cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
mRNA modifications in cardiovascular biology and disease: with a focus on m6A modification.

Among several known RNA modifications, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most studied RNA epitranscriptomic modification and controls multiple cellular functions during development, differentiation, and disease. Current research advancements have made it possible to examine the regulatory mechanisms associated with RNA methylation and reveal its functional consequences in the pathobiology of many diseases, including heart failure. m6A methylation has been described both on coding (mRNA) and non-coding RNA species including rRNA, tRNA, small nuclear RNA and circular RNAs. The protein components which catalyze the m6A methylation are termed methyltransferase or "m6A writers." The family of proteins that recognize this methylation are termed "m6A readers" and finally the enzymes involved in the removal of a methyl group from RNA are known as demethylases or "m6A erasers." At the cellular level, different components of methylation machinery are tightly regulated by many factors to maintain the m6A methylation dynamics. The m6A methylation process impacts different stages of mRNA metabolism and the biogenesis of long non-coding RNA and miRNA. Although, mRNA methylation was initially described in the 1970s, its regulatory roles in various diseases, including cardiovascular diseases are broadly unexplored. Recent investigations suggest the important role of m6A mRNA methylation in both hypertrophic and ischemic heart diseases. In the present review, we evaluate the significance of m6A methylation in the cardiovascular system, in cardiac homeostasis and disease, all of which may help to improve therapeutic intervention for the treatment of heart failure.
Vaginal Cuff Closure Simulation: An Innovative Approach Using the FLS Lap Trainer

Study Objective Our objective was to describe a low-cost, easy-to-construct simulation model of laparoscopic vaginal cuff closure. Design Resident education simulation concept. Setting Simulation center. Patients or Participants OBGYN Residents. Interventions Modification of the FLS laparoscopic box trainer for simulation of vaginal cuff closure with two low-cost cuff models. Measurements and Main Results With the incorporation of the FLS assessment into the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology requirements, OBGYN residents have access to the standardized FLS laparoscopic box trainers. Our video demonstrated easy-to-construct modifications to the trainer box to optimize the simulation of proper port placement and provider positioning during a laparoscopic vaginal cuff closure. Rather than the traditional box trainers with the camera between the two ports, our modification used two ports placed lateral to the camera. We discuss two low-cost, reusable models - the Koozie and 3-Dmed Wet Vaginal Cuff. Both models replicate the inner vaginal mucosal layer and can be attached using the FLS box clip. We illustrated the steps of the vaginal cuff closure, highlighting key components and helpful tips on both of the simulation models. Demonstration of these models was depicted alongside intra-operative surgical footage. Residents can practice these skills on the two models in the modified FLS box trainer. Conclusion Residents can practice their surgical skills using the laparoscopic vaginal cuff closure simulation model and a modified FLS box trainer.
Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome in the setting of recent gynecologic surgery: A case report

Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is an acute, toxin-mediated disease process which is commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes. A high level of clinical suspicion is imperative, with prompt antibiotic therapy with a penicillinase-resistant penicillin (vancomycin in areas with increased methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and clindamycin, given the high morbidity and mortality. Here, a case is reported of streptococcal-mediated TSS in a 37-year-old woman with a history of endometriosis, four days after a laparoscopic cystectomy; an intrauterine device (IUD) was left in situ at the time of uterine manipulation and not removed until hospital day 3 of the patient's readmission. Although no specific guidelines exist for removing IUDs, it is a foreign body and therefore it is recommended that early removal be considered regardless of the level of suspicion that it is the source of sepsis.
10. Blending in language and communication

The form-meaning pairs of grammar and communication often have as part of their meaning a set of hints and constraints on integration mapping. This chapter is a topical introduction to some of the ways in which form-meaning patterns prompt for patterns of conceptual integration.
SU-E-T-273: Do Task Group External Beam QA Recommendations Guarantee Accurate Treatment Plan Dose Delivery?

