cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A temperature-sensitive hamster cell mutant with altered morphology.

Abstract A hamster cell mutant, ts-542, was isolated after nitrosoguanidine treatment. The mutant grows well at 33 °C and displays a normal, fibroblast-like morphology. It ceases cell division and becomes web-like in morphology after 4 days at 39 °C. No major lesion occurs in nucleic acid or protein synthesis during the first 3 days following transfer to 39 °C, but by the 4th day at this temperature there is a four-fold increase in acid phosphatase activity, an increase in nucleolar number, nuclear blebbing, and frequency of binucleate cells as well as increase in lysosomes. Cell death at 39 °C is independent of the cell density in the dishes or time of subculture. The mutation appears to be stable with a reversion frequency on the order of 10−6.
NEUROLOGICAL COMPLICATIONS OF SWINE INFLUENZA VACCINATION

The emphasis upon the remarkably large number of cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome which resulted from the 1976 National Swine Influenza immunization program in the U.S.A. has obscured the fact that other neurological complications, involving the central nervous system also occurred. The anatomical distribution of lesions is almost identical with that seen following other types of vaccination: involvement of the brain, cerebellum, optic nerve, cranial nerves and spinal cord occurred with approximately the same frequency. 5 instances of the very rare subacute or chronic, progressive, post-vaccinal encephalopathy are described, a situation which is identical to the subacute and chronic forms of polyradiculoneuropathy. In a number of cases, in particular the myelopathies, a subclinical involvement of peripheral nerves was demonstrated by means of electrodiagnostic studies, illustrating the often overlooked fact that central nervous system involvement will mask peripheral nerve lesions. The etiological significance of the swine influenza vaccination was overlooked and completely erroneous diagnoses were established in a surprisingly large number of the 26 new cases reported here.
Surfactant protein-A: new insights into an old protein--II.

Pulmonary surfactant is a lipoprotein substance that lines the lungs and helps reduce surface tension. Surfactant associated protein-A (SP-A) is the most abundant non-serum protein in pulmonary surfactant. This complex glycoprotein aids in the synthesis, secretion and recycling of surfactant phospholipids, and facilitates the reduction of surface tension by surfactant phospholipids. Recent evidence has highlighted the role of SP-A in the innate immune system present in the lung. SP-A may play a major role in defense against pathogens by interacting with both infectious agents and the immune system. Factors that affect fetal lung maturation, e.g. gestational age and hormones regulate SP-A gene expression. Mediators of immune function also regulate SP-A levels. A number of lung disorders, including infectious diseases and respiratory distress syndrome are associated with abnormal alveolar SP-A levels. SP-A can no longer be called a lung-specific protein, since it has recently been detected in other tissues. In most species, SP-A is encoded by a single gene, however in humans it is encoded by two, very similar genes. Models for the structure of the human SP-A protein molecule have been proposed, suggesting that the mature alveolar SP-A molecule is composed of both gene products. The study of SP-A may provide information helpful in understanding disease processes and formulating new treatment modalities.
Obligate crayfish burrow use and core habitat requirements of crawfish frogs

Crawfish frogs (Lithobates areolatus) have experienced declines across large portions of their former range. These declines are out of proportion to syntopic wetland-breeding amphibian species, suggesting losses are resulting from unfavorable aspects of non-breeding upland habitat. Crawfish frogs get their common name from their affinity for crayfish burrows, although the strength of this relationship has never been formally assessed. We used radiotelemetry to address 4 questions related to upland burrow dwelling in crawfish frogs: 1) what burrow types are used and how do they function to affect crawfish frog survivorship; 2) what are the physical characteristics and habitat associations of crawfish frog burrows; 3) what are the home range sizes of crawfish frogs when burrow dwelling; and 4) where are crawfish frog burrows situated with respect to breeding wetlands? We tracked crawfish frogs to 34 burrows, discovered another 7 occupied burrows, and therefore report on 41 burrows. Crawfish frogs exclusively occupied crayfish burrows as primary burrows, which they inhabited for an average of 10.5 months of the year. With one exception, crawfish frogs also used crayfish burrows as secondary burrows—temporary retreats occupied while exhibiting breeding migrations or ranging forays. Burrows were exclusively located in grassland habitats, although crawfish frogs migrated through narrow woodlands and across gravel roads to reach distant grassland primary burrow sites. Home range estimates while inhabiting burrows were 0.05 m 2 (the area of the burrow entrance plus the associated feeding platform) or 0.01 m 3 (the estimated volume of their burrow). Crawfish frog burrows were located at distances up to 1,020 m from their breeding wetlands. To protect crawfish frog populations, we recommend a buffer (core habitat plus terrestrial buffer) of at least 1.2 km around each breeding wetland. Within this buffer, at least 3 critical habitat elements must be present: 1) extensive grasslands maintained by prescribed burning and/or logging, 2) an adequate number of upland crayfish burrows, and 3) no soil disturbance of the sort that would destroy crayfish burrow integrity. 2012 The Wildlife Society.
Dense Taxon Sampling Using AFLPs Leads to Greater Accuracy in Phylogeny Estimation and Classification of Darters (Percidae: Etheostomatinae)

