cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MicroRNAs in personalized cancer therapy

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous noncoding single-stranded RNAs. They critically regulate the post-transcriptional activity of several key physiological and pathological cell processes including cancer. Through their transcriptional regulatory functions, miRNAs control tumor proliferation, invasion and metastasis. The expression of miRNAs is altered in malignancies. It could be either upregulated or downregulated depending upon the role of a particular miRNA in the pathogenetic development of the tumor. The upregulated miRNAs exert an ‘oncogenic’ effect leading to tumor proliferation and metastasis. The downregulated miRNAs have ‘tumor suppressor’ effects. Recent studies have demonstrated that miRNAs have a role in the early diagnosis, prognosis and treatment outcome assessment of cancers. Every tumor has specific miRNA alterations, i.e. some are overexpressed and others are downregulated. These altered miRNAs can be used as a tumor-specific ‘signature’ for potential clinical use in improving the accuracy of diagnosis, determining prognosis and as therapeutic targets for therapy. Specific miRNAs can be targeted using oligonucleotide sequences corresponding to the altered miRNAs. These are referred to as ‘antagomirs’. Depending upon the miRNA alterations in the tumor of an individual patient, one could design targeted therapies for personalized medicine in patients. Hence, miRNAs have an immense role in personalized cancer therapy.
On motion planning for dexterous manipulation. I. The problem formulation

The authors formulate the dextrous manipulation problem for a robot hand. First, dextrous manipulation is decomposed into coordinated manipulation, rolling motion, sliding motion, and finger relocation. Then the authors develop motion constraints for each of the manipulation modes and show that for finger motions that satisfy these constraints there exists a well-defined lift to the total space that links two contact configurations. Of special note is the incorporation of nonholonomic as well as holonomic and unilateral as well as bilateral constraints in motion planning. >
GPS receiver design for portable applications

Although originally designed for the military, the Global Positioning System (GPS) has proven invaluable in a wide variety of civilian applications. This paper describes the design of a portable GPS receiver for use in numerous emerging applications such as cellular phones that integrate GPS to comply with the FCC's enhanced 911 mandate, personal locator systems for the elderly and children, and personal navigation systems. The focus of the GPS receiver design is on achieving low-power consumption and high level of integration, which are important design goals in a portable system.
The Effects of Parental Age and Sibling Configurations on Family Environment and Academic Achievement of Children

In this study, we draw from the literature on sibling configurations and parental age to investigate the effects of these factors on the academic achievement of children. The study investigates the...
Energy Optimization and Bifurcation Angles in the Microcirculation

Abstract Our purpose was to examine the relationship between bifurcation angle and energy optimization in the arteriolar microcirculation. We measured bifurcation angles and diameters for sequential branches along a third-order feed arteriole (25 μm) in the superfused cremaster muscle of anesthetized (pentobarbital, 70 mg/kg) Golden hamsters ( N = 51). Predicted bifurcation angles were calculated using the diameter data in a model designed to minimize total energy or using four different models each designed to minimize a specific energy cost (vessel wall surface area, vascular volume, wall shear stress, power losses), these models each assuming constant viscosity and that branching occurs with perfect space filling (i.e. junction exponent, x , = 3). The range of the predicted bifurcation angles for any model was small (± 10°), and they were not different for the sequential junctions along the feed arteriole, where the observed angles significantly decreased in angle along the feed (first junction, 115 ± 4.4°; second, 88 ± 5.2°; third, 76 ± 4.8°; and last, 57 ± 3.4°). We next corrected for a nonconstant viscosity by using our in vivo tube hematocrit data and a published relationship among diameter, tube hematocrit, and apparent viscosity, Again assuming that x = 3, the total energy minimization model now predicted that the bifurcation angle was always obtuse and not different for the sequential branches along the feed arteriole (first, 125 ± 3.3°; second, 124 ± 3.4°; third, 120 ± 6.6°; and last, 132 ± 2.7°); the predicted angles were not correlated with the observed angles ( r = 0.25). Using the geometric resistance (diameters) and the angles measured in vivo , and assuming constant viscosity, we next calculated the value of x for each of the bifurcation junctions for each of the four models described above. The average value of x was not equal to 3 for any of the four models. The value of x decreased along the feed arteriole (first to last branch) from 2.7 ± 0.26 to 1.6 ± 0.22 (surface) and from 4.2 ± 0.36 to 2.9 ± 0.23 (volume), and x increased along the feed from 3.0 ± 0.35 to 15.5 ± 2.6 (shear stress) and from 40 ± 31 to 82 ± 49 (power loss). These calculations suggest that both changing viscosity and a changing value for the junction exponent are likely important when examining the energy optimization within the arteriolar microcirculation.
Generating lung tumor internal target volumes from 4D-PET maximum intensity projections