Purpose: AAPM task groups 40/142 have provided an invaluable set of goals for physicists designing QA programs, attempting to standardize what would otherwise likely be a highly variable phenomenon across institutions. However, with the complexity of modalities such as VMAT, we hypothesize that following these guidelines to the letter might still allow unacceptable dose discrepancies. To explore this hypothesis we simulated machines bordering on QA acceptability, and calculated the effect on patient plans. Methods: Two errant machines were simulated in Aria/Eclipse, each just within task group criteria for output, percent depth dose, beam profile, gantry and collimator rotations, and jaw and MLC positions. One machine minimized dose to the PTV (machine A) and the other maximized dose to the OARs (machine B). Clinical treatment plans (3-phase prostate, n=3; hypofractionated lung, n=1) were calculated on these machines and the dose distributions compared. A prostate case was examined for contribution of error sources and evaluated using delivery QA data. Results: The prostate plans showed mean decreases in target D95 of 9.9% of prescription dose on machine A. On machine B, The rectal and bladder V70Gy each increased by 7.1 percentage points, while their V45Gy increased by 16.2% and 15.0% respectively. In the lung plan, the target D95 decreased by 12.8% and the bronchial tree Dmax increased by 21% of prescription dose, on machines A and B. One prostate plan showed target dose errors of 3.8% from MLC changes, 2% from output, ∼3% from energy and ∼0.5% from other factors. This plan achieved an 88.4% gamma passing rate using 3%/3mm using ArcCHECK. Conclusion: In the unlikely event that a machine exhibits all maximum errors allowed by TG 40/142, unacceptably large changes in dose delivered are possible especially in highly modulated VMAT plans, despite the machine passing routine QA.
Relevance Feedback and Learning in Content-Based Image Search

A major bottleneck in content-based image retrieval (CBIR) systems or search engines is the large gap between low-level image features used to index images and high-level semantic contents of images. One solution to this bottleneck is to apply relevance feedback to refine the query or similarity measures in image search process. In this paper, we first address the key issues involved in relevance feedback of CBIR systems and present a brief overview of a set of commonly used relevance feedback algorithms. Almost all of the previously proposed methods fall well into such framework. We present a framework of relevance feedback and semantic learning in CBIR. In this framework, low-level features and keyword annotations are integrated in image retrieval and in feedback processes to improve the retrieval performance. We have also extended framework to a content-based web image search engine in which hosting web pages are used to collect relevant annotations for images and users' feedback logs are used to refine annotations. A prototype system has developed to evaluate our proposed schemes, and our experimental results indicated that our approach outperforms traditional CBIR system and relevance feedback approaches.
The American Colonization Society's West African Enterprise - Colonial Liberia to a Failed State

Back to Africa enterprises surfaced periodically in American history in response to societal and governmental unwillingness to absorb equitably that portion or the population with African roots. By late 18 th Century, the slave population and free blacks were or increasing concern to slave holders, social moderates and abolitionists, albeit for distinctly different reasons. The several colonies of free American blacks established on the West African coast in what was to become Liberia were nurtured with material, political and ecclesiastical support from the American Colonization Society and timely assistance from the American Government. Liberia's political and economic leadership derived from American settlers was seemingly destroyed in a 1980 military uprising by tribal soldiers trained by the U.S . Army. The next 25 years were a progression of steps into the abyss and the country is only slowly recovering from being perceived as a failed stale. The paper traces critical political and economic events in this American enterprise.
Description and Prediction of Long-Term Learning of a Keyboarding Task

The goal of this study was to determine an equation (“learning function”) that describes long-term learning of a new keyboard. Five subjects learned 18 characters on a chord keyboard, then improved keying speed by inputting typical numeric keypad text for about 60 total hours. Their performance, in characters typed per minute, was recorded for every trial. Of the various functions that were considered to describe performance, the best fitting equation was a Log-Log relationship of the form CPMi = eb0Tib1, where CPMi is the performance in characters per minute on the i-th trial (Ti) and b0 and b1 are fitted coefficients.A second goal was to investigate how many trials of performance are needed before the entire learning function can be determined. The coefficients of the Log-Log function were determined using only the first 25, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175, and 200 of the initial performance points (out of about 550 total actual data points). The mean squared error (MSE) was calculated for each of these fits...
Knowledge, Wisdom, and Luck

The Travels and Adventures of Serendipity A Study in Sociological Semantics and the Sociology of Science. by Robert K. Merton and Elinor Barber. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, 2004. 341 pp. $29.95, £19.95. ISBN 0-691-11754-3. In an occasionally cited but unpublished account written in 1958, the authors explore the uses and misuses of the term serendipity since the word's first appearance in 1754--playing particular attention to the importance of the concept in intellectual discovery.
Efficacy of lamina terminalis fenestration in reducing shunt-dependent hydrocephalus following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a systematic review. Clinical article.

