cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU-FF-J-106: Predicted Tumor Motion Ranges During Adaptive SBRT

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to develop a method to estimate the patient‐specific clinical accuracy and safety of adaptive SBRT after treatment delivery. Respiratory motion phantoms rely on continuous knowledge of the in‐vivo tumor position, which does not exist for the time needed for adaptive SBRT delivery. A first approximation is to study the tumor motion range as predicted by the adaptive SBRT delivery system during treatment and compare the motion range to published literature. Method and Materials: The predicted tumor motion was analyzed for 48 patients with 52 tumors. The database contains 28 tumors in the lung, 4 hilar tumors, 9 pancreases, 2 each in liver and chestwall, and one each renal, retroperineal, and internal mammary nodes. The mean and variance of tumor motion amplitudes were calculated using MatLab. Normal distributions were fitted to a respiratory extrema amplitude histogram. Results: The motion ranges for most sites agreed with the literature. The largest motion amplitudes of 12 to 28 mm were observed in the lower lung. Fluctuations about the average motion ranges are mostly small. 50% of tumors in the upper and middle lung and hilum could have been treated without adaptive SRS using 2 mm PTV margin. This would have reduced the risk to patients caused by fiducial placement. The extent of motion in the pancreas is smaller than cited in the literature. Conclusion: We analyzedtumor respiratory motion ranges under free breathing during adaptive SBRT. Certain patient subgroups could have been treated with non‐adaptive SBRT and therefore with reduced risk from fiducial placement, if the extent of the tumor motion could have been determined before treatment by 4D imaging. Tracking problems due to sub‐optimal fiducial placement may lead to problems in tumor motion prediction, which can be discovered by our analysis method after the first treatment.
Transactivation by NF-IL6/LAP is enhanced by phosphorylation of its activation domain

One of the members of the bZIP family of transcriptional activators is NF-IL6/LAP (IL-6 DBP, C/EBP beta, CRP2). NF-IL6/LAP protein is highly expressed in liver nuclei, where it has been implicated as a master regulator of the acute-phase response, induced by interleukin-6 (IL-6) and other inflammatory mediators. Also, NF-IL6/LAP is involved in the activation of the IL-6 promoter in response to IL-1 and bacterial lipopolysaccharide. The control of NF-IL6/LAP expression and activity is complex and poorly understood. Under some conditions the NF-IL6/LAP gene is transcriptionally activated by IL-1 and lipopolysaccharide, whereas in other instances, its binding to cognate DNA sequences is enhanced by cytokines. Additionally, the ability of constitutively expressed NF-IL6/LAP to activate transcription is strongly augmented by IL-6, through an unknown signalling pathway. We now show that stimulation of the protein kinase C pathway increases the phosphorylation of Ser 105 within the activation domain of NF-IL6/LAP, and enhances its transcriptional efficacy.
Latin American, Asian, and American Cultural Differences in Perceptions of Spousal Abuse

College students (20 Latin American exchange students, 18 Asian exchange students, and 20 students born in the United States) participated in a study of the effects of culture on attitudes and perceptions of spousal abuse. Subjects completed a 23-item questionnaire developed to ascertain subjects' attitudes about spousal abuse, retaliatory behaviors, and the legal implications of those behaviors. Analyses showed many significant differences in attitudes towards and perceptions of spousal abuse. This suggests that attitudes and perceptions of spousal abuse are culturally related.
Development of an automatic part feature extraction and classification system taking CAD data as input

Abstract Computer-aided process planning (CAPP) is considered to be the bridge that joins computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM). One of the most important aspects of CAPP is automatic feature extraction, which is a procedure that aids; in the generation of process plans automatically. In terms of a CAD system, an automatic feature extraction module constitutes a characteristic that facilitates a cooperative design and process planning activity for the overall product realization process. This activity is explicitly defined as concurrent engineering. The purpose of this paper is to present an automatic feature extraction system for prismatic raw materials that would provide a CAD system with the above mentioned module for concurrent engineering. The system takes a file in Initial Graphics Exchange Specification ( iges ) format as input and translates the information in the file to classify all the features in the workpiece whose information is in the file. The iges format is used in CAD files to support geometric and topological information about machine parts. Several algorithms are developed to extract and merge features based on geometric and topological information. After each feature is extracted, rough process operations can be determined based on a design classification scheme. The system is written in C on a PC-based system. A sample application description for two workpieces is presented for demonstration purposes.
Annexin A2: Biology and relevance to the antiphospholipid syndrome

Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), the majority of which are directed against beta(2)-glycoprotein I (beta(2)GPI), are associated with an increased incidence of venous and arterial thrombosis. The pathogenesis of antiphospholipid/anti-beta(2)GPI-associated thrombosis has not been defined, and is likely multifactorial. However, accumulating evidence suggests an important role for endothelial cell activation with the acquisition of a procoagulant phenotype by the activated endothelial cell. Previous work demonstrated that endothelial activation by antiphospholipid/anti-beta(2)GPI antibodies is beta(2)GPI-dependent. We extended these observations by defining annexin A2 as an endothelial beta(2)GPI binding site. We also observed that annexin A2 plays a critical role in endothelial cell activation induced by anti-beta(2)GPI antibodies, and others have described direct endothelial activation by anti-annexin A2 antibodies in patients with aPL . Similar findings have been reported using human monocytes, which also express annexin A2. Because annexin A2 is not a transmembrane protein, how binding of beta(2)GPI/anti-beta(2)GPI antibodies, or anti-annexin A2 antibodies, to endothelial annexin A2 causes cellular activation is unknown. Recent studies, however, suggest an important role for the Toll-like receptor family, particularly TLR4. In this article, we review the role of these interactions in the activation of endothelial cells by aPL . The influence of these antibodies on the ability of annexin A2 to enhance t-PA-mediated plasminogen activation is also discussed.
Characteristics of women with fetal loss in symptomatic first trimester pregnancies with documented fetal cardiac activity.

Study objective The purpose of this study is to determine fetal outcomes of women diagnosed with live intrauterine pregnancy after emergency department (ED) presentation for abdominopelvic pain or vaginal bleeding during the first trimester. Methods A retrospective medical record review of prospectively recorded data of consecutive ED charts from December 2005 to June 2006 was performed to identify patients diagnosed with live intrauterine pregnancy. Demographic data, obstetric/gynecologic history, and presenting symptoms were obtained. Outcomes were determined by computerized medical records. Fetal loss was diagnosed by decreasing β-Human chorionic gonadotropin or pathology specimen. Live birth was diagnosed by viable fetus at 20-week-gestation ultrasonography or delivery. Results A total of 837 patients were evaluated during the first trimester. Three hundred forty patients (41%) met inclusion criteria, with a diagnosis of live intrauterine pregnancy. Outcome data were obtained for 303 (89%) of these patients. Fetal loss occurred in 28 (9.2%) pregnancies (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.9% to 12.5%). Fetal loss incidence was 13.8% (95% CI 9.9% to 17.7%) in patients presenting with vaginal bleeding compared with 2.5% (95% CI 0.007% to 4.3%) in patients without bleeding ( P Conclusion Fetal loss before 20 weeks occurs in 9.2% of patients with live intrauterine pregnancy diagnosed by ultrasonography. Vaginal bleeding carries a higher fetal loss rate of 13.8%. These data will assist the emergency physician in counseling women experiencing symptomatic first trimester pregnancy.
Nitrones as Ligands in Complexes of Cu(II), Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Fe(II), and Fe(III) with N-tert-Butyl-α-(2-pyridyl)nitrone and 2,5,5-Trimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide†

The use of nitrones as ligands was explored by preparing and characterizing complexes of N-tert-butyl-α-(2-pyridyl)nitrone (2-PyBN) and 2,5,5-trimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (M3PO) with Cu(II), Mn(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Fe(II), and Fe(III) hexafluoroacetylacetonates (hfac). Neutral Cu(2-PyBN)(hfac)2, 1, was formed when equimolar amounts of Cu(hfac)2 and the bidentate 2-PyBN were mixed in methylene chloride. Under the same preparation conditions, an unexpected ligand exchange led to crystalline salts of formula [M(2-PyBN)2hfac][M(hfac)3] for M(II) = Mn (2), Co (3), Ni (4), and Fe (5) as determined by their X-ray structures. Geometry changes in 2-PyBN on complexation indicate a more localized nitrone CN bond In 1−5. Crystalline dimers with formulas [M(M3PO)(hfac)2]2 for M(II) = Mn (6), Co (7), and Ni (8) were obtained from equimolar solutions of M(hfac)2 and the monodentate M3PO. The two M(II) ions are bridged by two M3PO coordinated in a bis, μ-1,1 fashion. With Fe(hfac)2 and M3PO, however, an apparent air oxi...
INNER-active journal

This purpose of this paper is to present a journal-based system that provides a way for users to reconstruct their emotions around events in their lives, and to see how recall of these events affects their physiology. Expressive writing, a task in which the participant is asked to write about extremely emotional events, is presented as a means towards story construction. Previous use of expressive writing has found profound benefits for both psychological and physical health [8]. In this system, measures of skin conductivity, instantaneous heart rate, and heart stress entropy are used as indicators of activities occurring in the body. Users have the ability to view these signals after taking part in an expressive writing task.
Neurological involvement in Wegener's granulomatosis : an analysis of 324 consecutive patients at the Mayo clinic

Neurological involvement in Wegener's granulomatosis was studied by reviewing the charts of 324 consecutive patients in whom the diagnosis was made at the Mayo Clinic. One hundred nine patients (33.6%) had neurological involvement. Peripheral neuropathy occured in 53; cranial neuropathy, in 21; external ophthalmoplegia, in 16; cerebrovascular events, in 13; seizures, in 10; cerebritis, in 5; and miscellaneous involvement, in 25. The mean age and sex ratio were similar in the patients with and those without neurological involvement. Among the patients with peripheral neuropathy, 42 had mononeuropathy multiplex; 6, distal symmetrical polyneuropathy; and 5, unclassified peripheral neuropathy. Multiple mononeuropathy was a major presenting symptom in 8 patients. A significantly higher percentage of patients with peripheral neuropathy, compared to those without peripheral neuropathy, had kidney involvement (p < 0.001). The second, sixth, and seventh cranial nerves were most frequently affected. Multiple cranial nerves were affected in 8 patients. Unusual neurological manifestations in the miscellaneous group were spastic paraparesis, temporal arteritis, Horner's syndrome, and papilledema.
Case of an appendiceal mucinous adenocarcinoma presenting as a left adnexal mass.

