cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Radical prostatectomy for clinical T4 prostate cancer

BACKGROUND Occasionally, patients with clinical T4 (cT4) prostate cancer undergo surgery. Published data on outcomes after radical prostatectomy (RP) in patients with such advanced stage disease and on the impact of adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) and hormone therapy (HT) are nonexistent. METHODS Data from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) data base were reviewed for the 7-year period from 1995 to 2001. Specifically, data were analyzed for 1093 patients with cT4, lymph node-negative or lymph node-positive, M0 prostate cancer without distant lymph node involvement or a history of other cancer. Using follow-up data through 2002, postdiagnosis survival was examined in 5 treatment groups: radical prostatectomy (RP) either alone or in combination with other therapy, radiation therapy (RT) alone, hormone therapy (HT) alone, RT plus HT, and no treatment (NT). All results were expressed as 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year observed survival and corresponding relative survival. Mortality across treatment categories was compared by using a Cox proportionate hazards model controlling for age, year of diagnosis, race, tumor grade, regional lymph node involvement, clinical tumor extension, and SEER registry. RESULTS Observed and relative survival rates were lowest among patients who received NT and highest among patients who underwent RP. Adding adjuvant RT or HT to RP conferred no survival benefit. Multivariate survival analyses revealed a significant increase in mortality among HT-only patients and among patients who received NT compared with patients who underwent RP. The differences in survival among treatment types were most pronounced in a relatively small group of patients who had positive regional lymph node extension. In all other patients, the results suggested a modest (but not significant) improvement in survival after RT plus HT. CONCLUSIONS SEER data revealed that patients who underwent RP for cT4 prostate cancer had increased survival compared with patients who received RT alone or HT alone and had a survival comparable to that of patients who received RT plus HT. The benefit of RP appears to be limited to a relatively small subset of patients who have regional lymph node extension. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society.
Thermal effects in p-channel MOSFETs at low temperatures

Thermal effects due to device self-heating in p-channel enhancement MOSFETs operated at cryogenic temperatures are discussed. Device heating is observed through drain-current transients, and the drain current is used to monitor heating. Comparisons are made with earlier results for n-channel devices. Some implications for low-temperature CMOS operation are considered. >
Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, AD 1156.

SUMMARY A case of arthrogryposis multiplex congenita in an eight-year-old girl was recounted by Thomas of Monmouth in a mid twelfth-century English hagiographic narrative. The Life and Miracles of St William of Norwich. The child had deformities of both hands and both feet at birth, and she developed torticollis and probably had some degree of hypotonia. She needed total care, her family took her to the tomb of St William in the cathedral at Norwich. This visit produced some sort of improvement in her health. Her parents, seeking a miracle, were satisfied that one had occurred. RESUME Arthrogrypose multiple congenitale en 1156 Un cas d'arthrogrypose multiple congenitale chez une fillelte de huit ans est rapporte par Thomas of Monmouth dans une hagiographie narrative anglaise du milieu du XIIeme siecle, “La vie et les Miracles de Saint Guillaume de Norwich”. L'enfant presentait a la naissance des deformations des deux pieds et des deux mains, et elle presents par la suite un torticolis et probablement quelques degres d'hypotonie. Elle demandait une lourde prise en charge. Sa familie la conduisit a la tombe de Saint Guillaume a la cathedrale de Norwich. La visite obtint quelques degres dans l'amelioration de la sante. Ses parents, cherchant le miracle, estimerent qu'il y en avait eu un. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita, AD 1156 Thomas von Monmouth hat Mitte des 12.Jahrhunderts in einer Englischen Heiligenlegende, das Leben und die Wunder des Sankt William von Norwich, einen Fall von Arthrogryposis multiplex congenita bei einem achtjahrigen Madchen beschrieben. Das Kind hatte bei Geburt Deformierungen beider Hande und Fuse und entwickelte einen Torticollis und hatte wahrscheinlich eine Hypotonie. Es war ein Pflegefall. Seine Familie brachte es zu dem Grab von Sankt William in der Kathedrale von Norwich. Dieser Besuch brachte eine gewisse Besserung des Gesundheitszustandes. Seine Eltern, die auf ein Wunder hofften, waren befriedigt, das ein solches geschah. RESUMEN Artrogriposis multiple congenita, AD 1156 Una caso de artrogriposis multiple congenita en una nina de ocho anos de edad fue aportada por Thomas de Monmouth a mediados del siglo doce en la narrativa hagiografica inglesa “Vida y Milagros de San Guillermo de Norwich”. El nino tenia deformidades de manos y pies al nacer y desarrollo una torticolis y probablemente tenia cierto grado de hipotonia. Necesitaba cuidados totales. Su familia la llevo a la tumba de San Guillermo en la catedral de Norwich. La visita produjo cierta mejoria en su salud. Sus padres, que buscaban un milagro, quedaron satisfechos del que habia tenido lugar.
Enhanced detection of clinically relevant genomic imbalances using a targeted plus whole genome oligonucleotide microarray

