cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic Ultrasound-Enhanced Transcorneal PHMB Delivery In Vitro

OBJECTIVE Delivery of therapeutic agents to the cornea is a difficult task in the treatment of parasitic keratitis. In this study, we looked at using different combinations of ultrasound parameters to enhance corneal permeability to polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB), a clinically available ophthalmic antiparasitic formulation. METHODS Permeability of PHMB was investigated in vitro using a standard diffusion cell setup. Continuous or 25% duty-cycle ultrasound was used at frequencies of 400 or 600 kHz, intensities of 0.5 or 0.8 W/cm2 , and exposure times ranging from 1 to 5 minutes. Structural changes in the cornea were examined using light microscopy. RESULTS Ultrasound exposure produced increases in transcorneal delivery in every treatment parameter combination when compared to the sham treatment. The highest increase was 2.36 times for 5 minutes of continuous ultrasound at a frequency of 600 kHz and an intensity of 0.5 W/cm2 with statistical significance (p <.001). Histological analysis showed that ultrasound application only caused structural changes in the corneal epithelium, with most damage being at the surface layers. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests the possibility of therapeutic ultrasound as a novel drug delivery technique for the treatment of parasitic keratitis. Further studies are needed to examine the thermal effects of these proposed ultrasound applications and the long-term viability of this treatment.
Multiscale simulations of left ventricular growth and remodeling.

Cardiomyocytes can adapt their size, shape, and orientation in response to altered biomechanical or biochemical stimuli. The process by which the heart undergoes structural changes—affecting both geometry and material properties—in response to altered ventricular loading, altered hormonal levels, or mutant sarcomeric proteins is broadly known as cardiac growth and remodeling (G&R). Although it is likely that cardiac G&R initially occurs as an adaptive response of the heart to the underlying stimuli, prolonged pathological changes can lead to increased risk of atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and sudden death. During the past few decades, computational models have been extensively used to investigate the mechanisms of cardiac G&R, as a complement to experimental measurements. These models have provided an opportunity to quantitatively study the relationships between the underlying stimuli (primarily mechanical) and the adverse outcomes of cardiac G&R, i.e., alterations in ventricular size and function. State-of-the-art computational models have shown promise in predicting the progression of cardiac G&R. However, there are still limitations that need to be addressed in future works to advance the field. In this review, we first outline the current state of computational models of cardiac growth and myofiber remodeling. Then, we discuss the potential limitations of current models of cardiac G&R that need to be addressed before they can be utilized in clinical care. Finally, we briefly discuss the next feasible steps and future directions that could advance the field of cardiac G&R.
The Limits of Altruism in Democratic Athens

Athenians in the classical period (508–322 BC) were drawn to an image of themselves as a compassionate and generous people who rushed to the aid of others in distress, both at home and abroad. What relation does this image bear to actual Athenian behavior? This book argues that Athenians felt little pressure as individuals to help fellow citizens whom they did not know. Democratic ideology called on citizens to refrain from harming one another rather than to engage in mutual support, and emphasized the importance of the helping relationship between citizen and city rather than among individual citizens. If the obligation of Athenians to help fellow citizens was fairly tenuous, all the more so was their responsibility to intervene to assist the peoples of other states; a distinct pragmatism prevailed in the city's decisions concerning intervention abroad.
Intestinal acid flow, dry matter, starch and protein digestibility and amino acid absorption in beef cattle fed a high-concentrate diet with defluorinated rock phosphate, limestone or magnesium oxide.

Five Angus heifers (285 kg) with duodenal and ileal cannulas were used to study the effects of feeding mineral acid neutralizers on digesta and fecal pH, intestinal acid flow, DM, starch and CP digestion and amino acid absorption in cattle fed a high-concentrate diet (7.5 kg/d). The experimental design was a 5 x 5 latin square. Treatments included control diet alone or control diet with the addition of 1.60% defluorinated rock phosphate-medium (DRP-M, 77% greater than 150 mu but less than 1,180 mu), 1.60% defluorinated rock phosphate-coarse (DRP-C, 85% greater than 850 mu but less than 1,700 mu), 1.28% limestone (92% greater than 150 mu but less than 850 mu) or .50% MgO, (81% greater than 250 mu but less than 1,180 mu), as an as-fed basis. Ileal pH was increased (P less than .05) from 7.49 to 7.85 by MgO. Fecal pH was increased (P less than .05) in this order: MgO (7.18) greater than DRP-M (6.86) = limestone (6.86) = DRP-C (6.75) greater than control (6.54). Liquid flow to the duodenum was increased (P less than .05) an average of 19.7% by the mineral treatments. Duodenal acid concentrations (mEq/liter) were greatest (P less than .05) for DRP-M (65.4) and DRP-C (64.0) vs limestone (55.5) and MgO (54.4). Acid flow to the intestine was increased (P less than .05) to 4.02, 4.53 and 4.82 Eq/d for animals fed limestone, DRP-M and DRP-C, respectively, from 3.51 Eq/d for control animals. Total tract DM, starch and CP digestibilities were similar (P greater than .10) among treatments. Limestone and DRP-M increased (P less than .10) the partial digestibility of most amino acids by about 6.8%. Mineral treatments did not increase total tract digestion of starch or CP. However, cattle fed DRP-M and limestone may have used protein more efficiently.
Bridging the gap: Health disparity research initiatives through the department of defense (DOD) congressionally directed medical research programs (CDMRP) prostate cancer research program (PCRP)

