cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Monoclonal cryoglobulinemia, livedo reticularis, and renal failure.

A 45-year-old Hispanic woman was referred for evaluation of renal failure and a 5-year history of burning pain in the lower extremity with worsening skin changes. Physical examination was remarkable for livedo reticularis of lower extremities (Figure 1) and gangrene of the toes. Workup for autoimmune and hypercoagulable conditions was negative, except for positive serum cryoglobulin at 24 h. Peripheral blood smear showed eosinophilic-stained deposits consistent with cryoglobulin being phagocytosed by a neutrophil (Figure 2). Skin biopsy also revealed cryoglobulinemic deposits and multiple thrombi within dermal vessels. Renal pathology was consistent with thrombotic microangiopathy. The patient was started on plasma exchange treatment, with subsequent improvement observed in her skin changes, leg pain, and renal function.
Evaluation of Freezing To Control Wood-Destroying Insects (Isoptera, Coleoptera)

Structural insect pests may be killed by exposure to freezing temperatures. The critical thermal minimum (CTmin) is the threshold low temperature at which an insect succumbs from momentary exposure to temperatures decreasing at 1°C/min. The CTmin was —21.3°C for the western drywood termite, lncisitermes minor (Hagen); —17.2°C for workers of lncisitermes snyderi (Light); and —13.9°C for workers of the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki. The CTmin for the southern lyctus beetle, Lyctus planicollis LeConte, was —35.6°C for eggs, —26.2°C for small larvae, —30.0°C for medium larvae, and —24.3°C for large larvae. The effectiveness of liquid nitrogen (N2) to chill wall voids below the CTmin values for these structural pests was tested in a mock-up wall. The time to the CTmin was affected by the rate at which liquid N2 was released into the void and the vertical location of the release point. Fiberglass insulation in the wall affected the pattern of cooling by deflecting the liquid N2 around the insulation. Plumbing and electrical fixtures in the wall were not damaged by liquid N2, even though they were exposed to temperatures as low as —50°C. However, liquid N2 cracked vinyl floor tiles adjacent to the wall. The oxygen level in confined spaces where liquid N2 was released rapidly dropped below 19.5%, the minimum acceptable level for worker safety. Consequently, fans probably should be used to circulate fresh air into the areas where liquid N2 is used, and electronic monitoring should be done to ensure safe oxygen level. Because insects survive if they are not exposed to at least their CTmin it is important to monitor accurately the internal temperature of target wood with thermocouples to ensure that the CTmin has been reached where the insect actually occurs. To achieve an effective low temperature throughout a structure, virtually every void would need to be treated. Otherwise, it is unlikely that isolated pockets of termites could survive by escaping exposure to the CTmin Proper placement of thermocouples could be extremely important.
Stream macroinvertebrate baseline surveys: a comparative analysis from the oil-shale regions of Colorado, USA

General surveys of the benthic macroinvertebrates from Piceance Creek and the White River were conducted for nearly a decade prior to oil-shale exploitation in north central Colorado, USA. Comparison of the taxa collected in four studies on Piceance Creek and five studies on the White River shows little similarity among most studies. Studies were generally consistent in methods, site selection, and time of year for collection. Lack of agreement among the studies on what constitutes a baseline of common taxa is probably a result of taxonomic difficulties and differences in technique. More emphasis should be placed on testing possible impacts than on repeated, expensive, and inconclusive baseline inventories.
Effects of acceptance angle on characterizing contrast of isolated 25 as pulses

The satellite pulse contrast of an isolated 25 as pulse can be retrieved with less than 10% error with the improved spectra resolution by limiting the acceptance angle of a magnetic bottle spectrometer.
Material state change relationships to fracture path development for large-strain fatigue of composite materials

The long-term performance of engineering structures is typically discussed in terms of such concepts as structural integrity, durability, damage tolerance, fracture toughness, etc. These familiar concepts are usually addressed by considering balance equations, crack growth relationships, constitutive equations with constant material properties, and constant or cyclically applied load conditions. The loading histories are represented by changing stress (or strain) states only. For many situations, especially for those associated with high-performance engineering structures, the local state of the material may also change during service, so that the properties used in the equations are functions of time and history of applied conditions. For example, the local values of stiffness, strength, and conductivity are altered by material degradation to create "property fields" that replace the global constants, and introduce time and history into the governing equations. The present paper will examine a small set of such problems, which involve the accumulation of distributed damage and the development of an eventual fracture path leading to failure. Specifically, the paper discusses this problem in the context of material state changes measured by impedance variations as a method of following the details of fracture path development. An analysis and interpretations of observations will be presented, and limitations and opportunities associated with this general concept will be discussed.
Transparent room temperature cured elastomers based on bisphenol A

The synthesis of a divinyl-terminated resin from commercially available bisphenol A and polymerization with silane containing compounds utilizing a room temperature hydrosilylation reaction is demonstrated. The transparent, clear polymers exhibit excellent thermal and oxidative stability while maintaining elastomeric properties and good hardness. These polymers also have the ability to be dyed any color in the spectrum. Published 2013. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014, 52, 523–526
Spontaneous autoinflation of saline mammary implants: further studies.