Purpose: Array comparative genomic hybridization is rapidly becoming an integral part of cytogenetic diagnostics. We report the design, validation, and clinical utility of an oligonucleotide array which combines genome-wide coverage with targeted enhancement at known clinically relevant regions. Methods: Probes were placed every 75 kb across the entire euchromatic genome to establish a chromosomal “backbone” with a resolution of ∼500 kb, which is increased to ∼50 kb in targeted regions. Results: For validation, 30 samples showed 100% concordance with previous G-banding and/or fluorescence in situ hybridization results. Prospective array analysis of 211 clinical samples identified 33 (15.6%) cases with clinically significant abnormalities. Of these, 23 (10.9%) were detected by the “targeted” coverage and 10 (4.7%) by the genome-wide coverage (average size of 3.7 Mb). All abnormalities were verified by fluorescence in situ hybridization, using commercially available or homebrew probes using the 32K bacterial artificial chromosome set. Four (1.9%) cases had previously reported imbalances of uncertain clinical significance. Five (2.4%) cases required parental studies for interpretation and all were benign familial variants. Conclusions: Our results highlight the enhanced diagnostic utility of a genome-wide plus targeted array design, as the use of only a targeted array would have failed to detect 4.7% of the clinically relevant imbalances.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Removing Barriers to Learning

Secondary schoot principals frequently encounter questions about edu cating students with disabilities. Sometimes the questions revolve around seeking a deeper understanding of the disability and the best way to meet student needs. Other times, the questions focus on all the changes that must be made to ensure students receive an appropriate education. What questions do teachers ask about accommodations for students with a disability?
A pilot study using total colonic manometry in the surgical evaluation of pediatric functional colonic obstruction.

Abstract Background/purpose Total colonic manometry (TCM) can directly measure intraluminal pressures and contractile function of the entire colon. The utility of TCM to guide the surgical management of functional colonic obstruction has not been reported. Methods Total colonic manometry was performed on all patients referred for surgical evaluation of refractory functional colonic obstruction. Manometric tracings were obtained while fasting, after feeding, and after pharmacologic stimulation. Results Nine patients were referred for refractory colonic obstruction. The mean age was 4.8 years, and the mean duration of follow-up was 29 months. Two patients had functional obstruction after repair of Hirschsprung's disease, and 7 patients had idiopathic functional obstruction. In the idiopathic group, 4 distinct motility patterns were identified: (1) normal colonic motility, (2) dysmotility with massive distension, (3) persistent segmental dysmotility, and (4) global neuropathy/myopathy. Both Hirschsprung's patients showed globally abnormal motility. Surgical management was guided by TCM results. There was significant improvement in bowel function and weight gain after manometry-guided intervention. An unnecessary laparotomy was avoided in 2 patients. Conclusions TCM can be valuable in deciding the need for and timing of diversion, the extent of resection required, and the suitability of the patient for restoring bowel continuity in refractory functional obstruction.
Ender Wiggin Played Mafia Wars Too

Games hosted in social networks, gaming servers or mobile phones can be used as massively parallel, but surreptitious processing networks. These grids, and the activities of the unwitting players, can be used for good (such as solving large resource allocation problems or finding improvised explosive devices) or for evil (to allow criminals to gain unauthorized access to a system or break encryption algorithms). Surreptitious processing networks differ from botnets in that no rouge processing elements are present on the user side; instead, the computational payload is outsourced to humans who unknowingly provide partial solutions as they play the game. This approach makes the solution of large computational problems and the recruitment and exploitation of participants easy. This department is part of a special issue on social networking.
A plasticity-damage theory for large deformation of solids—II. Applications to finite simple shear

Abstract The theoretical formulation of a coupled theory of continuum damage mechanics and finite strain plasticity is presented in Part I of this research. In Part II, a numerical application is presented to show how the model can be used to solve practical problems. In addition, several remarks are presented concerning some of the basic assumptions of the theory. In particular, explicit matrix representations are derived for the damage effect tensor in the cases of plane stress and plane strain. The problem of finite simple shear is investigated. It is noticed that the resulting differential equations are solved numerically using a Runge-Kutta-Verner fifth and sixth order method. The results for the stress, backstress and damage variables are compared with a previous damage theory by the authors, as well as with an undamaged plasticity model.
The psychological assessment of the chronic pain patient with a suspected substance use disorder

