cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of nonexcisional treatment modalities for superficially invasive and in situ squamous cell carcinoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background Squamous cell carcinoma in situ (SCCIS) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are prevalent conditions that are increasing in incidence worldwide. Many nonexcisional treatments are commonly used, but the efficacy of these treatments has not been well delineated. Objectives To examine the recurrence rates of SCCIS and SCC treated with nonexcisional treatment modalities. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed for SCCIS and SCC treated with 5-fluorouracil, imiquimod, electrodessication, curettage, photodynamic therapy, ablative lasers, or cryotherapy. Results We included 186 studies describing the treatment of 9336 tumors. The recurrence rates of SCC and SCCIS following electrodessication with curettage (2.0%; 95% CI, 1.1-3.0) or following cryotherapy with curettage (1.6%; 95% CI, 0.4-2.8) were lower than those of SCC and SCCIS managed with other treatments, such as photodynamic therapy (29.0%; 95% CI, 25.0-33.0), 5-fluorouracil (26.6%; 95% CI, 16.9-36.4), or imiquimod (16.1%; 95% CI, 10.3-21.8). Limitations The limitations included a publication bias in mostly observational data and heterogeneity of treatment regimens. Conclusions Electrodessication and cryotherapy, in combination with curettage, are more effective than photodynamic therapy, 5-fluorouracil, or imiquimod in treating SCCIS and SCC.
Transient Laser Behavior

In this chapter, we will consider a few cases where the pump rate and/or cavity losses are time dependent. We will also consider situations in which a nonlinear optical element, such as a saturable absorber, is inserted in the laser cavity, where the non-linearity leads to the laser departing from stable cw operation. For these various cases we are thus dealing with transient laser behavior. The transient cases to be considered can be separated into two categories: (i) Cases, such as relaxation oscillations, Q-switching, gain switching and cavity dumping, where, ideally, a single mode laser is involved and which can be described by a rate equation treatment. (ii) Cases where many modes are involved, e.g. mode-locking, and for which a different treatment needs to be considered. This requires a description in terms of either the fields of all oscillating modes (frequency domain description) or in terms of a self-consistent circulating pulse within the cavity (time domain description).
Toward a New Understanding of Vascular Proliferative Disease in Children

These studies provide the following evidence: (1) Angiogenesis is a multistep process. (2) The steps necessary to construct a capillary must occur in correct sequence, a motif that seems to be expressed entirely by vascular endothelial cells. (3) Primary tumors and their metastases are angiogenesis dependent, and angiogenesis may be a critical control point in tumor growth. (4) Heparin potentiates angiogenesis. (5) Heparin or its nonanticoagulant fragments, administered with cortisone, inhibit angiogenesis. (6) Heparin is degraded in the gastrointestinal tract and yields low molecular weight fragments, some of which are absorbed into the circulation. (7) There is a group of corticosteroids that inhibit angiogenesis in the presence of a heparin fragment, but have no glucocorticoid or mineralocorticoid activity. The compounds to which this new biologic activity has been assigned have been named "angiotropic" steroids. (8) There is a potential future role for angiogenesis inhibitors as a new class of pharmacologic agents.
Observations of the initial, upward‐propagating, positive leader steps in a rocket‐and‐wire triggered lightning discharge

[1] We present high-speed video images (recorded at 300 kfps) of an upward positive leader developing stepwise from the top of a grounded triggering wire. The leader initiated from the wire top at a height of 123 m, and was imaged over a distance of 11 m in ten discrete steps. Unique current pulses were detected at the wire base corresponding to each optical step. Luminosity waves propagated downward from the leader tip. The step lengths ranged from 0.4 to 2.2 m; the interstep time intervals from 16.6 to 30.4μs. The leader's upward development speed increased with height, from 5.5 × 104 m s−1 between heights of 123 m and 134 m, the bottom 11 m, to 2.1 × 105 m s−1at a height of 350 m. The measured wire-base peak currents for the individual steps ranged from 17 to 153 A. After removing from the wire-base current measurements the effect of propagation on the triggering wire and the effect of reflection at the ground connection, we estimate that the peak currents at the wire top, the step current, ranged from 10 to 89 A. The charge lowered to ground following each step ranged from 22 to 107μC. The leader channel contained, on average, 51 μC m−1 of positive charge, a value that is similar to laboratory measurements of long positive polarity sparks.
Oncogene alterations in primary human colon tumors

We have examined alterations in six oncogenes--H-ras, K-ras, N-ras, myc, fos, and N-myc--in nine primary human colon tumors. Tumors were obtained within an hour of resection; as a control for each tumor, adjacent normal colon tissue was also obtained. Deoxyribonucleic acid extracted from each tissue sample was assayed by digesting with appropriate restriction endonucleases and, after gel electrophoresis and transfer to nitrocellulose, hybridizing with radiolabeled oncogene probes. Amplification of the myc locus, relative to adjacent normal colon tissue, was observed in two of these tumors; by dot-blotting, it was estimated that myc was amplified twofold to fivefold in each tumor. No rearrangements of myc, however, were observed in any of these tumors. Examination of the H-ras alleles of these nine tumors revealed that eight possess only "common" alleles of this gene, and that each was identical to its control. Normal colon DNA of the ninth patient, however, was found to possess both a "common" and a "rare" allele, and the "common" allele of H-ras appeared to be deleted in the tumor DNA of this patient. A restriction polymorphism indicative of a mutation in the 12th codon of K-ras was not found in any of these tumors, and we observed no evidence of rearrangement of amplification of the N-ras, K-ras, fos, or N-myc genes.
Coupling IPhreeqc with UTCHEM to model reactive flow and transport

