cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phenotyping and Cytokine Regulation of the BEAS-2B Human Bronchial Epithelial Cell: Demonstration of Inducible Expression of the Adhesion Molecules VCAM-1 and ICAM-1

Airway epithelium may actively participate in inflammatory responses, such as occur in asthma. The presence and regulation of surface molecules on the airway epithelium, however, is incompletely understood. We have determined the phenotype of the human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B by flow cytometry. We confirmed previous observations that human bronchial epithelial cells constitutively express CD29, CD44, CD49a, CD49b, CD49c, CD49d, CD49e, CD49f, CD51, CD54 (ICAM-1), CD61, and HLA class 1. BEAS-2B cells were also found to constitutively express CD9, CD13, CD15, CD15s, CD23, CD33, CD36, CD40, CD41b, CD42b, CD48, CD50, CD71, and CD102 (ICAM-2). Culture of BEAS-2B cells with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α or interleukin (IL)-1β (1 ng/ml) was found to enhance intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression (severalfold) and induce de novo CD106 [vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1)] expression. TNF-α or IL-1β did not change the expression of CD9, CD13, CD16, CD23, CD29, CD31, CD32, CD35, ...
Allosteric inhibition of a stem cell RNA-binding protein by an intermediary metabolite

Gene expression and metabolism are coupled at numerous levels. Cells must sense and respond to nutrients in their environment, and specialized cells must synthesize metabolic products required for their function. Pluripotent stem cells have the ability to differentiate into a wide variety of specialized cells. How metabolic state contributes to stem cell differentiation is not understood. In this study, we show that RNA-binding by the stem cell translation regulator Musashi-1 (MSI1) is allosterically inhibited by 18-22 carbon ω-9 monounsaturated fatty acids. The fatty acid binds to the N-terminal RNA Recognition Motif (RRM) and induces a conformational change that prevents RNA association. Musashi proteins are critical for development of the brain, blood, and epithelium. We identify stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 as a MSI1 target, revealing a feedback loop between ω-9 fatty acid biosynthesis and MSI1 activity. We propose that other RRM proteins could act as metabolite sensors to couple gene expression changes to physiological state.
Brain metastases in very young patients with lung cancer are still brain metastases.

In this issue of ONKOLOGIE, Nieder and colleagues retrospectively reviewed 149 patients treated with whole brain irradiation for lung cancer with subset evaluation of 9 patients under the age of 40 [1]. Five of the 9 patients had small cell lung cancer. Median survival was 7 months. Median Karnofsky performance score (KPS) was 70. Only one of 8 patients with complete follow-up information died as a direct result of CNS disease. In conclusion, the very young patients did not achieve a better outcome than intermediate age groups. Radiation provided durable CNS control in nearly all patients, while systemic failures remained the leading cause of death. The small percentage (6%) of very young patients in this study is consistent with the age distribution of lung cancer in the general population: less than 5% of patients with lung cancer are less than 40 years old [2–4]. Due to these small numbers, studies do not focus on prognosis and therapy of this particular age group. Standard therapy is based on treatment of patients with varying histologies, stage of disease and underlying comorbid conditions. Younger patients differ from older patients in terms of histology, genetic susceptibility, and gender distribution. Younger patients have a lower male/female ratio than older patients [3–5]. Lung cancer risk is higher in young patients with family history of smoking suggesting a genetic predisposition to lung cancer in patients with early onset of disease [5–7]. Contrary to the dominant small cell histology in the current study, younger patients tend to have a higher incidence of adenocarcinoma [3–5, 8]. In addition to differences in gender ratios, genetic predisposition and histological differences, patients ≤ 40 years may tolerate therapy better and be willing to accept a higher risk of toxicity than patients ≥ 65. These differences in younger versus older patients with lung cancer support the need to evaluate treatment and outcomes in very young patients separate from older lung cancer patients. Recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) of RTOG brain metas
Budgeting for Fiscal Stability over the Business Cycle: A Countercyclical Fiscal Policy and the Multiyear Perspective on Budgeting

This essay is a theoretical exploration of a new budgetary system to cope with fiscal uncertainty and instability.1It examines policies requiring positive year-end balances and infers that annual budget cycles lead to a mismatch between the budget cycle and the continuity of public service provision. The author considers a multiyear perspective on budgeting as a potential solution, with countercyclical fiscal reserves to help ensure stability during fluctuating economic conditions. By adopting budget stabilization funds and keeping sufficient reserves, states can better maintain trend-level public services during recessions. Panel data analysis provides empirical evidence that such funds helped stabilize state general expenditures during downturns. The adoption of countercyclical fiscal policy and budget stabilization funds is a step toward a longer-term perspective on budgeting, thus promoting fiscal stability over the economic cycle.
Loop space solution of two-dimensional QCD

Abstract Two-dimensional QCD is reformulated in terms of gauge-invariant loop traces. It is shown that in the 1 N approximation the theory is equivalent to a string theory, and reproduces the known meson spectrum.
Salvation and Globalization in the Early Jesuit Missions (2008)

Luke Clossey, Salvation and Globalization in the Early Jesuit Missions (2008), 336 (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge and New York, £55.00/$99.00). Although a number of excellent studies on Jes...
Inhibition of rev·RRE complexation by triplex tethered oligonucleotide probes

