cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tumor recurrence 5 years after treatment of cutaneous basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

For most cutaneous basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas (nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs)), data are insufficient to permit evidence-based choices among treatments. To compare tumor recurrence after treatments, we conducted a prospective cohort study of consecutive patients with primary NMSCs treated with the most common treatments, in two practices in 1999–2000. Recurrence was determined from medical records by observers blinded to treatment type. Follow-up was available for 1,174 patients with 1,488 tumors (93.8%) at median 7.4 years; of these tumors, 24.3% (N=361) were treated with destruction with electrodessication/curettage, 38.3% (N=571) with excision, and 37.4% (N=556) with histologically guided serial excision (Mohs surgery). The overall 5-year tumor recurrence rate (95% confidence interval) was 3.3% (2.3, 4.4). Unadjusted recurrence rates did not differ after treatments: 4.9% (2.3, 7.4) after destruction, 3.5% (1.8, 5.2) after excision, and 2.1% (0.6, 3.5) after Mohs surgery (P=0.26), and no difference was seen after adjustment for risk factors. In tumors treated only with excision or Mohs surgery, the hazard of recurrence was not significantly different, even after adjustment for propensity for treatment with Mohs surgery. These data indicate that common treatments for NMSCs were at least 95% effective, and further studies are needed to guide therapeutic choices for different clinical subgroups.
Multi-Year Follow-up of Fine-Needle Aspiration Biopsy in Choroidal Melanoma

Purpose To report the local and systemic follow-up of patients undergoing transscleral intraoperative fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) at the time of iodine-125 plaque brachytherapy for the treatment of choroidal melanoma. Design Retrospective, single-center, consecutive case cohort study. Participants A total of 170 consecutive patients with choroidal melanoma. Methods All patients with choroidal melanoma treated with iodine-125 brachytherapy and intraoperative FNAB from January 2005 to January 2010 with at least 1 year of clinical follow-up were included. Main Outcome Measures Outcomes examined were endophthalmitis, orbital dissemination, local treatment failure, rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, monosomy 3 status, and choroidal melanoma metastasis. Results A total of 170 consecutive patients with clinical diagnosis of choroidal melanoma, intraoperative FNAB, and post-brachytherapy follow-up of 1 to 6 years (mean, 2.7±1.3 years) were included. For tumors with height of 5.0 mm, sufficient biopsy material for fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was obtained in 53%, 68%, and 91%, respectively. During the follow-up period, there was no case of postoperative endophthalmitis, orbital dissemination, or local treatment failure. Three patients developed rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Fourteen patients developed clinical evidence of metastasis. Of the 14 patients, 8 had monosomy 3 of the primary tumor, 2 had disomy 3, 1 had trisomy 3, and 3 had insufficient material for FISH. The cumulative 5-year Kaplan–Meier metastatic rate was 13%. Conclusions Transscleral FNAB at the time of iodine-125 plaque brachytherapy was not associated with endophthalmitis, orbital dissemination, or local treatment failure in this series, and post-brachytherapy retinal detachment occurred in 3 eyes. The cumulative Kaplan–Meier 5-year metastatic rate was not statistically different from the rate of 13% reported by the Collaborative Ocular Melanoma Study for tumors of the same size treated by brachytherapy without biopsy. Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment may occur in young patients secondary to posterior vitreous detachment induced by tumor response to radiation, unrelated to FNAB. Financial Disclosure(s) The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.
157-nm photodissociation dynamics of CO 2 via photofragment-translational spectroscopy

The photodissociation of CO 2 at 157 nm was studied by the photofragment-translational spectroscopy technique. Product time-of-flight spectra were recorded and center-of-mass translational energy probability distributions were determined. Two electronic channels were observed -- one forming O( 1 D) with 92% probability and the other O( 3 P) with 8% probability.
Ancestral centriole and flagella proteins identified by analysis of Naegleria differentiation

Naegleria gruberi is a single-celled eukaryote best known for its remarkable ability to form an entire microtubule cytoskeleton de novo during its metamorphosis from an amoeba into a flagellate, including basal bodies (equivalent to centrioles), flagella and a cytoplasmic microtubule array. Our publicly available full-genome transcriptional analysis, performed at 20-minute intervals throughout Naegleria differentiation, reveals vast transcriptional changes, including the differential expression of genes involved in metabolism, signaling and the stress response. Cluster analysis of the transcriptional profiles of predicted cytoskeletal genes reveals a set of 55 genes enriched in centriole components (induced early) and a set of 82 genes enriched in flagella proteins (induced late). The early set includes genes encoding nearly every known conserved centriole component, as well as eight previously uncharacterized, highly conserved genes. The human orthologs of at least five genes localize to the centrosomes of human cells, one of which (here named Friggin) localizes specifically to mother centrioles.
Influence of MBE growth temperature on GaAs/AlAs resonant tunneling structures