Purpose: Positron emission tomography (PET) of lung tumors suffers from breathing-motion induced blurring. Respiratory-correlated PET ameliorates motion blurring and enables visualization of lung tumor functional uptake throughout the breathing cycle but has achieved limited clinical use in radiotherapy planning. In this work, the authors propose a process for generating a gated PET maximum intensity projection (MIP), a breathing-phase projection of the 4D image set comprising gated PET images, as a technique to quantitatively and efficiently incorporate respiratory-correlated PET information into radiotherapy treatment planning.Methods: 4D-CT and respiratory-gated PET using [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) were acquired of three patients with a total of four small (4–18 cc), clearly defined lower-lobe lung tumors. Internal target volumes (ITVs) for the lung tumors were generated by threshold-based segmentation of PET-MIP images and ungated PET images (ITVPET-MIP and ITV3D-PET, respectively), and by manual contouring of CT-MIP and end-exhale and end-inhale phases of 4D-CT (ITVCT-MIP) by a radiation oncologist. Because of the sensitivity of tumor segmentation to threshold value, several different thresholds were tested for ITV generation, including 40%, 30%, and 20% of maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) for FDG as well as absolute SUV thresholds of 2.5 and 3.0. The normalized overlap and relative volumes of ITVPET-MIP and ITV3D-PET with respect to ITVCT-MIP were compared. The images were also visually compared. ITVCT-MIP was considered a gold standard for these tumors with CT-visible morphology.Results: The mean and standard deviation normalized overlap and relative volumes between ITVPET-MIP and ITVCT-MIP were 0.68 ± 0.07 and 1.07 ± 0.42, respectively, averaged over all four tumors and all five threshold values. The mean and standard deviation normalized overlap and relative volumes of ITV3D-PET and ITVCT-MIP were 0.47 ± 0.12 and 0.69 ± 0.56, respectively.Conclusions: PET-MIP images better match CT-MIP images for this sample of four small CT-visible tumors as compared to ungated PET images, based on the metrics of volumetric overlap and relative volumes as well as visual interpretation. The PET-MIP is a way to incorporate 4D-PET imaging into the process of lung tumor contouring that is time-efficient for the radiation oncologist and involves minimal effort to implement in treatment planning software, because it requires only a single PET image beyond contouring on CT alone.
Communication and control processes in the delivery of service quality

Delivering consistently good service quality is difficult but profitable for service organizations. Understanding why it is so difficult and how it might be facilitated is the purpose of the articl...
Ownership structure, deregulation, and risk in the savings and loan industry

Abstract We provide evidence on two noncompeting hypotheses concerning risk in the savings and loan industry: (1) the ownership structure hypothesis which argues that stock associations operate with more risk than mutual associations, and (2) the deregulation hypothesis which argues that savings and loans take more risk in a deregulated environment. Evidence from data on individual savings and loans for the 1976–1986 period is consistent with both hypotheses. Savings and loan associations took more risk because of the demutualization of the industry and also took more risk because regulations permitted greater risk-taking. Our results thus suggest that the thrift crisis may have reflected a unique confluence of structural and regulatory events.
Self-assembled Ge/Si hetero-nanocrystals for nonvolatile memory application

Abstract In this work, Ge/Si hetero-nanocrystals are used as floating gates for nonvolatile memory application. The nanocrystals were fabricated by Ge selective growth on Si nanocrystals in a chemical vapor deposition system. The scanning electron microscopy measurement affirms the density and size of the nanocrystals to be 6 × 10 11 cm − 2 and 7 nm, respectively. Metal-oxide-semiconductor memory with Ge/Si hetero-nanocrystals and Si nanocrystals were fabricated and characterized. Significant hole retention enhancement was observed in Ge/Si hetero-nanocrystal memory. This performance enhancement is attributed to the quantum well formed between Ge and Si valance band, where holes are preferentially stored.
Relapse and death during first remission in acute myeloid leukemia

Many papers have discussed the advisability of administering intensive chemotherapy to older patients with untreated acute myeloid leukemia (AML).[1][1]–[5][2] More specifically, several studies have attempted to identify patients at particularly high risk of induction death following such therapy
Immunobiology of bluetongue virus

Following BTV infection or vaccination, sheep develop both anti-virus antibody (which may include neutralizing antibody) and a cellular immune response. Yet, it still is unclear what aspects of the response are most critical in preventing infection and disease from this virus. This is, in part, the result of a lack of knowledge of all of the viral virulence factors. However, with the current work involving subunit vaccines and the efforts to more carefully characterize virulence factors and tissue tropism, there will be a more thorough understanding of the immunobiology of the Bluetongue virus.
Removal of Sediment and Bacteria from Water Using Green Chemistry

Although nearly all newly derived water purification methods have improved the water quality in developing countries, few have been accepted and maintained for long-term use. Field studies indicate that the most beneficial methods use indigenous resources, as they are both accessible and accepted by communities they help. In an effort to implement a material that will meet community needs, two fractions of mucilage gum were extracted from the Opuntia ficus-indica cactus and tested as flocculation agents against sediment and bacterial contamination. As diatomic ions are known to affect both mucilage and promote cell aggregation, CaCl2 was studied in conjunction and compared with mucilage as a bacteria removal method. To evaluate performance, ion-rich waters that mimic natural water bodies were prepared. Column tests containing suspensions of the sediment kaolin exhibited particle flocculation and settling rates up to 13.2 cm/min with mucilage versus control settling rates of 0.5 cm/min. Bacillus cereus tes...
Emulation and study of the corrosion behavior of Al alloy 2024-T3 using a wire beam electrode (WBE) in conjunction with scanning vibrating electrode technique (SVET)