The classification of the North American darters (Percidae: Etheostomatinae) has been a subject of historical interest and rigorous debate. Conflicting morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses have made relationships among species unclear and have hampered attempts at classification. Recently we showed that amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) data provide support for relatively ancient relationships (>30 mya) among darters that are consistent with numerous morphological hypotheses. We predicted that increasing the number of extant species sampled would result in a more accurate estimate of evolutionary relationships and increase the statistical resolution, particularly at deeper nodes, as it would increase the probability that two taxa share homologous alleles (fragments) and link deeper relationships, thus overcoming noise created by homoplasious fragments. To test this prediction, we added 32 species to our original analysis of 69 species and reconstructed evolutionary histories using...
Collision-Free Path Planning for a Reconfigurable Robot

In most of the existing research on robot path planning, a robot is approximated by a fixed shape, i.e., a circle or a polygon. In this paper, we study the problem of a collision-free path planning for a reconfigurable robot whose shape can be changed during motion. The task of the robot is to carry a polygonal object from a starting point to a destination point in a littered environment. This path planning problem is solved by using two major algorithms: the collision-free feasible configuration finding algorithm and the collision-free path finding algorithm. The collision-free feasible configuration finding algorithm finds all collision-free feasible configurations for the robot when the position and orientation of the carried object are given. The collision-free path finding algorithm generates some candidate paths first and then uses a graph search method to find a collision-free path from all the collision-free feasible configurations along the candidate paths.
A Markov model for predicting levels of psychiatric service use in borderline and antisocial personality disorders and bipolar type II affective disorder.

This study examines the relationship between borderline personality disorder (BPD) and the use of psychiatric services in a naturalistic follow-up comparison with antisocial personality disorder and bipolar type II affective disorder. In the first follow-up series, borderline psychopathology was associated with higher levels of psychiatric service use (emergency, daycare, and inpatient). Markov analyses indicated that the transition between levels of psychiatric service use followed a stationary, second order process (i.e. the immediate past and current service use, predicted use on the next follow-up, and the relationship did not depend on the point in time examined in the follow-up series). Further, the transition probabilities generated from this model did not depend significantly on diagnosis. Predictions from the Markov model about the cumulative probability that subjects would use the highest level of psychiatric services were tested on a second series of follow-ups on the same subjects 20 months later. The model-based predictions (starting from the observed levels in the first two follow-ups of the second series) clustered into three groups, of high, middle, and low predicted probabilities. The subject group with the lowest predicted likelihood had a cumulative probability of 0.19 for using emergency, daycare, or inpatient hospitalization by 22 months of follow-up, whereas the group with the highest likelihood (containing a disproportionate number of BPD subjects) had a cumulative observed probability of 0.80. The Markov model generated from this second series supported the stationarity of the transition process. BPD subjects began using high levels of psychiatric services, but their transition from one level to another over time followed a process similar to that of non-BPD subjects.
Recruiting subjects in cancer prevention and control studies.

Recruitment of subjects is a critical aspect of prevention trials that is often overlooked by investigators. As a consequence, accrual time is often extended, workloads may become heavy, and resource utilization is increased in an effort to complete projects. Recruitment of healthy subjects in cancer prevention and control studies presents unique issues that need to be considered. The barriers to recruitment include participant issues, physician variables, features of the study design, and characteristics of the health care system in the United States. The authors provide their experience in overcoming these difficulties. J. Cell. Biochem. Suppl. 34:80-83, 2000. r 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Photodynamic therapy inactivates cell-associated basic fibroblast growth factor: a silent way of vascular smooth muscle cell eradication.

Objective: Procedurally related vascular injury results in a smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferative response which is in part initiated by SMC release of mitogens, including basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). This injury-induced proliferative response is believed to be a key event in intimal hyperplasia development. Photodynamic therapy (PDT), a novel approach found to be effective in inhibiting experimental intimal hyperplasia, produces cytotoxic free radicals resulting in localized SMC eradication. However, this form of SMC injury does not induce an inflammatory or proliferative response in the vessel wall. This study investigated whether PDT-generated free radicals could inactivate cell-associated bFGF normally released with cell injury. Methods: PDT of bovine SMC was performed in vitro with the photosensitizer CASPc (5 μg/ml) and 675 nm laser light using three different fluences: 10, 50, and 100 J/cm2. After PDT, SMC viability was determined with the tetrazolium salt (MTT) assay and cell-associated bFGF was quantitated by ELISA. A SMC mitogenesis assay was utilized to detect cell-associated bFGF activity released with SMC injury. Results: In a dose-dependent manner, PDT-generated free radicals reduced cell-associated bFGF levels. After PDT with 100 J/cm2, cell-associated bFGF content was reduced by 88% ( P <0.0002). Of special interest was the finding that PDT with 10 J/cm2 significantly ( P <0.0002) reduced cell viability to around 50%, without affecting cellular bFGF levels. Consequently, a higher PDT dose (100 J/cm2) was needed to significantly ( P <0.001) inhibit the SMC mitogenic response associated with SMC injury. Conclusion: These results provide a mechanism to explain how, unlike mechanical or other forms of SMC injury, optimal doses of PDT can locally eradicate medial vascular SMC without resulting in a bFGF-induced initiation of cell proliferation.
Response Localization in Disordered Periodic Structures