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 46, 2005 2551 Background: The Minority Health Initiative was launched in fiscal year 1997 (FY97) for the CDMRP. The primary purpose of this initiative was to increase the quantity and quality of CDMRP-funded cancer research on minority populations and to address the disparities in the incidence, prevalence, morbidity, and mortality rates of prostate cancer. Methods: The PCRP has disbursed funds via a two-step peer-reviewed process recommended by the Institute of Medicine. This report analyzes the DOD PCRP Health Disparity Research Initiatives and funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) from FY97-04. Results: For Health Disparity Research Initiatives approximately $36.0 million (M) has been awarded through FY03, and approximately $5.9M has been approved for funding in FY04. Additionally, 20 awards have been made to 11 HBCU institutions totaling $7.7M, and 46 awards have been made to seven minority institutions (MI) through FY03. In FY04 approximately $2.2M and $5.2M have been approved for funding HBCU and MI, respectively. The leading areas of funded research have focused on genetics, diet, biomarkers, quality of life, prevention, and risk factors. Two award mechanisms, the HBCU Collaborative Partnership Award and the HBCU/MI Undergraduate Collaborative Summer Training Award, were presented by the PCRP in FY04 addressing these issues. Conclusions: The DOD’s Minority Health Initiative is strengthening the nation’s prostate cancer research portfolio by encouraging investigators to address the needs of minorities and other underserved populations in their research protocols and to encourage minority investigator and institution participation in the grant process.
Explaining and forecasting the velocity of money in transition economies, with special reference to the Baltics, Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union

The paper identifies a number of stylized facts on the behavior of key macroeconomic variables during high inflation and stabilization in countries in transition. To examine the extent to which these stylized facts conform to the predictions of standard open economy monetary theory, the paper develops a simple monetary model of the exchange rate incorporating price stickiness and inflation inertia, and carries out an econometric analysis of the behavior of real money balances during inflation stabilization. The paper concludes by assessing the prospects for velocity developments in countries in transition, including the likely pace of remonetization.
Binary and ternary complexes of dihydrofolate reductase with substrates, coenzymes and inhibitors. Circular dichroic and magnetic circular dichroic studies.

Abstract Interaction of several representative folate, quinazoline and pyridine nucleotide derivatives with dihydrofolate reductase from amethopterin-resistant Lactobacillus casei induces dramatic changes in its circular dichroic spectral properties. The binding of dihydrofolate induces a large extrinsic Cotton effect at 295 nm ([Θ] = 113 800 deg · cm2 · dm−1). The generation of this band by dihydrofolate is strictly dependent on complex formation with a single substrate binding site and a KD = 7 · 10−6 M. The other binary complexes examined include the enzyme · NADPH, enzyme · amethopterin, enzyme · folate, and enzyme · methasquin. All such complexes differ in spectral detail, the negative ellipticity at 330 nm being characteristic of the “folate site” complexes. The circular dichroic spectrum of the ternary complex of reductase · NADPH · methotrexate shows a positive symmetrical band centered at 360 nm ([Θ] = 32 000 deg · cm2 · dm−1). Since both of the corresponding binary complexes exhibit negative bands in this region, this induced band represents a unique molecular property of the ternary complex. Chemical modification of a single tryptophan residue of the enzyme, as determined from magnetic circular dichroism spectra, results in a complete loss in the ability to bind either dihydrofolate or NADPH.
Inhibition of Cell Cycle Progression by Rapamycin Induces T Cell Clonal Anergy Even in the Presence of Costimulation

Costimulation (signal 2) has been proposed to inhibit the induction of T cell clonal anergy by either directly antagonizing negative signals arising from TCR engagement (signal 1) or by synergizing with signal 1 to produce IL-2, which in turn leads to proliferation and dilution of negative regulatory factors. To better define the cellular events that lead to the induction of anergy, we used the immunosuppressive agent rapamycin, which blocks T cell proliferation in late G1 phase but does not affect costimulation-dependent IL-2 production. Our data demonstrate that full T cell activation (signal 1 plus 2) in the presence of rapamycin results in profound T cell anergy, despite the fact that these cells produce copious amounts of IL-2. Similar to conventional anergy (induction by signal 1 alone), the rapamycin-induced anergic cells show a decrease in mitogen-activated protein kinase activation, and these cells can be rescued by culture in IL-2. Interestingly, the rapamycin-induced anergic cells display a more profound block in IL-3 and IFN-gamma production upon rechallenge. Finally, in contrast to rapamycin, full T cell activation in the presence of hydroxyurea (which inhibits the cell cycle in early S phase) did not result in anergy. These data suggest that it is neither the direct effect of costimulation nor the subsequent T cell proliferation that prevents anergy induction, but rather the biochemical events that occur upon progression through the cell cycle from G1 into S phase.
COOPERATIVISMO: INICIANDO UMA REFLEXÃO SOBRE O COOPERATIVISMO DE CRÉDITO AGRÍCOLA NO MUNICÍPIO DE FREDERICO WESTPHALEN

800x600 Neste artigo apresentamos o resultado da primeira fase de um estudo que estamos realizando sobre o cooperativismo com extensao para o credito rural no Municipio de Frederico Westphalen. Temos por objetivo dar inicio a uma reflexao sobre essa pratica na realidade local, visto que a base economica municipal e a agricultura familiar. Alem disso, a ONU declarou 2012 como “Ano Internacional do Cooperativismo” e, 2014, como “Ano Internacional da Agricultura Familiar”. Atraves de estudos bibliograficos, tracamos um breve percurso historico do cooperativismo, tendo especial atencao ao cooperativismo de credito rural situando-o brevemente no contexto municipal. Normal 0 21 false false false PT-BR X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Tabela normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
Covalent structure of botulinum neurotoxin type A: location of sulfhydryl groups, and disulfide bridges and identification of C-termini of light and heavy chains.