Abstract When a metal substrate surface is metallurgically non-uniform, heterogeneous electrochemical processes occur. The wire beam electrode (WBE) is a multi-piece electrode constructed with a variable number of metal wires embedded in insulating material. Each wire surface is much smaller than the total electrode surface, and for most purposes its corrosion and other electrochemical parameters can be assumed to be uniform even if the process on the whole electrode surface is not. With this assumption, all the electrochemical theories based on a uniform corroding surface and on uniform electrochemical processes can be applied to individual wires on the surface of a WBE. Two different types of WBE’s have been built with the intention of emulating the behavior of a heterogeneous aluminum alloy surface and have been used to extract the electrochemical noise resistance ( R n ). A new approach is the use of a 9-wire WBE where the current density at the surface is detected by the scanning vibrating electrode technique (SVET). The ability of SVET to obtain data with small spatial resolution is used to understand if the WBE configuration can simulate the behavior of a plate electrode. From the data obtained thus far, the WBE configuration showed the ability to emulate a continuous surface as the current distributions from the analysis with the SVET has been confirmed.
Research on Information Security Test Bed and Evaluation Framework for Distribution Automation System

Analyzing the characters and abstracting the system model of the distribution automation system, information security test-bed of distribution automation is designed. Meanwhile, information security test and evaluation framework is proposed based on the lifecycle of distribution automation system. The evaluation activities and the testing methods are analyzed and key problems and solutions of information security evaluation and reinforcement requirements for distribution automation system are introduced. The work in this paper can effectively support the information security protection of distribution automation system, and can provide reference for other power industrial control systems.
Ultrasound Imaging of the Inguinal Region of Adult Male Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta)

Abstract The biology and reproductive anatomy of male loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) have been difficult to study. The principle method for evaluation of the coelomic cavity in both adult and juvenile male sea turtles is celioscopy. The purpose of this study was to describe the technique and structures seen when scanning the inguinal region of live, wild-caught, adult male loggerhead sea turtles and to compare these findings to those resulting from celioscopy and necropsy. Twenty-one adult male loggerhead sea turtles were collected by trawling in the Cape Canaveral shipping channel in April 2007. All turtles were placed in dorsal recumbency and imaged with a Sonosite 180 Vet Plus (Sonosite, Inc., Bothell, Washington 98021, USA) and a microconvex, 4–7-MHz curvilinear array probe. The inguinal region was divided into four quadrants: cranial, lateral, medial, and caudal. Celioscopy was performed on 13 turtles, and biopsies were obtained of the testes and the epididymides to confirm correct identifi...
Presynaptic muscarinic inhibition in bullfrog sympathetic ganglia.

1. Muscarinic modulation of nicotinic transmission was studied in bullfrog sympathetic ganglia by recording synaptic currents from B and C neurones. 2. Bath-applied muscarine reduced the amplitude of EPSCs recorded at < 0.2 Hz from B neurones by up to 57%. The action was reversible, showed no apparent desensitization, and had an EC50 of 102 nM. Muscarine had no effect on EPSCs in C neurones. 3. Currents evoked by ionophoretic application of ACh to B neurones were unchanged by muscarine. Muscarine increased the coefficient of variation (c.v.) of EPSC amplitude. The effect upon the ratio of c.v.2control to c.v.2muscarine was proportional to the change in mean EPSC amplitude. 4. Activation of muscarinic receptors by ACh from nerve terminals was observed by comparing trains of EPSCs in normal Ringer solution and atropine. Inhibition of EPSC amplitude by 15-40% was seen as frequency was increased from 1 to 5 Hz. The minimal latency for onset of inhibition was approximately 2 s. Stimulation at 20 Hz did not produce inhibition. 5. The results indicate that presynaptic muscarinic receptors are selectively expressed by a functional subclass of preganglionic sympathetic nerve terminals. Physiological activation of the receptors occurs during repetitive activity. The extent of autoreceptor-mediated inhibition varies as a biphasic function of stimulus frequency.
Review of research on closed loop supply chain management in the process industry

Closed loop supply chain (CLSC) management is a major enabler for sustainability in value creating networks. This contribution aims to describe and analyze the main characteristics of CLSC planning in the process industry and the related publications, in order to determine the evolution and gaps of this current research over time and improve our understanding of this issue. We built up a database with the articles on CLSC in different sectors of the process industry and identified the most relevant journals within this field. Furthermore, we derive and identify the requirements for CLSC considerations in the process industry for verifying whether these requirements are met in the literature so far. In addition, we have explored the topic, the methodology and the techniques of analysis, as well as other relevant aspects of the research in this field. We mainly focus on general and specific quantitative approaches, observing what has been done and how, where and by whom it has been carried out. The result is an extensive review of the research work itself and their limitations having an influence on CLSC concepts for the process industry. We conclude with some suggestions to those who begin to research on this apparently disregarded topic.
On The Use Of Gamma Ray Images For The Determination Of Human Body Segment Mass Parameters

