cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optically implemented microwave receiver frontend

In this paper we describe research on a microwave optical receiver where analog microwave circuitry is replaced by photonic components. The ultimate goal is to produce an optical-digital receiver capable of providing a spurious free dynamic range of ~140dBHz2/3 and a signal to noise ratio of 7dB in the 0 to 20GHz range with a 4 GHz bandwidth.
Circadian Variation of Topoisomerase II-α in Human Rectal Crypt Epithelium: Implications for Reduction of Toxicity of Chemotherapy

Topoisomerase II-alpha is a target of common chemotherapeutic agents such as doxorubicin and etoposide, which induce DNA damage by altering the activity of this enzyme. We took rectal biopsies at 4-hour intervals over a 24-hour period (seven total) from each of 10 healthy volunteers and examined immunoperoxidase-stained coded anti-topoisomerase II-alpha-stained sections. A significant circadian periodicity was seen in the number of rectal crypt epithelial cell nuclei that were stained (P = .01). Mean peak staining was at 7:23 a.m. ± 45 minutes, and the mean rate of change (difference between peak and trough expression) was 40%. Topoisomerase II-alpha expression in rectal epithelium has a significant circadian variation similar to that of tritiated thymidine incorporation. Although direct confirmation is needed, giving topoisomerase II-targeted chemotherapeutic agents at the proper time of day might reduce their mucositis side effects.
Nuclear translocation of lymphoblast glucocorticoid receptors in childhood leukemia does not predict steroid responsiveness

Abstract Nuclear translocation of glucocorticoid receptors (GR) was measured in lymphoblasts from 45 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The percent of total GR translocated to the nucleus ranged from 0 to 100% (mean, 59%) and was independent of the total GR level. Neither the extent of GR nuclear translocation nor the absolute amount of GR translocated at 4 or 25°C correlated with glucocorticoid response in 13 patients with single-agent glucocorticoid trial. These results indicate that defects in nuclear translocation of GR are not a common cause for steroid resistance in childhood ALL.
Sex, Race, and the Stained-Glass Window

SUMMARY “Sex, Race and the Stained-Glass Window” is one person's reflections of her life as an African-American lesbian growing up in a Christian fundamentalist church. The strong currents of racism, sexism, and homophobia flow from rivers of tradition and patriarchal social structures that make one either a strong opponent of those forces or a proponent of the status quo. The author writes about her struggles against the triple oppressions of race, gender, and sexual orientation and offers a quick study on the psychology of “true believers.”
The Chebychev Method for Solving Nonself-Adjoint Elliptic Equations on a Vector Computer

Abstract The Chebychev explicit method can be extended to nonsymmetric operators L whose complex eigenvalues lie within an ellipse in the complex plane. The vectorizability of the method results in high execution efficiency on a “pipeline” computer. We derive the method and its convergence rate, and give a comparison with two other methods. The comparison is taken from a 2D plasma turbulence code, in which L = ▽ 2 + A ( x, y ) · ▽. The explicit method is approximately three times more efficient than ADI for the model problem solved on a two-pipe Texas Instruments ASC. In some cases, a staggered mesh can be used to gain another factor of 2 in the efficiency of the explicit method. The method has been used successfully on meshes of 34 × 34, 50 × 50, and 130 × 130 points. For grids of 50 or more points on a side, we show in the Appendix that convergence can be speeded considerably by the use of a suitably chosen auxiliary coarse grid, on which long-wavelength components of the error are corrected.
Effect of temperature and magnetic field on the thickness dependence of the critical current density of Y Ba 2 Cu 3 O 7 − x films

In order to shed light on the puzzling thickness $(t)$ dependence of the critical current density $({J}_{c})$ in $\mathrm{Y}{\mathrm{Ba}}_{2}{\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}{\mathrm{O}}_{7\ensuremath{-}x}$ (YBCO) films at $77\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ and self-field, we have investigated ${J}_{c}\text{\ensuremath{-}}t$ behavior as a function of temperature $(T)$ and applied magnetic field $(H)$ in the thickness range that is within the modified Larkin length ${L}_{c}$. It has been found that the ${J}_{c}\text{\ensuremath{-}}t$ behavior can be well described by the collective pinning (CP) model as monotonically decreasing ${J}_{c}\ensuremath{\sim}{t}^{\ensuremath{-}1∕2}$ when thermal assisted flux motion (TAFM) is suppressed at low $T$ close to zero. TAFM becomes increasingly important at elevated temperatures and causes deviation of the ${J}_{c}\text{\ensuremath{-}}t$ from the CP model in the thickness range below the magnetic penetration depth. The deviation is more pronounced at smaller thickness and increases with $T$ and $H$. Consequently, a completely reversed ${J}_{c}\text{\ensuremath{-}}t$ from monotonically decreasing to monotonically increasing occurs when TAFM dominates in high $T$ and $H$ ranges. This result suggests that the monotonic decreasing ${J}_{c}\text{\ensuremath{-}}t$ behavior is an intrinsic property of uniform YBCO films, while extrinsic effects such as material nonuniformity can greatly complicate it.
Commentary: Cash and Counseling in an international context.