Object Chronic hydrocephalus requiring shunt placement is a common complication following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Controversy exists over whether microsurgical fenestration of the lamina terminalis during aneurysm surgery affords a reduction in the development of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus. To resolve this debate, the authors performed a systematic review and quantitative analysis of the literature to determine the efficacy of lamina terminalis fenestration in reducing aneurysmal SAH–associated shunt-dependent hydrocephalus. Methods A MEDLINE (1950–2007) database search was performed using the following keywords, singly and in combination: “ventriculoperitoneal shunt,” “hydrocephalus,” “subarachnoid hemorrhage,” “aneurysm,” “fenestration,” and “lamina terminalis.” Additional studies were manually singled out by scrutinizing references from identified manuscripts, major neurosurgical journals and texts, and personal files. A recent study from the authors' institution was also incorpora...
Optical packet switches enhanced with electronic buffering and fixed wavelength conversion

Optical networks with Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM), especially Optical Packet Switching (OPS) networks, have attracted much attention in recent years. However, to make OPS practical, it is crucial to reduce the packet loss ratio at the switching nodes. In this paper, we study a new type of optical switching scheme for OPS which combines optical switching with electronic buffering. In the new scheme, the arrived packets that do not cause contentions are switched to the output fibers directly; other packets are switched to shared receivers and converted to electronic signals and will be stored in the buffer until being sent out by shared transmitters. Since full range wavelength converters are difficult to implement with available technology, we focus on the more practical fixed wavelength conversion, with which one wavelength can be converted to another fixed wavelength. We will show with both analytical models and simulations that the packet loss ratio can be greatly reduced with few additional receivers and transmitters. Thus, we believe that the proposed hybrid switching scheme can greatly improve the practicability of OPS networks.
A Dynamic Theory of Economic Openness and Political Stability in Autocracies

The timing and magnitude of economic openness exhibit considerable variation across authoritarian regimes and lead to vastly different political outcomes. Some autocracies liberalized their economy in early post-war period while others started to open their doors just in the last decade. Some were eventually transformed into democracy following economic liberalization while others remain autocratic until now. To explain the variation, this paper develops a set of infinite time horizon stochastic models to study the dynamic interaction between economic liberalization, transaction cost, political instability and social unrest. It shows formally that political instability does not necessarily impede economic liberalization and growth. The timing and magnitude of liberalization are determined by the stage of economic development and the timing of political instability. High frequency of intermediately high political instability may force the autocratic elite to liberalize the economy in order to maintain his rule. Paradoxically, the elite in an autocracy with low frequency of high political instability may fail to liberalize the economy and eventually be overthrown by the citizens. Meanwhile, although economic liberalization may be initialized by economic development, it is accelerated by the political instability under certain conditions. The logic of the causal mechanism developed in the formal model is tested on a number of case histories, including the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, China, Singapore and Taiwan.
Clostridium difficile infections in solid organ transplantation.

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a commonproblem encounteredin solid-organ transplant (SOT) recipients and the incidence is increasing. SOT recipients have an incidence of CDI that is higher than other postoperative patients, and this group has several unique risk factors that may contribute to more severe disease. Recent publications in nontransplant patients have indicated that treatment choices should be based on the severity of the illness (1). Although there continues to be a lack of well-designed, randomized, controlled trials to support the management decisions that must be made for SOT recipients with CDI, the available evidence is reviewed and summarized for these treatment guidelines.
Increasing Awareness of Potentially Helpful Motivations and Techniques for Forgiveness

The authors examined 3 motives and 3 techniques for forgiveness to assess differences between people high or low in dispositional forgiveness (HDF and LDF, respectively). HDF participants rated all motives as more compelling and familiar than did LDF participants. Forgiveness being the right thing to do was rated as more persuasive and familiar; however, mental and physical health benefits were rated as compelling but less familiar forgiveness motives. LDF participants rated the various techniques as less familiar and more difficult compared with HDF participants. Overall, participants rated forgive and forget as the most familiar but most difficult technique to implement.
Relating fish biomass to habitat and chemistry in headwater streams of the northeastern United States