Among the most difficult to manage and treat populations of chronic pain patients is the patient who presents with a current or past history of addiction to illicit substances, alcohol, or prescription drugs. Pain patients who are perceived to have addictive disorders are often undertreated. The unwarranted fear of addiction is a misunderstood concept in pain management that can lead to the undertreatment of pain. The increasingly accepted management of chronic nonmalignant pain with opioid therapy underscores the importance of understanding the nature of opioid addiction. Pain specialists always need to evaluate and distinguish between four different pharmacologic/behavioral occurrences: tolerance, dependence, addiction, and pseudoaddiction. As important as the psychological assessment of the chronic pain patient is in general, it takes on added significance with the patient who presents with a history of past or present substance abuse. Commonly used measures of psychological status include the Beck Depression Inventory, the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. Observation, history, monitoring, and being aware of the “red flags” are very important in the specific assessment of the chronic pain patient with suspected abuse. Specific substance abuse/addiction measures that can be of help include the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-20), CAGE-AID, and the Cyr-Wartman Screen. Pain specialists need to educate themselves about standards of care in addictive disease and substance abuse disorders as well as be knowledgeable about prescribing and practice laws in their state.
Genes for Bacillus megaterium small, acid-soluble spore proteins: nucleotide sequence of two genes and their expression during sporulation.

Abstract The complete nucleotide (nt) sequence of two Bacillus megaterium genes coding for small, acid-soluble spore proteins (SASP), termed C-1 and C-2, has been determined. The nt sequences of the genes are > 98% identical in the coding regions, >90% identical in approx. 180 bp and approx. 50 bp of upstream and downstream flanking sequences, respectively, and exhibit features conserved in related B. megaterium SASP genes. Northern blot analyses showed that the SASP-C-1 and/or C-2 genes are transcribed during sporulation in parallel with the related SASP-C and C-3 genes. The promoter regions of the SASP-C-1 and C-2 genes were localized, based on the sizes of their mRNAs and the positions of transcription termination sequences. The SASP-C-1 and C-2 genes' promoter regions exhibit significant homology with those for the SASP-C and C-3 genes.
Leaf litter redistribution among forest patches within an Allegheny Plateau watershed

This study quantified the redistribution of leaf litter in and among distinct patches within Neotoma Valley, a 73 ha watershed in the unglaciated Allegheny Plateau of Ohio. Total vertical litterfall and Quercus litterfall were greater on the Quercus dominated east slope and valley bottom than on the west slope or on the ridgetops. To measure net downslope movement of leaf litter following deposition, sets of littertraps with upslope or downslope sides open were placed at seven sites within this watershed. Net downslope litter movement was as large as vertical litterfall at all sites except the valley bottom. Quercus litter was 1.3–1.5 × as likely to be redistributed as non-Quercus litter, depending on slope. Most redistribution occurred during the January–April leafless season. On the drier, Quercus-dominated ridgetops and east slope, 14–24% of the litter falling within 20 m upslope of a trap subsequently was redistributed down into that trap. In the more mesic patches, only 1–8% of vertical litterfall was redistributed. On an area basis, the west ridgetop and the upper east slope lost the most litter to redistribution (60–80 g m-2 yr-1 dry mass); the lower east and west slope positions and the valley bottom received the greatest litter subsidies from redistribution. Donor sites lost 4.5–5.7 kg ha-1 yr-1 of N and 0.3–0.5 kg ha-1 yr-1 of P through redistributed litter; sink areas received subsidies of 2.2–6.1 kg ha-1 yr-1 N and 0.2–0.4 kg ha-1 yr-1 of P. Litter redistribution helps maintain and even accentuate the gradient of soil fertility among patches in this watershed by accelerating the normal loss of nutrients during soil development in some patches while retarding it in others.
Nanolocalized Nonlinear Photoprocesses under Coherent Control

We theoretically show that ultrafast coherent control yields nonlinear photoprocesses in metal nanostructures nanolocalized in areas whose positions are controllable on nanoscale, in agreement with recent experiments. We explore various nanoantenna media for controlled nanolocalized photoprocesses.
Scale-dependent responses of longleaf pine vegetation to fire frequency and environmental context across two decades

Summary 1. Disturbance is an important driver of plant community structure in many grasslands and woodlands, and alteration of disturbance regimes can have large consequences for species richness and composition. However, the response of vegetation to disturbance may change with environmental context. We resampled a unique, nested permanent vegetation plot data set in the longleaf pine ecosystem of the southeastern USA after 20 years to determine how environmental context and fire frequency jointly influence vegetation change across multiple spatial scales (0.01–1000 m 2 ). 2. The magnitude of vegetation change was quantified using two different, yet complementary metrics of beta-diversity (beta turnover measured as the proportion of species turning over and Bray–Curtis dissimilarity) and by documenting changes in species richness. We used null model analysis to explore whether communities were more dynamic over time at small spatial scales relative to larger scales. 3. Changes in species richness, beta turnover and Bray–Curtis dissimilarity were greatest on silty, frequently burned sites, whereas sandy, less frequently burned sites remained relatively stable. The amount of change detected was scale dependent: species richness increased at larger spatial scales over time, but decreased at the two smallest spatial scales. Null model analysis revealed that beta turnover standardized effect sizes (SES) were negative and significantly different from random expectation at all spatial scales except the smallest. Thus, the magnitude of compositional change across most scales was small, despite substantial changes in species richness across time. We attribute this initial contradiction to the turnover of infrequent, low-abundance species amidst a matrix of dominant grasses. 4. Synthesis. In contrast to previous longleaf pine studies, we found fire frequency to be less important than environmental site conditions in predicting vegetation change. Thus, future work in this ecosystem and in other fire-dependent grasslands and woodlands should consider not only disturbance, but also environmental context. Since species richness and beta-diversity patterns were scale dependent, we recommend sampling vegetation across multiple spatial scales in order to comprehensively quantify changes in community structure over time. We believe this study lays the groundwork for understanding how fire and environmental filtering jointly influence vegetation dynamics across space and time in fire-dependent grasslands and woodlands.
Remarkable Variations in the Luminescence of Frozen Solutions of [Au{C(NHMe)2}2](PF6)·0.5(Acetone). Structural and Spectroscopic Studies of the Effects of Anions and Solvents on Gold(I) Carbene Complexes

