cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract P1-07-25: SSA, a novel sulindac sulfide derivative, inhibits tumor cell growth and invasion in breast cancer

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as sulindac sulfide (SS), have been reported for striking chemopreventive activities in various types of human malignances, including breast cancer. However, the toxicities related to cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibition resulting in suppression of physiologically important prostaglandins limit their clinical use for chemoprevention in human cancer. We recently developed a novel amine derivative of SS named as SSA, which lacks inhibitory effect on COX-1 or -2, yet shows 10 times greater suppressive effect than SS on growth of a panel of breast cells. Moreover, SSA treatment at sub-cytotoxic concentration (4μM) for 36 hr can significantly inhibit both migration and invasion of highly aggressive breast tumor MDA-MB-231cells. To understand the molecular mechanism accounting for this activity, we examined 4 oncogenic miRNAs, including mir-17-92, mir-9, mir-10b, and mir-21 that were previously reported by our group to be associated with SS anti-invasive activity in breast and colorectal cancer. We found SSA could significantly down-regulate these miRNAs; whereas their forced expression was able to counteract the anti-invasive activity of SSA in MDA-MB-231 cells. There results imply that significance of SSA with non-COX inhibitory properties in suppression of tumor cell invasion could provide novel insights into development of safer and more effective strategies for prevention of breast cancer progression and metastasis. In addition, after inducing mobility of non-invasive breast MCF-7 cells by using TGF-β1, we treated these invading cells with SSA and found that their mobility was significantly decreased. These results support anti-invasive activity of SSA in human breast cancer cells and inhibition of TGF-β1 as well as oncogenic miRNAs may be responsible for the mechanistic basis by which SSA prevents breast tumor cell invasion. This study is supported by an American Cancer Society Research Scholar Grant (RSG-13-265-01-RMC) and NIH/NCI R21 Grants (5R21CA160280 and 1R21CA182754) to Yaguang Xi. Citation Format: Bin Yi, Xiangling Feng, Hong Chang, Ruixia Ma, Xiaoguo Zhang, Gary A Piazza, Yaguang Xi. SSA, a novel sulindac sulfide derivative, inhibits tumor cell growth and invasion in breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-07-25.
A high-speed beam of lithium droplets for collecting diverted energy and particles in ITER

A high-speed (160 m/s) beam (0.14*0.86 m) of liquid-lithium droplets passing through the divertor region(s) below (and above) the main plasma has the potential to replace and out-perform conventional solid divertor plates in both heat and particle removal. In addition to superior heat-collection properties, the lithium beam would: (1) remove impurities; (2) have a negligible MHD (magnetohydrodynamic) lithium-circulation pressure drop; (3) exhibit low-recycle divertor operation compatible with lower-hybrid current drive, H-mode plasma confinement, and no flow reversal in the edge plasma; (4) be insensitive to plasma shifts; and (5) protect solid structures from the plasma thermal energy for those disruptions that deposit energy preferentially into the divertor while simultaneously being rapidly reestablished after a major disruption. Scoping calculations identifying the beam configuration and the droplet dynamics, including formation, MHD effects, gravitational effects, thermal response and hydrodynamics are presented. Limitations and uncertainties are also discussed. >
Process design using ionic liquids: Physical property modeling

Abstract Ionic liquids are a relatively new class of materials with properties that make them attractive for a wide variety of engineering applications. For design purposes, it is useful to have a relatively simple model (i.e., excess Gibbs energy model or equation-of-state model) capable of describing the physical properties and equilibrium behavior of ILs and IL solutions. We consider here the performance of two selected models, NRTL applied to the modeling of liquid-liquid equilibrium and an electrolyte equation-of-state applied to the modeling of aqueous mean ionic activity coefficients. In each case we focus on issues in parameter estimation, and use an approach based on interval mathematics to solve the parameter estimation problem globally. Sample results are presented and suggest that the models considered here may be useful for correlation of data, but may not be well suited for prediction.
The Associative Law

A semigroup S is an associative groupoid; that is, a groupoid such that the associative law $$\left( {xy} \right)z = x\left( {yz} \right)$$ (1.1) holds for all x, y, z in S. [Many authors, including most of those writing in French, use the term “demigroup” for an associative groupoid; these authors reserve “semigroup” for what we shall call a cancellation semigroup. Other terms are “monoid” (Bourbaki) and “associative system” (Russian authors). The present terminology is standard in English and German.]
Effects of Short-Range Correlations between Two Protons in Elastic Scattering of High-Energy Electrons by Heavy Nuclei

An expression is obtained for the leading term in the two-proton contribution to the scattering cross section, with a two-proton charge density which is a Yukawa function of the separation between two protons. The cross section for scattering from more complicated charge distributions can be generated from this basic result by differentiation with respect to the Yukawa range parameter. The two-proton cross section is evaluated for a charge density in which short-range correlations in position between two protons appear. Results are given for the scattering of 600-Mev electrons by heavy nuclei.
Autoimmunity: When self-tolerance breaks down