Health and long-term care policy in the United States is almost always carried out without knowledge of how other countries address similar problems. American public policy is the poorer for this ethnocentrism because other countries often have already implemented ideas which have only been proposed in the United States. To be sure, the cross-national differences in culture and the financing and organization of services do not allow for a simple transfer from one country to another, but the experiences of other countries can provide important insights. While the Cash and Counseling demonstration was being developed and researched in the United States, similar approaches to consumer-directed long-term care were being implemented, generally in more radical forms, in other countries, including Austria, England, France, Germany, and the Netherlands (Tilly, Wiener, and Cuellar 2000; Wiener, Tilly, and Cuellar 2003; Lundsgaard 2005). The goal of this commentary is to put the American Cash and Counseling demonstration in context with similar initiatives in other countries, particularly the Netherlands, England, and Germany.
A new epiphytic blakea (Melastomataceae) from Panama

Blakea wilburiana is described from the low volcanic uplift of El Valle de Anton in central Panama. Hirsute pubescence, papery leaves, and large, thin floral bracts suggest a marked affinity withB. bracteata Gleason of South America. A character tabulation, comparing the two species, is included together with illustrations of the diagnostic morphological features.
A comparison of TVD Lax-Wendroff methods

This paper compares two formulations of Lax–Wendroff TVD methods. The basis of comparison is to the results of several test problems providing both qualitative and quantitative results. Results show that using an upwind biased limiter provides higher resolution of both smooth and discontinuous solutions from a lower amount of induced numerical viscosity. The conclusion is that a limiter should have as small a support as possible in order to limit its effects if high resolution is the object.
Ion collision effects in hydrogen-like recombination x-ray lasers

We investigate the influence of ion collisional excitation on gain estimates for lasing between the two 3d-2p fine-structure transitions in a recombining, hydrogen-like magnesium plasma. A sizable reduction of the 3d{sub 3/2}-2p{sub 1/2} gain coefficient is found, resulting from both collisional population transfer and from lower state broadening of the emission profile. The need for care in evaluating the latter effect is discussed. 30 refs.
Protein O-GlcNAc Modulates Motility-associated Signaling Intermediates in Neutrophils

The modification of serine/threonine residues on cytoplasmic and nuclear proteins by N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) is suggested to play a role in the regulation of a variety of signal transduction pathways. We have previously shown that glucosamine (GlcNH(2)), a metabolic precursor of O-GlcNAcylation, increases (2)O-GlcNAc and enhances motility in neutrophils. Here, we extend this correlation by showing that a mechanistically distinct means of increasing O-GlcNAc, achieved by inhibition of O-GlcNAc removal with O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucopyranosylidene)amino-N-phenylcarbamate (PUGNAc), increases basal cellular motility and directional migration induced by the chemoattractant formyl-methionine-leucine-phenylalanine (fMLP). Furthermore, we demonstrate that O-GlcNAc modulates the activities of signaling intermediates known to regulate neutrophil movement. GlcNH(2) and PUGNAc increase both the basal and fMLP-induced activity of a central mediator of cellular motility, the small GTPase Rac. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase, an important regulator of Rac activity and neutrophil motility, is shown to regulate the signaling pathway on which GlcNH(2) and PUGNAc act. Rac is an important upstream regulatory element in p38 and p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling in neutrophils, and these MAPKs are implicated in chemotactic signal transduction. We show that GlcNH(2) and PUGNAc treatment increases p42/44 and p38 MAPK activities and that these increases are associated with activation of upstream MAPK kinases. These data indicate that O-GlcNAcylation is an important signaling element in neutrophils that modulates the activities of several critical signaling intermediates involved in the regulation of cellular movement.
Transfer of IV–VI multiple quantum well structures grown by molecular beam epitaxy from Si substrates to copper

Abstract A novel epilayer bonding and substrate removal procedure is described for the fabrication of cleaved-cavity Fabry-Perot resonant cavity lasers. IV–VI semiconductor multiple quantum well (MQW) structures grown on silicon host substrates by molecular beam epitaxy with a CaF 2 buffer layer were successfully transferred to the tips of an assembled array of copper bars, which were then separated after substrate removal to cleave the epilayer structure. Scanning electron microscope images show that this bonding, substrate removal, and cleaving procedure can be used to create {110} and {112} cleaved facets in (111)-oriented IV–VI semiconductor epitaxial layer structures. Photoluminescence data before and after transfer showed that the procedure did not degrade the optical properties of the MQW structures. This technique can enable the fabrication of edge-emitting lasers with improved active region heat dissipation properties.
Second order algorithms for the posynomial geometric programming dual, part I: Analysis

In this paper we analyse algorithms for the geometric dual of posynomial programming problems, that make explicit use of second order information. Out of two possible approaches to the problem, it is shown that one is almost always superior. Interestingly enough, it is the second, inferior approach that has dominated the geometric programming literature.
Using Nocturnal Flight Calls to Assess the Fall Migration of Warblers and Sparrows along a Coastal Ecological Barrier