Due to material and manufacturing variabilities, a structure designed to be spatially periodic cannot be exactly periodic. The departure from exact periodicity is known as disorder. Under excitation, the response of a disordered periodic structure is much more confined as compared with its ideally periodic counterpart. Assuming that disorder can be described in terms of probability or statistics, the average exponential decay rate of the response amplitude with respect to the distance is investigated using a perturbation procedure.
Using surface normals to localize subdural intracranial electrodes placed during neurosurgery

Clinical and research neurosurgical studies involving the use of intracranial electroencephalography and cortical stimulation depend critically on accurate localization of electrodes. Neuronavigation tracking probes enable surgeons to record the position of exposed electrodes, but they cannot be used to reliably measure subdural contacts placed under the dura and beyond the extent of the craniotomy. We describe an algorithm to estimate the position of these inaccessible sites using the patient's preoperative structural MRI data. After generating a model of the cortical surface, our algorithm estimates surface normals at the sites of accessible electrodes, establishes the orientation of the electrode strips, and then extrapolates the position of adjacent contacts based on the known inter-electrode distance. We performed validation using a patient dataset consisting of 37 electrodes placed on the cortical surface during surgery.
Reoperation for failed surgical treatment of refractory lateral epicondylitis

The reliability of surgical procedures for lateral epicondylitis makes the need for reoperation uncommon. In a review of surgical procedures followed by reoperation, failures were classified according to first operations followed by symptoms similar to those experienced preoperatively (group 1) and first operations followed by a different symptom complex (group 2). In group 1 the cause of surgical failure was inadequate release or incorrect initial diagnosis, most often relating to entrapment of the posterior interosseous nerve. In group 2 the causes of failure were shown to be capsular or ligamentous insufficiency. A careful work-up directed at the above classification and surgical procedures specifically directed at the defined cause of previous failure have resulted in successful reoperation in 11 (85 %) of 73 patients.
Moisture Vertical Structure, Column Water Vapor, and Tropical Deep Convection

Abstract The vertical structure of the relationship between water vapor and precipitation is analyzed in 5 yr of radiosonde and precipitation gauge data from the Nauru Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) site. The first vertical principal component of specific humidity is very highly correlated with column water vapor (CWV) and has a maximum of both total and fractional variance captured in the lower free troposphere (around 800 hPa). Moisture profiles conditionally averaged on precipitation show a strong association between rainfall and moisture variability in the free troposphere and little boundary layer variability. A sharp pickup in precipitation occurs near a critical value of CWV, confirming satellite-based studies. A lag–lead analysis suggests it is unlikely that the increase in water vapor is just a result of the falling precipitation. To investigate mechanisms for the CWV–precipitation relationship, entraining plume buoyancy is examined in sonde data and simplified cases. For several differe...
Application of handheld devices to field research among underserved construction worker populations: a workplace health assessment pilot study.

Background: Novel low-cost approaches for conducting rapid health assessments and health promotion interventions among underserved worker groups are needed. Recruitment and participation of construction workers is particularly challenging due to their often transient periods of work at any one construction site, and their limited time during work to participate in such studies. In the present methodology report, we discuss the experience, advantages and disadvantages of using touch screen handheld devices for the collection of field data from a largely underserved worker population.
Implications of the 26 December 2004 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake on tsunami forecast and assessment models for great subduction-zone earthquakes

Results from different tsunami forecasting and hazard assessment mod- els are compared with observed tsunami wave heights from the 26 December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Forecast models are based on initial earthquake information and are used to estimate tsunami wave heights during propagation. An empirical forecast relationship based only on seismic moment provides a close estimate to the observed mean regional and maximum local tsunami runup heights for the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami but underestimates mean regional tsunami heights at azimuths in line with the tsunami beaming pattern (e.g., Sri Lanka, Thailand). Standard forecast models developed from subfault discretization of earthquake rupture, in which deep- ocean sea level observations are used to constrain slip, are also tested. Forecast models of this type use tsunami time-series measurements at points in the deep ocean. As a proxy for the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, a transect of deep-ocean tsunami amplitudes recorded by satellite altimetry is used to constrain slip along four subfaults of the M 9 Sumatra-Andaman earthquake. This proxy model performs well in comparison to observed tsunami wave heights, travel times, and inundation patterns at Banda Aceh. Hypothetical tsunami hazard assessments models based on end- member estimates for average slip and rupture length (M w 9.0-9.3) are compared with tsunami observations. Using average slip (low end member) and rupture length (high end member) (M w 9.14) consistent with many seismic, geodetic, and tsunami inversions adequately estimates tsunami runup in most regions, except the extreme runup in the western Aceh province. The high slip that occurred in the southern part of the rupture zone linked to runup in this location is a larger fluctuation than expected from standard stochastic slip models. In addition, excess moment release (9%) deduced from geodetic studies in comparison to seismic moment estimates may gen- erate additional tsunami energy, if the exponential time constant of slip is less than approximately 1 hr. Overall, there is significant variation in assessed runup heights caused by quantifiable uncertainty in both first-order source parameters (e.g., rupture length, slip-length scaling) and spatiotemporal complexity of earthquake rupture.
Immunologic Phenomena Induced by Cryosurgery