The unusual luminescence behavior of the two-coordinate gold(I) carbene complex, [Au{C(NHMe)2}2](PF6)·0.5(acetone), is reported. Upon freezing in a liquid N2 bath, the colorless, nonluminescent solutions of [Au{C(NHMe)2}2](PF6)·0.5(acetone) become intensely luminescent. Strikingly, the colors of the emission differ in different solvents and appear only after the solvent has frozen. Solid [Au{C(NHMe)2}2](PF6)·0.5(acetone) is also luminescent, and the luminescence is attributed to the formation of extended chains of gold(I) centers that are connected through aurophilic attractions. Crystallographic studies of [Au{C(NHMe)2}2](PF6)·0.5(acetone) and [Au{C(NHMe)2}2](BF4), which is also luminescent, reveal that both involve extended chains of cations and that the anions are hydrogen bonded to the cations through cation N−H groups. However, these chains differ in the Au···Au separations in each and in the carbene ligand orientations. In contrast, [Au{C(NMe2)(NHMe)}2](PF6) forms a colorless, nonluminescent solid, ...
Analysis and functional implications of phosphorylation of neuronal voltage-gated potassium channels

Phosphorylation is the most common and abundant post-translational modification to eukaryotic proteins, regulating a plethora of dynamic cellular processes. Here, we review and discuss recent advances in our knowledge of the breadth and importance of reversible phosphorylation in regulating the expression, localization and function of mammalian neuronal voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channels, key regulators of neuronal function. We highlight the role of modern mass spectrometric techniques and phosphospecific antibodies in revealing the extent and nature of phosphorylation at specific sites in Kv channels. We also emphasize the role of reversible phosphorylation in dynamically regulating diverse aspects of Kv channel biology. Finally, we discuss as important future directions the determination of the mechanistic basis for how altering phosphorylation state affects Kv channel expression, localization and function, the nature of macromolecular signaling complexes containing Kv channels and enzymes regulating their phosphorylation state, and the specific role of Kv channel phosphorylation in regulating neuronal function during physiological and pathophysiological events.
Development and use of a type-specific antibody avidity test based on herpes simplex virus type 2 glycoprotein G

Objectives: It is difficult to discriminate between lesions resulting from recently acquired versus established genital herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection. Methods not based on history or serum IgM status are needed. Goal: Our goal was to use type-specific gG-2 antibody avidity determinations based on HerpeSelect HSV-2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to identify new infections. Study: Sera (N = 168) from 71 patients with first-episode genital herpes and 45 sera from 21 patients with recurrent episodes were tested. Results: Median avidity increased from 30.2 in sera drawn ≤6 weeks to 54.9 >6 weeks after infection (P <0.001). Patients with recurrent episodes and established HSV-2 infections (median, 6.1 years' duration) had higher avidity antibodies (median, 92.7; range, 55.1-100) than patients after first episodes (median, 33.7; range, 6.4-73.9; P <0.001). Conclusion: Avidity testing based on HerpeSelect ELISA could be a cost-effective method to identify patients with new HSV-2 infections.
Welfare impacts of technological change on women in southern Mali

Abstract It has often been hypothesized that new agricultural technologies could have an adverse impact on women because additional labor required of them reduces the time spent and therefore income earned from private-field activities. This study shows that the expansion of cotton cultivation on the household communal fields in southern Mali associated with the introduction of new technologies results in increased payments to women for their increased labor on the cotton fields. Unfortunately, these payments are small compared to the loss of revenue from private-plot production. Thus, the net effect of the expansion of household cotton cultivation is a reduction in incomes of women who cultivate private plots. Short-run policy implications of this study are that improving women's income requires concern with their private-plot earnings. For example, profitability of the private-field crops could be increased with higher input use. In the long run, as land becomes even more constrained, emphasis needs to be placed on institutional changes to increase women's bargaining power so that they obtain larger shares of the new income streams resulting from technological change on the communal field. Institutional changes already occurring in the region, with the apparent objective of increasing women's (and non-household head men's) bargaining power, include organized work teams and the movement toward smaller, nuclear families.
The Post-Cold War Metamorphosis of the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies Library

