cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamics of planar vortex clusters with binaries

We study an N -vortex problem having J of them forming a cluster, which means the distances between the vortices in the cluster is much smaller by O (e) than the distances, O (l), to the N – J vortices outside of the cluster. With the strengths of N vortices being of the same order, the velocity and time scales for the motion of the J vortices relative to those of the N – J vortices are O (e–1) and O (e2) respectively. We show that this two-time and two-length scale problem can be converted to a standard two-time scale problem and then the leading order solution of the N -vortex problem can be uncoupled to two problems, one for the motion of J vortices in the cluster relative to the center of the cluster and one for the motion of the N – J vortex plus the center of the cluster. For N = 3 and J = 2, the 3-vortex problem is uncoupled to two binary vortices problems in the length scales l and le respectively. When perturbed in the scale l, say by a fourth vortex even of finite strength, the binary problem becomes a 3-vortex problem, admitting periodic solutions. Since 3-vortex problems are solvable, the uncoupling enables us to solve 3-cluster problems having at most three vortices in each cluster. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Using Information from Tradinig in Trading and Portfolio Management

As electronic trading systems become more prevalent, perceptions of “best execution” adjust accordingly. This presentation examines the relationships between transaction costs and (1) trade size relative to market capitalization, (2) trade size relative to average trading volume, (3) management style, (4) patience in trading, and (5) use of crossing networks.This presentation comes from the Execution Techniques, True Trading Costs, and the Microstructure of Markets conference held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on December 3-4, 1992.
Cost-Based Optimum Scheduling of Inspection and Monitoring for Fatigue-Sensitive Structures under Uncertainty

Inspection and monitoring of deteriorating structures are generally performed to assess structural integrity and predict the remaining service life. For deteriorating structures, a reliable prediction of damage occurrence and the time-dependent damage evaluation depend on the accuracy of deterioration models under uncertainty. A probabilistic approach to establish optimum cost-based inspection and monitoring schedules of fatigue-sensitive structures is proposed in this paper. The inspection schedule is the solution of an optimization problem to minimize the expected total cost, including the costs of inspections or monitorings, and the expected failure cost. The failure criterion uses damage detection time and time for damage to reach the critical state. The uncertainties associated with damage occurrence/propagation and damage detection time are both considered. The solution of the optimization provides the inspection times and quality of inspections. The formulation of the optimization for inspection scheduling is extended to monitoring scheduling. Effects of the failure cost on inspection and monitoring scheduling are also studied. The proposed approach is applied to a fatigue-sensitive structure.
A clinical model of obesity treatment is more effective in preschoolers and Spanish speaking families

Objective: Preschool and minority children have not been well represented in obesity treatment studies. This analysis of clinical obesity treatment was carried out within a diverse population of children 2-12 years to identify demographic characteristics associated with successful treatment. Design and Methods: A medical record review captured BMI and demographics for children 2-12 years who began treatment during a 42-month period (n = 479). Associations of body mass index z-score (BMI-Z) change with child and family demographics were examined with logistic regression and time-to-event analysis. Results: Treatment led to a mean BMI-Z decrease of 0.18. Half of children with follow-up (n = 273) exceeded the a priori cut-off for successful treatment of −0.1 BMI-Z. Preschoolers and children of Spanish-speakers were more likely to succeed, (Adjusted OR: 5.8 [95% CI: 2.7-12.2] and 2.3 [95% CI: 1.1, 4.9]). The hazard ratio for treatment failure was 3.7 [95% CI: 2.1, 6.8] for children starting treatment at 6-12 years compared to preschoolers, adjusted for other demographics. Conclusions: This mode of treatment was more likely to succeed among children treated before school age and among children whose parents spoke only Spanish. Screening and treatment for obesity in preschoolers and Hispanic immigrant families deserve further prospective study.
Studies of immune functions of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Genetic, environmental, and immune factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). To investigate the basis for abnormalities in immune regulation, we studies lymphocytes from patients with SLE during the active and inactive phases of their disease to examine their ability to develop Con A induced suppressor function (5 patients) and to develop a normal autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) (7 patients). In each case results of these in vitro tests using whole T cells were abnormal during the active phase of the disease and returned to normal when the disease activity decreased. The results of this study suggest that the abnormalities of suppressor cell generation and the autologous MLR observed in whole T cell populations from patients with active SLE are not solely due to intrinsic and invariant lymphocyte defects. They further suggest that loss of immune regulatory function is not a simple genetically determined trait since the regulatory function returned to normal when the disease became inactive. However, these results do not exclude an underlying genetic effect on the immune system which requires a second factor (such as an environmental trigger) for expression. Evidence in support of this latter possibility derives from studies of Tγ cells. Fractionation of the functionally normal whole T cells from some patients who were clinically inactive revealed impaired function of Tγ cells. This subset of T cells may be easily perturbed by stimuli not sufficient to cause clinically apparent disease.
Demonstration of ordering in semiconducting (chalcopyrite)-(zinc blende) alloys.