We have described a class of molecules, called tethered oligonucleotide probes (TOPs), that bind RNA on the basis of both sequence and structure. TOPs consist of two short oligonucleotides joined by a tether whose length and composition may be varied using chemical synthesis. In a triplex TOP, one oligonucleotide recognizes a short single-stranded region in a target RNA through the formation of Watson-Crick base pairs; the other oligonucleotide recognizes a short double-stranded region through the formation of Hoogsteen base pairs. Binding of triplex TOPs to an HIV-1 Rev Response Element RNA variant (RREAU) was measured by competition electrophoretic mobility shift analysis. Triplex TOP.RREAU stabilities ranged between -9.6 and -6.1 kcal mol-1 under physiological conditions of pH, salt, and temperature. Although the most stable triplex TOP.RREAU complex contained 12 contiguous U.AU triple helical base pairs, complexes containing only six or nine triple helical base pairs also formed. Triplex TOPs inhibited formation of the RRE.Rev complex with IC50 values that paralleled the dissociation constants of the analogous triplex TOP.RREAU complexes. In contrast to results obtained with TOPs that target two single-stranded RRE regions, inhibition of Rev.RREAU complexation by triplex TOPs did not require pre-incubation of RREAU and a TOP: triplex TOPs competed efficiently with Rev for RREAU and inhibited RREAU.Rev complexation at equilibrium.
The German Noun Plurals

Author's summary.— The teaching of the plurals of German nouns can be facilitated by approaching them from the point of view of their structure as monosyllables or polysyllables on the basis of the nouns in the A.A.T.G. list. A classification of the nouns in the A.A.T.G. list according to their plural formations follows.
Stakeholder Perceptions of Offshoring and Outsourcing: The Role of Embedded Issues

We contribute to the study of offshoring and outsourcing by examining how stakeholders’ ethical evaluations of these decisions are influenced by both their roles and the issues embedded within the decisions. Although offshoring and outsourcing have been studied from a transactional perspective, the moral issues embedded within these decisions can profoundly affect how the organization is perceived by outside stakeholders. First, we contend that investors use different moral paradigms compared with consumer stakeholders, as a result the stakeholder role an individual occupies significantly influences their ethical evaluation of offshoring and outsourcing decisions. Next, we examine whether embedded issues of product quality and information security increase the moral intensity of offshoring and outsourcing decisions, thereby negatively influencing ethical evaluations. Using vignettes, we find that respon- dents viewed either offshoring or outsourcing less favorably than relocation. Surprisingly, respondents viewed offshoring with data security risks more negatively than offshore outsourcing with quality risks, suggesting that the issue of information security has a greater moral intensity than the issue of product or service quality for both consumer and investor stakeholders. Thus, we show that that embedded issues play a significant role in stakeholders’ ethical judgments of business decisions, such as offshoring and outsourcing.
Structural abnormalities in the undescended testis.

Abstract It is universally agreed that the undescended testis is sterile. Even if brought down, structural abnormalities may preclude production of spermatozoa. It is the purpose of this paper to delineate some of these structural malformations. Such malformed testes should be brought down in any event since diagnosis cannot be made except at operation, and the psychological and prophylactic oncologic benefits of orchiopexy remain. The testis forms from primitive indifferent gonadal tissue. The entire epididymis and vas deferens form from a separate source: the mesonephric tubules. The primordial organs lie adjacent to each other and remain in juxtaposition during the internal, relative, descent of the testis into the pelvis. The rete cords of the testis and mesonephric tubules begin their union at 3 mo. Through breakdown of the epithelial ends of the opposing tubular structures, union is achieved. Complete canalization probably does not occur until puberty. The blood supply of both gonad and mesonephron derive from the lateral branches of the fetal dorsal aorta. The supply to the gonad remains, so that the internal spermatic artery, supplying the mature testis, originates just distal to the renal vessels. As the mesonephron involutes and differentiates into the duct system of the testis, its blood supply, originally from the dorsal aorta, is derived from the internal iliac. The precise mechanism of this change is not known. 1 One can postulate any abnormality deriving from faulty embroyogenesis. Six clinical examples from our experience are presented here.
Using the FAO-56 dual crop coefficient method over an irrigated region as part of an evapotranspiration intercomparison study.

Abstract Evapotranspiration (ET) calculations were made on a daily basis throughout 1988 for two locations near Menemen, Turkey. Calculations used the FAO-56 “dual” crop coefficient approach that includes separate prediction of evaporation from soil. Two days were drawn from the data set to correspond with Landsat flyovers to provide for comparison with remote sensing estimates of ET. One study site was a cotton field in a relatively flat, irrigated region. The second study site was an integrated area in the Gediz River Basin where the farm and field sizes are small, of the order of 3–5 ha, and about ten different “crops” are grown. Predicted ET (ET c act ) for the cotton site was 3.1 and 5.3 mm/day for 26 June and 29 August, and was 4.9 and 4.3 mm/day for the integrated crops in the Gediz valley. Total calendar year ET c act was predicted to be 800 for cotton and 940 mm for the Gediz valley. Evaporation during the crop growing periods averaged 9% of total evapotranspiration for cotton and 14% for the mixed crops. The predictions of ET c act were within 20% of predictions by the Landsat-based SEBAL remote sensing method at only one site and date. Predictions were within 20% of ET based on an energy feedback remote-sensing application using NOAA-AVHRR and Landsat data for both sites on one of the two dates. Before comparison, the predictions of ET c act by the FAO-56 procedure were reduced by 15%, to account for less than pristine crop establishment, growth and water management in the area.
A Partitioned finite element method for dynamical systems