The spontaneous development of destructive polyarthritis in mice transgenic for an autoreactive T-cell receptor supports the notion that a failure of T-cell self-tolerance can lead to similar diseases in humans, and sheds new light on the role of peripheral tolerance in the avoidance of such pathological immune responses.
Variational and Classical Methods for Limit Load Analysis of Inhomogeneous Media

The load carrying capacity of a component or structure with varying material properties (inhomogeneous) is investigated using various lower- and upper-bound limit load multipliers in the context of variational principles. In order to evaluate the different limit load multipliers, the elastic modulus adjustment procedure is used to obtain statically admissible stress and kinematically admissible strain fields. The proposed upper and lower bound limit load estimates are compared with the results obtained from inelastic finite element analysis for two- and three-dimensional geometries.
On the analysis of a symmetric polling system with single-message buffers

Abstract A performance analysis is provided for a polling system consisting of statistically identical stations with single-message buffers and Poisson arrival streams. Switchover and message service times are assumed to be generally distributed. Some errors in the past analysis are pointed out. We express such performance measures as the mean polling cycle time, the mean message response time, and the mean number of messages at an arbitrary time in terms of the mean number of massages served in a polling cycle. Our mean message response time reduces to that for an FCFS M/G/1//N queue (machine interference model) in the limit of zero switchover time.
Accuracy of EUS for detection of intraductal papillary mucinous tumor of the pancreas.

Abstract Background: Patients with intraductal papillary mucinous tumors of the pancreas (IPMT) present with symptoms similar to those of chronic pancreatitis. This study assessed the accuracy of EUS for detection of IPMT and identified features that discriminate IPMT from chronic pancreatitis. Methods: EUS accuracy for detecting IPMT was determined with characteristic findings by endoscopic retrograde pancreatography as the reference standard. To determine EUS features characteristic of IPMT, EUS images from patients with IPMT were compared with those from patients (similar age, gender) with chronic pancreatitis. Results: Thirty-eight patients (23 men, 15 women; age range 40-90 years) with IPMT were identified between 1994 and 2001. For EUS, the sensitivity was 86%, specificity 99%, positive predictive value 78%, and negative predictive value 99% for detection of IPMT. When compared with patients with chronic pancreatitis, the EUS features of dilation of pancreatic duct (89% vs. 42%, p p = 0.002), and pancreatic atrophy (32% vs. 3%, p = 0.002) were more common, whereas parenchymal features of chronic pancreatitis were less common with IPMT (21% vs. 97%, p Conclusions: EUS may be useful in the initial evaluation of patients suspected to have IPMT. Paucity of parenchymal features of chronic pancreatitis is important in differentiating IPMT from other causes of chronic pancreatitis. (Gastrointest Endosc 2002;56:701-7.)
The electroencephalographic characteristics of the rhombencephalectomized cat.

Abstract The electroencephalographic responses in the rhombencephalectomized cat after the application of photic and epileptogenic agents resemble those phenomena in the normal animal. The spontaneous EEG of the motor region had fewer beta waves, a slower alpha but more delta components than the presection record. The response to photic stimulation in the occipital cortex was similar before and after the rhombencephalectomy, although the initial waves were slightly delayed. Epileptic activity upon topical application or intravenous administration of epileptogenic agents was demonstrated in the sensorimotor cortex.
Massage Therapy as a Workplace Intervention for Reduction of Stress

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a 15-min. on-site massage while seated in a chair on reducing stress as indicated by blood pressure. 52 employed participants' blood pressures were measured before and after a 15-min. massage at work. Analysis showed a significant reduction in participants' systolic and diastolic blood pressure after receiving the massage although there was no control group.
Using the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator as a Tool for Leadership Development? Apply With Caution:

Despite its wide use as a tool to enhance leadership development, the current way in which the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is administered provides limited value to managers. This paper revi...
Thermodynamic excess properties of ternary alcohol-hydrocarbon systems. Simplified method for predicting enthalpies from binary data

Two general equations for estimation of excess enthalpies of ternary systems consisting of an alcohol and two hydrocarbons from observed excess properties of the various binary combinations have been developed. The first expression is based on the Kretschmer-Wiebe association model and takes the form $$\Delta \overline H _{ABC}^{ex} = h_A x_A K_A (\phi _{A1} - \phi _{A1}^o ) + Q_{ABC}$$ where $$\begin{gathered} Q_{ABC} = (x_A + x_B )(\phi _A + \phi _B )(\Delta \overline H _{AB}^{ex} )_{phys}^ \bullet + (x_A + x_C )(\phi _A + \phi _C )(\Delta \overline H _{AC}^{ex} )_{phys}^ \bullet \hfill \\ + (x_B + x_C )(\phi _B + \phi _C )(\Delta \overline H _{BC}^{ex} )_{phys}^ \bullet \hfill \\ \end{gathered}$$ $$(\Delta \overline H _{ij}^{ex} )_{phys}^ \bullet$$ represents the physical interactions in each of the individual binary systems, and the term involving φ A1 o represents the chemical contributions (caused by self-association) to the excess enthalpies of mixing. The second predictive expression is based on the Mecke-Kempter association model and is given by $$\Delta \overline H _{ABC}^{ex} = - h_A x_A [In(1 + K_A \phi _A )/K_A \phi _A - In(1 + K_A )/K_A ] + Q_{ABC}$$ where the first term (contained within brackets) represetns the chemical contributions to the enthalpies of mixing. The predictions of both expressions are compared with experimental data for the excess enthalpies of six ternary systems.
Role of plasminogen activators during healing after uterine serosal lesioning in the rat

