cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PCV21: COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS OF ABCIXIMAB, EPTIFIBATIDE, AND TIROFIBAN IN PATIENTS WITH CORONARY SYNDROMES

BACKGROUND: In recent years, significant advances have been made in the pharmaceutical treatment of coronary syndromes. The GPIIb/IIIa receptor antagonists have been shown to increase the success rate of invasive procedures, such as PTCA. However, acquisition costs for these agents are high when compared with traditional therapy (i.e., heparin). Three GPIIb/IIIa receptor antagonists have been approved for use by the US Food and Drug Administration. OBJECTIVE: To assess the relative cost-effectiveness of abciximab, eptifibatide, and tirofiban when treating US patients with coronary syndromes. METHODS: A decision analytic model compared the three drugs on the basis of major bleeding events and myocardial infarction. Costs included those for medications and adverse events. Transition probabilities were based on published trials and clinical judgement. The time horizon for the model was 30 days. Cost-effectiveness ratios were computed for the three agents and rank order stability analysis used to test the robustness of results. A hospital perspective was adopted for the analysis. RESULTS: Average per-patient treatment cost was $1,393, $2,480, and $2,409 for eptifibatide, abciximab, and tirofiban, respectively. The probability of successful treatment (i.e., no bleeding or myocardial infarction) was 0.86, 0.89, and 0.78 for eptifibatide, abciximab, and tirofiban, respectively. The cost per successfully treated patient was $1,616, $2,799, and $3,080 for eptifibatide, abciximab, and tirofiban, respectively. The incremental cost of eptifibatide was $45,292 less than abciximab and $12,700 less than tirofiban per successfully treated patient. Estimates of cost-effectiveness were robust to alterations in model parameters. In order for eptifibatide and abciximab to be equally cost-effective, the bleeding rate for eptifibatide would have to increase by 26.9% or the probability of myocardial infarction for eptifibatide would have to increase by 12.8%. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that the higher costs of abciximab and tirofiban may not be justified when treating US patients with coronary syndromes. Our model was limited by the availability of event probability estimates for eptifibatide and tirofiban.
Flow past an array of cells that are adherent to the bottom plate of a flow channel

Abstract Parallel-plate flow channels are used extensively in cell-biological research to investigate cell-substrate adhesion. However, an analytical relationship between the fluid force acting on a cell that is adherent to the bottom plate of a channel and the flow rate into the channel is yet to be established. A finite-difference scheme was used to evaluate the three-dimensional laminar flow past an array of uniformly distributed cells that are adherent to the bottom plate of a parallel-plate flow channel. Computational results indicated that the fluid force acting on a spherical cell can be computed within 10% accuracy by using the solution given by Goldman et al . [Goldman, A. J., Cox, R. G. and Brenner, H., Slow viscous motion of a sphere parallel to a plane wall. I. Motion through quiescent fluid. Chem. Engng Sci. , 1967, 22 , 637–651. Goldman, A. J., Cox, R. G. and Brenner, H., Slow viscous motion of a sphere parallel to a plane wall. II. Couette flow. Chem. Engng Sci. , 1967, 22 , 653–660.] — for a single sphere in contact with a planar wall in infinite shear flow — when the ratio of the cell radius ( R S ) to the gap thickness between parallel plates ( h ) is less than (1/15). Goldman et al .'s solution begins to significantly overestimate the actual fluid force as the ( R S / h ) ratio becomes larger than 1/15. When R S / h ) = 1/5, the fluid force computed by Goldman et al . is greater than the actual force by 30%. As an originally spherical cell aligns and elongates in the direction of flow, the fluid force acting on it decreases by 25%. In all cases, cell spreading leads to a more uniform distribution of fluid shear stress on the cell surface. Further computations indicate that fluid force on a spherical cell with surface projections (rough cell) is slightly smaller than that for a smooth spherical cell whose radius is equal to the maximum radial dimension of the rough cell.
Plasma emission spectral detection for high-resolution gas chromatographic study of group IV organometallic compounds

Specific element detection for fused-silica capillary column gas chromatography of germanium, tin and lead tetraalkyl organometallics is carried out by means of microwave-induced and sustained helium plasma atomic emission spectroscopy utilizing the TM010 cavity. Representative redistribution reactions are monitored and quantitative determinations made of individual products. Different distributions of tetraalkyllead compounds are quantitatively measured in various gasolines.
Grounded in reality: How children make sense of the unreal

Abstract In summarizing the nine articles comprising the Special Issue, Cognizing the Unreal, the editors make two major points. The first is that several articles show that children come to learn about what is real through their perceptions (particularly apparent in the articles by Markova & Legerstee, Goldstein & Bloom, Aguiar & Taylor, Gjersoe, Hall, & Hood, and Woolley & McInnis). Second, children's beliefs about what is real appear to be helped by their accessing underlying abstract structures and comparing these across domains, an idea supported by Shultman & Yoo, Corriveau & Harris, and Van Reet, Pinkham, & Lillard's articles, and given credence by Magid, Sheskin, & Shulz. This latter article proposes that the reason children pretend might be because it is a venue in which children learn to engage in cross-domain abstraction. The authors end with reflection on the cultural proclivity to give very young children fantasy. This proclivity might not serve children well, since (the articles suggest) it is through reality (both perceptions of and abstractions about reality) that children come to understand fantasy.
Spherically punctured Reed-Muller codes