A detailed step-by-step algorithm is presented through which we integrate IPhreeqc of the United Stated Geological Survey (USGS) state-of-the-art geochemical package with UTCHEM for comprehensive reactive-transport modeling. UTCHEM is 3D multi-phase flow and transport research simulator developed in The University of Texas at Austin. On the other hand, IPhreeqc is the open-source modules of the USGS state-of-the-art geochemical package, PHREEQC. Through this coupling, we are able to simulate homogeneous and heterogeneous, irreversible, and ion-exchange and surface reactions under non-isothermal, non-isobaric and both local-equilibrium and kinetic conditions. All the data communications between UTCHEM and IPhreeqc is performed through the computer memory without writing/reading files. We further parallelize the geochemistry module of UTCHEM-IPhreeqc in order to conduct field scale reservoir simulations. Our proposed coupling procedure can be implemented in any existing reservoir simulator for comprehensive reactive-transport modeling. One realistic case study is presented using UTCHEM-IPhreeqc. Coupling IPhreeqc, with a 3D multi-phase transport simulator, UTCHEM.Parallelizing the geochemistry module of UTCHEM-IPhreeqc for field applications.Including minerals dissolution/precipitation effect in reactive flow modeling.
Radiation Damage Limitations in the Design of the Wisconsin Tokamak Fusion Reactor

AbstractA detailed analysis of the radiation damage problems to be expected in a specific D-T fueled fusion reactor has been conducted. The system examined is the 5000-MW(th) University of Wisconsin Tokamak reactor (UWMAK), which is constructed of 20% cold-worked Type-316 stainless steel and operated at a maximum temperature of 500°C and a neutron wall loading of 1.25 MW/m2. The major radiation damage problem appears to be the loss in ductility; that is, the uniform elongation of the Type-316 stainless steel in the UWMAK-I first wall may fall to <0.5% after one to two years of operation. Another serious problem will be the void-induced swelling in the steel. Based on current design equations, the swelling in the steel of the first wall will exceed the design limit of 10% in approximately five years of operation. The wall erosion rate due to neutron and charged-particle sputtering, coupled with exfoliation due to blistering, is calculated to be 0.22 mm/yr. Finally, calculations reveal that the radiation da...
Preoperative Presentation of a Variant of Cerebellar Mutism Syndrome in a Young Boy With Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma.

0887-8994/$ e see front matter 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2015.06.001 with subacute hydrocephalus; an urgent ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement did not relieve his symptoms. His examination revealed bilateral papilledema and delayed visual fixation flaccid hypotonia of bilateral upper and lower extremities, and a positive Babinski sign. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging showed a large primarily cystic peripherally enhancing mass in the posterior fossa with
Transport-Based Biophysical System Models of Cells for Quantitatively Describing Responses to Electric Fields

In this paper, we review computational methods based on spatially distributed transport models that we have used to describe biological cell system responses to electric fields. Application to electroporation (EP) is emphasized, as it is increasingly used experimentally, but is not well understood quantitatively. We argue that Cartesian transport lattices (CTLs) and meshed transport networks (MTNs) are appropriate for describing transport in cellular systems generally. The approach is based on mathematical descriptions of transport in 1-D, which are then assigned to intranodal regions in 1-D, 2-D, and 3-D cell system geometries. Electrical behavior is based on nonspecific charge movement. Descriptions of heat transfer and both molecular and ionic transport have also been examined. This approach allows both traditional, idealized geometries [e.g., cylindrical, spherical plasma membrane (PM)] and also more realistic, irregular cell shapes and sizes to be used approximately, with little difference in computational difficulty. The more complex (active) local membrane models are similar to “agents” in agent-based modeling, in the sense that it is the individual responses of interactions within local regions that yield overall system behavior, which can be emergent and nonintuitive. Cell system models may be useful for screening of EP candidate combinations of pulse parameters, cell characteristics, and molecular transport properties with the goal of optimizing existing experimental protocols and possibly discovering new effects and applications.
Environmental filtering affects soil fungal community composition more than dispersal limitation at regional scales