ABSTRACT In May 2005, the staff and collections of the library of the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies were formally brought together with the libraries of three other internationally focused centers, under the aegis of the Social Sciences Program of Harvard College Library. The article summarizes the move and earlier history of the Davis Center library.
A new normal phase liquid chromatographic method for the analysis of limonoids in Citrus

A normal phase, gradient, analytical high performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the analysis of a broad range of neutral limonoids which are present in Citrus seeds. The method features high sensitivity, with better specificity and resolution of limonoids than a previous normal phase method. The chromatographic media is 5 µ spherical silica and employs a gradient mixture of cyclohexane and tetrahydrofuran as the mobile phase. The method is applied to the separation of limonoids present in seeds from representative species of Citrus and Fortunella and from seeds of two Citrus/Fortunella hybrids. Analytical results of these seed samples reveal limonoid patterns of parent and progeny which indicate the potential of the method to define limonoid profiles in Citrus for use as a chemotaxonomic tool to aid plant breeders and taxonomists. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PUTTING IT IN WRITING: AN EXAMINATION OF PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE PLATFORMS IN THE 1992ELECTION

The 1992 presidential election saw several different campaign innovations that brought candidates closer to citizens. One such innovation was the production of campaign books by the candidates. These candidate platforms signal the continuing dominance of candidates and the decline of parties as the grounding elements of presidential campaigns. Many analysts argue that such independent campaigning is detrimental to democracy. We disagree. Candidate platforms indicate positive development in presidential politics. More detailed than party platforms, they provide information to voters in a way that conforms to the realities of modern campaigning. In addition, they help candidates challenge existing voter impressions based upon party stereotypes. Finally, candidate platforms provide for direct accountability, allowing citizens to blame or credit presidents for their actions. This may make the job of president more dificult, but it also makes what candidates say in campaigns more meaningful.
Reliability and validity of the WRAT with Mexican-American children.

The reliability and validity of the WRAT were investigated with 191 Mexican-American children. Internal consistency reliability coefficients for the WRAT were found to be high and comparable to those reported in the WRAT manual. Correlations between the WRAT subtests and those of the MAT all were significant and suggested moderate to high relationship between these two measures. It was concluded that the WRAT meets minimum requirements of reliability and validity with Mexican-American children.
Constant modulus factorization technique for smart antenna applications in mobile communications

A fundamental problem in sensor array signal processing is to separate and retrieve all independent co-channel signals that arrive at the antenna array. Such problems arise in smart antenna applications for mobile wireless communication, such as interference reduction and in- cell frequency reuse. In a mobile environment, the presence of large delay multipath makes the array manifold poorly defined, and spatial model methods are not applicable. However in case the signals have a constant modulus property (as in FDMA/FM systems like AMPS or TACS), iterative algorithms such as Godard and CMA have been used to retrieve the signals. Because of a non-convex optimization criterion, these algorithms suffer from local minima and random convergence behavior, with no satisfactory remedy known as yet. In this paper, we present an algorithm to compute the exact solution to the underlying constant modulus (CM) factorization problem. With this new approach, it is possible to detect the number of CM signals present at the array, and to retrieve all of them exactly, rejecting other, non-CM signals. Only a modest amount of samples are required. The algorithm is robust in the presence of noise, and is tested on real data, collected from an experimental set-up.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Understanding Identity Development and Spirituality in African American Female Adolescents through Their Foster Care Experience

A qualitative research study was conducted to understand the meaning and experience of foster care and identity development for African American females who had been in foster care during adolescence. The study was designed to maximize the common epistemological traditions of social work and the African American experience, and integrate knowledge from the arenas of practice wisdom, the discipline of social work, and the knowledge of adult African American women who have experienced the phenomenon. An unexpected finding of the research was that many of the women, unsolicited, expressed a belief in the importance of spirituality to their understanding and acceptance of what had happened to them during and after the foster care experience. The phenomenon is examined through three themes including a stated belief in God, the frequent use of the language of spirituality, and evidence of participation in religious activity.
PERCEIVED APPROBATION IN SHORT, MEDIUM, AND LONG LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

Mehrabian (1965) and Wiens, et al. (1969) found that subjects wrote longer letters of recommendation when the letter was for someone they liked rather than disliked. These results led Wiens, et al. to suggest that communication channels may provide a useful nonreactive measure of attitudes and motivations. The present research replicated the above encoding studies with a series of decoding experiments in which subjects rated short, medium-length, and long letters of recommendation written in English, German, or with deleted text. Short letters were evaluated as being least favorable toward the job applicant and long letters were evaluated as being most favorable toward the job applicant. It was concluded that attitudes attributed to length of letter are consistent with attitudes influencing length of letter. Subjects' limited awareness of the influence of length of letter on their evaluations was related to Nisbett and Wilson's (1977) argument about the weakness of introspection. Suggestions were made for...
Prostatic stromal cells derived from benign prostatic hyperplasia specimens possess stem cell like property