Studies of the mechanics of motion of the human body have developed to the point where accurate determination of body segment parameters is essential. However, little data has been available on body parameters such as mass, center of mass, and moment of inertia of the major body segments.© (1971) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Acetylated Tubulin (AT) as a Prognostic Marker in Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Acetylated tubulin (AT) expression has been proposed as a marker for sensitivity to taxane chemotherapy. We wanted to explore AT as a prognostic marker in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). We assessed AT expression in archival tissue from our institutional tissue bank of primary SCCHN specimens. We also examined AT expression on pre-therapy tissues of patients with SCCHN receiving induction chemotherapy with docetaxel, cisplatin and 5FU (TPF IC). AT expression was assessed on archival cases of SCCHN with (N = 63) and without (N = 82) locoregional lymph node metastases (LNM). The predominant tumor site was oral cavity (52 %). Immunohistochemistry staining was based on staining intensity and percentage of tumor cells stained to create a weighted index (WI). A total of nine patients who received TPF IC were evaluable for response by RECIST and also had pre-therapy tissues available. A significant independent correlation between AT and tumor grade (p = 0.001) and primary location (p = 0.008) was noted. There was a trend of higher AT in patients with presence of LNM (p = 0.052) and a trend in improved OS for patients with an AT WI below the median compared to those above the median for patients with no LNM (p = 0.054). For patients treated with induction TPF, we observed an inverse correlation between AT expression and response to TPF IC (p = 0.0071). AT expression is correlated with tumor grade and primary site. There was an observed trend correlating AT with presence nodal metastases. The observed inverse correlation with response to taxane based chemotherapy needs validation in a larger sample size.
Crystal structure of arginase from Leishmania mexicana and implications for the inhibition of polyamine biosynthesis in parasitic infections.

Abstract Arginase from parasitic protozoa belonging to the genus Leishmania is a potential drug target for the treatment of leishmaniasis because this binuclear manganese metalloenzyme catalyzes the first committed step in the biosynthesis of polyamines that enable cell growth and survival. The high resolution X-ray crystal structures of the unliganded form of Leishmania mexicana arginase (LmARG) and four inhibitor complexes are now reported. These complexes include the reactive substrate analogue 2(S)-amino-6-boronohexanoic acid (ABH) and the hydroxylated substrate analogue nor-Nω-hydroxy- l -arginine (nor-NOHA), which are the most potent arginase inhibitors known to date. Comparisons of the LmARG structure with that of the archetypal arginase, human arginase I, reveal that all residues important for substrate binding and catalysis are strictly conserved. However, three regions of tertiary structure differ between the parasitic enzyme and the human enzyme corresponding to the G62 – S71, L161 – C172, and I219 – V230 segments of LmARG. Additionally, variations are observed in salt link interactions that stabilize trimer assembly in LmARG. We also report biological studies in which we demonstrate that localization of LmARG to the glycosome, a unique subcellular organelle peculiar to Leishmania and related parasites, is essential for robust pathogenesis.
The dependence of the texture of tellurium thin films on vacuum deposition angle

Abstract Vacuum-deposited tellurium thin films can show substantially different surface morphologies depending on the angle with which the vapor stream impinges on the substrate surface. These tellurium thin films have a tendency to grow as acicular crystallites but as the deposition angle is increased so that the vapor stream becomes tangetial to the substrate surface the spacing between crystallites increase and approaches, at stream angles of approximately 80° from the normal, dimensions roughly once or twice the average wavelength of visible light. Such films may have application in solar energy collector systems because of the high absorptivity of sunlight shown by such films. Mechanisms which describe the tendency for crystallite spacing to increase with increasing angle are discussed.
A Monte Carlo method for nuclear many body problems

Abstract A Monte Carlo method is given to solve nuclear many body problems in the frame of the Ritz' variational principle. The antisymmetrization and all integrations are performed by a random process. The method is formulated for a two cluster system, using oscillator wave functions and hard core forces, but it can be generalized to rather arbitrary forces and wave functions. As a test example, the ground state energy and rms-radius of the α-particle has been calculated. For the final parameter values, an accuracy in the energy of 10 % (2 %) was obtained after a calculation time of 40 sec (16 min) wit ann IBM 7090 computer. The accuracy in the radius is by a factor 8 better. The minimum energy depends rather strongly on the form of the trial wave function near the hard core.
Proton-induced noise in Space Telescope digicon

