cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Interactive Pedagogy in Mobile Context for Augmenting Early Childhood Numeric Literacy and Quantifying Skills

Mobile learning techniques have brought the potential of scaffolding information in real-world context that allows learners to interact more actively with their learning content. In this study, we ...
A student-centered seminar course as a complementary approach to a traditional journal club.

Graduate physiology programs strive to provide students with in-depth expertise in a particular academic discipline, often facilitating this process in the form of a departmental seminar course. Within the Department of Physiology and Biophysics at the University of California Irvine (UCI), students are required to attend a seminar course, most often designed as a journal club, each quarter until they are ready to graduate. While this format may work well in departments where research topics are closely related, it has historically been less successful in UCI's Department of Physiology and Biophysics, where wide-ranging interests make for little overlap in foundational knowledge, limiting meaningful engagement with the material or with peers in the class. In this paper, we describe a complementary approach of developing a syllabus around student interests and covering topics that are critical for student success but often omitted from graduate curricula, such as interview skills, grant writing, and scientific communication. Results from our pre-class survey motivated this approach to the class, and our retrospective survey demonstrated the substantial differences in student engagement, enthusiasm, and perceived benefits of this course relative to the journal club style course. We hope that the success of our course may serve as an exemplar for strategies to engage students more effectively and provide critical training in diverse skillsets that will help students after graduation.
The Optical Rotatory Dispersion of Human γM-Immunoglobulins and Their Subunits

Abstract The optical rotatory dispersion of purified γM-macroglobulins from patients with Waldenstroms' macroglobulinemia shows a minimum at 232 mµ, a poorly resolved shoulder at 235 mµ, and a maximum at 206 mµ. The Cotton effect at 240 mµ characteristic of γG-globulin could not be detected in intact γM-globulin. Mild reduction of γM to give the subunit (γMs) does not result in any change in conformation as judged by rotatory dispersion. The optical rotatory dispersion of F(ab')2µ and Fabµ fragments produced by tryptic hydrolysis of γM-globulin shows a single minimum at 225 mµ and a Cotton effect near 240 mµ. The levorotation above 240 mµ is low and changes little with wave length. Further studies with the Fabµ and Fcµ fragments produced during papain digestion of γM-globulin indicate that the large rotation of Fcµ fragment (with a minimum at 232 mµ) masks the 240 mµ Cotton effect of Fabµ when the two are present together. Both calculated and experimental curves of mixtures of Fabµ and Fcµ show that this Cotton effect would be experimentally undetectable in intact γM-globulin. The results indicate that there are significant differences in conformation between γM- and γG-globulins. These differences are present in both the Fabµ and Fcµ regions of the molecule.
Phenotypic diversity of intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma on aspiration cytology and core needle biopsy: case series and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND Cholangiocarcinoma (CC) represents approximately 10% of primary liver malignancies and can mimic metastatic adenocarcinoma. METHODS The authors retrospectively reviewed the cytopathology files at the University of Texas Medical Brach to identify patients who were diagnosed with intrahepatic or extrahepatic CC by aspiration cytology between 1995 and 2004. Brush cytology specimens of extrahepatic CC were excluded. All diagnoses were confirmed as CC by clinical, imaging, and histopathologic findings and by chart review. RESULTS Cytopathology files from 13 patients with CC diagnosed by FNA were retrieved. The male:female ratio was 5:8, and the patients ranged in age from 29 years to 74 years (mean age, 59 years). In 12 of 13 patients, aspirates were obtained by ultrasound guidance; and, in 1 patient, computed tomography guidance was used. Three patients had aspirates only, 10 patients also had core biopsies, and 1 patient had cell block preparations. The phenotypic distribution of CC according to the World Health Organization (WHO) histologic classification was 9 adenocarcinoma (intrahepatic), not otherwise specified (NOS) (69%); 2 gastric foveolar type (extrahepatic) CCs (15%); 1 intestinal type (extrahepatic) CC (8%); and 1 sarcomatous/spindle cell type (intrahepatic) CC (8%). One adenocarcinoma, NOS was well differentiated CC with bland tubular architecture, and one was pleomorphic. Ancillary histochemical and immunochemical stains were performed on 5 of 13 specimens, which included 4 core biopsies and 1 aspirate with Mucicarmine positivity (3 specimens), carcinoembryonic antigen positivity (3 specimens), and a cytokeratin 7 (CK7)-positive/CK20-negative pattern (2 specimens). The 1 sarcomatous/spindle cell type CC was chromogranin-negative and low molecular weight keratin (cell adhesion molecule 5.2)-positive, which excluded metastatic carcinoid. CONCLUSIONS Classification of intrahepatic and extrahepatic CC in aspiration cytology specimens was achieved in a reliable manner concordant with the WHO histologic classification. Special types of CC with bland nuclear features posed a diagnostic challenge on cytologic evaluation, particularly the well differentiated CC with tubular architecture and the gastric foveolar type CC with mucin-producing tumor cells. The addition of core biopsy and/or ancillary studies, such as histochemical and immunochemical stains, were helpful in reaching the correct diagnosis. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Do Financial Analysts Value Corporate Hedging Strategies?: A Case of Precious Metal Mining Firms