Phase diagrams of alloys mixing the chalcopyrite crystal structure with the zinc-blende structure have been computed using a generalized antiferromagnetic Blume-Emery-Griffiths model in the tetrahedron approximation of the cluster-variational method. These phase diagrams are rich in transitions, including typically an order-disorder transition from chalcopyrite to zinc blende as a function of temperature for the undiluted chalcopyrite compound, a narrow miscibility gap between chalcopyrite and zinc-blende alloys at high temperatures, and a large miscibility gap at low temperatures. Additionally, for a range of energy parameters, novel x=1/2 stannite and other ordered phases are found. The calculated phase diagrams compare favorably with those obtained experimentally for the diluted magnetic semiconductors (${\mathrm{CuInTe}}_{2}$${)}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$(MnTe${)}_{2\mathit{x}}$ and (${\mathrm{AgInTe}}_{2}$${)}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$(MnTe${)}_{2\mathit{x}}$.
Pre-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia with b3a2 (p210) and e1a2 (p190) BCR-ABL fusion transcripts relapsing as chronic myelogenous leukemia with a less differentiated b3a2 (p210) clone

The Philadelphia chromosome translocation t(9;22)(q34;q11) may give rise to different BCR/ABL fusion mRNAs due to different genomic breakpoints and alternative splicing. The e1a2, b2a2 or b3a2 and c3a2 fusion mRNAs encode distinct fusion proteins (p190, p210 and p230, respectively), which are associated with different forms of leukemogenesis in humans and animal models. Our patient presented with acute pre-B cell lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with normal cytogenetics. After 3 years of standard ALL therapy, he relapsed with t(9;22)-positive chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Retrospective molecular analyses of the pre-treatment pre-B cell ALL sample showed the b3a2 (p210) and e1a2 (p190) BCR/ABL fusion transcripts. Only the b3a2 (p210) transcript was detected at relapse. Southern and immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) analyses of the presentation and relapse samples revealed an identical BCR rearrangement in both samples. However, only the ALL sample harbored an IgH gene rearrangement. These findings show a clonal relationship between the more differentiated pre-B cell and less differentiated CML clones and that the p210 and p190 fusion mRNAs were alternatively spliced from a single genomic breakpoint. Our patient's unusual molecular findings provide circumstantial evidence that the p190 protein may promote a more differentiated phenotype in a comparatively less differentiated p210-transformed precursor cell.
Stable and unstable periodic solutions to the mathieu-duffing oscillator

In this paper, stable and unstable periodic motions in the Mathieu-Duffing oscillator are investigated through the harmonic balance method. The approximate, analytical solutions of periodic motion are achieved, and the corresponding stability and bifurcation analysis produces motion complexity parameter maps. Numerical illustrations of periodic motions are given for a better understanding of periodic motions.
Risk of Pneumothorax Not Increased by Obstructive Lung Disease in Percutaneous Needle Biopsy

All computed tomography directed lung biopsies from 1987 to 1991 were retrospectively reviewed. Pneumothorax occurred in 33 of 93 (35 percent) patients; 16 of these patients or 17 percent overall required a chest tube. No correlation was found between the presence of obstructive lung disease and the incidence of pneumothorax. Patients with smaller lesions were more likely to incur a pneumothorax. No relation was found with central or peripheral location, patient's age, or the operator and the incidence of pneumothorax. Patients with a pneumothorax were more likely to require a chest tube if they had obstructive lung disease.
Antitumor activity of sphingosine kinase 2 inhibitor ABC294640 and sorafenib in hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts

The balance between the pro-apoptotic lipids ceramide and sphingosine and the pro-survival lipid sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is termed the “sphingosine rheostat”. Two isozymes, sphingosine kinase 1 and 2 (SK1 and SK2), are responsible for phosphorylation of pro-apoptotic sphingosine to form pro-survival S1P. We have previously reported the antitumor properties of an SK2 selective inhibitor, ABC294640, alone or in combination with the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib in mouse models of kidney carcinoma and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Here we evaluated the combined antitumor effects of the aforementioned drug combination in two mouse models of hepatocellular carcinoma. Although combining the SK2 inhibitor, ABC294640, and sorafenib in vitro only afforded additive drug-drug effects, their combined antitumor properties in the mouse model bearing HepG2 cells mirrored effects previously observed in animals bearing kidney carcinoma and pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells. Combining ABC294640 and sorafenib led to a de...
A study of prostaglandin F2α as the luteolysin in swine: IV an explanation for the luteotrophic effect of estradiol