Until recently, cryosurgery of benign and malignant neoplasms had been utilized in the majority of cases in an anecdotal manner, the primary objective being palliation of readily accessible lesions, generally following their unsuccessful treatment by radiation, surgery, or both. In spite of early trepidations, continued interest in the therapeutic applications of cryosurgery have led to improvement in design and development. A major impetus to this increased application may have been the observation that in situ freezing of tissues constitutes an antigenic stimulus comparable to that obtained through the parenteral administration of antigen — and hence the term “cryoimmunology” (80). Followed shortly by reports of the remission of metastases following cryoprostatectomy (15, 19, 81), destruction of secondary tumors occurring beyond the freezing site prompted continuing investigation of the possible development of an immunologic response by the host against tumor and of the applicability of ultimately directing this response toward the therapeutic management of malignancy.
Genome of the Cyanobacterium Microcoleus vaginatusFGP-2, a Photosynthetic Ecosystem Engineer of Arid Land Soil Biocrusts Worldwide

The filamentous cyanobacterium Microcoleus vaginatusis found in arid land soils worldwide. The genome of M. vaginatusstrain FGP-2 allows exploration of genes involved in photosynthesis, desiccation tolerance, alkane production, and other features contributing to this organism's ability to function as a major component of biological soil crusts in arid lands.
Real-time analysis for developed laboratory-based smart micro grid

The modern power network incorporates communications and information technology infrastructures into the electrical power system to create a smart grid. The smart grid will utilize digital information technology to create a more efficient, reliable, flexible and responsive network. The objective of this paper is to apply the concept of real time analysis in a smart grid by developing a test-bed smart grid in power system laboratories. The laboratory experiment and analysis guarantee a high level of reliability when the smart grid is implemented in the actual field. Educational application of the laboratory-based smart grid and its real-time analysis capability, provide the platform for investigation of the most challenging aspects of real power system.
Structural Comparison of HIV-1 Envelope Spikes with and without the V1/V2 Loop

We have used cryoelectron tomography of vitreous-ice-embedded HIV-1 virions to compare the envelope (Env) spikes of a wild-type strain with those of a mutant strain in which the V1/V2 loop has been deleted. Deletion of V1/V2 results in a spike with far more structural heterogeneity than is observed in the wild type, likely reflecting greatly enhanced gp120 protomer flexibility. A major difference between the two forms is a pronounced loss of mass from the "peak" of the native Env spike. The apparent loss of contact among three gp120 protomers likely accounts for the more open structure, heterogeneity in configuration, and previous observations that broadly neutralizing epitopes and reactive sites on other structural elements are more exposed in such constructs.
First-Line Chemotherapy for Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Is There a Superior Regimen Based on Histology?

Lung cancer remains a formidable challenge. In the United States, death from lung cancer accounts for approximately 25% of all cancer deaths and exceeds the second, third, fourth, and fifth most common causes of cancer death combined. It is a leading cause of
Weight and metabolic effects of cpap in obstructive sleep apnea patients with obesity

Background Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with obesity, insulin resistance (IR) and diabetes. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) rapidly mitigates OSA in obese subjects but its metabolic effects are not well-characterized. We postulated that CPAP will decrease IR, ghrelin and resistin and increase adiponectin levels in this setting.
Recovery of Class Hierarchies and Composition Relationships from Machine Code

We present a reverse-engineering tool, called Lego, which recovers class hierarchies and composition relationships from stripped binaries. Lego takes a stripped binary as input, and uses information obtained from dynamic analysis to (i) group the functions in the binary into classes, and (ii) identify inheritance and composition relationships between the inferred classes. The software artifacts recovered by Lego can be subsequently used to understand the object-oriented design of software systems that lack documentation and source code, e.g., to enable interoperability. Our experiments show that the class hierarchies recovered by Lego have a high degree of agreement—measured in terms of precision and recall—with the hierarchy defined in the source code.
THE FIRST COMPLETE SKELETON OF SOLNHOFIA PARSONSI (CRYPTODIRA, EURYSTERNIDAE) FROM THE UPPER JURASSIC OF GERMANY AND ITS TAXONOMIC IMPLICATIONS

