cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Margin status and the risk of local recurrence in patients with early-stage breast cancer treated with breast-conserving therapy

We sought to assess whether a close surgical margin (>0 and <2 mm) after breast-conserving therapy (BCT) confers an increased risk of local recurrence (LR) compared with a widely negative margin (≥2 mm). We studied 906 women with early-stage invasive breast cancer treated with BCT between January 1998 and October 2006; 91 % received adjuvant systemic therapy. Margins were coded as: (1) widely negative (n = 729), (2) close (n = 85), or (3) close (n = 84)/positive (n = 8) but having no additional tissue to remove according to the surgeon. Cumulative incidence of LR and distant failure (DF) were calculated using the Kaplan–Meier method. Gray’s competing-risk regression assessed the effect of margin status on LR and Cox proportional hazards regression assessed the effect on DF, controlling for biologic subtype, age, and number of positive lymph nodes (LNs). Three hundred seventy-seven patients (41.6 %) underwent surgical re-excision, of which 63.5 % had no residual disease. With a median follow-up of 87.5 months, the 5-year cumulative incidence of LR was 2.5 %. The 5-year cumulative incidence of LR by margin status was 2.3 % (95 % CI 1.4–3.8 %) for widely negative, 0 % for close, and 6.4 % (95 % CI 2.7–14.6 %) for no additional tissue, p = 0.3. On multivariate analysis, margin status was not associated with LR; however, triple-negative subtype (AHR 3.7; 95 % CI 1.6–8.8; p = 0.003) and increasing number of positive LNs (AHR 1.6; 95 % CI 1.1–2.3; p = 0.025) were associated. In an era of routine adjuvant systemic therapy, close surgical margins and maximally resected close/positive margins were not associated with an increased risk of LR compared to widely negative margins. Additional studies are needed to confirm this finding.
Signal duration and the Fourier transform

Using the variance measure of duration, it is shown that the duration of a signal is composed of two terms. The first term is the duration of the zero-phase equivalent signal, and the second term is the variance of the phase derivative of the Fourier transformed signal.
Abstract 342: Silencing of IGF1R induces mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition and inhibits the metastatic properties of triple negative breast cancer cells

Next to skin cancer, breast cancer is the second most common cancer diagnosed among American women and affects nearly 1.3 million women worldwide each year. Aggressive, metastatic disease is directly responsible for the majority of breast cancer-related deaths. Breast tumors lacking expression of three receptors, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2, are commonly referred to as triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs) and make up 15-20% of all diagnosed breast cancers cases. Disparities exist in terms of survival following diagnosis of TNBC, and a devastating reality is that this diagnosis is highly correlated with incurable, metastatic disease. Despite tremendous advantages in treatments for hormone-sensitive breast tumors, a significant number of women with TNBC experience disease progression due to the unavailability of targeted therapies. Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF1R) plays a role in breast cancer proliferation, adhesion, invasion, and migration. Overexpression of IGF1R has been noted in 50% of primary breast tumors and in nearly 65% of TNBCs. Consequently, high IGF1R expression in breast cancers correlates well with, high tumor grade, shorter disease-free survival, and poor prognosis. We report the in vitro effects of IGF1R inhibition on the metastatic properties of mesenchymal TNBC cells lines using two methods: (1) shRNA lentiviral system and (2) picropodophyllin (PPP), an IGF1R tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Stably transfected mesenchymal TNBC cells showed down-regulation of IGF1R protein levels, which resulted in mesenchymal-epithelial-transition (MET), as confirmed by up-regulation of epithelial marker, E-cadherin, and down-regulation of mesenchymal marker, vimentin. Importantly, this MET was accompanied by reduced colony formation, cell motility, and invasion. Cell survival assays and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis revealed that PPP also effectively decreased cell viability and induced cell death, respectively, in TNBC cells. Furthermore, PPP dramatically inhibited cell invasion and migration. Our findings indicate that inhibitors of IGF1R exhibit promising anti-cancer activity in TNBC cells of mesenchymal origin by triggering MET, inducing cell death, and reducing invasive and metastatic properties. Given the very poor outcomes for patients with metastatic TNBCs, we believe the use of IGF1R inhibitors warrant further investigation as prospective anti-cancer options for treating a subset of mesenchymal TN breast carcinomas. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 342. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-342
Therapeutic potential of COX-2 inhibitors in arthritis.