Background Previous studies have reported a hyperinflation of saline-filled breast implants. On removal, the implant fluid had changed from clear saline to a yellowish-brown color, with a viscous consistency similar to serum. Objective Our objective was to identify further the components of saline from implants that had undergone spontaneous autoinflation. Our hypothesis was that if serum albumin is present in the fluid, then other proteins would likely be found. Methods To screen and identify proteins in implant fluid, we used a proteomics-based approach that included 1- and 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry of protein samples. Results Four known proteins and 1 unknown protein product were identified. Based on 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry, 2 general observations can be made about the saline from the autoinflated implants: serum albumin was the most prevalent protein, and there are a large number of proteins that remain to be identified. Conclusions There are multiple macromolecules that cross into the lumen of the prosthesis. We believe spontaneous autoinflation is occurring more often than is believed or reported.
High frequency ultrasound imaging of the growth and development of the normal chick embryo

The purpose of this study is to delineate with high frequency ultrasound imaging the normal growth and development of the chick embryo throughout its incubation period. White Leghorn chick embryos were imaged through an opening in the egg air cell from incubation day 0-19 (Hamburger & Hamilton stage 1-45) using a 13 MHz clinical high frequency linear small parts transducer. Multiple anatomic growth parameters were measured. Normal growth was confirmed with Hamburger and Hamilton staging. A timeline was constructed showing when each anatomic growth parameter could be visualized. Means and standard deviations of each parameter were plotted against incubation days studied to create nomograms and numerical tables of normal growth and development of the chick embryo. With this set of data, abnormal growth and development of the chick embryo can now be assessed.
Critical issues in digestive diseases.

Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases are often encountered in the intensive care unit (ICU) setting, either as the major cause that prompted admission to the ICU or as a comorbid complication of another primary disease process. The most common digestive disease that is seen in the ICU is acute GI bleeding; upper GI bleeding occurring five times more commonly than lower GI bleeding. This article discusses acute nonvariceal and variceal upper GI bleeding and lower GI bleeding. Prophylaxis against GI hemorrhage in the ICU setting is also discussed. Acute pancreatitis is another common cause that mandates ICU admission and is reviewed in this article. Lastly, acalculous cholecystitis is an example of a disease that is usually a comorbid complication in critically ill patients and is often a difficult diagnosis to make. Diagnosis and treatment of acalculous cholecystitis is discussed.
The role of diethylstilbestrol in the treatment of prostate cancer.

Abstract Objectives: Diethylstilbestrol administration was a classic form of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) that gradually fell out of favor because of its cardiovascular toxicity, economic disinterest on the part of manufacturers, and the emergence of novel therapeutic agents with a superior safety profile. The cost of contemporary agents and the efficacy of diethylstilbestrol (DES) have perpetuated the evaluation of this agent, especially in the circumstance of early hormone-refractory (clinical stage D2.5) disease. The objective of this study is to evaluate the status of DES-based therapies, and assess their efficacy and toxicity as a viable form of ADT. Methods: Current research from single-institution and group studies, as well as basic scientific investigations related to DES, were assessed with regard to the population studied, dosage, criteria for response, response rate, duration of response, and toxicity. Results: Contemporary basic research has demonstrated a direct apoptotic effect of DES on prostate cancer cells. There is also evidence to support the ability of DES to suppress testosterone production at extratesticular sites and inhibit dihydroepiandrosterone sulfate serum levels. Contemporary cooperative group trials for stage D2 disease incorporating a DES arm have demonstrated therapeutic efficacy and equivalence to orchiectomy, which is marred by significant cardiovascular toxicity. In smaller single-institution studies (n = 17 to 38) of patients with D2.5 disease, an average response rate of 55% is noted with a mean time to clinical progression of 6.4 months (2 to 18). Cardiovascular toxicity occurred in 10% to 30% of patients, with events including deep vein thrombosis, myocardial infarction, and transient ischemic attack. Edema and gynecomastia was also noted. Strategies to reduce thromboembolic events, such as dose reduction or the use of warfarin sodium were unsuccessful, whereas the use of low-dose aspirin (100 mg daily) resulted in only 1 of 38 vascular events. Conclusions: In contemporary studies of DES as an agent for ADT in D2.5 patients, a reasonable response rate (40% to 60%) of modest duration (5 to 8 months) is noted. Cardiovascular complications still persist, requiring the development of safe, effective antithrombolic therapy to take advantage of this phenomenon.
Complex potentials from elastic differential cross sections