Abstract A complete skeleton of Solnhofia parsonsi (Cryptodira, Eurysternidae) from the Kimmeridgian/Tithonian boundary of Schamhaupten, Germany provides the first complete understanding of the postcranial morphology of this genus. The here newly described postcranial characters are important in distinguishing Solnhofia from shell-based genera and thus help in resolving part of the parataxonomic conflict between shell-based and cranium-based turtle genera. This disparity originated during the last 150 years due to the history of fossil finds, preparation, and changing interests of researchers. Synonymies of Solnhofia with such turtle genera as Eurysternum, Idiochelys, Plesiochelys, Thalassemys, and Euryaspis can now be refuted. Similarities with Hydropelta are apparent, but not considered sufficient to support a synonymy. Newly observed or confirmed characters include the relatively large head (40 percent of the carapace length), the pentagonal carapace, the unique arrangement of bones and fontanelles in ...
Preschool Contexts and Teacher Interactions: Relations with School Readiness.

ABSTRACTThe majority of early education programs promote children’s learning through a mix of experiences in child- and teacher-managed contexts. The current study examined time spent in child- and teacher-managed contexts and the nature of children’s experiences with teachers in these contexts as they relate to children’s skill development. Participants were preschool children (N = 283, M age = 52 months, 48% girls, 70% Mexican or Mexican American) from families of a lower socioeconomic status. Observations captured children’s time in child- and teacher-managed contexts and experiences with teachers in each context. School readiness was assessed directly and through teacher reports. Research Findings: Time spent in teacher-managed contexts was positively related to children’s academic and social skill development. Experiences in child-managed context predicted vocabulary, math, and social skills when teachers were directly involved with children. Overall, the findings suggest that teacher engagement is r...
Right About Wrongs? A Review of Fried & Fried's Because It Is Wrong and the Implications of Their Arguments on the Use of Capital Punishment Book Review

In their recent book, Because It Is Wrong, former solicitor general and Harvard Law professor Charles Fried and his son, Suffolk University philosophy professor Gregory Fried, begin with the principle that morality is essential to the proper understanding of how to assess the exercise of power by the President of the United States. In particular, the Frieds are interested in the use of presidential power in an extralegal manner. Considering the actions of the administration of George W. Bush, they focus on two specific areas: the use of torture and the use of surveillance during the War on Terror.Employing a philosophical approach, the Frieds make a compelling case that torture is “wrong” under all circumstances, but conclude that surveillance may be acceptable in certain exigent circumstances, even when the law prohibits such action. The Frieds draw this distinction, in part, on the concept that torture always infringes upon core conceptions of human dignity, while surveillance does not always infringe on human dignity in the same fundamental way. As a result, for the Frieds, one cannot weigh possible extrinsic benefits against the “wrong” of torture, while exigent circumstances may sometimes outweigh the “wrong” of privacy invasion.This book review argues that, for the most part, Fried and Fried are “right” about “wrongs” — that is, their arguments concerning torture and surveillance generally are persuasive. Further, and perhaps more interestingly, this review explores the consequences of the Frieds’ conceptualization of torture on the use of capital punishment in the United States. Specifically, it argues that the moral underpinnings of torture as “wrong” in all circumstances, to the degree that one adopts their normative framework, offer a compelling basis for the abolition of the death penalty.In Part II, the review evaluates Fried and Fried’s claim that torture is “wrong” under all circumstances. Part III considers the Frieds’ claim that surveillance is not always “wrong” — even when its practice is against the law. Finally, Part IV argues that if the Frieds are “right” about these “wrongs,” then their reasoning leads to the fundamental conclusion that the death penalty is its own “wrong.”
Development of a New High-Suction Tensiometer

Nowadays, direct measurement of matric suction on unsaturated soils in laboratory is still a great challenge for researchers. In this study, two new high-suction tensiometers were designed and fabricated based on commercial pressure transducers. Ceramic discs with air-entry value of 15 bar were used as the filters for both tensiometers. The design, fabrication, saturation, and calibration process are addressed in details. Also, the maximum attainable suctions were determined to be at around 1100 kPa through free evaporation tests. Compared with existing high-suction tensiometers, both newly developed high-suction tensiometers were proved to be robust and reliable for measuring matric suction of unsaturated soils.
Oxytocic activity of purified vasopressin.

SummaryEvidence has been obtained with a highly purified preparation that vasopressin, in addition to its pressor and antidiuretic activities, possesses intrinsic oxytocic action as one of its pharmacological properties, in contrast with purified oxytocin which appears not to possess pressor or antidiuretic activity. For each 100 units of vasopressor-antidiuretic activity there is intrinsic “oxytocic” activity represented by approximately 5 units as determined by the isolated rat uterus assay or by approximately 13-15 units by the chicken blood pressure depressor assay. The evidence that vasopressin possesses milk-ejection activity about one-fifth that of oxytocin has been discussed.
Factors Associated With Survival in Patients With Synovial Cell Sarcoma of the Head and Neck: An Analysis of 167 Cases Using the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) Database