Consider a binary Reed-Muller code RM(r, m) defined on the m-dimensional hypercube Fm2. In this paper, we study punctured Reed-Muller codes Pr(m, b) whose positions form a spherical b-layer and include all m-tuples of a given Hamming weight b. These punctured codes inherit some recursive properties of the original RM codes and can be built from the shorter codes, by decomposing a spherical b-layer into sub-layers of smaller dimensions. However, codes Pr(m, b) cannot be formed by the recursive Plotkin construction. We analyze recursive properties of these codes and find their code distances for arbitrary values of parameters r, m, and b.
Glucosylation of the peptide leucinostatin A, produced by an endophytic fungus of European yew, may protect the host from leucinostatin toxicity

Abstract Background: Yew species ( Taxus spp. ) throughout the world are hosts to hundreds, or perhaps thousands, of endophytic organisms. Most commonly, these organisms are fungi, living in a commensal or a symbiotic relationship with their host plant, so the plants exhibit little or no outward evidence that they are supporting these microorganisms. Little is known about any of the biochemical mechanisms that mediate the interactions between the yew host and its associated microbes. We feel that such information may not only contribute to our understanding of endophyte-tree biology, but also may provide novel pharmaceutical leads, because some of the compounds produced by these endophytes have demonstrated pharmacological activities. Results: , Acremonium sp. was isolated as an endophytic fungus of the European yew, Taxus baccata . Entry of Acremonium sp. into the plant may proceed via invasion of natural openings such as stomata. The relationship between Acremonium sp. and T. baccata may be a symbiotic one, because no symptoms are seen when Taxus media p.v. Hicksii is inoculated with this fungus. In culture, the fungus makes leucinostatin A, a peptide with phytotoxic, anticancer and antifungal properties. Although this peptide causes necrotic symptoms in many non-host plants and other cell types, it causes no visible symptoms in the host plant. T. baccata and several other plants have a UDP glucose: leucinostatin A glucosyl transferase that catalyzes the production of leucinostatin A β di-O-glucoside from leucinostatin A. This glucoside, also made by the fungus, has a lower bioactivity against plants, fungi and a breast cancer cell line, BT-20, than leucinostatin A. Conclusions: Leucinostatin A may be one of several potentially toxic peptides produced by Acremonium sp. that contribute to the defense of the host, thereby preserving the fungus' own biological niche. The host plant is relatively immune to leucinostatin A because it has an enzyme which transfers two glucosyl residues to leucinostatin A, markedly reducing the peptide's bioactivity. Our results suggest that glucosylation reactions may play a more general role in plant defenses, especially against toxin-mediated disease development.
Popular Support for Climate Change Mitigation: Evidence from a General Population Mail Survey

Using a sample of 1,651 US households, we explore some determinants of willingness to pay (WTP) for climate change mitigation programs. Our mail survey had a relatively low response rate, so we first use several additional data sources to build a detailed sample selection model. This model uses features of the survey instrument, measures of geographic vulnerability to climate change, seasonality, the political mix in the county, attributes of the address or addressee, and a set of factor scores from an extensive factor analysis of all census tracts in the US. We estimate this model jointly with a model to explain climate policy preferences as a function of the domestic and international distribution of policy costs as well as the climate change impacts that each respondent believes will occur under a policy of business-as-usual. Despite statistically significant patterns of nonresponse, selectivity effects are minimal in this case. WTP for climate change mitigation is greater when the domestic incidence of mitigation costs is borne mostly through higher energy taxes. It is also greater when costs are understood to be shared internationally with other groups of countries, rather than being borne mostly by a country group including the US. People are generally more willing to pay for climate change mitigation if they believe that the harm caused by climate change impacts will be substantial, rather than just moderate.
A bill of health for the IUD: Where do we go from here?

Although intrauterine devices (IUDs) are a highly cost-effective contraceptive method, they have been unfortunately associated with increased risk of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). However, new studies, including a 1992 World Health Organization (WHO) report, have demonstrated that there is little evidence of a causal link between IUD use and PID. IUD-related risk of PID is increased only during a short period following insertion, and exposure to STDs is probably the major determinant of PID risk for IUD users. Furthermore, no increased risk of PID use has been demonstrated with long-term IUD use. This paper examines the evidence, focusing on the 1992 WHO study, and looks to the future with suggestions for IUD research and programmatic approaches in the hope of vindicating the IUD's reputation and broadening the indications for its use.
INCREASED FREQUENCY OF THE BfF GENE IN THE IDIOPATHIC NEPHROTIC SYNDROME (INS): STUDIES OF THE ALTERNATIVE COMPLEMENT PATHWAY IN INS