The recent bull market of gold and other precious metal industry point to obvious questions: Are corporations' hedging strategies still valuable for their shareholders and how is this information reflected in the financial analysts' forecast? The impact of using derivatives on a firm's equity return is an ongoing issue in both corporate and asset management. Although theoretical literature describes why firms should or should not hedge, we do not know much about the empirical validity of these predictions. This paper provides descriptive evidence on the risk management activities of two gold mining firms and investigates whether a firm's use of derivatives materially reduces the overall expected equity-return risk as well as the forecasted earnings risk. Results of this study confirm that derivatives can be used to reduce a firm's risk exposure. Specifically, the empirical results show a firm that employs intensive hedging activities through derivatives tends to experience both statistically and economically significant risk reductions on its future cash-flows as well as equity returns. In addition, the results indicate that financial analysts incorporate the information of a firm's hedging strategy and that it is reflected in their earnings forecasts.
The incommensurate modulation in the Bi2Sr2−xCaxCuO6 superconductor, and its relation to the modulation in Bi2Sr2−xCaxCu2O8

Abstract The modulation of the (221) superconducting Bi2Sr2−xCaxCuO6 phase has been analyzed by X-ray diffraction, using four-dimensional symmetry theory. The pseudo-orthorhombic diffraction pattern is a superposition of two twin related components, such that the main reflections with hkl and hk l m superimpose, but the satellite hklm and hk l m do not. The latter feature allows separation of the twin intensities. The modulation analysis in superspace group P:Aa:1 shows displacements similar to those observed in the 2212 compound [Y. Gao et al., Science 241 (1988) 954] but with generally larger displacements. In particular, the c-axis displacement amplitude of the Cu atoms is increased to almost 0.5 A. This and the obliqueness of the q vector ( q=0.214a ∗ +0.61c ∗ ) indicate the absence of a restraining influence exerted by the CuO2/Sr(Ca)/CuO2 double layers in the multi-Cu layer phases.
Mechanisms underlying vascular access dysfunction

Vascular access dysfunction remains the Achilles heel of dialysis (D), representing a challenging clinical problem. The primary patency rates are suboptimal and restenosis following angioplasty occurs frequently, leading to high morbidity and mortality rates in patients receiving hemodialysis (HD). Although the mechanisms of vascular injury to other organs have been well established, vascular injury leading to vascular access dysfunction in patients on hemodialysis has not. The uremic environment and the injury associated with hemodialysis contribute to the pathogenesis of vascular access dysfunction. This review summarizes recent literature on the mechanisms of injury leading to vascular access dysfunction.
Implications of Methadone Maintenance for Theories of Narcotic Addiction

Clinical success in rehabilitation of heroin addicts with maintenance treatment requires stability of the blood level in a pharmacologically effective range (optimally, 150 to 600 ng/mL)—a phenomenon that emphasizes the central importance of narcotic receptor occupation. It is postulated that the high rate of relapse of addicts after detoxification from heroin use is due to persistent derangement of the endogenous ligand-narcotic receptor system and that methadone in an adequate daily dose compensates for this defect. Some patients with long histories of heroin use and subsequent rehabilitation on a maintenance program do well when the treatment is terminated. The majority, unfortunately, experience a return of symptoms after maintenance is stopped. The treatment, therefore, is corrective but not curative for severely addicted persons. A major challenge for future research is to identify the specific defect in receptor function and to repair it. Meanwhile, methadone maintenance provides a safe and effective way to normalize the function of otherwise intractable narcotic addicts. ( JAMA 1988;260:3025-3029)
Short-sale constraints and short-selling strategies: the case of SEC’s revocation of the uptick rule in 2007

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) revoked the uptick rule in July 2007. The revocation of the uptick rule provides us with a unique setting to investigate the impact of short-sale constraints on various short-selling strategies in a controlled environment. It shows that contrarian short selling and voluntary-liquidity short selling are more profound in uptick-rule-restricted stocks than in unrestricted stock. Market trend chasing short selling is less profound in restricted stocks than in unrestricted stocks. No evidence shows that the uptick rule has material impact on risk-bearing short-selling strategies.
Patient-Ventilator Interactions in Newer Modes of Patient Triggered Ventilation 1591