Double barrier GaAs/AlAs tunneling structures with typical 2.5:1 room temperature peak-to-valley current ratios are examined using Deep Level Transient Spectroscopy. Deep level trap concentrations are found to be much higher in samples grown at 550° C compared to those grown at 650° C. For devices grown at 550° C, an impedance switch-ing effect due to a high concentration of deep levels is observed. The peak-to-valley ratio of the tunneling devices is largely unaffected by the growth temperatures in this range, indicating that higher growth temperatures can be employed to grow resonant tunnel-ing diodes than previously suggested in the literature.
The effect of organic additives on the rate of surface tension lowering of sodium dodecyl sulfate solutions

Abstract 1. 1. Addition of dodecanol-1 or dodecanoic acid to solutions of sodium dodecyl sulfate lowers the static surface tension of the solution and causes a decrease in the rate of surface tension lowering. 2. 2. Addition of n -decane to solutions of sodium dodecyl sulfate does not cause these effects. 3. 3. These results suggest that dodecanol-1 and dodecanoic acid associate with the sodium dodecyl sulfate. These association aggregates behave similarly to acid soaps with regard to their effects on the static and dynamic surface tensions.
Influence of plant size on the ecophysiology of the epiphytic fern Asplenium auritum (Aspleniaceae) from Costa Rica.

• Premise of the study: A central goal of plant ecophysiological studies is to generate patterns of physiological behavior that are applicable to a species, which can be complicated when plant size is considered. Studies indicate that plant size can influence numerous ecophysiological parameters, especially in vascular epiphytes. The few studies that have included ferns in their analyses suggest that plant size is less important in ferns than angiosperms. This study investigates this apparent disparity by examining the relationship between plant size and an array of ecophysiological parameters in the epiphytic fern Asplenium auritum, especially the role of plant size in determining responses to water stress.• Methods: Plants were classified according to size and measured for a variety of functional traits, including maximum photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, water-use efficiency, stomatal density, chlorophyll content, chlorophyll a/b ratio, specific leaf area, whole plant drying rates, and desiccation tolerance. Results for all traits were compared across size classes to determine size-related differences.• Key results: Plant size significantly influenced most traits examined, most notably photosynthetic rate, stomatal density, stomatal conductance, whole plant drying rates, and recovery from desiccation. We report the first evidence of size-mediated shifts in desiccation tolerance in plants: small individuals tolerated water loss, whereas larger individuals avoided desiccation.• Conclusions: Our findings indicate that size-mediated ecophysiological shifts are more important than previously thought in ferns, particularly in regard to water relations. Desiccation tolerance may allow young fern sporophytes to establish in stressful environments and is subsequently lost in older individuals.
Physical habitat template of lotic systems: Recovery in the context of historical pattern of spatiotemporal heterogeneity

Spatial and temporal environmental heterogeneity in lotic ecosystems can be quantitatively described and identified with characteristic levels of ecological organization. The long-term pattern of physicochemical variability in conjunction with the complexity and stability of the substratum establishes a physical habitat template that theoretically influences which combinations of behavioral, physiological and life history characteristics constitute appropriate “ecological strategies” for persistence in the habitat. The combination of strategies employed will constrain ecological response to and recovery from disturbance. Physical habitat templates and associated ecological attributes differ geographically because of biogeoclimatic processes that constrain lotic habitat structure and stability and that influence physicochemical variability and disturbance patterns (frequency, magnitude, and predictability). Theoretical considerations and empirical studies suggest that recovery from natural and anthropogenic disturbance also will vary among lotic systems, depending on historical temporal variability regime, degree of habitat heterogeneity, and spatial scale of the perturbation. Characterization of physical habitat templates and associated ecological dynamics along gradients of natural disturbance would provide a geographic framework for predicting recovery from anthropogenic disturbance for individual streams. Description of lotic environmental templates at the appropriate spatial and temporal scale is therefore desirable to test theoretical expectations of biotic recovery rate from disturbance and to guide selection of appropriate reference study sites for monitoring impacts of anthropogenic disturbance. Historical streamflow data, coupled with stream-specific thermal and substratum-geomorphologic characteristics, are suggested as minimum elements needed to characterize physical templates of lotic systems.
Simulated green turtle grazing affects nutrient composition of the seagrass Thalassia testudinum

Before populations of green turtles (Chelonia mydas) were severely reduced by human overexploitation, the seagrass Thalassia testudinum was intensively grazed by green turtles in the Caribbean. To explore how nutrient composition of T. testudinum pastures responds to intense grazing pressure, we simulated green turtle grazing in 15 plots (each 3 m × 3 m) for 16 months in the central Bahamas. Comparisons of clipped plots with 15 adjacent control (unclipped) plots revealed that simulated grazing resulted in significantly higher energy, nitrogen, phosphorus, lignin, cutin, and condensed tannin content in blades in clipped plots, but sediment organic content was not affected. By continually re-cropping blades in grazing plots, turtles ingest young, actively growing blade tissue with higher energy, nitrogen, and phosphorus concentrations. Our 16-month clipping trial did not generate the expected decline in nutrient content in T. testudinum blades under intensive grazing. However, significant decreases in nitrogen and organic matter reserves in rhizomes, with declines apparent after 16 and 11 months, respectively, indicate that nutrient content of blades and/or blade productivity may decline under continued clipping.
Early (300−100 B.C.) temple precinct in the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico

Archaeological investigations during the past two decades in Mexico’s Valley of Oaxaca have documented the appearance of key public buildings, such as the royal palace and multiroom temple, associated with the rise of an archaic state at ca. 300−100 B.C. A fuller picture is now emerging from the site of El Palenque, where recent excavations have defined a temple precinct on the east side of the site’s plaza. This precinct exhibits characteristics similar to those of the temple precincts of later Mesoamerican states described by Colonial period sources. The excavation data document a walled enclosure containing three multiroom temples, two special residences identified as priests’ residences, and an array of ritual features and activity areas. The temple precinct’s components are interpreted as comprising a hierarchy of temples staffed by a specialized priesthood. A series of radiocarbon dates indicate that the precinct’s differentiated components were all in use during the 300−100 B.C. period of archaic state emergence. The El Palenque temple precinct is the earliest temple precinct excavated thus far in the Valley of Oaxaca.
Chemotactic factor induced tyrosine phosphorylation of membrane associated proteins in rabbit peritoneal neutrophils

Protein tyrosine phosphorylation in rabbbit peritoneal neutrophils was examined by immunoblotting with antibodies specific for phosphotyrosine. Two tyrosine phosphorylated proteins were found with apparent molecular weights of 62,000 (p62) and 125,000. Both were enriched in the membrane fraction. Stimulation of the neutrophils with chemotactic factor fMet-Leu-Phe (10−8M, 20 sec) but not phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (0.1 μg/ml, 10 min) caused rapid increase in tyrosine phosphorylation. The effect of fMet-Leu-Phe was inhibited by the pretreatment of neutrophils with pertussis toxin. The p62 protein was also recognized by antibody raised against a synthetic fragment commonly found in the tyrosine kinases of the src gene family. The results indicate that stimulation of the tyrosine phosphorylation of membrane associated proteins is one of the early events occuring in activated neutrophil and this stimulation of tyrosine phosphorylation may be regulated by a GTP-binding protein.
Examination of the Elbow: Current Concepts

The elbow's complex anatomy and synergism of bony and ligamentous stabilizers make physical examination challenging. Adequate elbow assessment is essential for accurate diagnosis and initiating proper treatment. Isolated elbow injuries are rare; fractures should be interpreted as proxies for associated, often unappreciated, soft tissue injuries. A careful elbow examination informs the need for and interpretation of radiological studies, including fluoroscopy, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography scanning.
Gas chromatographic retention parameters database for refrigerant mixture composition management

Abstract Composition management of mixed refrigerant systems is a challenging problem in the laboratory, manufacturing facilities, and large refrigeration machinery. The issue of composition management is especially critical for the maintenance of machinery that utilizes zeotropic mixtures as working fluids. These are fluids in which the gas and liquid phases will generally have greatly different compositions. While there are many analytical techniques available for laboratory and on-line analyses, gas chromatography probably offers the greatest flexibility at the most reasonable cost. This paper describes a chromatographic database that provides for the identification of refrigerant components, and thereby facilitates composition management of zeotropic fluids. Prior to the description of the database is a description of the basic theory of chromatographic retention parameters and a description of the experimental techniques used in their measurement.
Auditory brainstem response artefact caused by caloric testing.

In the external ear eanal, residual water from caloric testing or any other irrigation may act to simulate a conductive hearing loss and interfere with subsequent auditory brainstem response recording leading to increased latencies and reduced amplitudes. This artefact in the ABR may be mistaken for a retrocochlear lesion.
“How Do I Know I Am Gay?”: Understanding Sexual Orientation, Identity and Behavior Among Adolescents in an LGBT Youth Center

Current research on sexual minority youth tends to be concentrated in the fields of public health, social work, and psychology with a focus on psycho-social health risks that often rely on sexuality as a fixed unit of analysis. A sociological understanding of the processes that drive an individual to identify as gay in the first place makes an important contribution to this existing body of literature, allowing an opportunity to understand not just how sexual minority youth are vulnerable, but why. Drawing on my ethnographic research with adolescent males who frequent a lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth drop-in center, I demonstrate how sexuality gets constructed through four processes: violating compulsory heterosexuality, seeking an explanation, exploring sexuality, and negotiating identity. I will show how individuals make meaning of their sexual selves within the context of a patriarchal, heteronormative structural system, where symbols of homophobia and masculinity inform their identity development, and how that reiterates heteronormative development. I conclude by drawing attention to how the shifting boundaries of queerness should inform efforts to improve conditions for sexual minority youth and inform future research.
Integration of Plasma-Assisted and Rapid Thermal Processing for Low-Thermal Budget Preparation of Ultra-Thin Dielectrics for Stacked-Gate Device Structures

