cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantitative evaluation of DNA hypermethylation in malignant and benign breast tissue and fluids

The assessment of DNA had demonstrated altered methylation in malignant compared to benign breast tissue. The purpose of our study was to (i) confirm the predictive ability of methylation assessment in breast tissue, and (ii) use the genes found to be cancer predictive in tissue to evaluate the diagnostic potential of hypermethylation assessment in nipple aspirate fluid (NAF) and mammary ductoscopic (MD) samples. Quantitative methylation specific (qMS)-PCR was conducted on three specimen sets: 44 malignant (CA) and 34 normal (NL) tissue specimens, 18 matched CA, adjacent normal (ANL) tissue and NAF specimens, and 119 MD specimens. Training and validation tissue sets were analyzed to determine the optimal group of cancer predictive genes for NAF and MD analysis. NAF and MD cytologic review were also performed. Methylation of CCND-2, p16, RAR-β and RASSF-1a was significantly more prevalent in tumor than in normal tissue specimens. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated an area under the curve of 0.96. For the 18 matched CA, ANL and NAF specimens, the four predictive genes identified in cancer tissue contained increased methylation in CA vs. ANL tissue; NAF samples had higher methylation than ANL specimens. Methylation frequency was higher in MD specimens from breasts with cancer than benign samples for p16 and RASSF-1a. In summary, i) routine quantitative DNA methylation assessment in NAF and MD samples is possible, and ii) genes hypermethylated in malignant breast tissue are also altered in matched NAF and in MD samples, and may be useful to assist in early breast cancer detection.
Fifty years of violent war deaths from Vietnam to Bosnia: analysis of data from the world health survey programme.

Objective To provide an accurate estimate of violent war deaths. Design Analysis of survey data on mortality, adjusted for sampling bias and censoring, from nationally representative surveys designed to measure population health. Estimated deaths compared with estimates in database of passive reports. Setting 2002-3 World health surveys, in which information was collected from one respondent per household about sibling deaths, including whether such deaths resulted from war injuries. Main outcome measure Estimated deaths from war injuries in 13 countries over 50 years. Results From 1955 to 2002, data from the surveys indicated an estimated 5.4 million violent war deaths (95% confidence interval 3.0 to 8.7 million) in 13 countries, ranging from 7000 in the Democratic Republic of Congo to 3.8 million in Vietnam. From 1995 to 2002 survey data indicate 36 000 war deaths annually (16 000 to 71 000) in the 13 countries studied. Data from passive surveillance, however, indicated a figure of only a third of this. On the basis of the relation between world health survey data and passive reports, we estimate 378 000 globalwar deaths annually from 1985-94, the last years for which complete passive surveillance data were available. Conclusions The use of data on sibling history from peacetime population surveys can retrospectively estimate mortality from war. War causes more deaths than previously estimated, and there is no evidence to support a recent decline in war deaths.
Moral Foundations Theory: An Exploratory Study with Accounting and Other Business Students

In this exploratory paper, we investigate the extension of Haidt’s (Psychol Rev 108(4):814–834, 2001, The righteous mind: Why good people are divided by politics and religion, 2012) Moral foundations theory (MFT), operationalized as the MFQ30 questionnaire, from a sample of the general public across many countries to a sample of business students. MFT posits that people rely on five major concerns, or foundations, when making moral judgments. The five concerns are care/harm, fairness/cheating, loyalty/betrayal, respect/authority, and purity/degradation. In addition, Haidt suggests that intuition, rather than reasoning, leads to moral judgment. We replicate Haidt’s measurement model and find that the measurement model based on our sample is consistent. This indicates support for MFT. Further, we find structural differences in the measurement model between the genders and between areas of study. Our findings suggest that all students in the sample focus substantially on the fairness foundation. Ethics education and research may seek to expand the number of moral foundations individuals consider when discerning whether something is right or wrong.
Systematic errors in the use of loss-on-ignition to measure unburned carbon in fly ash

The accuracy of the loss-on-ignition (LOI) test to determine the content of unburned carbon in fly ash samples was evaluated by thermogravimetry. Evaluations were performed on fly ash from a stoker boiler, a pulverized coal boiler, an atmospheric fluidized bed boiler and a pressurized fluidized bed boiler. The fly ashes from the fluidized bed boilers were found to contain significant quantities of portlandite [Ca(OH)2] and carbonate originating from limestone or dolomite injected into the boilers for control of sulfur emissions. Dehydration of the portlandite and calcination of the carbonate upon heating produce weight losses that are confused with oxidation of unburned carbon in the LOI test. The result is gross overestimation of the unburned carbon content of fluidized bed combustor fly ashes. Even the fly ash from the pulverized coal boiler contained enough carbonate from the coal to produce an unacceptably large error in the LOI analysis.
Calculating the hydrophobicity of chlorinated hydrocarbon solutes

