cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Oscillating Physics and Periodic Universes

The periodicity in the pencil-beam red shift survey of galaxies reported by Broadhurst, et al. may be an illusion caused by the periodic oscillations of physical constants. We analyze scenarios entailing gravitational, electromagnetic, and other interactions.
Fracturing Opportunity: Mexican Migrant Students and College-Going Literacy, by Ryan E. Gildersleeve

College access is a hot topic in academic research, especially when addressing the persistent and inequitable achievement gap that exists for low-income and minority students. Deeper investigation ...
scc: cluster storage provisioning informed by application characteristics and SLAs

Storage for cluster applications is typically provisioned based on rough, qualitative characterizations of applications. Moreover, configurations are often selected based on rules of thumb and are usually homogeneous across a deployment; to handle increased load, the application is simply scaled out across additional machines and storage of the same type. As deployments grow larger and storage options (e.g., disks, SSDs, DRAM) diversify, however, current practices are becoming increasingly inefficient in trading off cost versus performance.To enable more cost-effective deployment of cluster applications, we develop scc--a storage configuration compiler for cluster applications. scc automates cluster configuration decisions based on formal specifications of application behavior and hardware properties. We study a range of storage configurations and identify specifications that succinctly capture the trade-offs offered by different types of hardware, as well as the varying demands of application components. We apply scc to three representative applications and find that scc is expressive enough to meet application Service Level Agreements (SLAs) while delivering 2-4.5× savings in cost on average compared to simple scale-out options. scc's advantage stems mainly from its ability to configure heterogeneous--rather than conventional, homogeneous--cluster architectures to optimize cost.
MODIFIED DE MARTONNE ARIDITY INDEX: APPLICATION TO THE NAPA BASIN, CALIFORNIA

Because of its ease of calculation, the de Martonne aridity index (IdM) is used frequently by investigators for identifying susceptibility to drought conditions. However, application of the classical IdM formula in some geographical areas does not lead to a correct or complete configuration of drought occurrence. This paper proposes a modified index (IMod) with consideration of a general water-budget equation, instead of precipitation alone as in the IdM. This equation may contain different components in accordance with the season to which it refers; a pattern of three seasons is considered for the Napa Basin area. Equation inputs are averaged monthly values. Assessment is affected by a long series of factors, such as meteorological conditions, evapotranspiration, land morphology and runoff, subsurface influx and drainage capacity, soil cover/use, and irrigation. Since geographical conditions dramatically change with the seasons, the IMod variation is large. In comparison with the Palmer drought severity ...
Parallel solid-phase synthesis and high-throughput 1H NMR evaluation of a 96-member 1,2,4-trisubstituted-pyrimidin-6-one-5-carboxylic acid library.

A solid-phase organic synthesis method has been developed for the preparation of trisubstituted pyrimidin-6-one carboxylic acids 12, which allows elaboration to a 3-dimensional combinatorial library. Three substituents are introduced by initial Knoevenagel condensation of an aldehyde and malonate ester resin 7 to give resin bound 1. Cyclization of 1 with an N-substituted amidine 10, oxidation, and cleavage afforded pyrimidinone 12. The initial solid-phase reaction sequence was followed by gel-phase 19FNMR and direct-cleavage 1H NMR of intermediate resins to determine the optimal conditions. The scope of the method for library production was determined by investigation of a 3 × 4 pilot library of twelve compounds. Cyclocondensation of N-methylamidines and 7 followed by CAN oxidation gave mixtures of the resin bound pyrimidin-6-one 11 and the regioisomeric pyrimidin-4-one 15, which after cleavage from the resin afforded a nearly 1:1 mixture of pyrimidin-6-one and pyrimidin-4-one carboxylic acids 12 and 16, ...
The Determinants of Retail Loyalty of Indian Consumers

This study investigated the influence of expectations and evaluation of functional and social attributes on Indian consumers' food retail loyalty. Structural equation modeling results indicate that social self-congruity is an important determinant of food store patronage in India. Food assortment and services are critical drivers of supermarket loyalty, whereas relative advantage is the only determinant of store loyalty among traditional food retail customers. Positive store experiences lead to increased store commitment and perception of greater relative advantage for traditional retail shoppers, whereas positive store experiences increase switching costs for supermarket customers. Implications for food market entry into India are presented.
Sodium-Glucose Transporter-2 (SGLT2; SLC5A2) Enhances Cellular Uptake of Aminoglycosides