Abstract Objective Study the expression pattern of tissue-type (t-PA) and urokinase-type (u-PA) plasminogen activators during uterine serosal healing after lesioning in a rat model. Design Descriptive study with an adhesion model using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immuncytochemical techniques. Setting Academic medical center. Patient(s) None. Intervention(s) None. Main outcome measure(s) Expression profiles of t-PA and u-PA were examined in the uteroperitoneal adhesion tissues of rat from the time of injury until day 7 after surgery using relative abundance reverse transcriptase-PCR and immunocytochemical techniques. Result(s) The t-PA transcript levels dropped in uteroperitoneal tissues by 6 hours after surgery and remained low until day 5. Thereafter, a rapid up-regulation of this transcript was observed at day 7. In contrast, the u-PA transcript levels demonstrated a biphasic profile during the progression of adhesion development with peaks at 2 and 5 days after surgery. Immunocytochemical staining demonstrated expression of these plasminogen activators in the newly formed blood vessels. Conclusion(s) Altered levels of t-PA and u-PA transcripts and its expression in newly formed blood vessels during healing and adhesion development indicate involvement of these plasminogen activators in serosal healing and adhesion development.
cis-clerodane diterpene lactones from Amphiachyris dracunculoides.

Five cis-clerodane lactones, amphiacrolides J (1), K (2), L (3), M (4), and N (5), were isolated from the aerial parts of the composite Amphiachyris dracunculoides. The first four are new compounds, and the fifth was previously reported from another source. All compounds were assigned stereochemical structures based upon spectral and chemical data, including high-field 1D and 2D NMR for complete assignment of 1H- and 13C-NMR spectra. Amphiacrolide N (5) was converted to amphiacrolide J (1) by treatment with MeOH and TFA, and amphiacrolide L (3) was prepared from amphiacrolide B (9) by CrO3 oxidation to ketone 10 followed by its reduction with NaBH4.
Reconstructed β-Catenin/TCF4 Signaling in Yeast Applicable to Functional Evaluation of APC Mutations

In human genetics and molecular oncology, mutation research is necessary not only to identify mutations in nucleic acid sequences, but also to analyze the loss of function caused by mutant proteins. We reconstructed a protein-protein network system of human β-catenin and TCF4, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. β-Catenin and TCF4 proteins form a complex and transactivate reporter genes. Co-expressed wild-type APC with β-catenin and TCF4 inhibit the transcriptional activity of the β-catenin/TCF4 complex in yeast, as well as in mammals. This unique method in which the β-catenin/TCF4 signaling pathway is reconstructed in vivo may prove useful for the functional evaluation of APC mutants, including a type of APC truncated and missense mutants influenced to the ability of binding to β-catenin.
The National Emphysema Treatment Trial (NETT) - Part I: Lessons learned about emphysema

The National Emphysema Treatment Trial (NETT) was a multicenter prospective randomized controlled trial that compared optimal medical treatment, including pulmonary rehabilitation, with optimal medical treatment plus lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS). It was the largest and most complete collection of patient demographic, clinical, physiological, and radiographic data ever compiled in severe emphysema. NETT investigated the effects of optimal medical management and LVRS on short- and long-term survival, as well as lung function, exercise performance, and quality of life. NETT also provided much information regarding the evaluation and prognosis of severe emphysema; specifically the important negative influences that hyperinflation and small airway disease have on survival. NETT emphasized the importance of addressing nonpulmonary issues such as nutrition, cardiac disease, anxiety, and depression in emphysema. NETT demonstrated that physiological, genomic, and radiographic phenotype can predict patient survival as well as response to treatment. Because the major purpose of NETT was to compare bilateral LVRS with optimal medical treatment in emphysema, patients enrolled into NETT were comprehensively characterized and selected to have a specific window of airflow obstruction and hyperinflation and to lack significant comorbidities. The NETT patient population’s restrictive features offer distinct advantages (well-characterized predominant emphysematous phenotype) and disadvantages (lack of comorbidities and significant chronic bronchitis) that must be considered when interpreting the implications of these results. Herein, we provide a summary of the major NETT findings that provide insight into the evaluation and medical treatment of emphysema.
Significant Southern Ocean warming event in the late middle Eocene

A prominent middle Eocene warming event is identified in Southern Ocean deep-sea cores, indicating that long-term cooling through the middle and late Eocene was not monotonic. At sites on Maud Rise and the Kerguelen Plateau, a distinct negative shift in δ 1 8 O values (∼1.0‰) is observed ca. 41.5 Ma. This excursion is interpreted as primarily a temperature signal, with a transient warming of 4 °C over 600 k.y. affecting both surface and middle-bathyal deep waters in the Indian-Atlantic region of the Southern Ocean. This isotopic event is designated as the middle Eocene climatic optimum, and is interpreted to represent a significant climatic reversal in the midst of middle to late Eocene deep-sea cooling. The lack of a significant negative carbon isotope excursion, as observed during the Paleocene-Eocene thermal maximum, and the gradual rate of high-latitude warming suggest that this event was not triggered by methane hydrate dissociation. Rather, a transient rise in pCO 2 levels is suspected, possibly as a result of metamorphic decarbonation in the Himalayan orogen or increased ridge/arc volcanism during the late middle Eocene.
Central nervous system pathology progresses independently of KC and CXCR2 in globoid-cell leukodystrophy.