Abstract INTRODUCTION Appendiceal mucinous neoplasms represent an exceptionally rare form of pathology with an incidence rate ranging between 0.2 and 0.3% of all appendectomies. 1 , 2 The most common presentation is right lower quadrant pain with a palpable abdominal mass present in 50% of cases. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 Patients may also present with nausea, vomiting, change in bowel habits, weight loss, appendicitis, intestinal obstruction, ureteral compression, or lower gastrointestinal bleeding. Early diagnosis and proper surgical precautions must be implemented to prevent iatrogenic rupture of the appendix and the widespread seeding of potentially malignant mucin-producing cells throughout the peritoneal cavity. PRESENTATION OF CASE A 50-year-old African-American female presented with complaints of left-sided pelvic pain. Pelvic examination revealed adnexal fullness with thickening behind the cervix. An adnexal mass was revealed on ultrasound and MRI. The patient was subsequently taken to the operating room for a planned robotic salpingectomy. During the procedure, she was unexpectedly found to have an abnormally large appendix displaced to the left lower quadrant. General surgery was consulted intra-operatively to perform an appendectomy. The final pathology report revealed a low-grade mucinous adenocarcinoma with mucin dissecting into the wall of the appendix. DISCUSSION Appendiceal mucinous cystadenomas are characterized by hyperplasia of glandular epithelium along with hypersecretion of mucous resulting in a grossly dilated appendix. The clinical manifestation of appendiceal mucoceles is often non-specific. The prevalence is higher in women than men (4:1) with the average age at the time of diagnosis being 54 years-old. 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 Appendiceal mucinous cystadenomas can be particularly problematic for women as these tumors are commonly misdiagnosed pre-operatively as right-sided adnexal masses due to commonalities in clinical presentation and diagnostic findings. 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 It is estimated that based on imaging studies only 15–29% of appendiceal mucinous cystadenomas are correctly diagnosed prior to surgical intervention. 13 CONCLUSION To the best of our knowledge, only one other case of appendiceal adenocarcinoma with left-sided presentation has been reported. Appendiceal carcinomas can create a diagnostic dilemma due to non-specific clinical findings and inadequate imaging studies. Early recognition and careful intra-operative precautions must be taken to maintain the integrity of the appendix to prevent iatrogenic rupture and the spread of potentially malignant mucin-producing cells throughout the peritoneal cavity.
Strengthening GLP compliance through internal audits

The Quality Assurance (QA) strategy for assessing Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) compliance at different testing facilities varies from focusing on study data verification to taking a quality system approach. As a best practice and to ensure overall compliance with GLP regulations, the Quality Assurance Unit (QAU) should perform three types of internal audits: study-specific, process-based, and system inspection. These internal audits serve as a tool to ascertain whether a GLP compliance program is functioning correctly. Information gathered from these audits can also be used to provide assistance during the evolution of a new GLP compliance program. As the GLP compliance program matures, internal audits can be a useful mechanism to help maintain compliance and promote continued improvement. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stimulation of sympathetic innervation in the upper gastrointestinal tract as a treatment for obesity.

Summary Sympathetic activity and obesity have a reciprocal relationship. Firstly, hypothalamic obesity is associated with decreased sympathetic activity. Caffeine and ephedrine increase sympathetic activity and induce weight loss, of which 25% is due to increased metabolic rate and 75% is due to a reciprocally decreased food intake. Secondly, hormones and drugs that affect body weight have an inverse relationship between food intake and metabolic rate. Neuropeptide Y decreases sympathetic activity and increases food intake and body weight. Thirdly, a gastric pacemaker Transcend ® and vagotomy increase the ratio of sympathetic to parasympathetic activation, decrease food intake, and block gut satiety hormones. Weight loss with the pacemaker or vagotomy is variable. Significant weight reduction is seen only in a small group of those treated. This suggests that activation of the sympathetic arm of the autonomic nervous system may be most important for weight loss. Systemic sympathetic activation causes weight loss in obese patients, but side effects limited its use. We hypothesize that selective local electrical sympathetic stimulation of the upper gastrointestinal tract may induce weight loss and offer a safer, yet effective, obesity treatment. Celiac ganglia delivers sympathetic innervation to the upper gastrointestinal tract. Voltage regulated electrical simulation of the rat celiac ganglia increased metabolic rate in a dose-dependent manner. Stimulation of 6, 3, or 1.5V increased metabolic rate 15.6%, 6.2%, and 5%, respectively in a single rat. These responses support our hypothesis that selective sympathetic stimulation of the upper GI tract may treat obesity while avoiding side effects of systemic sympathetic activation.
Nitrogen dynamics following field application of biochar in a temperate North American maize-based production system