Atmospheric conditions fundamentally influence the timing, intensity, energetics, and geography of avian migration. While radar is typically used to infer the influence of weather on the magnitude and spatiotemporal patterns of nocturnal bird migration, monitoring the flight calls produced by many bird species during nocturnal migration represents an alternative methodology and provides information regarding the species composition of nocturnal migration. We used nocturnal flight call (NFC) recordings of at least 22 migratory songbirds (14 warbler and 8 sparrow species) during fall migration from eight sites along the mainland and island coasts of Rhode Island to evaluate five hypotheses regarding NFC detections. Patterns of warbler and sparrow NFC detections largely supported our expectations in that (1) NFC detections associated positively and strongly with wind conditions that influence the intensity of coastal bird migration and negatively with regional precipitation; (2) NFCs increased during conditions with reduced visibility (e.g., high cloud cover); (3) NFCs decreased with higher wind speeds, presumably due mostly to increased ambient noise; and (4) coastal mainland sites recorded five to nine times more NFCs, on average, than coastal nearshore or offshore island sites. However, we found little evidence that (5) nightly or intra-night patterns of NFCs reflected the well-documented latitudinal patterns of migrant abundance on an offshore island. Despite some potential complications in inferring migration intensity and species composition from NFC data, the acoustic monitoring of NFCs provides a viable and complementary methodology for exploring the spatiotemporal patterns of songbird migration as well as evaluating the atmospheric conditions that shape these patterns.
Transnational Xenophobia in Europe? Literary Representations of Contemporary Fears

Does an enlarged Europe harbor an enlarged fear of foreigners? Has EU expansion produced a bizarre, unintentional convergence in the xenophobic attitudes of eastern and western Europeans? What is the texture of this xenophobia in the different parts of Europe? This article is divided into three parts. First, it summarizes the contemporary European debate on fear of foreigners, antipathy towards immigrants, and the effort to enforce boundaries of national belonging. Second, it provides empirical evidence about national phobias using Germany and Poland as examples. Finally, it assays literary representations of European fears construed by select contemporary playwrights and novelists. The article proposes that the drama of European xenophobia is most effectively captured in the works of European writers, not in the discourse of EU leaders or social scientists.
New compounds: amino acid derivatives of nicotinic acid.

The azide method was adapted to the synthesis of monopeptides of nicotinic acid. Using this method, nicotinoyl-dl-α-alanine, nicotinoyl-L-alanine, nicotinoyl-dl-valine, nicotinoyl-L-leucine, and nicotinoyl-dl-phenylalanine were prepared.
Genome-scale epigenetic reprogramming during epithelial to mesenchymal transition

Alterations in DNA and histone modifications are known to occur during development and in disease. The changes that occur during TGF-β–triggered epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition are now examined on a global scale. DNA methylation remained relatively stable, but major changes in histone modifications, dependent on the histone demethylase Lsd1, were observed, particularly in large, organized heterochromatic Lys9-methylated regions.
Plasma 17α-Hydroxyprogesterone in Spironolactone-Treated Hypertensives

When measured by a specific radioassay method which excludes drug interference, plasma 17α-hydroxyprogesterone levels were found to be similar in spironolactone treated hypertensives, in untreated hypertensives, and in normotensive volunteers. No in vivo evidence for a significant inhibitory effect of spironolactone on adrenal 11β, 17α and 21 hydroxylases was uncovered.
The Emerging p53 Gene Family

Perturbation of p53 protein function is a common, if not universal, finding in human cancer. Tumor suppression by p53 is due, at least in part, to its ability to activate transcription of certain genes involved in cell cycle control and apoptosis (programmed cell death). Two additional members of the mammalian p53 family, p73 and p51, which is also known as p40, p63, KET, or p73L, were recently identified. Both of these proteins share substantial sequence homology with p53 and can, at least when overproduced, activate p53-responsive promoters and induce apoptosis. Nonetheless, data on differences between these proteins and p53 are emerging. For example, p73 is not induced by DNA damage and is not targeted for inactivation by viral oncoproteins such as simian virus 40 (SV40) T antigen, adenovirus E1B 55K, and human papillomavirus E6. In contrast to p53, neither p73 nor p51 appears to be frequently mutated in human cancers on the basis of the limited studies reported to date. Finally, unlike p53, cells produce multiple p73 and p51 isoforms as a result of alternative splicing, and production of p73 and p51 appears to be restricted to certain tissues. Additional studies are required to determine the role, if any, that p73 and p51 play in cell growth control and carcinogenesis.
A wavefunction and energy of the azide ion in potassium azide obtained by a quantum-mechanically constrained fit to X-ray diffraction data

Abstract A wavefunction for the azide ion in solid potassium azide has been obtained by fitting the elements of a density matrix to high-resolution X-ray structure factors, subject to an idempotency constraint. The method used includes both molecular symmetry and idempotency constraints on the density matrix, and allows use of large contracted Gaussian basis sets. Using a 6-31G∗ basis set, the energies calculated from the fitted wavefunction and the theoretical wavefunction are −162.29 and −163.29 hartree, respectively. The electron deformation density distribution constructed from the fitted wavefunction shows some features that are also present in multipole model densities. However, it also shows some features found in theoretical densities that are not generally present in multipole model densities.
Neonatal Hepatoblastoma Metastatic to the Choroid and Iris

