cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Drivers of Cost in Adult Thoracolumbar Spine Deformity Surgery.

Background In an era of rising health care costs, it is prudent to consider effective use of resources. Given the rapidly expanding elderly population with an anticipated increase in adult spinal deformity, identifying the significant cost drivers for the surgical management is an important step in the process of increasing sustainability and cost-effectiveness of adult spinal deformity surgery. Methods A total of 129 patients undergoing elective spine surgery for thoraco-lumbar deformity were enrolled in a prospective longitudinal registry. Patient-reported resource use during the 3-month postoperative period, including outpatient visits, spine-related diagnostic tests, injections, emergency department room visits, rehabilitation/skilled nursing facility utilization, and use of all medications, was collected in a single-center prospective registry. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to find the significant patient coefficient for the cost variability. Results The study population showed significant improvement (P Conclusions Our study demonstrates that several patient-specific, surgery-related factors, 90-day readmission and postdischarge inpatient rehabilitation use, were associated with increased cost associated with the adult deformity spine surgery.
Pathophysiology of Vasovagal Syncope: Role of Baroreceptor Mechanisms

Performance of vital and complex mental functions depends on an adequate cerebrovascular perfusion pressure which is regulated by cardiovascular reflexes such as the baroreceptor reflex. In VVS, however, the baroreflex appears to be overridden and unable to prevent the extreme low pressure and/or heart rate levels that lead to cerebral hypo-perfusion and ultimately result in loss of consciousness. In this chapter, we will outline the role and potential contribution of baroreflex mechanisms and specific baroreceptor areas to the development of VV episodes.
Learning from Other Countries: Comparing Experiences and Drawing Lessons for the United States

Are there any medical sociologists who believe in the notion of American “exceptionalism” and resist considering US healthcare policy in comparative perspective? Alternatively, are there any who question whether comparisons of seemingly vastly different settings can yield fruitful lessons for the US? This paper seeks to convince the dubious in the worlds of both academia and healthcare policymaking that a comparative lens best illuminates the successes and failures of American health care and the unique framework within which it operates. We have much to learn from the experiences of other countries, not only about healthcare policy but also about the political and social parameters and the norms and values that shape it and its outcomes. Moreover, despite apparent differences, there are important similarities between our struggles and those of other countries. Understanding how and why their efforts have succeeded or failed can inform a more fruitful direction for American endeavors.
On-line tutorials in undergraduate mathematics

This paper concerns a blended learning environment in introductory undergraduate mathematics, where web-based training is integrated with classroom instruction. Such an environment is believed to be conducive to students' individual learning preferences. This paper examines students' experiences and needs, and compares them to a model of the student assumed by the on-line tutoring systems. Based on particular case studies I argue that regular practice using the on-line tutoring system may change the students' personal meaning of the learning activity and consequently change students' attitude and work habit towards higher level of industriousness and perseverance in their study. However, web-based training is less influential in terms of other aspects such as raising students' interest in the subject and teaching them to think mathematically.
Development of a continuous, axially-resolved, optical monitor of spinal cord blood flow

Spinal cord ischemia is a tragic and devastating complication of surgery and trauma. We have developed a catheter-based optical tool to continuously monitor spinal cord hemodynamics and oxygen saturation at multiple sites along the spine.
Deconfliction in High-Density Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems

Small unmanned aerial vehicles play increasingly important roles in many industries and organizations in the United States and around the globe. As usage becomes more widespread, airspace will beco...
Serum vitamin D and cognition in a cohort of Boston-area Puerto Ricans

Background: Vitamin D has been suggested as a protective factor for cognitive health, however results of prior studies have been mixed. To examine whether serum 25(OH)D concentration is related to cognition and cognitive decline in a study of Boston Area Puerto Ricans. Methods: We examined the association between serum 25(OH)D, cognitive function and cognitive decline in a longitudinal study of 967 Boston Area Puerto Rican adults. Results: In analyses adjusted for potential confounders, participants in the bottom quintile of 25(OH)D had similar cognitive function at baseline, as measured by a global cognitive score (mean difference: 0.09 (95% CI: -0.02, 0.19); p-trend: 0.18), and similar 2-year rates of cognitive decline (mean difference: -0.01 (95% CI: -0.09, 0.07), p-trend: 0.61) as those in the top 25(OH)D quintile. No significant associations were observed between baseline serum 25(OH)D concentration and 2-year change in individual cognitive test scores or change in executive function or memory domains. Conclusions: We observed no significant association between serum 25(OH)D and cognition in this cohort of Boston Area Puerto Ricans.
Military Sexual Trauma and Sexual Health in Women Veterans: A Systematic Review.