Biochar additions to tropical soils have been shown to reduce N leaching and increase N use efficiency. No studies exist verifying reduced N leaching in field experiments on temperate agricultural soils or identifying the mechanism for N retention. Biochar derived from maize stover was applied to a maize cropping system in central New York State at rates of 0, 1, 3, 12, and 30 t ha-1 in 2007. Secondary N fertilizer was added at 100, 90, 70, and 50 % of the recommended rate (108 kg N ha-1). Nitrogen fertilizer enriched with 15 N was applied in 2009 to the 0 and 12 t ha-1 of biochar at 100 and 50 % secondary N application. Maize yield and plant N uptake did not change with biochar additions (p > 0.05; n = 3). Less N (by 82 %; p < 0.05) was lost after biochar application through leaching only at 100 % N fertilization. The reason for an observed 140 % greater retention of applied 15 N in the topsoil may have been the incorporation of added 15 N into microbial biomass which increased approximately three-fold which warrants further research. The low leaching of applied fertilizer 15 N (0.42 % of applied N; p < 0.05) and comparatively high recovery of applied 15 N in the soil (39 %) after biochar additions after one cropping season may also indicate greater overall N retention through lower gaseous or erosion N losses with biochar. Addition of biochar to fertile soil in a temperate climate did not improve crop growth or N use efficiency, but increased retention of fertilizer N in the topsoil.
Fermentation of Glycerol into Ethanol in a Microbial Electrolysis Cell Driven by a Customized Consortium

The in situ generation of ethanol from glycerol-containing wastewater shows promise to improve the economics of the biodiesel industry. Consequently, we developed a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) driven by the synergistic metabolisms of the exoelectrogen Geobacter sulfurreducens and the bacterium Clostridium cellobioparum, which fermented glycerol into ethanol in high yields (90%) and produced fermentative byproducts that served as electron donors for G. sulfurreducens. Syntrophic cooperation stimulated glycerol consumption, ethanol production, and the conversion of fermentation byproducts into cathodic H2 in the MEC. The platform was further improved by adaptively evolving glycerol-tolerant strains with robust growth at glycerol loadings typical of biodiesel wastewater and by increasing the buffering capacity of the anode medium. This resulted in additional increases in glycerol consumption (up to 50 g/L) and ethanol production (up to 10 g/L) at rates that greatly exceeded the capacity of the anode bi...
The feeding habits of slope dwelling macrourid fishes in the eastern North Pacific

Abstract The diet of slope dwelling macrourid fishes in the eastern North Pacific is poorly known. We collected several hundred stomach samples to investigate the feeding habits of Coryphaenoides acrolepis and Albatrossia pectoralis , the two dominant slope dwelling macrourids off the continental United States. Coryphaenoides acrolepis exhibited a pronounced ontogenetic shift in diet. Specimens 15 cm with scavenged food constituting approximately 20% of the weight of total prey and occurring in approximately 20% of fish 21–29 cm. Albatrossia pectoralis consumed primarily midwater fish and squid, and we believe that it feeds in the water column. There were significant differences between the diets of A. pectoralis and C. acrolepis suggesting some degree of niche separation between macrourid species on the continental slope of the eastern North Pacific. Both species are at the top of the food web on the upper continental slope and, because of their abundance, may exert significant pressures on their prey populations.
Wireless pulmonary artery haemodynamic monitoring

Given the huge eff ect of heart failure on health care, William Abraham and colleagues’ fi nding of a 39% reduction in hospital admissions for patients with New York Heart Association class III heart failure managed with a wireless implantable haemodynamic monitoring system (Feb 19, p 658) is very important. Abraham and colleagues report that, after sensor implantation, patients who were not taking warfarin were placed on aspirin and clopidogrel for 1 month; after this time, only aspirin was continued. Whereas aspirin has been shown to reduce ischaemic events in patients without heart failure, its role in heart failure is controversial, and there is concern that it could attenuate the haemo dynamic and survival benefi ts of angiotensinconverting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. The WASH study also indicated that there were worse outcomes in those who received aspirin than in those who received warfarin, with more aspirin patients admitted to hospital for worsening heart failure. Clopidogrel has not been shown to interact adversely with ACE inhibitors and might even have benefi cial eff ects in terms of preventing clinical events. Clopidogrel is not indicated for primary prevention of ischaemic events. Finally, patients older than 65 years have a signifi cantly higher risk of admission to hospital for heart failure, longer hospital stay, and higher mortality than do younger patients. Subgroup analyses of patients on aspirin and those older than 65 years would aid meaningful interpretation of the results.
Deglaciation of the Appalachian Plateau, northeastern Pennsylvania—till shadows, till knobs forming “beaded valleys”: Revisiting systematic stagnation-zone retreat