Abstract We propose an iterative semiclassical procedure for inverting elastic differential cross section data from multichannel scattering experiments to obtain the complex potential in the optical model. Application is made to He * + Ar collisions.
Modeling and simulation of integrated luminescence detection platforms

We developed a simulation model of an integrated CMOS-based imaging platform for use with bioluminescent DNA microarrays. We formulate the complete kinetic model of ATP based assays and luciferase label-based assays. The model first calculates the number of photons generated per unit time, i.e., photon flux, based upon the kinetics of the light generation process of luminescence probes. The photon flux coupled with the system geometry is then used to calculate the number of photons incident on the photodetector plane. Subsequently the characteristics of the imaging array including the photodetector spectral response, its dark current density, and the sensor conversion gain are incorporated. The model also takes into account different noise sources including shot noise, reset noise, readout noise and fixed pattern noise. Finally, signal processing algorithms are applied to the image to enhance detection reliability and hence increase the overall system throughput. We will present simulations and preliminary experimental results.
Focal lobular spermatogenesis and pubertal acceleration associated with ipsilateral Leydig cell hyperplasia

Leydig cell tumors of the testis are the underlying cause in about 10% of the cases of precocious puberty in boys. Leydig cell hyperplasia is a less well-characterized cause, with an undocumented frequency. We describe a boy with precocious puberty associated with ipsilateral testicular enlargement and focal Leydig cell hyperplasia with spermatogenesis limited to the local adjacent testicular tissue.
Bilateral apparent haptic movement

When Os are permitted to manipulate the interstimulus onset interval (ISOI) to obtain optimal apparent movement between two ipsilateral vibrotactile stimuli, a consistent quantitative relation between ISOI and stimulus duration appears. The present report describes conditions for movement between contralaterally-placed stimuli, and shows that whereas movement is qualitatively incomplete, the aforementioned relation is still evident. The results are discussed in the light of recent work in both visual apparent movement and complex patterns of stimulation on the skin.
Teachers’ Use of Technology in Elementary Reading Lessons

Proponents claim technology will transform classroom teaching and improve children's engagement and learning. Opponents argue that such benefits are oversold because little evidence exists that technology improves teaching and learning. We examined how elementary teachers in an urban school that was well resourced with technology used it when teaching reading. After 25 hours of observation we found teachers used technology to display multimedia content, generate interactive learning activities, focus student attention, display texts for shared reading, and individualize children's learning activities. Primary-grade reading lessons were often more participatory and multimodal than those in the intermediate grades.
Emergency airway management in hanging victims

Study objective: To determine the incidence, demographics, clinical indicators of survival, and frequency of cervical-spine fractures to define appropriate emergency airway management in hanging victims. Design: Medical examiner records, paramedic reports, and emergency department and hospital medical records were reviewed retrospectively for the period January 1, 1978, to January 1, 1990. Setting: Urban paramedic system with nine receiving hospitals. Participants: A total of 160, 724 medical examiner and paramedic records were reviewed to identify a total study population of 306 hanging victims. One hundred eighty-two victims (59%) were found dead at the scene, and the emergency medical system was not notified. An additional 57 (19%) were seen by paramedics and declared dead at the scene. Sixty-seven (22%) were treated and transported to nine receiving EDs; 39 of these 57 received oral or nasal endotracheal intubation. Results: The incidence of hanging was 0.19% of all medical examiner cases and paramedic runs during the 12-years study. Those hanging victims who survived to receive paramedic transport and treatment by physicians were typically male and attempted suicidal hanging in a public place (most frequently jail) with available bedding or clothes. No hanging victim treated and transported by paramedics had documentation of cervical-spine or spinal cord injury. Conclusion: In nonjudicial hanging victims seen by paramedics and transported to an ED, cervical-spine injury is rare. Cerebral hypoxia rather than spinal cord injury is the probable cause of death and should be the primary concern in treatment of this patient population. Following external stabilization of the neck, nasal or oral endotracheal intubation is appropriate emergency airway management in hanging victims.
Causation in educational research

by Keith Morrison, London, Routledge, 2009, 238 pp., £21.99 (paperback), ISBN 978‐0‐415‐49649‐0 This book addresses an important and currently contentious issue in educational research, and the aut...
The Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Cdk1 Directly Regulates Vacuole Inheritance