Stream pH and stream habitat have both been identified as important environmental features influencing total fish biomass in streams, but few studies have evaluated the relative influence of habitat and pH together. We measured total fish biomass, stream habitat, and stream pH in sixteen sites from three tributary systems in the northeastern United States. The habitat metrics included total pool area, a cover score, large wood frequency, and stream temperature. We created and compared nine linear models relating total fish biomass in summer to stream pH and stream habitat using Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC) analysis. The best (most parsimonious) models included pool area and stream pH. These results and a separate comparison of three regressions (low-flow pH, pool area, and these two metrics together versus total fish biomass) suggest that both habitat and stream buffering capacity affect the total biomass of fish in northeastern US headwater streams. When stream pH is adequate (low-flow pH greater than at least 5.7), physical habitat is likely to be more important, but under lower pH conditions, habitat is likely to be less effective in accounting for the total biomass of fish in these streams. This work demonstrates the continued effects of stream acidification in the northeastern US and more generally, it illustrates the importance of considering both physical and chemical conditions of a stream when evaluating the factors influencing fish communities.
The Early Bird Gets the Virus

Although AIDS is an infectious disease, it is not treated immediately after diagnosis—largely because there is no randomized clinical trial data showing clinical benefit for early initiation of antiretroviral therapy. Nevertheless, the observational data are strong, and in well-resourced settings, antiretroviral drugs are given to most HIV-positive persons as soon as feasible. In a recent study, Le et al . provide evidence that initiating antiretroviral therapy within four months of HIV infection improves recovery of immune function better than does later treatment. The authors followed 213 participants who started antiretroviral therapy within about 4 months of HIV infection and 384 participants who waited to start therapy for at least 4 months. They used CD4 T cell recovery as a marker of response. HIV targets CD4 T cells (which are important for immune function). Without treatment, the number of CD4 cells initially falls precipitously after infection, transiently increases over the first 4 months, and then steadily declines. With standard antiretroviral therapy, CD4 count and immune function improve, but usually not to their preinfection levels. In contrast, the investigators found that in 64% of participants who started treatment within 4 months of HIV infection, CD4 cell counts recovered to pre-HIV levels (more than 900 cells/mm3). Only 34% of those who waited at least 4 months to start therapy showed such a dramatic response. Initiating antiretroviral therapy within 4 months of infection is not without challenges: Identification of newly infected persons is difficult, and a clear clinical benefit of very early ART initiation has not yet been shown. However, the approach is promising because very early HIV treatment may limit the damage to the immune system and decrease the initial viral reservoir, opening the door for complete clearing of HIV and a potential cure. T. Le et al ., Enhanced CD4+ T-cell recovery with earlier HIV-1 antiretroviral therapy. N. Engl. J. Med. 368 , 218–230 (2013). [[Full Text]][1] [1]: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1110187
Multilinearism, Contingency, and Resistance: Reevaluating Marx on Historical Development in Precapitalist Societies

With his belief in the progressive nature of history in terms of social, economic and technological development, Marx is perhaps the quintessential modernist. Thus, it is not surprising that Edward Said (1979) would find that Marx made a sharp distinction between the progressive West and the stagnant, ahistorical “Orient.” While Marx certainly made a number of disparaging comments on non-European societies, his work on non-Western societies was not as consistently Orientalist as Said suggests. Instead, Marx's work illustrates a growing understanding of non-European societies and their relationship to colonizing powers. At least in later writings, Marx moved away from his unilinear view of history and argued that social change could begin in less developed societies. These writings illustrate that Marx did not make a strict separation between the socially and technologically progressive West and the stagnant ahistorical “Orient”; instead the two can be seen as dialectically related moments of the whole.
Sweet Potato Root Meal Versus Yellow Corn Meal in the Chick's Diet

(1952). Sweet Potato Root Meal Versus Yellow Corn Meal in the Chick's Diet. World's Poultry Science Journal: Vol. 8, No. 2, pp. 93-98.
Knowledge and information about ADHD: Evidence of cultural differences among African-American and white parents