A newborn boy was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma after a systemic workup was prompted because of abnormal-appearing eyes. Radiological examination revealed mass lesions involving the liver, brain, eyes, and ribs. A liver biopsy was performed before death and results showed hepatoblastoma, an unusual solid tumor of childhood. At autopsy, hepatoblastoma was also found histopathologically in the irides and choroid of both eyes. No previous report of hepatoblastoma metastatic to the eye could be found in the medical literature. In addition, we believe this is the first report in a child of a solid tumor metastatic to the choroid and iris, and of a solid tumor metastatic to the iris that is confirmed histopathologically.
Panoramic Image Information Utility for Mobile Robot Exploration

When searching a remote environment with a robot, the fundamental constraint on the operator is the bandwidth available to the mission. This paper examines how a science team uses a high bandwidth panorama during a two-year astrobiology field test. Bandwidth directly controls the type and amount of information received by the operator. Given the significance of information and bandwidth to mission success, it is important for human robot interaction analyses to consider bandwidth usage during robotic operations. Insight gained from these analyses can help future missions efficiently use their bandwidth to collect the necessary information from the environment. The analysis first shows that the science team preferentially views certain areas of the panorama based on tile elevation but not based on azimuth. This finding led the analysis to look into what tasks the science team completes while using the panorama. In the context of an astrobiology mission, the most important role of the panorama is to determine the robot's position on orbital images. The secondary task is to determine the general geologic context of the environment. Based on the viewing patterns and associated tasks the analysis produces a list of targets important to mission success. Future research efforts will focus on methods for collecting the information contained in these targets from the environment at a reduced bandwidth cost.
Peafowl Lactate Dehydrogenase: Problem of Isoenzyme Identification

Peafowl, like other vertebrates, contain multiple forms of lactate dehydrogenase. The electrophoretic properties of the peafowl isoenzymes are unusual in that the isoenzyme from heart tissue can be either more or less anodic than that of muscle, depending on the pH. This finding focuses attention on the problem of isoenzyme identification. It is suggested that isoenzymes be identified on the basis of properties that are chemically and biologically more significant than electrophoretic mobility.
Collagen regulation of let-7 in pancreatic cancer involves TGF-β1-mediated membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase expression

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is associated with a pronounced collagen-rich fibrosis known as desmoplastic reaction; however, the role of fibrosis in PDAC is poorly understood. In this report we show that collagen can regulate the tumor suppressive let-7 family of microRNAs in pancreatic cancer cells. PDAC cells growing in 3D collagen gels repress mature let-7 without affecting the precursor form of let-7 in part through increased expression of membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP, MMP-14) and ERK1/2 activation. PDAC cells in collagen also demonstrate increased TGF-β1 signaling, and blocking TGF-β1 signaling attenuated collagen-induced MT1-MMP expression, ERK1/2 activation and repression of let-7 levels. Although MT1-MMP overexpression was not sufficient to inhibit let-7 on 2D tissue culture plastic, overexpression of MT1-MMP in PDAC cells embedded in 3D collagen gels or grown in vivo repressed let-7 levels. Importantly, MT1-MMP expression significantly correlated with decreased levels of let-7 in human PDAC tumor specimens. Overall, our study emphasizes the interplay between the key proteinase MT1-MMP and its substrate type I collagen in modulating microRNA expression, and identifies an additional mechanism by which fibrosis may contribute to PDAC progression.
Blunt colon injury sustained during a kickboxing match

Emergency physicians routinely evaluate patients for injury from blunt abdominal trauma. Most serious injuries result from high energy mechanisms such as motor vehicle collisions. This case report describes a patient who sustained blunt trauma to the descending colon during a martial arts match, necessitating a hemicolectomy.
Formatt: Correcting protein multiple structural alignments by incorporating sequence alignment

The quality of multiple protein structure alignments are usually computed and assessed based on geometric functions of the coordinates of the backbone atoms from the protein chains. These purely geometric methods do not utilize directly protein sequence similarity, and in fact, determining the proper way to incorporate sequence similarity measures into the construction and assessment of protein multiple structure alignments has proved surprisingly difficult. We present Formatt, a multiple structure alignment based on the Matt purely geometric multiple structure alignment program, that also takes into account sequence similarity when constructing alignments. We show that Formatt outperforms Matt and other popular structure alignment programs on the popular HOMSTRAD benchmark. For the SABMark twilight zone benchmark set that captures more remote homology, Formatt and Matt outperform other programs; depending on choice of embedded sequence aligner, Formatt produces either better sequence and structural alignments with a smaller core size than Matt, or similarly sized alignments with better sequence similarity, for a small cost in average RMSD. Considering sequence information as well as purely geometric information seems to improve quality of multiple structure alignments, though defining what constitutes the best alignment when sequence and structural measures would suggest different alignments remains a difficult open question.
α1- and α2-noradrenergic receptor binding in guinea pig brain: sex differences and effects of ovarian steroids

