presentation of intravenous drug use-associated endogenous endophthalmitis and as a result may present a diagnostic challenge as it requires a high level of clinical suspicion and a detailed social history to elicit the drug abuse. Early diagnosis and aggressive therapy is the key to better visual outcomes in these patients.