Abstract This study evaluated effects of estradiol valerate on synthesis, secretion and direction of movement of immunoreactive prostaglandin F 2α (PGF) in swine. Gilts were randomly assigned to provide uterine flushings representing days 11, 13, 15, 17 and 19 of the estrous cycle (three gilts/day). The same gilts then were allowed one estrous cycle for recovery. During the second postoperative estrous cycle they were treated with estradiol valerate (EV) (5mg/day, SC) on days 11 through 15 and uterine flushings again were obtained on the same respective days with the same gilts represented within each day. Total recoverable PGF per uterine horn increased from day 11 (¯X = 1.98 ng) to day 17 (¯X = 210.20 ng) and then declined to day 19 (¯X = 66.20 ng) during the control period. Following EV treatment average total recoverable PGF was 1.9, 4,144.3 and 4,646.7 ng on the same respective days. EV treatment also resulted in maintenance of elevated levels of total protein and acid phosphatase activity in uterine flushings. These data suggest that estradiol may exert its luteotrophic effect by preventing the release of PGF from the uterine endometrium into the uterine venous system (endocrine secretion) while maintaining the movement of endometrial secretions into the uterine lumen (exocrine secretion).
PUBLIC WAR AND THE MORAL EQUALITY OF COMBATANTS

Abstract Following Hugo Grotius, a distinction is developed between private and public war. It is argued that, contrary to how most contemporary critics of the moral equality of combatants construe it, the just war tradition has defended the possibility of the moral equality of combatants as an entailment of the justifiability of public war. It is shown that contemporary critics of the moral equality of combatants are denying the possibility of public war and, in most cases, offering a conception of just war as exclusively private war. The work of Jeff McMahan is used to exemplify this. Against these contemporary critics, it is argued that the reasons McMahan and others offer against the possibility of the moral equality of combatants undermine not only public war but also the possibility of fully realized and effective political authority. The conclusion is drawn that defenders of the moral equality of combatants must defend the possibility of fully realized and effective political authority over war whi...
Taxonomic revision of the Trapdoor spider genus Eucteniza Ausserer (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Euctenizidae).

The mygalomorph spider genus Eucteniza Ausserer, 1875 comprises 15 nominal species known only from the southwestern United States (Texas) and Mexico (Northern, Central, and the Baja Peninsula). Eucteniza atoyacensis Bond & Opell, 2002 is considered a nomen dubium; E. rex (Chamberlin, 1940) and E. stolida (Gertsch & Mulaik, 1940) are both considered junior synonyms of E. relata (O.P.-Cambridge, 1895). Twelve new species are described: E. caprica, E. coylei, E. diablo, E. cabowabo, E. huasteca, E. zapatista, E. chichimeca, E. ronnewtoni, E. hidalgo, E. golondrina, E. panchovillai and E. rosalia.
The Role of Twitching Motility in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Exit from and Translocation of Corneal Epithelial Cells

Purpose The authors have shown that twitching motility, a pilus-mediated form of bacterial surface movement, is required for Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence in a murine model of keratitis. To study the role of twitching motility in virulence, Pseudomonas traversal of multilayered corneal epithelia in vitro was investigated.
An ecosystem perspective on potential impacts of drilling fluid discharges on seagrasses

Potential effects of oil drilling fluid discharges uponThalassia seagrass ecosystems were examined using seagrass core microcosms. Observed experimental effects, summarized in this article, included changes in both autotrophic (Thalassia and epiphyte) and heterotrophic (dominant benthic macroinvertebrates) species, and the processes of primary productivity and decomposition. The physical disturbance related to greater turbidity and sedimentation caused some effects, while others seemed a direct response to the toxic constituents of drilling fluids. Using these experimental results and the case ofThalassia and drilling fluids as a case study, we explore general methodological and philosophical issues for ecotoxicology and, furthermore, focus upon the challenge of providing a scientific basis for judging acceptability of environmental changes likely to ensue from human activities.
372 CAUSES OF THE EXCESSIVE PERINATAL MORTALITY ASSOCIATED WITH PROLONGED GESTATIONS

The study analyzed placental structure and the causes of excessive perinatal mortality associated with prolonged gestations using data from a prospective study of 53,518 pregnancies. Post-term infants had a 30% greater frequency of acute inflammation in the subchorionic plate of the placenta than did term infants (P<.02). Such inflammation is a marker for amniotic fluid bacterial infections. The postterm placentas did not show any significant increase in those lesions that are characteristic of “aging” or reduced uteroplacental perfusion, i.e. fibrotic villi, excessive syncytial knots, infarcts and decidual necrosis at the margin of the placenta. The perinatal mortality rate was 20.9/1000 births for infants born after 42 weeks of gestation and 11.7/1000 for those born be tween 38-42 weeks. The perinatal mortality rate due to congenital malformations was 113% greater, amniotic fluid infections 160% greater, abruptio placentae 100% greater, placental growth retardation 280% greater, placental infarcts 81% greater and umbilical cord knots 88% greater in the postterm than in the term infants. The excess mortality due to congenital malformations was entirely in infants with hypoplastic adrenal glands. Thus, only about one quarter of the excess perinatal mortality associated with pro-longed gestations was due to placental disorders that lead to placental insufficiency. The clinical indications for inducing delivery in postterm gestations may need revision.
Choice reaction time with a random foreperiod.