Arthritis and related musculoskeletal conditions occur with great frequency in the population world wide, causing significant morbidity and, in some instances, increased mortality. Affecting both the young and the old, 15% of the population in the US was estimated in 1995 to have some form of arthritis with an increase to 18% projected by the year 2020 [1]. The economic impact of arthritis and related disorders in the US alone was estimated to be US $194.4 billion in 1992 and future costs are virtually certain to increase given the chronic nature of these diseases, their expanding prevalence and the considerable expense associated with newer therapies [2]. With no cure presently available, the aim of current treatment is to reduce inflammation, ameliorate symptoms and improve functional capacity. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which suppress the formation of pro-inflammatory prostaglandins by antagonising the action of cyclooxygenase (COX), have been the mainstay of arthritis treatment fo...
Semi-rigid composite construction

Abstract The strength, ductility and stiffness of ordinary steel frames can be significantly improved by composite action. This can be achieved by providing a few continuous reinforcing bars across the column lines and ensuring full composite action through the use of suffcient shear studs. This paper presents experimental data on the behavior of semi-rigid composite connections and describes their use in the design of an unbraced frame. The connections range from very weak to almost rigid, and represent variations of typical connections used in the USA. The data indicate that unbraced frames up to 10 stories can be erected in zones of low to moderate seismicity, and that significant economies in steel can be achieved by using this structural system.
Post-treatment control of HIV infection.

Abstract Antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV is not a cure. However, recent studies suggest that ART, initiated early during primary infection, may induce post-treatment control (PTC) of HIV infection with HIV RNA maintained at <50 copies per mL. We investigate the hypothesis that ART initiated early during primary infection permits PTC by limiting the size of the latent reservoir, which, if small enough at treatment termination, may allow the adaptive immune response to prevent viral rebound (VR) and control infection. We use a mathematical model of within host HIV dynamics to capture interactions among target cells, productively infected cells, latently infected cells, virus, and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Analysis of our model reveals a range in CTL response strengths where a patient may show either VR or PTC, depending on the size of the latent reservoir at treatment termination. Below this range, patients will always rebound, whereas above this range, patients are predicted to behave like elite controllers. Using data on latent reservoir sizes in patients treated during primary infection, we also predict population-level VR times for noncontrollers consistent with observations.
Effects of various enzymes on the ability of hamster egg plasma membranes to fuse with spermatozoa

To investigate which component of the plasma membrane of the hamster egg plays the central role in the sperm–egg fusion, the egg membrane was treated with a variety of proteolytic, carbohydrate-hydrolyzing, lipid-hydrolyzing, and other enzymes. The only enzyme that markedly effected the ability of the egg membrane to fuse with spermatozoa was phospholipase C. The lipid moieties of the egg plasma membrane (and possibly of the sperm membrane) must be of primary importance in sperm–egg fusion at fertilization.
Test reliability and correction for attenuation.

Evidence is cited to show that specificity, or lack of equivalence, in the comparable forms of tests has a tendency to lower the value of reliability coefficients but has no tendency to lower the value of observed trait coefficients. This implies that the greater the lack of equivalence, the higher will be coefficients corrected for attenuation. Errors of measurement are supposed to reduce the magnitude of observed trait coefficients. Since specificity does not lower the correlation between two tests and since the split-half and equivalent-form reliability coefficients treat specificity as error, it follows that these two coefficients cannot legitimately be used in Spearman's correction-for-attenuation formula.
Contact Resistance to a One-Dimensional Quasi-Ballistic Nanotube/Wire

A distributed contact model is presented for a 1-D quasi-ballistic conductor deriving a contact resistance versus contact length as a hyperbolic cotangent relationship in terms of the quantum of resistance, the coupling conductance gc of the contact, and the ballistic mean free path (λb). The model gave excellent fits to recent contact resistance-versus-contact length data for carbon nanotubes giving gc = 2 μS/nm and λb = 380 nm.
The electrical properties of Hg-sensitized ``photox''-oxide layers deposited at 80°C

Abstract This paper deals with the electrical properties of low-pressure CVD SiO 2 deposited at 80°C. The deposition rate is enhanced by UV radiation in the presence of Hg vapor. The photo-enhanced low-pressure chemical-vapor-deposited oxide, known also as “photox,” offers a good quality oxide deposited at temperatures as low as 80°C. The films are deposited in a batch-load “photox” barrel reactor and subsequently annealed at 950°C for 30 min in a conventional hot-wall furnace. Cold-sputtered aluminum-gate guard-ring capacitors are fabricated on the oxide films. High-frequency and quasi-static capacitance measurements indicate the interfacial properties of “photox” are comparable to those of thermal oxide. Fast interface states density are less than 2 × 10 10 cm −2 eV −1 and a light negative interfacial charge could just be detected. The dielectric breakdown field is typically 4–5 MV/cm. Deep-depletion transient-capacitance measurements were performed at temperatures between 20 and 100°C to investigate the possible impact of “photox” processing on the generation lifetime. The Hg in particular might be suspected as a heavy-metal contaminant. Typical recovery times observed at 20°C were in the range of 10–15 min. The generation lifetime derived from such measurements ranges from 140 to 200 μs which is comparable to values for control samples made with standard thermal oxide. The magnitude and temperature dependence of the generation lifetime suggest that the same G-R centers are present in both “photox” and thermal oxide devices. The only apparent electrical effect of the Hg vapors used in the deposition process is a small negative fixed interface charge, 2 × 10 10 cm −2 .
Anaerobic co-digestion of fat, oil, and grease (FOG): a review of gas production and process limitations.