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is considered the most common child psychiatric disorder in the United States of America. Despite the high prevalence (estimated at 3-5%), little is known about the level and source of knowledge about ADHD among those affected by the disease, and about cultural and ethnic variations in knowledge levels and information sources. This represents a serious deficit, because health behavior, including demand for health services, is thought to be strongly influenced by knowledge or beliefs held by individuals and their networks. Furthermore, recent research suggested minority children may be less likely to receive services for ADHD. To examine possible differences in ADHD knowledge and information source, a sample of 486 African-American and white parents of children at high risk for ADHD were surveyed by telephone and subsequently participated in face-to-face interviews addressing their explanatory models of ADHD. Results revealed significant ethnic differences in knowledge and sources of information about ADHD. Fewer African-American parents than white parents indicated that they had ever heard of ADHD (69% compared to 95%, P < 0.001), or that they knew some or a lot about it (36% compared to 70%, P < 0.001) African-American parents were more likely to attribute ADHD to excessive sugar in the diet than whites (59% compared to 30.0%, P < 0.001). Finally, even though the physician was listed as the most preferred information source for both groups, only 17.5% of African-American parents reported they had received information about ADHD from the physician compared to 29% of whites (P < 0.01). African American parents reported less use of and less preference for written informational materials (newspapers, journals, library) than white parents. We conclude that substantially more research should be undertaken to examine the relationship between ethnicity and ADHD knowledge, to inform culturally appropriate education campaigns and to improve access to services for this important treatable child mental health condition.
Measurement of Rainfall Rates by Lidar

Abstract Monostatic lidar is explored as a means for determining the rainfall rate over an extended atmospheric path with a spatial resolution comparable to that of rain gages. An empirical relationship is established between the optical extinction coefficient of rain βr (km−1) and the rainfall rate R (mm hr−1). Correlation of lidar-derived rainfall extinction and gage rainfall rates at Madison gives βr = 0.16 R0.74. The βr-R relations obtained from the work of other authors compare well with this relationship. A lidar equation which accounts for the multiple scattering of light in rain is presented. A numerical procedure which derives estimates of βr as a function of range from lidar returns is developed. Examples of lidar-derived rainfall rate range profiles in spatially inhomogeneous thunderstorms are given.
Identification of selenomethionine in selenized yeast using two-dimensional liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry based proteomic analysis

Selenium-enriched yeast has been commonly used as a nutritional supplement. Here we describe a protocol used to investigate the metabolic fate of inorganic selenium in yeast. We provide definitive, mass spectrometry based evidence for the non-specific incorporation of selenomethionine in the yeast proteome involving the replacement of about 30% of all methionine with selenomethionine.
Light force cooling, focusing, and nanometer-scale deposition of aluminum atoms

We deposited neutral-aluminum atoms in thin parallel lines to form a grating with a line separation of 154.7 nm by using near-resonant laser light and direct-write optical lithography techniques. We did this by using the single-frequency closed UV transition from the second ground state 3p2P3/2 (F = 4) to 3d2D5/2 (F = 5) at 309.4 nm. The aluminum features were analyzed with an atomic-force microscope.
Properties of possible polar rings around Neptune

The near-polar-position rings whose possible existence and character around Neptune are presently considered correspond to the equilibrium configuration of a test-particle orbital plane in the gravitational potential of Neptune and Triton. At these equilibria, of which two whose invariable-plane nodal line is approximately perpendicular to the nodal line of Triton on the same plane are dynamically stable, the orbit of the test particle maintains a fixed orientation with respect to the invariable plane and the node of triton on that plane. The stable equilibria are noted to correspond to a maximum of the total energy for a given semimajor axis; their stability is found to remain unperturbed despite collisions among particles.
Electrophysiologic evidence that retinotectal synaptic transmission in the goldfish is nicotinic cholinergic