Abstract A new analytical method is described for deriving the equations of motion of dynamical systems. The concept is to consider the displacements of the domain to be composed of rigid and elastic components. In contrast to other reduction methods, the domain modeled by finite number of degrees of freedom is discretized into two distinctive types of subdomains. Rigid and elastic subdomains are generated by consistent lumping of the domain properties under unique kinematic constraint relations. Equations of motion of the disjoint subdomains are derived by Lagrange's equations, in conjunction with the shape function matrix represented in partitioned form. This allows reduced sizes of matrices and avoids their possible singularities. Based on the invariance of energies under a compatible partitioned procedure, a simple analytical method is introduced for building the equations of motion of the whole domain from those of the subdomains. The dynamic analysis of a two-node domain with application to a blade-shaft combination is presented to illustrate the method.
Flavonoids as opioid receptor ligands: Identification and preliminary structure-activity relationships

Flavonoids have been recognized as the active ingredients of many medicinal plant extracts due to interactions with proteins via phenolic groups and low toxicity. Here, we report the investigation of the flavonoid core as a potential new scaffold for the development of opioid receptor ligands. Biological results suggest that stereochemistry of the C2 and C3 positions is important for antagonist activity and selectivity. Our results also suggest that the actions of Hypericum perforatum may be mediated in part by opioid receptors.
Natural Vitamin E α-Tocotrienol Protects Against Ischemic Stroke by Induction of Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 1

Background and Purpose—α-Tocotrienol (TCT) represents the most potent neuroprotective form of natural vitamin E that is Generally Recognized As Safe certified by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This work addresses a novel molecular mechanism by which α-TCT may be protective against stroke in vivo. Elevation of intracellular oxidized glutathione (GSSG) triggers neural cell death. Multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 (MRP1), a key mediator of intracellular oxidized glutathione efflux from neural cells, may therefore possess neuroprotective functions. Methods—Stroke-dependent brain tissue damage was studied in MRP1-deficient mice and α-TCT-supplemented mice. Results—Elevated MRP1 expression was observed in glutamate-challenged primary cortical neuronal cells and in stroke-affected brain tissue. MRP1-deficient mice displayed larger stroke-induced lesions, recognizing a protective role of MRP1. In vitro, protection against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity by α-TCT was attenuated under conditions of ...
The Interplay Among Preschool Child and Family Factors and the Development of ODD Symptoms

The present study examined (a) the interactions between early behavior, early parenting, and early family adversity in predicting later oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) symptoms, and (b) the reciprocal relations between parent functioning and ODD symptoms across the preschool years. Participants were 258 three-year-old children (138 boys, 120 girls) and their parents from diverse backgrounds who participated in a 4-year longitudinal study. Early child behavior, parenting, and family adversity did not significantly interact in the predicted direction. Reciprocal relations between ODD symptoms and parent functioning were observed for maternal and paternal depression, and maternal warmth. Paternal laxness at age 4 predicted ODD symptoms at age 5 and paternal laxness at age 5 predicted ODD symptoms at age 6, but child ODD did not significantly predict paternal laxness. Results suggest that ODD symptoms may develop through a transactional process between parent and child functioning across the preschool years.
Bits & Pieces, Here & There

I wasn't planning on writing about my trips last summer, because I didn't go on any very science-oriented travels. I went for other reasons: work, family, friends. However, it's hard not to bump into biology even without going to a national park or a nature preserve. In the end, I had so many small but memorable experiences tied to the living world that I have felt compelled to share them. The first event didn't even involve much travel; I just had to get to the Bronx, to Wave Hill, a public garden where there was an exhibit on nature prints. Traditionally, nature prints are made by smearing ink on leaves and pressing them onto paper. I am making it sound easy, but it isn't, as Karen Reeds, a historian of botany, noted in her presentation at Wave Hill. Karen, who has written of Leonardo da Vinci's link to nature prints (Reeds, 2006), was the reason I was there. She had invited me to a symposium on nature printing held in conjunction with the exhibit called Propagating Eden: Uses and Techniques of Nature Printing in Botany and Art. It had been organized by the International Print Center and was amazing. Fortunately, an illustrated catalogue of the show is available on the Web (http://www.wavehill.org/arts/documents/WH%20Propegating%20Eden%20Catalogue.pdf). I'm pleased I had a chance to visit it before the symposium, because it prepared me for some of the surprises encountered there. In the exhibit there were examples of early nature prints such as those of Christiano Ludwig and Johann Knipnof from the mid-18th century, along with 19th-century work such as that of Anna Atkins, who specialized in cyanotypes of seaweeds. These were done by arranging the plants on light-sensitive paper and letting the sun do the printmaking. In addition, there were a number of pieces by …
Lipids, apoptosis, and cross-presentation: links in the chain of host defense against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Eicosanoids regulate whether human and murine macrophages infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis die by apoptosis or necrosis. The death modality is important since apoptosis is associated with diminished pathogen viability and should be viewed as a form of innate immunity. Apoptotic vesicles derived from infected macrophages are also an important source of bacterial antigens that can be acquired by dendritic cells to prime antigen-specific T cells. This review integrates in vitro and in vivo data on how apoptosis of infected macrophages is linked to development of T cell immunity against M. tuberculosis.
STRUCTURAL DETERMINATION OF LYSOPHOSPHOLIPID REGIOISOMERS BY ELECTROSPRAY IONIZATION TANDEM MASS SPECTROMETRY