Abstract The addition of readily available high strength organic wastes such as fats, oils, and grease (FOG) from restaurant grease abatement devices may substantially increase biogas production from anaerobic digesters at wastewater treatment facilities. This FOG addition may provide greater economic incentives for the use of excess biogas to generate electricity, thermal, or mechanical energy. Co-digestion of FOG with municipal biosolids at a rate of 10–30% FOG by volume of total digester feed caused a 30–80% increase in digester gas production in two full scale wastewater biosolids anaerobic digesters ( Bailey, 2007 , Muller et al., 2010 ). Laboratory and pilot scale anaerobic digesters have shown even larger increases in gas production. However, anaerobic digestion of high lipid wastes has been reported to cause inhibition of acetoclastic and methanogenic bacteria, substrate, and product transport limitation, sludge flotation, digester foaming, blockages of pipes and pumps, and clogging of gas collection and handling systems. This paper reviews the scientific literature on biogas production, inhibition, and optimal reactor configurations, and will highlight future research needed to improve the gas production and overall efficiency of anaerobic co-digestion of FOG with biosolids from municipal wastewater treatment.
Detection of Outliers in Multivariate Data when the Errors are Autocorrelated

SYNOPTIC ABSTRACTProcedures for detection of outliers in multivariate data with autocorrelated errors are given for mean-slippage and dispersion-slippage outlier model. The distribution of the test statistics are discussed and the values of significant probabilities are given using Bonferroni's bounds. An example with real data is presented.
Influence of microalloying on glass formation and crystallization

The influence of extremely small amounts of early transition metals on glass formation has recently been demonstrated in Al-Y-Fe alloys. Although rapidly quenched samples of Al 88 Y 7 Fe 5 have X-ray diffraction patterns that are typical of amorphous metallic alloys, the isothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) data do not show the expected nucleation and growth peak associated with the formation of nano-sized grains of α-Al. Samples prepared with Ti (Al 88-x Y 7 Fe 5 Ti x with x=0.5, 1, 2) transform at higher temperatures and show the DSC isothermal peak expected for glass crystallization. It is often claimed that the absence of an isothermal DSC peak indicates that the samples are not glasses, but are actually fully transformed nanocrystal composites, with the monotonic DSC trace indicating a coarsening of the nanocrystals. However, calculations presented here show that it could also be explained by diffusion-controlled nucleation and growth, with a high nucleation rate due to a change in the local structure of the glass.
Debonding Failure of Sandwich-Composite Cryogenic Fuel Tank with Internal Core Pressure

A summary of the failure analyses and testing that were conducted to determine the cause of the X-33 liquidhydrogen tank failure is presented. Ply-level stress analyses were conducted to explain the formation of microcracks in the plies of the inner and outer facesheet laminates of the honeycomb sandwich walls of the tank under known thermal and mechanical loads. The microcracks allowed the ingression of liquid- and gaseous-hydrogen and gaseous-nitrogen purge gas that produced higher than expected sandwich core pressures in the tank. Single cantilever beam tests were used to determine the toughness of the interface between the facesheets and honeycomb core. Fracture mechanics analyses were developed to determine strain-energy release rates for known foreign object debris shapes and sizes and known and statistically possible core internal pressures. The fracture mechanics analyses were validated by comparing with results of blowoff tests that were fabricated from undamaged tank sandwich material. Strain-energy release rates from the validated analyses were then compared with known and statistically possible values of toughness determined from the single cantilever beam tests. These analyses and tests were then used to substantiate a scenario for failure of the X-33 liquid-hydrogen tank that includes microcracking of the inner facesheets and ensuing ingression of hydrogen and nitrogen, a low bondline strength and toughness, and the presence of foreign object debris. Nomenclature ¯ A −1 jk =i nverse of the laminate stiffness matrix transformed to the local coordinates a, b = dimensions of debond Eii = elastic modulus in the ith principal material
Evaluation of surgical outcomes of retro-rectus versus intraperitoneal reinforcement with bio-prosthetic mesh in the repair of contaminated ventral hernias

Hernia repairs in contaminated fields are often reinforced with a bioprosthetic mesh. When choosing which of the multiple musculofascial abdominal wall planes provides the most durable repair, there is little guidance. We hypothesized that the retro-rectus plane would reduce recurrence rates versus intraperitoneal placement due to greater surface area contact of mesh with well-vascularized tissue. Forty-nine of the 80 patients in an ongoing, prospective, multicenter study of contaminated ventral hernia repairs (RICH study, NCT00617357) achieved fascial closure after musculofascial centralization and reinforcement with non-crosslinked porcine acellular dermal matrix (Strattice™, LifeCell, Branchburg, NJ) and were retrospectively analyzed. The Strattice was placed in the retro-rectus position in 23 patients and in the intraperitoneal position in 26. Subjects were comparable in age, obesity, prior wound infection, presence of a stoma, and infected mesh removal (p > 0.05). More smokers were present in the intraperitoneal group (p = 0.02). Retro-rectus defects were significantly wider and had larger area than the intraperitoneal repairs. At the 1-year follow-up, 44 (90%) of patients were available for review. There was no difference in wound infections, seromas, or hematomas. Recurrent hernias were identified in 10% of retro-rectus repairs and 30% of intraperitoneal repairs (p = 0.14). In this retrospective analysis of a prospective multicenter study of large, contaminated ventral hernias, despite a larger hernia defect in the retro-rectus group, placement of the mesh in the retro-rectus compartment resulted in a similar recurrence rate to intraperitoneal mesh placement. Ongoing evaluation is important to establish longer-term outcomes and the validity of these findings.
The solubility of the phosphates of strontium, barium, and magnesium and their relation to the problem of calcification