Botulinum neurotoxin Type A is synthesized byClostridium botulinum as a ∼150 kD single chain polypeptide. The posttranslational processing of the 1296 amino acid residue long gene product involves removal of the initiating methionine, formation of disulfide bridges, and limited proteolysis (nicking) by the bacterial protease(s). The mature dichain neurotoxin is made of a ∼50-kD light chain and a ∼100-kD heavy chain connected by a disulfide bridge. DNA derived amino acid sequencepredicted a total of 9 Cys residues (Binzet al., 1990,J. Biol. Chem.265, 9153–9158; Thompsonet al., 1990,Eur. J. Biochem.189, 73–81). Treatment of the dichain neurotoxin, dissolved in 6 M guanidine. HCl, with 4-vinylpyridine converted 5 Cys residues into S-pyridylethyl cysteine residues; but alkylation after mercaptolysis converted all 9 Cys residues in the S-pyridylethylated form. After confirming the predicted number of Cys residues by amino acid analysis, the positions of the 5 Cys residues carrying sulfhydryl groups and the 4 involved in disulfide bridges were determined by comparing the elution patterns in reversed-phase HPLC of the cyanogen bromide mixtures of the exclusively alkylated and the mercaptolyzed-alkylated neurotoxin. The chromatographically isolated components were identified by N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis. The HPLC patterns showed characteristic differences. The Cys residuespredicted in positions 133, 164, 790, 966, and 1059 were found in the sulfhydryl form; Cys 429 and 453 were found disulfide-bridged connecting the light and heavy chains, and Cys 1234 and 1279 were found in an intrachain disulfide-bridge near the C-terminus in the heavy chain. Ten amino acid residues, Thr 438-Lys 447,predicted to be present in the single chain neurotoxin were not found in the dichain neurotoxin. Nicking of single-chain neurotoxin by the protease(s) endogenous to the bacteria therefore appears to excise these 10 amino acid residues from the nicking region which leaves Lys 437 as the C-terminus of the light chain and Ala 448 as the N-terminus of the heavy chain. The N-terminal Pro 1 and C-terminal Leu 1295,predicted from the nucleotide sequence, remain conserved after nicking. Residues Pro 1-Lys 437 and Ala 448-Leu 1295 constitute the light and heavy chains, respectively. The C-termini were determined by isolation of short C-terminal peptide fragments and subsequent sequence analysis by Edman degradation. About 20% of the amino acid sequence predicted from DNA analysis was confirmed in these studies by protein-chemical methods.
Increased adherence of human granulocytes to herpes simplex virus type 1 infected endothelial cells.

We studied the interaction of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) with umbilical vein endothelial cells infected with herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1. PMNs labeled with51Cr were added to endothelial monolayers at varying times after infection and their adherence assessed 1 h later. Granulocyte adherence (GA) to uninfected cells averaged 26.5±1.9%. Increased adherence began 6 h postinfection and rose to a maximum at 20 to 24 h. HSV-1 glycoproteins seemed to mediate the increase in GA: tunicamycin treatment of infected monolayers for 18 h abolished the increased GA as did incubation of infected cells with F(ab')2 fragments prepared from human antiserum containing HSV-1 antibody.
Conserved and plant-unique strategies for overcoming endoplasmic reticulum stress

Stress caused by environmental conditions or physiological growth can lead to an accumulation of unfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) causing ER stress, which in turn triggers a cytoprotective mechanism termed the unfolded protein response (UPR). Under mild-short stress conditions the UPR can restore ER functioning and cell growth, such as reducing the load of unfolded proteins through the upregulation of genes involved in protein folding and in degrading mis-folded proteins, and through autophagy activation, but it can also lead to cell death under prolonged and severe stress conditions. A diversified suite of sensors has been evolved in the eukaryotic lineages to orchestrate the UPR most likely to suit the cell’s necessity to respond to the different kinds of stress in a conserved as well as species-specific manner. In plants three UPR sensors cooperate with non-identical signaling pathways: the protein kinase inositol-requiring enzyme (IRE1), the ER-membrane-associated transcription factor bZIP28, and the GTP-binding protein 1 (AGB1). In this mini-review, we show how plants differ from the better characterized metazoans and fungi, providing an overview of the signaling pathways of the UPR, and highlighting the overlapping and the peculiar roles of the different UPR branches in light of evolutionary divergences in eukaryotic kingdoms.
Mechanisms of thermophily.