We examined the effects of Pressure Support (PS) and Volume Guarantee (VG) modes of a prototype Drager Babylog ventilator on peak and mean airway pressures (PIP & Paw), inspiratory time (Tin) and tidal volume (TV) in 12 ventilated newborn infants (mean birth weight 1720±1280 g, gest. age 30.5±5.8 wk, age at time of study 25.8±31.5 days). In PS each breath is supported as in Assist/Control (A/C) and is terminated when inspiratory flow declines to 15% of baseline. In VG the device regulates PIP to achieve a preset TV. Data for 200-600 breaths were downloded directly from the ventilator pressure and volume monitoring module using proprietary software (Lufu 3, Drager, Lubeck) and analyzed using ABstat statistical software. Mean values and breath to breath variability (mean SD) were compared for 20 minute periods of A/C or synchronized intermittent mandatory ventilation (SIMV) followed by PS, PS with VG and back to baseline: A/C-PS-PS+VG-AC (n=6) or SIMV-PS-PS+VG-SIMV (n=6) using ANOVA for repeated measures. PS and PS+VG led to shorter Tin (reflecting breath termination) and thus to lower Paw, compared to A/C. Mean PIP was similar in PS+VG compared to the other modes but more variable, reflecting the servocontrol of PIP. TV did not differ between modes and tended to be less variable in PS+VG. PS and PS+VG led to higher and less variable PIP and Paw, compared to SIMV because each breath is supported. TV was similar in SIMV, PS and PS+VG but less variable with PS and PS+VG, again reflecting support of all breaths in PS as opposed to SIMV. The ventilator prototype functioned as intended, though breath to breath tidal volume variability was not completely eliminated. Data expressed as mean± SD. + p<0.01; * p<0.05 Table
Endoscopic‐Assisted Intracranial Tumor Removal in Dogs and Cats: Long‐Term Outcome of 39 Cases

Background: The benefits of endoscopic assistance to remove intracranial tumors in small animals are not described. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of endoscopic-assisted intracranial tumor removal in dogs and cats. Animals: Thirty-three dogs and 6 cats with intracranial tumors. Methods: Retrospective study. CBC, serum chemistry profile, coagulation testing, blood typing, and systemic tumor staging, which included 3-view thoracic radiographs and abdominal ultrasound examination, were performed to detect other significant underlying disease in preparation of the animal for surgery. Magnetic resonance imaging was used in 37/39 cases to image the brain tumor. Surgical approach was dictated by the location of the tumor. Histopathologic examination of the tumor tissue was performed in all cases. Animals were followed throughout their postoperative course for complications and survival times. Statistical analysis (Kaplan-Meier curves) was performed to obtain median survival times in dogs with meningiomas. Results: Use of an endoscope resulted in visualization of residual tumor and potentially more complete removal of the brain tumors. There were no clinically important complications associated with the use of the endoscope. Median survival time was 2,104 days for dogs with forebrain meningiomas surgically removed with endoscopic assistance and 702 days for dogs with caudal brain meningiomas. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: These results demonstrate that the use of an endoscope to assist in brain tumor removal is apparently safe and might result in improved survival times.
Conceptual Framework for the Study of Parental End-of-Life Decision Making in Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To describe a conceptual framework that will facilitate research and practice concerning parental end-of-life decision making in pediatric blood and marrow transplantation (BMT). DATA SOURCES A review of relevant literature from Ovid, CINAHL, EBSCO, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and various sociology and theology databases was combined with experiential knowledge. DATA SYNTHESIS The method of concept and theory synthesis and derivation as described by Walker and Avant was used in the development of this framework. CONCLUSIONS Use of the proposed conceptual framework is expected to provide the organization necessary for thinking, observation, and interpretation of parental end-of-life decision making in pediatric BMT. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING The ability to describe the process of parental end-of-life decision making in pediatric BMT will help nurses to provide appropriate counseling, education, and support for these children and their families at the end of life. In addition, the process will help nurses to promote the well-being of the children's families after end of life.
Heuristic, systematic, and informational regularization for process monitoring

Most data-based predictive modeling techniques have an inherent weakness in that they might give unstable or inconsistent results when the predictor data is highly correlated. Predictive modeling problems of this design are usually under-constrained and are termed ill-posed. This article presents several examples of ill-posed surveillance and diagnostic problems and regularization methods necessary for getting accurate and consistent prediction results. The examples include plant-wide sensor calibration monitoring and the inferential sensing of nuclear power plant feedwater flow using the following techniques: neural networks, nonlinear partial least squares techniques, linear regularization techniques implementing ridge regression, and informational complexity measures. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Small molecule functional analogs of peptides that inhibit λ site-specific recombination and bind Holliday junctions

Our lab has isolated hexameric peptides that are structure-selective ligands of Holliday junctions (HJ), central intermediates of several DNA recombination reactions. One of the most potent of these inhibitors, WRWYCR, has shown antibacterial activity in part due to its inhibition of DNA repair proteins. To increase the therapeutic potential of these inhibitors, we searched for small molecule inhibitors with similar activities. We screened 11 small molecule libraries comprising over nine million individual compounds and identified a potent N-methyl aminocyclic thiourea inhibitor that also traps HJs formed during site-specific recombination reactions in vitro. This inhibitor binds specifically to protein-free HJs and can inhibit HJ resolution by RecG helicase, but only showed modest growth inhibition of bacterial with a hyperpermeable outer membrane; nonetheless, this is an important step in developing a functional analog of the peptide inhibitors.
Stability Index Method for Global Minimization

The Stability Index Method (SIM) combines stochastic and deterministic algorithms to find global minima of multidimensional functions. The functions may be nonsmooth and may have multiple local minima. The method examines the change of the diameters of the minimizing sets for its stopping criterion. At first, the algorithm uses the uniform random distribution in the admissible set. Then normal random distributions of decreasing variation are used to focus on probable global minimizers. To test the method, it is applied to seven standard test functions of several variables. The computational results show that the SIM is efficient, reliable and robust.
Imaging of linear source distributions