The facile structural determination of lysophospholipid regioisomers represents a long-standing problem in phospholipid chemistry. Herein we report that positive-ion electrospray ionization (ESI) tandem mass spectrometry of sodiated lysophospholipid regioisomers results in the presence of multiple diagnostic pairs of product ions which allows the rapid and direct discrimination between sn-1-acyl- and sn-2-acyllysophospholipid regioisomers. For example, after ESI in the positive-ion mode and subsequent collision-induced dissociation, over a 30-fold difference in the peak intensity ratio of product ions at m/z 104 and 147 was manifest with sodiated sn-1-acyllysophosphatidylcholine in comparison to sn-2-acyllysophosphatidylcholine. The observed differences in precursor ion dissociation rates reflect both the kinetically favored formation of a 5-membered phosphodiester (compared to the corresponding 6-membered phosphodiester) and the accelerated rate of an activated vs a nonactivated rearrangement. The struct...
Structural analyses of experimental 13C edited amide I' IR and VCD for peptide β-sheet aggregates and fibrils using DFT-based spectral simulations.

In the preceding paper, computational models based on density functional theory (DFT) were presented to characterize the sensitivity of vibrational spectroscopic methods (IR, VCD, and Raman) to structural features of β-sheets. Isotopically edited amide I′ IR for peptides labeled with 13C in multiple different sites provides the most structurally distinct signatures of strand alignment, while VCD is sensitive to the sheet twist and intersheet stacking. In this report, we simulate the IR and VCD spectra for models approximating structures of four β-sheet forming peptides previously experimentally studied using these methods with 13C isotopic editing. Various register alignments are tested. Agreement with experiment is evaluated based on frequency shifts of both the 12C and 13C IR amide I′ signals, relative intensity patterns, and VCD spectra where available. While for the simulation of IR spectra canonical planar sheets provide a sufficient model system, for VCD simulation twisted, stacked sheets are requir...
A simple and accurate method for determining low IFT from pendant drop measurements

Determination of interfacial tension (IFT) is of importance for understanding oil recovery mechanisms. Pendant drop measurement for IFT determination is an important practical technique since it permits continuous study of interfacial phenomena without mechanical interference that occurs when other techniques are used. In application of the pendant drop technique, several methods, such as shape factor method and regression method, have been developed by previous investigators for extracting IFT information from the shape of pendant drops. It is generally recognized that some of these methods are accurate but time consuming due to a great deal of numerical computations; while others are simplified and easy to use but unfortunately inaccurate in the low IFT region. It is highly desirable to develop a simple and accurate calculation method to determine low IFT from pendant drop measurements. As IFT gets lower, pendant drops tend to be small and flat. In this case the existing methods are difficult to apply because the upper portion of the pendant drop is strongly affected by the presence of the tip and its wetting behavior. We developed a new method for IFT determination on the basis of force balance on the lower half of the pendant drop. A simple equation relating the IFT, fluid densities, and drop geometry was formulated. With known profile data of the lower half of the pendant drop, IFT can be calculated quickly from the simple equation. Like some existing methods, this new method requires high quality drop-profile data near the apex of the drop to determine the total curvature of the drop surface at the apex. Unfortunately, this high quality data is usually not available due to the nature of image digitizing. We solved this problem by digitizing rotated drop images, fitting a smoothing spline to the drop profile data, and differentiating this smoothed spline in curvature calculations. The result of IFT determined using this new method was compared with that given by other methods for water, normal decane, decyl alcohol, 2,2,4 trimethyl pentane, normal heptane, hexadecane and toluene under ambient conditions. This comparison shows a consistency among the methods in the high IFT region (IFT >10 mN/m). Using our pendant drop generating apparatus and image processing system, we tested the new method under various conditions for water, normal decane, ethane, and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). We found the new method more accurate than the shape factor method in the low IFT region (IFT < 1 mN/m). This is because the new method allows calculation of IFT from very small droplets as long as the droplets have equators developed.
A Novel Stereotaxic-Like Method for Injecting into the Lateral Ventricles of Small Passerine Birds

Recently, there has been an increase in the interest in various aspects of the biology of small passerine birds. In order to apply many modern neurobiological techniques, it would be useful to be able to surgically inject hormones and drugs directly into passerine brains. We describe a novel and cost-effective stereotaxic-like technique for injecting substances into the lateral ventricles of small passerine birds. The technique is rapid, reducing the period of anesthesia, and reliable. In addition, using this technique, we injected [3H]cysteine (to label newly synthesized proteins) with small doses of colchicine. Colchicine decreased the content of newly synthesized protein in the median eminence, thus suggesting that colchicine inhibited protein transport. The technique should prove useful in a number of neurobiologial applications.
Properties of Exciton States in NaI. II. Excitonic Energy Transfer to Q and Tl Centers