Noradrenergic transmission mediated by alpha 1-receptors is involved in the regulation of ovarian steroid-dependent reproductive processes in female guinea pigs. In addition, estradiol treatment is known to affect alpha 2-receptor binding in some steroid-sensitive regions of guinea pig brain. In these experiments, we further assessed the effects of ovarian hormones on alpha-noradrenergic receptors with quantitative autoradiographic methods. Binding of alpha 1- and alpha 2-noradrenergic receptors was measured in male and female guinea pigs treated with either estradiol or oil to determine if sex differences in steroid sensitivity might be related to differences in the distribution or modulation of alpha-receptors. In a second experiment, the possibility was tested that progesterone might alter the sensitivity to norepinephrine by modulating alpha 1- or alpha 2-receptor binding in estradiol-primed female guinea pigs. Results of these studies showed that estradiol treatment reduced alpha 1- and alpha 2-receptor binding of the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus only in females and increased alpha 2-receptor binding in several preoptic nuclei of both sexes. Progesterone administration, however, had no effect on either alpha-receptor subtype. These studies indicate that estradiol-induced changes in alpha-receptor binding might be involved in steroid-dependent reproductive processes and in the differential responsiveness of males and females to ovarian hormones. Changes in these receptors do not appear to be involved in the stimulatory effects of progesterone on neuroendocrine processes.
A criterion-based stepwise approach for training counselors in motivational interviewing

This pilot study evaluated a criterion-based stepwise approach for training counselors in motivational interviewing (MI). Three sequential steps of training in MI were provided to 26 counselors who worked within the U.S. State of Connecticut Veterans Administration addiction treatment programs: a distance learning Web course (Step 1), a skill-building workshop (Step 2), and a competency-based individual supervision (Step 3). Counselors first participated in the course and then only received the next step of training if they failed to meet an independently rated criterion level of adequate MI performance. The results showed that counselors who showed inadequate MI performance immediately after taking the Web course and who subsequently participated in a workshop or supervision improved their adherence to fundamental MI strategies over time, whereas those who performed MI adequately following the Web course continued to demonstrate similar levels of fundamental and advanced MI adherence and competence over a 24-week period without additional training. The pilot study's findings, although preliminary, suggest that different counselors likely require different types and amounts of training to perform a behavioral treatment well.
The percutaneous greenfield filter: outcomes and practice patterns.

Abstract Objective: The percutaneous steel Greenfield filter (PSGF) is similar in appearance to the titanium Greenfield filter (TGF) but differs in the length and orientation of the attachment hooks and in the over-the-wire delivery system. Because these differences improve ease of insertion and attachment, they may affect patient outcomes and physician practices. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of the PSGF relative to the TGF and to determine whether there had been a change in physician practices. Methods: The Michigan Filter Registry contains data for a prospective cohort of 2188 patients with Greenfield filters. Procedural and long-term outcomes for patients with a PSGF were abstracted. These events were compared with rates for Registry patients who had a TGF. Trends for indication for placement, delivery route, and filter location were also compared with published series. Results: Since 1995, 600 PSGFs have been placed in 599 patients. A 1-year mortality rate of 42% left 349 patients available for annual follow-up, and studies were completed for 231 (66%). Periprocedural events occurred in 2.5% of cases with associated morbidity in 1.5%. The rate of new pulmonary embolism was 2.6%, and vena caval patency was 98.3%. The combined rate of new venous thromboembolic events was 12.5%. Left-sided femoral vein placements increased to 20%, and the major indication for filter placement has become prophylaxis (46%). Conclusions: The PSGF is similar to the TGF with respect to patient outcomes, and it provides decreased rates of asymmetry along with excellent fixation. The flexible carrier system has allowed more frequent access through the left femoral vein. The ease of use and favorable patient outcomes have resulted in more frequent placement for prophylactic indications. (J Vasc Surg 2000;32:888-93.)
Effect of Head-Out Water Immersion on Hepatorenal Syndrome

A 47-year-old patient with severe decompensated alcoholic liver disease developed a progressive deterioration of her renal function (serum creatinine 4.0 mg/dL) with a renal failure index (RFI: UNa/U/PCr) consistently less than 1.0. In the absence of other causes of renal failure, these values supported the diagnosis of hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). A five-hour head-out water immersion (HWI) in a sitting position was carried out to increase the patient's "effective" blood volume (EBV) in an attempt to reverse the HRS. Hemodynamic monitoring (Swan-Ganz) was performed during the entire HWI procedure. Cardiac index increased by 64% during HWI (2.57 to 4.22 L/min/m2). Stroke volume index doubled (32.9 to 65.0 mL/m2) and systemic vascular resistance decreased by 48% (1426 to 754 dyne sec/cm). Increases in right atrium (RA) pressure (7.5 to 17.5 mm Hg) and pulmonary wedge (PW) capillary pressure (7.5 to 16.3 mm Hg) also occurred. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, and plasma protein concentrations decreased by 18% during HWI. Only a modest improvement in creatinine, urea, inulin, and para-aminohippurate (PAH) clearances was observed during HWI, and the RFI remained below 1.0. Plasma levels of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), aldosterone, and renin activity decreased during HWI. The patient's renal function progressively deteriorated over the next 15 days, but tubular function, as assessed by an RFI less than 1.0, was still intact seven days after our study. Our results indicate that a considerable increase in effective blood volume does not restore renal function in HRS.
Reflections on the Meaning of Care