(1978). Mechanisms of Thermophily. CRC Critical Reviews in Microbiology: Vol. 6, No. 4, pp. 343-393.
Verifying multipartite mode entanglement of W states

We construct a method for verifying mode entanglement of N-mode W states. The ideal W state contains exactly one excitation symmetrically shared between N modes, but our method takes the existence of higher numbers of excitations into account, as well as the vacuum state and other deviations from the ideal state. Moreover, our method distinguishes between full N-party entanglement and states with M-party entanglement with M<N, including mixtures of the latter. We specialize to the case N=4 for illustrative purposes. In the optical case, where excitations are photons, our method can be implemented using linear optics.
A bound for the number of tournaments with specified scores

Abstract Let T (R) denote the set of all tournaments with score vector R = (r1, r2,…, rn). R. A. Brualdi and Li Qiao (“Proceedings of the Silver Jubilee Conference in Combinatorics at Waterloo,” in press) conjectured that if R is strong with r1 ≤ r2 ≤ … ≤ rn, then | T (R)| ≥ 2n−2 with equality if and only if R = (1, 1, 2,…, n − 3, n − 2, n − 2). In this paper their conjecture is proved, and this result is used to establish a lower bound on the cardinality of T (R) for every R.
Genetic base of irrigated rice in Latin America and the Caribbean 1971 to 1989

The trend to commercially exploit a reduced genetic base in most crops has raised concerns about the possibility of large yield reductions as a result of environmental disturbances. This study describes the genetic base of irrigated rice (Oryza sativa L.) from Latin America and the Caribbean. Schematic pedigrees of 143 cultivars released between 1971 and 1989 were constructed, and releases were grouped by the periods 1971 to 1975, 1976 to 1980, 1981 to 1985, and 1986 to 1989. The contribution of landraces was estimated by assuming they provided 50% of their genes in each single cross (.)
Is tubulin a glycoprotein

[14C]Glucosamine is incorporated in vivo in mouse brain into the major protein species present in purified tubulin preparations when analyzed both by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by isoelectric focusing. The radioactivity incorporated into tubulin can be recovered as a mixture of glucosamine and galactosamine.
Asymmetric backscattering of ultraviolet light by low-refractive index thin film of tilted alumina nanorods

Asymmetric backscattering was observed at 266 nm for tilted alumina nanorods array. Novel approach for modeling of light scattering by nanoporous films was proposed and was shown to be in good agreement with measured data.
Near-threshold NN→dπ reaction in chiral perturbation theory

The near-threshold $\mathit{np}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}d{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$ cross section is calculated in chiral perturbation theory to next-to-leading order in the expansion parameter $\sqrt{M{m}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}}/{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}_{\ensuremath{\chi}}$. At this order irreducible pion loops contribute to the relevant pion-production operator. Although their contribution to this operator is finite, considering initial- and final-state distortions produces a linear divergence in its matrix elements. We renormalize this divergence by introducing a counterterm, whose value we choose to reproduce the threshold $\mathit{np}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}d{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}$ cross section measured at TRIUMF. The energy dependence of this cross section is then predicted in chiral perturbation theory, being determined by the production of p-wave pions, and also by energy dependence in the amplitude for the production of s-wave pions. With an appropriate choice of the counterterm, the chiral prediction for this energy dependence converges well.
A Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in Tetherin Promotes Retrovirus Restriction In Vivo

Tetherin is a membrane protein of unusual topology expressed from rodents to humans that accumulates enveloped virus particles on the surface of infected cells. However, whether this ‘tethering’ activity promotes or restricts retroviral spread during acute retrovirus infection in vivo is controversial. We report here the identification of a single nucleotide polymorphism in the Tetherin gene of NZW/LacJ (NZW) mice that mutated the canonical ATG start site to GTG. Translation of NZW Tetherin from downstream ATGs deleted a conserved dual-tyrosine endosomal sorting motif, resulting in higher cell surface expression and more potent inhibition of Friend retrovirus release compared to C57BL/6 (B6) Tetherin in vitro. Analysis of (B6×NZW)F1 hybrid mice revealed that increased Tetherin cell surface expression in NZW mice is a recessive trait in vivo. Using a classical genetic backcrossing approach, NZW Tetherin expression strongly correlated with decreased Friend retrovirus replication and pathogenesis. However, the protective effect of NZW Tetherin was not observed in the context of B6 Apobec3/Rfv3 resistance. These findings identify the first functional Tetherin polymorphism within a mammalian host, demonstrate that Tetherin cell surface expression is a key parameter for retroviral restriction, and suggest the existence of a restriction factor hierarchy to counteract pathogenic retrovirus infections in vivo.
Impacts of stormwater discharges on the nearshore benthic environment of Santa Monica Bay.

Although large loads of potentially toxic constituents are discharged from coastal urban watersheds, very little is known about the fates and eventual impacts of these stormwater inputs once they enter the ocean. The goal of this study was to examine the effects of stormwater discharges on the benthic marine environment of Santa Monica Bay. Sediment samples were collected across a gradient of stormwater impact following significantly sized storm events offshore Ballona Creek (a predominantely developed watershed) and Malibu Creek (a predominantely undeveloped watershed). Sediments offshore Malibu Creek had a greater proportion of fine-grained sediments, organic carbon, and naturally occurring metals (i.e., aluminum and iron), whereas sediments offshore Ballona Creek had higher concentrations of anthropogenic metals (i.e., lead) and organic pollutants (i.e., total DDT, total PCB, total PAH). The accumulation of anthropogenic sediment contaminants offshore Ballona Creek was evident up to 2 km downcoast and 4 km upcoast from the creek mouth and sediment concentrations covaried with distance from the discharge. Although changes in sediment texture, organic content, and an increase in sediment contamination were observed, there was little or no alteration to the benthic communities offshore either Ballona or Malibu Creek. Both sites were characterized as having an abundance, species richness, biodiversity and benthic response index similar to shallow water areas distant from creek mouths throughout the Southern California Bight. There was not a preponderance of pollution tolerant, nor a lack or pollution sensitive, species offshore either creek mouth.
Δ9-THC: Effect on acquisition and retention of a one-trial passive avoidance response