Importance Synovial cell sarcoma of the head and neck (SCSHN) is a rare tumor associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The literature regarding these tumors is limited to case series and case reports. We used data from the population-based US Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) cancer registry to determine factors affecting both overall survival and disease-specific survival of patients with SCSHN. Objective To determine the clinicopathologic and therapeutic factors determining survival in patients with SCSHN. Design, Setting, and Participants The SEER registry was reviewed for patients with primary SCSHN from January 1, 1973, to January 1, 2011. Main Outcomes and Measures Overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival. Results A total of 167 cases of SCSHN were identified. The mean (SD) age at diagnosis was 37.9 (17.3) years, and 100 (59.9%) of the patients were males. The monophasic spindle cell and biphasic variants were the most common histologic subtypes. Surgical resection and radiotherapy were performed in 150 (89.8%) and 108 (64.7%) of the cases, respectively. The median OS at 2, 5, and 10 years was 77%, 66%, and 53%, respectively. Univariate Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that age, race, and tumor stage and size were associated with improved survival. Histologic subtype was not associated with significant differences in survival. Radiotherapy was associated with improved disease-specific survival (hazard ratio [HR], 0.29 [95% CI, 0.12-0.68]; P = .003), but surgical management was not associated with improved survival (HR, 0.52 [95% CI, 0.19-1.46]; P = .21). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that size greater than 5 cm (adjusted HR, 3.60 [95% CI, 1.43-9.08]; P = .007) and stage at presentation (adjusted HR, 3.86 [95% CI, 2.01-7.44]; P P = .003 and 5.32 [95% CI, 1.49-18.98]; P = .01, respectively); surgical resection and radiotherapy were not associated with differential survival outcomes using this model. Conclusions and Relevance Synovial cell sarcoma of the head and neck is rare. Independent significant determinants of survival include size (>5 cm) and stage at presentation. Histologic subtype of the tumor is not a significant indicator of the probability of survival. Surgical resection and radiotherapy were not independent determinants of survival.
In Reply to Zaghloul

To the Editor:We appreciate the interest taken in our analysis of pelvic failures after radical cystectomy (1, 2). We agree with the comments made that our study supports several notions that have more recently come to light: (1) after radical cystectomy, pelvic recurrences occur at a rate that is higher than historically reported, in up to 30% to 50% of selected patients; (2) adjuvant chemotherapy does not appear to substantially reduce the risk of pelvic failure; and (3) histology does not appear to influence the pattern of pelvic failure. Additionally, our analysis presents a few new considerations for this clinical situation: (1) margin-positive resections do not necessarily increase the risk of failure at the cystectomy bed alone; (2) a reasonable proportion of local and regional failures may occur without concurrent distant disease, suggesting a chance to influence survival with improved local and regional control; and (3) a low proportion of patients demonstrates evidence of recurrence in the cystectomy bed, suggesting a relatively higher value in covering nodal regions at risk and a possible means to reduce the risks of adjuvant local therapy. Our conclusions must be considered in the context of the retrospective, single-institution nature of the study, so we await prospective trials to help substantiate our findings. The recent presentation by Zaghloul et al (3) from the Egyptian NCI indicates that pelvic control can be reduced by adjuvant radiation therapy (3-year local-regional relapsefree survival 87%vs 69%,P<.01). Another trial, NRGGU001, will also test the role of adjuvant therapy to reduce the risk of pelvic recurrence. If tolerated well, adjuvant radiation therapy could play an important role even if survival is not favorably affected, because pelvic recurrences may carry significant morbidity (4, 5) and present a challenge to treat (5). Thinking ahead toward future trial design, we believe that there would also be value in testing the role of radiation therapy in the preoperative setting, with the possibility of bladder preservation and improved tolerance of radiation therapy in mind.
Analysis of drinking water contamination emergencies in Chengdu during 2009-2014

Objective To know the drinking water contamination emergencies of Chengdu, Sichuan. Methods The data of drinking water contamination emergencies of Chengdu during 2009-2014 were collected to do the statistic analysis. Results Among 26 drinking water contamination emergencies, four of them caused human diseases. As to the origin of these emergencies, chemical pollutions accounted for 50%,while biological pollutions accounted for 11.5%, mixed pollutions caused38.5% of the pollutions. Nature disaster-related water contaminations accounted for 23.1% of the pollution,15.4% of the pollutions were caused by flowing back of sewage water, the pollution of industrial and domestic waste contributed 19.2%,and water facilities unqualified, human dumping waster accounted for 7.7% for each, traffic accidents, wrong connection of tap water network, failure of disinfection equipment caused 3.8% of all pollutions for each. Conclusion Drinking water contamination emergencies of Chengdu mainly occur in spring and summer, most of which occurred in rural areas. The main cause of water contamination is human activities, the main water contaminants are chemicals.
Study on the Genetic Basis for Abnormal Heading in Hybrid Rice