Health care is increasingly delivered by using medical technologies and specialized procedures. However, the systems through which it is delivered are coming under attack as lacking in care. Medicine is very capable of treating the human body, but it may be losing its sensitivity towards persons, especially concerning the vulnerability they are experiencing. Nurses are finding that the demands for more efficiency and cost-effective measures do not allow them sufficient time to offer the personal care for which they have always felt responsible. The question of the meaning of care surfaces especially in treating those who are approaching death. The need is to balance the various dimensions of care, keeping its focus on the well-being of persons.
Dissection of Two Complex Clusters of Resistance Genes in Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)

Of the over 50 phenotypic resistance genes mapped in lettuce, 25 colocalize to three major resistance clusters (MRC) on chromosomes 1, 2, and 4. Similarly, the majority of candidate resistance genes encoding nucleotide binding-leucine rich repeat (NLR) proteins genetically colocalize with phenotypic resistance loci. MRC1 and MRC4 span over 66 and 63 Mb containing 84 and 21 NLR-encoding genes, respectively, as well as 765 and 627 genes that are not related to NLR genes. Forward and reverse genetic approaches were applied to dissect MRC1 and MRC4. Transgenic lines exhibiting silencing were selected using silencing of β-glucuronidase as a reporter. Silencing of two of five NLR-encoding gene families resulted in abrogation of nine of 14 tested resistance phenotypes mapping to these two regions. At MRC1, members of the coiled coil-NLR-encoding RGC1 gene family were implicated in host and nonhost resistance through requirement for Dm5/8- and Dm45-mediated resistance to downy mildew caused by Bremia lactucae as well as the hypersensitive response to effectors AvrB, AvrRpm1, and AvrRpt2 of the nonpathogen Pseudomonas syringae. At MRC4, RGC12 family members, which encode toll interleukin receptor-NLR proteins, were implicated in Dm4-, Dm7-, Dm11-, and Dm44-mediated resistance to B. lactucae. Lesions were identified in the sequence of a candidate gene within dm7 loss-of-resistance mutant lines, confirming that RGC12G confers Dm7.
Maximizing Plasmid Stability and Production of Released Proteins in Yersinia enterocolitica

Virulent serotypes of Yersinia enterocolitica carry a plasmid (pYV) encoding a family of proteins that are released into the medium and whose expression is temperature and calcium regulated. The plasmid is easily lost from cells during their growth in the laboratory. We have used sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blotting with a monoclonal antibody (3.2C) that is specific for a 25-kDa released protein to show that 32°C is the lowest temperature at which plasmid-encoded proteins are expressed in quantity. The highest calcium concentration allowing full expression of these proteins was 445 to 545 μM at 32°C. Calcium concentrations of 745 μM and above at 37°C completely prevented the loss of pYV during multiple subcultures, while at 32°C, calcium concentrations of 245 μM and greater were sufficient to stabilize the plasmid. Growth of Y. enterocolitica at pH 5.5 was slower than at neutral pH values, but it also resulted in greatly increased stability of pYV. These studies showed that bacterial growth, retention of pYV, and expression of plasmid-encoded proteins may be maximized at 32°C with 445 μM calcium and that pYV stability is enhanced by growth at low pH. These observations suggest new approaches for isolation of plasmid-bearing virulent strains of Y. enterocolitica from samples contaminated with this organism and also may improve our understanding of pYV retention in vivo.
Mesa-sidewall gate leakage in InAlAs/InGaAs heterostructure field-effect transistors

InAlAs/InGaAs HFETs fabricated by conventional mesa isolation have a potential parasitic gate-leakage path where the gate metallization overlaps the exposed channel edge at the mesa sidewall. The existence of this path has been proven by fabricating special heterojunction diodes with different mesa-sidewall gate-metal overlap lengths. It is found that sidewall leakage is a function of the crystallographic orientation of the sidewall, and increases with channel thicknesses, sidewall overlap area, and InAs mole fraction in the channel. In HFETs fabricated alongside the diodes, sidewall leakage increased the subthreshold and forward gate leakage currents, and reduced the breakdown voltage. >
Peer Education Does Focusing on Male Responsibility Change Sexual Assault Attitudes

A peer education program emphasizing male responsibility in decreasing sexual assault led to a decrease in rape tolerant attitudes among high school students immediately following a 45-minute presentation. Trained high school students presented information on sexual assault risk reduction, rape culture, sexual assault law, how to help a friend who has been assaulted, and male responsibility in preventing sexual assault. Whereas the scores of female students showed less acceptance of rape myths and victim-blaming attitudes than males at both pretest and posttest, the attitudes of male students showed more improvement following the presentation than those of the females.
The effect of urinary incontinence on quality of life in older nursing home residents