An approach based on Prony's method is used to find the spatial poles of straight wires of varying length and radius from the far-field patterns. For the antenna case, poles having the largest residues are found near the feed region and antenna ends; smaller ones are found outside these regions. The poles are attributed to radiation from the exciting source and wire ends, due to charge acceleration, and from a slightly damped traveling wave. In the scattering case, the poles with the largest residues are located at the wire's ends for near-axial incidence and are again due to end radiation. By examination of the residue magnitudes as a function of wire radius, a correlation is found with radiation from the feed region of an infinite antenna and from the ends of a semi-infinite antenna. 19 figures.
Chaotic attractors near forbidden symmetry

Abstract We explore chaotic attractors with symmetries that are close to forbidden symmetries. In particular, attractors with planar crystallographic symmetry that contain an imperfect, but apparent, rotation that does not preserve the lattice of translations are constructed. This gives us a visual representation of patterns which have low symmetry type, but which contain additional, provocative structure. Like Penrose tilings and diffraction patterns of quasicrystals, our constructions include local rotations that are forbidden from being global by classical crystallographic theory.
Theoretical considerations of the multivariate von Mises-Fisher distribution

We develop theorems that are analogous to the famous theorems of Lindley & Smith (1972) for the case that the data are from the p-variate von Mises-Fisher distribution. Results similar to those of Lindley & Smith are obtained for the two-stage case. There is, however, a departure from normal theory in the three-stage case, since closed form solutions do not exist when sampling Sfom the von Mises-Fisher distribution. The difference is discussed and elaborated.
Skin Conductance Orienting Response in Unmedicated RDC Schizophrenic, Schizoaffective, Depressed, and Control Subjects

In an evaluation of the skin conductance orienting response (SCOR) as a marker for schizophrenia, skin conductance (SC) activity was studied in 36 Research Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) schizophrenic (SCZ), 17 schizoaffective--mainly schizophrenic (SA), 24 depressed (DEP), and 25 psychiatrically well control (CONT) subjects. All subjects were unmedicated. Data are presented from four paradigms: a series of 1 s 70 dB tones in a no-task habituation paradigm; a similar series of 103 dB tones; a series of tones with a button-press (reaction time) task; and a loud white noise stimulus (without task). The proportion of SCOR nonresponse to the first 70 dB tone was 39% for SCZ, 82% for SA, 46% for DEP, and 36% for CONT subjects; the response rate for SA subjects was significantly lower than for all other groups. The CONT group was less responsive than in most previous studies. SCZ subjects did not show increased responsivity to more intense and to task-relevant stimuli, although SA subjects did show such increases. DEP subjects showed some evidence of autonomic hyperarousal (higher tonic SC level, trend toward more spontaneous SC responses). The overall pattern of results does not support SCOR to neutral, moderate-intensity tones as a specific marker for schizophrenia, although there was some evidence for a generalized decrease in autonomic responsivity to stimuli.
Growth and Characterization of Single-Crystal Y2O3:Eu Nanobelts Prepared with a Simple Technique

In this paper, we report on the synthesis of single-crystalline Y2O3:Eu nanobelts via a simple, rapid, and efficient one-step technique without using any templates or catalysts. The prepared products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission microscopy (HRTEM), and selected area electron diffraction (SAED). The effects of pH, reaction temperature, and process time on the phase structure and morphology of the product are studied. The possible growth mechanism of Y2O3 nanobelts is discussed on the basis of the crystal structure of the materials. Photoluminescence results indicate that the Y2O3:Eu nanobelts have a strong red 5D0→7F2 transition.
Abstract 1663: A tyrosine kinase inhibitor enhances topotecan penetration of orthotopic glioma xenografts