Abstract Introduction Sexual trauma during military service is prevalent among women veterans and is associated with multiple negative physical and mental health sequelae. The high prevalence of military sexual trauma (MST), sexual harassment and assault during military service, has prompted the Veterans Health Administration to enact several policies to address the detrimental health impacts of this experience. MST also negatively impacts veterans’ sexual health, yet the field lacks a systematic review of the relationship between MST and sexual health among women veterans. Aim To systematically review the existing research on the impact of MST on sexual health in women veterans. Methods The published literature examining MST and sexual health in women veterans prior to July 19, 2018, was reviewed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for systematic reviews. Articles were abstracted and evaluated for risk of bias. Main Outcome Measures 6 articles were identified that met inclusion criteria; they generally evidenced a low risk of bias and thus a high quality of evidence. Results indicated that MST is associated with sexual dysfunction and low sexual satisfaction among women veterans. Other mental health concerns were also commonly comorbid with female sexual dysfunction in this population. This body of literature is small and methodologically limited by over-reliance on observational study design, use of non-validated and single-item measures of sexual health, and failure to comprehensively assess trauma history, including sexual and non-sexual trauma. Conclusions Sexual dysfunction is a salient health issue for women veterans who experienced MST. Additional research is needed with improved designs, validated measures of sexual function, and comprehensive assessment of trauma to learn about the specific impact of MST on women veterans’ sexual health. We present recommendations for future directions in terms of research, clinical practice, education, and policy. Pulverman CS, Christy AY, Kelly UA. Military Sexual Trauma and Sexual Health in Women Veterans: A Systematic Review. Sex Med Rev 2019;7:393–407.
The Effect of Prophylactic Hypothermia on Neurophysiological and Functional Measures in the Setting of Iatrogenic Spinal Cord Impact Injury.

Background Iatrogenic spinal cord injury (iSCI) during spinal corrective surgery can result in devastating complications, such as paraplegia or paraparesis. Perioperatively, iSCI often occurs as a direct injury during spinal cord instrumentation placement. Currently, treatment of iSCI remains limited to posttraumatic hypothermia, which has demonstrated some value in recent clinical trials. Here we report the outcomes of preinjury hypothermia initiated preprocedurally and maintained for a considerable time after iSCI. Methods Twenty-six female Sprague–Dawley rats were assigned at random to either a normothermic group (36 °C) or a hypothermic group (32 °C) and then underwent a laminectomy procedure at the T8 level. Each group was further divided at random to receive a 200-kdyn force contusive spinal cord injury or a sham impact. Hypothermic rats were then rewarmed after 2 hours of hypothermic treatment. Behavioral scores, temperature profiles, weights, and somatosensory evoked potentials were obtained at baseline and at specified time points after the procedure. Results The median survival was 42 days for the iSCI hypothermic group and 11 days for the iSCI normothermic group (hazard ratio, 3.82; 95% confidence interval, 1.52–9.57). The probability of survival was significantly higher in the iSCI hypothermic group compared with the iSCI normothermic group (χ2 = 4.18; P = 0.040). The hypothermic group exhibited a higher Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) locomotor rating scale score (17 vs. 14; P Conclusions The use of prophylactic hypothermia before iSCI was significantly associated with an increased survival rate, higher BBB scores, and improved neurophysiological measures.
Differences in sleep architecture according to body mass index in children with type 1 diabetes.

Slow wave sleep (SWS), or deep sleep, is thought to be the most restorative stage of sleep and may be of a particular interest in the pathophysiology of obesity. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in sleep architecture based on body mass index (BMI) among a pediatric population with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). We hypothesized that children with T1DM who are obese would have less SWS than those who are not obese. Of 105 children with T1DM (mean age 13.54 years, 49.5% females) in this study, 19% were obese, 22% were overweight, and 59% had a normal BMI (81% non-obese). The overall SWS% among the participants was 13.2%. In contrast to our hypothesis, there was no significant difference in SWS% between obese and non-obese participants. However, the percent of time spent in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep among obese participants was significantly lower than those who were not obese (P = .022), which remained after adjusting the result for multiple covariates. While we found no significant association between the SWS time and BMI, obese adolescents with T1DM spent less time in REM sleep than those who were not obese. This study adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the importance of addressing sleep in clinical care of youth with T1DM.
It's All in the Family: Parents' Economic Worries and Youth's Perceptions of Financial Stress and Educational Outcomes.

Perceived economic stress and lower subjective social status (SSS) have adverse effects on parents’ and adolescents’ emotional well-being, but less is known about associations with academic adjustment among preadolescent youth. This study examined associations between SSS, perceived economic stress about needs and wants, and academic adjustment among preadolescents and early adolescents (n = 136, ages 8 to 14 years, 44% girls, 61% White) and their parents (n = 164, majority middle- to higher SES). Overall, youth who worried more about their family’s economic needs had lower academic achievement and youth who reported lower SSS had lower academic motivation. No significant differences were observed in the strength of associations between parent and youth perceptions and academic outcomes for early adolescents versus preadolescents.
Support acidity as a descriptor for reverse water-gas shift over Mo2C-based catalysts