The problem of abnormal heading in hybrid rice caused great economic losses in recent years.The genetic basis of this phenomenon is still ambiguous and not documented up to now.Four test-crossing populations were constructed using 38introgression lines(ILs)from Shuhui 527/Fuhui 838population as male parents and four male sterile lines(II-32A,XieqingzaoA,Gang 46A and Jin 23A)as female parents.The phenotypic evaluation was conducted in Hefei,Hangzhou and Guangzhou in late season.QTL associated with photosensitivity(PS)was identified using one-way analysis of variance(ANOVA)and two-way ANOVA methods with the genotypic and phenotypic data.Progeny testing showed that 55combinations did not head in Hefei,but normally headed with delayed heading date in Hangzhou and Guangzhou.A total of 12QTL for PS was found in more than two environments or populations.Using two-way ANOVA,31epistatic QTLs affecting PS were detected in Hangzhou and Guangzhou,five of which were stably expressed in different populations and environments.The loci interaction between RM331-RM2,RM331-RM5346,RM3395-RM16and RM3325-RM53played an important role in controlling the formation of Daqingke for combinations from test-crossing WD57,WD71,WD77,WD78,WD80,WD85and WD88 with four-types of male sterile lines.
Stereoselectivity of rat liver cytochrome P-450 isozymes: direct determination of enantiomeric composition of K-region epoxides formed in the metabolism of benz[a]anthracene and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene.

The K-region 5,6-epoxides of benz[a]anthracene (BA) and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) were isolated by normal-phase HPLC from metabolites formed by incubation of the respective parent compound with liver microsomes from untreated (control), phenobarbital (PB)-treated, and 3-methylcholanthrene (MC)-treated rats in the presence of an epoxide hydrolase inhibitor, 3,3,3-trichloropropylene 1,2-oxide. The enantiomeric contents of the metabolically formed K-region 5,6-epoxides of BA and DMBA were directly determined by chiral stationary phase HPLC. The K-region 5,6--epoxides formed in the metabolism of BA have (5R,6S): (5S,6R) enantiomer ratios of 25:75 (control), 21:79 (PB), and 4:96 (MC), respectively. In contrast, the (5R,6S):(5S,6R) enantiomeric ratios of the K-region 5,6-epoxides formed in the metabolism of DMBA are 76:24 (control), 80:20 (PB), and 97:3 (MC), respectively. These and earlier results on the stereoselective K-region metabolism studies of 7methylbenz[a]anthracene and 12-methylbenz[a]anthracene indicate that (i) cytochrome P-450 isozymes exhibit different stereoselectivities in the K-region epoxidations of BA and DMBA and (ii) a methyl substituent at the C12 position of BA alters the stereoheterotopic interactions between cytochrome P-450 isozymes and the BA molecule.
Reconstitution of solubilized V1 vasopressin receptors of human platelets

We describe the reconstitution of solubilized human platelet arginine vasopressin (AVP) receptors into phospholipid vesicles. Purified platelet plasma membranes enriched in AVP receptors [binding e...
What determines hospital sponsorship of an HMO

Using a strategic adaptation framework, this study evaluates the underlying institutional, market, organizational, and financial factors leading to hospital sponsorship of a health maintenance organization (HMO) insurance product. Analyzing hospitals in Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in 1995 and 1996, the study found that a hospital is more likely to sponsor an HMO in markets that see a combined interaction effect of a large number of competing HMOs and high HMO penetration. HMO sponsorship also is more likely among hospitals with relatively low market share. Only in small MSA markets do hospitals with greater liquidity sponsor an HMO. Finally, hospitals that are affiliated with a multihospital system and under public ownership are more likely to sponsor HMOs.
No templates for rejection: a failure to configure attention to ignore task-irrelevant features

ABSTRACTKnowing the colour of an upcoming target allows one to bias attention towards objects of that colour. It is far less clear whether knowing the colour of an up-coming distractor can allow one to suppress attention to items of that colour. Arita, Carlisle, and Woodman (2012) suggest that people can create a template for rejection. However, the method used in Arita et al. may have allowed people to adopt a strategy of internally generating a positive cue for the target colour or target hemifield. Here we use a method very similar to theirs, but manipulate the display layouts and the number of un-cued colours in ways that should thwart such strategies. Across three experiments, we find a negative cuing benefit only in a very special circumstance that encourages a strategic shift to internally generating a positive cue (the same circumstance used by Arita et al.). We conclude that people are unable to use a negative feature-cue on a trial-by-trial basis to suppress attention to upcoming distractors, an...
Performance Analysis of Interference for OFDM Systems

The bit error rate (BER) analysis of various interference types is discussed for orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) systems in both analytical form and software simulation results. Specifically, the BER performance of barrage noise interference (BNI), partial band interference (PBI), and multitone interference (MTI) has been investigated in time-correlated Rayleigh fading channel with additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN). In addition, two novel intentional interference injecting methods – optimal-fraction PBI and optimal-fraction MTI – for OFDM systems are proposed with detailed theoretical analysis. Simulation results validate the analytical results. It is shown that under the various channel conditions, the optimal-fraction MTI always gives the best interference effect among all the interference models given in this chapter. Both analysis and simulation indicate that the proposed optimal-fraction MTI can be used to obtain improved interference effect under various channel conditions with low complexity for OFDM systems.
The Need to Know: Utilitarian and Esthetic Values of Biomedical Science