Choice reaction latencies were measured at three different a priori probabilities for two stimulus alternatives. Unlike the results of some other studies, the mean latency of a given response was nearly the same whether the response was correct or incorrect. The discriminable stimuli were a 1000- or a 1700-Hz tone presented at 70 dB SPL. Latencies and standard deviations, based on about 17,000 observations, are reported for three observers. The data are compared with predictions of the optimum sequential model of Wald and Stone and two modifications of that random-walk model, one proposed by Link and Heath and the other proposed by Laming. Fast-guess analyses were also carried out. The three-parameter version of either the sequential or the modified random-walk models provided reasonably accurate predictions of the mean data for each observer. The parameters estimated by the fast-guess analysis were unrealistic. There are three obvious differences between this experiment and most previous choice reaction-time experiments. First is stimulus modality#x2014;we used an auditory signal, whereas most of the previous studies used a visual signal. Second, the observers practiced more in this experiment than in most previous experiments. Finally, there was a random foreperiod with a heavy penalty for anticipations. One or more of these factors is the probable reason for the discrepancy between our results and those of previous studies.
Substrate utilization kinetic model for biological treatment process

The applicability of Contois' kinetic equation to aerobic and anaerobic treatments of organic wastes is investigated. A refractory coefficient to account for the nonbiodegradable portion of the organic substrates in the digester is incorporated into the kinetic equation. The kinetic equation is applied to the data for aerobic digestions of organic substrates and for anaerobic treatment of dairy wastes. They all show a very good fit of the kinetic equation to the data. Furthermore, the kinetic parameters and the refractory coefficients are shown to be independent of influent organic substrate concentration. This study confirms previous reports that the effluent quality of biological treatment systems for organic wastes depends on influent organic waste concentration. The effect of temperature on the kinetic parameters and the refractory coefficient for anaerobic treatment of sewage sludge are studied. It shows that the kinetic parameters vary with temperature, while the refractory coefficient remains fairly constant. Equations to predict biodegradable treatment efficiency and volumetric substrate utilization rate are also briefly discussed.
Normal Liver Tissue Density Dose Response in Patients Treated With Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Liver Metastases

Purpose To evaluate the temporal dose response of normal liver tissue for patients with liver metastases treated with stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT). Methods and Materials Ninety-nine noncontrast follow-up computed tomography (CT) scans of 34 patients who received SBRT between 2004 and 2011 were retrospectively analyzed at a median of 8 months post-SBRT (range, 0.7-36 months). SBRT-induced normal liver tissue density changes in follow-up CT scans were evaluated at 2, 6, 10, 15, and 27 months. The dose distributions from planning CTs were mapped to follow-up CTs to relate the mean Hounsfield unit change (ΔHU) to dose received over the range 0-55 Gy in 3-5 fractions. An absolute density change of 7 HU was considered a significant radiographic change in normal liver tissue. Results Increasing radiation dose was linearly correlated with lower post-SBRT liver tissue density (slope, −0.65 ΔHU/5 Gy). The threshold for significant change (−7 ΔHU) was observed in the range of 30-35 Gy. This effect did not vary significantly over the time intervals evaluated. Conclusions SBRT induces a dose-dependent and relatively time-independent hypodense radiation reaction within normal liver tissue that is characterized by a decrease of >7 HU in liver density for doses >30-35 Gy.
Polymerization of iodinated fibrinogen

Light scattering and ultracentrifuge experiments were made on iodinated fibrinogen. The molecular weight was found to be 560,000 and the length 900 A. The experiments on polymerized iodo-fibrinogen indicated that the lateral and end-to-end associations have different pH optima.
A simulation model of HIV treatment under drug scarcity constraints

We consider a population of HIV infected patients. In resource poor environments, decision makers must allocate antiretro-viral drugs (ARVs) to patients in need of them the most. Further complicating matters is that once a patient is given ARVs, the decision maker must decide when to deny further access to ARVs. We compare various methods for determining which patients should receive ARVs and when to switch a patient off of ARVs. We examine the World Health Organization's (WHO) treatment recommendations and how the level of drug shortages can influence the performance of these recommendations. Instead of a single recommendation, the WHO offers three distinct treatment policies with no mention of when to use them. We find that the severity of drug shortages can greatly impact the performance of these policies and the performance gap can be as high as 1.4 years.
Development and organization of glial cells in the peripheral nervous system of Drosophila melanogaster