Abstract Mo2C-based catalysts are highly active and selective for the reverse water-gas shift (RWGS) reaction. By varying the physical and chemical properties of the support, the surface composition of Mo2C, and in turn, RWGS performance can be controlled. Effects of support structure properties are studied via comparison of Al and Si-based amorphous supports (γ-Al2O3 and SiO2) with MFI-type crystalline aluminosilicate zeolites. Support chemical effects are studied via Si/Al ratio and extra framework cation of ZSM-5 (H and Na, Si/Al = 50 and 200). An array of analytical techniques show that structural and chemical characteristics of the support are preserved post-carburization and indicate that support acidity is a key descriptor of Mo oxidation state and RWGS performance.
Joint Modeling of Distances and Times in Point-Count Surveys

Removal and distance modeling are two common methods to adjust counts for imperfect detection in point-count surveys. Several recent articles have formulated models to combine them into a distance-removal framework. We observe that these models fall into two groups building from different assumptions about the joint distribution of observed distances and first times to detection. One approach assumes the joint distribution results from a Poisson process (PP). The other assumes an independent joint (IJ) distribution with its joint density being the product of its marginal densities. We compose an IJ+PP model that more flexibly models the joint distribution and accommodates both existing approaches as special cases. The IJ+PP model matches the bias and coverage of the true model for data simulated from either PP or IJ models. In contrast, PP models underestimate abundance from IJ simulations, while IJ models overestimate abundance from PP simulations. We apply all three models to surveys of golden-crowned sparrows in Alaska. Only the IJ+PP model reasonably fits the joint distribution of observed distances and first times to detection. Model choice affects estimates of abundance and detection but has little impact on the magnitude of estimated covariate effects on availability and perceptibility. Supplementary materials accompanying this paper appear online.
Topologically-Informed Atlas Learning.

We present a new technique that enables manifold learning to accurately embed data manifolds that contain holes, without discarding any topological information. Manifold learning aims to embed high dimensional data into a lower dimensional Euclidean space by learning a coordinate chart, but it requires that the entire manifold can be embedded in a single chart. This is impossible for manifolds with holes. In such cases, it is necessary to learn an atlas: a collection of charts that collectively cover the entire manifold. We begin with many small charts, and combine them in a bottom-up approach, where charts are only combined if doing so will not introduce problematic topological features. When it is no longer possible to combine any charts, each chart is individually embedded with standard manifold learning techniques, completing the construction of the atlas. We show the efficacy of our method by constructing atlases for challenging synthetic manifolds; learning human motion embeddings from motion capture data; and learning kinematic models of articulated objects.
‘Well, what was the message you got?’: the discursive power of Naomi Osaka and her peaceful protest at the 2020 U.S. Open

In September 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, professional tennis player Naomi Osaka wore a black face mask for each of her seven matches towards her U.S. Open victory in protest against systemic...
Parasitic Egg Ejection by Vireo gilvus (Warbling Vireo) in New England

Vireo gilvus (Warbling Vireo) is the smallest bird species in North America known to eject Molothrus ater (Brown-headed Cowbird) eggs from their nests. Populations eject parasitic eggs in central North America and the Great Lakes region but not in western North America. The geographic differences in behavior may reflect the range distributions of 2 subspecies. However, experimental studies of egg ejection in eastern populations are currently lacking. To address this gap, I experimentally parasitized 3 Warbling Vireo nests in Massachusetts using real and model cowbird eggs. At all 3 nests, Warbling Vireos ejected the parasitic egg. To my knowledge, this is the first documented account of parasitic egg ejection by Warbling Vireos east of the Great Lakes region.
Novel methods for accurate, multi-modality in-vivo image registration with pathologic specimens: Preliminary results

2250 Objectives To improve the correlation between in-vivo 3D images of the breast and pathology findings after mastectomy. Methods A high resolution breast PET/CT scanner has been built at our institution and is being used in several clinical trials, including the assessment of the potential of dedicated breast PET for the monitoring of tumor response to treatment. Pathology is the gold standard to assess patient response to treatment. Currently spatial correlation between pathology and radiographic images is very coarse, potentially leading to misleading results. We propose a method based on the constraining of the mastectomy specimen into a mold created from a breast CT scan acquired prior to surgery. The fresh mastectomy specimen undergoes a CT scan and is then sliced into thin (2-5mm) slices while in the mold. Location of the pathology samples is marked and an x-ray image of each slice is taken. Non-rigid registration is used to align the data acquired pre and post surgery. Results The first patient case to test this approach has undergone mastectomy. Preliminary registration between the CT images acquired pre and post surgery showed reasonable spatial correlation. Specimen orientation was conserved during slicing and overall uniform, 5 mm-thick sagittal slices were obtained, x-rayed and fixated for subsequent histo-patholohical studies. CT images acquired pre and post surgery have been registered. Histopathological analysis of the acquired data is ongoing. Conclusions A novel method for the handling of mastectomy specimens that aims at providing very accurate spatial localization of pathology samples in breast cancer has been proposed and tested on one patient case. If successful, this method will prove extremely useful to assess the accuracy of in vivo imaging modalities like PET to predict response in breast cancer patients, as well as for the validation of new image reconstruction algorithms for the diagnosis of microscopic metastases in breast cancer patients. Research Support This work is supported by grant UL1 RR024146 from the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR) a component of the NIH, and NIH Roadmap for Medical Research, and by the NIH grants R01CA129561and R01EB002138
An Introduction to Maps and Atlases of the Brain