Globoid-cell Leukodystrophy (GLD; Krabbe’s disease) is a rapidly progressing inherited demyelinating disease caused by a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme Galactosylceramidase (GALC). Deficiency of GALC leads to altered catabolism of galactosylceramide and the cytotoxic lipid, galactosylsphingosine (psychosine). This leads to a rapidly progressive fatal disease with spasticity, cognitive disability and seizures. The murine model of GLD (Twitcher; GALC−/−) lacks the same enzyme and has similar clinical features. The deficiency of GALC leads to oligodendrocyte death, profound neuroinflammation, and the influx of activated macrophages into the CNS. We showed previously that keratinocyte chemoattractant factor (KC) is highly elevated in the CNS of untreated Twitcher mice and significantly decreases after receiving a relatively effective therapy (bone marrow transplantation combined with gene therapy). The action of KC is mediated through the CXCR2 receptor and is a potent chemoattractant for macrophages and microglia. KC is also involved in oligodendrocyte migration and proliferation. Based on the commonalities between the disease presentation and the functions of KC, we hypothesized that KC and/or CXCR2 contribute to the pathogenesis of GLD. Interestingly, the course of the disease is not significantly altered in KC- or CXCR2-deficient Twitcher mice. There is also no alteration in inflammation or demyelination patterns in these mice. Furthermore, transplantation of CXCR2-deficient bone marrow does not alter the progression of the disease as it does in other models of demyelination. This study highlights the role of multiple redundant cytokines and growth factors in the pathogenesis of GLD.
Ecology of Eastern White Pine Seed Caches made by Small Forest Mammals

Typical seed caches made in the fall of the year by white—footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) and red—backed voles (Clethrionomys gapperi) contained 20—30 pine seeds, buried beneath the litter of pine needles and in contact with mineral soil. Many caches were revisited by the mice and their contents destroyed before winter. Most caches not decimated in the fall were invaded the following spring. However, some of them escaped complete destruction and their unconsumed seeds germinated and produced seedlings. Although mice make their caches in micro—environments highly favorable to germination, their subsequent feedings on the stored seeds, both before snowfall and before and during the spring germination period, greatly deplete the number of potential germinants. Therefore, the contribution to forest regeneration of seeds stored by these small forest mammals is probably of minor significance except when bumper seed crops are produced and large numbers of caches are created. Under these circumstances, stored seeds may be of sufficient quantity to exceed food requirements of the mice. If pirating by other animals is low, then a surplus of seeds is left to help regenerate the forest.
Associations between physician financial incentives and the prescribing of anti-asthmatic medications in children in US outpatient settings:

This study examined how sociological factors including financial incentives influenced whether asthmatic children received a controller medication, a reliever medication or both. The 2007 National ...
Composition of nephritic factor[ndash ]generated glomerular deposits in membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type 2

Abstract Two observations suggest that nephritic factors (NFs) may be nephritogenic. First, glomerulonephritis is present in unusual frequency in three conditions in which the function of factor H is blocked, a dysfunction also produced by NFs. Second, in membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) type 2, subepithelial deposits on the paramesangial portion of the glomerular basement membrane are found only in renal biopsy specimens obtained during hypocomplementemia when NF is presumably present. In the present study, the composition of these deposits with respect to C3 derivatives was assessed by immunohistological evaluation using anti-C3c and anti-C3d. The assessment used routinely obtained photomicrographs, as well as immunohistologic examination of freshly cut tissue using the double-antibody method. Deposits in patients with typical hypocomplementemic MPGN type 2 reacted only with anti-C3c, whereas those in two patients with rapidly progressive MPGN type 2, six patients with poststreptococcal acute glomerulonephritis, and five patients with juvenile acute nonproliferative glomerulitis reacted with anti-C3d, as well as anti-C3c. Because all products derived from the breakdown of C3 except C3c react with anti-C3d, the deposits in typical MPGN type 2 must be composed only of C3c. With complete breakdown of bound C3b, C3c is released into the fluid phase. Therefore, the C3c in the deposits cannot be a product of a glomerular complement reaction, but instead must be formed in the circulation by the reaction of NF with native C3. Supporting C3c as the only constituent of these deposits is the observation that they are devoid of properdin and C5 is present in only small amounts.
Orthogonal polynomials for complex Gaussian processes

Power amplifiers are the major source of nonlinearity in communications systems. Such nonlinearity causes spectral regrowth as well as in-band distortion, which leads to adjacent channel interference and increased bit error rate. Polynomials are often used to model the nonlinear power amplifier or its predistortion linearizer. In this paper, we present a novel set of orthogonal polynomials for baseband Gaussian input to replace the conventional polynomials and show how they alleviate the numerical instability problem associated with the conventional polynomials. The orthogonal polynomials also provide an intuitive means of spectral regrowth analysis.
Acute necrotizing pancreatitis in children.