In budding yeast, vacuole inheritance is tightly coordinated with the cell cycle. The movement of vacuoles and several other organelles is actin-based and is mediated by interaction between the yeast myosin V motor Myo2 and organelle-specific adaptors. Myo2 binds to vacuoles via the adaptor protein Vac17, which binds to the vacuole membrane protein Vac8. Here we show that the yeast cyclin-dependent kinase Cdk1 phosphorylates Vac17 and that phosphorylation of Vac17 parallels cell cycle-dependent movement of the vacuole. Substitution of the Cdk1 sites in Vac17 decreases its interaction with Myo2 and causes a partial defect in vacuole inheritance. This defect is enhanced in the presence of Myo2 with mutated phosphorylation sites. Thus, Cdk1 appears to control the timing of vacuole movement. The presence of multiple predicted Cdk1 sites in other organelle-specific myosin V adaptors suggests that the inheritance of other cytoplasmic organelles may be regulated by a similar mechanism.
A randomized study of the effectiveness of a brief psychosocial intervention for women attending a gynecologic cancer clinic

Abstract Objectives While there are many psychosocial interventions for cancer patients, few are brief in nature. The aim of this study was to investigate the usefulness of a single-visit psychosocial intervention for gynecologic cancer patients. Methods One hundred women attending a gynecologic cancer clinic as new patients were randomized to receive no intervention or a one-time meeting with a psychologist who discussed issues and concerns the woman might have about her cancer diagnosis. Thirty-eight of the women had a current or previous cancer. The women were given questionnaires measuring mood and quality of life at baseline, two weeks and three months after the intervention. Results At baseline, 43 of the women in the control group completed questionnaires, as did 45 women randomized to the intervention. 21 of these women received the intervention. Women who received the intervention had greater decreases in anxiety, depression and overall distress over time. The control group also had decreases in anxiety and overall distress over time, but had an increase in depression. The women in the intervention group increased in physical, emotional, functional, and overall well being, while the control group only had a slight increase in overall well being over time. The difference between the groups in emotional well being at Time 2 approached significance ( p =.08). The intervention group had increases in positive coping at Time 2, while the control group decreased ( p 's ranged from .02–.10). Three month follow-up data were available for 23 women in the control group and 15 in the intervention group. At Time 3 functional well being was significantly higher in the intervention group ( p =.04). Information seeking and affect regulation remained higher in the intervention than the control group ( p 's=.002 and .02, respectively). When the women with cancer or previous cancer were examined, significant differences were seen for affect regulation at baseline ( p =.0007), and anger two weeks later ( p =.04), with the women in the control group being more angry. Utilization of other cancer resources was low with 12% of the women reporting that they used the Cancer Resource Center. Conclusions The results of this study show that there was a positive effect towards coping and quality of life for a one-time psychosocial intervention after the first visit to a gynecologic oncology practice. Women who were randomized to the intervention but did not go were more distressed at baseline than the women who did go. This suggests that incorporating psychosocial services as an integrated part of the new patient consultation may be very important to address patient's distress. Future studies with larger sample sizes may reveal more significant differences. Strategies to overcome the poor utilization of the cancer resource center are also clearly needed to improve awareness of these resources.
Chemistry of nickel-alumina catalysts

Abstract A study of the chemistry involved in preparation, pretreatment, and reduction of Ni Al 2 O 3 catalysts was carried out using hydrogen chemisorption, thermal gravimetric analysis, and chromatographic analysis. Data showing effects on nickel surface area of calcination, heating rate during reduction, nickel loading, and passivation are presented and discussed. The results indicate that controlled decomposition of alumina-supported nickel nitrate in hydrogen atmosphere (without prior calcination) tends to maximize nickel surface area, dispersion, and reduction to nickel metal. Nickel surface area and the fraction of nickel reduced to the metallic state both increase as the hydrogen space velocity during reduction is increased. Upon increasing the reduction temperature from 300 to 500 °C, the percentage reduction to nickel metal is increased from 40 to 100% whereas nickel surface area changes relatively little.
A method of forecasting low flow of streams

This paper presents a method of forecasting the discharge of streams during periods of low flow by use of the normal base-flow depletion curve and frequency curves of runoff from concurrent precipitation and snow melt. Base flow from antecedent precipitation, together with runoff from concurrent precipitation and snow melt, constitutes the total runoff. The base flow resulting from antecedent precipitation may be projected several weeks or, in some cases, months into the future. The added runoff from subsequent precipitation may be evaluated by a frequency curve of such runoff component from past records. If the latter component is not great in relation to base flow, reliable forecasts of total flow are possible. The method is illustrated by application to two streams in the Columbia River basin where conditions are favorable to its use.
Goals of a teacher training program for teachers of the gifted

Many states have expanded services to the gifted and talented. As a result, colleges and universities are adding a variety of course offerings to better prepare teachers to meet the educational needs of the gifted and talented. This article presents the findings of a nation wide survey completed by State Department Directors of Gifted Education in 40 states. The survey asked respondents to rate the degree of importance for teacher preparation in gifted education of twenty objectives commonly found in coursework provided in most teacher training programs. Results and implications of the study are included within the article.
PHOTOINACTIVATION OF ANTHRACYCLINES