Aminoglycoside antibiotics, like gentamicin, continue to be clinically essential worldwide to treat life-threatening bacterial infections. Yet, the ototoxic and nephrotoxic side-effects of these drugs remain serious complications. A major site of gentamicin uptake and toxicity resides within kidney proximal tubules that also heavily express electrogenic sodium-glucose transporter-2 (SGLT2; SLC5A2) in vivo. We hypothesized that SGLT2 traffics gentamicin, and promotes cellular toxicity. We confirmed in vitro expression of SGLT2 in proximal tubule-derived KPT2 cells, and absence in distal tubule-derived KDT3 cells. D-glucose competitively decreased the uptake of 2-(N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino)-2-deoxyglucose (2-NBDG), a fluorescent analog of glucose, and fluorescently-tagged gentamicin (GTTR) by KPT2 cells. Phlorizin, an SGLT2 antagonist, strongly inhibited uptake of 2-NBDG and GTTR by KPT2 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. GTTR uptake was elevated in KDT3 cells transfected with SGLT2 (compared to controls); and this enhanced uptake was attenuated by phlorizin. Knock-down of SGLT2 expression by siRNA reduced gentamicin-induced cytotoxicity. In vivo, SGLT2 was robustly expressed in kidney proximal tubule cells of heterozygous, but not null, mice. Phlorizin decreased GTTR uptake by kidney proximal tubule cells in Sglt2+/− mice, but not in Sglt2−/− mice. However, serum GTTR levels were elevated in Sglt2−/− mice compared to Sglt2+/− mice, and in phlorizin-treated Sglt2+/− mice compared to vehicle-treated Sglt2+/− mice. Loss of SGLT2 function by antagonism or by gene deletion did not affect gentamicin cochlear loading or auditory function. Phlorizin did not protect wild-type mice from kanamycin-induced ototoxicity. We conclude that SGLT2 can traffic gentamicin and contribute to gentamicin-induced cytotoxicity.
On the use of a proton path probability map for proton computed tomography reconstruction.

Purpose: To describe a method to estimate the proton path in proton computed tomography (pCT) reconstruction, which is based on the probability of a proton passing through each point within an object to be imaged. Methods: Based on multiple Coulomb scattering and a semianalytically derived model, the conditional probability of a proton passing through each point within the object given its incoming and exit condition is calculated in a Bayesian inference framework, employing data obtained from Monte Carlo simulation using GEANT4. The conditional probability at all of the points in the reconstruction plane forms a conditional probability map and can be used for pCT reconstruction. Results: From the generated conditional probability map, a most-likely path (MLP) and a 90% probability envelope around the most-likely path can be extracted and used for pCT reconstruction. The reconstructed pCT image using the conditional probability map yields a smooth pCT image with minor artifacts. pCT reconstructions obtained using the extracted MLP and the 90% probability envelope compare well to reconstructions employing the method of cubic spline proton path estimation. Conclusions: The conditional probability of a proton passing through each point in an object given its entrance and exit condition can be obtained using the proposed method. The extracted MLP and the 90% probability envelope match the proton path recorded in the GEANT4 simulation well. The generated probability map also provides a benchmark for comparing different path estimation methods.
Teaching software engineering in the computer science curriculum

The goals of computer science department and software engineering courses are not always clear as they could be, and exactly how much of a computer science curriculum should be spent on software engineering topics at the expense of topics with more immediate relevance to computer science majors is far from clear. Computer science students are sometimes skeptical about the relevance of software engineering course topics, particularly those who have had some experience in industry. They report that the techniques and procedures covered in standard software engineering texts are seldom used in industry. There is not enough communication between Industry and Academia, and graduates often must be re-trained for their new jobs. This is a proposal for a modification in the approach to software engineering education for computer science majors, and for clarification of the goals of computer science programs, and calls for procedures to increase the relevancy of computer science and software engineering courses to meet the needs of industry.
High volumetric electrochemical performance of ultra-high density aligned carbon nanotube supercapacitors with controlled nanomorphology

The superior electrical conductivity and parallel ion pathways formed by aligned carbon nanotubes (A-CNTs) make them attractive for the nanoporous electrodes of supercapacitors. To achieve high volumetric energy and power densities, the low volume density of the as-synthesized A-CNT (<5%) should be densified. In this paper, we demonstrate a mechanical densification method that allows the density of A-CNTs to be tuned precisely over a broad range while preserving the straight ion pathway between A-CNTs. The supercapacitors fabricated from 40% volumetric fraction (Vf) of A-CNTs as the electrodes with the thickness of 0.8 mm exhibit a power density of 25 kW L−1 (50 kW kg−1), which is much higher than that of the A-CNTs electrodes with similar thickness fabricated by other methods and that of activated carbon electrodes.
Why classification for HIV/AIDS prevention interventions?