Objective To describe the etiologic factors, course, and outcome of acute necrotizing pancreatitis in children. Study design We performed a retrospective study of children with necrotizing pancreatitis diagnosed during the last 21 years at Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital. Computed tomography (CT) criteria were used to diagnose necrotizing pancreatitis and to assess severity index. Charts were reviewed to collect demographics, etiology, details of hospital stay, complications, and outcome. Results Seven children (mean age, 11.6 years; range, 4-17.8 years) had necrotizing pancreatitis. Etiologic factors were medications, diabetes, and gallstones. All had prolonged hospitalization (9-40 days; mean, 20 days) and 5 patients required admission to the pediatric intensive care unit. During the hospital stay, patients developed complications involving the respiratory, hematologic, renal, metabolic, and circulatory systems. All patients had aggressive supportive medical therapy, and none required surgery. There were no deaths attributable to pancreatitis. Late complications after hospital discharge occurred in 5 patients and included pseudocysts, transient hyperglycemia, diabetes, and pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. The CT severity index correlated with the risk of complications. Conclusions A cute necrotizing pancreatitis has a variable etiology in children. CT scan is useful in the diagnosis and assessment of severity. Necrotizing pancreatitis in children is associated with severe acute and late complications and requires intensive medical therapy.
Availability of nonfuel minerals

Abstract Long-term global demand for nonfuel minerals is, in most cases, unlikely to be constrained by what exists in the earth's crust, but much more by the immense capital requirements and political disincentives to investors.
CloudBay: Enabling an Online Resource Market Place for Open Clouds

This paper presents Cloud Bay, an online resource trading and leasing platform for multi-party resource sharing. Following a market-oriented design principle, Cloud Bay provides an abstraction of a shared virtual resource space across multiple administration domains, and features enhanced functionalities for scalable and automatic resource management and efficient service provisioning. Cloud Bay distinguishes itself from existing research and contributes in a number of aspects. First, it leverages scalable network virtualization and self-configurable virtual appliances to facilitate resource federation and parallel application deployment. Second, Cloud Bay adopts an eBay-style transaction model that supports differentiated services with different levels of job priorities. For cost-sensitive users, Cloud Bay implements an efficient matchmaking algorithm based on auction theory and enables opportunistic resource access through preemptive service scheduling. The proposed Cloud Bay platform stands between HPC service sellers and buyers, and offers a comprehensive solution for resource advertising and stitching, transaction management, and application-to-infrastructure mapping. In this paper, we present the design details of Cloud Bay, and discuss lessons and challenges encountered in the implementation process. The proof-of-concept prototype of Cloud Bay is justified through experiments across multiple sites and simulations.
The disturbance of hemostasis in septic shock: role of neutrophil elastase and thrombin, effects of antithrombin III and plasma substitution

In 42 patients with septic shock, 29 of whom underwent substitution with antithrombin III concentrate and fresh frozen plasma for coagulation disorders, the proteinase-inhibitor complexes thrombin-antithrombin III and neutrophil elastase-alpha 1 proteinase inhibitor, were elevated on admission. On admission, the elastase complex was significantly higher in the patients receiving substitution (p = 0.0039), but at the endpoint it was higher in the non-survivors (p = 0.0040). The elastase decrease was confined to the substitution group with the thrombin complex decreasing in both groups. Initially the thrombin complex correlated with prothrombin times and factor XIII, while the elastase complex correlated with creatinine, thrombocyte count and prothrombin times in the late stages. Hemostatic disturbance, thrombin generation and neutrophil elastase release were favorably influenced by substitution. Furthermore, in this uncontrolled pilot study, the survival rate was higher in the treated (16 of 29) than in the untreated (1 of 13) patients, although the treated patients initially had pronounced hemostatic disturbances.
Use of the Intervention Selection Profile–Social Skills to Identify Social Skill Acquisition Deficits A Preliminary Validation Study

The purpose of this investigation was to develop and initially validate the Intervention Selection Profile–Social Skills (ISP-SS), a novel brief social skills assessment method intended for use at Tier 2. Participants included 54 elementary school teachers and their 243 randomly selected students. Teachers rated students on two rating scales, including the Social and Academic Behavior Risk Screener (SABRS) and the Social Skills Improvement System (SSIS). Items corresponding to the SABRS Social Behavior scale were considered for inclusion in the ISP-SS, given the research supporting the scale’s reliability, validity, and diagnostic accuracy as a predictor of social skill performance. A clinimetric approach was used in selecting SABRS items for the ISP-SS based upon applied utility, which was defined as the accuracy with which items predicted the presence of social skill acquisition deficits within broad skill domains. Findings supported the selection of six items, which yielded acceptable levels of agreeme...
Obesity and multiple myeloma