In two separate experiments, the effect of 5 or 15 mg/kg Δ9-THC on acquisition and retention of a one-trial passive avoidance in rats was investigated. Neither dose affected passive avoidance. However, THC at 5 mg/kg appeared to interfere with retention using an active retest procedure, only if an S was retested under the influence of the drug. It was concluded that the drug could have some specific effect on performance rather than memory.
Aging and resistance to oxidative damage in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Abstract The dauer larva state and the age-1 mutation, both of which extend life-span in Caenorhabditis elegans, were tested for hyperresistance to cellular damage that may be relevant to aging. The age-1 strain TJ401 displayed hyperresistance to oxidative stress relative to its parental strain. The activities of two enzymes that protect cells from oxidative damage, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, showed an age-dependent increase in mutant animals, which was not seen in the parental strain. These increases in activities paralleled the time course of the hyperresistance. The results are consistent with the age-1 gene product functioning as a negative regulator of SOD and catalase activities. In wild-type and age-1 dauer larvae, elevated levels of SOD activity, but not of catalase activity, were present when compared with young adults. The common increase in SOD activity prompted cloning the C. elegans Cu/Zn SOD gene. Its position on the physical map of the genome was in the region to which the age-1 gene has been genetically mapped, but it is unlikely that a mutation at the SOD locus confers the Age phenotype. Results support the free radical theory of aging by suggesting that the increased resistance to oxidative stress may be among the causes of increased longevity in both strain TJ401 and in the dauer larva.
SU‐GG‐T‐565: Radiotherapy of Patients with Bilateral Hip Replacement Using Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (RapidArc)

Purpose: To investigate a volumetric modulated arc therapy (RapidArc)‐based scheme to improve dose homogeneity, target coverage and organ at risk sparing in prostate cancer patients with hip replacement. Method and Materials: RapidArc (RA) treatment plans for previously treated 7 prostate patients with hip replacement are generated and compared with the IMRT plans used in their treatments. The total prescription dose of 50.4 Gy is delivered in 28 fractions of 1.8 Gy/fraction. Organs at risk (OARs) include bladder, rectum, small bowel and femoral heads. Magnetic Resonanceimages are co‐registered with computed tomographyimages to correctly delineate prostate volume. Inhomogeneity correction is turned off for both IMRT and RA plans. Single (sRA) and double (dRA) RapidArc plans are generated and compared with the seven‐field IMRT plans. Two 60‐degree lateral sectors between 60–120 degrees and 240–300 degrees were skipped to avoid irradiation through the high Z materials in the hip. All plans are optimized and normalized to provide a minimum of 94% target coverage with the prescription dose.Results: The maximum PTV doses are 54.5Gy (IMRT), 57.1Gy (sRA) and 52.8Gy (dRA). Overall, dRA performed better in PTV coverage, dose homogeneity and the OAR sparing than did sRA and IMRT. For instance, V100 for rectum is 13%, 30% and 50% with dRA, IMRT and sRA. Homogeneity index (HI) is 103.5%, 106.7% and 109% for dRA, IMRT and sRA, respectively. The total monitor unit is 968 MU (IMRT), 429 MU (sRA ) and 518 MU (dRA). Conclusion: RapidArc with one and two arcs is investigated in prostate cancer patients with hip replacement. Only RapidArc with two arcs (dRA) showed some improvements in OAR and healthy tissue sparing, target coverage and dose homogeneity with respect to IMRT. The treatment delivery is more efficient with single arc RapidArc. Conflict of Interest: Sponsored by Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
Autocatalytic Radical Ring Opening of N‐Cyclopropyl‐N‐phenylamines Under Aerobic Conditions − Exclusive Formation of the Unknown Oxygen Adducts, N‐(1,2‐Dioxolan‐3‐yl)‐N‐phenylamines

In contrast to the high stability of N-alkyl-N-cyclopropylamine derivatives, N-cyclopropyl-N-phenylamine (1a) has been found to slowly convert into the hitherto unknown product N-(1,2-dioxolan-3-yl)-N-phenylamine (1f) at room temperature under aerobic conditions. The rate of this conversion was found to be significantly increased by the presence of a catalytic amount of the single-electron oxidizing agent tris(1,10-phenanthroline)FeIII hexafluorophosphate or of the hydrogen-abstracting agents benzoyl peroxide or tert-butyl peroxide/UV light. Based on the regio- and stereochemical outcomes of aerobic ring-opening reactions of some specifically ring-methylated derivatives of 1a, namely N-(1-methylcyclopropyl)-N-phenylamine (2a), N-(trans-2-methylcyclopropyl)-N-phenylamine (3a), and N-(cis-2-methylcyclopropyl)-N-phenylamine (4a), as well as other experimental evidence, an autocatalytic mechanism analogous to that of the oxygenation of vinylcyclopropanes is proposed for the formation of the 1,2-dioxolane product. The oxidative radical ring opening and related chemistry of these novel derivatives could be valuable in mechanistic studies of heteroatom-oxidizing enzymes.
Cystosarcoma phyllodes: a clinicopathologic analysis of 42 cases.