Abstract Due to the known bioaccumulation and potential toxicity of chlorinated aromatic compounds, a great deal of effort has been directed to the measurement of their partition coefficients in the octanol/water system. Only recently has a system been described which gives reproducible values of log P > 5.0. Using these values, which indicate an appreciable interaction of adjacent chlorine atoms on the same ring and an even greater interaction between those in the 2,2′,6,6′ positions of biphenyl, it is possible to introduce negative ‘ortho -correction factors’ in the CLOGP algorithm which now should give satisfactory hydrophobicity estimations for structures which have not yet been measured. It is surprising to find that the correction for the chlorine substituents between rings appears additive from one to four. Therefore, it appears that the correction is not directly related to the angle which these substituents force the two rings to attain.
Have We Reached a Maximum Astronomical Research Output

The US astronomical research output during the past 50 yr has been growing at 6 times the population increase and we wonder whether that ratio can continue. I counted pages of the AJ and ApJ for the past 50 yr, and corrected them for changes in format, foreign input, online contributions, and population increases. For the combined two journals, the American astronomical output is still increasing at a current 128 pages per million people. The same is true for UK contributions to the MNRAS, except that those lag behind the US by 10 yr. For Europe I did not want to dilute the contributions in A&A from the major producers with those of the countries still developing major astronomical centers. Therefore I counted pages for France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands (FGIN) only. However, Europeans still publish many of their articles in MNRAS, in particular, and ApJ. Counting FGIN articles in all four journals showed a steady rise but with a 12 yr lag behind the US. We conclude that the astronomical research...
The effects of familiarity on the success of children's help seeking☆

Abstract The present study assessed the impact of familiarity on the success of children's help seeking from peers. The helping interactions of 40 children in the third through fifth grades were observed during their classroom activities. The amount of visual regard that children received from peers was included as a sociometric measure. Learning Disabled (LD) and Socially and Emotionally Disturbed (SED) students from self-contained classrooms, segregated to the greatest extent, had the least success of any group in their help seeking. LD and SED students from resource rooms, mainstreamed for most classes, were more similar to nonlabeled students in the pattern of their help seeking. Both groups of labeled children, but especially the self-contained classroom students, received less visual regard from nonlabeled students. The more familiar labeled students were to their classmates, the more accepted they were, and the more likely they were to have their help-seeking requests accepted.
Conditional survival after surgical resection of gastric cancer: a multi-institutional analysis of the us gastric cancer collaborative.

Survival estimates following surgical resection of gastric adenocarcinoma are traditionally reported as survival from the date of surgery. Conditional survival (CS) estimates, however, may be more clinically relevant by accounting for time already survived. We assessed CS following surgical resection for gastric adenocarcinoma. We analyzed 807 patients who underwent resection for gastric adenocarcinoma from 2000 to 2012 at seven participating institutions in the U.S. Gastric Cancer Collaborative. Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate factors associated with overall survival. Three-year CS estimates at “x” year after surgery were calculated as follows: CS3 = S(x+3)/S(x). Overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year overall survival rates after gastric resection were 42, 34, and 30 %, respectively. Using CS estimates, the probability of surviving an additional 3 years given that the patient had survived at 1, 3, and 5 years were 56, 71, and 82 %, respectively. Patients with higher risk at baseline (i.e., stage III or IV disease, lymphovascular invasion) demonstrated the greatest increase in CS over time. Survival estimates following surgical resection of gastric adenocarcinoma is dynamic; the probability of survival increases with time already survived. Patients with worse prognostic features at the time of surgery had the greatest increases in CS over time. Conditional survival estimates provide important information about the changing probability of survival over time and should be used among patients with resected gastric adenocarcinoma to guide subsequent follow-up strategies.
EFFECT OF CARNITINE DEPRIVATION ON LYMPHOCYTE PROLIFERATION IN THE NEONATAL PIG. 1882

Carnitine has been reported to have immunomodulatory effects (De Simone, 1994 AIDS 8:655-660). Neonates are at increased risk for carnitine deficiency if intake is inadequate. To investigate possible effects of carnitine deprivation on lymphocyte function, blood samples were obtained from 2 to 3 week-old piglets that received parenteral nutrition with (CARN+, n=17) or without (CARN-, n=16) carnitine, or were sow-fed (SF,n=13). Triplicate cultures containing 200,000 lymphocytes isolated by ficoll hypaque centrifugation were incubated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA: 0, 50, 100, 200μl/ml) for 48 hours before being pulsed with 3H-thymidine for 20 hours. Cells were harvested on filter strips for determination of radioactivity incorporated into DNA. In a second series, lymphocytes were similarily harvested and incubated with PHA and L-carnitine (0,5,50,500μM).Results: CARN - animals exhibited decreased mean carnitine plasma levels compared with CARN + or SF animals. Large interindividual variations were seen, but no differences in mean basal 3H-thymidine uptake were found. PHA stimulated DNA synthesis in all groups. The stimulation index (SI:[CPM + PHA]/ basal CPM) was inversely correlated with basal CPM. However, no differences were found among the 3 groups. L-carnitine in vitro had a variable effect on non-stimulated 3H-thymidine uptake, but enhanced PHA-stimulated increases of SI in CARN+ animals. The findings suggest that nutritional carnitine deprivaton does not significantly affect lymphocyte proliferative capacity. (Funded by USPHS HD29273 and USPHS K14 HL03144)
T wave alternans: a marker of myocardial instability.