Abstract Glacial retreat from valleys in the moderate relief (300–500 m) Small Lakes Section of the Appalachian Plateau in northeastern Pennsylvania was characterized by episodic deposition of till in a series of knobs that formed “beaded valleys”. Individual valleys have a north to south series of till knobs alternating with wetlands or lakes at a spacing of one to five kilometers. Outcrop and well data, while small and few in any individual knob, when put together from the more than 1000 knobs mapped in region, show that the till knobs are typically 30 to 50 m thick. The knobs are cored by subglacial till (lodgment-deformation till) with a wedge of supraglacial till (flow or re-sedimented till) on the south sides, push structures in the interiors and north sides, and an overall veneer of “colluviated till” that thickens downslope on all sides. Glaciofluvial deposits are scarce, usually appearing as thin lenses on the flank of the knobs. The knobs are interpreted to be the periglacially and post-glacially modified remnants of recessional moraines. Individual till knobs were rapidly deposited in a few decades, probably through layer by layer stacking of deformation till and till block melanges. Active ice shearing over inactive ice could form an adverse slope where rapid till deposition could take place. The ice retreated systematically in a stagnation-zone retreat mode, with active ice leaving till knobs and 1–5 km wide stagnant-zone ice leaving the lake basins between the knobs. The till knobs can be connected from valley to valley, in lines perpendicular to the southwesterly ice flow, to delineate ice margin positions across the region. Valleys transverse to ice flow have “till shadows”, 30 to 50 m thick till deposits on the north or lee side of the valley. “One-sided” post-glacial bedrock gorges with bedrock on the south side and till on the north side, are ubiquitous in “till shadow” valleys and form as the stream incises down the bedrock-till contact. Till outcrops in such gorges show no evidence of weathered older till under the late Wisconsinan till. The till is predominantly lodgment-deformation till in the lower two-thirds of the section and mainly ablation and meltout till above that. On the adverse slope in the transverse valley the glacier did not deposit till, possibly because it was on a “till starved” relatively steep bedrock slope rather than a “till rich” deformable bed of a till knob.
Gene expression changes in MDBK cells infected with genotype 2 bovine viral diarrhoea virus

Bovine viral diarrhoea viruses (BVDVs) are ubiquitous viral pathogens of cattle. These viruses exist as one of two biotypes, cytopathic and noncytopathic, based on the ability to induce cytopathic effect in cell culture. The noncytopathic biotypes are able to establish inapparent, persistent infections in both cell culture and in bovine foetuses of less than 150 days gestation. Interactions with the host cell and the mechanism by which viral tolerance is established are unknown. To examine the changes in gene expression that occur following infection of host cells with BVDV, serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE), a global gene expression technology was used. SAGE allows quantitation of virtually every transcript in a cell type without prior sequence information. Transcript expression levels and identities are determined by sequencing libraries composed of concatamers of 14 base DNA fragments (tags) derived from the 3'-end of each cellular mRNA transcript. Comparison of data obtained from uninfected and BVDV genotype 2-infected cell libraries revealed changes in gene expression associated with distinct biochemical pathways or functions. Isotypes of both alpha- and beta-tubulins were down-regulated, indicating possible dysfunction in cell division and other functions where microtubules play a major role. Expression of genes encoding proteins involved in energy metabolism were expressed at essentially equivalent levels in both infected and uninfected cells. Genes encoding proteins involved in protein translation and post-translational modifications, functions necessary for viral replication, were generally up-regulated. These data indicate that following infection with BVDV, changes in gene expression occur that are beneficial for virus replication while having only minor changes in energy metabolism.
Direct Gastrointestinal Toxicity of Flutamide: Comparison of Irradiated and Nonirradiated Cases

ABSTRACTPurpose: Gastrointestinal (GI) side effects of flutamide in cases treated for advanced prostate cancer are well documented. Proposed mechanisms for these side effects include increased serum blood levels, direct vehicle effects and/or local toxicity. If local toxicity, the focus of this study, mediates GI side effects of flutamide then cases exposed to external beam radiation (XRT) should have more symptoms. We hypothesize that GI side effects of flutamide are not a direct local toxic effect resulting in a similar side effect profile for irradiated and nonirradiated cases. Thus, the present study compares GI effects of flutamide in irradiated and nonirradiated cases.Materials and Methods: We identified 106 of 440 cases from a prior flutamide dose comparison study as having undergone XRT (56 cases) or radical prostatectomy (50 patients). The prevalence of GI side effects (abdominal pain/distention, diarrhea, constipation, nausea/vomiting and anorexia) was tallied for each treatment group and/or dos...
An oligopeptide permease responsible for the import of an extracellular signal governing aerial mycelium formation in Streptomyces coelicolor