— When adriamycin or daunomycin is irradiated at 366 nm, the drug loses its cytotoxic activity against Sarcoma 180 cells in culture. The half-time for inactivation is about 9 h. Laboratory fluorescent lights also inactivate these anthracyclines with a half-time of about one day. The photoinactivated drugs do not interact effectively with the anthracycline transport system and consequently are not taken up into the cell. Fluorescence and NMR spectroscopy yield spectra identical to native drug but with reduced peak intensities. Likewise, high pressure liquid chromatographic analysis does not reveal any new chemical species in photolyzed anthracyline solutions. Gel filtration chromatography, however, shows that the photoinactivation process is accompanied by the formation of drug polymers which are suggested to be the inactive species.
α-interferon treatment for idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome

Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a poorly understood disorder characterized by a markedly elevated peripheral blood eosinophil count in the absence of known associated causes of hypereosinophilia. Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome is associated with eosinophil-induced organ damage, including endomyocardial and pulmonary fibrosis, stroke, and gastrointestinal disease. Treatment of idiopathic HES is centered on the reduction of peripheral circulating eosinophils in an effort to diminish tissue infiltration and destruction. Multiple cytotoxic agents have been tried, with variable resutts. Prednisone and hydroxyurea have remained the therapies of choice in long term treatment of idiopathic HES. We report here the successful 2 year treatment of aggressive idiopathic HES, refractory to hyroxyurea and prednisone, with α-interferon. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Twenty‐four‐month comparison of immunomodulatory treatments – a retrospective open label study in 308 RRMS patients treated with beta interferons or glatiramer acetate (Copaxone®)

A total of 308 patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) documented in a clinical database have been analysed for comparison of treatment effects of first line immunomodulating therapies. During follow up for 24 months the reduction of relapse rates was evaluated in a retrospective and open-label clinical study by comparing the efficacy of interferon (INF)beta-1a i.m. (Avonex), INFbeta-1b s.c. (Betaferon), INFbeta-1a 22 microg s.c. (Rebif 22) and glatiramer acetate (GA; Copaxone) in patients with RRMS (enhanced disability status score (EDSS) < 3.5) who have been treated for at least 6 months. Compared with baseline, relapse rate was reduced to a comparable extend after 6 month treatment with all regimen. For all drugs the effect on the relapse rate was sustained over 24 months.. There was no superiority of one of the INFbeta preparations concerning reduction of relapse rate after 12 and 24 months, however reduction was significantly higher for patients treated with GA compared with all beta interferons (-0.71, P < 0.001). In addition, the discontinuation rate within 24 months was significantly lower for GA. Despite some limitations of the study design, the results provide helpful clinical information regarding the efficacy of immunomodulatory therapies in early stages of RRMS patients in a clinical setting.
Assessing cross-cultural skills: validation of a new measure of cross-cultural psychological capital

In light of increasing workplace diversification, today's organizations are in need of employees who can work effectively within cross-cultural settings. To assess and develop generalizable skills enabling employees to successfully interact with members of many different cultures, a new measure of cross-cultural psychological capital (PsyCap) was validated in two studies. This measure captures a state-like higher-order construct consisting of four components: self-efficacy, hope, optimism and resilience with regard to cross-cultural interactions. In study 1, a diverse sample of 361 participants responded to a survey and results confirmed the hypothesized higher-order factor structure of the newly developed cross-cultural PsyCap scale. In study 2, an additional 134 participants completed multiple surveys to assess the convergent, discriminant and predictive validity of cross-cultural PsyCap as it relates to cultural intelligence, openness to experience, ethnocentrism and cross-cultural adjustment. The majo...
Environmental Toxicology Case Studies for Primary Care Physicians

(1990). Environmental Toxicology Case Studies for Primary Care Physicians. Journal of Toxicology: Clinical Toxicology: Vol. 28, No. 3, pp. vii-viii.
Directions for Exploiting Asymmetries in Multilingual Wikipedia

Multilingual Wikipedia has been used extensively for a variety Natural Language Processing (NLP) tasks. Many Wikipedia entries (people, locations, events, etc.) have descriptions in several languages. These descriptions, however, are not identical. On the contrary, descriptions in different languages created for the same Wikipedia entry can vary greatly in terms of description length and information choice. Keeping these peculiarities in mind is necessary while using multilingual Wikipedia as a corpus for training and testing NLP applications. In this paper we present preliminary results on quantifying Wikipedia multilinguality. Our results support the observation about the substantial variation in descriptions of Wikipedia entries created in different languages. However, we believe that asymmetries in multilingual Wikipedia do not make Wikipedia an undesirable corpus for NLP applications training. On the contrary, we outline research directions that can utilize multilingual Wikipedia asymmetries to bridge the communication gaps in multilingual societies.
Brain size and intelligence in man