A previous study identified, by conduction velocity following optic nerve shock, 3 classes of retinal fibers which project to 3 distinct laminae of the goldfish optic tectum. In the present study, the effect of various pharmacological agents on the synaptic efficacy of each of the 3 classes of retinal fibers was assessed by the use of current source-density analysis. All 3 classes of optic fibers appear to be nicotinic cholinergic. Six different nicotinic antagonists were tested. All 6 were effective in decrementing the responses of all 3 classes to a criterion level: alpha-bungarotoxin (10-8 M), alloferin (10-5 M), curare (10-4 M), metocurine (10-4 M), hexamethonium (10-4 M) and gallamine (10-3 M). Atropine, a muscarinic antagonist, had only a slight effect even at 10-3 M. Five nicotinic agonists tested also decremented synaptic responses: nicotine (10-5 M), carbamylcholine (10-4 M), acetylcholine (10-4 M), succinyl choline (10-4 M) and decamethonium (10-3 M), presumably via cellular depolarization and receptor desensitization. Two inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase prolonged the response at 10-4 M and decremented it as well at 10-3 M. Hemicholinium 3, an inhibitor of the high affinity uptake of choline, produced a gradual activity-dependent decrement in the responses. Beta-bungarotoxin, a presynaptically-acting toxin, abolished not only the postsynaptic components but also the presynaptic components at 10-6 M. In all other cases the presynaptic deflections were generally unaffected, and with the exception of the toxins, a return to at least 90% of the control value was achieved. In contrast, GABA (10-3 M) and bicuculine (10-4 M) both produced no discernible effect on the 3 classes of responses, and glutamate (10-3 M) produced only a slight decrement, which probably represents a non-specific effect.
Beneficial Spectral Characteristics of Red and Black Raspberry Plants (Rubus idaeus and Rubus occidentalis)

ABSTRACT Raspberry naturally occurs in association with trees as a forest border species, thus is ideally adapted for species-diverse agroforestry systems. In spite of thriving in relatively low solar radiation environments, some red (European) and black (North American) raspberry (Rubus idaeus L. and Rubus occidentalis L.) plant surfaces are highly reflective, both species on leaf abaxial surfaces and black raspberry on cane surfaces. Cane surface color varies from green to red. The objective of this study was to quantify plant spectral characteristics in order to assess their potential ecological significance. Leaf reflectance and transmittance were determined using a spectroradiometer with integrating sphere and regulated light source. Reflected irradiance from leaves and canes was measured under natural sunlight with a microscopic lense attachment. Reflectance of abaxial leaf surfaces was 4.3 and 5.3 times greater than abaxial leaf surfaces for red and black raspberry, respectively. This amounted to 2...
Spontaneous activity regulates calcium‐dependent K+ current expression in developing ascidian muscle

1In embryonic ascidian muscle, outward K+ currents develop in two stages: the initial expression of a slowly activating, voltage-gated K+ current (IKv) near the time of neurulation is followed about 6 h later by a rapidly activating calcium-activated K+ current (IK(Ca)). During this 6 h interval, inward Ca2+ currents (ICa) appear and the inward rectifier (IK(IR)), the sole resting conductance, is transiently downregulated. These events predict a period of spontaneous activity. The following experiments were designed to test this prediction and to examine the relevance of spontaneous activity for muscle cell development. 2By recording activity in cell-attached patches, we have found that muscle cells generate spontaneous action potentials during this 6 h window of time when IK(IR) is downregulated and outward K+ currents are slow. Action potentials occur at a mean frequency of 13.9 min−1. 3When activity is blocked by the transient application of the Ca2+ channel blocker Cd2+, IK(Ca) fails to develop. This disruption is specific for IK(Ca): IK(IR) and ICa develop normally in activity-blocked cells. Application of Cd2+ either before or after the window of activity has no effect. 4The reappearance of IK(IR) and the development of IK(Ca) and the mature form of ICa are all prevented by transcription blockers, with a sensitive period corresponding to the period of activity. 5These data show that, although the expression of three channel types depends on transcription during the period of spontaneous activity, only the development of IK(Ca) depends on activity.
Resolution and sensitivity as a function of energy and incident geometry for germanium detectors