AbstractThe Space Telescope (ST), which carries two UV sensitive digicons, will pass severaltimes per day ehrougn a low altitude radiation belt called the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA).This is expected to create interference in what is otherwise anticipated to be a noise -freedevice. Two essential components of the digicon, the semiconductor diode array and the UVtransmitting window, have been shown by us to generate noise when subjected to medium energyproton radiation, a primary component of the belt. These trapped protons, having energiesranging from 2 to 400 IIeV and fluences at the digicon up to 4000 P+ /sec -cm2, will passthrough both the window and the diode array depositing energy in each. To evaluate the ef-fect of these protons, we irradiated engineering test models of digicon tubes to be flown onthe ST with low -flux (104-105 P+/sec-cm z) rionoenergetic proton beams at the University ofMaryland Cyclotron. It was shown that electron -hole pairs produced by the protons passingthrough the diodes or the surrounding bulk causes a background count rate exceeding previousestimates by a factor of between 5 and 10. It was also shown that these counts can occursimultaneously in the output circuits of several adjacent diodes. Pulse height spectra ofthese proton induced counts indicate r.iost of the bulk related counts overlap the singlephotoelectron peak.IntroductionThe Space Telescope (ST), scheduled for launch aboard the shuttle sometime in 1985, willcarry into earth's orbit optical -electronic detectors of unprecendented sensitivity. Amongthese will be several digital imaging detectors, or Digicons, which will form an integralpart of the High Resolution Spectrograph (HRS), and the Faint Object Spectrograph (FOS).The trajectory for the ST calls for the unavoidable passage, about ten times per day,through the low altitude part of radiation belts called the South Atlantic Anomaly (3AA).This will expose the scientific instruments to belt electrons, which can be shieldedagainst, and penetrating protons having an energy spectrum at the Digicon ranging from 2 to
Discrepancies in identification of major bleeding events in patients taking warfarin.

Study Objective. To assess the level of agreement between one subjective definition of major bleeding (criteria A) and two objective definitions: the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis ([ISTH] criteria B) and the Italian Study of Complications of Anticoagulant Therapy ([ISCOAT] criteria C). Design. Retrospective cohort study. Setting. Four anticoagulation clinics at a university-affiliated medical center. Patients. One hundred twenty patients aged 21–96 years who were taking long-term warfarin therapy and experienced a nonminor bleeding event between July 1, 2001, and June 30, 2006. Measurements and Main Results. Bleeding events were evaluated using three definitions of major bleeding: criteria A—event was fatal or required hospitalization; criteria B—event was fatal, was symptomatic in a critical area or organ, caused a decrease in hemoglobin level of 2 g/dl or more, and/or led to transfusion of 2 or more units of whole blood or red blood cells; and criteria C—event met criteria B definition (but less inclusively identifies critical areas or organs) and/or necessitated surgical or angiographic intervention. One hundred thirty-eight bleeding events in the 120 patients met at least one of the definitions of major bleeding and thus were included in the analysis. Level of agreement among the definitions was determined by the κ statistic. The level of agreement between criteria B and C was excellent; no discrepancies were found; however, the level of agreement between criteria A and criteria B or C was poor, with a κ statistic value of −0.134 (95% confidence interval −0.196 to −0.071). Use of criteria A resulted in underreporting of 31 major bleeding events by excluding events that were managed on an outpatient basis. Conclusion. The discrepant event rates determined by using three different definitions of major bleeding underscore the need for implementation of a standardized objective definition. Use of a standardized definition in clinical trials to accurately predict and compare patient outcomes and in clinical practice as a marker for patient safety will increase quality of care and decrease total costs of care in patients treated with warfarin. We suggest implementation of the ISTH criteria in clinical practice as a method to standardize the reporting of major bleeding events.
Lysosphingolipids inhibit protein kinase C: implications for the sphingolipidoses

Lysosphingolipids potently and reversibly inhibited protein kinase C activity and binding of phorbol dibutyrate in vitro and in human platelets. As with activation of protein kinase C by phosphatidylserine and sn-1,2-diacylglycerol, inhibition was subject to surface dilution. Accordingly, inhibition in mixed micelle assays was dependent on the molar percentage of lysosphingolipids rather than the bulk concentration. Lysosphingolipids inhibited protein kinase C activity at molar percentages similar to those required for activation by phosphatidylserine and sn-1,2-diacylglycerol. Since lysosphingolipids accumulate in Krabbe's disease, Gaucher's disease, and other sphingolipidoses, the hypothesis that lysosphingolipid inhibition of protein kinase C represents the missing functional link between the accumulation of sphingolipids and the pathogenesis of these disorders appears to unify existing data. The accumulation of lysosphingolipids would cause progressive dysfunction of signal transduction mechanisms vital for neural transmission, differentiation, development, and proliferation and would eventually lead to cell death.
Ethnic Enterprise in Ontario: Immigrant Participation in the Small Business Sector:

Participation in the small business sector by immigrants in Ontario is examined, using a theoretical model that views immigrant enterprise as a product of class and ethnic resources in combination ...
Pedigree analysis to determine the mode of inheritance in a family with retinitis pigmentosa.