As reported in Part I, upon excitation in the region of the first excition absorption band the efficiency of the intrinsic luminescence of NaI decreases with decreasing temperature below 60 °K. This part of our article yields information about the fate of the excition generated at low temperatures: 1. Only a very small fraction of the excitons contribute to thermoluminescence. 2. The exciton state is not the excited state of an emission with a small Stokes shift ΔE ≧ 0.1 eV. 3. However, an excitonic energy transfer to Q and Tl centers takes place. The lifetime of the exciton state in a crystal doped with 1 ppm of each Q and Tl centers is τ < 5 ns at LHeT. Wie in Teil I berichtet wurde, nimmt die Ausbeute der Eigenlumineszenz von NaJ bei Erregung im Bereich der 1. Exzitonenabsorptionsbande unterhalb 60 °K mit sinkender Temperature ab. Dieser Teil unserer Arbeit berichtet nun uber das Schicksal des tiefer Temperatur erzeugten Exzitons: 1. Nur ein sehr kleiner Teil der Exzitonen liefert einen Beitrag zur Thermolumineszenz. 2. Das Exziton ist nicht der angeregte Zustand einer Emission mit einer kleinen Stokes-Verschiebung ΔE ≧ 0,1 eV. 3. Es findet jedoch eine Exzitonenenergieubertragung zu Q- und Tl-Zentren statt. Die Lebensdauer des Exzitonenzustands betragt bei der Temperatur des flussigen Heliums τ < 5 ns in einem Kristall, der mit je 1 ppm Q- und Tl-Zentren dotiert ist.
Information and conspiracy in sealed bid auctions

Abstract This paper examines the allocative properties of the sealed bid institution when different aspects of the available information to bidders are considered. Specifically, we examine: (a) the effect on price determination in repeated sealed bid auctions of post auction revelation of losing bids, and (b) the effect on price determination when conspiratorial discussions are allowed.
Capital and growth with oligarchic property rights

To analyze effects of imperfect property rights on economic growth, we consider economies where some fraction of capital can be owned only by local oligarchs, whose status is subject to political risk. Political risk decreases local capital and wages. Risk-averse oligarchs acquire safe foreign assets for insurance, thus increasing wages in other countries that protect outside investors. Reforms to decrease political risk or to protect more outsiders' investments can decrease local oligarchs' welfare by increasing wages. A severe depression occurs when a closed country opens to let its oligarchs invest abroad without protecting outside investors, as in 1990s Russia.
A Limit on the Number of Isolated Neutron Stars Detected in the ROSAT Bright Source Catalogue

The challenge in searching for non-radio-pulsing isolated neutron stars (INSs) is in excluding association with objects in the very large error boxes (~13'', 1 σ radius) typical of sources from the largest X-ray all-sky survey, the ROSAT All-Sky Survey Bright Source Catalogue (RASS BSC). We search for candidate INSs using statistical analysis of optical (USNO-A2), infrared (IRAS), and radio (NVSS) sources near the ROSAT X-ray localization and show that this selection would find 20% of the INSs in the RASS BSC. This selection finds 32 candidates at declinations δ > -39°, among which are two previously known INSs, 17 sources that we show are not INSs, and 13 the classification of which are as yet undetermined. These results require a limit of less than 67 INSs (90% confidence, full sky, assuming isotropy) in the RASS BSC. This limit modestly constrains a naive and optimistic model for cooling neutron stars in the Galaxy.
Russian Agriculture During Putin's First Term and Beyond

An American specialist on Russian agriculture surveys developments during Putin's first term in office, as well as the challenges that loom for the future. The focus is on how economic growth more broadly, and agrarian reform policy more specifically, have led to increasing agricultural output and improved financial stability of farms, with emphasis on the large-farm sector (former state and collective farms). Among the at least partially successful stabilization measures described in some detail are development of reliable sources of farm credit, debt restructuring and cancellation, greater fulfillment of state budget obligations, state intervention in grain markets, and trade protectionism. The paper also assesses the agenda for increasing Russian agriculture's global competitiveness in Putin's second term. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: F13, O18, Q10. 3 tables, 61 references.
Surgical treatment of stage pT3b renal cell carcinoma in solitary kidneys: a case series.