This paper discusses a new approach to the formation of ultra-thin gate dielectrics for Si-ULSI applications in which separately controlled plasma-assisted and/or rapid thermal processing steps are combined to fix the chemical bonding and minimize the defect structure at the Si–SiO2 interface, and within the dielectric layers. One example of this approach combines (i) low-temperature (300° C) plasma-assisted processing to control the initial bonding chemistries at (a) the Si–SiO2 interface, and (b) in homogeneous oxide, or composite dielectrics with nitride or oxynitride layers, with (ii) higher temperature (900° C), but low-thermal budget, rapid thermal annealing to promote physical and/or chemical relaxations that minimize both interfacial and bulk dielectric defects, thereby improving device performance.
Organic synthesis with continuous flow water film pulsed plasma discharge

Plasma discharges generated by moderate frequency, low energy pulses in a flowing carrier gas with liquid water have been shown capable of producing hydrogen peroxide at moderately high energy yields. The leading hypothesis for the success of this production method is that free elections produced by the plasma in the gas phase dissociate vaporized water molecules into hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen. The hydroxyl radicals rapidly react to form hydrogen peroxide, which is sequestered into the liquid phase. Many reactor designs have been explored with various gas-liquid contact schemes in order to enhance the overall efficiency of this process. Recently, a continuously flowing, liquid film, pulsed plasma reactor has been developed in our laboratory which has a number of significant benefits over the previously explored configurations. Using this novel reactor configuration in conjunction with inspiration and techniques developed from work with pure water, the main objective of our current research is to explore the synthesis of organic compounds with soft oxidation by hydroxyl radicle attack. To do so, small amounts of organic solvent are vaporized into the plasma where they undergo electron attack and oxidation by hydroxyl radicals formed from water to generate more useful chemical species. Results with n-hexane and cyclohexane show that alcohol, aldehyde, and ketone products can be successfully generated. A significant amount of hydrogen peroxide is also generated in conjunction with the oxygenated products. It has also been found that selectivity of the reaction products is affected by variation of the water flow rate, organic to water ratio, and choice of parent compound. In this presentation we will report on recent experiments in our laboratory which utilize this continuously flowing water film reactor for the chemical synthesis of organic compounds and will focus on how the choice of organic parent compound can affect the distribution and selectivity of reaction products.
Synergy analysis reveals association between insulin signaling and desmoplakin expression in palmitate treated HepG2 cells.

The regulation of complex cellular activities in palmitate treated HepG2 cells, and the ensuing cytotoxic phenotype, involves cooperative interactions between genes. While previous approaches have largely focused on identifying individual target genes, elucidating interacting genes has thus far remained elusive. We applied the concept of information synergy to reconstruct a “gene-cooperativity” network for palmititate-induced cytotoxicity in liver cells. Our approach integrated gene expression data with metabolic profiles to select a subset of genes for network reconstruction. Subsequent analysis of the network revealed insulin signaling as the most significantly enriched pathway, and desmoplakin (DSP) as its top neighbor. We determined that palmitate significantly reduces DSP expression, and treatment with insulin restores the lost expression of DSP. Insulin resistance is a common pathological feature of fatty liver and related ailments, whereas loss of DSP has been noted in liver carcinoma. Reduced DSP expression can lead to loss of cell-cell adhesion via desmosomes, and disrupt the keratin intermediate filament network. Our findings suggest that DSP expression may be perturbed by palmitate and, along with insulin resistance, may play a role in palmitate induced cytotoxicity, and serve as potential targets for further studies on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Exploring the Kinematics of the Oxygen-rich Supernova Remnant G292.0+1.8: Ejecta Shells, Fast-moving Knots, and Shocked Circumstellar Material

We present the results of an in-depth optical study of the core-collapse supernova remnant G292.0+1.8 using the Rutgers Fabry-Perot (RFP) imaging spectrometer. Our observations provide a detailed picture of the supernova remnant in the emission lines of [O III] λ5007, Hα, and [N II] λ6548. The [O III] Fabry-Perot scans reveal a bright crescent-shaped spur of previously known high-velocity (Vradial ~ 1500 km s-1) O-rich ejecta located on the eastern side of the remnant. The spur consists of a semicoherent structure of mostly redshifted material, along with several clumps that have apparently broken out of the more orderly shell-like expansion. The high-velocity (600 km s-1) component of the spur also displays a scalloped morphology characteristic of Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities. We also find a large number of fast-moving knots (FMKs) of O-rich ejecta undetected in prior photographic plate images and similar to features seen in Cas A. The FMKs are distributed sparsely in the interior of G292.0+1.8 and are seen mostly in blueshifted emission out to Vradial ≈ -1700 km s-1. The position-velocity distribution of the FMKs can be kinematically described as a shell 34 in radius expanding at a velocity of 1700 km s-1. Another feature apparent in the [O III] scans is an equatorial belt consisting of both a barlike structure at zero radial velocity and a clumpy, high-velocity ejecta component seen in projection along the line of sight. Portions of the zero-velocity bar are spatially well correlated with a similar structure seen in the Chandra X-ray image of G292.0+1.8. The bar is also detected in our Hα RFP images at zero radial velocity, providing further evidence that this structure is of circumstellar origin. We find that the optical and X-ray properties of the bar are consistent with incomplete (partially radiative) shocks in material of moderate densities. There are also a number of faint, elongated structures seen in Hα at zero radial velocity across the interior of G292.0+1.8 that lack [O III] and X-ray counterparts. These filaments may be low-density H I clouds photoionized by hard radiation from the interior of the remnant. Overall, these results suggest that G292.0+1.8 is currently interacting with a low-density environment. We find no evidence for high-velocity Hα or [N II] emission over the dynamical range sampled by the RFP. Assuming a distance of 6 kpc for G292.0+1.8, we estimate a kinematic age of (3000-3400)d6 yr for this remnant.
GIS in Human Health Studies