The relative importance of dispersal limitation versus environmental filtering for community assembly has received much attention for macroorganisms. These processes have only recently been examined in microbial communities. Instead, microbial dispersal has mostly been measured as community composition change over space (i.e., distance decay). Here we directly examined fungal composition in airborne wind currents and soil fungal communities across a 40 000 km2 regional landscape to determine if dispersal limitation or abiotic factors were structuring soil fungal communities. Over this landscape, neither airborne nor soil fungal communities exhibited compositional differences due to geographic distance. Airborne fungal communities shifted temporally while soil fungal communities were correlated with abiotic parameters. These patterns suggest that environmental filtering may have the largest influence on fungal regional community assembly in soils, especially for aerially dispersed fungal taxa. Furthermore, we found evidence that dispersal of fungal spores differs between fungal taxa and can be both a stochastic and deterministic process. The spatial range of soil fungal taxa was correlated with their average regional abundance across all sites, which may imply stochastic dispersal mechanisms. Nevertheless, spore volume was also negatively correlated with spatial range for some species. Smaller volume spores may be adapted to long-range dispersal, or establishment, suggesting that deterministic fungal traits may also influence fungal distributions. Fungal life-history traits may influence their distributions as well. Hypogeous fungal taxa exhibited high local abundance, but small spatial ranges, while epigeous fungal taxa had lower local abundance, but larger spatial ranges. This study is the first, to our knowledge, to directly sample air dispersal and soil fungal communities simultaneously across a regional landscape. We provide some of the first evidence that soil fungal communities are mostly assembled through environmental filtering and experience little dispersal limitation.
Characterization of Phonons in Molecular Crystals

We demonstrate a new technique for characterizing the phonons in molecular crystals, Modulated Orientation Sensitive Terahertz Spectroscopy (MOSTS). The technique suppresses crystal defects and solvent contributions, and enhances contributions due to molecular structure and anisotropy.
Interstellar archaeology and the prevalence of intelligence

Abstract Simple calculations indicate that the spatial density in the galaxy of extinct civilizations, and of planets inhabited by intelligent creatures who do not have technical civilizations, may be quite large.
The incidence and pattern of angina prior to acute myocardial infarction: a study of 577 cases

In order to determine the incidence and pattern of angina as a premonitory symptom of acute myocardial infarction, 577 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction were questioned shortly after hospital admission about the presence and pattern of chest pain prior to onset of infarction, with particular emphasis on the month prior to infarction. Two hundred and seventy-six patients (48 per cent) had no angina before infarction (Group I), whereas 301 (52 per cent) did. One hundred and seventy-nine patients (31 per cent) had a history of chronic angina, and of these, 75 had no change in the pattern of angina prior to infarction (Group II) while 104 noticed worsening of their symptoms in the month prior to infarction (Group III). One hundred and twenty-two patients (21 per cent) had new onset angina in the month prior to infarction (Group IV). The number of patients with unstable angina prior to infarction (Groups III and IV) was therefore 226 or 39 per cent of the total series. In patients with unstable angina, the increase in severity of symptoms or the development of new onset angina occurred within a period of 1 week or less in 69 per cent. Patients with a history of previous infarction or chronic angina had a higher incidence of unstable angina prior to infarction than patients without such a history (p less than 0.05). Patients with prior angina (Groups II, III, and IV) had a higher incidence of subendocardial infarction than patients without angina (p less than 0.05). The hospital mortality rate in the four groups did not differ significantly.
Cover Picture: Recent Developments in the Syntheses of the Epothilones and Related Analogues (Eur. J. Org. Chem. 18/2006)

The cover picture shows a representative collection of some of the more potent, naturally occurring epothilones and their synthetic analogues. Several of these are currently in clinical trials. Colored ribbons are routinely used to bring attention to a particular disease and the ongoing search for a cure, especially cancer. The ribbon shown is white, depicting no particular cancer, but rather cancers in general. Details are presented in the Microreview by E. B. Watkins, A. G. Chittiboyina, and M. A. Avery on p. 4071 ff.
Adaptation of nitrifying microbial biomass to nickel in batch incubations

Nitrification-microbial oxidation of ammonia to nitrate-is sensitive to an array of inhibitors. Currently, little is known regarding the ecological processes that enable adaptation to inhibitors and recovery of nitrification. This study evaluated inhibition and recovery of nitrification in batch cultures of activated sludge incubated with different levels of nickel (Ni), a model inhibitor. Incubation with 1 mg/L of added Ni did not adversely affect nitrification, and little inhibition occurred at 5 and 10 mg/L Ni. Incubation with 50 mg/L Ni resulted in significant inhibition, decreased amoA transcript abundance, and delayed recovery of nitrification until amoA transcript abundance rebounded after 24 h. For this dosage, recovery of nitrification occurred without a significant change in ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) community structure. By contrast, incubation with 150 mg/L of added Ni strongly inhibited nitrification and delayed recovery until a shift in AOB community structure occurred after ∼6 weeks of incubation. The results indicate that inhibitor-resistant nitrifying cultures can be obtained from long-term batch incubations of decaying activated sludge incubated with high levels of added inhibitor.
Widespread gene conversion in centromere cores.