Data are one of the most important tools in the American health care system. The collection and analysis of data legitimizes and scientifically substantiates the interventions and treatments that enable health care professionals to prevent and treat diseases. To do this, however, there must be universal understanding of what individual pieces of data mean. To this end, data need to be placed into the form of a standardized language. Although the roles of data and standardized language have been clearly recognized and acted upon by the nursing profession, others, including those in the HIV/AIDS prevention community, have lagged behind. As a result, whereas the nursing profession has enjoyed increased quality and recognition, the HIV/ AIDS prevention community remains fragmented, undeveloped, and underappreciated, and our understanding of prevention interventions remains poor. It is the authors’hope that the powers-that-be take notice of the strides made by the nursing profession and follow their lead in establishing a national standardized classification system for HIV/AIDS prevention interventions. Developed in 1992, the Nursing Intervention Classification (NIC) and its 486 interventions has evolved to serve as the comprehensive standardized language used to describe the treatments, care, and prevention services performed by nurses. These services range from physiological to psychosocial interventions. Unique to the NIC is the fact that each intervention enjoys mutually exclusive labels, definitions, activities, and codes, and each is linked to the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association list of diagnoses (McCloskey & Bulechek, 1996). Mutual exclusivity, as provided by standardized language, is important because it enables the treatments and prevention interventions to be costed-out, compared, and evaluated across diagnostic systems, strategies, and techniques. However, differences of opinion do exist. Embraced by some and attacked by others, the NIC has been cited as both a benefit and a threat to the nursing profession. On one hand, it has been argued that the standardization of language will increase clinical, financial, and research quality. In addition, the developers of NIC have also expressed the hope that their
Hemispheric Control of Territorial Aggression in Anolis carolinensis: Effects of Mild Stress

Previous work has demonstrated that the brain of Anolis carolinensis is functionally split, in that the left and right eyes project predominantly to the contralateral hemisphere, an
Developmental neurobiology and the origin of brain tumors.

Our knowledge of the causes of brain tumors has steadily increased and is leading to a refined understanding of the signaling pathways that may be essential for tumor formation. At the same time, we are gaining insights into the developmental processes that regulate the formation of the diverse range of cell types in the normal brain. Interestingly, many of these pathways seem to overlap and suggest common mechanisms regulating tumor formation and cellular development. This overlap may also inform us about the nature of the cell of origin for different types of brain tumors. By appreciating the inter-relationship between tumor formation and development, we may be able to design new therapeutics targeting tumors for new modes of treatment.
Ketonization Reactions of Carboxylic Acids and Esters over Ceria−Zirconia as Biomass-Upgrading Processes

Carboxylic acids and esters are common intermediate products formed in biomass conversion processes. Reaction kinetics studies for upgrading mixtures containing carboxylic acids and esters by ketonization reactions (to achieve C−C coupling) over a ceria−zirconia catalyst have been carried out using butanoic acid, pentanoic acid, and hexanoic acid at temperatures of 548, 573, 598, and 623 K. The results from these experimental studies have been consolidated and described using kinetic models. For the ketonization of hexanoic acid, a kinetic model, previously developed for hexanoic acid, has been modified and extended to describe a wider and more applicable concentration range, between 2.5 and 75 mol %. Furthermore, the homo- and the cross-ketonization of butanoic acid, pentanoic acid, and hexanoic acid have been studied, showing that the rate of cross-ketonization is faster than the rate of homo-ketonization. Because esters are common side products of biomass conversion processes, formed by the esterificat...
The Protective Value of Hardiness on Military Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms

This study examined the protective effects of hardiness (dispositional resilience) on self-reported posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in a sample of postdeployed service members. Hardin...
Hanoi’s Informal Sector and the Vietnamese Economy: A Case Study of Roving Street Vendors

This article analyzes the results of survey data on roving street vendors of Hanoi. It describes the continued ties of these members of the urban informal sector to the rural sector of the economy,...
Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in a Patient With Heparin-Induced Thrombocytopenia: Intraoperative Anticoagulation Management With Bivalirudin (Angiomax)

ORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT secondary to calcified aortic stenosis is the most common valvular replacement surgery in the United States, constituting nearly 50,000 cases per year. 1 Historically, aortic valve replacement required open heart surgery, which had a 4% to 18% risk of mortality, until 2002 when transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) was first described. 2 TAVR is an alternative for patients who are at high risk for perioperative complications for an open valve replacement. Maintaining adequate anticoagulation during a TAVR procedure is an integral component, with unfractionated heparin (UFH) being the anticoagulant of choice. Alternative agents for patients with contraindications to heparin undergoing TAVR have not been well-described in the literature. The authors present a case report of a patient with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) type II who successfully underwent TAVR with bivalirudin anticoagulation. To the best of their knowledge, this is the first case report of utilizing an alternative anticoagulant, bivalirudin, during a TAVR procedure. CASE PRESENTATION
MEMS fluid viscosity sensor