When a practicing scientist faces an audience concerned with the ethics of his discipline, he feels somewhat like an author being asked out to lunch by his editor. In the long run, to paraphrase G. K. Chesterton, it is always the author who pays. And I suspect that, when a philosopher asks “What new knowledge is needed in the biomedical sciences?” the scientist is expected to pay by agreeing that the question can be answered. But I doubt that it can be answered, suspecting that there is no way of determining in advance what shall or shall not be known, what knowledge we do or do not need. Therefore, I will not be able to predict for you whether what we need to know is in the realm of manipulative genetics, the reconstitution of cell membranes, or even the conquest of neoplasia. I should like, instead, to consider those values which, for a working experimentalist, underlie our need to know.
Keaton: Film Acting as Action

Introduction Certain images unavoidably conjure up the idea of silent film: Chaplin in his derby; Lillian Gish swathed in mountains of curls; and of course, Buster Keaton with his deadpan intensity and his porkpie hat. In one sense, Keaton played a number of different roles; but, in another sense, these were merely surface variations of one underlying character, one underlying set of preoccupations which Keaton explored in different fictional guises. The purpose of this paper is to isolate the core structure of the Keaton character as found in his mature silent films. When we think of “film acting” what comes first to mind, generally, are the pretenses, mannerisms, and implied motives that a performer employs to give substance to a certain fictional being. However, when applying the notion to Keaton, we must also bear in mind a much more basic sense of “acting,” viz., the sense of acting as being involved in a process of doing. Keaton's character, it could be said, is a product of a series of doings; his film acting, in a manner of speaking, is rooted in action. That is, in important respects, Keaton's character emerges not through declaiming, posturing, or emoting, but in the process of action, or better, in interactions, specifically with things. If such a rough distinction may be drawn, Keaton emphasizes the behavioral – the engagement with objects – rather than the psychological, where that category signals interest in the affective and in motivation.
Comparison of comb and pulse train signal designs for active sonar

Doppler-sensitive waveforms are often used in shallow water to mitigate high reverberation levels. This paper compares three Doppler sensitive sonar waveforms including coherently-processed pulse trains, uniform frequency combs, and nonuniform co-prime frequency combs in terms of their delay-Doppler responses. It is shown that the use of comb waveforms can reduce Doppler sidelobes without trading Doppler resolution, unlike windowing. The pulse train and uniform comb are evaluated in terms of their ambiguity functions, while the co-prime comb was processed using a technique that exploits the co-prime structure to reduce the number of tones necessary to achieve a delay-Doppler response similar to that of a uniform comb. The cost of using a co-prime comb rather than a uniform comb is increased bandwidth extent. Brief discussion of the peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of these signals is also included.
Resonant photoemission in CeAl, Ce Si 2 , and La Si 2

We report valence-band photoemission at photon energies near the $4d$ absorption resonance for CeAl, a trivalent antiferromagnet with ${T}_{N}=10$ K, and Ce${\mathrm{Si}}_{2}$, a nonmagnetic valence fluctuation compound with a characteristic (Kondo) energy of order 200 K. The main difference between the two spectra is a factor-of-2 difference in the width of the peak centered 2.1-2.2 eV below the Fermi energy ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{F}$. We interpret this peak as the $4f$ emission; it is well fit by a Lorentzian whose halfwidth is $\ensuremath{\Gamma}=0.45$ eV in CeAl and $\ensuremath{\Gamma}=0.8$ eV in Ce${\mathrm{Si}}_{2}$. These results suggest that the difference in magnetic behavior of the two compounds reflects different Kondo temperatures resulting from different hybridization widths. The trivalence of both compounds (as opposed to fractional valence) is corroborated by measurements of the fine structure in the constant-initial-state (CIS) and constant-final-state spectra near the resonance. A second feature occurs near ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{F}$ in both materials; this is most readily interpreted as $5d$ emission. Consistent with this explanation is an edge shift of the resonance (as measured in CIS) to lower photon energy for the peak near ${\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{F}$ as compared to the peak near 2 eV.
Predicting capacitor run time for a battery/capacitor hybrid source

Perhaps the most promising near-term application of double-layer capacitors is as a load leveler for a battery. In this application the capacitor is connected in parallel with a battery to form a battery/capacitor hybrid source. The capacitor provides the peak current demanded by the load, thus reducing battery wear and allowing a reduction in battery size and weight due to the lower current-handling requirement. Described in this paper is a procedure to predict the run time for the capacitor when the hybrid source is supplying a pulse power load. The battery is modeled as an ideal voltage source in series with an equivalent series resistance, and the capacitor is represented by an ideal capacitor in series with an equivalent series resistance. The procedure is verified experimentally using a bank of 10 F Panasonic Gold capacitors and a power supply to emulate a battery. This hybrid source is supplying a constant output power of 50 W through a commercial DC-DC converter. Calculated run times are within 10% of the run times measured in the experimental setup.