We have used enhancer trap lines as markers to recognize glial cells in the wing peripheral nervous system of Drosophila melanogaster. Their characterization has enabled us to define certain features of glial differentiation and organization. In order to ask whether glial cells originate within the disc or whether they migrate to the wing nerves from the central nervous system, we used two approaches. In cultured wing discs from glial-specific lines, peripheral glial precursors are already present within the imaginal tissue during the third larval stage. Glial cells differentiate on a wing nerve even in mutants in which that nerve does not connect to the central nervous system. To assess whether peripheral glial cells originate from ectoderm or from mesoderm, we cultured discs from which the mesodermally derived adepithelial cells had been removed. Our findings indicate that peripheral glial cells originate from ectodermally derived cells. As has already been shown for the embryonic central nervous system, gliogenesis in the periphery is an early event during adult development: glial cells, or their precursors, are already present at stages when neurons are still differentiating. Finally, our results also suggest that peripheral glial cells may not display a stereotyped arrangement.
Binding Alongside Hamblin Alternatives Calls for Variable-free Semantics

The compositional, bottom-up computation of alternative sets was first introduced by Hamblin ( 1 973) into Montague grammar to treat in-situ wh-questions. In the thirty years since then, alternative sets have found their way into theories of focus (Rooth 1 985), indeterminate pronouns (Shimoyama 200 1 ), and free-choice indefi­ nites (Kratzer and Shimoyama 2002). These theories often position alternatives as a scope-taking mechanism that operates separately from Quantifier Raising (May 1 977), Quantifying In (Montague 1 974), or some other scope-taking mechanism for "genuine" quantifiers like most. On these theories, then, it is not surprising that (say) in-situ who takes scope differently from most, as is empirically observed. In particular, if "genuine" scope requires syntactic movement but alternative scope does not, then constraints on movement apply only to the former, and we predict­ correctly-that the scope of most is more restricted than the scope of in-situ who.
On modeling locus heterogeneity using mixture distributions

Locus heterogeneity poses a major difficulty in mapping genes that influence complex genetic traits. A widely used approach to deal with this problem involves modeling linkage data in terms of finite mixture distributions. In its simplest setup, also known as the admixture approach, a single parameter is used to model the probability that the disease-causing gene of a family is linked to a reference marker. This parameter is usually interpreted as the overall proportion of linked families. In this article, we address two issues regarding the admixture approach. First, we tackle the question of whether the single parameter of linked proportion is well defined in general. By formulating the likelihood under a classification scheme based on distributions, we show that such a parameter is meaningful only when a certain well-characterized condition is met. Second, we study a condition given in the literature for validating the admixture approach. A counter example is constructed to illustrate that the condition does not necessarily lead to valid estimates. Estimators from the admixture approach may be inconsistent. This holds even if a condition given in the literature to validate the approach is satisfied.
EFFECTS OF LARVAL DENSITY ON POSTMETAMORPHIC SPADEFOOT TOADS (SPEA HAMMONDII)

To evaluate the effects of larval environment on postmetamorphic performance in the spadefoot toad, Spea hammondii, larvae were reared at one of two densities, creating groups of small and large terrestrial juveniles. These terrestrial juveniles were reared, either individually in the laboratory or in groups in outdoor tanks, at high and low food levels until they were 1 yr old. Larger terrestrial juveniles had higher probabilities of survival to 1 yr of age than smaller juveniles. Larval density did not strongly affect the maximum postmetamorphic growth rate of metamorphs. Body mass differences resulting from larval environment were maintained or slightly increased over the first year of terrestrial growth. The only exception occurred among males receiving high food after metamorphosis in both the laboratory and outdoor tanks; here the size differences disappeared. Larval environment did not influence the proportion of males reaching maturity in their first year. No females matured in their first year; this difference in the rate of maturation in males and females is consistent with published field studies. In outdoor tanks, males from the high-density larval treatment were active on the surface more often than those from the low-density larval treatment. These results are in general agreement with previous studies that have suggested that small size at metamorphosis is associated with lower adult fitness, in this case through lower survival and smaller body sizes. However, the results of this study suggest that the extent to which larval environment can influence subsequent terrestrial characteristics, such as growth and behavior, may vary with sex and terrestrial food availability.
Family structure, victimization, and child mental health in a nationally representative sample.

Utilizing the 2008 National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence (NatSCEV), the current study compares past year rates of 7 forms of child victimization (maltreatment, assault, peer victimization, property crime, witnessing family violence and exposure to community violence) across 3 different family structure types (two biological/adoptive parents, single parent, step/cohabiting family) among a representative sample of 4046 U.S. children ages 2e17. The study also considers whether certain socialcontextual risk factors help to explain family structure variations in victimization, and the extent to which victimization exposure accounts for family structure differences in distress symptom levels. Findings showed significantly elevated rates of almost all types of victimization among children in both nontraditional family types, relative to those living with two biological/adoptive parents. Factors associated with increased victimization risk in these families include high parental conflict, drug or alcohol problems, family adversity, and community disorder. A summary measure of children’s exposure to multiple forms of victimization was the strongest predictor of distress symptoms.
The WNT-controlled transcriptional regulator LBH is required for mammary stem cell expansion and maintenance of the basal lineage