Publisher Summary This chapter introduces the brain maps applied to a variety of questions and problems in health and disease. The use of brain maps is as varied as their construction. Their utility results from their capacity to measure, visualize, compare, and summarize brain images. Maps can take on many forms, from descriptions of structure to function of the whole brain to maps of groups or populations. Individual systems of the brain can be mapped as can change over time, as in development or degeneration. Maps enable comparison across individuals, modalities, or states. Differences between species can be catalogued. But in most cases, the value added by brain maps is unique and a critical ability to integrate information from multiple sources. Although dependent upon appropriate coordinate systems, deformation methods, and visualization strategies, accurate and representative brain maps hold the most promise for helping to create a comprehensive understanding of brain in health and disease.
A novel pathway for phosphorylated oligosaccharide biosynthesis : identification of an oligosaccharide-specific phosphate methyltransferase in dictyostelium discoideum

Abstract The N-linked oligosaccharides on three lysosomal enzymes in Dictyostelium discoideum were found to contain mannose 6-phosphomethyl residues. We have identified and partially characterized a novel S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methyltransferase that is probably responsible for the synthesis of this unusual diester from Man-6-P. The enzyme selectively methylates the phosphate group of Man-6-P (Km 4.3 mM). Glucose-6-P and fructose-1-P are relatively poor acceptors; however, the enzyme is inactive against a broad array of other phosphorylated compounds. Using model di-, tri-, and pentasaccharide acceptors that include portions of the three different branches of high mannose-type oligosaccharides, we found that the enzyme prefers terminal alpha 1----2-linked Man-6-P residues (Km 0.15-1.25 mM) found on the known phosphorylated branches. The enzyme is membrane bound, has a neutral pH optimum and cofractionates on sucrose gradients with GlcNAc-1-P transferase, which resembles its mammalian counterpart, and is, presumably, the first enzyme in the phosphorylation pathway. Based on the substrate specificity and colocalization with GlcNAc-1-P transferase, the phosphate methyltransferase is likely to be responsible for the generation of mannose-6-phosphomethyldiester on Dictyostelium oligosaccharides.
Clinical features and correlates of gemcitabine-associated lung injury: findings from the RADAR project.

BACKGROUND Gemcitabine is a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent structurally and pharmacologically similar to cytarabine. Recently, instances of severe gemcitabine-associated lung injury have been reported. Herein, investigators affiliated with the Research on Adverse Drug Events and Reports (RADAR) pharmacovigilance program evaluated clinical characteristics of gemcitabine-associated severe acute lung injury from clinical trial reports, medical literature case reports, and spontaneous reports to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS). METHODS Clinical data were obtained by reviewing adverse event case reports for gemcitabine-associated lung injury as reported in the medical literature and in the FDA AERS database. Upper limit estimates of ADE rate were derived from review of published clinical trials reporting gemcitabine-associated lung injury rates of 10% or higher. RESULTS A total of 178 reports of gencitabine-associated lung injury were identified; in AERS, there were 55 cases from clinical trials and 92 spontaneous reports. A comprehensive search revealed 31 medical literature reports. Clinical features of gemcitabine-associated lung injury included dyspnea, fever, pulmonary infiltrate, and cough with recognition of toxicity occurring after a median duration of 48 (range, 1-529) days after initiation of gemcitabine. The taxanes, docetaxel and paclitaxel, were frequently reported as coadministered therapies. Eleven Phase II or Phase III clinical trials with 317 patients identified gemcitabine-associated lung injury rates of greater than 10%, with the highest rates (22% and 42%) being observed in Phase III clinical trials where Hodgkin disease patients were treated with a regimen that included gemcitabine and bleomycin. CONCLUSIONS High rates of gemcitabine-associated severe lung injury were observed when gemcitabine was combined with other therapies known to also cause lung injury. Physicians should have a high index of suspicion for this toxicity and report the relevant clinical findings to the FDA's AERS. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society.
Stimulation of the synthesis of very low density lipoproteins in rooster liver by estradiol

Abstract A sensitive, specific, and rapid immunochemical method for the measurement of the synthesis of lipoproteins in rooster liver is described. Incubation of liver slices with [3H]leucine resulted in the incorporation of radioactivity into protein material that could be precipitated from crude extracts by a monospecific antibody directed against the antigen common to plasma very low density and low density lipoproteins (very low density lipoprotein antigen). Use of this assay permitted the demonstration of a 4-fold increase in the rate of hepatic synthesis of the very low density lipoprotein antigen occurring 16 hours after the administration of estrogen to roosters. Since under these conditions as much as 18% of the total protein synthesized by the rooster liver represented very low density lipoprotein antigen, this system may provide a model for studying not only the effect of a steroid hormone on specific gene expression but also the mechanism of regulation of very low density lipoprotein synthesis in higher animals.
Forecasting U.S. Mortality: A Comparison of Box-Jenkins ARIMA and Structural Time Series Models

This article compares two methodologies for modeling and forecasting statistical time series models of demographic processes: Box-Jenkins ARIMA and structural time series analysis. The Lee-Carter m...
The gene encoding rat liver glycogen phosphorylase contains multiple polyadenylation signal sequences.