Centromeres are the most dynamic regions of the genome, yet they are typified by little or no crossing over, making it difficult to explain the origin of this diversity. To address this question, we developed a novel CENH3 ChIP display method that maps kinetochore footprints over transposon-rich areas of centromere cores. A high level of polymorphism made it possible to map a total of 238 within-centromere markers using maize recombinant inbred lines. Over half of the markers were shown to interact directly with kinetochores (CENH3) by chromatin immunoprecipitation. Although classical crossing over is fully suppressed across CENH3 domains, two gene conversion events (i.e., non-crossover marker exchanges) were identified in a mapping population. A population genetic analysis of 53 diverse inbreds suggests that historical gene conversion is widespread in maize centromeres, occurring at a rate >1×10−5/marker/generation. We conclude that gene conversion accelerates centromere evolution by facilitating sequence exchange among chromosomes.
Differential development of autistic symptoms in a pair of fraternal twins.

The following case study reports the differential development of autistic symptoms over a 9-year period in a pair of fraternal twins. Neither of the twins developed normally. Evaluations revealed that although the older (male) twin showed some early signs of pathology and suffered from frequent illnesses, he ultimately has developed more normally than his sister, who likely sustained brain damage as a result of perinatal anoxia. Significant improvement has occurred in both cases. Diagnostic, etiological, and treatment implications are discussed.
Functional upper eyelid anatomy as applied to aesthetic blepharoplasty

The paper reviews significant anatomic details of the upper eyelid important in performing upper lid aesthetic blepharoplasty. Included are descriptions of the obicularis oculi muscle, the preaponeurotic fat pads, the lateral fat pad, and the lacrimal gland. Current concepts regarding the insertion of the levator palpebrae superioris muscle and its role in creating the upper lid sulcus and fold are discussed. Application of these anatomic considerations in performing upper lid aesthetic blepharoplasty is suggested.
Perceptions of Health Intervene in the Relationship Between Psychiatric Symptoms and Quality of Life for Individuals in Supportive Housing

Psychiatric symptoms and quality of life (QOL) are important domains for mental health services and research. Findings from studies examining the relationship between psychiatric symptoms and quality of life have been mixed, prompting researchers to test moderating variables that identify for whom and under what circumstances psychiatric symptoms may or may not be particularly influential on individuals’ quality of life. However, in addition to knowing when or for whom symptoms influence QOL, it is also important to understand how symptoms may be influencing quality of life. Identification of factors that intervene between psychiatric symptoms and QOL can assist in addressing this question and inform the development of services to improve QOL among individuals with serious mental illness (SMI). Guided by Yanos and Moos’ conceptual model, this study examined the effect of psychiatric symptoms on quality of life among individuals with SMI. The integrated model of functional wellbeing proposes that “personal system” factors, such as symptom severity, can directly influence social functioning, well-being, and life satisfaction. In explicating their model, the authors provide considerable evidence supporting the negative relationship between symptomatology and social
Effect of sulfated xylans during the interaction of [125I]-thrombin with antithrombin III or heparin cofactor II of human plasma

[125I]-Labeled thrombin was incubated with human plasma and its interactions with the two plasma protease inhibitors antithrombin III (AT-III) or heparin cofactor II (HC-II) were investigated in the presence of oat spelts xylan sulfate (OSXS), sodium pentosan polysulfate (SP-54), and the results were compared with heparin and dermatan sulfate. Addition of OSXS or SP-54 enhanced the complexation of thrombin with HC-II or with both AT-III and HC-II depending upon the concentration and the duration of the interactions of the sulfated compounds with plasma. During the 30 s interaction, OSXS and SP-54 enhanced both AT-III-thrombin and HC-II-thrombin interaction while heparin was more selective and enhanced only the AT-III-thrombin interaction. However after a 2 min interaction, heparin showed an increase in the HC-II-thrombin interaction at higher concentrations. The complexations of AT-III-thrombin and HC-II-thrombin were reversed in the presence of 200 μg/ml of SP-54 during a 30 s interaction or in presence of 100 μg/ml of OSXS during a 2 min interaction. The Western blotting method of detecting thrombin showed that during the 10 s interaction, heparin enhanced the thrombin-AT-III complex formation while OSXS enhanced the thrombin-HC-II complex formation.
Steroid sulfatase inhibitor alters blood pressure and steroid profiles in hypertensive rats.

Abstract Our hypothesis is that the steroid sulfatase gene ( Sts ) may indirectly contribute to the modulation of blood pressure (BP) in rats with genetic hypertension. The steroid sulfatase enzyme (STS) catalyzes the conversion of estrone sulfate, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, cholesterol sulfate and glucocorticoid sulfates to their active nonconjugated forms. This causes the elevation of biologically active steroids, such as glucocorticoids, mineralcorticoids as well as testosterone, which may lead to increased BP. The main objective was to examine the effects of a steroid sulfatase inhibitor on blood pressure and steroid levels in rats with hypertensive genetic backgrounds. Three treatment groups, 5–15 weeks of age were used: controls, estrone and STS inhibitor (estrone-3- O -sulfamate), ( n =8 per group). BP was taken weekly by tail cuff, and serum testosterone (T), estrogens (E), and plasma corticosterone (C) levels were measured by radioimmunoassay. BP was significantly reduced by the STS inhibitor in the strains with genetically elevated BP. Also the inhibitor alone significantly reduced plasma corticosterone in all strains compared to estrone treatment with a concomitant as well as significant rise in estrogens and reduction in testosterone and body weight.
Recalibration of a plastic-fracturing model for concrete confinement