Abstract The use of modeling programs such as MCNP to predict the response of HPGe detectors is increasing in importance. Accurate simulation of germanium detectors to incident gamma rays relies on knowledge of the performance of the detector in different detector–source geometries. Two important performance parameters are the resolution and sensitivity. The resolution is the FWHM and FW.1M/FWHM ratio. The IEEE 325-1996 standard only specifies the FWHM measurement at one geometry and two energies. Nearly all measurements are made in a different geometry and at other energies. Other investigators [Specifications for Today’s Coaxial HPGe Detectors, 2001 ANS Annual Meeting, Milwaukee, WI; Metzger, private communication, see also: Radionuclide Depth Distribution by Collimated Spectroscopy, 2002 ANS Topical Meeting, Santa Fe, NM], have shown that the sensitivity and resolution change with position of the incident gamma ray on the front of the detector. Such variability has possible implications for the accuracy of peak shape and area determination, since the calibration is potentially a function of angle of incidence. To quantify the sensitivity and resolution variation as a function of energy and point of incidence, measurements have been made on several coaxial detectors of various crystal types and sizes in different source–detector geometries. The full-energy peaks from 59 keV to 2.6 MeV were used. The detectors were placed in a low-background shield to reduce any contribution from external sources. None of the detectors tested was a low-background type. The sources used were an 241 Am source, 60 Co source and a natural thorium oxide sample. The 241 Am 59 keV gamma rays were collimated by a 2 cm thick, 1 mm diameter lead collimator. Several gamma rays from the thorium source were used and collimated by a 10 cm thick and 2 mm diameter tungsten collimator. These collimated sources were used to collect spectra for the incident beam on the front and sides of the detectors. The peak widths were calculated using the methods outlined in IEEE 325-1996. Data are presented to show that the peak shape and sensitivity change with incident beam position and full peak energy.
Reconfigurable 1x4 optical switch in InGaAsP multiple quantum wells

We report on an integrated 1 x 4 optical switch that operates using the principle of carrier-induced refractive index change in InGaAsP multiple quantum wells. The device is very simple, requiring only the currents applied to two electrodes for complete operational control. An area-selective zinc in-diffusion process is used to channel the current into the multiple quantum wells, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the carrier based effects. As a result, the electrical power consumption of the device is significantly reduced, allowing the switch to be operated uncooled and under d.c. current conditions. Our initial 1 x 4 switch exhibits a -8 dB crosstalk between channels. However, improvements on the switch design and better control during the device fabrication process will significantly enhance this value.
Functional characterization of 102-amino acid-deleted form of human aromatase (Δ102-aromatase)1☆

Abstract A truncate form of human aromatase cDNA that corresponds to the recently identified rat cortical type aromatase mRNA variant (Yamada-Mouri et al., J. Steroid Biochem. Molec. Biol., 60: 325–329, 1997) has been generated, and the amino-terminus deleted form of the enzyme has been expressed in CHO cells. The resulting product lacking 102 residues from the N-terminus of aromatase (i.e. 102-aromatase) showed an extremely low enzyme activity using an ‘In-cell’ assay. A strong aromatase activity, however, was observed for the Δ102-aromatase using an in vitro method on the solublized preparations. The in vitro activity was dependent on both incubation time and NADPH concentration as well as inclusion of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase in the assay mixture. The average turnover rate of aromatization of the reconstituted Δ102-aromatase was 6.8 min −1 . The results of the immunosuppression assay suggested that Δ102-aromatase still holds the epitope interactive to MAb3-2C2, a monoclonal antibody raised agaist human placental aromatase P450. Furthermore, the IC 50 values of MAb3-2C2 were determined to be 24 and 23 μg/ml for the whole homogenate and the 105 000× g precipitate fractions prepared from the truncated aromatase expressing cells, respectively, whereas an IC 50 of 1.3 μg/ml was shown for the full-length human aromatase. These results indicate that the Δ102-aromatase P450 can be expressed and is catalytically competent as the full-length enzyme, but the epitope structure for the monoclonal antibody MAb3-2C2 is altered from that of the native enzyme. In addition, the intracellular distribution of Δ102-aromatase may be different from that of the wild-type enzyme, explaining why very low activity was measured using an ‘In-cell’ assay.
Quantitation of antigen-specific T-cell-induced demyelination in vitro.

Abstract To test the hypothesis that T lymphocytes sensitized to central nervous system (CNS) antigens may quantitatively induce more demyelination in neural tissue than T cells sensitized to non-CNS antigens, we established T cell lines specific myelin basic protein (MBP) or the purified protein derivative (PPD) of M. tuberculosis . The potential of T cells to cause myelin pathology was determined by measuring the activity of the myelin-associated enzyme 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide 3′-phosphodiesterase (CNPase) in organotypic cultures of syngeneic spinal cord after incubation with the T cell lines. The activity of CNPase in neural tissue has been shown to correlate positively with the amount and integrity of CNS myelin. Although both MBP- and PPD-specific T cells caused decreases in CNPase activity, the MBP line caused significantly greater and consistent changes. This finding indicates that T cell-mediated CNS demyelination may be comprised of CNS antigen-specific and CNS non-specific components, the former causing more pathology.
Minimally Invasive Total Knee Arthroplasty Surgery Through Navigated Freehand Bone Cutting : Winner of the 2005 "HAP" PAUL AWARD