Gefitinib, an epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, modulates the ABC transporters P-glycoprotein (Pgp) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), and increases brain parenchymal extracellular fluid (ECF) accumulation of topotecan, a substrate of Pgp and BCRP. The effect of modulating these transporters on topotecan penetration in brain tumors has not been thoroughly studied. Thus, we performed intracerebral microdialysis on mice bearing intracranial human gliomas (U87 and MT330 models) to assess topotecan tumor ECF (tECF) penetration, and the effect of gefitinib on topotecan tECF penetration and intratumor topotecan distribution. Following topotecan (4 mg/kg) intravenous injections, drug penetration (P tumor , calculated as the tECF/plasma ratio of topotecan exposures) of U87 was 0.96 ± 0.25, n=7, compared with that of contralateral brain (P contralateral , 0.42 ± 0.11, n=5; P=0.001). In MT330 tumors, P tumor (0.78 ± 0.26, n=6) and P contralateral (0.42 ± 0.11, n=5) also differed significantly (P=0.013). The increased intratumor drug penetration in these models may be explained by compromised blood brain barrier integrity, as confirmed by contrast-enhancement magnetic resonance imaging. Because both tumor models showed profuse expression of BCRP (as assessed by western blot and immunohistochemistry), we tested the effect of oral gefitinib (200 mg/kg) on topotecan efflux by tumor cells. We used the U87 model and a steady-state drug administration approach (based on continuous release subcutaneous pumps) to characterize, by microdialysis, the effect of gefitinib on topotecan P tumor . At equivalent plasma topotecan exposures (30 ng/mL), P tumor (calculated as the tECF/plasma ratio of topotecan steady-sate concentrations) decreased significantly with gefitinib administration (from 0.72 ± 0.35, n=7, in absence of gefitinib, to 0.21 ± 0.03, n=3, with gefitinib; P=0.017). To evaluate whether the decrease in tECF drug levels and P tumor values was due to increased intracellular penetration, we used a separate cohort of animals to determine topotecan levels in whole tumor homogenates and calculated the volume of distribution of unbound topotecan in tumor, V u,tumor (ml/g tumor). V u,tumor was significantly higher in groups receiving gefitinib (6.01 ± 2.61 mL/g, n=6; versus 1.96 ± 0.92 mL/g without gefitinib, n=8; P=0.016), which implies that gefitinib administration leads to a greater proportion of intracellular topotecan in the brain tumor. To support these results, we performed additional studies in vitro and showed significantly increased topotecan accumulation in cells co-cultured with gefitinib (P Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1663.
Complementary and alternative medicine and HIV/AIDS part II: Selected literature review

People with HIV/AIDS are using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to improve general health, prevent opportunistic infections, treat symptoms, and reduce side effects from biomedical treatments. This paper reviews the research and narrative literature on CAM use in people with HIV/AIDS and covers (1) nutrition; (2) exercise; (3) traditional and ethno-medicine; (4) miscellaneous products; and (5) psychosocial interventions.
Cross‐Sectional Area Measurement of Cervical Spinal Muscles

Introduction In people with neck pain, ultrasonography (US) can measure atrophy and response to physiotherapy in peri-vertebral muscles of the cervical spine, i.e. m. multifidus and m. longus colli. This study compared the reproducibility of muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) measurements made by US and MRI (the gold standard) at different levels in the equine cervical spine. Methods From US and MRI images of three mature pony cadavers, CSA was calculated at vertebral levels C3-C6 (m. multifidus) and C2-C5 (m. longus colli). ANOVA analysis compared US and MRI image acquisition reliability (n = 360) and CSA (n = 1080) among subjects and vertebral levels. Results For image acquisition of m. multifidus (C3-C5), the ICC (95% CI) for MRI and US was 99% and 61%, respectively. Image acquisition was unreliable at C6. CSA calculation did not differ between MRI and US. For m. longus colli (C3-C5), the ICC for image acquisition was 100% and 88% for MRI and US, respectively. Image acquisition was unreliable at C2. The ICC for CSA calculation was 98% for MRI and 100% for US. For both muscles, the mean CSA was largest at C4 and C5. Conclusions Based on these results, ultrasonography could be used in the live horse for reliable CSA measurement of m. multifidus and m. longus colli in the mid-cervical spine. This technique may advance knowledge of causes and effects of neck pain in horses. Ethical Animal Research Approval for this study was obtained under Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee number 02-11/020-00. The study was performed on material collected during post-mortem examination. Explicit owner informed consent for participation in this study is not stated. Sources of funding: Michigan State University CVM Endowed Research Funds. Competing interests: none.
Immediate Effects of Various Physical Medicine Modalities on Pain Threshold of an Active Myofascial Trigger Point

Objectives: To study the immediate effectiveness of treatment on an active myofascial trigger point with physical medicine modalities, including spray and stretch, hydrocollator superficial heat, ultrasound deep heat, and deep pressure soft tissue massage. Methods: Eighty-four patients with myofascial pain syndrome and 24 normal subjects were studied. Pain threshold of the active pressure algometer [Pressure Threshold Meter] before and after the treatment with each one of the above mentioned modalities and placebo "sham ultrasound." The Index of Threshold Change [ITC] is defined as the ratio of post-treatment pain threshold to pre-treatment pain threshold. Results: In the control study, the normal subjects without any treatment had an average ITC value of 1.02 ± 0.06 based upon 48 measurements; the patients without any treatment had an average ITC value of 1.02 ± 0.07 [n = 21], and the patients treated with placebo had an average ITC value of 1.09 ± 0.18 [n = 16]. The average ITC values were 1.53 ± 0.32 [...
Structure of the Interleukin-2 Tyrosine Kinase Src Homology 2 Domain; Comparison Between X-ray and NMR-Derived Structures