T wave alternans is an electrocardiographic marker of myocardial electrical instability considered predictive for the development of lethal ventricular rhythms. Direct observation of this phenomenon on the electrocardiogram is rare. Subtle, nonvisible alternation of the T wave may be detected at the microvolt level using advanced signal processing techniques. This technology has enabled investigators and clinicians to identify and risk-stratify certain groups at high risk for sudden cardiac death. The purpose of this review is to discuss the concept of T wave alternans in relation to all cardiac alternans, provide an overview of its proposed mechanisms, and address the clinical utility of this electrocardiographic marker of myocardial electrical instability.
Behavioral and sociodemographic risks for frequent visits to commercial sex workers among northern Thai men.

Objective:The transmission of HIV-1 in Thailand has recently been attributed to exposure to infected commercial sex workers (CSW). We sought to identify risk factors for patterns of CSW visits among northern Thai men.Design:Retrospective recall of lifetime and recent CSW visits and associated risk f
The impact of opening markets on Mexican male/female wage and occupational differentials

Abstract This article addresses the effect of a more open market under NAFTA on the economic status of Mexican women. It is assumed that increases in export processing and tourism, industries that have a high demand for female labor, will result from the agreement. The approach of this study is to use regression and correlation analysis to compare wage and occupational differences in two Mexican cities: Tijuana, on the U.S.-Mexican border, and Torreon, in the interior. A major findings is that the overall wage gap is statistically significantly lower where there is increased export processing activity, but there appears to be very little change in occupational segregation. Three additional impacts are: first, that labor force participation rates increase for both men and women, but proportionally more for women. Second, the higher labor demand appears to weaken the relationship between the job qualifications of education and experience and wages. Third, wages by gender are more equal, but for the labor force as a whole there is a greater level of wage dispersion.
The expression of monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP-1) in human vascular endothelium in vitro and in vivo.

A monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP-1) is thought to play a major role in recruiting monocytes to the vascular endothelium where the adherence of monocytes is one of the earliest events in atherogenesis. We cloned MCP-1 cDNA from a λgt 11 cDNA library constructed from human aortic endothelial mRNA to test whether MCP-1 expressed in arterial endothelium is identical to those from other sources. A ∼ 670 bp MCP-1 cDNA clone was identified and showed the identical sequence with the ones from other cell lines. Northern blot analysis using this cloned MCP-1 cDNA as probe revealed two hybridizing bands of RNA at 0.68 and 0.77 kb in human aortic, human pulmonary arterial, and human umbilical vein endothelial cell cultures. Primer extension analysis showed that the difference in size (∼ 90 bp) between the two transcripts is not due to a difference at the 5′-noncoding region. The amount of MCP-1 transcripts increased dramatically in aortic endothelial cells when stimulated with recombinant IL-1α (100 units/ml), IL-1β (100 units/ml), or TNF-α (200 ng/ml). Northern blot and slot blot analysis of RNA isolated from both the endothelium and the underlying vessel wall of freshly removed human arteries and veins showed MCP-1 transcripts. This observation demonstrates for the first time that MCP-1 is expressed not only in atherosclerotic human arteries but also in symptom free arteries and veinsin vivo.
Baroclinic Instability and the Selection of the Zonal Scale of the Transient Eddies of Middle Latitudes

Abstract Because the linear growth rates of baroclinic waves on realistic zonal flows are largest at relatively high zonal wavenumbers (e.g., 15), the observed peaks in the transient kinetic energy spectrum cannot be explained simply by peaks in the linear growth-rate spectrum. When the growth-rate spectrum is fairly flat, as suggested by recent studies, then as the waves evolve, the decrease of the instability of the zonal flow and the increase of dissipation in the developing waves become important in determining which wavelength will dominate after the waves are fully developed. In particular, the stabilization of the zonal flow because of northward and upward eddy transport (which is primarily confined to the lower troposphere in all baroclinic waves) causes the instability of the short baroclinic waves (wavenumber > 10) to decrease more rapidly than that of the intermediate-scale waves (wavenumber <10). In addition, as it is usually modeled, dissipation increases with time more rapidly in the short w...
Immunotherapy with BCG administered by scarification: standardization of reactions and management of side effects.

The method of administering BCG by scarification is described in detail. A system of classifying the intensity of local reactions is proposed to standardize administration. The experience of the M. D. Anderson Hospital involving over 2700 patients is reviewed. Administration of BCG by scarification has been accomplished with safety and has been well tolerated and accepted. The most commonly observed side effects are discussed as well as their management. Cancer 42:2293–2303, 1978.
Immunochemical studies with glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase in bees and wasps

Abstract Rabbit antibodies were prepared against glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.8) purified from the flight muscle of honeybees, one bumblebee species, and yellow jackets. Crossreactivity tests by means of quantitative microcomplement fixation were conducted with extracts from several hymenopteran species. The degree of cross-reaction with thoracic extracts was, in general, compatible with the accepted phylogenetic relationships of the species tested. The one exception was the lower-than-expected reaction of the honeybee enzyme with anti-bumblebee glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase. The cross-reactivity of the two types of isozymes of bumblebee glycerol 3-phosphate dehydrogenase was measured. The alarmuscular variants, which occur mainly in flight muscle, reacted much more strongly with anti-honeybee or anti-bumblebee sera than did the omniregional variants.
Dependence of radiation-induced segregation on dose, temperature and alloy composition in austenitic alloys