Databases used in the field of medical geology are generally comprised of geospatial and/or temporal elements. Although these are not requirements for all medical geology research projects, much of the discussion in this chapter will be focused on databases incorporated into geographic information systems (GIS). GIS are computer-based (or manual) methods that allow a user to input, store, retrieve, manipulate, analyze, and output spatial data (Aronoff 1989). There are four major systems of GIS: engineering mapping systems (computer-aided design/computer-assisted mapping; CAD/CAM), geographic base file systems, image processing systems, and generalized thematic mapping systems. Various software packages are available that perform one or more of these systems, and the relative ability to move data back and forth between them can be critical to the needs and success of a particular GIS. Relational databases are the most commonly used types of databases in GIS (Cromley and McLafferty 2002). Relational database management models are convenient for linking formerly disparate databases together in a GIS. The databases to be joined must share one common attribute, usually an identifier such as coded patient number, sample site, or latitude/longitude. Other database management structures, such as hierarchical and network systems, are not as well suited to health GIS applications, although they may be useful for extremely large databases.
Graded Levels of IRF4 Regulate CD8+ T Cell Differentiation and Expansion, but Not Attrition, in Response to Acute Virus Infection

In response to acute virus infections, CD8+ T cells differentiate to form a large population of short-lived effectors and a stable pool of long-lived memory cells. The characteristics of the CD8+ T cell response are influenced by TCR affinity, Ag dose, and the inflammatory cytokine milieu dictated by the infection. To address the mechanism by which differences in TCR signal strength could regulate CD8+ T cell differentiation, we investigated the transcription factor, IFN regulatory factor 4 (IRF4). We show that IRF4 is transiently upregulated to differing levels in murine CD8+ T cells, based on the strength of TCR signaling. In turn, IRF4 controls the magnitude of the CD8+ T cell response to acute virus infection in a dose-dependent manner. Modest differences in IRF4 expression dramatically influence the numbers of short-lived effector cells at the peak of the infection, but have no impact on the kinetics of the infection or on the rate of T cell contraction. Furthermore, the expression of key transcription factors such as T cell factor 1 and Eomesodermin are highly sensitive to graded levels of IRF4. In contrast, T-bet expression is less dependent on IRF4 levels and is influenced by the nature of the infection. These data indicate that IRF4 is a key component that translates the strength of TCR signaling into a graded response of virus-specific CD8+ T cells.
Microscopic and environmental controls on the spacing and thickness of segregated ice lenses

The formation of segregated ice is of fundamental importance to a broad range of permafrost and periglacial features and phenomena. Models have been developed to account for the microscopic interactions that drive water migration, and predict key macroscopic characteristics of ice lenses, such as their spacings and thicknesses. For a given set of sediment properties, the temperature difference between the growing and incipient lenses is shown here to depend primarily on the ratio between the effective stress and the temperature deviation from bulk melting at the farthest extent of pore ice. This suggests that observed spacing between ice lenses in frozen soils, or traces of lenses in soils that once contained segregated ice, might be used to constrain the combinations of effective stress and temperature gradient that were present near the time and location at which the lower lens in each pair was initiated. The thickness of each lens has the potential to contain even more information since it depends additionally on the rate of temperature change and the permeability of the sediment at the onset of freezing. However, these complicating factors make it more difficult to interpret thickness data in terms of current or former soil conditions.
Pseudomonas Syringae pv. Phaseolicola-Plant Interactions: Host-Pathogen Signalling Through Cascade Control of hrp Gene Expression

The current catalogue of hrp genes in P. svringae pv. phaseolicola includes seven contiguous operons (hrpL, hrpAB, hrpC, hrpD, hrpE, hroF and hrpRS) found in a 22 kb cluster, and at least three genes unlinked to this cluster, namely, the bicistronic locus hrpM and the newly discovered genes hrpT and hrpQ. The first six operons in the cluster are positively controlled by hrpS and depend on a functional ntrA gene for full induction. The hrpS and hrpL genes undergo dramatic induction at the infection site, evidently in response to plant signals, both in compatible and incompatible interactions. The hrpT and hrpQ genes control an early step(s) in a signalling process in which transcriptional activation of hrpS occurs in response to plant signal(s). In addition to plant signal control, the hrpAB, hrpC, hrpD and hrpE operons are regulated by pH and medium osmolarity in vitro. Expression of the hrpT and hrpM genes is not controlled by any known genes or signals. The hrpR gene encodes a protein that is structurally similar to HrpS and is also involved in hrp regulon function but its role is not clear. Based on computer predictions, structural modelling, homology and Tn-phoA analysis, at least four Hrp proteins appear to be membrane associated and one of them is predicted to be a lipoprotein. It appears that environmental signalling and expression of the operons in the hrp cluster is mediated by a cascade involving hrpT and hrpQ as “upstream” elements, hrpS as a transcriptional activator acting in conjunction with a54, and hrpL and hrpR playing additional, although functionally not understood roles in the signalling process.
Schizophrenia: Etiology and Course