INCREASED FREQUENCY OF THE BfF GENE IN THE IDIOPATHIC NEPHROTIC SYNDROME (INS): STUDIES OF THE ALTERNATIVE COMPLEMENT PATHWAY IN INS
Fibrohistiocytic tumor of the hand after high-pressure paintgun injury: 2 case reports

Injections from high-pressure, airless paintguns are uncommon industrial accidents that may result in acute injuries, usually to the nondominant hand. These injuries commonly require emergent management including immediate surgical debridement to avoid tissue necrosis and loss of hand function. Rarely oleogranulomas and squamous cell carcinoma have been described as late complications. Herein we describe 2 patients who developed fibrohistiocytic tumors several months after a high-pressure paintgun injury.
Effects of bromine substitution on the physical and gas transport properties of five series of glassy polymers

Abstract The effects of bromine substitution on the physical and gas transport properties were examined for five families of tetra-substituted glassy polymers: bisphenol A polycarbonates (PC), hexafluoro-polycarbonates (HFPC), hexafluorobisphenol-tertiary butyl isophthalates (HFBP-tBIA), fluorenebisphenol-t-butyl isophthalates (FBP-tBIA) and bisphenol A-t-butyl isophthalates (BPA-tBIA). Additionally, the thermal response of the substituted BPA-tBIA polymers was explored to elucidate the effects of bromine substitution on the activation energies of permeation and diffusion and on the heat of gas sorption. Compared to its methyl-substituted analog, each bromine-substituted polymer had a higher cohesive energy density, a higher glass transition temperature and a lower oxygen-specific fractional free volume. Bromine substitution significantly reduced O2 and CO2 permeability and substantially increased both O2/N2 and CO2/CH4 selectivity. An increase in the activation energy of diffusion for N2 compared to O2, and for CH4 compared to CO2, may be credited for the majority of the selectivity gain. A new method for evaluating penetrant-dependent fractional free volume proved to be a valuable tool in determining the effects of structural changes on gas transport behavior.
Phylogenies scores for exhaustive searches and parsimony scores searches

Fundamental to Multiple Sequence Alignment (MSA) algorithms is modelling insertions and deletions (gaps). The most prevalent model is to use Gap Open Penalties (GOP) and Gap Extension Penalties (GEP). While GOP and GEP are well understood conceptually, their effects on MSA and consequently on phylogeny scores are not as well understood. We use exhaustive phylogeny searching to explore the effects of varying the GOP and GEP for three nuclear ribosomal data sets. Particular attention is given to optimal maximum likelihood and parsimony phylogeny scores for various alignments of a range of GOP and GEP and their respective distribution of phylogeny scores.
Proposals for the naming of chloroplast genes. II. Update to the nomenclature of genes for thylakoid membrane polypeptides

The nomenclature for genes for components of the photosynthetic membranes has been reviewed and updated. Newly discovered genes have been added to the existing convention for gene nomenclature. Genes designatedpetA throughpetI are described for components of the photosynthetic electron transport systems,psaA throughpsaK for photosystem I components, andpsbA throughpsbR for photosystem II, including the extrinsic polypeptides of the oxygen-evolving complex. References for representative examples of each gene are given.
Identifying the Gifted through IQ: Why a Little Bit of Knowledge Is a Dangerous Thing.

The triarchic theory of intellectual giftedness asserts that intelligence must be understood in terms of three aspects: (a) the internal world of the individual; (b) the external world of the individual; and (c) the interface between these two worlds as it unfolds through experience. Practical intelligence involves the ability to (a) select environments that are appropriate for one's talents, (b) adapt to those environments, and (c) shape those environments in ways which enhance one's talents. The theory is explained through the profiles of three graduate students.
Organization of afferent connections of the feline lateral habenular nucleus

The organization of afferent projections to the lateral habenular nucleus (LHB) was studied in adult cats. In autoradiographic experiments, tritiated leucine injections were made into regions shown in retrograde transport studies to project to LHB (lateral hypothalamus, preoptic region, entopeduncular nucleus, and midbrain raphe) to determine the locations of axonal trajectories and terminal zones. The distribution of silver grains in the ipsilateral LHB differed according to the injection site. Entopeduncular nucleus projected to the ventrolateral part, raphe to the dorsomedial part, preoptic region to the central part, anterior hypothalamus to all but the ventrolateral part, and posterior hypothalamus to all but the dorsomedial part. The lateral hypothalamus, preoptic region, and anterior portion of the entopeduncular nucleus projected primarily through the inferior thalamic peduncle and stria medullaris, while the posterior portion of the entopeduncular nucleus projected more diffusely through thalamus to enter LHB from its ventral aspect. Raphe axons reached LHB through the fasciculus retroflexus. Entopeduncular and lateral hypothalamic axons passed through the habenular commissure to the contralateral stria medullaris to reach the contralateral LHB. Silver grains in LHB were distributed similarly bilaterally, but were much less dense contralateral to the injection. The major afferent projections to the feline LHB are therefore topographically organized. The significance of this organization in relation to the possible role of the LHB in integrating limbic and extrapyramidal motor systems is discussed.
The influence of fibrous elastomer structure and porosity on matrix organization.