Abstract 1. 1. By means of titration curves of phosphoric acid with alkaline earth bases, the solubility of the orthophosphates of magnesium, strontium, and barium has been studied and related to that of the corresponding calcium salts. 2. 2. The solid phase formed by the interaction of H 3 PO 4 and Mg(OH) 2 at 38°C. was found to be the tertiary phosphate Mg 3 (PO 4 ) 2 throughout the range studied, no evidence being found of the formation of the secondary phosphate MgHPO 4 . The solubility product for tertiary magnesium phosphate was found to be p K sp = 27.2 − 29√μ. 3. 3. The solid phase formed by the interaction of H 3 PO 4 and Ba(OH) 2 at 38°C. was the secondary phosphate throughout the greater part of the range studied, some evidence of a more basic solid phase being obtained when more than 2 equivalents of acid were neutralized by base. The p K sp BaHPO 4 was found to be 7.56 − 8.4√μ. Assuming that the more basic precipitate encountered was the tertiary phosphate, the apparent p K sp Ba 3 (PO 4 ) 2 was found to be 29.34 at μ = 0.0008. 4. 4. Analysis of the solid phase at equilibrium formed by the interaction of H 3 PO 4 and Sr(OH) 2 at 38°C. showed this phase to be SrHPO 4 between 1.1 and 1.85 equivalents, after which a steadily increasing Sr P ratio was obtained. The solubility product for SrHPO 4 was found to be p K sp 7.06 − 8.1√μ. The apparent solubility product for Sr 3 (PO 4 ) 2 , if we assume that this was present in the more basic precipitates, was p K sp = 27.8 at μ = 0.0035. 5. 5. The decalcifying action of alkaline earth minerals is discussed in relation to the above data.
Autoimmune diseases involving nicotinic receptors.

The antibody-mediated autoimmune response to alpha1 muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptors that causes myasthenia gravis is one of the best characterized autoimmune diseases. Antibody-mediated autoimmune responses to neuronal nicotinic receptors are just beginning to be discovered and characterized. One of these causes dysautonomia through antibodies to alpha 3 nicotinic receptors of autonomic ganglia. Another causes pemphigus through antibodies to alpha 9 nicotinic receptors in skin. Other autoimmune responses to nicotinic receptors may be discovered as the many functional roles of nicotinic receptors are revealed.
Multicentered valence electron effective potentials: A solution to the link atom problem for ground and excited electronic states

We introduce a multicentered valence electron effective potential (MC-VEEP) description of functional groups which succeeds even in the context of excited electronic states. The MC-VEEP is formulated within the ansatz which is familiar for effective core potentials in quantum chemistry, and so can be easily incorporated in any quantum chemical calculation. By demanding that both occupied and virtual orbitals are described correctly on the MC-VEEP, we are able to ensure correct behavior even when the MC-VEEP borders an electronically excited region. However, the present formulation does require that the electrons represented by the MC-VEEP are primarily spectators and not directly participating in the electronic excitation. We point out the importance of separating the electrostatic and exchange-repulsion components of the MC-VEEP in order that interactions between the effective potential and other nuclei can be modeled correctly. We present a MC-VEEP for methyl radical with one active electron which is tested in several conjugated molecules. We discuss the use of the MC-VEEP as a solution to the “link atom” problem in hybrid quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical methods. We also discuss the limitations and further development of this approach.
Facile syntheses of quater-, penta-, and sexipyrroles.

α,α-Linked oligopyrroles are attractive precursors for both expanded porphyrin and conducting polymer chemistry. We demonstrate facile methods for synthesizing quater-, penta-, and sexipyrroles from more readily available bi- and terpyrrole intermediates. These products demonstrate stability in their brightly colored oxidized forms, while reduction using borohydride reagents gives the corresponding all-pyrrole oligomers, which oxidize readily in air. The oxidized quater- and sexipyrroles were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.
Intramitochondrial Zn2 + accumulation via the Ca2 + uniporter contributes to acute ischemic neurodegeneration