Abstract Radiation-induced segregation (RIS) of austenitic stainless steels was investigated using proton irradiation. Dose and temperature dependence of RIS was determined by irradiation of an Fe 20Cr 24Ni alloy over a range of doses and temperatures. Four additional alloys were included to create three alloy series of either constant Ni or constant Cr to identify bulk composition effects on RIS. Measurements of grain boundary composition were made using Auger electron spectroscopy of grain boundary facets exposed in situ. Results showed that over the dose range 0.1 to 3 dpa grain boundary Ni increased and Cr decreased sharply below 1 dpa and achieved near-saturation between 1 and 3 dpa. Segregation increased from 200 to 500°C, and it did not appear to have saturated by 500°C. For a constant bulk Ni content and for increasing bulk Cr content, grain boundary Cr increases and Ni decreases. For constant bulk Cr content and increasing Ni, grain boundary Cr decreased and Ni increased. Dose and temperature dependence agreed well with Perks' model in trends but not in magnitudes, as did the alloy dependence for the case of fixed bulk Cr and varying Ni content. The dependence of grain boundary Ni on bulk Cr/Ni was opposite that predicted by Perks' model considering only the inverse Kirkendall mechanism. Agreement between measured and model results was achieved by accounting for the composition dependence of the atom-vacancy exchange frequency and the correlation coefficient for diffusion.
Theoretical Study of the Thermal Decomposition Pathways of 2-H Heptafluoropropane

The structures, vibrational frequencies, and energetics of 2-H heptafluoropropane (CF3CHFCF3) as well as the thermal decomposition products and transition-state molecules have been studied theoreti...
Affinity of permutations of F 2 n

It was conjectured that if n is even, then every permutation of F2n is affine on some 2-dimensional affine subspace of F2n. We prove that the conjecture is true for n = 4, for quadratic permutations of F2n and for permutation polynomials of F2n with coefficients in F2n/2. The conjecture is actually a claim about (AGL(n, 2), AGL(n, 2))-double cosets in permutation group S(F2n) of F2n. We give a formula for the number of (AGL(n, 2), AGL(n, 2))-double cosets in S(F2n) and classify the (AGL(4, 2), AGL(4, 2))-double cosets in S(F24).
Synthesis and characterization of a micellar drug carrier for the metronomic delivery of paclitaxel

Abstract Environmentally sensitive carriers have been designed for metronomic Paclitaxel (PAX) delivery to tumors. PAX has been successfully conjugated to a diblock copolymer using different chemically labile hydrozone linkers to control its release rate under low pH conditions. These diblock copolymers are being characterized using NMR to determine the degree and location of substitution. These carriers are currently being evaluated to determine their potential for metronomic PAX delivery.
Computer simulations of soot aggregation

Abstract Soot aggregates exhibit a variety of morphologies: long chain-like structures and compact blob-like lumps are two extremes. We have simulated the aggregation of soot spherules in two and three dimensions using a model proposed by Witten and Sander. The individual soot spherules diffuse on a lattice of points before contacting the main aggregate. Refinements to Witten and Sander's model have been implemented: Variable spherule size, sticking probabilities, and surface energy have been included; charged spherules have been allowed to diffuse on the lattice. Analysis by visual means, calculation of bond order, and correlation functions indicate that the physically reasonable models proposed so far do not reproduce some aspects of observed soot aggregates, such as the long chains seen by Stevenson. The correlation functions show the aggregates formed are self-similar—i.e., they have the same appearance on a variety of length scales. Employing the concept of fractal geometry, we find the fractal dimension D of all these aggregates, regardless of size or charge, to be 2.4 ± 0.2. This agrees with similar calculations by Meakin who finds D = 2.51 for our simplest model.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide induces osteoclastogenesis through a toll-like receptor 4 mediated pathway in vitro and in vivo.

Objectives: Bacterial infections near bone result in localized inflammatory osteolysis, a significant complication of chronic ear infections. While many bacterial products may be involved, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has been implicated as a major mediator of inflammation and osteolysis. However, the mechanisms by which LPS promotes bone resorption have not been clearly established. There is no consensus on whether LPS acts directly or indirectly on osteoclast precursors (bone marrow monocytes [BMM]) to induce bone resorption. In light of the role of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in chronic ear infections, we investigated the effects of P. aeruginosa LPS on osteoclastogenesis in vivo and in vitro. Methods: Wild-type C57BL/6J and toll-like receptor 4 knock-out (TLR4−/−) mice received subcutaneous calvarial injections of 250 μg of P. aeruginosa LPS or phosphate buffered saline (PBS) only (n = 5 per group). Osteoclastic bone resorption was assessed histologically. The effect of P. aeruginosa LPS on bone resorption was assessed in vitro using combinations of BMMs and osteoblasts with and without functional toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Results: In vivo, P. aeruginosa LPS induced robust osteolysis, and this effect was completely abrogated in mice lacking expression of TLR4. In vitro, P. aeruginosa LPS failed to induce development of osteoclasts directly in BMMs. However, P. aeruginosa LPS did stimulate osteoclastogenesis in BMM-osteoblast cocultures. Conclusions: P. aeruginosa LPS acts indirectly through osteoblasts to induce bone resorption. Optimal osteoclastogenesis in vitro required functional TLR4 expression in both BMMs and osteoblasts.
Characterizing Common Priors in the Form of Posteriors