Abstract RNA blot analysis of rat liver and adipose tissues detected two glycogen phosphorylase (GP)-encoding transcripts. The polymerase chain reaction was used to characterize the 3′-noncoding region of the gene ( L-GP ) encoding liver-GP (L-GP) from the lean Zucker rat ( Fa/Fa ). Three distinct classes of colinear cDNA clones were identified by nucleotide (nt) sequence analysis, demonstrating that the L-GP gene contains at least three functional polyadenylation sites. The predominant L-GP transcript was generated by polyadenylation 130 nt 3′ from the end of the coding region. A previously uncharacterized L-GP transcript is generated by polyadenylation at 346 nt 3′ of the first polyadenylation site. Polyadenylation site selection does not appear to be regulated in a tissue-specific fashion. The relative steady-state L-GP mRNA levels in the different types of adipose tissues were comparable to, or exceeded transcript levels in liver.
Endogenous retroelements and autoimmunity

Detection of nucleic acids and induction of type I interferons (IFNs) are principal elements of antiviral defense, but can cause autoimmunity if misregulated. Cytosolic DNA detection activates a potent, cell-intrinsic antiviral response through a poorly defined pathway. In a screen for proteins relevant to this interferonstimulatory DNA (ISD) response, we identify 3' repair exonuclease 1 (Trex1). Mutations in the human trex1 gene cause Aicardi-Goutieres Syndrome (AGS) and chilblain lupus, but the molecular basis of these diseases is unknown. We define Trex1 as an essential negative regulator of the ISD response and delineate the genetic pathway linking Trex1 deficiency to lethal autoimmunity. We show that single-stranded DNA derived from endogenous retroelements accumulates in Trex1-deficient cells and that Trex1 can metabolize reverse-transcribed DNA. These findings reveal a cell-intrinsic mechanism for initiation of autoimmunity, implicate the ISD pathway as the cause of AGS, and suggest an unanticipated contribution of endogenous retroelements to autoimmunity.
Delayed cerebral vasospasm secondary to bacterial meningitis after lumbosacral spinal surgery: case report.

OBJECTIVE: Delayed cerebral vasospasm is an under-recognized complication of meningitis. This case report is important because it is the first to definitively associate vasospasm with meningitis using catheter angiography. Furthermore, it is the first to correlate the time course of delayed cerebral vasospasm with meningitis. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: We present a patient who developed a partial expressive aphasia 9 days after developing meningitis, consistent with cerebral vasospasm, after lumbosacral spinal surgery. INTERVENTION: Vasospasm was confirmed by angiography and transcranial Doppler sonography, and symptoms responded to hypervolemia, hypertension, and hemodilution therapy. CONCLUSION: If a patient develops neurological symptoms consistent with a timeline of delayed cerebral vasospasm in the setting of meningitis, angiographic evaluation and appropriate therapy should be pursued.
TRADE OVERLAP AND INTRA‐INDUSTRY TRADE

Theorizing about and empirically measuring “intraindustry trade” is pointless if “factor proportions” vary more within than among “industries.” Available data show this to be the case.
Myosin-based cortical tension in Dictyostelium resolved into heavy and light chain-regulated components

Cortical tension in most nonmuscle cells is due largely to force production by conventional myosin (myosin II) assembled into the cytoskeleton. Cytoskeletal contraction in smooth muscle and nonmuscle cells is influenced by the degree of myosin filament assembly, and by activation of myosin motor function via regulatory light chain phosphorylation. Recombinant Dictyostelium discoideum cell lines have been generated bearing altered myosin heavy chains, resulting in either constitutive motor function or constitutive assembly into the cytoskeleton. Analysis of these cells allowed stiffening responses to agonists, measured on single cells, to be resolved into an regulatory light chain-mediated component reflecting activation of motor function, and a myosin heavy chain phosphorylation-regulated component reflecting assembly of filaments into the cytoskeleton. These two components can account for all of the cortical stiffening response seen during tested in vivo contractile events.
Dual protease inhibitor therapy in the management of the HIV-1.