Decades of research on schizophrenia have not produced major breakthroughs, but gradual progress has been made in identifying risk factors and clarifying the nature of the etiologic process. This article provides an overview of trends in research findings as well as current assumptions about the interplay between environmental and genetic factors in the etiology of schizophrenia. Based on the cumulative findings, it appears that both genetic and prenatal factors can give rise to constitutional vulnerability. Subsequent neuromaturational processes, especially those that occur during adolescence, and exposure to stressful events can trigger the behavioral expression of this vulnerability.
Fracture toughness and critical strain energy release rate of dental amalgam

Fracture toughness, critical strain energy release rate and critical stress intensity factor were determined for lathe-cut, spherical, admixed, and two atomized high-copper dental amalgams. At a loading rate of 0.005cm min−1 for 24-hour samples, the spherical amalgam had the highest resistance to unstable crack propagation. At a loading rate of 0.05cm min−1 for both 24-hour and one-month samples, the lathe-cut amalgam had the highest resistance to unstable crack propagation. One of the atomized high copper amalgams showed the lowest resistance to crack propagation. The values were consistent with data obtained in single-pass wear studies.
Sums of Fuzzy Random Variables

We need to introduce the idea of a fuzzy moment generation function and we will discuss the crisp case first.
Levels of Neurohypophyseal Peptides in the Rat during the First Month of Life. I. Basal Levels in Plasma, Pituitary, and Hypothalamus*

Vasopressin, oxytocin, and neurophysin were measured by RIA in the pituitary, hypothalamus, and plasma (except oxytocin) of the rat during the first month of life. In plasma, vasopressin was less than 1.7 microU/ml in most animals. Neurophysin was elevated above adult levles on day 2 and decreased with age. The three peptides were present in the pituitary at birth, but in amounts less than 1% of the adult level. The vasopressin content of the pituitary increased rapidly in the first days after birth, while the levels of oxytocin and neurophysin remained low until 8 days and then increased between 8-21 days. The ratio of vasopressin to oxytocin in the pituitary was 4.4 at birth and reached unity (the ratio in the adult) at 30 days. At birth, the moles of neurophysin in the pituitary relative to the moles of hormone (oxytocin plus vasopressin) was low (0.15), largely due to a molar excess of vasopressin. The ratio of neurophysin to hormone reached unity at 21-30 days. Assays to detect vasotocin gave negative results. It is postulated that a precursor neurophysin which was related to vasopressin was present in the fetal rat but was not measured in our study.
Exact solution for a penetrable wedge structure

A structure consisting of four penetrable wedges with a common edge is considered. For a certain polarization and direction of incidence of the primary plane wave, the edge does not scatter and geometrical optics is the exact solution. Two derivative structures are described that also do not scatter-one consisting of two parallel edges and the other of the junction of two parallel-plate waveguides.
Impact of glacially induced stress changes on fault-seal integrity offshore Norway

In this study, we use a three-dimensional numerical model of glacially related lithospheric flexure to estimate in-situ stress and pore pressure changes through time in the Norwegian sector of the northern North Sea. The model results match available borehole measurements of in-situ stress and pore pressure, which show a transition from high horizontal stresses at large distances from the coast to lower horizontal stresses in near-coastal areas and an associated rotation in stress orientation. In addition to the present-day predictions, the model results provide an estimate for the evolution of stress and pore pressure during glacial and interglacial periods. We found that the temporally changing stress field might have induced repeated reactivation of reservoir-bounding faults during the course of the Pleistocene glaciations, especially during Weichselian interglacials. As a result, hydrocarbon fields in the Norwegian offshore areas appear to have been exposed to multiple periods of fault reactivation and potential hydrocarbon leakage.
Therapy for an anxious patient who believes his symptoms are caused by a medical problem

Mr. A, a 41-year-old music teacher, was referred for a psychological consultation after an extensive workup disclosed no medical basis for symptoms of chronic fatigue, faintness, palpitations, and pain in his head and chest. These symptoms had begun in September, at the start of a new academic year, and had progressively worsened. By the middle of November he was convinced that his life was forever ruined by an undiscovered physical illness, even though his internist assured him that he was healthy. In mid-December the internist suggested that his symptoms might be due to “stress” and convinced Mr. A to accept a psychological evaluation.
Porcine cartilage model for simulation of nasal tip aesthetics and mechanics.