The identification of multipotent mammary stem cells (MaSCs) has provided an explanation for the unique regenerative capacity of the mammary gland throughout adult life. However, it remains unclear what genes maintain MaSCs and control their specification into the two epithelial lineages: luminal and basal. LBH is a novel transcription co-factor in the WNT pathway with hitherto unknown physiological function. LBH is expressed during mammary gland development and aberrantly overexpressed in aggressive ‘basal’ subtype breast cancers. Here, we have explored the in vivo role of LBH in mammopoiesis. We show that in postnatal mammary epithelia, LBH is predominantly expressed in the Lin−CD29highCD24+ basal MaSC population. Upon conditional inactivation of LBH, mice exhibit pronounced delays in mammary tissue expansion during puberty and pregnancy, accompanied by increased luminal differentiation at the expense of basal lineage specification. These defects could be traced to a severe reduction in the frequency and self-renewal/differentiation potential of basal MaSCs. Mechanistically, LBH induces expression of key epithelial stem cell transcription factor ΔNp63 to promote a basal MaSC state and repress luminal differentiation genes, mainly that encoding estrogen receptor α (Esr1/ERα). Collectively, these studies identify LBH as an essential regulator of basal MaSC expansion/maintenance, raising important implications for its potential role in breast cancer pathogenesis.
Physical Allergy and “Auto-Antigens.”

SummaryWe have been unable to confirm the report of Karady that guinea pigs can be sensitized anaphylactically to heat or cold by heating or chilling their limbs. We were also unable to confirm Karady's report that guinea pigs can be sensitized to heated or chilled guinea pig serum.
Emotional state and initiating cue alter central and peripheral motor processes.

Evidence indicates that voluntary and involuntary movements are altered by affective context as well as the characteristics of an initiating cue. The purpose of this study was to determine the contribution of central and peripheral mechanisms to this phenomenon. During the presentation of pleasant, unpleasant, neutral, and blank images, participants (N 33) responded to auditory stimuli (startle, 107 dB startle or 80 dB tone) by initiating a bimanual isometric contraction of the wrist and finger extensor muscles. Analyses of electromyography and force measures supported the hypothesis that exposure to unpleasant images accelerates central processing times and increases the gradient of slope of peripheral movement execution. In addition, startle cues as compared with tone cues accelerated and magnified all temporal and amplitude indices. Collectively, these findings have noteworthy implications for (a) those seeking to facilitate the speed and force of voluntary movement (i.e., movement rehabilitation), (b) understanding the higher incidence of motor difficulty in individuals with affective disorders, and (c) those seeking to regulate emotional input so as to optimize the quality of intended movements.
Microarray analysis of relative gene expression stability for selection of internal reference genes in the rhesus macaque brain

Background Normalization of gene expression data refers to the comparison of expression values using reference standards that are consistent across all conditions of an experiment. In PCR studies, genes designated as "housekeeping genes" have been used as internal reference genes under the assumption that their expression is stable and independent of experimental conditions. However, verification of this assumption is rarely performed. Here we assess the use of gene microarray analysis to facilitate selection of internal reference sequences with higher expression stability across experimental conditions than can be expected using traditional selection methods. We recently demonstrated that relative gene expression from qRT-PCR data normalized using GAPDH, ALG9 and RPL13A expression values mirrored relative expression using quantile normalization in Robust Multichip Analysis (RMA) on the Affymetrix® GeneChip® rhesus Macaque Genome Array. Having shown that qRT-PCR and Affymetrix® GeneChip® data from the same hormone replacement therapy (HRT) study yielded concordant results, we used quantile-normalized gene microarray data to identify the most stably expressed among probe sets for prospective internal reference genes across three brain regions from the HRT study and an additional study of normally menstruating rhesus macaques (cycle study). Gene selection was limited to 575 previously published human "housekeeping" genes. Twelve animals were used per study, and three brain regions were analyzed from each animal. Gene expression stabilities were determined using geNorm, NormFinder and BestKeeper software packages.
Benchmark problems for wave propagation in elastic materials

The application of the new numerical approach for elastodynamics problems developed in our previous paper and based on the new solution strategy and the new time-integration methods is considered for 1D and 2D axisymmetric impact problems. It is not easy to solve these problems accurately because the exact solutions of the corresponding semi-discrete elastodynamics problems contain a large number of spurious high-frequency oscillations. We use the 1D impact problem for the calibration of a new analytical expression describing the minimum amount of numerical dissipation necessary for the new time-integration method used for filtering spurious oscillations. Then, we show that the new numerical approach for elastodynamics along with the new expression for numerical dissipation for the first time yield accurate and non-oscillatory solutions of the considered impact problems. The comparison of effectiveness of linear and quadratic elements as well as rectangular and triangular finite elements for elastodynamics problems is also considered.
The Systematic Specification of a Full Prior Covariance Matrix for Asset Demand Equations