Throughout the first 20 years of the HIV-1 epidemic, there have been tremendous advances in the development of antiretroviral therapy (ART). In 1995, the availability of protease inhibitors (PI) as part of triple drug regimens resulted in durable viral suppression with an associated decline in HIV-1-related morbidity and mortality. Despite this early success, limitations of therapy have become apparent. In particular, the need for highly potent antiviral regimens, the importance of outstanding adherence to therapy, drug-related toxicity and the increasing problem of drug-drug and drug-food interactions. Dual PI therapy has been investigated with the hope of overcoming these problems. Select PI combinations may result in synergistic antiviral activity with enhanced viral suppression. Moreover, the ability of select agents to inhibit the cytochrome P450 (CYP450) system results in pharmacologic enhancement that allows for dosing with fewer pills on a less frequent basis, both of which can enhance drug adhere...
Hypoxic cell cytotoxin tirapazamine induces acute changes in tumor energy metabolism and pH: A 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy study

Tirapazamine is a hypoxic cell cytotoxin in phase II/III trials. To further understand its mechanism of action in vivo, we examined the effect of tirapazamine on tumor energy metabolism and pH. RIF-1 and SCCVII tumors were grown subcutaneously in the flanks of C3H mice. Tumor energy metabolism, expressed as the ratio of inorganic phosphate to nucleotide triphosphate (Pi/NTP), and intracellular pH (pHi), were measured by 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). In RIF-1 and SCCVII tumors, tirapazamine increased the Pi/NTP ratio by 2.6-fold and 3-fold, respectively, within the first hour after an intraperitoneal dose of 0.3 mmol/kg. A corresponding decrease in pHi from 7.05+/-0.07 to 6.48+/-0.06, and 7.21+/-0.09 to 6.45+/-0.02 in RIF-1 and SCCVII tumors, respectively, was observed. The decrease in tumor 31P bioenergetics and pH was reversible, as exemplified by RIF-1 tumors, which showed a further increase in Pi/NTP ratio of 3.5-fold by 5-8 hr, returning to normal range at 24 hr. Corresponding pHi of RIF-1 tumors was 6.88+/-0.05 at 5-8 hr and 7.16+/-0.05 at 24 hr. We concluded that tirapazamine induces acute changes in tumor energy metabolism and pHi. These findings are relevant to the rational selection and optimal timing of coadministered therapy.
Classroom Climate and Class Success: A Case Study at the University Level.

AbstractThis study sought to assess the actual and ideal social climate of an undergraduate social science class for educators, and to utilize this information to structure a subsequent class on the same topic. It was hypothesized that a classroom climate more closely approaching an "ideal^ one would facilitate better course appreciation, involvement, and attendance. Modifications in course social climate as suggested by "Class A" markedly improved the social climate of "Class B" as reported by class members. Improved congruence between real and ideal climates was linked to significantly greater appreciation of class functioning, class content, overall course appreciation, and greater class attendance. As students reported similar amounts of task orientation in each class, it was argued the classroom social climate may contribute an independent and malleable feature of the classroom setting which an instructor can use to his/her advantage.
Prediction of achievement by Asian-American and white children

Abstract This study examined the relationship between a cognitive abilities battery, the Differential Ability Scales (DAS), and academic achievement as a function of children's race. The subjects were 48 Asian-American and 1,731 white children, aged 6–17 years, from the DAS school-age standardization sample. Multiple regression was used to determine if the relationship between the DAS General Conceptual Ability cognitive composite and the Word Reading and Basic Number Skills achievement subtests of the DAS differed as a function of race. The regression slopes for the two groups were significantly different with Word Reading as the criterion. The Asian-American group possessed the steeper slope. Therefore, the degrees of systematic error in prediction increased as ability level increased. With Basic Number Skills as the dependent variable, slopes were equivalent but intercepts differed significantly. The results indicate that the majority white group scores were overpredicted on Basic Number Skills and Asian-Americans' scores were underpredicted when the common regression line was used.
Object-oriented state machines: subclassing, composition, delegation, and genericity

Software specification and implementation techniques based on state machines simplify design, coding, and validation. However, large systems require complex state machines. Incremental construction techniques can control this complexity. In this paper, we present a construction technique that permits derivation of complex state machines from simpler state machines. The technique uses subclassing, composition, delegation, and genericity to incrementally modify and combine simpler machines.In addition, we present a novel implementation technique that uses exactly one table-lookup and one addition to dispatch events on derived state machines, no matter the depth of the derivation. As an example, we describe the derivation of a complicated distributed virtual memory scheme from a simple paging virtual memory scheme.
Quantum physics: How to catch a wave

The wavefunction is a central mathematical entity in quantum physics. It is used to completely describe the state of a system. A means of probing it directly is now on hand. See Letter p.188
Southern swell observed at Oceanside, California

A wave recorder has been in operation at Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, California, since May 4, 1949. Owing to its fortunate location in relation to the Western Hemisphere's hydrography, it has recorded southerly swell almost continuously throughout the summer, the origins of which appear to lie in the area between 40° and 65°S and 120° and 160°W. Swell from the south through southwest was found to run almost continuously from May through September, and to dominate the surf zone for that period. Twenty- to thirty-minute averages (taken three times daily) of the “significant” breaker heights ranged from two to six feet, with most breakers.being between two and four feet. The “maximum” breakers occurring during the 20- to 30-min periods were usually between four and eight feet, with heights of 10 to 12 ft observed on occasions. The average wave period of the southern swell ranged from 12 to 18 sec, with short-time averages of predominant groups as great as 22 sec.
Natural convection in V-shaped and L-shaped corners