The crystal structure of the interleukin-2 tyrosine kinase Src homology domain (Itk SH2) is described and it is found that unlike in studies of this domain using NMR spectroscopy, cis-trans-prolyl isomerization is not readily detected in the crystal structure. Based on similarities between the Itk SH2 crystal form and the cis form of the Itk SH2 NMR structure, it is concluded that it is likely that the prolyl imide bond at least in part adopts the cis conformation in the crystal form. However, the lack of high-resolution data and the dynamic nature of the proline-containing loop mean that the precise imide-bond conformation cannot be determined and prolyl cis-trans isomerization in the crystal cannot be ruled out. Given the preponderance of structures that have been solved by X-ray crystallography in the Protein Data Bank, this result supports the notion that prolyl isomerization in folded proteins has been underestimated among known structures. Interestingly, while the precise status of the proline residue is ambiguous, Itk SH2 crystallizes as a domain-swapped dimer. The domain-swapped structure of Itk SH2 is similar to the domain-swapped SH2 domains of Grb2 and Nck, with domain swapping occurring at the β-meander region of all three SH2 domains. Thus, for Itk SH2 structural analysis by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography revealed very different structural features: proline isomerization versus domain-swapped dimerization, respectively.
Hydrodynamics and sedimentation in a back-barrier lagoon-salt marsh system, Great Sound, New Jersey - A summary

Southern New Jersey is a barrier island coast, characterized by a tide-dominated hydrographic regime. Great Sound, a shallow, open lagoon which is fed by tidal channels within the back-barrier salt marsh complex, is a sediment sink, apparently for detritus imported from the inner continental shelf through two tidal inlets. Study of the system tidal hydrodynamics and sediment accumulation patterns provides the basis for a numerical sedimentation model. This model predicts rapid accumulation of coarse-grained (> 20 μm) sediment near the Intracoastal Waterway which cuts through Great Sound, and dominance of storm-related sedimentation events. Observations generally confirm the model predictions. Sands are deposited rapidly on flood tidal deltas associated with the two major channels, Great Channel and Ingram Thorofare, and along the Intracoastal Waterway. Finer detritus is transported predominantly as organic-mineral aggregates, and accumulates slowly (< 2.7 mm/yr) in the southwestern and eastern parts of the sound. Resuspension of bottom sediments is common in the shallow (0.6 m) sound due to wave action and flood tidal currents on the deltas (U0.4 d max ≲ 42 cm/s). Low tidal flow velocities (U0.4 d max < 18 cm/s) over much of Great Sound and the presence of macroalgae in some locations, however, promote net accumulation. Although sediment deposition and accumulation data are variable, the range of accumulation rates suggests that recent accretion in Great Sound is approximately equivalent to the local sea-level rise of 4 mm/yr.
Taking Discovery Systems for a Test Drive.

Researchers at American University investigated user preferences for discovery layer features, interface design, and content. They tested local implementations of WorldCat Local and Aquabrowser by conducting a group test with eighteen students and individual tests with ten students. Students searched a given question and a topic of their choosing and talked about their experiences. The group usability session yielded preliminary findings and informed the individual tests. Using the constant comparative method, the researchers coded qualitative data collected during the individual tests and grouped participant preferences into three primary categories: functionality, interface display, and content. Findings revealed that underclassmen tended to prefer WorldCat Local, while upperclassmen and graduates tended to prefer Aquabrowser. Participants most preferred the following features: links to full-text articles using a link resolver, results incorporating both articles and books, and facets like date, format,...
On the effect on stress concentration of rounding the edges of a hole through a plate

Abstract Two three-dimensional (axisymmetric) elastic stress fields are considered: one for a circular hole passing through a plate perpendicular to its faces and under uniform tension in the plane of the plate remote from the hole—the sharp edge problem; the other for a plate with the same size hole at its midplane and under the same type of loading but having a hole surface which smoothly blends into the plate faces—the round edge problem. The first problem has a classical solution, the second admits to analysis in oblate spheroidal coordinates. Together the closed form solutions provide a means of quantifying the effects of rounding or blending the exit edges of a hole through a plate and show increases in a stress concentration factor of 50% are possible as a result of rounding.
Generalized simulated annealing for calibration sample selection from an existing set and orthogonalization of undesigned experiments

Generalized simulated annealing (GSA) is an optimization procedure for locating the global optimum (maximum or minimum) of multidimenisonal continuous functions. GSA has been modified for optimization of discrete functions. Selection of calibration samples from an existing set defines discrete optimization and GSA is used to select optimal sets of calibration samples for specific analysis samples. The procedure is applied to near-infrared spectra. When compared to using the complete set of 37 calibration samples, concentration prediction errors were reduced 50%–100% by using select sets of two to seven calibration samples. Additionally, GSA was able to improve a poorly designed experiment. GSA devised augmented experimental designs such that the overall experimental design (original plus augmented) was more orthogonal than the original.
An analysis of physicians' reasons for prescribing long-term digitalis therapy in outpatients☆

We examined by medical-record review why long-term digitalis therapy was prescribed in 150 outpatients, the reasons were: supraventricular tachyarrhythmias (35): supraventricular tachyarrhythmias and heart failure (33); and heart failure with sinus rhythm (82). In the patients without supraventricular tachyarrhythmias we scrutinized the diagnosis of heart failure using a clinicoradiographic scoring system and found the diagnosis unlikely in 32 patients. When these 32 patients are combined with the 31 patients who had only one occurrence of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias or heart failure, 42% of the patients were on long-term digitalis therapy for a questionable reason. We conclude that a substantial fraction of general medical outpatients might benefit from digitalis withdrawal, if evidence for heart failure is lacking or if the reason prompting digitalis therapy is isolated to the distant past.
Ultra-high vacuum scanning tunnelling microscopy investigation of free radical adsorption to the Si(111)-7 × 7 surface