Abstract In an effort to simulate the concrete behavior in a column using the finite element method, it is found that the plastic-fracturing model originally developed by Bazant and Kim needs to be recalibrated for the kind of general stress conditions characteristic of concrete under confining stresses. The form of the five characteristic functions of the model is changed, resulting in a total of 24 parameters to be calibrated instead of the original 26. Test resultson uniaxial, biaxial, and triaxial behavior of concrete available in the literature are used to calibrate the parameters. The recalibrated model is then used to simulate the behavior of spirally reinforced circular concrete columns under axial compression. Comparisons of the simulated results with those from recently reported tests indicate good agreement.
Effects of Personal Income Tax on Income Distribution: Example from Bulgaria

This study utilizes the 1992 Bulgarian household budget survey to analyze the distribution of income and income tax burden. Results indicate that the country is characterized by low income inequality, though this is changing rapidly. The findings also show that the present income tax system is progressive and that the urban sector pays much more relative to its income. Despite a steeply graduated statutory tax rate schedule, effective progression is rather modest, indicating significant tax evasion. However, one must view the results of progressivity and urban bias cautiously. As in-kind income becomes monetized and as the economy becomes more market-oriented, both progressivity and urban/rural differences will wane over time.
Monotone Functions in Sequential Circuits

This paper is concerned with the problem of realizing an arbitrary syndconous or asynchronous sequential machine using only monotone AMR (or decreasing) switching functions. It has been found that h ion always exist, that in the asynchronous case only nomal fundamental mode flow tables are considered. Univesl state assignmments resulting in monotone inceasing (or next-state funtions are characterized using the concept of an (i,j) completely separating system.
LOW-TEMPERATURE HYDROTHERMAL REDUCTION OF AMMONIUM PARATUNGSTATE

Abstract Ammonium paratungstate has been found to reduce to an ammonium tungsten bronze when hydrothermally treated at 200°C in nonaqueous solvents, such as acetic acid. It has the hexagonal bronze structure with lattice parameters similar to the high-temperature preparations.
Kinetic analysis of glutamate transport by the miniswine choroid plexus in vitro

Abstract Transport of glutamic acid by the choroid plexus, the blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier, was investigated by using the isolated choroid plexi from the fourth (FVCP) and lateral ventricles (LVCP) of the young adult miniswine in vitro. Glutamic acid uptake was very pronounced, with concentrations 7-fold (LVCP) and 2.4-fold (FVCP) higher in tissue than in medium after only 5 min of incubation with 1 μM glutamic acid. Tissue/medium ratios reached steady state by 15 min at 30-fold (LVCP) and 11-fold (FVCP). Uptake was energy-dependent and inhibited by ouabain and hypothermia. l -Aspartic acid was shown to be inhibitory in a concentration-dependent manner, suggesting that it shares a common transport system, whereas neither octanoic acid nor okadaic acid (transported by a separate fatty acid system) inhibited glutamic acid transport. At the same temperature, the labeled metabolite of glutamate (glutamine) in the tissue was 64.7%, 73.2%, and 72.5% of total radioactivity at 5, 30, and 60 min, respectively. The estimated K m values for glutamate uptake by the choroid plexus are 264 μM (FVCP) and 196 μM (LVCP); V max values are 87 (FVCP) and 147 (LVCP) nmol/g/min, respectively. These results indicate that, in addition to the metabolism of glutamate to glutamine, an active uptake mechanism is present in the choroid plexus of miniswine which may serve to regulate glutamic acid concentration in the CSF.
Glycemic Control during Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

Hyperglycemia, which occurs in the perioperative period during cardiac surgery, has been shown to be associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The management of perioperative hyperglycemia during coronary artery bypass graft surgery and all cardiac surgical procedures has been the focus of intensive study in recent years. This report will paper the pathophysiology responsible for the detrimental effects of perioperative hyperglycemia during cardiac surgery, show how continuous insulin infusions in the perioperative period have improved outcomes, and discuss the results of trials designed to determine what level of a glycemic control is necessary to achieve optimal clinical outcomes.
A MOLECULAR EVALUATION OF THE NORTH AMERICAN "GRASSLAND" SPARROW CLADE

Abstract Because they share several morphological and ecological characters, the North American sparrow (Emberizidae) genera Ammodramus, Passerculus, and Xenospiza have historically been considered members of a well-defined “grassland” sparrow assemblage. Relationships among the 11 members of this group have been the subject of much taxonomic debate, yet no comprehensive molecular assessment of relationships has been done. We investigated these relationships using mitochondrial DNA sequence data that included complete cytochrome-b and ND2 genes. Phylogenetic reconstructions derived via parsimony, likelihood, and Bayesian methods were congruent. The grassland sparrows, as presently configured, are polyphyletic. Pooecetes gramineus, Amphispiza belli (but not A. quinquestriata and A. bilineata), Oriturus superciliosus, and all three species of Melospiza are included in a reconfigured clade, whereas the traditional forms of Ammodramus savannarum, humeralis, and aurifons are placed well outside of these. Withi...
Kevlar 49 composite performance: Dependence on thermoset resin microstructure