Abstract Experiments were performed to investigate convection in two types of corners. One, the V corner, is formed by two 45° inclined, upward-facing, heated plates which intersect at 90°. The other, the L corner, is formed by an upward-facing, heated horizontal plate which intersects with a heated vertical plate. In both cases, the two plates had the same uniform temperature which was varied parametrically. The variations of the surface-to-ambient temperature difference and of the plate length yielded a Rayleigh number range from 2 × 106 to 1.5 × 109. Apparatus modifications were also made to investigate the possible role of end effects. The heat transfer experiments were supplemented by flow visualization. The Nusselt numbers for all cases were amenable to power-law correlations with the Rayleigh number. The values of the Nusselt number at the walls of the V corner and at the horizontal wall of the L corner were greater than those for the counterpart single plates.
Hydrolase regulates NAD+ metabolites and modulates cellular redox.

Although the classical redox functions of co-enzyme NAD+ are firmly established in metabolism, there are numerous enzymes that catalyze cleavage of NAD+ to yield free ADP-ribose (ADPr) or related metabolites, whose functions remain largely unknown. Here we show that the Nudix (nucleoside diphosphate linked to another moiety X) hydrolase Ysa1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a major regulator of cellular ADPr and O-acetyl-ADP-ribose (OAADPr). OAADPr is the direct product of NAD+-dependent protein deacetylases (sirtuins) and is readily converted to ADPr. Ysa1 cleaves ADPr/OAADPr into ribose phosphate/acetyl-ribose phosphate and AMP. In cells lacking Ysa1 (Δysa1), ADPr and OAADPr levels increased ∼50%, with a corresponding decrease in AMP. Strikingly, Δysa1 cells display higher resistance to exogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) and 40% lower basal levels of endogenous ROS, compared with wild type. The biochemical basis for these differences in ROS-related phenotypes was investigated, and the results provide evidence that increased ADPr/OAADPr levels protect cells via the following two pathways: (i) lower ROS production through inhibition of complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain, and (ii) generation of higher levels of NADPH to suppress ROS damage. The latter occurs through diverting glucose into the pentose phosphate pathway by ADPr inhibition of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, a central enzyme of glycolysis.
Germanium Island Size Distribution by Atomistic Simulation

Strained epitaxial growth of Ge on Si(001) produces self-assembled, nanometer scale islands, or quantum dots. We study this growth by atomistic simulation, computing the energy of island structures to determine when and how islanding occurs. The distribution of island sizes on a surface is determined by the relation of island energy to size. Applying the calculated chemical potential to the Boltzmann-Gibbs distribution, we predict size distributions as functions of coverage and temperature. The peak populations around 80 000 atoms (35 nm wide) compare favorably with experiment.
Spatially focusing a radio signal and simultaneously nulling it at another location using time-reversal signal processing

Phased array antenna techniques for beamforming are thwarted in a cluttered environment. The time-reversal method utilizes the clutter (and associated multipath) to focus beyond the Rayleigh limit. This method makes use of the reciprocity of wireless propagation channels. Time-reversal can also be used to null signals, either to reduce unintentional interference or to prevent eavesdropping. We present a simple technique that nulls the transmitted signal at a specific location, while simultaneously focusing the signal at a desired location. This technique can also be used for the reverse problem of reception of a desired signal while nulling out an interfering source.
Modeling and experimental verification of frictional contact-impact in loose bolted joint elastic structures

In this paper a dry frictional contact-impact model of two elastic beams joined by a loose bolted joint is developed and compared to experimental data. The model utilizes the concept of instantly applied non-holonomic constraints and pseudo-speeds to provide the variable structure hybrid parameter dynamical equations for the system. Simulation logic is developed and presented in outline form. An experimental apparatus is described. Simulation results and experimental results are compared and discussed.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
SU‐GG‐T‐09: Dose Accumulation From Film‐Based Brachytherapy Planning and CT‐Based External Beam Radiotherapy Planning