A retrospective clinicopathologic evaluation of 42 patients with cystosarcoma phyllodes was undertaken to determine if tumor size, contour, degree of stromal atypia and mitotic activity were reliable indicators of clinical behavior. Excluding size, the latter three determinants showed a positive correlation with prognosis and served as the basis of a classification in which 18 benign, 5 borderline and 19 malignant cystosarcomas were diagnosed. The tumors occurred in women averaging 44.3 years of age who most often presented with a palpable occasionally painful mass with a median diameter of 5 cm. Excision or simple mastectomy were the more frequent forms of therapy. Local recurrences were experienced by 6 patients and occurred in all 3 categories of tumor. Only malignant neoplasms developed systemic metastases which was observed in 4 patients 3 of which have died. One borderline tumor recurred 14 times and eventually proved fatal as a result of contiguous pulmonary involvement. A plea is made to label the stroma of malignant cystosarcomas as to the cell(s) of origin so future investigators may evaluate the effect of various soft tissue patterns on prognosis.
Model Predictive Control for Dynamic Resource Allocation

The present paper develops a simple, easy to interpret algorithm for a large class of dynamic allocation problems with unknown, volatile demand. Potential applications include ad display problems and network revenue management problems. The algorithm operates in an online fashion and relies on reoptimization and forecast updates. The algorithm is robust (as witnessed by uniform worst-case guarantees for arbitrarily volatile demand) and in the event that demand volatility (or equivalently deviations in realized demand from forecasts) is not large, the method is simultaneously optimal. Computational experiments, including experiments with data from real-world problem instances, demonstrate the practicality and value of the approach. From a theoretical perspective, we introduce a new device---a balancing property---that allows us to understand the impact of changing bases in our scheme.
Antibacterial action of N-alkyl p-aminobenzoic acid derivatives

Summary1. The bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity of a series of N-substituted p-aminobenzoic acid derivatives have been determined.2. Among the acids the order of decreasing activity is as follows: p-butylaminobenzoic acid > p-ethylaminobenzoic acid > p-aminobenzoic acid.3. Of 2 procaine hydrochloride (U.S.P.) derivatives, the N-butyl derivative displays greater antibacterial action than the N-ethyl.4. Among the methyl and ethyl esters of p-aminobenzoic acid, the N-propyl derivatives display more activity than the N-ethyl or N-butyl compounds. The latter 2 were approximately equal in respect to antibacterial action.5. The order of decreasing activity among the p-alkylaminobenzamides was: butyl > propyl > ethyl.6. Diethylaminoethyl-p-n-butylaminobenzate hydrochloride and p-n-butylaminobenzamide were not antagonized by the presence of p-aminobenzoic acid when tested in trypticase soy broth against Streptococcus pyogenes (C203).
Spinning of high‐molecular‐weight liquid crystalline polyarylates

Attempts to spin high-molecular-weight liquid crystalline polyarylates frequently lead to decreases in strength rather than increases as a result of draw resonance in spinning and formation of thick–thin yarns. This phenomenon is attributed to the onset of highly non-Newtonian elongational flow behavior for these polymers. However, the use of small spinneret capillaries, (≤ 6 mils diameter) maintained at temperatures below the melting point of the polymer but above the freezing point, and selection of copolymers which have relatively low heats of fusion (≤ 10 J/g) can eliminate draw resonance and produce relatively high-strength fibers (up to about 14 dN/tex) without heat strengthening. With critical selection of polymer composition (i.e., copolymers containing phenylhydroquinoneterephthalate as the major component and 1,4 hydroxybenzoic acid plus, optionally, a small amount of another monomer as minor components), spinning of high-molecular-weight polymers can be effected above the melting point of the polymers without draw resonance. Tensile strengths as high as 18 dN/tex (as-spun) have been obtained in this way. A mechanism for these effects is proposed.
Developmental thyroid hormone insufficiency and brain development: a role for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)?

Abstract Thyroid hormones (TH) are essential for normal brain development. Even modest degrees of TH disruption experienced in utero can result in neuropsychological deficits in children despite normal thyroid status at birth. Neurotrophins have been implicated in a host of brain cellular functions, and in particular, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has a well documented role in development and function of the nervous system. A number of laboratories have reported the effects of TH administration or severe deprivation on neurotrophin expression in brain. This review provides an overview and update of recent developments in the thyroid field as they relate to the nervous system. Secondly, we describe an animal model of low level TH insufficiency that is more relevant for studying the neurological consequences associated with the modest TH perturbations of subclinical hypothyroidism, or that would be anticipated from exposure to environmental contaminants with a mode-of-action that involves the thyroid. Finally, we review the available in vivo literature on TH-mediated alterations in neurotrophins, particularly BDNF, and discuss their possible contribution to brain impairments associated with TH insufficiency. The observations of altered BDNF protein and gene expression have varied as a function of hypothyroid model, age, and brain region assessed. Only a handful of studies have investigated the relationship of neurotrophins and TH using models of TH deprivation that are not severe, and dose–response information is sparse. Differences in the models used, species, doses, regions assessed, age at assessment, and method employed make it difficult to reach a consensus. Based on the available literature, the case for a direct role for BDNF in thyroid-mediated effects in the brain is not compelling. We conclude that delineation of the potential role of neurotrophins in TH-mediated neuronal development may be more fruitful by examining additional neurotrophins (e.g., nerve growth factor), moderate degrees of TH insufficiency, and younger ages. We further suggest that investigation of BDNF invoked by synaptic activation (i.e., plasticity, enrichment, trauma) may serve to elucidate a role of thyroid hormone in BDNF-regulated synaptic function.
Lipid and sulfur substituted prenylcysteine analogs as human Icmt inhibitors.