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether nursing home residents with urinary incontinence (UI) have worse quality of life (QoL) than continent residents, whether the relationship between UI and QoL differs across strata of cognitive and functional impairment, and whether change in continence status is associated with change in QoL. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study using a Minimum Data Set (MDS) database to determine cross-sectional and longitudinal (6 month) associations between UI and QoL. SETTING: All Medicare- or Medicaid-licensed nursing homes in Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, New York, and South Dakota during 1994 to 1996. PARTICIPANTS: All residents aged 65 and older, excluding persons unable to void or with potentially unstable continence or QoL status (recent nursing home admission, coexistent delirium, large change in functional status, comatose, near death). MEASUREMENTS: UI was defined as consistent leakage at least twice weekly over 3 months and continence as consistent dryness over 3 months. QoL was measured using the validated MDS-derived Social Engagement Scale. RESULTS: Of 133,111 eligible residents, 90,538 had consistent continence status, 58,850 (65%) of whom were incontinent. UI was significantly associated with worse QoL in residents with moderate cognitive and functional impairment. New or worsening UI over 6 months was associated with worse QoL (odds ratio=1.46, 95% confidence interval=1.36–1.57) and was second only to cognitive decline and functional decline in predicting worse QoL. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to quantitatively demonstrate that prevalent and new or worsening UI decreases QoL even in frail, functionally and cognitively impaired nursing home residents. These results provide a crucial incentive to improve continence care and quality in nursing homes and a rationale for targeting interventions to those residents most likely to benefit.
Vital-sign abnormalities as predictors of pneumonia in adults with acute cough illness.

Abstract Purpose This study examines the strength of the association between vital-sign abnormalities, advanced age, and the diagnosis of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in the evaluation of adults with acute cough illness. Methods A random sample of adult visits for acute cough to 15 EDs during the winter period of 2 consecutive years (2003-2005) was selected for medical record abstraction. Visits were initially sampled based on discharge diagnoses for a broad range of acute respiratory tract infection diagnoses. Participating sites were a national sample of EDs in Veterans Administration and non–Veterans Administration hospitals stratified across the US region. Results Of 4464 charts reviewed, 421 had a diagnosis of CAP based on physician discharge diagnosis and radiographic findings. Age greater than 50 years and vital-sign abnormality (including fever, hypoxemia, tachycardia, or tachypnea) were the only significant predictors of CAP. Hypoxemia had the strongest association with CAP diagnosis (odds ratio, 3.5; 95% confidence interval, 2.4-5.0). A greater number of abnormalities were associated with a higher prevalence of CAP, from 12% with 1 abnormality to 69% with 4 vital-sign abnormalities ( P Conclusions Increases in vital-sign abnormalities are associated with a greater probability of CAP, and the strength of the association does not vary substantially by age.
Association of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase with Risk and Progression of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Background: Metabolic dysregulation has been identified as an "emerging hallmark" of cancer. The heterotrimeric AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) complex is a central regulator of the metabolic system and an important component of the mTOR pathway and the p53 axis, making it uniquely positioned to influence carcinogenesis through its canonical functions in the metabolic arena, as well as through more traditional mechanisms such as regulation of apoptosis and angiogenesis. Methods: We conducted a population-based genetic association study to examine the impact of mutations in AMPK subunit genes on risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). We also analyzed public microarray data to determine the expression of AMPK in NHL cells and to assess the influence of AMPK expression on overall survival in NHL patients. Results: We identified an AMPK subunit haplotype which was significantly associated with NHL (OR=5.44, 95%CI:2.15-13.75) in women with no family history of cancer. Haplotypes in two subunits, PRKAA2 and PRKAG3,were nominally associated with the follicular and diffuse large B cell lymphoma histologic subtypes, respectively, although these associations did not retain statistical significance after correction for multiple comparisons. Further, both of these subunits were differentially expressed (p<0.05) in one or more lymphoma cell type, and higher expression of two versions of the AMPK-β subunit were significantly associated with increased five-year survival among NHL patients (p=0.001 and p=0.021). Conclusion: These results provide evidence for AMPK involvement in the pathogenesis and progression of NHL. Impact: These findings may lead to a novel area of research into NHL treatment and chemoprevention.
A Novel Mechanism of Transposon-Mediated Gene Activation

Transposable Insertion Sequences (IS elements) have been shown to provide various benefits to their hosts via gene activation or inactivation under stress conditions by appropriately inserting into specific chromosomal sites. Activation is usually due to derepression or introduction of a complete or partial promoter located within the element. Here we define a novel mechanism of gene activation by the transposon IS5 in Escherichia coli. The glycerol utilization operon, glpFK, that is silent in the absence of the cAMP-Crp complex, is activated by IS5 when inserted upstream of its promoter. High-level expression is nearly constitutive, only mildly dependent on glycerol, glucose, GlpR, and Crp, and allows growth at a rate similar to or more rapid than that of wild-type cells. Expression is from the glpFK promoter and dependent on (1) the DNA phase, (2) integration host factor (IHF), and (3) a short region at the 3′ end of IS5 harboring a permanent bend and an IHF binding site. The lacZYA operon is also subject to such activation in the absence of Crp. Thus, we have defined a novel mechanism of gene activation involving transposon insertion that may be generally applicable to many organisms.
Perspectives in Biological Nitrogen Fixation Research