Morphological differentiation in the filamentous bacterium Streptomyces coelicolor is believed to involve a mechanism of extracellular signalling that culminates with the formation of an aerial mycelium. We have identified a gene cluster designated bldK in which insertional and deletion mutations cause a block in aerial mycelium formation. Extracellular complementation experiments indicate that bldK defines a step in a cascade of extracellular signals; colonies of a bldK-mutant strain extracellularly complement bld261-mutant colonies, and are themselves extracellularly complemented by bldA- and bldH-mutant colonies. The bldK locus, which is located at 5 o'clock on the genetic map and within Asel fragment "N' on the physical map, consists of five adjacent open reading frames. These genes specify homologues of the subunits of the oligopeptide-permease family of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) membrane-spanning transporters. Because bldK mutations confer resistance to the toxic tripeptide bialaphos, it is inferred that BldK is an oligopeptide importer. We propose that the BldK transporter is responsible for the import of an extracellular signalling molecule produced under the control of the wild-type product of the bld261 gene. The BldK-imported signal, in turn, causes the production of a second extracellular signal molecule that depends on the products of bldA and bldH for its action.
On the reaction of nickel(II) with thiocyanate ion and other unidentate ligands in dimethylsulfoxide as solvent: I d or D mechanism?

Rate constants and activation parameters for the formation and the dissociation of the monocomplex of nickel(II) with thiocyanate ion in dimethylsulfoxide have been determined by stopped-flow measurements. The results for thiocyanate ion, and also those for several other unidentate ligands, are consistent with a dissociative interchange mechanism in which solvent exchange constitutes the rate-determining step. On the other hand, previous results have shown that for multidentate ligands the ring-closure step also may be rate limiting.
New signal subspace direction-of-arrival estimator for wideband sources

Signal subspace methods in DOA estimation for wideband sources require preprocessing to find initial values which are close enough to the true values or to convert sensor outputs into desired forms. The preprocessing procedure should be carefully done lest it introduce some distortion. Failure to find proper initial values may prevent convergence of the estimator or cause biases in the estimator. The proposed method detects uncorrelated wideband sources using the signal subspace and the noise subspace of decomposed wideband signals. It does not require any initial values. The only preprocessing is narrowband decomposition of the sensor output which is very common in other wideband methods. Computer simulation showed that the proposed method has less bias than and comparable variance to CSSM with small focusing errors.
Computer based serials control system, biomedical library, ucla

The following is a brief account of progress and future plans of the University of California at Los Angeles Biomedical Library serials control system.
African-American Women and Suicide: A Review and Critique of the Literature

This paper reviews the literature on African-American women’s suicide rates. This topic is often neglected due to African-American women’s low rates of suicide occurrence. This review seeks to answer the call for increased scientific inquiry on matters related to African-American women and suicide. The author begins by identifying complex dynamics surrounding African-American women’s unique social position in order to establish a better understanding of how socio-cultural influences are addressed in the literature in relation to the suicide paradox. Both theoretical and empirical studies are thoroughly assessed in order to identify the risk and protective factors exclusive to African-American women. The literature concludes that a history of mental disorders, particularly depression, a history of physical and emotional abuse, and a history of alcohol and substance abuse have all proven significant in increasing the risk of suicidal behavior among African-American women. Untreated depression continues to be the leading cause of suicide among African-American women. Contrarily, the literature identifies religious/spiritual beliefs, strong social ties, low rates of suicide acceptability, and unique coping strategies developed as a result of longstanding oppressive conditions as primary reasons for African-American women’s exceptionally low suicide rates.
Normal and pathologic high‐frequency oscillations

Pathologic high-frequency oscillations, believed to reflect basic neuronal disturbances responsible for epilepsy, are promising biologic markers that may be used in clinical studies to optimize surgical treatment of medically refractory epilepsy, and studies that seek to develop new therapies for treatment, and possible prevention, of epilepsy. For an expanded treatment of this topic see Jasper's Basic Mechanisms of the Epilepsies, Fourth Edition (Noebels JL, Avoli M, Rogawski MA, Olsen RW, Delgado-Escueta AV, eds) published by Oxford University Press (available on the National Library of Medicine Bookshelf [NCBI] at www. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books).
Influence of a glacial buzzsaw on the height and morphology of the Cascade Range in central Washington State, USA

Analysis of climatic and topographic evidence from the Cascade Range of Washington State indicates that glacial erosion limits the height and controls the morphology of this range. Glacial erosion linked to long-term spatial gradients in the ELA created a tilted, planar zone of 373 cirques across the central part of the range; peaks and ridges now rise ≤600 m above this zone. Hypsometric analysis of the region shows that the proportion of land area above the cirques drops sharply, and mean slopes >30° indicate that the areas above the cirques may be at or near threshold steepness. The mean plus 1σ relief of individual cirque basins (570 m) corresponds to the ∼600-m envelope above which peaks rarely rise. The summit altitudes are set by a combination of higher rates of glacial and paraglacial erosion above the ELA and enhanced hillslope processes due to the creation of steep topography. On the high-precipitation western flank of the Cascades, the dominance of glacial and hillslope erosion at altitudes at and above the ELA may explain the lack of a correspondence between stream-power erosion models and measured exhumation rates from apatite (U-Th/He) thermochronometry.
Photovoltaics R&D in the United States: positioning for our future