Purpose: Radical radiation therapy that combines external beam therapy (EBRT) and brachytherapy (BRT) is effective in managing local‐regional confined cervical cancer. Although CT is widely used for EBRTtreatment planning (TP), traditional 2D film is still commonly used today in many institutions for BRT TP. The incompatible image information between the BRT and EBRT leads to great difficulty in computation of the cumulative radiationdose from both treatments. To date, doses to target and critical structures are approximated by adding the point doses of BRT to the EBRT plan. In this project, we propose to register the orthogonal films of BRT and CT of EBRT so as to accumulate the doses in a more accurate way. Method and Materials: Five patients treated with both EBRT and low dose rate BRT were retrospectively used in the study. 3D dose grids from the BRT and EBRTtreatment planning were merged by a film‐to‐CT registration, which was accomplished by creating DRRs from EBRT‐CT in the same projections of the BRT films. A landmark based image registration tool was developed to register films and DRRs of CT. The calculated shift, rotation and scaling were applied on the dose grid of BRT. Once the registration was completed, dose distributions from EBRT and BRT were merged. Results: A composite plan with accumulated doses of BRT and EBRT was created for each patient. The dose accuracy was verified at relevant points such as “A” points. The isodose curve and DVHs were analyzed, and appear reasonable. Conclusion: We developed a method to accumulate the dose distributions from film‐based brachytherapy and CT‐based external beam radiotherapy. This yielded a more realistic estimate of the cumulative dose received by the patient from both treatments.
Importing Shakespeare: Tyrone Guthrie and British Cold War Cultural Colonialism

While the United States emerged as a dominant global economic and military power after World War II, Cold War competition with the Soviet Union would highlight insecurities and trigger anxieties. T...
Do jellyfish have central nervous systems

The traditional view of the cnidarian nervous system is of a diffuse nerve net that functions as both a conducting and an integrating system; this is considered an indicator of a primitive condition. Yet, in medusoid members, varying degrees of nerve net compression and neuronal condensation into ganglion-like structures represent more centralized integrating centers. In some jellyfish, this relegates nerve nets to motor distribution systems. The neuronal condensation follows a precept of neuronal organization of higher animals with a relatively close association with the development and elaboration of sensory structures. Nerve nets still represent an efficient system for diffuse, non-directional activation of broad, two-dimensional effector sheets, as required by the radial, non-cephalized body construction. However, in most jellyfish, an argument can be made for the presence of centralized nervous systems that interact with the more diffuse nerve nets.
Ezenwa-Ohaeto: Chants and the Minstrel

Ezenwa-Ohaeto's life encapsulates what the critic and novelist Isidore Okpewho has described as the "dignity of intellectual labour." This becomes clear as we take into consideration, the range of his production as a poet, scholar, and occasional journalist. Ezenwa-Ohaeto's work grapples with a vast range of areas of specifically Nigerian literature and culture in the 20th century, but in general with the literature of the postcolonial world as they have come to express distinct, recognizable moral and aesthetic values. His untimely death in 2005 therefore, has implication for the study of this literature, particularly because it marks the closure of the questic imagination of a poet/scholar whose interventions were critical in the formation of the critical values of contemporary African writing. This paper examines Ezenwa-Ohaeto's contributions in the light of this, and puts in some perspective, aspects of his life and work, and its implications in the formal canon that he helped to shape and stabilize.
Cholesterol and Hydroxycholesterol Sulfotransferases: Identification, Distinction from Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfotransferase, and Differential Tissue Expression

In humans, the biotransformation of cholesterol and its hydroxylated metabolites (oxysterols) by sulfonation is a fundamental process of great importance. Nevertheless, the sulfotransferase enzyme(s) that carries out this function has never been clearly identified. Cholesterol is a relatively poor substrate for the previously cloned hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase (HST), i.e. dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) sulfotransferase (HST1). Recently, cloning of a single human gene that encodes for two proteins related to HST1 was reported. These newly cloned sulfotransferases (HST2a and HST2b), while exhibiting sequence similarity to other members of the soluble sulfotransferase superfamily, also contain unique structural features. This latter aspect prompted an examination of their substrate specificity for comparison with HST1. Thus, HST1, HST2a, and HST2b were overexpressed as fusion proteins and purified. Furthermore, a novel procedure for the isolation of cholesterol and oxysterol sulfonates was developed that ...
The mutagenicity of HPLC-separated vapor-phase and particulate organics in ambient air

Abstract A comparison of the Ames/ Salmonella activities of HPLC fractions of concurrently-sampled vapor-phase and particulate organics shows that the ambient mutagenicity concentration in the vapor-phase is comparable to that in the particulate matter.
Santiago Ramón y Cajal and the Croonian Lecture, March 1894.

Abstract One hundred years ago, the Spanish scientist Santiago Ramon y Cajal delivered the Croonian Lecture (La fine structure des centres nerveux) of the Royal Society of London in which he not only set forth the connectionist approach to central neural processing, but also proposed mechanisms of functional nervous plasticity that were forerunners of recent views.
Quantitative Assessment of Hyoid Bone Displacement From Video Images During Swallowing

Given the relationship between hyoid displacement and aspiration, a simple, accurate, clinically useful method for identification of reduced hyoid displacement is needed. The purpose of this invest...
Coded-aperture DUV spectrometer for stand-off Raman spectroscopy

We have designed and constructed a coded aperture spectrometer for use in the deep UV range. The Czerny-Turner design provides sufficient spectral resolution to observe Raman scattering features, while the use of a coded aperture provides a greatly improved light collection efficiency for scattering sources. The resulting instrument is capable of analyzing Raman spectra from samples at a 1 meter viewing distance. We provide an overview of the system, its optical design, and some preliminary measurements.