Abstract Ca 2 + and Zn 2 + have both been implicated in the induction of acute ischemic neurodegeneration. We recently examined changes in intracellular Zn 2 + and Ca 2 + in CA1 pyramidal neurons subjected to oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD), and found that Zn 2 + rises precede and contribute to the onset of terminal Ca 2 + rises (“Ca 2 + deregulation”), which are causatively linked to a lethal loss of membrane integrity. The present study seeks to examine the specific role of intramitochondrial Zn 2 + accumulation in ischemic injury, using blockers of the mitochondrial Ca 2 + uniporter (MCU), through which both Zn 2 + and Ca 2 + appear able to enter the mitochondrial matrix. In physiological extracellular Ca 2 + , treatment with the MCU blocker, Ruthenium Red (RR), accelerated the Ca 2 + deregulation, most likely by disrupting mitochondrial Ca 2 + buffering and thus accelerating the lethal cytosolic Ca 2 + overload. However, when intracellular Ca 2 + overload was slowed, either by adding blockers of major Ca 2 + entry channels or by lowering the concentration of Ca 2 + in the extracellular buffer, Ca 2 + deregulation was delayed, and under these conditions either Zn 2 + chelation or MCU blockade resulted in similar further delays of the Ca 2 + deregulation. In parallel studies using the reactive oxygen species (ROS) indicator, hydroethidine, lowering Ca 2 + surprisingly accelerated OGD induced ROS generation, and in these low Ca 2 + conditions, either Zn 2 + chelation or MCU block slowed the ROS generation. These studies suggest that, during acute ischemia, Zn 2 + entry into mitochondria via the MCU induces mitochondrial dysfunction (including ROS generation) that occurs upstream of, and contributes to the terminal Ca 2 + deregulation.
Learned and perceived reinforcer response strengths and image theory

The main purposes are to (a) indicate that CR and instrumental response strengths are related to response strengths to perceived reinforcers establishing these learned responses, and (b) suggest that learned responses may result, in part, from images of reinforcers, because image-produced behavior is related to stimulus-produced behavior, analogous to learned response strength being related to perceived reinforcer response strength. In addition, that image-produced behavior is related to stimulus-produced behavior is supported, and specific ways in which image-produced behavior may contribute to classical and instrumental conditioning are touched on.
Pathogenicity of Pythium populations from corn-soybean rotation fields

Corn and soybean have been rotated for decades in the north central regions of the United States, but it is unknown how the use of long-term rotation affects the population of soilborne fungi pathogenic to both crops. Pythium populations were obtained from 73 commercial corn-soybean rotation fields in Iowa from 1993 to 1995. A total of 163 Pythium isolates were obtained from soil, diseased soybean seedlings, or diseased corn seedlings, and these isolates were pooled into six populations according to the source of samples. The isolates were evaluated for their aggressiveness on corn and soybean for each population. Regardless of the source of sampling, each population had many Pythium isolates that were highly aggressive on both crops. Seventy-one percent of the isolates from soil were pathogenic, and 29% were highly aggressive on both crops. Three populations of Pythium isolates were obtained from diseased soybean seedlings. Eighty-five percent of those isolates were pathogenic, and 49 to 64% were highly aggressive on corn and soybean. Of the isolates obtained from diseased corn seedlings, 87% were pathogenic and 43% were highly aggressive on corn and soybean. For each Pythium population, aggressiveness on soybean and corn (measured by disease index) were highly correlated. Further, 23 P. ultimum isolates were identified from diseased soybean seedlings and tested for pathogenicity on corn and soybean. Disease index of the isolates varied, but the correlation between disease indices on the two crops was significant (r = 0.75, P < 0.001). The study suggests that long-term corn-soybean rotation fields contain many Pythium isolates that are highly aggressive on seedlings of both crops.
Recent Advances and Some Remaining Challenges in Analytical Chemistry of the Atmosphere

Summary 9 Literature Cited 10 The atmosphere is a complex mixture of natural and anthropogenic compounds with diverse properties, producing adverse effects on human health, ecology, ozone depletion, visibility, and climate. Increasing our understanding of the chemical properties of these compounds and their physical processes is vital for properly assessing their roles in pollution and climate and ultimately establishing effective control strategies. However, the identities and concentrations of many atmospheric species, particularly organic components, are still unknown. To characterize the chemical composition of the complex atmosphere, a complementary collection of different analytical methodologies is typically used. This review discusses recent instrumental developments and advances made between the years 2000 and 2002, for measuring gas-phase componentssoxides of nitrogen, SO 2, volatile organic compounds (VOCs)sand particulate matter. Gas-phase species and their reaction processes are far better characterized and understood than their particle-phase counterparts, since detailed measurements of gas-phase components have been carried out for decades. In the field of particle-phase measurements, new instruments are being developed at a rapid rate in an effort to produce methods with lower detection limits, shorter temporal resolution, and increased selectivity with the goal of increasing our understanding of atmospheric processes. The disparity in numbers of new techniques for the gas versus particle phases is reflected in this review, which briefly discusses the current state of gas-phase measurements for major pollutants and highlights the many recent advances in particle-phase measurements. The need for new analytical methodologies and the areas where key challenges remain in atmospheric chemistry are highlighted. Last year marked the 50th anniversary of the infamous London fog event. Stagnant weather and increased levels of pollutants such as SO 2 and soot particles led to a sharp rise in mortality levels. Today, the most visible form of air pollution is smog. Vehicular and industrial emissions are major contributors to poor air quality in urban areas. During hot sunny days, high-density metropolitan areas, such as Los Angeles and Mexico City, are affected by “brown smog” due to photochemical reaction processes among organic compounds, oxides of nitrogen, and ozone. National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) have been established for certain gas-phase species as well as particulate matter (O 3, NO2 ,S O 2, CO, PM10 ,P M 2.5, and Pb).
Effects of Type of Decision and Organizational Outcome on Observers' Evaluations of the Context for Decision