Linear expenditure systems are widely used to describe consumption and portfolio decisions. However, the complexity of these models makes estimation a formidable task. In earlier work, an exchangeability assumption was used to incorporate subjective a priori information into the estimation of asset demand equations. Here, an alternative hierarchical approach is described and illustrated. This procedure provides a framework in which the identification of a limited number of distinct reasons for prior uncertainty can be converted into a full prior covariance matrix. Such a matrix can then be combined with prior means and the sample data to yield Bayesian parameter estimates.
Comparative Analysis of Multilocus Sequence Typing and Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis for Characterizing Listeria monocytogenes Strains Isolated from Environmental and Clinical Sources

One hundred seventy-five Listeria monocytogenes strains were characterized by serotyping, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) based on loci in actA , betL , hlyA , gyrB , pgm , and recA. One hundred twenty-two sequence types (STs) were identified by MLST based on allelic profiles of the four housekeeping genes ( betL , gyrB , pgm , and recA ), and 34 and 38 alleles were identified for hlyA and actA , respectively. Several actA and hlyA alleles appeared to be predominantly associated with clinical isolates. MLST differentiated most of the L. monocytogenes strains better than did PFGE, and the discriminating ability of PFGE was better than that of serotyping. Several strains with different serotypes were found, by MLST and PFGE, to have very closely related genetic backgrounds, which suggested possible “antigen switching” among them. MLST can be a useful typing tool for differentiating L. monocytogenes strains (including strains undistinguishable by PFGE typing and serotyping), and it may be of value during investigations of food-borne outbreaks of listeriosis.
Advanced-staged tonsillar squamous carcinoma: organ preservation versus surgical management of the primary site.

Background. Our aim was to review our experi- ence in the management of advanced tonsillar squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and to compare treatment outcomes between patients treated with and without surgery to the primary site. Methods. The records of 74 patients with advanced-stage tonsillar SCC were reviewed. The median age at diagnosis was 58 years. Thirty-eight patients received definitive surgery to the primary site, and 36 were treated with an organ-preservation approach (OP) using radiotherapy 6 chemotherapy. Results. No significant difference in overall survival (OS) or freedom from relapse (FFR) by treatment was found. T classifi- cation and N status were significant independent predictors on multivariate analysis for OS and FFR. Major late toxicity was noted in 10 patients in the surgical group and nine in the OP group. Conclusion. Patients treated with OP and primary surgery had comparable OS and FFR. T classification and N status were significant independent predictors for tumor relapse and survival. On the basis of these results, we favor organ-preservation ther- apy for patients with advanced-stage tonsillar SCC. V C 2006
Cost analysis of vascular readmissions after common vascular procedures.

Objective This study analyzed readmissions and their associated hospital costs after common vascular surgeries at a single institution. Methods Patients undergoing open or endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, aortoiliac revascularization, or infrainguinal revascularization, from 2010 through 2012, were retrospectively evaluated. We compared 30- and 90-day readmission rates and costs by procedure group, and we tabulated reasons for readmission and procedures performed during readmission. We used both American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) data and patient records; as NSQIP only captures 30-day data, we retrospectively reviewed patient charts to extend the evaluation to 90 days. Analyses were performed using parametric or nonparametric methods as appropriate. Results Two hundred nineteen cases were analyzed; the overall rate of index admission survivors experiencing at least one readmission within 30 days was 17% and within 90 days, 27%. Median readmission costs were $10,700, which added 39% to the median index costs of $27,700. Over half of readmissions (55%) included an operation. The most common cause for readmission was related to wound complications, comprising approximately 30% of the entire readmission cohort. Independent drivers of readmission costs were the need for additional surgical procedures, the use of intensive care unit services, and the number of days spent in the hospital above the median. Total 90-day costs were statistically equivalent between open and endovascular procedures when including readmissions. Conclusions We found that vascular surgery readmissions occur at a rate of 17% at 30 days and 27% at 90 days. When including the costs of readmission for a wide variety of common vascular cases, there is no significant difference in total costs between endovascular and open procedures at 90 days.
Appreciating α-Adrenergic Receptors and Their Role in Ischemic Left Ventricular Dysfunction

Understanding the role of α-adrenergic receptors in the relationship between myocardial ischemia and left ventricular functional impairment is difficult and substantially more complex than simply producing a reduction in myocardial supply relative to the demand. Traditionally and in an oversimplified manner, α1-adrenergic and postsynaptic adrenergic receptors are considered equivalent and mediate vasoconstriction. α2-Adrenergic and presynaptic adrenergic receptors likewise are thought to be identical and mediate inhibition of sympathetic neural terminal release of norepinephrine. Further subtypes of α1-,α2-adrenergic receptor subtype classifications (α1A, α1E, α2A, etc) exist but remain predominantly theoretical. Under normal conditions, α-adrenergic vasoconstriction regulates metabolically induced coronary vasodilation to match oxygen supply to myocardial demand.1 Under ischemic conditions, α-adrenergic receptor stimulation may produce excess oxyradical production and calcium overload and release endothelial factors,2 3 theoretically and paradoxically potentiating myocardial ischemia. As clinicians, the difficulty in our understanding arises because of the many different experimental models and available α-adrenergic receptor agonists and antagonists (Table 1⇓). Heusch4 expertly identifies the controversial aspects of α-adrenergic receptor activation, especially under conditions of ischemia, when this generally minor mediator becomes powerful enough to limit coronary blood flow when coronary vasodilatory reserve becomes exhausted. The potentially conflicting α-adrenergic receptor responses can be inferred, in part, by response variances among anatomic locations (Table 2⇓). Additional complexity is added in conditions under which brief periods of myocardial ischemia, not resulting in myonecrosis, may be followed by longer-lasting contractile impairment and diminished regional blood flow or myocardial “stunning.”5 6 7 Controversy exists as to the exact mechanisms responsible for producing left ventricular dysfunction during transient coronary flow impairment, but coronary artery vasoconstriction is frequently implicated, especially after endoluminal enlargement with angioplasty.8 This vasoconstrictor response may be …
Barriers and Incentives to Citizen Participation in the Enforcement of Environmental Laws