Abstract It is shown that if agents cannot agree to disagree then, under an appropriate compactness condition, their beliefs are derivable from a common prior—establishing the converse to the agreement theorem of Aumann (1976, Ann. Statist.4, 1236–1239). This enables us to formulate the existence of a common prior in syntactic terms, i.e., making no use of the space of states of the world, but referring only to the current knowledge and beliefs of the agents. An example demonstrates that the compactness assumption cannot be discarded. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: C70, D82, D84.
Numerical mathematics of Feynman path integrals and the operator ordering problem.

Infinitesimal propagators have been used in quantum-mechanical problems to establish ordering rules for classical quantities. Ambiguities arise in operator ordering as a result of the freedom of choice in evaluating the classical action over a short-time interval. The primitive quadrature rule employed in a short-time propagator establishes the quantum system associated with the classical Hamiltonian. Normal propagators are constructed from products of infinitesimal propagators and represent a compound quadrature in which the path is broken into line segments and a separate quadrature rule is applied to each line segment. It is demonstrated for Hamiltonians involving the vector potential that higher-order quadratures of the infinitesimal propagator all give a unique and proper ordering. Similarly, Hamiltonians that are products of powers of position x and momentum p, i.e., ${\mathit{p}}^{\mathit{l}}$${\mathit{x}}^{\mathit{m}}$, show some preference for Born-Jordon ordering as higher quadrature rules are applied. Unique orderings can be obtained in some cases by solving for the normal propagator. This is done for the Hamiltonian ${\mathit{p}}^{\mathit{l}}$${\mathit{x}}^{\mathit{m}}$ by using a Fourier representation for the phase-space propagator. This formalism requires that both the momentum and position coordinates be represented by Fourier series. These results show that care must be taken when generating quantum-mechanical operators by using primitive quadrature rules in conjunction with a short-time propagator. These ambiguities are eliminated when the compound quadrature is performed to generate the normal propagator.
Tariq Ramadan and the Quest for a Moderate Islam

Tariq Ramadan calls himself a bridge builder between Muslims and European culture, but contradictions in his theology prevent him from fulfilling this role. He is an Islamic intellectual who espouses democracy and pluralism, yet he believes that shari‘a law is universal. He exhorts his European followers to refrain from anti-Semitic violence, yet he cites as an authority Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, who is an apologist for Palestinian suicide bombers. He calls for Muslims to be full participants in Western civic societies, yet he calls on Muslims to “resist” the neo-liberal economic order that forms the basis of Western society. Ramadan has made alliances with left wing politicians and academics in France, Britain, the Netherlands, and the United States, but he has a pattern of disappointing and frustrating his leftist allies. In the wake of terrorist attacks in Britain and the Netherlands, the British and Dutch governments called upon Ramadan to support peaceable brands of Islam in these traumatized countries. These efforts failed because Ramadan’s most important constituency has always been “the Muslim street,” and this makes it difficult for him to embrace liberal principles.
An optical lattice clock with accuracy and stability at the 10 −18 level

In the search for stable and accurate atomic clocks, many-atom lattice clocks have shown higher precision than clocks based on single trapped ions, but have been less accurate; here, a stable many-atom clock is demonstrated that has accuracy better than single-ion clocks. Whether for the definition of SI units, testing the laws of physics or for applications yet to be dreamt of, scientists will always want more stability and more accuracy in their atomic clocks. Many-atom lattice clocks have achieved better precision than clocks based on single trapped ions, but their accuracy has so far been relatively poor. This study from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) demonstrates a many-atom clock that achieves better accuracy than single-ion-based clocks, and at the same time reduces the required measurement time by two orders of magnitude. Based on thousands of neutral strontium atoms trapped in a laser beam, this new 'optical lattice' clock has the stability, reproducibility and accuracy that make it a prime contender for consideration as a primary standard. It would neither gain nor lose one second in about 5 billion years — although the Earth is unlikely to last that long. Progress in atomic, optical and quantum science1,2 has led to rapid improvements in atomic clocks. At the same time, atomic clock research has helped to advance the frontiers of science, affecting both fundamental and applied research. The ability to control quantum states of individual atoms and photons is central to quantum information science and precision measurement, and optical clocks based on single ions have achieved the lowest systematic uncertainty of any frequency standard3,4,5. Although many-atom lattice clocks have shown advantages in measurement precision over trapped-ion clocks6,7, their accuracy has remained 16 times worse8,9,10. Here we demonstrate a many-atom system that achieves an accuracy of 6.4 × 10−18, which is not only better than a single-ion-based clock, but also reduces the required measurement time by two orders of magnitude. By systematically evaluating all known sources of uncertainty, including in situ monitoring of the blackbody radiation environment, we improve the accuracy of optical lattice clocks by a factor of 22. This single clock has simultaneously achieved the best known performance in the key characteristics necessary for consideration as a primary standard—stability and accuracy. More stable and accurate atomic clocks will benefit a wide range of fields, such as the realization and distribution of SI units11, the search for time variation of fundamental constants12, clock-based geodesy13 and other precision tests of the fundamental laws of nature. This work also connects to the development of quantum sensors and many-body quantum state engineering14 (such as spin squeezing) to advance measurement precision beyond the standard quantum limit.
Effect of thyroid hormone on Mg2+ homeostasis and extrusion in cardiac cells