This study investigated the effects of decision on simulated tenure (tenure denied vs tenure granted) and organizational outcome (negative vs positive) on perceptions of the fairness of the decision and the decision makers'personalities. Subjects were 127 undergraduate students randomly assigned to one of four experimental conditions. Analysis indicated variables of the fairness were affected by the manipulations for decision on tenure and the organizational outcome as well as the interaction of these two independent variables. In addition, these variables also affected perceptions of the decision makes'personalities
Metformin overdose-induced hypoglycemia in the absence of other antidiabetic drugs

Context. Lactic acidosis is a well-recognized consequence of metformin. Hypoglycemia has been reported previously in metformin overdose, but the presence of other co-ingestions (e.g., a sulfonylurea) was not definitively excluded. Case details. A 15-year-old girl ingested 75 g of metformin and 3 g of quetiapine. On examination in the emergency department 2 h later, she was drowsy but had normal vital signs. She developed lactic acidosis, hypotension, and recurrent and severe hypoglycemia (15 mg/dL and 20 mg/dL), requiring boluses of 50%dextrose. The first episode of hypoglycemia occurred approximately 4 h after ingestion. Serum metformin level 2 h after ingestion was 267 mg/L (therapeutic range, 0.465–2.5), and serum insulin was 2 mU/L (normal range, 6–35). Extensive laboratory investigation using high-resolution mass-spectrometry ruled out other possible hypoglycemic agents. She recovered after hemodialysis. Discussion.Metformin overdose can cause severe hypoglycemia in the absence of other antidiabetic ...
Thermodynamics of thermal radiation from stars photoautotrophs and biospheres

Photoautotrophs are almost the exclusive providers of chemical free energy to the Earth biosphere. Their importance in coadjuvating the evolutionary development of higher forms of life in other planets is briefly discussed from this point of view. A simple analysis based on the nonequilibrium thermodynamics of thermal radiation fields is performed. The analysis relates well known standard parameters of stars of the main sequence to the thermodynamic bounds on the free energy acquisition of planetary photosynthetic processes activated by the star radiation. Upper bounds to permissible wavelengths, active in photosynthesis easily follow. Simple inferences can then be made about the possible types of main sequence stars with planetary systems where exobiological photoautotrophs might have evolved. As red dwarves constitute both the great majority of companions to the Sun and the majority of main sequence stars in our Galaxy, emphasis is placed on discussing the case of planetary systems of stars with low photospheric temperatures. Bounds to the free energy intake per unit area by the biospheres of planets in planetary systems of late type main sequence stars are estimated and compared. Some simple conclusions are drawn.
Intraseasonal Variation of Winter Precipitation over the Western United States Simulated by 14 IPCC AR4 Coupled GCMs

Abstract This study evaluates the intraseasonal variation of winter precipitation over the western United States in 14 coupled general circulation models (GCMs) participating in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report (AR4). Eight years of each model’s twentieth-century climate simulation are analyzed. The focus is on the two dominant intraseasonal modes for the western U.S. precipitation: the 40-day mode and the 22-day mode. The results show that the models tend to overestimate the northern winter (November–April) seasonal mean precipitation over the western United States and Canada. The models also tend to produce overly strong intraseasonal variability in western U.S. wintertime precipitation, in spite of the overly weak tropical intraseasonal variability in most of the models. All models capture both the 40-day mode and the 22-day mode, usually with overly large variances. For the 40-day mode, models tend to reproduce its deep barotropic vertical structure and thr...
Effect of body composition on oxygen uptake during treadmill exercise: body builders versus weight-matched men.

Abstract Oxygen uptake (VO2) during treadmill exercise is directly related to the speed and grade, as well as the participant's body weight. To determine whether body composition also affects VO2 (mlkg−1min−1) during exercise, we studied 14 male body builders (M weight = 99 kg, SD = 7; M height = 180 cm, SD = 8; M body fat = 8%, SD = 3; M fat free mass = 91 kg, SD = 7) and 14 weight-matched men (M weight = 99 kg, SD = 9; M height = 179 cm, SD = 5; M body fat = 24%, SD = 5; M fat free mass = 73 kg, SD = 9). Percentage of body fat, t(13) = 8.185, p < .0001, and fat free mass, t(13) = 5.723, p < .0001, were significantly different between groups. VO2 was measured by respiratory gas analysis at rest and during three different submaximal workrates while walking on the treadmill without using the handrails for support. VO2 was significantly greater for the lean, highly muscular men at rest: 5.6 ± 1 vs. 4.0 ± 1 mlkg−1min−1 , F(1, 26) = 21.185, p < .001; Stage 1: 1.7 mph/10%, 18.5 ± 2 vs. 16.1 ± 2 mlkg−1min−1 , F...
Biclustering in data mining