Quartz shear resonators are employed widely as sensors to measure Newtonian viscosities of liquids. Perturbation of the electrical equivalent circuit parameters of the plate resonator by the fluid loading permits calculation of the mass density-shear viscosity product. Use of doubly rotated resonators does permit additional information to be obtained, but in no case can the viscosity and mass density values be separated. In these measurements, the resonator surface is exposed to a measurand bath whose extent greatly exceeds the penetration depth of the evanescent shear mode excited by the active element. Here we briefly review past techniques and current art, and sketch a proposal involving the interesting situation in which the separation between the resonator and a confining wall is less than the penetration depth of the fluid occupying the intervening region. To highlight the salient features of this novel case, the discussion is limited to the very idealized circumstance of a strictly 1-D problem, unencumbered by the vicissitudes inevitably encountered in practice. An appendix mentions some of these functional impedimenta and indicates how deviations from ideality might be approached in engineering embodiments. When the fluid confinement is of the order of the penetration depth, the resonator perturbation becomes a sensitive function of the separation, and it is found that viscosity and density may be separately and uniquely determined. Moreover, extreme miniaturization is a natural consequence because the penetration depth generally is on the order of micrometers for frequencies around 1 MHz at temperatures and pressures ordinarily encountered with gases and liquids. Micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) versions of viscometers and associated types of fluid sensors are thereby enabled.
Different Kinds of Causality in Event Cognition

Narrative memory is better for information that is more causally connected and occurs at event boundaries, such as a causal break. However, it is unclear whether there are common or distinct influences of causality. For the event boundaries that arise as a result of causal breaks, the events that follow may subsequently become more causally connected to it as people seek to understand why the break occurred and the consequences of it. Thus, although a causal break has no prior causal connections, it may be linked to many pieces of subsequent information, thereby ultimately affecting memory for it. As such, better memory would be due to increased final causal connectivity, not to being an event boundary of the causal break, per se. The current study had people read and recall narratives that were coded for causal breaks and causal connectivity. The results revealed slower reading times and better memory for causal breaks and faster reading times and better memory with increased prior causal connections. Al...
Role of Carboxylate Bridges in Modulating Nonheme Diiron(II)/O2 Reactivity

A series of diiron(II) complexes of the dinucleating ligand HPTP (N,N,N‘,N‘-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)-2-hydroxy-1,3-diaminopropane) with one or two supporting carboxylate bridges has been synthesized and characterized. The crystal structure of one member of each subset has been obtained to reveal for subset A a (μ-alkoxo)(μ-carboxylato)diiron(II) center with one five- and one six-coordinate metal ion and for subset B a coordinatively saturated (μ-alkoxo)bis(μ-carboxylato)diiron(II) center. These complexes react with O2 in second-order processes to form adducts characterized as (μ-1,2-peroxo)diiron(III) complexes. Stopped-flow kinetic studies show that the oxygenation step is sensitive to the availability of an O2 binding site on the diiron(II) center, as subset B reacts more slowly by an order of magnitude. The lifetimes of the O2 adducts are also distinct and can be modulated by the addition of oxygen donor ligands. The O2 adduct of a monocarboxylate complex decays by a fast second-order process that mus...
Efficacy of 250 mg trospectomycin sulfate i.m. vs. 250 mg ceftriaxone i.m. for treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhea.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Due to the steadily progressive development of resistance to the drugs used for treatment, Neisseria gonorrhoeae remains a medical concern. Trospectomycin sulfate is a 6' propyl analogue of spectinomycin with potent activity against penicillin sensitive and resistant strains of N. gonorrhoeae. GOAL OF THIS STUDY To compare the efficacy of 250 mg trospectomycin sulfate i.m. versus 250 mg ceftriaxone i.m. for single dose therapy for men and women with uncomplicated gonorrhea. STUDY DESIGN Dual-center, randomized comparative trial. RESULTS Among evaluable male patients with urethral gonorrhea, 36 of 40 (90%, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] 76%-97%) who were treated with trospectomycin sulfate were cured, and 22 of 22 patients (100%, [85%-100%]) treated with ceftriaxone were cured. Among evaluable female patients with cervical gonorrhea all were cured following trospectomycin sulfate (23 of 23) and following ceftriaxone therapy (13 of 13). The cure rates for pharyngeal gonorrhea were 67% (8 of 12 patients, 35%-90%) for trospectomycin sulfate therapy, and 100% (2 of 2) with ceftriaxone therapy. CONCLUSIONS Trospectomycin sulfate, 250 mg i.m., is effective, and well tolerated. However, for treatment of uncomplicated genital and pharyngeal gonorrhea, it is not as reliable for therapy as other recommended regimens.
A pallidostriatal projection in the cat and monkey

Using the retrograde transport of horseradish peroxidase-labeled wheat germ agglutinin, a direct projection from the globus pallidus to the caudate nucleus and putamen was shown in the cat. The retrograde transport of the fluorescent dye Granular blue was used in a squirrel monkey to demonstrate a similar projection from the external pallidal segment to the putamen. No cell-labeling occurs in the cat's entopeduncular nucleus or the monkey's internal pallidal segment. In the cat, the pallidostriatal neurons are found in all parts of the globus pallidus and project throughout the striatum. However, the pallidostriatal projection is topographically organized such that it reciprocates the topography of the striatopallidal projection.
Neutron computed tomography