An exploratory study was conducted of common clinical conditions as predictors of subsequent cancer in 143,574 outpatients of a health maintenance organization (in California, USA). An association was noted between obesity, diagnosed in 14,388 patients, and the subsequent development of multiple myeloma (MM) in up to 21 years (33 cases observed, 21.3 expected based on the experience of the entire cohort; standardized morbidity ratio=1.55, 95 percent confidence interval [CI]=1.06–2.17). This association was evaluated further in a second cohort of 163,561 multiphasic-checkup examinees followed up for as many as 24 years. Body mass index (BMI) at entry examination was associated positively with the incidence of MM in White men (e.g., relative risk [RR]=1.07, CI=1.01–1.15 per unit increase in BMI; and RR=1.68, CI=0.75–3.78, comparing the highest with lowest quartile). This association was absent in White women, partially confirmed in Black men and women (BMI quartiles two, three, and four showed higher risk than quartile one), and not explained by the presence of diabetes mellitus. The association was reduced or absent with BMI based on reported greatest adult-weight, and in White women was inverse with BMI based on reported lowest adult-weight. Among subjects with more than one checkup, increased risk was associated directly with weight loss among White men and associated inversely with weight gain among Black women. These findings suggest that body build or nutritional status may be involved in the development of MM by mechanisms that are presently unknown. If increased weight is a causal factor, weight loss occurs later after the disease process begins.
Development and application of a pollen-based paleohydrologic reconstruction from the Lower Roanoke River Basin, North Carolina, USA

We used pollen assemblages to reconstruct late-Holocene paleohydrologic patterns in floodplain deposits from the lower Roanoke River basin (North Carolina, southeastern USA). Using 120 surface samples from 38 transects, we documented statistical relationships between pollen assemblages, vegetation, and landforms. Backswamp pollen assemblages (long hydroperiods) are dominated by Nyssa (tupelo) and Taxodium (cypress) and have high pollen concentrations. Sediments from elevated levees and seasonally flooded forests (shorter hydroperiods) are characterized by dominant Pinus (pine) pollen, variable abundance of hardwood taxa, and low pollen concentrations. We apply the calibration data set to interpret past vegetation and paleohydrology. Pollen from a radiocarbon-dated sediment core collected in a tupelo-cypress backswamp indicates centennial-scale fluctuations in forest composition during the last 2400 years. Backswamp vegetation has occupied the site since land clearance began ~300 years ago. Recent dam empl...
Interfacial Crystallization and Adsorption in Polycarbonate/Carbon Fiber Composites

A polycarbonate (PC)/carbon fiber (CF) composite system has been ex amined with regard to interfacial crystallization and adsorption by altering times and tem peratures of annealing Times up to 180...
Continuous, pulsed and disrupted nutrient subsidy effects on ecosystem productivity, stability, and energy flow

Resource pulses and subsidies can supply ecosystems with an important source of nutrients that supports additional productivity at multiple trophic levels. Common carp Cyprinus carpio provide ecosystems with a continuous nutrient subsidy through bioturbation and excretion but may also initiate a nutrient pulse through carcass decomposition. We examined how continuous (common carp foraging and excretion), pulsed (carcass decomposition) and disrupted (carp introduced and then removed) nutrient subsidies differed in their ability to alter nutrient availability, ecosystem productivity and stability and energy flow. Nitrogen and phosphorus availability and primary production were highest in pulsed, intermediate in continuous and lowest for disrupted and control systems. Continuous, and to a lesser extent pulsed, systems were associated with decreased water clarity and macrophyte coverage. Nutrient pulses ascended to higher trophic levels and supported greater densities of consumers (i.e., zooplankton and macroinvertebrates). Biotic and abiotic responses in disrupted systems quickly returned to control levels and water quality improved. Light penetration and Daphnia spp. dynamics were more stable in systems with pulses whereas stability of other variables was similar across treatments. Biotic materials collected from pulsed and continuous subsidy systems were typically enriched in δ15N suggesting common carp-derived nutrients supported increased productivity whereas δ13C signatures were depleted suggesting a transition to more pelagic energy pathways, likely due to enhanced phytoplankton production. Our results suggest that continuous and pulsed nutrient subsidies vary in their ability to support and sustain ecosystem productivity with resulting variation in food web structure and ecosystem stability.
Pteroylglutamic acid deficiency in mice: hematologic and histologic findings.

Summary1. A deficiency of pteroylglutamic acid in mice produces a reduction of all cellular elements of the circulating blood.2. In the deficient state, the bone marrow of mice shows maturation arrest with hyperplasia of immature elements and marked reduction of more adult forms.3. It is suggested that pteroylglutamic acid may not be necessary for the formation of the most immature blood elements, but must be present to allow maturation after these primitive elements are formed.
Superconducting Materials for Particle Accelerator Magnets

Critical current densities of Nb-Ti, Nb-Ti-Ta and Nb3Sn conductors have shown significant recent increases. High Jc is available both from Nb 46.5 wt% Ti and Nb 50 wt% Ti. Recent conductors made at Baoji have particularly high Jc at 5 T, 4.2 K, although not optimized for 10 T, 1.8 K use. Present values of Jc 10 T, 1.8 K in Nb-Ti exceed 1600 A/mm2 (10-14 ?m) and values of 1900 A/mm2 appear feasible. The higher Hc2 alloys of Nb-Ti-Ta appear capable of 10 T, 1.8 K Jc values of 2500 A/mm2.
Acetaminophen reactive intermediates target hepatic thioredoxin reductase.