Biclustering consists in simultaneous partitioning of the set of samples and the set of their attributes (features) into subsets (classes). Samples and features classified together are supposed to have a high relevance to each other. In this paper we review the most widely used and successful biclustering techniques and their related applications. This survey is written from a theoretical viewpoint emphasizing mathematical concepts that can be met in existing biclustering techniques.
Chain Building: The Consolidation of the American Newspaper Industry, 1953–1980

This article uses the example of the postwar consolidation of the American newspaper industry to demonstrate that the process of industrial evolution is not simply the consequence of arbitrary market forces nor strictly the result of enterprising individuals' innovative schemes. Rather it is interaction of the two. Moreover, by examining the technological, laborrelated, and regulatory forces behind the industry's dramatic change in ownership structure, the article also illustrates the cumulative and sequential nature of industrial change.
Learning Trajectories in Teacher Education: Supporting Teachers' Understandings of Students' Mathematical Thinking.

Abstract Recent work by researchers has focused on synthesizing and elaborating knowledge of students’ thinking on particular concepts as core progressions called learning trajectories. Although useful at the level of curriculum development, assessment design, and the articulation of standards, evidence is only beginning to emerge to suggest how learning trajectories can be utilized in teacher education. Our paper reports on two studies investigating practicing and prospective elementary teachers’ uses of a learning trajectory to make sense of students’ thinking about a foundational idea of rational number reasoning. Findings suggest that a mathematics learning trajectory supports teachers in creating models of students’ thinking and in restructuring teachers’ own understandings of mathematics and students’ reasoning.
Blood meal induces global changes in midgut gene expression in the disease vector, Aedes aegypti

Blood feeding is an essential developmental process for many arthropods and plays a significant role in disease transmission. Understanding physiological responses in the midgut is important because it is the primary site of blood meal digestion and pathogenic infection. Processes that occur in the midgut in response to a blood meal have been studied but are poorly understood. Here, we use cDNA microarrays to examine midgut gene expression on a global level in response to blood feeding to assist in unraveling these processes. We have developed Aedes aegypti microarrays consisting of clones obtained from an expressed sequence tag project. Individual clones were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and printed onto glass slides. These microarrays were used to study the effects of a blood meal on midgut gene expression over a 72-h time course. As a result, a number of genes involved in processes such as nutrient uptake and metabolism, cellular stress responses, ion balance, and PM formation, as well as a number of unknown genes were induced or repressed in response to a blood meal based on this microarray data.
EMBODIED COMPUTATION: APPLYING THE PHYSICS OF COMPUTATION TO ARTIFICIAL MORPHOGENESIS

We discuss the problem of assembling complex physical systems that are structured from the nanoscale up through the macroscale, and argue that embryological morphogenesis provides a good model of how this can be accomplished. Morphogenesis (whether natural or artificial) is an example of embodied computation, which exploits physical processes for computational ends, or performs computations for their physical effects. Examples of embodied computation in natural morphogenesis can be found at many levels, from allosteric proteins, which perform simple embodied computations, up through cells, which act to create tissues with specific patterns, compositions, and forms. We outline a notation for describing morphogenetic programs and illustrate its use with two examples: simple diffusion and the assembly of a simple spine with attachment points for legs. While much research remains to be done — at the simulation level before we attempt physical implementations — our results to date show how we may implement the fundamental processes of morphogenesis as a practical application of embodied computation at the nano- and microscale.
Transforming growth factor β2 mutations and familial thoracic aortic aneurysms.

Previous genetic studies of patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms have identified mutations in several genes involvedin some way with transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling: FBN1 (encoding fibrillin-1, causing Marfan syndrome), TGFBR1 and TGFBR2 (encoding transforming growth factor-β receptors I and II, causing Loeys-Dietz syndrome), and SMAD3 (encoding Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3, causing aneurysms-osteoarthritis syndrome). Two groups (Boileau et al, Lindsay et al) sought to identify additional genes responsible for familial thoracic aortic aneurysms. They also sought to explain an apparent paradox: mutations in the aforementioned genes that would be predicted to result in reduced activity of the TGF-β pathwayappear to cause vasculopathy via increased TGF-β signaling. Both groups started by identifying families with autosomal dominant transmission of thoracic aortic aneurysms and in whom mutations in FBN1 , TGFBR1 , TGFBR2 , and SMAD3 had been ruled out. Each used modern genetic techniques to identify the presumptive causal gene mutations responsible …
Clinicopathologic characteristics and management trends of cutaneous invasive and in situ melanoma in older patients: a retrospective analysis of the National Cancer Data Base