Inhibition of isoprenylcysteine carboxyl methyltransferase (Icmt) offers a promising strategy for K-Ras driven cancers. We describe the synthesis and inhibitory activity of substrate-based analogs derived from several novel scaffolds. Modifications of both the prenyl group and thioether of N-acetyl-S-farnesyl-l-cysteine (AFC), a substrate for human Icmt (hIcmt), have resulted in low micromolar inhibitors of Icmt and have given insights into the nature of the prenyl binding site of hIcmt.
Angiotensin II signal transduction: Stimulation of multiple mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways.

Abstract Angiotensin II (AngII) ∗ ∗The abbreviations used in this article are as follows: α1AR, α type 1 adrenoreceptor; ACE, angiotensin converting enzyme; AngII, angiotensin II; AT 1 receptor, angiotensin type 1 receptor; AT 2 receptor, angiotensin type 2 receptor; BMK, Big MAP kinase; CADTK, Ca 2+ -dependent tyrosine kinase; Cdc42Hs, small G-protein belonging to the Rho family of G-proteins; COS-7, kidney fibroblast cell line; Csk, c-Src kinase, inhibits Src-family tyrosine kinases by phosphorylating inhibitory tyrosine residues of Src-family kinases; EGF, epidermal growth factor; ERK1/2, extracellular regulated kinase; GDP, guanine nucleotide di-phosphate; GTP, guanine nucleotide tri-phosphate; GTPase, guanine nucleotide tri-phosphatase, G q , G q α subunit of heterotrimeric G-proteins; G i , G i α subunit of heterotrimeric G-proteins; Grb2, growth factor receptor binding protein 2; IL-1. interleukin 1; m1AchR, muscarinic type 1 acetylcholine receptor; MAP, mitogen-activated protein; MASM, mouse aortic smooth muscle cells; MKP, mitogen-activated kinase phosphatase; JNK, c-Jun N-terminal kinase; LPA, lysophosphatidic acid; PAK, p21-activated kinase; PC 12 cells, pheochromocytoma cellline; PDGF, platelet derived growth factor; PLC, phospholipase C; PKC-ζ, ζ-isoform of protein kinase C; Rac, small G-protein belonging to the Rho family of G-proteins; Ras, small G-protein belonging to the Ras family of G-proteins; RTK, receptor tyrosine kinase, SAPK, stress activated protein kinase; Sos, son of sevenless, TNF, tumor necrosis factor; VSMC, vascular smooth muscle cells. is the main effector of the renin-angiotensin system and influences cell growth, migration, differentiation, and apoptosis. The mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase family of serine-threonine kinases integrates diverse extracellular stimuli and is involved in the regulation of cell growth and apoptosis. AngII regulates activity of the MAP kinase family members extracellular regulated kinases (ERK1/2) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). This review discusses the signal transduction pathways leading to ERK1/2 and JNK activation by AngII.
Algorithmic ADC operating with a single reference voltage for PLL-based chemical sensing applications

This paper deals with the design of an algorithmic switched-capacitor analog-to-digital converter (ADC), operating with a single reference voltage, a single-ended amplifier, a single-ended comparator, and presenting a small input capacitance. The ADC requires two clock phases per conversion bit and N clock cycles to resolve the N-bits. The ADC achieves a measured peak signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) of 49.9 dB and a peak signal-to-noise-and-distortion-ratio (SNDR) of 46.7 dB at Pin = ?6dBFS with a sampling rate of 0.25 MS/s. The measured differential-non-linearity and integral-non-linearity are within +0.6/?0.5 and +0.2/?0.5 LSB, respectively. The ADC power consumption is 300 μW and it is implemented in 90 nm CMOS technology with a single power supply of 1.2 V. The ADC saves power at system-level by requiring only a single reference voltage. At system level, this solution is therefore not only robust but competitive as well.
Effects of Tolerance on the Anxiety-Reducing Function of Alcohol

• Thirty-two male social drinkers were arranged into two tolerance groups, based on changes in standing stability after ingestion of alcohol. Subjects consumed either a large (1.0 g/kg) or small (0.5 g/kg) dose of alcohol. On finishing their drinks, subjects were requested to interact with a female confederate whose continued silence induced anxiety. Heart rate, skin conductance, overt behavior, and self-report measures were taken. Heart rate increased more at the small than the large dose, consistent with the tension-reduction hypothesis. Further, heart rate of high-tolerance subjects increased significantly more than that of low-tolerance subjects, which suggests that alcohol was less effective at tension reduction for the high-tolerance group. Finally, measures of both skin conductance and heart rate showed significant dose-by-tolerance interactions. High-tolerance subjects were more aroused than were low-tolerance subjects at the small but not at the large dose, suggesting that high-tolerance subjects must consume more alcohol to achieve the same autonomic effect experienced by the low-tolerance subjects.
Surface oriented polymers for nonlinear optics