Background: The aesthetics of the human nose is highly dependent on the complex structure of the lower lateral cartilages (LLC). Understanding optimum shape and mechanical properties of the LLC is pivotal to achieving satisfactory results in nasal tip rhinoplasty. Objective: The authors introduce an ex vivo animal model to replicate the shape and mechanics of human nasal LLC as a tool for research and surgical education. Methods: Seven fresh pig heads were obtained from a local butcher shop. Nasal cartilage was harvested in a replicable manner and fashioned into appropriate shapes and dimensions based on the authors’ human cadaver studies. Sutures were placed to approximate the cartilage pairs into appropriate human anatomical position. Results: The porcine cartilage model replicated analogous structures, including the medial crura and the lateral crura, with appropriate cephalic orientation and domal angles. The anterior-posterior dimensions of the medial crura, intermediate crura, and lateral crura were 4 mm, 6 mm, and 10 mm, respectively. Cartilage thickness was approximately 1 mm throughout the specimen. Cephalic orientation of the lateral crura was sculpted to 45°. The average angle of divergence was 54° and varied according to the physiological shape of the porcine nasal vault (range, 43-74°). Average interdomal distance was 13.3 mm (range, 9-18 mm), and average domal width was 6.2 mm (range, 5-7 mm). Conclusions: This novel porcine model mimics human LLC and is inexpensive, easy to construct, and highly replicable. This model can be used as a valuable educational resource for training novice surgeons in the principles of nasal tip rhinoplasty. Additionally, our construct has broad applications in studying LLC geometry and mechanics.
Late Quaternary environmental change in the Bonneville basin, western USA

Abstract Excavation and analyses of small animal remains from stratified raptor deposits spanning the last 11.5 ka, together with collection and analysis of over 60 dated fossil woodrat midden samples spanning the last 50 ka, provide a detailed record of changing climate in the eastern Great Basin during the late Pleistocene and Holocene. Sagebrush steppe dominated the northern Bonneville basin during the Full Glacial, suggesting that conditions were cold and relatively dry, in contrast to the southern basin, which was also cold but moister. Limber pine woodlands dominated ∼13–11.5 ka, indicating increased dryness and summer temperatures ∼6–7°C cooler than present. This drying trend accelerated after ∼11.5 ka causing Lake Bonneville to drop rapidly, eliminating 11 species of fish from the lake. From ∼11.5–8.2 ka xerophytic sagebrush and shadscale scrub replaced more mesophilic shrubs in a step-wise fashion. A variety of small mammals and plants indicate the early Holocene was ∼3°C cooler and moister than at present, not warmer as suggested by a number of climatic models. The diversity of plants and animals changed dramatically after 8.2 ka as many species disappeared from the record. Some of the upland species returned after ∼4 ka and Great Salt Lake became fresh enough at ∼3.4 and ∼1.2 ka to support populations of Utah chub.
Local authority and civic Hellenism: Tarcondimotus, Hierapolis-Castabala and the cult of Perasia

In the mid first century BC, a dynast named Tarcondimotus asserted his authority over parts of Smooth Cilicia. Tarcondimotus' successful accommodation of the differing expectations of Roman magistrates, local Greeks and Cilicians was connected to his patronage of the Greek polis of Hierapolis-Castabala. Through such patronage, he collaborated with municipal elites to interweave Greek and local traditions into the city's culture and cult in ways that produced innovative expressions of civic Hellenism. Likewise, while Hierapolis-Castabala was under Tarcondimotus' protection, its cult to the goddess Perasia, a local manifestation of the ancient Hittite deity Kubaba, embodied these unique cultural expressions. During the Hellenistic and Roman periods, Perasia retained her traditional name and her cult enjoyed distinctively local rites in which her priestesses walked upon fiery coals. Such unique qualities prevented Greeks and Romans during the centuries following Tarcondimotus' rule from associating her with any single goddess worshipped in Greece or Italy. In sum, by patronising Hierapolis-Castabala, Tarcondimotus presented himself as the defender of Greek civic life and the Hierapolitai were able to persist in their unique expressions of Greek civic performance and cult in the turbulent transitional period between Seleucid and Roman rule.
Effects of exercise on hematological parameters, circulating side population cells, and cytokines.

Objective To determine the effects of exercise and/or training on hematologic indices, circulating side population (SP) cells, and cytokines. Specifically hemoglobin (Hgb), hematocrit (Hct), white blood cell (WBC) and platelet (Plt) numbers, SP cells and plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were analyzed before and following exercise to maximal fatigue. Materials and Methods Thirty-seven nonsmoking subjects, aged 19 to 35 years, free of cardiopulmonary disease were enrolled and characterized as "trained" or "untrained." Standard hematologic indices were measured. Blood cells were stained with Hoechst 33342 vital dye and analyzed using flow cytometry for enumeration of SP cells. The levels of IL-6 and VEGF were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results Trained individuals had higher oxygen utilization and significantly longer exercise times than untrained individuals. Following exercise, significant increases were observed in Hgb, Hct, Plt, SP cell numbers, and IL-6 levels. These changes occurred in both trained and untrained individuals of both genders. No significant change in WBC numbers or VEGF levels was observed. Although circulating SP cell numbers were significantly increased, the "quality" of SP cells, defined by the ratio of lower SP to upper SP cells, was unchanged. Increases in SP cells did not correlate with cytokine levels. Conclusion Exercise increased Hgb, Hct, and Plt numbers, circulating SP cell numbers and IL-6 levels in young, healthy individuals of both genders and all fitness levels. These changes in hematologic, hematopoietic, and cytokine parameters, suggest that exercise can have a physiologic impact by potentially mobilizing stem cells and thereby enhancing tissue repair mechanisms.
Relationship of the Cycle in Yields of Cotton and Apples to Solar and Sky Radiation