This paper provides a brief look at the current U.S. research and development (R&D) investments in photovoltaics, covering the spectrum from materials and devices through electronics and systems reliability. The program is balanced among fundamental R&D, technology development, and systems performance and reliability, with more than half the funding for university and industry partners. The major activities can be categorized into two general areas: improving current and near-term technologies toward their expected performance levels (the largest portion), and positioning the United States for technical leadership, decision making, and ownership for the host of next-technology options (including some options that have been called third-generation). The investments in these higher risk, longer-term technology generations provide options that could leapfrog into more rapid use because of their promise of potentially high payoff. Solar electricity is part of America's present and future energy security and independence-as is the R&D that enables it.
Combination Aspirin and/or Calcium Chemoprevention with Colonoscopy in Colorectal Cancer Prevention: Cost-effectiveness Analyses

Background: Clinical and cohort studies have shown that low-dose aspirin and calcium are effective low-risk strategies for primary prevention of colorectal cancer (CRC). We compared the cost-effectiveness of aspirin and calcium chemoprevention used with colonoscopy for primary prevention of CRCs. Methods: Markov chain Monte Carlo simulations for a population of 100,000 persons, with a colonoscopy compliance rate of 50%, were used for the analysis. If adenomas were detected, colonoscopy was repeated every 4 years until no adenomas were evident. Data sources included adenoma transition rates, initial adenoma and CRC incidences, and treatment complication rates from existing literature. Age-adjusted U.S. standard population mortality rates were used and costs were from Medicare reimbursement data. The target population was U.S. adults, undergoing CRC screening from ages 50 to 75 years. Results: Outcomes included incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER), life-years saved (LYS), and cancer-free years saved (CFYS). The ICER per LYS for colonoscopy alone dominated compared with no screening. Compared with colonoscopy alone, colonoscopies with aspirin (ICER = $12,950/LYS) or calcium (ICER = $13,041/LYS) were the next most cost-effective strategies. ICERs per CFYS were $3,061 and $2,317 for aspirin and calcium, respectively, when added to colonoscopy. Sensitivity analyses indicated that initial prevalence of adenomas was a main determinant of prevention cost-effectiveness. Conclusion: Low-dose aspirin or calcium supplementation may be beneficial when added to colonoscopy, for optimum CRC prevention, at small incremental costs. Impact: Cost-effectiveness analyses suggest that aspirin and calcium in combination with colonoscopies are cost-effective for CRC prevention in average-risk populations. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 22(3); 399–405. ©2012 AACR . This article is featured in Highlights of This Issue, [p. 325][1] [1]: /lookup/volpage/22/325?iss=3
On the relationship between supply chain and transportation network equilibria: A supernetwork equivalence with computations

In this paper, we consider the relationship between supply chain network equilibrium and transportation network equilibrium. We demonstrate that a supply chain network equilibrium model introduced earlier can be reformulated as a transportation network equilibrium model with elastic demands through a supernetwork reformulation of the former. This equivalence allows us to transfer the wealth of methodological tools developed for transportation network equilibrium modeling, analysis, and computation to the study of supply chain networks. To illustrate the power of the results, we then apply an algorithm developed for the solution of transportation network equilibrium problems with elastic demands to compute the product shipments and demand market prices in several numerical supply chain network examples taken from the existing literature.
Inverse Problem in Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy: Accuracy of the Kubelka-Munk Equations

In diffuse reflectance spectroscopy the Kubelka-Munk equations have been used extensively. These equations provide simple solutions to the inverse problem of obtaining information on the scattering and absorption cross sections from reflected light. Proof is provided that the basic Kubelka-Munk equation (dr(x)/sdx) = r2(x) - 2ar(x) + 1 should be replaced by the equation (dr(x)/sdx) = r2(x) - 2(2a - 1)r(x) + 1 and that the Kubelka-Munk function (k/s) = ((1 - R∞)2/2R∞) should be replaced by the function (k/s) = ((1 - R∞)2/4R∞). Here r(x) is the reflectance; s is the scattering cross section (cm-1); a = (k + s)/s, where k is the absorption cross section (cm-1); and R∞ is the reflection coefficient of an infinitely thick sample. We note, however, that because of a redefinition of a carried out by Kubelka and Munk in the process of their calculations, the scattering cross section s calculated from their expression sd = 1/(1/2(1/R∞ - R∞))(coth-1((1/2(1/R∞ + R∞) - r(d))/(1/2(1/R∞ - R∞))) - coth-1((1/2(1/R∞ + R∞))/(1/2(1/R∞ - R∞)))) is correct. But the Kubelka-Munk theory still overestimates k by a factor of two.
Out-of-hemodialysis-unit blood pressure is a superior determinant of left ventricular hypertrophy