Fibrous scaffolds are finding wide use in the field of tissue engineering, as they can be designed to mimic many native tissue properties and structures (e.g., cardiac tissue, meniscus). The influence of fiber alignment and scaffold architecture on cellular interactions and matrix organization was the focus of this study. Three scaffolds were fabricated from the photocrosslinkable elastomer poly(glycerol sebacate) (PGS), with changes in fiber alignment (non-aligned (NA) versus aligned (AL)) and the introduction of a PEO sacrificial polymer population to the AL scaffold (composite (CO)). PEO removal led to an increase in scaffold porosity and maintenance of scaffold anisotropy, as evident through visualization, mechanical testing, and mass loss studies. Hydrated scaffolds possessed moduli that ranged between ∼3–240 kPa, failing within the range of properties (<300 kPa) appropriate for soft tissue engineering. CO scaffolds were completely degraded as early as 16 days, whereas NA and AL scaffolds had ∼90% mass loss after 21 days when monitored in vitro. Neonatal cardiomyocytes, used as a representative cell type, that were seeded onto the scaffolds maintained their viability and aligned along the surface of the AL and CO fibers. When implanted subcutaneously in rats, a model that is commonly used to investigate in vivo tissue responses to biomaterials, CO scaffolds were completely integrated at 2 weeks, whereas ∼13% and ∼16% of the NA and AL scaffolds, respectively remained acellular. However, all scaffolds were completely populated with cells at 4 weeks post-implantation. Polarized light microscopy was used to evaluate the collagen elaboration and orientation within the scaffold. An increase in the amount of collagen was observed for CO scaffolds and enhanced alignment of the nascent collagen was observed for AL and CO scaffolds compared to NA scaffolds. Thus, these results indicate that the scaffold architecture and porosity are important considerations in controlling tissue formation.
Comparison of energy-transducing capabilities of the two- and three-subunit cytochromes aa3 from Paracoccus denitrificans and the 13-subunit beef heart enzyme

In the accompanying paper, we have shown that the two-subunit cytochrome aa3 isolated from Paracoccus denitrificans displays the same kind of complex and interactive redox behavior as the 13-subunit cytochrome aa3 from beef heart. Therefore, the redox characteristics are not dependent on the additional 11 subunits. In the current work, we have examined the energy-transducing capabilities of both the two- and three-subunit enzymes obtained from Paracoccus denitrificans in relation to that of the 13-unit mammalian enzyme. We have found that in all of the tested functions, which included the development of delta psi and delta pH, and the pumping of protons, that the two-subunit enzyme is at least as efficient as the structurally more complex mammalian enzyme. There is thus a correlation between the complex redox behavior and energy transducing capabilities of the two enzymes. There was also no difference in energy-transducing capabilities between the two- and three-subunit forms of the bacterial enzyme. It seems that only 2 subunits are required for an efficient energy-transducing cytochrome aa3. The most likely role of the additional subunits in the mammalian enzyme, therefore, seems to be in regulation.
Enhanced Establishment of Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines With the Ficoll-Hypaque Density Gradient Technique

SummaryLymphoblastoid cell lines were established using peripheral blood which was obtained from ten patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, eight patients with infectious mononucleosis and 19 normal individuals. In each instance, the blood was divided into two portions. One portion was prepared for culture by gravity sedimentation of the white blood cells. The other portion was prepared by use of the Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient technique for separation of pure mononuclear cells. Results demonstrated that the Ficoll-Hypaque technique was significantly more efficient for establishment of lymphoid suspension cultures than was the gravity sedimentation method.
Molecular studies of the molluscan response to digenean infection.

The Mollusca is one of the largest, most diverse, and structurally complex of the animal phyla. Molluscs are of considerable importance in aquaculture, as intermediate hosts of several parasites of medical and veterinary significance, and because many molluscs are rare and endangered. Recent years have witnessed the increasing application of modern techniques to molluscan immunobiology, and there is a growing understanding of the molecules involved in molluscan defense responses. Among the notable approaches are 1) dissection of signal transduction pathways in molluscan hemocytes; 2) characterization of molecules involved in adherence of molluscan cells; 3) the identification of markers segregating with resistance of snails to digenetic trematodes; and 4) molecular characterization of a family of hemolymph proteins from planorbid snails that are induced following exposure to digeneans. The latter proteins are lectins and have similarity to fibrinogen and have been termed fibrinogen-related proteins, or FREPs. FREPs are comprised of a C-terminal domain with homology to fibrinogen and an N-terminal domain with homology to V type loops of the immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF). Other members of the IgSF occur in molluscs and other fibrinogen-related proteins lacking Ig domains have been found in external body mucus of snails and are believed to play roles in defense.
Dynamic From-Between Chart: a new tool for solving dynamic facility layout problems