Introduction: the problem studied, 385. — The cycle in yields of certain crops, 388. — Sunspots and the solar constant and the cycle in yield of cotton, 392. — Solar and sky radiation and the cycle in yields of cotton and apples, 396. — Reasons for the correlation observed, 398. — Misconceptions in earlier investigations, 403. — Summary and conclusions, 403.
Green Wireless-Optical Broadband Access Network (WOBAN)

Energy consumption in next-generation access networks is rapidly increasing with the increase of traffic demands generated by end users. In this paper, we outline challenges and solution approaches for designing “green” Wireless-Optical Broadband Access Network (WOBAN).
MODELING AGE‐SPECIFIC MORTALITY FOR MARINE MAMMAL POPULATIONS

A method is presented for estimating age-specific mortality based on minimal information: a model life table and an estimate of longevity. This approach uses expected patterns of mammalian survivorship to define a general model of agespecific mortality rates. One such model life table is based on data for northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinu.r) using Siler’s ( 1979) 5-parameter competing risk model. Alternative model life tables are based on historical data for human females and on a published model for Old World monkeys. Survival rates for a marine mammal species are then calculated by scaling these models by the longevity of that species. By using a realistic model (instead of assuming constant mortality), one can see more easily the real biological limits to population growth. The mortality estimation procedure is illustrated with examples of spotted dolphins (Stenella attenuata) and harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena).
Price Transparency of Bundled Vacation Packages

This research evaluated how rate transparency, component bundling, price, and savings of vacation packages influence online purchase decisions. Subjects chose between 12 pairs of Cancun vacation pa...
Exploiting VLIW schedule slacks for dynamic and leakage energy reduction

The mobile computing device market is projected to grow to 16.8 million units in 2004, representing an average annual growth rate of 28% over the five year forecast period. This brings the technologies that optimize system energy to the forefront. As circuits continue to scale in future, it would be important to optimize both leakage and dynamic energy. Effective optimization of leakage and dynamic energy consumption requires a vertical integration of techniques spanning from circuit to software levels. Schedule stacks in codes executing in VLIW architectures present an opportunity for such an integration. In this paper, we present compiler-directed techniques that take advantage of schedule slacks to optimize leakage and dynamic energy consumption. The proposed techniques have been incorporated into a cycle accurate simulator using parameters extracted from circuit level simulation. Our results show that a unified scheme that uses both dynamic and leakage energy reduction techniques is effective in reducing energy consumption.
Adding one power integrator: a tool for global stabilization of high-order lower-triangular systems

A new feedback design tool called adding a power integrator is introduced and used to solve the problem of global robust stabilization, for a significant class of uncertain nonlinear systems that are of a lower-triangular form but neither necessarily feedback linearizable (fully or partially) nor affine in the control input, and therefore cannot be dealt with via conventional approaches. Sufficient conditions are presented under which a globally stabilizing smooth state feedback control law can be explicitly constructed, using repeatedly the adding one power integrator technique. This novel design technique permits removal of the feedback linearizability and linearity of the control input, which have been two common assumptions so far in the literature of nonlinear control.
A STRUCTURE/FUNCTION ANALYSIS OF RAT7P/NUP159P, AN ESSENTIAL NUCLEOPORIN OF SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE

Rat7p/Nup159p is an essential nucleoporin of Sac-charomyces cerevisiae originally isolated in a genetic screen designed to identify yeast temperature-sensitive mutants defective in mRNA export. Here we describe a detailed structural-functional analysis of Rat7p/Nup159p. The mutation in the rat7-1 ts allele, isolated in the original genetic screen, was found to be a single base pair change that created a stop codon approximately 100 amino acids upstream of the actual stop codon of this 1,460 amino acid polypeptide, thus eliminating one of the two predicted coiled-coil regions located near the carboxyl terminus of the protein. These coiled-coil regions are essential since an allele lacking both coiled-coil regions was unable to support growth under any conditions. In contrast, no other region of the protein was absolutely required. The SAFG/PSFG repeat region in the central third of the protein was completely dispensable for growth at temperatures between 16 degrees C and 37 degrees C and cells expressing this mutant allele were indistinguishable from wild type. Deletion of the amino-terminal third of the protein, upstream from the repeat region, or the portion between the repeat region and the coiled-coils resulted in temperature-sensitivity, but the two alleles showed distinct phenotypes with respect to the behavior of nuclear pore complexes (NPCs). Taken together, our data suggest that Rat7p/Nup159p is anchored within the NPC through its coiled-coil region and adjacent sequences. In addition, we postulate that the N-terminal third of Rat7p/Nup159p plays an important role in mRNA export.