Although estimates of brain weight are useless in prediction of individual intelligence in man, the available data (none of them entirely adequate) suggest that the real correlation may be as high as 0.3. Evaluation of causes suggests the participation of a direct effect. Natural selection on intelligence at a current estimated intensity suffices to explain the rapid rate of increase of brain size in human evolution. Selection on birth weight may also suffice for this. It does not seem overly difficult to estimate directly the relationships among brain weight, intelligence, and fitness.
Stimulation of the pentose phosphate pathway and glutathione levels by dehydroascorbate, the oxidized form of vitamin C

Ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, generally functions as an antioxidant by directly reacting with reactive oxygen intermediates and has a vital role in defenses against oxidative stress. However, ascorbic acid also has pro-oxidant properties and may cause apoptosis of lymphoid and myeloid cells. The present study shows that dehydroascorbate, the oxidized form of vitamin C, stimulates the antioxidant defenses of cells, preferentially importing dehydroascorbate over ascorbate. While 200–800 μM vitamin C caused apoptosis of Jurkat and H9 human T lymphocytes, pretreatment with 200-1000 μM dehydroascorbate stimulated activity of pentose phosphate pathway enzymes glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, and transaldolase, elevated intracellular glutathione levels, and inhibited H2O2-induced changes in mitochondrial transmembrane potential and cell death. A 3.3-fold maximal glutathione elevation was observed after 48 h stimulation with 800 μM dehydroascorbate. In itself, dehydroascorbate d...
Petrology of Some Volcanic Rocks from the Northern Fiji Plateau

Andesite from the island of Tikopea, approximately 200 km northeast of the New Hebrides, is similar to andesite from that island chain but richer in silica and alkalis. Samples collected from Anuda Island (about 320 km northeast of the New Hebrides Islands) and dredged from the Vitiaz Trench (150 km northeast of Anuda) are tholeiitic basalt. The formation of Tikopea Island is probably related to crustal fracturing on the Fiji Plateau, whereas that of Anuda Island may be tectonically related to the Vitiaz Trench.
A framework for adaptive routing in multicomputer networks

Message-passing concurrent computers, also known as multicomputers, such as the Caltech Cosmic Cube [47] and its commercial descendents, consist of many computing nodes that interact with each other by sending and receiving messages over communication channels between the nodes. The communication networks of the second-generation machines, such as the Symult Series 2010 and the Intel iPSC2 [2], employ an oblivious wormhole-routing technique that guarantees deadlock freedom. The network performance of this highly evolved oblivious technique has reached a limit of being capable of delivering, under random traffic, a stable maximum sustained throughput of ~~45 to 50% of the limit set by the network bisection bandwidth, while maintaining acceptable network latency. This thesis examines the possibility of performing adaptive routing as an approach to further improving upon the performance and reliability of these networks. In an adaptive multipath routing scheme, message trajectories are no longer deterministic, but are continuously perturbed by local message loading. Message packets will tend to follow their shortest-distance routes to destinations in normal traffic loading, but can be detoured to longer but less-loaded routes as local congestion occurs. A simple adaptive cut-through packet-switching framework is described, and a number of fundamental issues concerning the theoretical feasibility of the adaptive approach are studied. Freedom of communication deadlock is achieved by following a coherent channel protocol and by applying voluntary misrouting as needed. Packet deliveries are assured by resolving channel-access conflicts according to a priority assignment. Fairness of network access is assured either by sending round-trip packets or by having each node follow a local injection-synchronization protocol. The performance behavior of the proposed adaptive cut-through framework is studied with stochastic modeling and analysis, as well as through extensive simulation experiments for the 2D and 3D rectilinear networks. Theoretical bounds on various average network-performance metrics are derived for these rectilinear networks. These bounds provide a standard frame of reference for interpreting the performance results. In addition to the potential gain in network performance, the adaptive approach offers the potential for exploiting the inherent path redundancy found in richly connected networks in order to perform fault-tolerant routing. Two convexity-related notions are introduced to characterize the conditions under which our adaptive routing formulation is adequate to provide fault-tolerant routing, with minimal change in routing hardware, The effectiveness of these notions is studied through extensive simulations, The 2D octagonal-mesh network is suggested; this displays excellent fault-tolerant potential under the adaptive routing framework. Both performance and reliability behaviors of the octagonal mesh are studied in detail. A number of
Dietary fat’gene interactions in cancer