A neutron-transmission computed tomography scanning system has been built for scanning biological materials. An oxygen filtered beam of 2.35 MeV neutrons was used for the measurements. The studies to date show that the interactions of these energy neutrons with samples simulating biological materials are more sensitive than X-rays to variations in the content of the material, thus providing the ability to produce high quality images. The neutron scans suggest that neutrons can be an effective radiation for the imaging of biological materials.
Porous Vesicles Dispersible in Organic Solvents

The porous vesicles reported so far have hydrophilic surfaces. If the surfaces are chemically modified to be compatible with common organic solvents, their application will be extended. 1,2-Bis[9-(4-vinylbenzyloxycarbonyl)nonanoyl]-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (BNPC) was synthesized and used as a polymerizable surfactant for the present study. Vesicles composed of BNPC and cholesterol with embedded divinylbenzene were polymerized, followed by skeletonization (removal of cholesterol) and hydrolysis (cleavage of the ester bonds in BNPC unit). The resulting vesicles (250 nm) whose surfaces contain hydroxyl groups appeared to have holes with diameters up to several tens of nanometers. They were dispersed in water, methanol, tetrahydrofuran, and chloroform. The turbidity of the dispersions decreased as follows: water > methanol > tetrahydrofuran > chloroform. The dispersion in water remained turbid with some precipitates during storage, but those in methanol and tetrahydrofuran appeared to be clear with white ...
The posthatch physiology of the turkey poult. I: Growth and development

Daily body, heart, liver, spleen, pancreas and bursa of Fabricius weights of developing turkey poults were measured. Neither organ nor body weight was affected by sex of the poults during the first 10 days posthatch. Decreases in growth were apparent between days 3 and 6 or 7 and 9 posthatch and coincided with peaks in early mortality.
Abstract 903: Expression of estrogen receptor beta together with aromatase predicts survival in non-small cell lung cancer

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Lung cancer continues to be the leading cause of cancer mortality. There is increasing evidence suggesting estrogens and estrogen signaling play a significant role in lung cancer pathophysiology. Estrogen receptors (ER) alpha and beta are expressed in normal lung and many non-small cell lung cancers. Previously we found that in women 65 years and older with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), higher aromatase levels in tumor cells conferred a worse prognosis for survival. Here we examine whether ER alpha and ER beta levels in conjunction with aromatase can further define different patient groups with respect to survival outcomes and possible treatment regimens. Methods: Immunohistochemistry was performed on a high-density tissue microarray with marker data and clinical information available for 378 patients. Patients were subcategorized by gender, age, smoking status and tumor histology. Survival data was determined using the Cox proportional hazards model and Kaplan-Meier curves. Results: Unlike aromatase, neither ER alpha nor ER beta alone were predictors of survival in NSCLC patients or any subset of these patients examined. However, when coupled with aromatase expression, higher ER beta levels predicted poorer survival in those patients whose tumors expressed higher levels of aromatase. Although this survival difference was present in patients of both genders, it was more pronounced in women > 65 years old, where higher expression of both ER beta and aromatase showed a markedly worse survival rate than that determined by aromatase alone. Conclusion: Combined expression of ER beta with aromatase has predictive value for survival in different gender and age subgroups of NSCLC patients. This predictive value is stronger than each individual marker alone. These results suggest that possibly treatment with aromatase inhibitors alone or combined with estrogen receptor modulators may have benefit in some subpopulations of NSCLC patients. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 903. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-903
Vitamin C Saturation Test of Harris and Abbasy

DURING a year's service in the R.A.M.C., six months were occupied exclusively in carrying out and reporting upon this test1 according to a scheme drawn up by the Directorate. Though the results concerning the 1,200 men examined cannot be given, some remarks on the method appear to be worth recording as based on experience gained in performing some thousands of titrations ; also a couple of points accidentally discovered may be mentioned.
Factorial designs and the theory of trade-off

Abstract We consider a method to construct factorial designs with all factors at two levels and with an information matrix, pertaining to a specified model, that is equal to the information matrix for a given design. The method is based on a relation between this problem and the problem of trade-off in block designs. By exploring this relation, the extensive results on t -trades can be used for the construction of the desired factorial designs. This provides also additional incentive for the continued development of the theory of trade-off.
Frequency-specific responses in the human brain caused by electromagnetic fields

The effects of 1.5- and 10-Hz electromagnetic fields (EMFs), 0.2-0.4 gauss, on the intrinsic electrical activity of the human brain at these frequencies was studied. Each of 19 subjects exposed for 2-sec epochs exhibited altered brain electrical activity at the frequency of the EMF during the time of stimulation, as determined by spectral analysis of the electroencephalogram. Since brain activity at specific frequencies could be altered by applied EMFs, the results suggest that it may be possible to use EMFs to determine whether particular intrinsic frequencies subserve specific physiological or behavioral responses.
The extended palmar advancement flap