A member of a large family with retinitis pigmentosa sought genetic counselling. Recessive inheritance could be discounted as highly unlikely but observation of the pedigree failed to distinguish between autosomal dominant inheritance with reduced penetrance, and X-linked recessive inheritance with complete penetrance in some female heterozygotes. The difference in predicted recurrence risk under these two models of inheritance is quite striking. A computerized analysis of the likelihood function for the pedigree was undertaken and reveals the X-linked model to be more than 1W times as likely as the autosomal dominant model.
The Role of Information Technology in Health Literacy Research

Without concerted effort, the current explosion in health information technology will further widen the digital health divide for individuals with inadequate health literacy. However, with focused investment of time and energy, technology has the potential for reducing disparities through intelligent, usable, and accessible systems that tailor information, advice, counseling, and behavioral support to an individual's need at a given time and place.
Calculation of Dynamical Surface Properties of Noble-Gas Crystals. I. The Quasiharmonic Approximation

Various dynamical surface properties have been calculated for noble-gas crystals in the quasiharmonic approximation. The calculations were carried out for slab-shaped fcc crystals in which the atoms interact through a Lennard-Jones potential. Changes in the force constants near the surface caused by changes in the interplanar spacings (static displacements) have been taken into account. Mean-square amplitudes and mean-square velocities of vibration were calculated for the (100), (111), and (110) surfaces. The surface specific heat, which was calculated for the (100) surface, is found to be positive and to vary as ${T}^{2}$ at low temperatures. So-called dynamic displacements, which are the displacements of the mean atomic positions in a vibrating crystal with free surfaces from the mean positions in the bulk, were calculated for the (100) surface. They are found to increase rapidly with temperature, indicating that thermal expansion is considerably greater at the surface than in the bulk. Some qualitative features of the static displacements for the (100), (111), and (110) surfaces are pointed out and explained. It is shown that the dynamical matrix for a general slab-shaped crystal can be reduced to a real symmetric matrix of the same size; this fact greatly facilitates calculations based on such models. The fact that the mean-square amplitudes diverge at finite temperatures for infinite slab-shaped crystals is discussed; it is found that accurate calculations based on slab-shaped models are possible despite this feature.
Therapy-induced thoracic malignancies.

Cancer survivors in the United States are growing rapidly in number. A cancer patient's survival is often the result of potentially carcinogenic treatments, such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy. As a result, the incidence, prevention, and management of therapy-induced second primary malignancies in long-term cancer survivors is an issue of increasing importance. Within the thorax, radiation therapy is more commonly the cause of treatment-related second primary tumors than is chemotherapy. This article reviews the background of radiation carcinogenesis and presents the epidemiologic evidence of therapy-induced thoracic malignancies, particularly lung cancer, esophageal cancer, and malignant pleural mesothelioma. Although no specific screening recommendations for second primary malignancies of the thorax have been established, clinicians should note that patients who have a history of thoracic radiation exposure, regardless of how remote, are at increased risk of developing new cancers.
A Blessed Company: Parishes, Parsons, and Parishioners in Anglican Virginia, 1690-1776

The important role of the parish in the lives of early Virginians; In this book, John Nelson reconstructs everyday Anglican religious practice and experience in Virginia from the end of the seventeenth century to the start of the American Revolution. Challenging previous characterizations of the colonial Anglican establishment as weak, he reveals the fundamental role the church played in the political, social, and economic as well as the spiritual lives of its parishioners. Drawing on extensive research in parish and county records and other primary sources, Nelson describes Anglican Virginia's parish system, its parsons, its rituals of worship and rites of passage, and its parishioners' varied relationships to the church. All colonial Virginians - men and women, rich and poor, young and old, planters and merchants, servants and slaves, dissenters and free-thinkers - belonged to a parish. As such, they were subject to its levies, its authority over marriage, and other social and economic dictates. In addition to its religious functions, the parish provided essential care for the poor, collaborated with the courts to handle civil disputes, and exerted its influence over many other aspects of community life. A Blessed Company demonstrates that, by creatively adapting Anglican parish organization and the language, forms, and modes of Anglican spirituality to the Chesapeake's distinctive environmental and human conditions, colonial Virginians sustained a remarkably effective and faithful Anglican church in the Old Dominion.
A dynamical theory for the Mori–Tanaka and Ponte Castañeda–Willis estimates

Abstract Most micromechanics models for composite materials have been derived under the static condition, and most of them are not known to possess a dynamical basis. In this article, we seek to establish such a basis for the Mori–Tanaka ( Mori and Tanaka, 1973 ) and Ponte Castaneda–Willis ( Ponte Castaneda and Willis, 1995 ) models. We adopt a low frequency, long wavelength scattering approach to match the far fields between two configurations: a cluster of original inclusions in the matrix and an effective homogeneous domain. We demonstrate that, with aligned ellipsoidal inclusions, the MT moduli can be obtained by choosing the domain shape of the effective medium to coincide with the inclusion shape, and that, by leaving it free from such a restriction, the PCW estimates can be realized. It turns out that the effective domain shape is the shape of the outer cell of the double inclusion ( Hori and Nemat-Nasser, 1993 ) and it also is a reflection of the spatial distribution of inclusions in the composite. We further demonstrate that, in the randomly oriented isotropic case, the Kuster–Toksoz ( Kuster and Toksoz, 1974 )–Berryman ( Berryman, 1980b ) model is exactly the dynamical counterpart of the PCW estimate.
Can two trivalent N atoms engage in a direct N⋯N noncovalent interaction?