Epidemiologic studies have suggested for decades an association between dietary fat and cancer risk. A large body of work performed in tissue culture and xenograft models of cancer supports an important role of various types of fat in modulating the cancer phenotype. Yet, the molecular mechanisms underlining the effects of fat on cancer initiation and progression are largely unknown. The relationships between saturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, cholesterol or phytanic acid with cancer have been reviewed respectively. However, few have considered the relationship between all of these fats and cancer. The purpose of this review is to present a more cohesive view of dietary fat’gene interactions, and outline a working hypothesis of the intricate connection between fat, genes and cancer.
Genetic and phenotypic variation in diet breadth in a generalist herbivore

The genetic and plastic components of polyphagy were investigated in a population ofLymantria dispar, the gypsy moth. A simple genetic experiment assessed the expression of (1) genetic variability in life history traits within each of four environments, (2) genetic variability in diet breadth, expressed as a change in the ranks of family performance across hosts, and (3) homeostasis (equivalent performance by a family across hosts) versus phenotypic plasticity (variable performance by a family across hosts). Sibs from each of 14 families, randomly selected from a single population, were reared on four diets: two natural hosts — chestnut and red oak, and two synthetic hosts — a standard laboratory diet and a low-protein version of this diet. Average population performance, measured in terms of development time and pupal weight, was better on standard laboratory diet than on low-protein diet, and was equal on chestnut and red oak for pupal weight, but better on chestnut oak for development time. Average population performance provided no information about the genetic component of host use ability. The gypsy moth expressed genetic variation in development time within each host environment and in pupal weight within natural host environments. Phenotypic plasticity was expressed by a significant number of families in development time and pupal weight across synthetic hosts and, to a lesser extent, across natural hosts. It was only across natural hosts that genetic variation in diet breadth was expressed, and this was confined to females. Genetic variability in diet breadth may be maintained in this species as a consequence of the unpredictability of its food sources.
Abstract only: Solving linear differential equations by using descent

For second order linear ordinary differential equations with coefficients in C(x), we present an algorithm to reduce, whenever possible, the equation to an equation defined over a subfield of C(x). At the moment, we have implemented 2-descent, which means that if there exists a reduction to a subfield of index 2, then we can find it. If n is the number of true singularities, then 2-descent, if it exists, reduces the number of true singularities to at most n/2 + 2. In 12 out of the 17 examples sent to us by Bostan and Kauers, we found that repeated use of 2-descent reduced their regular singular equation down to 3 singularities, which means that 2-descent allows us to find 2F1-hypergeometric type solutions for about two third's of their equations.
On beyond LTP

In a challenging and insightful commentary, Sanes and Lichtman (1999) courageously point out in print what has often been discussed at recent meetings: LTP seems to have lost its usefulness as a paradigm for studying synaptic plasticity, much less learning and memory. The authors then offer two broad explanations for the current profusion (and confusion) of potential molecular mechanisms for LTP. The first is the simple suggestion that “Many molecules are required to mediate the process.” The second is that a variety of historical, experimental, and biological “factors have thwarted attempts to pinpoint a minimal cadre of essential molecules among a larger group of candidates.” Sanes and Lichtman favor this second, less optimistic explanation. I will argue that the truth lies somewhere in between. Sanes and Lichtman suggest that one reason we have a clear molecular explanation for, say, the action potential but not for LTP is that “the molecular biologists and biochemists studying action potentials knew what they were trying to explain.” In contrast, they correctly point out that it has “remained a challenge to supply a clear definition, description or function” for LTP. I agree that the inability to measure with a microelectrode alone the subtle mechanistic differences between one form of long-lasting synaptic potentiation and another has prevented a clear definition of LTP. The problem is magnified because the Nature of modern Science of the Cell biology of the Neuron has been to equate function with what is measured by a microelectrode. Thus, the trend has been to accept almost any manipulation that alters the tetanus-induced increase in EPSP slope as a legitimate functional study of LTP. It seems evident that a new paradigm is needed. In fact, many investigators have been quietly forging new ways of investigating synaptic regulation in the CNS, despite the frustration of having their work often relegated to non-functional status. In theory, there are a finite number of ways to change the strength of synaptic transmission. For example, the probability that a presynaptic action potential causes release of a vesicle of transmitter can be altered. An able group of molecular biologists and biochemists have made great strides in understanding this facet of synaptic regulation by investigating the molecular mechanisms of vesicular transmitter release. These studies, starting with descriptions of the proteins in synaptic vesicles (Reichardt and Kelly 1983) and interacting proteins in the plasma membrane (Bennett and Scheller 1994), have lead inevitably to exciting insights into the mechanisms of controlled synaptic vesicle fusion (Sutton et al. 1998; Chen et al. 1999). The next step will be to clarify the sites of regulation by calcium and by protein phosphorylation (Bennett 1997; Bajjalieh 1999). Another way that synaptic strength can be altered is to change the magnitude of the current-through-activated postsynaptic glutamate receptors. Here again, molecular biologists and biochemists have defined COMMENTARY
Specification Issues in Proximity Models of Candidate Evaluation (with Issue Importance)