A technique is presented that permits resurfacing up to 3 cm of palmar skin loss from the thumb, while preserving thumb length, minimizing thumb joint flexion contracture, and providing normal sensibility. The classic Moberg palmar advancement flap is extended proximally onto the thenar eminence. The radial and ulnar defects created by the distal advancement of the flap are closed by two additional local rotation flaps. Scarring is acceptable and follows natural lines. The technique is applicable for both primary repair and secondary reconstruction.
The relative impacts of nutrient loads and invasive species on a Great Lakes food web: An Ecopath with Ecosim analysis

Abstract Excessive nutrient loads and species invasions pose significant threats to productivity and function of Great Lakes aquatic ecosystems. We used an Ecopath and Ecosim model to analyze impacts of changes in phosphorus loads, and dreissenid mussels and alewife biomass on the Saginaw Bay food web, Lake Huron. We configured the food web model in Ecopath with pre-dreissenid (1990) data on organism biomass, production, consumption, and diet from federal and state agency surveys and other sources. We conducted 70-year simulations in Ecosim of single factors (nutrients, alewives, and dreissenids) and their combinations. Phosphorus load scenarios were run with high (1970s), average (current), and low (target) levels; alewife scenarios were run with double the 1990–2003 average biomass, 1990–2003 average biomass, and alewife absence; dreissenid scenarios were run with the 1990–1996 average biomass, current (2009–2010) biomass, and dreissenid absence. Results indicated that phosphorus loads were positively correlated with simulated biomass of most food web groups, and alewife biomass was negatively correlated with biomass of most fish groups and macrozooplankton. Dreissenid impacts were most severe on lower trophic levels but were relatively minor for fish groups compared with nutrient and alewife scenarios. Dreissenids had little effect on fish because Chironomids, which feed on detritus and are the main component of fish diets, were not affected by dreissenids. Our results suggest that, under current conditions of absence of alewives and reduced dreissenid biomass, the target nutrient loads established in 1978 would not sustain current fishery harvests in Saginaw Bay given food web changes caused by invasive species.
Association analysis and case study framework based on the name distinction

The research of distinction of name ambiguity in the field of information retrieval could enhance searching effect. Therefore, it plays an important role to mine the data of name ambiguity in order to obtain useful knowledge. In this paper, we focus on the problem of traditional evaluation and ranking method used in the clustering. Traditional evaluation and ranking method ignores the association among the subinformation and simply considers that pieces of subinformation are mutual independent. We present an effective data mining method framework based on the case study and association analysis. The method framework is evaluated on the dataset of name ambiguity from the database of CDBLP. The dataset includes the information of coauthor name, workplace, publication, years and ranking of the author of papers. The experimental results show that one piece of main sub-information assisted by some minors could form a stronger rule very useful for the distinction of name ambiguity. Also some combinations of pieces of minor sub-information could produce a stronger rule. The association rules selected by the experiment could be easily explained and commonsensible. Considering the association rules coming from the objective data and data mining method, they are more reliable.
Individual Differences in Adolescent Health Symptoms: The Effects of Gender and Coping

Previous studies have suggested that adult men and women experience different types and severities of physical and psychological health symptoms. This study examined whether in the case of adolescents these reported gender differences in physical and psychological health symptoms could actually be the result of differences in coping styles. Five hundred and forty-six adolescents were questioned on their coping styles and symptoms. We found gender differences in physical and psychological health symptoms (e.g. anger, depression, tension, negative moods), as well as in coping styles. We also found that the relation between health symptoms and coping varied significantly by gender. The results of this study suggest that doctors, school counselors and family therapists may want to take gender differences in coping styles into account when seeing adolescent patients for physical or psychological health symptoms, and find ways to help the adolescents cope more effectively with their stressors.
Transcriptomic analysis of Clostridium thermocellum ATCC 27405 cellulose fermentation

Background: The ability of Clostridium thermocellum ATCC 27405 wild-type strain to hydrolyze cellulose and ferment the degradation products directly to ethanol and other metabolic byproducts makes it an attractive candidate for consolidated bioprocessing of cellulosic biomass to biofuels. In this study, whole-genome microarrays were used to investigate the expression of C. thermocellum mRNA during growth on crystalline cellulose in controlled replicate batch fermentations. Results: A time-series analysis of gene expression revealed changes in transcript levels of ~40% of genes (~1300 out of 3198 ORFs encoded in the genome) during transition from early-exponential to late-stationary phase. K-means clustering of genes with statistically significant changes in transcript levels identified six distinct clusters of temporal expression. Broadly, genes involved in energy production, translation, glycolysis and amino acid, nucleotide and coenzyme metabolism displayed a decreasing trend in gene expression as cells entered stationary phase. In comparison, genes involved in cell structure and motility, chemotaxis, signal transduction and transcription showed an increasing trend in gene expression. Hierarchical clustering of cellulosome-related genes highlighted temporal changes in composition of this multi-enzyme complex during batch growth on crystalline cellulose, with increased expression of several genes encoding hydrolytic enzymes involved in degradation of non-cellulosic substrates in stationary phase. Conclusions: Overall, the results suggest that under low substrate availability, growth slows due to decreased metabolic potential and C. thermocellum alters its gene expression to (i) modulate the composition of cellulosomes that are released into the environment with an increased proportion of enzymes than can efficiently degrade plant polysaccharides other than cellulose, (ii) enhance signal transduction and chemotaxis mechanisms perhaps to sense the oligosaccharide hydrolysis products, and nutrient gradients generated through the action of cell-free cellulosomes and, (iii) increase cellular motility for potentially orienting the cells’ movement towards positive environmental signals leading to nutrient sources. Such a coordinated cellular strategy would increase its chances of survival in natural ecosystems where feast and famine conditions are frequently encountered.
The Origin of the Ligand Effect in Metal Oxide Catalysts: Novel Fixed-Bed in Situ Infrared and Kinetic Studies during Methanol Oxidation