INTRODUCTION The hyper-proliferative activity of stromal smooth muscle (SM) cells is believed to be responsible for the pathogenesis of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). We have observed that those stromal cells can differentiate into unrelated specialized cells. We thus hypothesize that stromal cells derived from adults prostate specimens may contain adult stem cells. To test this hypothesis, human prostate stromal primary cultures were established and used for characterization of their stem cell properties. METHODS Immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, and tissue culture techniques were used to characterize the primary cultured human prostate-derived stromal cells for their stem cell and differentiation properties. The plasticity of these stromal cells was analyzed using cell culture and histology techniques. RESULTS Primary cultured prostate stromal cells from BPH patient possess polygonal and elongated fibroblast/myofibroblast cellular morphology. They are positive in CD30, CD34, CD44, NSE, CD133, Flt-1, stem cell factor (SCF), and neuron-specific enolase (NSE), but negative in C-Kit, stem cell antigen (SCA), SH2, CD11b. Expression of SM myogenic markers in these cells may be induced by sodium butyrate (NaBu) treatment. Induction to osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation in these cells is also evident. CONCLUSIONS Our study on primary stromal cells from BPH patients have yielded many interesting findings that these prostate stroma cells possess: (1) mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) markers; (2) strong proliferative potential; and (3) ability to differentiate or transdifferentiate to myogenic, adipogenic, and osteogenic lineages. These cell preparations may serve as a potential tool for studies in prostate adult stem cell research and the regulation of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Prostate 67: 1265–1276, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A Look at High School Programs as Perceived by Youth with Learning Disabilities.

This study illustrated how youth with learning disabilities (LD) perceive various aspects of their high school program. One hundred and eighty-five students with LD participated in an interview tha...
SmD1 is required for spliced leader RNA biogenesis.

ABSTRACT The Sm-binding site of the kinetoplastid spliced leader RNA has been implicated in accurate spliced leader RNA maturation and trans-splicing competence. In Trypanosoma brucei, RNA interference-mediated knockdown of SmD1 caused defects in spliced leader RNA maturation, displaying aberrant 3′-end formation, partial formation of cap 4, and overaccumulation in the cytoplasm; U28 pseudouridylation was unaffected.
The kinetics of adsorption of phenols by granular activated carbon

Abstract The removal of phenols from aqueous solution via activated carbon adsorption is a feasible approach to diminishing the concentration of these contaminants in drinking waters. However, both the kinetics of adsorption and the extent of adsorption at equilibrium are dependent on the physical and chemical characteristics of the adsorbate, adsorbent, and experimental system. Results of laboratory scale studies conducted to delineate the effect of such parameters on the kinetics of adsorption of phenols are reported. Parameters evaluated include: hydronium ion concentration, temperature, initial adsorbate concentration, size of adsorbent, competitive adsorption, and type of adsorbate. In addition, the nature of the rate limiting step in the adsorption process of phenols is described.
Analytical approaches to determination of total choline in foods and dietary supplements

Choline is a quaternary amine that is synthesized in the body or consumed through the diet. Choline is critical for cell membrane structure and function and in synthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Although the human body produces this micronutrient, dietary supplementation of choline is necessary for good health. The major challenge in the analysis of choline in foods and dietary supplements is in the extraction and/or hydrolysis approach. In many products, choline is present as choline esters, which can be quantitated individually or treated with acid, base, or enzymes in order to release choline ions for analysis. A critical review of approaches based on extraction and quantitation of each choline ester as well as hydrolysis-based methods for determination of total choline in foods and dietary supplements is presented.
Shower Emboli and Digital Necrosis After a Single Corticosteroid Injection for Trigger Thumb: Case Report

Local corticosteroid injection into the hand is the preferred initial step in the management of trigger finger owing to its safety and efficacy. We report the case of a patient with shower emboli and digital necrosis after a local corticosteroid injection for the treatment of trigger thumb. Given the patient's subsequent negative hypercoagulability workup, we suspect that the patient's symptoms resulted from the injection of steroids into the princeps pollicis artery, with subsequent retrograde flow into multiple other arteries of the hand. The patient was managed conservatively and ultimately her symptoms resolved. No new areas of digital necrosis have appeared in 8 years of follow-up.
Semiconductor ultraviolet emitters and detectors with potential for wireless communications

Progress in low cost, compact, low power consumption, semiconductor-based ultraviolet sources (LEDs and laser diodes) and avalanche photodiodes are reviewed within the context of their use for non-line-of-sight optical wireless communications.
Effect of a Randomized Intermittent Stimulus on Resistance to Extinction as a Function of Acquisition Training