A manufacturing facility operates in a dynamic environment where the production rates and product mix are continuously changing. Hence, it is often necessary to analyse and redesign the layout. Existing methods for redesign use multiple, static, and tabular from-to charts. A new tool, 'Dynamic From Between Chart' (DFBC), for the analysis of redesign of layouts has been developed. This tool models the production rate changes using a continuous function. The development process of the new tool, the formulation of the cost function and its application to solving the dynamic layout problems for multiple time periods is presented.
A New Drug on the Block

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by the bacterial pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis , causes substantial global illness and death each year. Of particular concern is the continued rise in infections due to multi- or extensively drug-resistant bacterial strains, demonstrating an urgent need for new effective drugs. Pethe and colleagues screened more than 120,000 different compounds in a chemical library for inhibitors of M. tuberculosis growth within immune cells called macrophages. Through this screening method, the authors selected a compound that is a member of the imidazopyrimidine amides. They optimized this compound by synthesizing and evaluating 477 derivatives for their ability to block M. tuberculosis growth while not affecting eukaryotic cells. They derived a candidate drug called Q203 that was 100 times more potent than was the original compound, could inhibit drug-resistant strains, and had the potential to be synthesized on a large scale at low cost. Q203 did not kill eukaryotic cells and was found to be safe in mice and rats at both high and prolonged doses. In a mouse model of TB, mice treated with Q203 had reduced bacterial load and improved lung pathology comparable with that for other anti-TB drugs. Last, the authors sequenced rare strains of bacteria that were resistant to the new drug in order to elucidate its mechanism of action. Resistant strains had a mutation in a gene-coding part of the bacterial electron transport chain, which is necessary for bacterial synthesis of adenosine 5´-triphosphate (ATP), the chemical used for cellular energy production. To explore whether Q203 works by blocking ATP synthesis, the researchers measured ATP synthesis in bacterial cells in the presence of Q203 and other anti-TB drugs. Q203, but not the other anti-TB drugs, potently and rapidly inhibited ATP synthesis in bacterial cells. This study demonstrates that candidate TB drugs with new mechanisms of action can be found through screening chemical libraries. It also supports exploring bacterial ATP synthesis as a new therapeutic target. Last, the discovery of a new anti-TB drug demonstrating a desirable safety and efficacy profile in cells and in a mouse model suggests that this candidate drug could be explored further for the treatment of drug-resistant TB. Multiple steps and ultimately human clinical trials are still necessary to determine whether this new drug will be safe and effective in humans suffering from TB. K. Pethe et al. , Discovery of Q203, a potent clinical candidate for the treatment of tuberculosis. Nat. Med. , published online 4 August 2013 (10.1038/nm.3262). [[Abstract]][1] [1]: http://www.bioportfolio.com/news/article/1588700/Discovery-of-Q203-a-potent-clinical-candidate-for-the-treatment-of-tuberculosis.html
Survey of parallel approaches to scientific visualization

Abstract The paper discusses the use of high performance computers ( MIMD, SIMD and vector) for scientific visualization. Various institutions and companies are investigating how best to utilize supercomputers and massively parallel processors for visualizing scientific data. Approaches which have been taken include the use of visualization servers, the parallelization of existing scientific visualization packages, and custom solutions utilizing various high performance computers. A brief synopsis of some recent approaches is included, and a subjective analysis of the applicability of the various efforts is offered.
Landscape patterns of local social organization and their importance for land use planning

Abstract The concept of applied human ecology is examined from both a theoretical and practical viewpoint, in the context of landscape architecture and regional planning. The focus of human ecology is land use, which may be determined by the examination of all available data, especially on the findings of a ‘naturalistic inquiry’ using the key informant technique. Such a technique helps to elucidate local social organization and future land use demands, despite the complexity of local communities. The paper uses a specific community, that of Medford Township in the Metropolitan Region of Philadelphia, to exemplify the use of human ecological methods, such as settlement pattern mapping, analyzing the management of social space, and mapping residentdefined land use. These tools indicate who occupies space, how they have organized themselves socially, and what they perceive as their problems and potential.
In vivo and electron microscopic observations on Schwann cells in developing tadpole nerve fibers.

The migration of Schwann cells and their early association with axons were studied in transparent tadpole tail fins. Nomarksi optics revealed that in vivo these cells are pleomorphic, changing their shape by extending and withdrawing long, blunt pseudopods. Daily observations of the same fiber fascicles for a month or more combined with intensive short-term studies of other tadpoles showed that migrating Schwann cells move sporadically at rates of up to 114 μm/day. They are usually, although not always, in contact with one or more axons. In the electron microscope, these migrating cells are similar in cytoplasmic structure to others that have settled down and begun to spread along axons; however, they possess no basal lamina. Later, Schwann cells become more spindle-shaped and acquire a basal lamina. Schwann cell surface characteristics and the changes imposed by the presence of the basal lamina may be important in the establishment of permanent axon-Schwann cell relationships. In our living material we were unable to visualize the intricate, rapidly changing associations between Schwann cells and small axonal fascicles that precede myelination. However, they are probably more complex than Speidel's studies would indicate.
Biomarkers for assessing population and individual health and disease related to stress and adaptation