Nitrogen fixation, along with photosynthesis is the basis of all life on earth. Current understanding suggests that no plant fixes its own nitrogen. Some plants (mainly legumes) fix nitrogen via symbiotic anaerobic microorganisms (mainly rhizobia). The nature of biological nitrogen fixation is that the dinitrogenase catalyzes the reaction-splitting triple-bond inert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) into organic ammonia molecule (NH3). All known nitrogenases are found to be prokaryotic, multi-complex and normally oxygen liable. Not surprisingly, the engineering of autonomous nitrogen-fixing plants would be a long-term effort because it requires the assembly of a complex enzyme and provision of anaerobic conditions. However, in the light of evolving protein catalysts, the anaerobic enzyme has almost certainly been replaced in many reactions by the more efficient and irreversible aerobic version that uses O2. On the other hand, nature has shown numerous examples of evolutionary convergence where an enzyme catalyzing a highly specific, O2-requiring reaction has an oxygen-independent counterpart, able to carry out the same reaction under anoxic conditions. In this review, I attempt to take the reader on a simplified journey from conventional nitrogenase complex to a possible simplified version of a yet to be discovered light-utilizing nitrogenase.
Rush to judgment at Yucca Mountain

The Department of Energy (DoE) published a revised Civilian Radioactive Waste Management Program Plan late last year calling for an evaluation of “whether Yucca Mountain appears to be technically suitable for development as a geological repository” by the end of 1998. Almost concurrently, the DoE halted investigations that are critical for such an evaluation. These investigations concern the Calico Hills tuffs, the volcanic rocks that underlie the Topopah Springs welded tuffs that comprise the proposed repository.
The Department of Defense Birth Defects Registry: overview of a new surveillance system.

Background: The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is challenged with monitoring and protecting the health and wellbeing of its service members. The growing number of women on active duty and the diverse hazardous exposures associated with military service make reproductive health issues a special concern of DoD. To address this concern, the DoD Birth Defects Registry was established at the DoD Center for Deployment Health Research located at the Naval Health Research Center, San Diego, California. Methods: The registry captures comprehensive data on healthcare utilization to calculate the prevalence of birth defects in the children of military beneficiaries. Population-based electronic surveillance is supplemented by active case validation efforts. Results: Since its establishment in 1998, the registry has captured data on more than 90,000 births that occur in military families each year. Detailed analyses, to include linking registry data with military occupational exposure data (e.g., anthrax vaccination), are underway. Conclusions: The DoD Birth Defects Registry provides important reproductive health information on the geographically dispersed military population. This program is expected to complement civilian public health programs and be especially valuable to military members and their families. BACKGROUND Concern about the reproductive health of service members and their families is consistent with the U.S. military’s concept of Force Health Protection (US DoD,’98). Although reproductive health issues affect both men and women, the growing proportion of women in the military (now greater than 14% of active duty forces), may have heightened concerns about potential hazards associated with military duty (ASD/ FM, ’99; Fox et al., ’77).
Improving the Podcast as a Lecture Content Delivery Method

The most common method of instruction in large- enrollment courses is lecturing. In recent years, a growing trend is to instruct lecture classes by podcasting course content. ICS 101, a beginning computer science course, at the University of Hawaii at Manoa utilizes podcasting as a mode of lecture content delivery. The method used to podcast evolved during the course from a traditional podcast to an enhanced podcast. Therefore, the researchers explored the two modes of podcasting and found that there is little statistical difference between the two. However, having visual aids, whether through an enhanced podcast or including a PDF with a traditional podcast, improves students' perception of podcasting and lecture content. The researchers recommend focusing on the pedagogy behind the instruction as opposed to the addition of new features due to the minor gain in achievement.
Reply to the Discussion by H. Jiang and B. Fu of “Prediction of energy absorption capacity of un-cracked and cracked concrete elements through three-point bending tests”11Appears in the Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering, 39(10): 1161–1162 [doi: 10.1139.l2012-089]

In the discussion, the discussers are concerned about the applicability of the suggested model in the paper for the cases of torsional loading and reinforced concrete. The authors want to mention that the above paper provides a general methodology to calculate the total energy absorption capacity of concrete elements, which includes typical beams and columns. For concrete elements subjected to torsion, the torsional shear stress equations in Mechanics of Solids or Elasticity textbook could be adopted without much effort, for the cases of pure torsion and combined torsion, axial loading, and bending. Prediction of the energy absorption capacity of reinforced concrete elements could be also conducted with inclusion of the perfect elastic-plastic behavior of steel rebar. All the stress calculations in classical reinforced concrete can be used to sketch the complete load displacement of the element and further predict its energy absorption capacity.