Structure moleculaire de resines thermodurcissables durcies seules ou renforcees de Kevlar 49 par analyse des extraits de resine par chromatographie par permeation de gel
Role of Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide in the Sensitization of Dorsal Horn Neurons to Mechanical Stimulation After Intradermal Injection of Capsaicin

This study was designed to assess the role of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and its receptor in the sensitization of dorsal horn neurons induced by intradermal injection of capsaicin in ra...
Expression of mammalian gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors with distinct pharmacology in Xenopus oocytes.

Abstract Gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA), the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in mammalian brain, is known to interact with two classes of GABA receptors denoted GABAA and GABAB. Using Xenopus oocytes, we compared the electrical and pharmacological properties of GABA receptors expressed by poly(A)+ RNA isolated from mammalian brain and retina. RNA from cerebral cortex expressed GABA responses with features characteristic of currents mediated by GABAA receptors. In contrast, RNA from retina expressed responses mediated by GABAA receptors and, in addition, GABA responses that were insensitive to the GABAA antagonist bicuculline and the GABAB agonist baclofen and showed no modulation by barbiturates or benzodiazepines. The bicuculline/baclofen-insensitive GABA response was a Cl- current that was blocked by picrotoxin but showed little desensitization or outward rectification. Our results suggest that mammalian retina contains RNAs encoding GABA receptors with distinct pharmacology.
SUBSHELL CONVERSION-LINE INTENSITY RATIOS FOR SOME PURE TRANSITIONS.

Abstract For a number of “normal” electromagnetic transitions, either necessarily pure or judged to be essentially pure, L- and M-subshell internal conversion ratios were measured and compared with ratios obtained from the Hager and Seltzer theoretical calculations. In addition, data available in the literature were also used in these comparisons. A range of Z -values and energies and several multipole orders were included. There appears to be no real disagreement between theory and experiment. A possible source of systematic error in high-resolution internal conversion spectrometry is briefly discussed; and a simple accurate method for energy interpolation of theoretical coefficients is described.
Models of the behaviour of (thermally stressed) microbial spores in foods: tools to study mechanisms of damage and repair.

The ‘Omics’ revolution has brought a wealth of new mechanistic insights in many fields of biology. It offers options to base predictions of microbial behaviour on mechanistic insight. As the cellular mechanisms involved often turn out to be highly intertwined it is crucial that model development aims at identifying the level of complexity that is relevant to work at. For the prediction of microbiologically stable foods insight in the behaviour of bacterial spore formers is crucial. Their chances of germination and likelihood of outgrowth are major food stability indicators, as well as the transition from outgrowth to first cell division and vegetative growth. Current available technology to assess these parameters in a time-resolved manner at the single spore level will be discussed. Tools to study molecular processes operative in heat induced damage will be highlighted.
Effect of Gamma-radiation on Eggs of the Silkworm

THE need for biological information on the effects of extraterrestrial conditions encountered in space environments has recently been presented by Reynolds1. Techniques for the conduct of biological experiments in space studies are almost non-existent.
Origin and classification of organic matter in clastic systems

Abstract A classification of organic particles based upon their degrada‐tional state and biological origin is outlined for use in palynologi‐cal analysis. The classification has been used in various forms since 1969 and has proved useful in analyzing organic matter from clastic rocks ranging from the Devonian to the Modern. The organic particles are referred to as macerals and are divided into phytoclasts (plant derived), zooclasts (animal derived), protistoclasts (protistan derived), and scleratoclasts (fungal derived). In addition, the term receptorclasts is used to include precipitated organic matter. Phytoclasts are subdivided into the following categories based upon their level of decay: well preserved, no evidence of biodegradation; poorly preserved, minor biodegradation; infested, highly disrupted cell walls; amorphous structured, remnant cell structure only; amorphous non‐structured, blocky mass. In addition to the amorphous non‐structured phytoclasts there are the amorphous non‐structured protist...
On the laws of large numbers for nonnegative random variables

Abstract Strong laws of large numbers concerning nonnegative random variables are obtained and then they are utilized to establish stability results, among other things, for sums of pairwise independent random variables and the range of random walks.
An accelerated bias-corrected sequential estimation for the mean of NEF-PVF distributions

An accelerated sequential procedure for estimating the mean p in the class of the natural exponential family of distributions having power variance function (NEF-PVF), is proposed. The accelerated procedure is conducted under a combined loss of weighted squared estimation error and sarnpling cost. A class of bias-corrected estimators, which are natural for this suggested accelerated sampling scheme is proposed. The asymptotic properties of the suggested estimators are provided. In particular, one realizes the impact of acceleration on the regret and the tradeoff between bias reduction and regret reduction.
Detection, staging and surveillance in renal cell carcinoma