Biomarkers are important in stress biology in relation to assessing individual and population health. They facilitate tapping meaningfully into the complex, non-linear interactions that affect the brain and multiple systems of the body and promote adaptation or, when dysregulated, they can accelerate disease processes. This has demanded a multifactorial approach to the choice of biomarkers. This is necessary in order to adequately describe and predict how an individual embedded in a particular social and physical environment, and with a unique genotype and set of lifetime experiences, will fare in terms of health and disease risk, as well as how that individual will respond to an intervention. Yet, at the same time, single biomarkers can have a predictive or diagnostic value when combined with carefully designed longitudinal assessment of behavior and disease related to stress. Moreover, the methods of brain imaging, themselves the reflection of the complexity of brain functional architecture, have provided new ways of diagnosing, and possibly differentiating, subtypes of depressive illness and anxiety disorders that are precipitated or exacerbated by stress. Furthermore, postmortem assessment of brain biomarkers provides important clues about individual vulnerability for suicide related to depression and this may lead to predictive biomarkers to better treat individuals with suicidal depression. Once biomarkers are available, approaches to prevention and treatment should take advantage of the emerging evidence that activating brain plasticity together with targeted behavioral interventions is a promising strategy.
DC power pattern analysis of N-by-N staggered pattern charge collector and N 2 rectenna array

This paper compares a 4-by-4 dipole staggered pattern charge collector (SPCC) rectenna array to a 16 dipole rectenna array arranged in a four series-four parallel configuration. While each of these energy harvesting circuits has an identical footprint, the SPCC has a DC power pattern which simultaneously provides high gain and wide beamwidth. This profile provides RF energy harvesting sensors with additional range and makes them less sensitivity to orientation. At 0.1 m range, the N2 rectenna has a peak DC voltage 20% larger than the SPCC, but the SPCC's beamwidth is 400% larger than the N2 rectenna array. At 1 m range, the SPCC beamwidth is 600% larger, and the peak voltage is 300% larger than the N2 rectenna control case.
Ectopic pregnancy in the United States 1970 through 1978.

Trends of the incidence and mortality associated with ectopic pregnancy (EP) in the United States were examined for 1970 through 1978. The estimated number of EPs rose from 17,800 in 1970 to 42,400 in 1978, and the EP incidence rate rose from 4.5 per 1,000 reported pregnancies to 9.4 during the same time period. The risk of EP was higher for older women and nonwhite women. Over 2.5% of all reported pregnancies among nonwhite women aged 35 to 44 years were ectopic. The death-to-case rate for EP declined almost 75% during the study period but remained consistently higher for nonwhite women as compared with white women. ( JAMA 1983;249:1725-1729)
Mutagenesis of Arg335 in Bovine Mitochondrial Elongation Factor Tu and the Corresponding Residue in the Escherichia coli Factor Affects Interactions with Mitochondrial Aminoacyl-tRNAs

During protein biosynthesis, elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) delivers aminoacyl-tRNA (aa-tRNA) to the A-site of the ribosome. Mammalian mitochondrial EF-Tu (EF-Tu mt ) carries out this activity using aa-tRNAs that lack many of the invariant or semi-invariant residues that stabilize the 3-dimensional structures of canonical tRNAs. The primary sequence of EF-Tu is highly conserved. However, several residues involved in aa-tRNA binding are not conserved between the mitochondrial and bacterial factors. One such residue, located at position 287 in Escherichia coli EF-Tu, is adjacent to the 5’ end of the aa-tRNA and is acidic in all prokaryotic factors but is basic in EF-Tu mt . Site-directed mutagenesis of this residue (Glu287) in E. coli EF-Tu and complementary mutagenesis of the corresponding Arg335 in EF-Tu mt was performed to create E. coli EF-Tu E287R and EF-Tu mt R335E respectively. EF-Tu mt R335E has a reduced activity in ternary complex formation and A-site binding with mitochondrial Phe-tRNA. Phe In contrast, E. coli EF-Tu E287R is more active that the wild-type factor in forming ternary complexes with mitochondrial Phe-tRNA, Phe and the variant promotes the binding of mitochondrial aa-tRNA to the ribosome more effectively than does the wild-type factor. Both EF-Tu mt R335E and E. coli EF-Tu E287R have activities comparable to the corresponding wild-type factors in assays using E. coli Phe-tRNA. Phe These data suggest that the residue at position 287 plays an important role in the binding and EF-Tu-mediated delivery of mitochondrial aa-tRNAs to the A-site of the ribosome.
Zaleplon (Sonata) oral sedation for outpatient third molar extraction surgery.