Room-temperature ultra-high vacuum (UHV) scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) has been employed to investigate free radical chemistry on the Si(111)-7 × 7 surface with atomic-scale spatial resolution. In particular, due to its single-site binding mechanism and extensive previous study on the Si(100)-2 × 1 surface, the nitroxyl free radical 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO) was explored. UHV STM imaging of isolated molecules revealed that TEMPO covalently reacts with adatom dangling bonds with high affinity. By monitoring TEMPO adsorption as a function of surface coverage, TEMPO was also found to preferentially bind to centre adatom sites at the initial stages of adsorption. On the other hand, as the surface coverage increased, TEMPO molecules adsorbed to centre adatoms and corner adatoms approached a ratio of 1:1. At all surface coverage levels, TEMPO showed minimal preference for binding to either the faulted or unfaulted half of the unit cell. Consequently, upon saturation, the TEMPO adlayer exhibited long-range ordering and preserved the underlying 7 × 7 surface reconstruction. This study provides fundamental insight into free radical surface chemistry and suggests a direct pathway for forming nearly perfectly ordered organic adlayers on the Si(111)-7 × 7 surface.
Relationship between one-electron green's function and quantum chemical theories☆

Abstract A one-electron Green's function theory is presented which is a close analog to sum-of-the-pairs type quantum chemical theories. The approximate self-energy in this theory is expressed in terms of one-and two-electron energy-dependent functions describing the dynamical response of the correlated ground state to the removal and addition of an electron, respectively. These functions are explicitly related to parts of approximate wavefunctions for the ( N ± 1)-electron systems. The ground state energy, one-electron density matrix, ionization potentials, electron affinities and optical potentials for elastic electron-atom (molecule) scattering that can be obtained from this theory are discussed.
Computational modeling of intravitreal drug delivery in the vitreous chamber with different vitreous substitutes

Intravitreal injection of drug is commonly used to treat vitreoretinal diseases. In order to assess the effectiveness of the injected drug, it is critical to know the drug distribution within the eye following the injection. This is particularly important when the vitreous medium has been replaced by fluid substitutes. The main objective of this paper is to characterize the spatio-temporal evolution of drug distribution following intravitreal injection into a vitreous substitute such as silicone oil. In addition, water is considered as an intravitreal fluid to represent the liquefaction of vitreous that occurs with aging. Both direct injection of drugs and injection of time-released drugs are studied. The results show that the concentration distribution depends on the properties of the vitreous substitute, the diffusion coefficient of the drug and the permeability of the retinal surface. For drugs with high diffusion coefficients, convection plays a small role in the drug transport. For drugs with low diffusion coefficients and in low viscosity vitreous fluids, convection is seen to play a more important role and can lead to high drug concentrations on the retina which can be potentially toxic. Time-released drug injection is shown to avoid conditions of retinal toxicity, and to provide lower drug concentrations with sustained residence times along the retinal surface. For drugs with high diffusivity and retinal permeability, uniform distribution of the drug is obtained along the surface of the retina, while for drugs with low diffusion coefficient and retinal permeability the concentration of drug is localized along the posterior surface of the retina.
Amino acids, monoamines and audiogenic seizures in genetically epilepsy-prone rats: effects of aspartame

Abstract It has been suggested that aspartame facilitates seizures in man and animals because phenylalanine, one of its major metabolites, interferes with brain transport of neurotransmitter precursors and alters the synthesis of monoamine neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, dopamine and/or serotonin. This facilitation is purportedly more likely in subjects predisposed to seizures. One test of this hypothesis would be to administer a wide range of aspartame doses to subjects whose seizure predisposition is dependent on abnormalities in monoaminergic function. Genetically epilepsy-prone rats (GEPRs) have a broadly based seizure predisposition that is based, in part, on widespread central nervous system noradrenergic and serotonergic deficits. Further reductions in the functional state of these neurotransmitters increases seizure severity in GEPRs. Thus, GEPRs appear ideally suited for testing the hypothesis that aspartame facilitates seizures by interfering with central nervous system monoamines. Oral administration of acute (50–2000 mg/kg) or sub-chronic (up to 863 mg/kg/day for 28 days) doses of aspartame did not alter seizure severity in either of two types of GEPRs. Not surprisingly, acute aspartame doses produced dramatic changes in plasma and brain amino acid concentrations. Hypothesized alterations in monoamine neurotransmitter systems were largely absent. Indeed, increases in norepinephrine concentration, rather than the hypothesized decreases, were the most evident alterations in these neurotransmitter systems. We conclude that aspartame does not facilitate seizures in GEPRs and that convincing evidence of seizure facilitation in any species is lacking.
Intussusception of the vermiform appendix: preoperative colonoscopic diagnosis of two cases and review of the literature