Abstract Supported and bulk metal oxide catalysts generally exhibit a “ligand effect” in the selective oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde. This phenomenon is identified by orders of magnitude variations in the turnover frequency (TOF; TOF = activity per active surface site) of the same active metal oxide metal atom, for example, V or Mo active sites, as changes are made in the choice of support cation or bulk mixed metal oxide co-cation. The mechanistic origin of this ligand effect has been investigated in the present study using a novel in situ IR cell designed to operate as a fixed-bed catalytic reactor with coupling to an online gas chromatograph for analysis of gas-phase product distributions. The active site determinations required for calculation of TOFs were performed using methanol chemisorption and IR spectroscopy. Moreover, under actual methanol oxidation reaction conditions, quantification of the adsorbed, steady-state concentrations of methoxylated surface intermediates by in situ IR spectroscopy allowed for decoupling of the reaction mechanism to yield individual estimates of the adsorption and surface reaction kinetic parameters. Comparisons of the relative values of the adsorption equilibrium constant, K ads , and the kinetic rate constant for the surface decomposition step, k rds , indicate that the TOF clearly correlates with the rate constant for the surface decomposition step. For example, supported vanadia catalysts exhibit a 12-fold increase in the surface decomposition rate constant, k rds , for vanadia supported on silica, alumina, titania, and ceria supports. Conversely, the adsorption constant, K ads , is relatively invariant for vanadia supported on silica, alumina, and titania, decreasing in value by about half only for the vanadia/ceria catalyst. It also appears that the origin of the ligand effect is fundamentally related to the electronegativity of the ligand cation, the more electropositive ligands (titania and ceria support cations) always having higher TOFs than the more electronegative ligands (alumina and silica support cations). Most likely, the ligand cation electronegativity affects the magnitude of the rate-determining surface reaction step, k rds , via its influence on the ability of the active metal cation to decompose the adsorbed methoxylated surface intermediates by hydride abstraction of methyl hydrogen.
Data mining approaches for information retrieval from genomic databases

Sequence retrieval in genomic databases is used for finding sequences related to a query sequence specified by a user. Comparison is the main part of the retrieval system in genomic databases. An efficient sequence comparison algorithm is critical in bioinformatics. There are several different algorithms to perform sequence comparison, such as the suffix array based database search, divergence measurement, methods that rely upon the existence of a local similarity between the query sequence and sequences in the database, or common mutual information between query and sequences in DB. In this paper we have described a new method for DNA sequence retrieval based on data mining techniques. Data mining tools generally find patterns among data and have been successfully applied in industries to improve marketing, sales, and customer support operations. We have applied the descriptive data mining techniques to find relevant patterns that are significant for comparing genetic sequences. Relevance feedback score based on common patterns is developed and employed to compute distance between sequences. The contigs of human chromosomes are used to test the retrieval accuracy and the experimental results are presented.
Is there a future for direct renin inhibitors

Importance of the field: The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is a key regulator of blood pressure (BP), as well as volume and electrolytes, in both hypertensive and normotensive individuals. Inappropriate activation of the RAAS is important in hypertension-induced cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Renin is the rate-limiting step in the RAAS cascade, which makes direct renin inhibitors (DRIs) an attractive target for RAAS suppression and treatment of hypertension. Current regimens using either angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) result in feedback upregulation of renin and aldosterone breakthrough, which contribute to incomplete suppression of the RAAS. Thereby, aliskiren – alone or in combination – might offer a novel therapeutic intervention to improve suppression of the RAAS, with potential to translate to improved CVD and CKD outcomes.Areas covered in this review: Herein, we present the current state of knowledge ...
Multimodality therapy for thymic carcinoma (TCA): results of a 30-year single-institution experience.