Abstract Zalpelon was compared with triazolam for oral sedation in a third molar surgery model using a double-blind crossover design. Factors such as anxiolysis, amnesia, and quality of sedation were assessed. Of the 14 participants who completed the study, zaleplon sedation was found to be similar to triazolam sedation in all regards except that recovery from zaleplon was more rapid.
Intermittent Criticality and the Gutenberg-Richter Distribution

In recent years there has been renewed interest in observations of accelerating moment release before large earthquakes, as well as theoretical descriptions of seismicity in terms of statistical physics. Most aspects of these works are encompassed by a concept called intermittent criticality in which a region alternately approaches and retreats from a critical -point. From this perspective, the evolution of seismicity in a region is described in terms of the growth and destruction of correlation in the stress field over the course of the seismic cycle. In this paper we test the concept of intermittent criticality by investigating the temporal evolution of the Gutenberg-Richter distribution before and after two successiveM ≥5.0 earthquakes in western Washington State. The largest event in this distribution, M maxis observed to systematically increase before each event, producing accelerating moment release, and then to subsequently decrease. Associated variations in the b-value are minimal This is the predicted result if M max is a measure of the correlation length of the regional stress field.
SOMATIC MUTATIONS AT THE SRD5A2 LOCUS ENCODING PROSTATIC STEROID 5 alpha-REDUCTASE DURING PROSTATE CANCER PROGRESSION

AbstractProstate cancer is a serious public health problem in many industrialized countries.Androgens appear to play a critical role in its etiology. Specifically, the active androgen in the prostate, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which is synthesized by the enzyme steroid 5 alpha-reductase from testosterone (T), acts as a mitogen. Hence androgen-deprivation is commonly used during prostate cancer therapy. Two isozymes for steroid 5 alpha-reductase have been reported. The type II enzyme is prostate-specific and encoded by the SRD5A2 gene. We have investigated a polymorphic (TA)n dinucleotide repeat in the 3′ UTR (untranslated region) of the SRD5A2 gene in 30 matched samples of constitutional (“germline”) DNA from peripheral blood lymphocytes and microdissected, pure tumor DNA. We report here 8 LOH (loss of heterozygosity) events and 9 cases of microsatellite instability at this marker. Therefore, almost 57% of the samples examined showed evidence of somatic mutations at the 3' UTR of the SRD5A2 locus. Our dat...
Integrating Communities Into More Inclusive Systems

The Vicos project throws light upon the strategies open to advanced industrial Nation States possessed of democratic ideology whose members act unofficially to assist other less modernized states whose body politic is divided by heterogeneous ideologies and techniques that interfere with integration, modernization, and democratization. At the Cornell end, the Cornell-Peru Project was a private undertaking, and it was intended neither for private profit nor political power. The aim was scientific; hence skill and enlightenment were the principal outcomes sought.
Interactions in enzymatic reactions.

The paper deals with interactions of substances via an enzymatic reaction (Bull. Math. Biophysics,25, 141–154, 1963). The substances are the activators, inhibitors and/or substrates of the reaction. Due to the bimolecularity of the processes in the reaction, the quantitative relation between the steady state amount of complexes and the amounts of the substances assumes a typical form. In multiple enzymatic reactions this form is more complicated, though basically similar. Because the substances may influence the steady state amounts of the complexes in opposite directions, the compensation and blocking effects are the properties of enzymatic reactions. The substances with the same direction of influence may potentiate each other. In the enzymatic reaction here considered, the potentiation is always non-negative.
Recent Weather Extremes and Impacts on Agricultural Production and Vector-Borne Disease Outbreak Patterns

We document significant worldwide weather anomalies that affected agriculture and vector-borne disease outbreaks during the 2010-2012 period. We utilized 2000-2012 vegetation index and land surface temperature data from NASA's satellite-based Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) to map the magnitude and extent of these anomalies for diverse regions including the continental United States, Russia, East Africa, Southern Africa, and Australia. We demonstrate that shifts in temperature and/or precipitation have significant impacts on vegetation patterns with attendant consequences for agriculture and public health. Weather extremes resulted in excessive rainfall and flooding as well as severe drought, which caused,10 to 80% variation in major agricultural commodity production (including wheat, corn, cotton, sorghum) and created exceptional conditions for extensive mosquito-borne disease outbreaks of dengue, Rift Valley fever, Murray Valley encephalitis, and West Nile virus disease. Analysis of MODIS data provided a standardized method for quantifying the extreme weather anomalies observed during this period. Assessments of land surface conditions from satellite-based systems such as MODIS can be a valuable tool in national, regional, and global weather impact determinations.
The extent of CASE technology use within systems development projects

Computer-aided software engineering (CASE) was developed to increase the productivity and quality of information systems development. While a great deal of attention has been given to developing an understanding of CASE, we still do not know what aspects of integrated CASE technology are being used within systems development projects. This understanding is instrumental in evaluating where the benefits of the technology are being derived, and whether untapped potential exists in under-utilised functions of the technology. This paper assesses which functions offered by IEF (now named Composer and offered by Sterling software) CASE technology are being used. Responses on 67 projects using CASE were analysed. Results suggest that many important functions are under-utilised including enterprise modelling, reusable code, and documentation as a by-product of design. The results suggest that most organisations are taking an evolutionary approach adoption. Using this approach, organisations are automating systems development and not re-engineering the systems development process to fully utilise CASE technology.
A description of pp → pX in the triple-regge region incorporating f/P universality