Background:The incidence of melanoma in older patients is on the rise. Prior studies have shown disparities in surgical management and poor survival of older patients with melanoma.Methods:This is a retrospective study of adult patients diagnosed with cutaneous invasive and in situ melanoma between 2000 and 2011 in the National Cancer Data Base. Characteristics and management of older patients (≥60 years) were compared with younger patients (20–59 years) using χ2 testing.Results:Of 476,623 total cases, 54% (n = 258,153) were diagnosed among older patients. The reported cases in the older patients increased by 1.74-fold between 2000 and 2011. The majority were white (96%), men (65%), with early-stage disease (76% stage 0-II), and superficial spreading melanoma histology (39%). Older patients, compared with younger patients, were more likely to be men (65% versus 49%, p < 0.0001), and have in situ melanoma (28% versus 21%, p < 0.0001); less likely to have nodal metastases (7% versus 9%, p < 0.0001), receive...
Network-based analysis identifies epigenetic biomarkers of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression

Motivation: A rapid progression of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) causes a high mortality rate because of the propensity for metastasis driven by genetic and epigenetic alterations. The identification of prognostic biomarkers would help prevent or control metastatic progression. Expression analyses have been used to find such markers, but do not always validate in separate cohorts. Epigenetic marks, such as DNA methylation, are a potential source of more reliable and stable biomarkers. Importantly, the integration of both expression and epigenetic alterations is more likely to identify relevant biomarkers. Results: We present a new analysis framework, using ESCC progression-associated gene regulatory network (GRNescc), to identify differentially methylated CpG sites prognostic of ESCC progression. From the CpG loci differentially methylated in 50 tumor–normal pairs, we selected 44 CpG loci most highly associated with survival and located in the promoters of genes more likely to belong to GRNescc. Using an independent ESCC cohort, we confirmed that 8/10 of CpG loci in the promoter of GRNescc genes significantly correlated with patient survival. In contrast, 0/10 CpG loci in the promoter genes outside the GRNescc were correlated with patient survival. We further characterized the GRNescc network topology and observed that the genes with methylated CpG loci associated with survival deviated from the center of mass and were less likely to be hubs in the GRNescc. We postulate that our analysis framework improves the identification of bona fide prognostic biomarkers from DNA methylation studies, especially with partial genome coverage. Contact: wt.ude.ukcn.liam@msgnest or wt.ude.ukcn.liam@8975wcy Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Using the total productive manufacturing (TPM) model to drive to a higher level of pollution prevention

Many companies have established Pollution Prevention (P2) Programs to decrease the environmental impacts of their operations and reduce their manufacturing costs. As the P2 Program successfully completes the easy projects, the quantity of resources expended at finding new P2 opportunities becomes greater. At some point, the amount of resources expended developing an option becomes greater than the benefits attained by its implementation. Even the most integrated of companies are organized with the specialized functions, such as the ESH organization, separate from the operations that make product. Although all functions have the same goal, to be productive units in a company making a profit, organizational boundaries between them frequently gets in the way, causing delays, duplication of effort, and wasted resources. A method is required that allows the operations and ESH function to efficiently direct their P2 resources towards those options that will produce the greatest benefit for the company. Total productive manufacturing (TPM) provides a method in which all functions within the company are focused towards achieving the same end. The Texas Instruments Incorporated, Materials and Controls (TI-M&C) division has launched a global TPM initiative as a cornerstone of its thrust to improve its operations. Dovetailing the P2 program with the emergent TPM initiative may provide for synergistic revitalization of the P2 effort and further integrate P2 into company operations.
A method for simulating familial disease data with variable age at onset and genetic and environmental effects

The field of genetic epidemiology is growing rapidly with the realization that many important diseases are influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. For this reason, pedigree data are becoming increasingly valuable as a means of studying patterns of disease occurrence. Analysis of pedigree data is complicated by the lack of independence among family members and by the non-random sampling schemes used to ascertain families. An additional complicating factor is the variability in age at disease onset from one person to another. In developing statistical methods for analysing pedigree data, analytic results are often intractable, making simulation studies imperative for assessing the performance of proposed methods and estimators. In this paper, an algorithm is presented for simulating disease data in pedigrees, incorporating variable age at onset and genetic and environmental effects. Computational formulas are developed in the context of a proportional hazards model and assuming single ascertainment of families, but the methods can be easily generalized to alternative models. The algorithm is computationally efficient, making multi-dataset simulation studies feasible. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the methods.
Kierkegaard and Recent Continental Philosophy of Religion

The place and significance of religious community is a central concern in recent continental philosophy of religion. Although Kierkegaard is a significant influence for many recent continental philosophers of religion, recent work on his social thought is largely ignored. I begin the paper by describing how recent continental philosophers of religion, in particular John Caputo, John Milbank, and Jurgen Habermas, have used Kierkegaard in order to address social questions. Then I show how recent work on Kierkegaard’s social thought – namely, his social ontology and his account of community – that can enrich discussion in recent continental philosophy of religion about the nature of religious community.