Blood pressures (BPs) obtained in the dialysis unit correlate poorly with ambulatory BP and left-ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). We compared the performance of BP obtained within and outside the dialysis unit as a correlate of LVH. BP was obtained in the dialysis unit using routine and standardized methods and outside the dialysis unit using home and ambulatory BP monitoring in 140 patients (mean age, 56 years; 89 men; 129 blacks; and 59 with diabetes mellitus) on chronic hemodialysis for > or =3 months. Dialysis unit BP recordings were averaged over 2 weeks, and home BP averaged over 1 week. Ambulatory BP monitoring was performed during an interdialytic interval. Echocardiography was performed immediately after dialysis for the assessment of left-ventricular mass. Left ventricular mass/height(2.7) of >51 g/m2 was taken as evidence of LVH. Test performance of various BPs was compared using receiver operating characteristic curves. Average ambulatory BP was 129.7+/-21.2/73.6+/-13.1 mm Hg, home BP was 139.4+/-21.2/79.0+/-12.5 mm Hg, standardized predialysis BP was 142.1+/-21.7/74.9+/-13.3 mm Hg, postdialysis was 120.9+/-20.8/69.6+/-12.5 mm Hg, routine predialysis was 145.6+/-20.7/79.4+/-13.1 mm Hg, and postdialysis was 132.0+/-19.3/72.6+/-11.1 mm Hg. Left ventricular mass/height(2.7) was 59.1+/-16.5, and 68% had LV hypertrophy. Diastolic BP measured by any technique was not associated with LVH. Routine and standardized measurements of BP were similarly weak correlates of LVH. Systolic BP outside the dialysis unit was a stronger correlate of LVH compared with dialysis unit BP.
The C-Terminal Tail of the Polycystin-1 Protein Interacts with the Na,K-ATPase α-Subunit

Polycystin-1 (PC-1) is the product of the PKD1 gene, which is mutated in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. We show that the Na,K-ATPase alpha-subunit interacts in vitro and in vivo with the final 200 amino acids of the polycystin-1 protein, which constitute its cytoplasmic C-terminal tail. Functional studies suggest that this association may play a role in the regulation of the Na,K-ATPase activity. Chinese hamster ovary cells stably expressing the entire PC-1 protein exhibit a dramatic increase in Na,K-ATPase activity, although the kinetic properties of the enzyme remain unchanged. These data indicate that polycystin-1 may contribute to the regulation of Na,K-ATPase activity in kidneys in situ, thus modulating renal tubular fluid and electrolyte transport.
Giant cell arteritis: immune and vascular aging as disease risk factors.

Susceptibility for giant cell arteritis increases with chronological age, in parallel with age-related restructuring of the immune system and age-induced remodeling of the vascular wall. Immunosenescence results in shrinkage of the naive T-cell pool, contraction of T-cell diversity, and impairment of innate immunity. Aging of immunocompetent cells forces the host to take alternative routes for protective immunity and confers risk for pathogenic immunity that causes chronic inflammatory tissue damage. Dwindling immunocompetence is particularly relevant as the aging host is forced to cope with an ever growing infectious load. Immunosenescence coincides with vascular aging during which the arterial wall undergoes dramatic structural changes and medium and large arteries lose their pliability and elasticity. On the molecular level, elastic fibers deteriorate and matrix proteins accumulate biochemical modifications. Thus, the aging process impacts the two major biologic systems that liaise to promote giant cell arteritis; the immune system and the vessel wall niche.
Three-dimensional intravascular ultrasound assessment of plaque volume after successful atherectomy

The primary purpose of directional coronary atherectomy is the removal of intraluminal plaque. Angiography allows assessment of residual lumen narrowing but is limited in the assessment of residual plaque burden. Intravascular ultrasound has proven useful in assessing plaque size, but current use has been limited to a single, representative cross-sectional image rather than an evaluation of the entire plaque volume. To determine the volume of residual plaque after angiographically successful directional coronary atherectomy ( < or = 20% residual stenosis), we performed intravascular ultrasound in 19 patients before and after atherectomy. Only coronary lesions optimal for three-dimensional analysis (a single, discrete stenosis in a nontortuous, noncalcified native coronary artery) were selected. A 2.9F sheath-design intravascular ultrasound catheter with a motorized pullback device was used in all patients. The cross-sectional area of the artery (defined by the medial-adventitia border), the lumen, and the plaque were measured at 1 mm intervals over a 15 to 20 mm segment, which included the target lesion and a proximal reference segment (n = 362 cross-sections), before and after atherectomy. The volumes of the artery, vessel lumen, or plaque were calculated with a modified Simpson's equation and compared with standard area measurements at the point of maximal stenosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Transformer Standards-Status and Trends

The extensive revisions made in transformer standards documents in the past few years are described; the rationale for some of the more significant changes are discussed. Specific attention is given to changes in short-circuit requirements and the coordination of overcurrent protective devices with power transformers. Lists of current and recently superseded or withdrawn transformer standards documents are included as well as identification of standards documents known to be planned for revision or development.
Healing of a Scaphoid Nonunion Using Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein

A chronic nonunion of a proximal pole fracture of the scaphoid was treated by curettage of the nonunion, single K-wire fixation, and implantation of 50 mg of human bone morphogenetic protein followed by 12 weeks of cast immobilization without any conventional corticocancellous bone grafting or rigid screw fixation. Radiographs showed signs of bony healing by 12 weeks and a magnetic resonance imaging scan 6 years after surgery showed no signs of avascular necrosis. The potential future applications of human bone morphogenetic protein in hand surgery are discussed.