OBJECTIVE To describe the surgical management of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in a solitary kidney (managed preferentially by nephron-sparing surgery, NSS, to avoid dialysis) and extending into the renal vein or inferior vena cava (T3b). PATIENTS AND METHODS We identified 13 patients treated surgically between 1977 and 2002 for stage T3b RCC in a solitary kidney; their charts were reviewed to ascertain details of management, pathology and outcomes. RESULTS NSS was successful in seven patients (four in situ and three extracorporeally). Five patients had radical nephrectomy (RN), four after failed NSS. The mean (sem) operative duration was longer for NSS, at 5.8 (0.7) h, than RN, at 3.3 (0.6) h. There was one death during surgery before nephrectomy, and eight other complications in six patients. At a median (range) follow-up of 24 (0–204) months, eight patients had died, four from RCC (all having had NSS) at a median interval of 9.5 (7–16) months. Of the five patients alive at a median follow-up of 25 months, four had no identifiable disease, whilst one had systemic recurrence. CONCLUSIONS NSS combined with venous tumour thrombectomy for treating T3b RCC involving a solitary kidney is feasible, albeit complicated. There was oncological success in a third of the patients. The treatment of these patients needs to be individualized, as alternatives to NSS (RN or observation) have obvious disadvantages.
A PWM Based Fully Integrated Digital Transmitter/PA for WLAN and LTE Applications

In this paper, we present a 23 dBm PWM based fully digital transmitter designed in standard 45 nm CMOS process. The digital transmitter utilizes sigma-delta modulation and pulse-width modulation to convert high resolution baseband I and Q signals into 3-level switching signals, thereby allowing efficient Class-D PA stages to be used. In addition, cascaded sigma-delta stages and switched-capacitor combining are incorporated into the architecture to significantly reduce the out-of-band quantization noise while maintaining excellent efficiency. The proposed transmitter is fully digital from baseband to RF and can be used to replace the entire analog/RF signal chain in a traditional transmitter. It achieves peak output power of 23 dBm with 47% power-added efficiency (PAE). For an 20 MHz OFDM signal with 8.2 dB peak-to-average power ratio (PAR), the PAE is 23%. The linearity of the digital transmitter meets WiFi spectral mask without any digital predistortion.
Ecto-5′-Nucleotidase (E5′-NT, 27.2, CD73), 27.1, Leu13, CD28 and LAM-1(Leu8) Antigens in Mycosis Fungoides (MF)

Two monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) B121 and B124 to the human lymphocyte differentiation antigen E5′-NT (CD73), and the MoAbs 27.2 and 27.1 that were raised to HTLV-1+CD4+CD25+ leukemic T cells were tested immunohistochemically on frozen sections of 13 cases of MF together with Leu13, CD28, LAM-1(Leu8) and other standard T-cell markers. Controls included 7(5T, 2B) non-MF cutaneous non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL), 2 cutaneous T lymphoid leukemias (T-ALL), 13 miscellaneous non-neoplastic dermatoses, 11(5T, 6B) extracutaneous NHL, and 5 splenic B-hairy cell leukemias. Previous studies suggest that 27.2 also recognizes the CD73 antigen and is present in high density in some cases of HTLV-1+ adult thymic leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) and HTLV-1- Sezary syndrome (Y. Fukunaga et al., Blood 74:2486-2492, 1989). In the studies reported here B121, B124 and 27.2 reacted similarly with the MF and control samples tested. The CD73 antigen was present in the majority of lymphoid cells from 8 (62%) of 13 cases of MF. In one of th...
Thermal Gradient Cyclic Behavior of a Thermal/Environmental Barrier Coating System on SiC/SiC Ceramic Matrix Composites

Thermal barrier and environmental barrier coatings (TBCs and EBCs) will play a crucial role in future advanced gas turbine engines because of their ability to significantly extend the temperature capability of the ceramic matrix composite (CMC) engine components in harsh combustion environments. In order to develop high performance, robust coating systems for effective thermal and environmental protection of the engine components, appropriate test approaches for evaluating the critical coating properties must be established. In this paper, a laser high-heat-flux, thermal gradient approach for testing the coatings will be described. Thermal cyclic behavior of plasma-sprayed coating systems, consisting of ZrO2-8wt%Y2O3 thermal barrier and NASA Enabling Propulsion Materials (EPM) Program developed mullite+BSAS/Si type environmental barrier coatings on SiC/SiC ceramic matrix composites, was investigated under thermal gradients using the laser heat-flux rig in conjunction with the furnace thermal cyclic tests in water-vapor environments. The coating sintering and interface damage were assessed by monitoring the real-time thermal conductivity changes during the laser heat-flux tests and by examining the microstructural changes after the tests. The coating failure mechanisms are discussed based on the cyclic test results and are correlated to the sintering, creep, and thermal stress behavior under simulated engine temperature and heat flux conditions.
Eocene to Miocene terrigenous inputs and export production: geochemical evidence from ODP Leg 177, Site 1090

Abstract Changes in ocean circulation and climate during the Cenozoic led to the development of the Antarctic Circum-polar Current (ACC) and permanent Antarctic ice sheets. However, the timing of the opening of the Drake Passage and the establishment of the ACC is poorly constrained. We present geochemical proxies of terrigenous inputs and export production at a single site in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean that suggest the Drake Passage had opened to intermediate and deep water by 32.8 Ma. Two separate styles of sedimentation and geochemical composition of terrigenous material are observed, with the change in sediment geochemical characteristics occurring at 32.8 Ma. Middle to late Eocene records are highly variable, while latest Eocene to early Miocene records exhibit cyclic variations in elemental records and terrigenous material. Based on Al/Ti ratios, metal sources change from continental crust to oceanic crust sources at the Eocene/Oligocene transition, which we suggest reflects a change in deep-water circulation. Phosphorus/metal ratios indicate that there are two distinct intervals of enhanced export production, one in the middle Eocene and one throughout the Eocene/Oligocene transition. Elevated Al/Ti ratios, greater than any lithic source, in the middle Eocene provide evidence of particulate scavenging and thus increased export production. Barium ratios further support changes in productivity in the middle Eocene and at the Eocene/Oligocene transition. Permanent changes in the Ba concentration record in the early Oligocene further support a change in deep-water circulation due to the opening and deepening of the Drake Passage at 32.8 Ma.
Polyporphyrin Thin Films from the Interfacial Polymerization of Mercaptoporphyrins