Abstract While the two N atoms of a pair of NH 3 molecules do not interact attractively, the replacement of one H with a F atom results in a direct N⋯N noncovalent bond, with an interaction energy of 4 kcal/mol, nearly as strong as a NH⋯N H-bond. Cl or Br-substitution also leads to an attractive force between the two N atoms, although the XN⋯N geometry does not represent a true minimum on the potential energy surface. Trimethylation of the electron donor NH 3 strengthens both the NH⋯N and XN⋯N bonds.
Hard core phonon frequency at transition temperature

Abstract A simple theoretical derivation is given to show that one may expect a hard core for the phonon frequency at the transition temperature. This approach implies that the frequency of the phonon will follow ω ∝ {[1 + γ(T − T C )] V 0 } 1 2 instead of that predicted by soft mode theory. Our expression should be valid whenever a Brownian sublattice exists in the crystal.
Infrared Spectra of Perfluorocarbon Derivatives of Sulfur Hexafluoride and Cyclic Nitrides

The infrared spectra of 8 new fluoro-organic compounds are presented in the region from 2 to 15 microns. Included are the spectra of cyclic nitrides and derivatives of sulfur hexafluoride. Characteristic details of the spectra discussed.
Specialized Adult Congenital Heart Care Saves Lives

For more than half a century, growing numbers of practitioners and clinician-scientists have created systems for and practiced healthcare delivery within centers of expertise for young and older adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). To date, this has been driven largely by energy, enthusiasm, and shared mission without supportive data demonstrating the benefit of such adult CHD (ACHD) care programs in the lives of patients and families served by this developing field. Now, for the first time, Mylotte and colleagues1 present in this issue of Circulation good evidence that there is a survival advantage to ACHD patients being cared for by ACHD specialists. This confirms what those working in this field had long assumed and hoped but to date could not substantiate. Article see p 1804 The authors used their own extensively validated, province-wide, administrative longitudinal database that has been highly effective in demonstrating the demography and epidemiology of ACHD care in Quebec, Canada, as a model for North America. Their study included data from 1990 to 2005. They performed an elegant combination of time-series analysis together with case-control studies that included year-dependent survival and center-dependent survival so as to determine mortality trends within a highly monitored and geographically stable group of adults with CHD. A number of important findings emerged. Specialized ACHD care was independently associated with reduced mortality. Among patients who died, just under half died of cardiovascular diseases. Other causes of death included neoplasms (≈18%), respiratory disease (≈9%), and diseases of other systems …
Direct effect of preferential segregation on the origin of polysomy.

INVESTIGATIONS of reverse linkage1,2 in Saccharomyces (excesses of non-parental ditype tetrads yielding a frequency of recombination greater than 50 per cent) have revealed that the centromeres of the adenine–inositol chromosome and the proline–lysine chromosome demonstrate affinities for each other at the first meiotic division3. (Reverse linkage is not detectable in organisms in which a long heterochromatic region intervenes between the centromere and the euchromatin, permitting random recombination between the centromere and the euchromatic genes.) The centromeres of both chromosomes are of two types, designated ‘up’ (U) and ‘down’ (D). In reverse linkage for genes closely linked to these centromeres (genes controlling the synthesis of inositol and proline, respectively) the mating is U1D2 × D1U2 (Fig. 1). Preferential segregation has been shown to occur in nearly every meiosis of this mating by the close agreement between the distances between inositol and proline obtained by (a) one mapping function assuming 100 per cent non-parental preferential segregation (which yielded the distance 36.25) and (b) another mapping function which utilized only the frequency of tetratype tetrads and thus was independent of assumptions involving preferential segregation (which yielded the distance 37.50). Thus in nearly all resultant tetrads the gametes contain U1U2 or D1D2 centromere combinations. Unless recombination occurs between the gene and its corresponding centromere, only non-parental ditype tetrads are obtained. The mechanism controlling the preferential segregation of these non-homologous centromeres is inferred to comprise their synapsis just prior to meiosis I and their passing together to the poles in that condition at the first division. Marker-pairs which are in reverse linkage in one family may appear in direct linkage in a related family. This is inferred to result from the new mating U1U2 by D1D2.
Electron affinities of d1 transition metal chloride clusters and onset of super halogen behavior

Abstract Geometry, electronic structure, and electron affinity of d1 transition metal chloride clusters (MCln, M = Sc, Y, La; n = 1–5) have been calculated using density functional theory. Chlorine atoms are chemically bound in all cases except for MCl5. The electron affinities of MCln (n = 1–3) are small and increase only marginally as a function of n until the valence of the metal atom is consumed. Beyond this, they rise sharply and reach a value of 5.96, 6.03 and 5.90 eV for ScCl4, YCl4 and LaCl4, respectively and remain high for n = 5. MCln, (n = 4,5) clusters, therefore, behave as superhalogens. Results are compared with available experimental data.
Sida y embarazo