Intussusception of the appendix is an uncommon condition, and the diagnosis is rarely made preoperatively. Making an accurate diagnosis before laparotomy is important in providing the optimal treatment for the patient. We present the clinical and endoscopic features of two cases of intussusception of the appendix and review the literature. Diagnosis was made preoperatively by colonoscopy in these cases and an elective appendectomy was performed. Appendiceal intussusception should be considered in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain. Colonoscopy can be a valuable tool in establishing this diagnosis and in selecting the appropriate management.
Bone Marrow Progenitor Cell Therapy-Mediated Paracrine Regulation of Cardiac miRNA-155 Modulates Fibrotic Response in Diabetic Hearts

Diabetes is associated with a higher incidence of myocardial infarction (MI) and increased risk for adverse vascular and fibrogenic events post-MI. Bone marrow-derived progenitor cell (BMPC) therapy has been shown to promote neovascularization, decrease infarct area and attenuate left ventricular (LV) dysfunction after MI. Unlike vascular effects, the anti-fibrosis mechanisms of BMPC, specifically under diabetic conditions, are poorly understood. We demonstrated that intramyocardial delivery of BMPCs in infarcted diabetic db/db mice significantly down-regulates profibrotic miRNA-155 in the myocardium and improves LV remodeling and function. Furthermore, inhibition of paracrine factor hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) signaling in vivo suppressed the BMPC-mediated inhibition of miR-155 expression and the associated protective effect on cardiac fibrosis and function. In vitro studies confirmed that the conditioned media of BMPC inhibited miR-155 expression and profibrotic signaling in mouse cardiac fibroblasts under diabetic conditions. However, neutralizing antibodies directed against HGF blocked these effects. Furthermore, miR-155 over-expression in mouse cardiac fibroblasts inhibited antifibrotic Sloan-Kettering Institute proto-oncogene (Ski) and Ski-related novel gene, non-Alu-containing (SnoN) signaling and abrogated antifibrogenic response of HGF. Together, our data demonstrates that paracrine regulation of cardiac miRNAs by transplanted BMPCs contributes to the antifibrotic effects of BMPC therapy. BMPCs release HGF, which inhibits miR-155-mediated profibrosis signaling, thereby preventing cardiac fibrosis. These data suggest that targeting miR-155 might serve as a potential therapy against cardiac fibrosis in the diabetic heart.
Mathematical Morphology on Gradient Space Surface Tessellation

The approach of using element type representation to describe 3-D surface is encouraged for many applications such as machine vision, 3-D visualization, scene understanding, finite-element engineering analysis, and etc. In this paper, a new method for 3-D surface tessellation from a perspective 2.5-D range map is proposed. Mathematical morphology operations are applied to conduct the surface tessellation on a frame-by-frame basis. The perspective 2.5-D range map which describes the surface altitude in a 3-D orthographic projection model can be either acquired from a range finder or generated from a true 3-D voxel data set. The surface tessellation method is achieved by applying the Delaunary triangulation method to the intrinsic images. The intrinsic information, gradients of point on the surface, can are directly computed from the range map using neighborhood operation. Based on the differential geometry, the directional derivatives along two orthogonal axes in the image are used as the intrinsic images. The lines of curvature along with the principle directions can be detected from these intrinsic images by a sequence of boolean lattice mathematical morphology operations, dilation and image algebra operations. Using the lines of curvature images, a set of seed points can be obtained by intersecting the lines of curvature along the principle directions with maximum and minimum normal curvature. Finally, a set of triangular elements may be resulted by applying the Delaunay triangulation method to those seed points.
Prophylactic bilateral oophorectomy at time of hysterectomy for women at low risk: acog revises practice guidelines for ovarian cancer screening in low-risk women.

On March 9, 2010, Richard J. Ablin phd, who was much involved in the discovery of prostate-specific antigen (psa), made national news with his quote, in an Op-Ed piece published in The New York Times1 and a subsequent March 22, 2010, U.S. National Public Radio interview2, that “It’s no better than a coin toss”—describing the psa test’s ability to predict prostate cancer in men. Ablin pointed out that the psa test was never intended to be used for routine screening for prostate cancer in asymptomatic men at low risk and that treatments subsequent to its use left many men not only impotent and incontinent but also with reduced quality of life and varying degrees of psychological problems—all without medical necessity.
Impact of surface heterogeneity on mercury uptake by carbonaceous sorbents under UHV and atmospheric pressure.

Chemical and morphological heterogeneities of carbon sorbents play important roles in gas-phase adsorption. However, the specific chemical complexes and topological structures of carbon that favor or impede elemental mercury uptake are not well understood and are the subject of this study. Temperature programmed desorption (TPD) with a model carbonaceous material (highly oriented pyrolytic graphite, HOPG) under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions and fixed bed adsorption by activated carbon (BPL) at atmospheric pressure were combined to investigate the effects of chemical and morphological heterogeneities on mercury adsorption by carbonaceous surfaces. TPD results show that mercury adsorption at 100 K onto HOPG surfaces with and without chemical functional groups and topological heterogeneity created by plasma oxidation occurs through physisorption. The removal of chemical functionalities from the HOPG surface enhances mercury physisorption. Plasma-oxidation of HOPG provides additional surface area for merc...