Abstract A large number of criterion must be met for a material to be of practical value in the development of wave guide optical switches. We have taken the approach that optimal and permanent orientation is of prime importance. We have addressed the question of alignment by developing techniques for the polymerization of aminoacids to form vertically oriented helices on gold surfaces. Using this approach, we have been able to grow layers of alanine, methylalanine (ethylglycine), leucine, and phenylalanine on gold deposited on silicon that are 1 - 2000 A thick. Further, grazing angle, FTIR measurement are consistent with the presence of only helical peptides for alanine and 90–95% helical forms of the peptides derive from the other aminoacids. These helical columns are oriented to a major extent vertically relative to the surface. The key feature that of the technique is the use of a base attachment for the gold surface that maps out the correct surface area corresponding to that required for the helices...
Plasticization of glassy polymers by CO2

A technique is described which uses differential scanning calorimetry to estimate the glass transition of polymers containing a dissolved gas. The technique is simple and appears to give reliable results. The effects of CO2 sorption at pressures up to 25 atm were examined in detail for poly(methyl methacrylate) and its blends with poly(vinylidene fluoride). Less extensive results for polystyrene, polycarbonate, poly(vinyl chloride), and poly(ethylene terephthalate) are also given. Reductions in Tg of up to 50°C are observed. A theoretical relation by Chow predicts results in reasonable agreement with the experimental data. These findings are relevant to various applications such as membrane separation processes for gases.
SU‐E‐J‐112: The Impact of Cine EPID Image Acquisition Frame Rate On Markerless Soft‐Tissue Tracking

Purpose: Although reduction of the cine EPID acquisition frame rate through multiple frame averaging may reduce hardware memory burden and decrease image noise, it can hinder the continuity of soft-tissue motion leading to poor auto-tracking results. The impact of motion blurring and image noise on the tracking performance was investigated. Methods: Phantom and patient images were acquired at a frame rate of 12.87Hz on an AS1000 portal imager. Low frame rate images were obtained by continuous frame averaging. A previously validated tracking algorithm was employed for auto-tracking. The difference between the programmed and auto-tracked positions of a Las Vegas phantom moving in the superior-inferior direction defined the tracking error (δ). Motion blurring was assessed by measuring the area change of the circle with the greatest depth. Additionally, lung tumors on 1747 frames acquired at eleven field angles from four radiotherapy patients are manually and automatically tracked with varying frame averaging. δ was defined by the position difference of the two tracking methods. Image noise was defined as the standard deviation of the background intensity. Motion blurring and image noise were correlated with δ using Pearson correlation coefficient (R). Results: For both phantom and patient studies, the auto-tracking errors increased atmore » frame rates lower than 4.29Hz. Above 4.29Hz, changes in errors were negligible with δ<1.60mm. Motion blurring and image noise were observed to increase and decrease with frame averaging, respectively. Motion blurring and tracking errors were significantly correlated for the phantom (R=0.94) and patient studies (R=0.72). Moderate to poor correlation was found between image noise and tracking error with R -0.58 and -0.19 for both studies, respectively. Conclusion: An image acquisition frame rate of at least 4.29Hz is recommended for cine EPID tracking. Motion blurring in images with frame rates below 4.39Hz can substantially reduce the accuracy of auto-tracking. This work is supported in part by the Varian Medical Systems, Inc.« less
The -4 phenylalanine is required for substrate ubiquitination catalyzed by HECT ubiquitin ligases.

The reaction cycle of HECT domain ubiquitin ligases consists of three steps: 1) binding of an E2 protein, 2) transfer of ubiquitin from E2 to the HECT domain, and 3) transfer of ubiquitin to the substrate. We report the identification of a determinant that is specifically required for the last step of this cycle, a phenylalanine residue located four amino acids from the C terminus of most HECT domains, referred to here as the -4F. Alteration of this residue in human E6AP and Saccharomyces cerevisae Rsp5p did not affect ubiquitin-thioester formation, but effectively blocked substrate ubiquitination. Alteration of the -4F to alanine with concomitant substitution of a nearby residue to phenylalanine only partially restored Rsp5p activity, indicating that precise spatial placement of this residue is important. C-terminally extended E6AP and Rsp5p proteins were also defective for substrate ubiquitination, providing a likely biochemical understanding of a previously isolated Angelman syndrome-associated mutation of E6AP that alters the stop codon of an otherwise wild-type gene. We propose that the -4F may play a role in orienting ubiquitin when it is tethered to the HECT active site cysteine. This may be necessary to allow for approach of the incoming lysine ϵ-amino group of the substrate.
The laser printer as an agent of change

L'A. considere l'impact de l'impression laser et de ses developpements associes en tant qu'agent de changement. Comme l'invention de l'imprimerie il y a un demi-siecle, l'edition numerique et la publication assistee par ordinateur constituent une revolution dans le monde du livre, la revolution residant cette fois non plus dans la possibilite de fixer les textes mais bien au contraire dans le caractere fluide, flexible, non lineaire d'une typographie fondee sur un arrangement de points.