The use of the proximity model to represent the relationship between citizens' policy attitudes and the positions of candidates on the issues of the day has considerable appeal because it offers a bridge between theoretical models of political behavior and empirical work. However, there is little consensus among applied researchers about the appropriate representation of voter behavior with respect to the measurement of issue distance, candidate location, or whether to allow heterogeneity in the weight that each individual places on particular issues. Each of these choices suggests a different, and reasonably complicated, nonlinear relationship between voter utility and candidate and voter issue positions which may have a meaningful influence on the substantive conclusions drawn by the researcher. Yet, little attention has been given to the best way to represent the proximity model in applied work. The purpose of this paper is to identify which forms of the proximity model work best, with particular consideration given to the identification of functional forms that are invariant to the choice of scale for the independent variables.
Computational analysis and classification of p53 mutants according to primary structure

Widely used multiple alignment based techniques can give false results for single base mutation as the primary sequence of mutants and that of the wild types are very similar. We present a technique that uses signal processing methods along with biochemical properties of individual amino acids for the analysis of proteins. Each amino acid of mutant protein is replaced with the corresponding biochemical properties and generates a set of biochemical signals. These signals are used to extract signal processing features like complexity, mobility, fractal dimension, and wavelet transformation. In an experimental study of p53 protein, mutants resulting from single mutation of eight residue of the /spl beta/-strand 326-33 to alanine were analyzed for their ability to stimulate transcription, to inhibit the growth of Saos-2 cells, and to repress the promoter of multidrug resistance gene. Our classification results, merely based on the analysis of primary sequences, are matching with those of the experiential studies.
A calcitriol analogue, EB1089, inhibits the growth of LNCaP tumors in nude mice.

Limited options for the treatment of prostate cancer have spurred the search for new therapies. One innovative approach is the use of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol) analogues to inhibit cancer growth. We demonstrate here that the calcitriol analogue, EB1089, extensively inhibits the growth of LNCaP prostate cancer cells in culture and causes the cells to both accumulate in G-G1 and undergo apoptosis. Importantly, we found that EB1089 inhibits the growth of LNCaP tumor xenografts in nude mice. Because of these antiproliferative properties in vivo , EB1089 is a potential new therapeutic agent for the treatment of prostate cancer.
Acyclovir Nephrotoxicity: A Case Report Highlighting the Importance of Prevention, Detection, and Treatment of Acyclovir-Induced Nephropathy

Acute kidney injury is an unfortunate complication of acyclovir therapy secondary to crystal-induced nephropathy. It is characterized by a decrease in renal function that develops within 24–48 hours of acyclovir administration indicated by a rapid rise in the serum creatinine. Failure to quickly realize this as an etiology of acute kidney injury can lead to excessive morbidity to the patient. The case described in this vignette is an example of the clinical manifestation of acyclovir crystal obstructive nephrotoxicity. We will briefly discuss the pathophysiology, diagnosis, prevention, and management of patients that present with acyclovir nephrotoxicity.
Complying by Denying: Explaining Why States Develop Nonproliferation Export Controls

The adoption of UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1540 in 2004 reflects an emerging consensus that more should be done by the international community to address the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. UNSCR 1540 articulates a universal, legally binding obligation for all states to confront proliferation by adopting effective export control systems. To date, however, there have been no attempts to systematically analyze compliance with this new obligation, making it impossible to assess the success of this measure and the underlying causes of any shortcomings. This study addresses this by conducting a systematic empirical analysis of state compliance with UNSCR 1540. Drawing upon theories of compliance with international law, we investigate two distinct explanations for variation in the degree to which states adopt nonproliferation export controls: one based on state interests and enforcement and the other based on state capacity. Our statistical tests of these theories use a new, cross-national data set detailing the nonproliferation policies of 30 states. The empirical results indicate that compliance with international nonproliferation obligations is influenced most by a state’s economic and governmental capacities and has little to do with interest-based factors. These findings suggest that capacity-building programs are the best option for improving the implementation of UNSCR 1540 and of nonproliferation efforts in general.
Role of soil organic matter in a desert soil on plant response to silver, tungsten, cobalt, and lead

Barley plants grown in a soil very low in organic matter had higher concentrations of Mn, Cu, Zn, and Mo than when the plants were grown in soil considerably higher in soil organic matter. Application of some heavy metals (Co, W, Ag) resulted in much more severe phytotoxicity on low organic matter soil than on high organic matter soil. FeDTPA (ferric diethylene triamine pentaacetate acid) increased Fe levels in plants much more on low organic matter soil than on high organic matter soil. Low organic matter soil resulted in a lower Cs level from the applied Cs than from the high organic matter soil. Sulfur increased Mn concentration of plants even though all the soil was not neutralized.