The present study investigated the effect of alteration in thyroid hormone level on Mg2+ homeostasis in cardiac ventricular myocytes. Hyperthyroid conditions increased cardiac myocytes total Mg2+ content by ~14% as compared to cells from eu-thyroid animals. The excess Mg2+ was localized predominantly within cytoplasm and mitochondria, and was mobilized into the extracellular compartment by addition of isoproterenol (ISO) or cAMP but not phenylephrine (PHE). Hypothyroid conditions, instead, decreased cardiac myocytes total Mg2+ content by ~10% as compared to cells from eu-thyroid animals. Also in this case, cytoplasm and mitochondria were the two cellular pools predominantly affected. Under hypothyroid conditions, administration of ISO or cAMP resulted in a decreased Mg2+ extrusion as compared to that observed in cardiac cells from eu-thyroid animals. Similar changes in cellular Mg2+ content and transport were observed in cardiac ventricular myocytes isolated from hyper- and hypo-thyroid animals, as well as in cultures of H9C2 cells rendered hyper- or hypo-thyroid under in vitro conditions. Supplementation of thyroid hormone to hypothyroid animals restored Mg2+ level and transport to levels comparable to those observed in eu-thyroid animals. Taken together, these results indicate that changes in thyroid hormone level have a major effect on Mg2+ homeostasis and compartmentation in cardiac cells. The enlarged Mg2+ mobilization via β- but not α1-adrenergic receptor stimulation further suggests that β- and α1-adrenergic receptors target selectively different Mg2+ compartments within the cardiac myocyte. These results provide a new rationale to interpret changes in cardiac function under hyper- or hypo-thyroid conditions.
Increasing compliance by improving the deal: The that's-not-all technique.

Seven experiments were conducted to demonstrate and explain the effectiveness of a compliance procedure dubbed the "that's-not-all" technique. The procedure consists of offering a product at a high price, not allowing the customer to respond for a few seconds, then offering a better deal by either adding another product or lowering the price. Experiments 1 and 2 demonstrated the effectiveness of this procedure over a control group that was given the better deal initially. The results of Experiments 3 and 4 suggested that this effectiveness may be partially explained through a norm of reciprocity that calls for the customer to respond to the seller's new offer. Experiment 5 results suggest that the effect also results from an altering of the anchor point subjects use to judge the new price. Experiment 6 results indicate the effectiveness of the procedure cannot be explained as the subject perceiving the lower price as a bargain. Finally, Experiment 7 examined the differences between the that's-not-all and the "door-in-the-face" procedures.
The mode of action and use of chlorothiazide and related compounds.

Chlorothiazide acts to inhibit renal tubular reabsorption of electrolytes. Experimental data are presented which indicate that, under various conditions, anion reabsorption is depressed unselectively so that the pre-existing ratio (Cl/HCO3) is not changed during chlorothiazide diuresis. The data suggest that chlorothiazide acts primarily to block sodium ion reabsorption. Chlorothiazide diuresis is potentiated experimentally by KHCO3 and clinically by acetazoleamide, organomercurials, or spirolactone. The latter two can also operate to block the potassium wastage of chlorothiazide. Increased potassium excretion caused by chlorothiazide is viewed as a consequence of the activity of the drug in blocking sodium reabsorption proximal to the site of potassium secretion. According to this concept, all chlorothiazide-type compounds will cause potassium depletion in proportion to their capacity to block proximal sodium reabsorption by diverting more sodium distally to the site of potassium secretion. Unlike mercur...
Modeling ferroelectric capacitor switching using a parallel-elements model

Abstract The charge-voltage (Q-V) relationship of ferroelectric capacitors experiencing arbitrary applied voltages is investigated both theoretically and experimentally. The complex behavior and history dependence of a ferroelectric capacitor in response to arbitrary voltage patterns can be well described by a parallel-elements model. This approach not only describes all of the major properties of ferroelectric hysteresis but is also very easy to implement into existing circuit design/simulation tools.
Long-term results of the treatment of complete distal ureteral stenosis using a cutting balloon catheter device.