Free-standing ultrathin films of a porphyrin homopolymer have been synthesized by interfacial polymerization of a mercaptoporphyrin. Coupling of 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(α-mercapto-p-tolyl)porphyrin at the water/chloroform interface by copper acetate yields continuous, flexible films after drying with supercritical CO2. These films are amorphous and retain many characteristics of the monomeric porphyrin, such as the property that they may be metalated. Spectroscopic evidence suggests efficient cross-linking of thiols through disulfide coupling occurs in these polyporphyrins to form a network. Polymerization is accompanied by the introduction of carbonyl functionality, probably the transformation of residual thiols to thioacetate by metal-mediated reaction with excess acetate ion. As an example of the catalytic properties of these polymers, they are shown to promote photooxidation of thietane to the corresponding sulfoxide by sensitizing singlet oxygen production.
Effect of an intense electromagnetic field on a weakly bound system

The approximation method introduced by Keldysh is revised and extended. The technique is applicable to the photodetachment by a plane-wave field of an electron bound by a short-range potential. The approximation is to neglect the effect of the binding potential as compared to the field effects on the final state of the detached electron. By choice of a different gauge than that used by Keldysh, the formalism becomes very simple and tractable. A general basis for the formalism is developed, and it is then applied to find transition probabilities for any order of interaction for both linearly and circularly polarized plane-wave fields. The low-intensity, first-order limit and the high-intensity, high-order limit yield the correct results. Two intensity parameters are identified. The fundamental one is $z=\frac{{e}^{2}{a}^{2}}{4m\ensuremath{\omega}}$, where $a$ is the magnitude of the vector potential (in radiation gauge) of the field of circular frequency $\ensuremath{\omega}$. The second parameter is ${z}_{1}=\frac{2z\ensuremath{\omega}}{{E}_{B}}$, where ${E}_{B}$ is binding energy, and it becomes important only in the asymptotic case. With the assumption that the field leaves the neutral atomic core relatively unaffected, the formalism is applied to the example of the negative hydrogen ion irradiated by circularly or linearly polarized 10.6-\ensuremath{\mu}m radiation. Photodetachment angular distributions and total transition probabilities are examined for explicit intensity effects. It is found that total transition probability $W$ is not sensitive to intensity since $\frac{d(logW)}{d}$ ($logz$) retains low-intensity straight-line behavior up to quite high values of $z$. An important intensity effect is the major significance of higher-than-lowest-order terms when $z$ is large, especially for circular polarization. A sensitive indicator of intensity is the ratio of photodetachment probabilities in circularly and linearly polarized fields, which increases sharply with intensity. An investigation of the convergence of perturbation expansions gives the upper limit $zl[\frac{{E}_{B}}{\ensuremath{\omega}}]\ensuremath{-}\frac{{E}_{B}}{\ensuremath{\omega}}$, where the square bracket means "smallest integer containing" the quantity in brackets. This limit is $zl0.59$ for ${\mathrm{H}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ in 10.6-\ensuremath{\mu}m radiation. The failure of perturbation theory is not necessarily manifest in qualitative ways. For example, it is not apparent in total photoelectron yield as a function of intensity.
Protein turnover in retina.

Abstract: Rabbit retinas were exposed in vitro to 0.5-h pulses of [3H]leucine or [14C]Ieucine. Some retinas were harvested promptly after labeling to measure synthesis. These were combined, in double-labeling experiments, with retinas that had been returned to unlabeled medium for a subsequent 1 h or 3.75 h to measure degradation. All of the proteins were solubilized, and separated according to size by gel electrophoresis. The gels were cut into 95 slices, and each slice was differentially counted. The amount of protein in the slice was estimated from the Coomassie blue staining, and its molecular weight from the distribution of molecular weight (MW) standards. Turnover rates of the various sizes of proteins were calculated from these data using certain well-defined assumptions. Retinal protein contained about 32 ± 103 nmol of polypeptide per g, with a median MW of 27,000. Total synthesis was at the rate of 103 nmol/g of protein/h, with the most rapid synthesis in the 33,000–43,000 MW range, at 2 nmol/g/h for every 1000 increment in MW. Protein renewal averaged 0.52%/h, but varied directly (p < 0.0001) with MW, so that proteins of 10,000 MW were being renewed at about 0.1%/h and proteins of 140,000 MW at about 1.4%/h. Taken together, the measurements of fractional renewal and the measurements of degradation of the newly synthesized proteins demonstrated that each slice contained proteins with markedly different breakdown coefficients, and provided enough information to characterize the proteins in the slice in terms of a fast and a slow subgroup. This analysis indicated that: breakdown coefficients varied much more than rates of synthesis and were therefore the prime determinant of the amount of each protein that was present; as MW increased, breakdown coefficients of the long-lived proteins increased (p < 0.0001), accounting in major part for the correlation between size and turnover; most staining bands were due to proteins with peculiarly long lifespans; the proteins with the slowest turnover of all appeared to be histones: there was an unusually rapid synthesis of a 138,000 MW polypeptide with a moderately short half-life (about 3 h).
Regional collaboration across hospital systems to develop and implement trauma protocols saves lives within 2 years