Acetaminophen (APAP) is metabolized in the liver to N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI), an electrophilic metabolite known to bind liver proteins resulting in hepatotoxicity. Mammalian thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is a cellular antioxidant containing selenocysteine (Sec) in its C-terminal redox center, a highly accessible target for electrophilic modification. In the present study, we determined if NAPQI targets TrxR. Hepatotoxicity induced by APAP treatment of mice (300 mg/kg, i.p.) was associated with a marked inhibition of both cytosolic TrxR1 and mitochondrial TrxR2 activity. Maximal inhibition was detected at 1 and 6 h post-APAP for TrxR1 and TrxR2, respectively. In purified rat liver TrxR1, enzyme inactivation was correlated with the metabolic activation of APAP by cytochrome P450, indicating that enzyme inhibition was due to APAP-reactive metabolites. NAPQI was also found to inhibit TrxR1. NADPH-reduced TrxR1 was significantly more sensitive to NAPQI (IC50 = 0.023 μM) than the oxidized enzyme (IC50 = 1.0 μM) or a human TrxR1 Sec498Cys mutant enzyme (IC50 = 17 μM), indicating that cysteine and selenocysteine residues in the redox motifs of TrxR are critical for enzyme inactivation. This is supported by our findings that alkylation of reduced TrxR with biotin-conjugated iodoacetamide, which selectively reacts with selenol or thiol groups on proteins, was inhibited by NAPQI. LC-MS/MS analysis confirmed that NAPQI modified cysteine 59, cysteine 497, and selenocysteine 498 residues in the redox centers of TrxR, resulting in enzyme inhibition. In addition to disulfide reduction, TrxR is also known to mediate chemical redox cycling. We found that menadione redox cycling by TrxR was markedly less sensitive to NAPQI than disulfide reduction, suggesting that TrxR mediates these reactions via distinct mechanisms. These data demonstrate that APAP-reactive metabolites target TrxR, suggesting an additional mechanism by which APAP induces oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity.
The Neurological Outcome Scale for Traumatic Brain Injury (NOS-TBI): II. Reliability and Convergent Validity

Abstract A standardized measure of neurological dysfunction specifically designed for TBI currently does not exist and the lack of assessment of this domain represents a substantial gap. To address this, the Neurological Outcome Scale for Traumatic Brain Injury (NOS-TBI) was developed for TBI outcomes research through the addition to and modification of items specifically relevant to patients with TBI, based on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale. In a sample of 50 participants (mean age = 33.3 years, SD = 12.9) ≤18 months (mean = 3.1, SD = 3.2) following moderate (n = 8) to severe (n = 42) TBI, internal consistency of the NOS-TBI was high (Cronbach's alpha = 0.942). Test-retest reliability also was high (ρ = 0.97, p < 0.0001), and individual item kappas between independent raters were excellent, ranging from 0.83 to 1.0. Overall inter-rater agreement between independent raters (Kendall's coefficient of concordance) for the NOS-TBI total score was excellent (W = 0.995). Convergent validity was ...
On the sandwich semigroups of circulant Boolean matrices

Abstract Let Cn be the semigroup of all the n × n (n ⩾ 2) circulant Boolean matrices, and R a nonzero element in Cn. The sandwich semigroup of Cn with the sandwich element R is denoted by Cn(R). The purpose of this paper is to discuss the Green's classes, idempotent elements, regular elements, and maximal subgroups in Cn(R). In Section 4, a necessary and sufficient condition on the Green's class L R(A) is given, where L R(A) is the Green's class in the sandwich semigroup Cn(R) containing A, and A is an arbitrary circulant Boolean matrix in Cn(R). In Sections 5 and 6, the idempotent elements and the maximal subgroups containing an idempotent element in Cn(R) are discussed. Some necessary and sufficient conditions which characterize the idempotent elements and maximal subgroups are obtained. In Section 7, we use the results of Sections 5 and 6 to obtain a necessary and sufficient condition which characterizes the regular elements in Cn(R). Otherwise, some counting theorems about the idempotent elements, the regular elements, and the maximal subgroups are given.
Some characteristics of epoxy embedding resins and how they affect contrast, cell organelle size, and block shrinkage

The effects of epoxy resin formulation on tissue contrast and organelle size were evaluated by examining thin sections of rat liver in the electron microscope and by doing a simple morphometric analysis of peroxisome and nuclear size. Contrast was greatest for tissues embedded in the Quetol formulation of Kushida and least for tissues embedded in the Ladd formulation. Epon 812, Epon-Araldite, and Spurr formulations gave results intermediate to those of the Quetol and Ladd formulations. Organelle size was greatest for tissues embedded in the Ladd formulation and smallest for tissues embedded in the Spurr formulation. The maximum size differences were approximately 15%. Epon 812, Epon-Araldite, and Quetol formulations gave results (for organelle size) intermediate to those of the Ladd and Spurr formulations. The gross shrinkage properties of the epoxy resin blocks were all the same and, therefore, could not account for the differences in organelle size.
Bottom water circulation in Cascadia Basin