An experiment was conducted to test the hypothesis that with increasing degrees of acquisition training a response might become increasingly independent of an intermittent cue. Thirty-six albino ra...
Pharmacologic Considerations for Antiviral Drug Development

OBJECTIVE:To discuss pharmacologic considerations for the development of antiviral agents.DATA SOURCES:English-language literature pertaining to the development and clinical evaluation of antiviral compounds, primarily agents targeted against herpes group viruses and HIV.STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION:Pertinent information, as judged by the author, was selected for discussion.DATA SYNTHESIS:Drug development of antiviral agents presents unique problems compared with that of antimicrobial and other agents. Understanding the mechanism of action and both pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations is critical to developing a rational dosing strategy and safe, effective use. The lack of standardized methods for antiviral susceptibility testing and the influence of factors such as strain of virus, host cell type, culture medium, inoculum size, end point, and method of measurement on the results obtained illustrate factors that complicate preclinical pharmacologic analysis of antiviral agents. Acyclo...
Designing future underwater vehicles: principles and mechanisms of the weakly electric fish

Future underwater vehicles will be increasingly called upon to work in cluttered environments and to interact with their surroundings. These vehicles will need sensors that work efficiently at short range and be highly maneuverable at low speed. To obtain insights into principles and mechanisms of low-speed operation in cluttered environments, we examine a fish that excels in this regime, the black ghost knifefish Apteronotus albifrons. This fish hunts in dark or turbid water using a short-range self-generated electric field to sense its surroundings. Coupled with this unique mode of sensing is an unusual ribbon fin propulsion system that confers high multidirectional maneuverability at low speeds. To better understand the relationship between body morphology and common maneuvers of this fish, we utilized an idealized ellipsoidal body model, Kirchhoff's equations, and an optimal control algorithm for generating trajectories. We present evidence that common fish trajectories are optimal, and that these trajectories complement the sensory abilities of the fish. We also discuss prototypes of the sensing and propulsion systems of the fish with a view to providing alternative approaches for underwater vehicle design where high maneuverability in geometrically complex environments is needed.
Extraction septum magnet for the SSRL SPEAR injector

The Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (SSRL) successfully commissioned a 3-3.5-GeV electron injector for the SPEAR storage ring during 1990. The injector operates at a 10-Hz repetition rate and accelerates approximately=10/sup 10/ electrons/s for extraction and transport to SPEAR. The extraction septum magnet is a pulsed Lambertson type which, for reasons of economy, was constructed from the same laminations which form 1/2 of an injector booster synchrotron dipole magnet core block. The excitation coil also utilizes a design in common with the pulse chokes of the booster magnet circuit. The septum magnet is pulsed by an SCR controlled resonant LC circuit with a resonant frequency of 30 Hz. >
A Study on the Correlation Between Structure and Hole Transport in Semi‐Crystalline Regioregular P3HT

A correlation between the hole transport and corresponding structural properties of the bulk regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (rr-P3HT) is studied as a function of temperature by the time-of-fl ight (TOF) and wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) techniques. The thermally-reversible structural evolution along the (100) and (020) directions in a semi-crystalline rr-P3HT can be divided into two distinct temperature regions. At T > 120 ° C, a large thermal expansion along the π ‐ π stacking direction in the nanocrystals and a deteriorated ordering in the material result in negative slopes of temperature and electric fi eld dependences of hole mobility. The WAXD data suggest that the hole transport is limited by a decrease in the crystallinity and by an increase in the hopping distance along the π − π stacking direction, while the Gaussian Disorder Model (GDM) with temperature-independent parameters cannot be applied. At T < 120 ° C, the transport-related structural changes are negligible and the temperature and electric fi eld dependences of hole mobility can be described by the GDM with constant energetic ( σ ∼ 120 meV) and positional disorder parameters ( Σ ∼ 3.33). These values suggest that the hole transport is limited by the amorphous phase, as commonly seen in disordered polymers. Moreover, a regiorandom P3HT (rra-P3HT), which shows a temperature-independent intermolecular distance of ∼ 15.3A, provides a route for separate examination of the amorphous phase in rr-P3HT.
High resolution catadioptric omni-directional stereo sensor for robot vision

Autonomous robots need to acquire both omnidirectional view and stereo in real-time without sacrificing too much image resolution. The recent catadioptric omni-directional vision sensors provide simple affordable real-time omni-directional images but only at the cost of rather low image resolutions. This work describes a novel omni-directional stereo image sensor providing the highest resolution while still retaining the simplicity and real-time advantages that are unique to the family of catadioptric sensors. Only one simple reflective surface, a beam splitter and two regular (perspective) cameras are needed.
Why Continuous Improvement is a Poor Substitute for School Choice