Purpose: We evaluated the long-term efficacy of endoscopic treatment of complete distal ureteral stenosis using a cutting balloon catheter.Materials and Methods: We performed a total of 10 procedures in 9 patients with complete distal ureteral stenosis at or near the ureterovesical junction. Depending on presenting anatomy cases were treated with a retrograde only (6), antegrade only (1) or combined antegrade and retrograde (3) endoscopic technique.Results: At a mean followup of 36 months (range 24 to 43) 9 of the 10 procedures (90%) were successful. Stenosis recurred in 1 of the 9 patients (10%) but a repeat procedure was successful. There were no intraoperative complications and no procedures required open surgical conversion. Although all patients noticed a various degree of hematuria postoperatively, none required blood transfusion or further intervention. Mean hospitalization was 1.1 days.Conclusions: Endoscopic repair of distal ureteral stenosis using a cutting balloon catheter is a viable option in...
How New Ventures Exploit Trade-Offs Among International Risk Factors: Lessons For The Accelerated Internationization Of The 21St Century

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development predicts that the internationalization of businesses will accelerate in the 21st century. Our study examined how the risks of accelerated ...
IL-2 Induces the Association of IL-2Rο, lyn, and MAP Kinase ERK-1 in Human Neutrophils

IL-2, first identified as a T cell growth factor, has been proven to activate many cell types including polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN3). However, the mechanisms involved in PMN activation, especially the signaling pathways used by the IL-2R, are currently unknown. Here we demonstrate that IL-2 has the ability to induce protein tyrosine kinases in human PMN, and we provide the first evidence that lyn kinase is activated and physically associated with MAP kinase/ERK1. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments with anti-IL-2Rbeta and Western blotting with anti-p53/56lym revealed that lyn protein was present in IL-2R precipitates and that the association of lyn with IL-2Rbeta was markedly elevated by IL-2 stimulation. Furthermore the activity of lyn kinase, evaluated by an in vitro kinase assay with enolase as a substrate, increased following IL-2 stimulation. Another important finding was that, upon IL-2 activation, MAPK/ERK1 was also phosphorylated in PMN. A direct association between lyn and ERK1 was initially demonstrated by co-immunoprecipitation/Western blotting and then definitively proven by the use of a GST-ERK1 fusion protein. We showed that ERK1 binds lyn only in IL-2 stimulated PMN, but not in unstimulated PMN. These results suggest that IL-2 can promote the association of lyn protein tyrosine kinase with IL-2Rbeta as well as the direct binding of MAPK/ERK1 to lyn. The signaling pathway utilized by human PMN in response to IL-2 may thus involve the association of lyn with IL-2Rbeta and the activation process also triggers the recruitment and activation of a specific ERK.
Hydrocarbon/nitric oxide interactions in low-pressure flames

We have studied a low-pressure (25 Torr), rich, H2/O2 — Ar flame and added to it various combinations of C2H2, HCN, and NO. Our objective is to investigate interactions between the hydrocarbon and nitrogen chemistry in flames, particularly the kinetics of the “recycle” mechanism that produces hydrogen cyanide from nitric oxide. Major stable species concentrations are determined by mass spectrometric techniques, and relative CN and CH concentrations and temperature are measured by laser-induced fluorescence. The experimental results are analyzed by comparing them to complete flame structure computations. The kinetic model is discussed in some detail. The flame model predicts, accurately the NO removal, the intermediate production of HCN and CN, and the eventual production of N2 observed in the flames to which NO and C2H2 are added. Formal sensitivity analysis is used to help identify the most important kinetic steps. The analysis indicates that in these flames NO is converted to cyanides primarily by reaction with C and CH; reaction with CH2 is somewhat less important. The HCN produced in these flames is converted to N2 by the mechanism described previously by Miller, et al. (Twentieth Combustion Symposium).
Catalytic NBP Spot Test for the Detection of Trichothecene Mycotoxin T-2

Abstract Thorium(IV)salts were found to act as catalysts for the alkylation of 4-(p-nitrobenzyl)pyridine by T-2 toxin. Using thorium(IV)chloride as the catalyst, a detection procedure for T-2 toxin was developed that required a heating step consisting of only 2 minutes at 90°C. The limit of detection of T-2 toxin with this procedure was found to be 1 microgram.
Evaluation of Aureomycin® for Prevention of Arthritic, Pulmonary and Cranial Forms of Fowl Cholera in Turkeys

Abstract Aureomycin fed at concentrations of 55, 110, and 220 mg./kg. of feed significantly (P
Dynamic exchanges of RNA interactions leading to catalytic core formation in the U12-dependent spliceosome.