Abstract A combination of beta spiral and minimum length inverse methods, along with a compilation of historical and recent high-resolution CTD data, are used to produce a quantitative estimate of the subthermocline circulation in Cascadia Basin. Flow in the North Pacific Deep Water, from 900-1900 m, is characterized by a basin-scale anticyclonic gyre. Below 2000 m, two water masses are present within the basin interior, distinguished by different potential temperature-salinity lines. These water masses, referred to as Cascadia Basin Bottom Water (CBBW) and Cascadia Basin Deep Water (CBDW), are separated by a transition zone at about 2400 m depth. Below the depth where it freely communicates with the broader North Pacific, Cascadia Basin is renewed by northward flow through deep gaps in the Blanco Fracture Zone that feeds the lower limb of a vertical circulation cell within the CBBW. Lower CBBW gradually warms and returns to the south at lighter density. Isopycnal layer renewal times, based on combined lateral and diapycnal advective fluxes, increase upwards from the bottom. The densest layer, existing in the southeast quadrant of the basin below ∼2850 m, has an advective flushing time of 0.6 years. The total volume flushing time for the entire CBBW is 2.4 years, corresponding to an average water parcel residence time of 4.7 years. Geothermal heating at the Cascadia Basin seafloor produces a characteristic bottom-intensified temperature anomaly and plays an important role in the conversion of cold bottom water to lighter density within the CBBW. Although covering only about 0.05% of the global seafloor, the combined effects of bottom heat flux and diapycnal mixing within Cascadia Basin provide about 2-3% of the total required global input to the upward branch of the global thermohaline circulation.
Identification of some sympathomimetic amines.

Abstract Phenylthioureas, benzamides, benzenesulfonamides, 3,5‐dinitrobenzoates, and 2,4‐dinitrobenzoates of ten commonly used sympathomimetic amines were prepared and when possible the products crystallized and proved by analysis. Melting points of the pure, crystalline derivatives serve as a means of identification. An improved procedure for the preparation of 2,4‐dinitrobenzoic acid from 2,4‐dinitrotoluene is presented.
Vibration mitigation for evanescent-mode cavity filters

This paper presents the first vibration mitigation technique for evanescent-mode cavity filters. The effect of vibration is substantially reduced by over 20 dB by injecting a voltage signal on the bias of the tuning piezoelectric device. The vibration is measured by an accelerometer and the frequency and amplitude of this signal is chosen based on the analysis of the measured acceleration. The proposed technique has the potential to be fully implemented in an electronic monitoring system. The vibration mitigation approach is tested on a 2-pole Bandstop Filter (BSF) tuned to 1.3 GHz. The sidebands caused by vibration are reduced by 24-26 dB.
Monitoring Progress for Improved Outcomes

Measurement of a student's goals and objectives is a required component of an individualized education program (IEP). Progress monitoring is a measurement process used by collaborative educational teams involving frequent and systematic data collection related to a student's functional outcome goal. This article describes the use of progress monitoring techniques by physical therapises (PTs) and occupational therapists (OTs) in Iowa and demonstrates its implementation with a case study. Reference is made to a future research study to explore the development of standrard tasks for typical outcomes for students receiving physical therapy and occupational therapy.
Automated health monitoring of a pulsed power system

The field of pulsed power has enjoyed widespread utilization, from industrial welding to high power microwave generation. In pulsed power, an energy storage device is charged to a specific voltage over a long time period. To achieve high peak power, the energy storage device is discharged over a small time duration, ranging from nanoseconds to microseconds, depending on the application. As the field matures from single-shot machines that fire only a few times a day to rep-rated operation with several shots per minute, the ability for operators to determine the operational state of the system on the fly is extremely limited. This paper discusses the application of Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) to real-time data output from Rogowski coils on a capacitor bank to determine the state of health between shots. The SVD pattern recognition system can be used to rapidly ascertain if the system should continue to operate, or if there is a potential problem developing somewhere in the system. This technique may lead to improving the operation of current and future pulsed power systems.
What a vascular surgeon should know and do about atherosclerotic risk factors

Atherosclerosis is a systematic disease presenting with a significant overlapping of cardiovascular disorders implicating coronary heart disease and its equivalents, peripheral arterial disease, carotid arterial disease, and aneurysm disease. Evaluating patient's atherosclerotic risk profile is essential to guide primary and secondary prevention. Atherosclerotic risk factor modifications reduce, significantly, cardiovascular disease mortality and morbidity, particularly in high-risk patients. This article provides a reference guide for all conventional (eg, smoking, dyslipidemia, hypertension) and evolving (eg, homocysteine, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, inflammatory markers) risk factors of atherosclerosis and recommends the currently effective strategies for an overall cardiovascular risk reduction. As vascular surgeons, by definition, conduct the overall management of patients with vascular disease understanding of the development, assessment, and management of atherosclerotic risk factors should remain among their highest priorities.