ABSTRACT Efforts to introduce school choice have produced pressures on public schools to improve their performance. As a result, many public schools have embraced the total quality management principle of continuous improvement. In this article we explain that while this may be well intentioned, it may have perverse unintended consequences. A likely by-product of adopting this principle is the degradation of school performance because of an asymmetry of incentives that leads to a systematic bias in the evaluation of the efficacy of new innovations. In short, there is pressure to avoid or abandon innovations that educators oppose even if such innovations improve academic performance, while there is pressure to adopt or continue innovations that educators favor even if they do not improve performance. Anecdotal evidence is presented that is consistent with the argument.
Attentive and Pre-Attentive Processes in Change Detection and Identification

In studies of change blindness, observers often have the phenomenological impression that the blindness is overcome all at once, so that change detection, localization and identification apparently occur together. Three experiments are described that explore dissociations between these processes using a discrete trial procedure in which 2 visual frames are presented sequentially with no intervening inter-frame-interval. The results reveal that change detection and localization are essentially perfect under these conditions regardless of the number of elements in the display, which is consistent with the idea that change detection and localization are mediated by pre-attentive parallel processes. In contrast, identification accuracy for an item before it changes is generally poor, and is heavily dependent on the number of items displayed. Identification accuracy after a change is substantially better, but depends on the new item's duration. This suggests that the change captures attention, which substantially enhances the likelihood of correctly identifying the new item. However, the results also reveal a limited capacity to identify unattended items. Specifically, we provide evidence that strongly suggests that, at least under these conditions, observers were able to identify two items without focused attention. Our results further suggest that spatial pre-cues that attract attention to an item before the change occurs simply ensure that the cued item is one of the two whose identity is encoded.
Change in the prevalence of extended-spectrum-β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli in Japan by clonal spread

Introduction: In the early 2000s, there was a rapid increase in extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli in hospital settings throughout Japan. The reasons for this rapid increase are unclear. Methods: Between 2002 and 2003, 142 clinical isolates of E. coli suspected of producing ESBL were obtained from 37 hospitals and commercial clinical laboratories in geographically distinct regions throughout Japan. They were tested for ESBL types and further subtyped for serogroups, fimH single nucleotide polymorphism, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns and multilocus sequence type (MLST). Representative isolates were also subjected to plasmid analysis. Results: Of 142 E. coli isolates suspected of producing ESBL, 130 were confirmed as harbouring bla CTC-M by PCR analysis and sequencing. Of these, 84 (65%) harboured CTX-M-9-group bla CTX-M . Two serogroups 025 and 086 accounted for 41% of the 130 blac TCX-M -Positive E. coli. All 086 serogroup strains belonged to ST38 by MLST and they formed 18% of all the bla CTX-M -Positive E. coli. Serogroup 025 strains belonged to ST131 and ST73, and formed 21% and 1% of bla CTX-M -Positive E. coli, respectively. Seven characterized plasmids carrying bla CTX-M genes belonged to three distinct incompatibility groups: IncF, IncN and Incl1. Conclusions: In this study, clonally related strains of E. coli accounted for a large proportion of bla CTX-M -Positive E. coli. This high proportion of clonal groups identified in different regions of Japan suggests their recent spread by mechanisms other than healthcare-associated transmission. These observations imply that restricting antimicrobial use in human clinical settings may have limited impact on the spread of ESBL-producing E. coli.
Designing control laws for cooperative agent teams

Control laws for cooperative agent teams utilize a combination of local and/or global knowledge to achieve the resulting group behavior. A key difficulty in this development is determining the appropriate balance between the use of global information and the use of local information to achieve coherent cooperation without excessive communication requirements. This issue is addressed by presenting some general guidelines and principles for determining the appropriate level of global versus local control. These principles are illustrated and implemented in a 'keep formation' cooperative task case study, which presents several alternative control strategies along the local versus global spectrum. Experimental data that demonstrate that local control alone is not sufficient to meet the goals of certain tasks, and that an increasing use of global knowledge can result in a steadily improving group cooperation, are presented. It is concluded that the use of local control information to ground global knowledge in the current situation is perhaps the best way to achieve the proper balance between local and global control. >
Human Dignity and Transhumanism: Do Anthro-Technological Devices Have Moral Status?

In this paper, I focus on the concept of human dignity and critically assess whether such a concept, as used in the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights, is indeed a useful tool for bioethical debates. However, I consider this concept within the context of the development of emerging technologies, that is, with a particular focus on transhumanism. The question I address is not whether attaching artificial limbs or enhancing particular traits or capacities would dehumanize or undignify persons but whether nonbiological entities introduced into or attached to the human body contribute to the "augmentation" of human dignity. First, I outline briefly how the Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights uses the concept of dignity. Second, I look at the possibility of a universal bioethics in relation to the concept of human dignity. Third, I examine the concept of posthuman dignity and whether the concept of human dignity as construed in the declaration has any relevance to posthuman dignity.