SUMMARY The aim of this study was to correlate the clinicopathologic features and therapeutic approaches with the outcome of patients with thymic carcinoma (TCA), an aggressive, uncommon malignancy of the anterior mediastinum. TCA is morphologically distinct from thymoma, a cytologically bland, often encapsulated, locally invasive, rarely metastatic tumor. The Roswell Park Cancer Institute tumor registry was used to identify patients with TCA or invasive thymic neoplasm of the epithelial type (TNET). Between 1971 and 2001, 22 patients had a pathologic diagnosis of TCA and/or TNET. The mean age at diagnosis was 53 years (range: 19-77), and the male/female ratio was 3:1 (16/6). Initial symptoms were respiratory in about half the patients (10/22). Complete surgical resection was done in five patients. Postoperative cisplatin-based chemotherapy and radiation was administered to seven patients. Pathologic examination showed low grade(n = 14), intermediate grade (n = 7), and high grade (n = 1) TCA. Capsular invasion was present in 83% of the specimens. As of June 2002, nine patients are alive and eight are disease free. The median survival is 44.7 months. Locally invasive disease precluded complete surgical resection in more than half of our cases. Incomplete surgical resection did not preclude long-term survival if multimodality platinum-based therapy was used.
The effect of 2,4-dinitrophenol and sodium azide on anaerobic metabolism of hexoses in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells.

Abstract Anaerobic glycolysis in the Ehrlich ascites tumor cell was stimulated about 60–70% of the initial rate by 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) (5 × 10 −4 M ) using glucose concentrations from 1.666 × 10 −3 to 5 × 10 −2 M . The same concentration of DNP produced a comparable stimulation of fructolysis at a fructose concentration of 2.5 × 10 −2 M ; at lower fructose concentrations the stimulatory effect diminished, and with 1.666 × 10 −3 M fructose, DNP inhibited fructolysis. Both stimulatory and inhibitory effects were abolished by addition of 5 × 10 −3 M sodium azide; this concentration of azide alone was without effect on the anaerobic glycolysis. DNP also stimulated the ATPase activity of whole and disrupted cells; the stimulation was reduced to the original level (whole cells) or to a lower value (disrupted cells) by the addition of sodium azide. Disrupted cells treated with azide alone also showed a decreased ATPase activity. The effects of DNP and azide on the over-all glycolysis of intact cells are considered in terms of the stimulation and inhibition of ATPase activity by these compounds.
FŒTAL AND NEONATAL HÆMOGLOBINS IN SHEEP AND GOATS

Differences in alkaline denaturation rate, electrophoretic mobility and ease of elution from fixed red cells have been used to study the fœtal and adult haemoglobins in faetal and newborn lambs and kids. Fœtal haemoglobin was found exclusively before and at birth in both species. Adult haemoglobin appeared in the first week, amounted to half the total by the third week and had completely replaced the fœtal pigment at the end of two months. The anomalous failure of agreement between the percentages measured by denaturation rate and differential elution are in large measure accounted for by the greater size of the fœtal erythrocytes.
Lack of ovarian steroid negative feedback on pulsatile luteinizing hormone release between estrus and diestrous day 1 in the rat estrous cycle.

The object of this study was to determine the roles of ovarian estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P) in regulating pulsatile LH release between estrus and diestrous day 1 (D1) in the rat estrous cycle. Three groups of rats were bled at rates of 75 or 100 microliter whole blood/6 or 8 min, respectively, between 0930-1230 h on estrus or 24 h after either sham ovariectomy (OVX) on estrus (i.e. on D1) or OVX on estrus. There were no differences in plasma E2 and P levels in rats between estrus and early D1. However, after OVX on estrus, plasma levels of both steroids declined and were significantly lower 24 h later than values in D1 controls, indicating an active ovarian secretion of both hormones in this interval of the rat cycle. A significant increase in mean blood LH levels occurred between estrus and D1 due to an increase in LH pulse amplitude and frequency. After OVX on estrus, all parameters of pulsatile LH release also increased within 24 h, but mean blood LH levels as well as LH pulse amplitude and frequency were virtually identical to values in D1 controls, despite the decline in plasma E2 and P levels. Thus, OVX did not augment the increases in LH pulse amplitude and frequency that occur between estrus and D1. This demonstrates that the increase in pulsatile LH release from estrus to early D1 occurs in the absence of ovarian steroid negative feedback; the increases in LH pulse amplitude and frequency are not under negative feedback control by the low plasma levels of E2 and P present at this time. These data stand in direct contrast to the presence of prominent ovarian steroid negative feedback systems operative between D1 and diestrous day 2, and diestrous day 2 and proestrus.
Impact of randomized clinical trials on therapy of primary breast cancer: The NSABP overview

The history of treatment for early breast cancer, particularly as it relates to the most recent calendar decade, exemplifies the contribution that can be made to resolving therapeutic controversies by well-designed prospective randomized clinical trials (RCTs). In this article we provide an overview of the breast cancer clinical trials that have been conducted by the National Surgical Adjuvant Project for Breast and Bowel Cancers (NSABP) since 1971. These trials have had a strong impact in changing the clinical management of breast cancer over the past decade. Emphasis will be given to those aspects of the studies that demonstrate the advantages and/or necessity for RCTs to evaluate alternative therapeutic approaches to the management of breast cancer.