Abstract Important general insights into the mechanism of pre-mRNA splicing have emerged from studies of the U12-dependent spliceosome. Here, photochemical cross-linking analyses during U12-dependent spliceosome assembly have surprisingly revealed that an upstream 5′ exon region is required for establishing two essential catalytic core interactions, U12/U6atac helix Ib and U6atac/5′ splice site contacts, but not for U5/5′ exon interactions or partial unwinding of U4atac/U6atac. A novel intermediate, representing an alternative pathway for catalytic core formation, is a ternary snRNA complex containing U4atac/U6atac stem II and U12/U6atac helix Ia that forms even without U6atac replacing U11 at the 5′ splice site. A powerful oligonucleotide displacement method suggests that the blocked complexes analyzed to deduce the interdependence of these multiple RNA exchanges are authentic intermediates in U12-dependent spliceosome assembly.
Friction Stir-Welded Titanium Alloy Ti-6Al-4V: Microstructure, Mechanical and Fracture Properties

Friction stir welding (FSW) has been refined to create butt welds from two sheets of Ti-6Al-4V alloy to have an ultra-fine grain size. Weld specimen testing was completed for three different FSW process conditions: As welded, stress relieved, stress relieved and machined, and for the un-welded base material. The investigation includes macrostructure, microstructure, microhardness, tensile property testing, notched bar impact testing, and fracture toughness evaluations. All experiments were conducted in accordance with industry standard testing specifications. The microstructure in the weld nugget was found to consist of refined and distorted grains of alpha in a matrix of transformed beta containing acicular alpha. The enhanced fracture toughness of the welds is a result of increased hardness, which is attributed to an increase in alpha phase, increase in transformed beta in acicular alpha, and grain refinement during the weld process. The noted general trend in mechanical properties from as welded, to stress relieved, to stress relieved and machined conditions exhibited a decrease in ultimate tensile strength, and yield strength with a small increase in ductility and a significant increase in fracture toughness.
Does neoadjuvant hormonal therapy improve urinary function when given to men with large prostates undergoing prostate brachytherapy

Purpose: We evaluated the effect of neoadjuvant hormonal therapy on urinary function in men with a prostate volume of 50 cc or greater undergoing prostate brachytherapy.Materials and Methods: A total of 395 men with 50 cc or greater glands were treated with 3 months of neoadjuvant hormonal therapy (204) or implantation alone (191). Urinary function was assessed by the International Prostate Symptom Score, the urinary retention incidence and subsequent transurethral prostate resection.Results: Median patient age was 67 years and median followup was 6 years. Mean prostate volume in neoadjuvant hormonal therapy cases was 72.9 cc, which decreased to 54.3 cc after 3 months (p <0.001). Mean prostate volume in cases without hormonal therapy was 60.6 cc (p <0.001). Urinary retention occurred in 16 of 191 men (8.4%) without vs 25 of 204 (12.3%) with hormonal therapy (p = 0.207). The median duration of urinary retention was 42 days (range 2 to 243). There were no significant associations of urinary retention with p...
A Nursing Management Protocol for Incontinence

Urinary incontinence affects people of all ages, but it is more prevalent in the elderly. Unrecognized, this problem can lead to infections, falls, and emotional distress. Health care professionals can play a vital role in the prevention and treatment of incontinence by simple techniques such as habit training and prompting. This article describes three case studies of elderly male clients with incontinence and discusses the implementation and outcome of a nursing management protocol with the clients.
A Least-Squares Transport Equation Compatible with Voids

Standard second-order self-adjoint forms of the transport equation, such as the even-parity, odd-parity, and self-adjoint angular flux equation, cannot be used in voids. Perhaps more important, they experience numerical convergence difficulties in near-voids. Here we present a new form of a second-order self-adjoint transport equation that has an advantage relative to standard forms in that it can be used in voids or near-voids. Our equation is closely related to the standard least-squares form of the transport equation with both equations being applicable in a void and having a nonconservative analytic form. However, unlike the standard least-squares form of the transport equation, our least-squares equation is compatible with source iteration. It has been found that the standard least-squares form of the transport equation with a linear-continuous finite-element spatial discretization has difficulty in the thick diffusion limit. Here we extensively test the 1D slab-geometry version of our scheme with re...
The lipid composition of human liver microsomes.

The lipid composition of human liver microsomes isolated from liver biopsy samples obtained at abdominal surgery has been determined. Human liver microsomal phospholipid is composed of 49% phosphatidylcholine, 31% phosphatidylethanolamine, 14% phosphatidylserine+phosphatidylinositol and 6% sphingomyelin, very similar to the phospholipid composition of rat liver microsomes. The fatty acid composition of human liver microsomes is remarkable only for its content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, with 20% of the fatty acids consisting of arachidonic, docosatetraenoic, docosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids. This value contrasts with 33% in rats and 9% in rabbits. The molar cholesterol/phospholipid ratio in human liver microsomes is 0.069, similar to the ratio in rat and rabbit microsomes.
Solar Electric Propulsion for Discovery-Class Missions

This paper offers a user-centric consolidation and comparison of the full range of government and commercial solar electric propulsion options available in the near term for primary propulsion on deep-space science missions of the class commonly proposed to NASA’s Discovery program. Unlike previous papers, this work does not emphasize feasibility from a mission-analysis perspective. Rather, it emphasizes requirements uniquely imposed by competitively reviewed cost-capped mission proposals, for which system-level flight heritage and cost credibility can trump sheer performance and mission capture. It describes criteria that mission architects and review boards can use to select and evaluate electric propulsion systems, provides descriptions of viable government and commercial electric propulsion system options, describes the modifications needed to adapt commercial electric propulsion systems to deep space, and discusses appropriate methods for costing commercial-based electric propulsion systems. It concl...