This article discusses the computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) scanning techniques used for the detection and staging of renal cell carcinoma and their pitfalls. Comparison between the Robson and recent modifications to the TNM classifications is also addressed. The accuracy of CT and MR in the staging of renal cell carcinoma and the role of positron emission tomography (PET) scanning is outlined and finally the surveillance of patients who have had curative treatment of renal cell carcinoma is briefly addressed.
PROMISING NEW TECHNOLOGY FOR MANAGING DIAMONDBACK MOTH (LEPIDOPTERA: PLUTELLIDAE) IN CABBAGE WITH PHEROMONE

Experiments were conducted in plantings of cabbage in spring 1999 and 2000 to evaluate a novel, new matrix system for delivering sex pheromone to suppress sexual communication by diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.). The liquid, viscous, slow-release formulation contained a combination of diamondback moth pheromone, a blend of Z-11-hexadecenyl acetate, 27%:Z-11-hexadecen-1-ol, 1%:Z-11-tetradecen-1-ol, 9%:Z-11-hexadecenal, 63%, and the insecticide permethrin (0.16% and 6% w/w of total formulated material, respectively). Field trapping experiments showed that the lure-toxicant combination was highly attractive to male moths for at least four weeks using as little as a 0.05 g droplet of formulated material per trap; and the permethrin insecticide had no apparent influence on response of moths to lure baited traps. Small field plots of cabbage were treated with the lure-toxicant-matrix combination using droplets of 0.44 and 0.05 g each applied to cabbage in a grid pattern at densities ranging from 990 to 4396 droplets/ha to evaluate the potential for disrupting sexual communication of diamondback moth. There was no significant difference in the level of suppression of sexual communication of diamondback moth, as measured by captures of males in pheromone-baited traps located in the treated plots, versus moths captured in untreated control plots, among the treatments regardless of droplet size (0.05 or 0.44 g) or number of droplets applied per ha. Plots treated with the smallest droplet size (0.05 g) and with the fewest number of droplets per ha (990) suppressed captures of male diamondback moths > 90% for up to 3 weeks post treatment. Although laboratory assays showed that the lure-toxicant combination was 100% effective at killing the diamondback moth, the mode of action in the field trials was not determined. The results indicate that the liquid, viscous, slow release formulation containing diamondback moth pheromone could be used to effectively suppress sexual communication of this pest in cabbage and other crucifers, although as many as three applications probably would be required for suppression over an entire growing season.
High-speed optical backplane bus with modulation and demodulation capabilities

We report a 1-D, 1 Gbit/sec, fully integrated 1-to-10 optical planar bus array. The optical bus is made out of a thin glass substrate in conjunction with a 1-D hologram array, integrated on the surface. Based on the dispersion relation, the angular misalignment can be used to determine the wavelength tolerance of the optical bus, which is a representation of its modulation bandwidth. Using the experimental results of the angular tolerance, which is determined to be 0.5 degree(s), it can be shown that a wavelength coverage of 42 nm is achievable when this optical bus is used. The corresponding frequency is 7.5 THz.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Reading to Remember: Studies of Metacognitive Reading Skills in Elementary School-Aged Children

AbstractSelf-report methodologies, retrospection and protocol analysis, were employed in two studies to investigate sixth and seventh graders’ metacognitive reading skills in naturalistic reading settings. Students monitored relative passage difficulty between a narrative and an expository passage, and easily offered reasons for their judgments. Moderate positive correlations between numbers of problem-solving strategy retrospections and reading achievement scores suggest that retrospection be favored over protocol analysis as a more promising means of gaining access to students’ insights about how they read to remember.
Assembly and characterization of colloid-based antireflective coatings on multicrystalline silicon solar cells

Evaporation from a moving meniscus was used for controlled convective assembly of colloidal silica nanoparticles into antireflective coatings (ARCs) onto the rough uneven surfaces of polycrystalline silicon solar cells. The nanocoatings reduced the reflectance of the solar cells by approximately 10% across the near UV to near IR spectral range, which provided a 17% increase in the output power of the devices (which translated to a 10% relative increase in the efficiency). Microstructural analysis via SEM showed that while the surface coverage was uniform over long ranges, the thickness of the particle coatings varied locally due to the rough, undulating substrate surface. The UV/vis reflectance data of the silica coated solar cells could be modelled with the Fresnel reflectance relation by assuming a distributed range of thicknesses for the coatings, in good agreement with the microstructural data. We show that particulate films deposited on rough surfaces can function as ARCs even though they do not attain 0% reflectance. These silica particle-based coatings can be further modified by attachment of monolayers of fluorosilanes, which may make them superhydrophobic and/or self-cleaning.
Organizing a High School Chemistry Outreach Event: Celebrating National Chemistry Week and the International Year of Chemistry

This article describes how a small liberal arts college organizes a yearly outreach event for regional high school students to celebrate National Chemistry Week. The event can also serve as a model for outreach during the International Year of Chemistry.
Case Report: Antinuclear Antibody in Henoch—Schönlein Purpura

ABSTRACT Antinuclear antibody (ANA) was demonstrated in two children with otherwise typical Henoch–Schonlein purpura (HSP). The presence of ANA may reflect underlying immunoregulatory abnormalities in HSP.
Recombinant gamma interferon in advanced breast cancer: a phase II trial.