This is a study of economic barriers to access to justice, which restrict citizens and NGOs from obtaining judicial review of governmental actions and from enforcing environmental laws directly against enterprizes violating them.
Abstract LB-254: Efficiently targeting cancer stem cells requires tactical activation from their dormant state and subsequent exhaustion

Akin to normal tissue stem cells (NTSCs), cancer stem cells (CSCs) may have adopted dual active-dormant mechanisms to respectively sustain growth while eluding exhaustion from conventional chemotherapy such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). How to effectively target dual active-dormant CSCs while preserving NTSCs is essential to curing cancers. We compared the kinetic states of NTSCs in gut and bone marrow as well as leukemia stem cells following 5-FU treatment and found a narrow window of opportunity when forcibly activated dormant NTSC/CSCs can be targeted following depletion of proliferating progeny. Given that stemness factors predict poor overall survival (OS) in many cancers, we proposed a novel two-step ADAPT strategy_activate from dormancy and potentiate subsequent targeting_ in an attempt to synchronize cytotoxic effects of 5-FU on proliferating cells with stemness inhibitors targeting activated CSCs respectively. We applied the two-step protocol using capecitabine, an oral 5-FU prodrug, and celecoxib, a selective COX-2 inhibitor that is also a stemness inhibitor (it down-regulates LGR5/6, CD133, Oct4/Sox effectors, ALDH, CD24, Wnt, Sonic Hedghog) in patients with unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer. We found that the ADAPT strategy resulted in complete or near complete response rate in 27 patients with surgically unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer, especially if coupled with radiation. The median survival for this group of patients reached 92.7 months (95% CI, 53.5 months - not reached). Paradoxically, patients who had confirmed complete response without surgery but with long-term ADAPT therapy enjoyed 100% 5-year relapse free survival compared to 42% of patients who had undergone surgical resection of metastasis (p=0.04 log rank). Intriguingly, Celecoxib exerted many opposite biologic effects compared to 5-FU on cell cycle, apoptosis, DNA repair/synthesis, particularly stemness genes/pathways, and thus produced conflicting effect in short-term colon cancer cultures when combined with 5-FU. This observation potentially explains the 6 months gain in OS in the responding patients and the lack of OS for all patients in reported phase III BICC-C study that randomized Celecoxib vs placebo with 5FU based chemotherapy.. Thus, optimal ADAPT strategy to target CSCs requires initial cytoreduction of proliferating progeny and activation of dormant/drug-resistant CSCs, and subsequent cyclical exhaustion via long-term exposure to stemness inhibitors along with intermittent cytotoxic agents such as 5-FU. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-254.
Early IL‐4 gene expression in abomasum is associated with resistance to Haemonchus contortus in hair and wool sheep breeds

Early immune events associated with reduced larval burden remain unclear in parasite-resistant breeds of sheep. Therefore, our objective was to determine breed differences in immune-related gene expression following infection with H. contortus. Gene expression in abomasal tissue and mucosa and in abomasal lymph nodes (ALN) was measured in 24 St. Croix (hair) lambs and 24 Dorset x (Finn-Rambouillet) (wool) lambs at 0 (uninfected), 3, 5 and 7 days after infection with 10 000 L3 H. contortus larvae. Expression of IL-4 in abomasal mucosa was detected on day 3 and increased to day 7 in hair lambs, but was not detectable in wool lambs. Genes that recruit neutrophils (CXCL1) and macrophages (MCP1) were upregulated in abomasal mucosa of hair lambs. Genes associated with alternative macrophage activation (ARG-1) and eosinophil activation (Gal-14) were also upregulated in the abomasal mucosa of hair lambs. Tissue remodeling genes (MMP13, PDGF) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and MCP1 were upregulated in abomasal tissue of wool lambs; these lambs also had greater expression of forkhead box P3 in ALN. These data indicate a role for early IL-4 expression locally and demonstrate potential downregulation of immunity in wool sheep that could facilitate establishment of H. contortus.