Background The Northern Ohio Trauma System (NOTS) was created with the expressed goal of improving trauma care through collaboration, system-wide protocol implementation, and evidence-based process improvement. The primary goal of this study was to evaluate the mortality of trauma patients seen across the region after 2 years of beginning NOTS. Methods Regional data was compared with the 2 years pre-NOTS (2008 and 2009) to the 2 years post-NOTS (2010 and 2011). The regional system consisted of two large hospital systems, initially including one level 1 center, four level 2 centers, seven nontrauma hospitals, and local emergency medical services groups. Two level 2 trauma centers closed during the study period. Mortality was the primary outcome for this study. Multivariate logistic regression also was performed to evaluate for independent predictors of mortality. An odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of survival were determined after we adjusted for other factors associated with mortality. Result During the 4-year period 29,890 trauma patients were seen throughout NOTS. The mean age was 44 with a mean Injury Severity Score (ISS) of 8; 65% of the patients were male. Racial breakdown demonstrated that 64.0% were white, 31.9% were black, and 4.1% were other races. The hospital stay (mean ± SD) was 3.0 ± 5.2 days, and overall mortality was 3.4%. A separate analysis in which we used multivariate logistic regression demonstrated that patients treated in the post-NOTS period was an independent predictor for survival when we controlled for age, sex, ethnicity, mechanism, and ISS. The OR of survival of post NOTS was 0.81 (95% CI 0.70–0.94) when we evaluated all patients. The OR for admitted patients was 0.79 (95% CI 0.67–0.94) and 0.76 (0.62–0.95) in patients with ISS > 24. There was an increase in the percentage of patients seen at the level 1 center in the post-NOTS period, which was especially demonstrated in patients with greater ISS. Conclusion NOTS appears to have contributed to the saving of lives within 2 years of its formation. Regionalized protocols, collaboration, and consolidation resulted in an improvement in mortality.
Identification and Characterization of a Developmentally Regulated Protein, EshA, Required for Sporogenic Hyphal Branches in Streptomyces griseus

To identify sporulation-specific proteins that might serve as targets of developmental regulatory factors in Streptomyces, we examined total proteins of Streptomyces griseus by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Among five proteins that were present at high levels during sporulation but absent from vegetative cells, two of the proteins, P3 and P4, were absent from developmental mutants that undergo aberrant morphogenesis. The deduced amino acid sequence of the gene that encodes P3 (EshA) showed extensive similarity to proteins from mycobacteria and a cyanobacterium, Synechococcus, that are abundant during nutritional stress but whose functions are unknown. Uniquely among these proteins, EshA contains a cyclic nucleotide-binding domain, suggesting that the activity of EshA may be modulated by a cyclic nucleotide. The eshA gene was strongly expressed from a single transcription start site only during sporulation, and accumulation of the eshA transcript depended on a developmental gene, bldA. During submerged sporulation, a null mutant strain that produced no EshA could not extend sporogenic hyphae from new branch points but instead accelerated septation and spore maturation at the preexisting vegetative filaments. These results indicated that EshA is required for the growth of sporogenic hyphae and localization of septation and spore maturation but not for spore viability.
Development of an Instrument to Measure Exercise of Self‐care Agency

The purpose of this study was to develop an instrument to measure a person's exercise of self-care agency. Reliability and validity were established. Content validity was established through a rating of each item of the questionnaire by five nursing experts practicing under the self-care concept. The Adjective Check List and Rotter's Internal-External Locus of Control of Reinforcement Scale were used in establishing construct validity. Subjects consisted of 84 associate degree nursing students and 153 psychology students. Results showed (a) a positive correlation of self-confidence, achievement, and intraception with exercise of self-care agency and (b) a negative correlation between abasement and exercise of self-care agency. The test-retest reliability was .77 for the nursing students; split-half reliabilities were .80 and .81, respectively, for the first and second testings of the nursing students, and .77 for the psychology students.
The investigation of missing paternal information in birth certificates and low birth weight

Objective. To determine if missing paternal information in birth certificates is associated with an increased risk of low birth weight (LBW).Methods. This was a retrospective single cohort analysis including all live births at our institution between April 1999 and May 2002. We created two study groups, one with father's information complete (FIC) and one with father's information missing (FIM). We utilised a three-tier approach (univariate analysis, multivariate analysis and propensity matching) to determine if FIM was related to LBW.Results. Univariate analysis showed a significant difference in LBW rates between the FIM and FIC groups (14.6 vs. 9.1%, p < 0.001). However, this difference was not observed in the multivariate (odds ratio = 1, p = 0.858, ns) or propensity matching analysis (13.9 vs. 13.8%, p = 0.954, ns).Conclusion. After controlling for LBW risk factors, FIM was not an independent predictor of LBW.