Abstract By assuming generalized f/P universality and exchange degeneracy, we can considerably reduce the number of independent triple-Regge parameters needed to fit the recent NAL measurements of the pp → pX cross section.
Digital libraries: future potentials and challenges

Four broad area for future development in the digital library environment are identified and explored. The presentation and display of information is linked to interface design issues and the types of data and services that might be made available. The challenge of organizing resources and services into virtual collections, often based on vendor, product name, or levels of bibliographic access, is considered. Issues concerning the technical architecture of library systems and data are described, including multi‐tiered architecture, broadcast search capabilities, and support for a growing diversity of data formats. Rights management and access controls related to resource integrity and user security are discussed.
Sequence Variation in Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 Serine Protease Gene, Low LDL Cholesterol, and Cancer Incidence

Some prospective epidemiologic studies have suggested that a low plasma cholesterol level may be associated with increased risk of cancer. Certain sequence variants in the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 serine protease gene ( PCSK9 ) are associated with lifelong low total and LDL cholesterol. We therefore analyzed the association of PCSK9 variation with incidence of cancer between 1987 and 2000 in a prospective study ( n = 13,250). The frequency of the PCSK9 variants studied was 2.4% in blacks and 3.2% in whites. Neither was associated with increased cancer incidence: age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratios were 0.66 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.31-1.39] in blacks and 0.77 (95% CI, 0.54-1.09) in whites. Low baseline total or LDL cholesterol levels in 1987 to 1989 were also not statistically significantly associated with incident cancer: multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios for the lowest compared with the highest quartiles of LDL cholesterol were 1.05 (95% CI, 0.78-1.40) in blacks and 1.16 (95% CI, 0.99-1.36) in whites. These data suggest that a lifelong low cholesterol concentration, as reflected by these PCSK9 variants, does not increase risk of cancer. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(11):2455–8)
Algal Symbiosis: A Mathematical Analysis

Host and algal symbion growth can be described by an iterative model which incorporates utilization efficiencies of host and symbiont. This model predicts that, with input of organic matter to the host and at very low host and algal utilization efficiences coupled with efficient recycling of nutrients between the host and symbionts, production of organic matter by the system can be increased by 2–3 orders of magnitude over that of a system comprised of only autotrophs and heterotrophs. Energy available for growth and respiration by the host is 1–2 orders of magnitude over that available to a heterotroph without symbionts. Algal symbiosis is highly advantageous in oligotrophic environments where radiant energy is abundant, growth-limiting nutrients are scarce and only concentrated in organic matter, and much energy must be expended to capture that organic matter.
Teaching clinical reasoning to second-year medical students.

In most U.S. medical schools, students begin clinical clerkships during their third year. They are expected to arrive prepared with the skills necessary to participate in patient-care activities, including data gathering, care coordination, and diagnostic reasoning. However, most students' training may inadequately prepare them to be proficient in diagnostic reasoning, and little time is available in the third year to develop these skills. Because of this inadequate preparation, students may become frustrated with many aspects of their clerkships. This paper describes a series of exercises developed by the author and implemented in this three years as a clinical tutor for second-year medical students in an introduction to clinical medicine course. The exercises are designed to accelerate the student's understanding of diagnostic reasoning, thereby better preparing them for the requirements of the third-year clerkship. The author describes how he uses this teaching approach and discusses in detail the method's central components. He notes that the six students he has worked with from 1993 to the present have responded very positively, and that further research is needed to explore possible long-term benefits of this teaching method.
Design of low-power ROM-less direct digital frequency synthesizer using nonlinear digital-to-analog converter

A design technique that uses nonlinear digital-to-analog converter (DAC) for implementing low-power direct digital frequency synthesizer (DDFS) is proposed. The nonlinear DAC is used in place of the ROM look up table for phase-to-sine amplitude conversion and the linear DAC in a conventional DDFS. Since the proposed design technique for DDFS does not require a ROM, significant saving in power dissipation results. The design procedure for implementing the nonlinear DAC is presented. To demonstrate the proposed technique, two quadrature DDFSs, one using nonlinear resistor string DACs and the other using nonlinear current-mode DACs, were implemented. For a 3.3-V supply, the resulting power dissipation for both DDFSs are 4 and 92 mW at a clock rate of 25 MHz and 230 MHz, respectively. For both DDFSs, the spurious free dynamic ranges are over 55 dB for low synthesized frequencies.
Book Reviews: Corporate Welfare, Taxpayer Subsidies, and Home Field Advantages

Books reviewed: Joanna Cagan and Neil deMause, Field of Schemes: How the Great Stadium Swindle Turns Public Money into Private Profit Jerold J. Duquette, Regulating the National Pastime: Baseball and Antitrust. James Quirk and Rodney Fort, Hard Ball: The Abuse of Power in Pro Team Sports. Wilbur C. Rich, editor, The Economics and Politics of Sports Facilities. Mark S. Rosentraub, Major League Losers: The Real Cost of Sports and Who's Paying for It. Jay Weiner, Stadium Games: Fifty Years of Big League Greed and Bush League Boondoggles.