Resumen La concrecion del deseo de maternidad por parte de una mujer infectada por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) ocupa hoy dia un lugar muy importante. Los tratamientos han reducido la progresion hacia el sindrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida (sida) y la muerte. Paralelamente, los indices de transmision madre-hijo del virus de tipo 1 (VIH-1) han disminuido de manera notable, del 20–25 al 2–3 %. Los principales medios conocidos de prevencion de la transmision madre-hijo son los antirretroviricos, entre los cuales la zidovudina (AZT) es el que mejor se ha estudiado, la cesarea programada y la lactancia artificial. Los problemas planteados difieren segun que la infeccion por el VIH se descubra durante el embarazo o se conozca, e incluso se haya tratado con anterioridad y segun el estado inmunitario de la mujer. En la actualidad, ya no existe una norma de asistencia universal, sino decisiones complejas que deben adoptarse en cada caso concreto, basadas en el acuerdo entre profesionales y el dialogo con la paciente. La estrategia sera diferente si la madre recibe o necesita tratamiento o si se trata unicamente de la profilaxis de la transmision al nino. Tiene en cuenta los marcadores pronosticos (recuento de linfocitos CD4 y carga virica plasmatica) y los antecedentes terapeuticos. Deben sopesarse los beneficios y los riesgos de los medicamentos para la madre y para el nino. Se han descrito casos de citopatia mitocondrial en el nino tras la exposicion intrauterina a ciertos antirretroviricos, pero no se conoce bien su frecuencia. Pese a los recientes avances, las repercusiones medicas y humanas de la infeccion por el VIH siguen siendo especialmente onerosas.
Earthworms, litter and soil carbon in a northern hardwood forest

The important role of soil carbon (C) in the global C cycle has stimulated interest in better understanding the mechanisms regulating soil C storage and its stabilization. Exotic earthworm invasion of northern forest soils in North America can affect soil C pools, and we examined their effects on these mechanisms by adding 13C labeled leaf litter to adjacent northern hardwood forests with and without earthworms. Two types of labeled litter were produced, one with the 13C more concentrated in structural (S) components and the other in non-structural (NS) components, to evaluate the role of biochemical differences in soil C stabilization. Earthworm invasions have reduced soil C storage in the upper 20 cm of the soil profile by 37 %, mostly by eliminating surface organic horizons. Despite rapid mixing of litter into mineral soil and its incorporation into aggregates, mineral soil C has not increased in the presence of earthworms. Incorporation of litter C into soil and microbial biomass was not affected by biochemical differences between S versus NS labeled litter although NS litter C was assimilated more readily into earthworm biomass and S litter C into fungal hyphae. Apparently, the net effect of earthworm mixing of litter and forest floor C into mineral soil, plus stabilization of that C in aggregates, is counterbalanced by earthworm bioturbation and possible priming effects. Our results support recent arguments that biochemical recalcitrance is not a major contributor to the stabilization of soil C.
Cancer metastasis: tumor cell and host organ properties important in metastasis to specific secondary sites.

Cl in ica l and exper imen ta l cons ide ra t ions of organ-speci f ic metas tas i s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 A. G r o w t h rate and metas ta t i c f requency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176 B. Metas tas i s fo rmat ion r a n d o m or n o n r a n d o m ? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177 C. Exper imen ta l observa t ions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Valved homograft replacement of aneurysmal pulmonary arteries for severely symptomatic absent pulmonary valve syndrome.

Abstract Background . Patients with absent pulmonary valve syndrome (APVS) with respiratory distress (RD) have previously had a high mortality. In 1990 we adopted a strategy of primary repair including total replacement of the aneurysmal central pulmonary arteries (PAs) for patients with RD. Methods . Retrospective review was made of 54 consecutive patients with APVS between 1960 and 1998. Median age and weight were 4 months and 4.8 kg. RD was present in 23 patients (10 neonates, 16 required ventilation). Fifteen patients had repair with homograft replacement of the PAs and VSD closure (group 1). Twenty-seven patients had transannular patch with VSD closure with PA-plasty (group 2, n=21) or without PA plasty (group 3, n=6). Twelve had miscellaneous procedures (group 4); in 6 the VSD was left open. Results . Operative, 1-, 5-, and 10-year survivals were 83%, 80%, 78%, and 78%, respectively. Risk factors for operative mortality in multivariate analysis were RD ( p = 0.04), neonates ( p = 0.02), weight less than 3 kg ( p = 0.02), open VSD ( p = 0.02) and surgery before 1990 ( p = 0.04). Since 1990 operative mortality has decreased to 11% ( p = 0.04). RD was the only time-related predictor of survival in multivariate analysis ( p = 0.004). In patients with RD, survival with homograft was 73% versus 41% with other techniques ( p = 0.2). Mean follow-up was 72 ± 50 months. There were no significant differences in freedom from reintervention rates among the surgical groups ( p = 0.08). Conclusions . Aggressive homograft replacement of the central pulmonary arteries has been associated with improved survival in patients with APVS especially in neonates with severe RD.