Fifteen patients with advanced carcinoma of the breast who had failed prior chemotherapy, were treated with recombinant gamma interferon at a dose of 2mg/m2 (1mg = 2.4 × 107 international units) intravenously for five consecutive days every other week. The median patient age was 51 and all patients had a performance status of 0–2 (Karnofsky ≥ 50). Thirteen patients had two or three sites of metastatic disease and seven were estrogen receptor positive. No complete or partial responses were noted. Although some patients had brief periods of stable disease, almost all patients progressed after one or two courses. Only one patient was able to receive six courses of induction therapy and a brief course of maintenance. Flu-like symptoms and nausea were seen in all patients; vomiting and anorexia were frequent. Hepatic toxicity manifested by enzyme elevation was common and was most severe in patients with liver metastases. In this study a highly purified biologically active gamma interferon was not associated with anti-tumor activity in previously treated women with metastatic breast cancer.
Sympatholytic effects of diethylaminoethanol in man.

Summary and ConclusionsDoses of diethyl-aminoethanol sufficient to produce high blood concentrations resulted in a temporary inhibition of sympathetic vasoconstrictor reflexes in man. It is suggested that the effects of the drug on arterial pressure and ventricular tachycardias are secondary to its sympatholytic action.
Measuring viscous dissipative interactions in dynamic force microscopy

The periodic motion of a harmonic pendulum in an arbitrary force field including viscous damping is studied as it pertains to dynamic force microscopy. It is shown that the damping constant as a function of tip–sample distance and thus the dissipative force can be obtained unambiguously by measuring the driving-force amplitude versus displacement of the force sensor. This methodology provides the basis for quantitative force spectroscopy of dissipative interactions.
The Escherichia coli gabDTPC Operon: Specific γ-Aminobutyrate Catabolism and Nonspecific Induction

Nitrogen limitation induces the nitrogen-regulated (Ntr) response, which includes proteins that assimilate ammonia and scavenge nitrogen. Nitrogen limitation also induces catabolic pathways that degrade four metabolically related compounds: putrescine, arginine, ornithine, and γ-aminobutyrate (GABA). We analyzed the structure, function, and regulation of the gab operon, whose products degrade GABA, a proposed intermediate in putrescine catabolism. We showed that the gabDTPC gene cluster constitutes an operon based partially on coregulation of GabT and GabD activities and the polarity of an insertion in gabT on gabC. A ΔgabDT mutant grew normally on all of the nitrogen sources tested except GABA. The unexpected growth with putrescine resulted from specific induction of gab-independent enzymes. Nac was required for gab transcription in vivo and in vitro. Ntr induction did not require GABA, but various nitrogen sources did not induce enzyme activity equally. A gabC (formerly ygaE) mutant grew faster with GABA and had elevated levels of gab operon products, which suggests that GabC is a repressor. GabC is proposed to reduce nitrogen source-specific modulation of expression. Unlike a wild-type strain, a gabC mutant utilized GABA as a carbon source and such growth required σS. Previous studies showing σS-dependent gab expression in stationary phase involved gabC mutants, which suggests that such expression does not occur in wild-type strains. The seemingly narrow catabolic function of the gab operon is contrasted with the nonspecific (nitrogen source-independent) induction. We propose that the gab operon and the Ntr response itself contribute to putrescine and polyamine homeostasis.
Geography in multiple sclerosis.

Both mortality and morbidity data indicate quite clearly that multiple sclerosis is a geographically-related disease, and thus MS can be thought of as an acquired environmental (exogenous) illness. High frequency parts of the world for MS are Europe between 65 degrees and 45 degrees north latitude, northern United States and southern Canada, New Zealand, and southern Australia. These regions are bounded by medium frequency MS regions: in Europe to the north, east, and south; in America for southern U.S.; and the remainder of Australia. Latin America, Asia and Africa are essentially of low frequency from present data. Latitude is not a sufficient criterion: at 40 degrees north latitude, MS is high in America, medium in Europe, and low in Asia. All high and medium risk areas therefore are in Europe or European colonies; thus MS is the white man's burden spread from western Europe. Within the U.S., MS is less common among Negroes, Japanese, and possibly Amerindians than in whites regardless of geography. Migration studies among risk areas indicate that migrants keep much of the risk of their birthplace, but also that overall the risk is decreased by high-to-low migration, and probably increased by low-to-high. For the former, it seems that adolescence is the age critical for retention of birthplace risk. Some preliminary data on a possible epidemic of MS are also presented. All the epidemiologic information would be most easily explained if MS were an infectious (viral) illness with prolonged latency. The proof of this though must come from the laboratory.