Navigated freehand bone cutting (NFC) is introduced as a concept to eliminate alignment jigs and facilitate smaller arthroplasty incisions. We compare experimental cuts with this technique to conventional jigs. Using an in-house-built computer-aided orthopedic surgery system directly navigating a bone saw, users with different levels of surgical skills were timed performing full sets of distal femoral total knee arthroplasty cuts with jigs and with NFC. The cut surfaces were digitized to measure roughness and 3-dimensional translational/rotational errors. Navigated freehand cutting was 15% faster and produced 200% rougher surfaces than jigs, although its worst peaks/valleys were less than 1.2 mm. Implant fit/looseness, assessed by special navigated tools, was similar; but alignment was 400% better with NFC. Even at its infancy, NFC appears not to prohibitively compromise time and quality of cutting. Without requiring jigs, it has potential for radically less invasive total knee arthroplasty surgery.
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOCIETY BY UNIVERSITY TRANSPORTATION CENTERS

This paper discusses the importance of knowledge in the global economy and reviews the process in which knowledge is applied to develop innovations. It confirms the importance of innovation as a key factor for success in today's competitive environment. The paper discusses the contributions a university can make to the innovation process in the field of transportation, and offers a vision of how a university center can enhance and facilitate these contributions. It then describes the efforts of one center, including three examples of innovations facilitated by the center in traffic detection, regional planning, and pavement management. The paper concludes with suggestions that would strengthen the societal contributions of university transportation centers.
CFD Challenge Solution Using the Commercial Finite Volume Solver Fluent

The Modeling and Analysis group in the Division of Engineering at Mayo Clinic, Rochester works in the area of numerical modeling and experimental validation of cerebral aneurysms. In our modeling we use patient-specific geometries from imaging studies provided by Dr. Kallmes. The CFD analysis is performed with commercial packages Mimics (Materialise, Leuven, Belgium), for segmentation and ANSYS (ANSYS Inc. Canonsburg, PA) for meshing, simulation and post-processing. The experiments are conducted using a tomographic Particle Image Velocimetry system from LaVision Inc. The group is led by Dan Dragomir-Daescu, PhD and David F. Kallmes, MD and consists of two postdoctoral fellows and three engineers. For this project, CFD simulations were performed by postdoctoral fellow Simona Hodis, using the finite volume based solver Fluent.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Stereochemistry as a Diversity Element: Solid-Phase Synthesis of Cyclic RGD Peptide Derivatives by Asymmetric Catalysis

Dramatic differences in biological activity as a result of different conformations are exhibited by diastereomeric cyclic peptides such as 1 (only one diastereoisomer is shown) containing the universal cell-recognition sequence Arg-Gly-Asp, which were synthesized on amino alcohol templates. The amino alcohols were prepared by enantioselective ring opening of polymer-bound epoxides, a reaction that exemplifies the usefulness of enantioselective catalysis in combinatorial synthesis.
Evidence for a broad scalar Kπ resonance near 1.1 GeV

Abstract A one-pion-exchange pole-extrapolation analysis of K + p→K πΔ ++ at 7.3 GeV/ c provides evidence for the existence of a broad scalar T = 1 2 K π resonance near 1.1GeV. The angular distribution in the Kπ center-of-mass is consistent with this result.
Effect of thyroxine on coenzyme A levels.

ATTEMPTS to establish the mechanism and site of action of thyroxine upon peripheral tissues have occupied the interest of a number of investigators, and a detailed account of the various areas of study has been presented in Barker's1 review. Of the various possibilities suggested, it may be mentioned that thyroxine has been stated to cause a release of co-enzymes, protein carriers or other substances needed for many of the energy-transforming processes in cells2,3; but neither the mechanism of release nor the source of these materials is clear. Martius and Hess4 have suggested that thyroxine acts as an uncoupling agent.
Acute and chronic suppression of leukotriene B4 synthesis EX vivo in neutrophils from patients with rheumatoid arthritis beginning treatment with methotrexate

OBJECTIVE To compare the cumulative effects of oral methotrexate (MTX) therapy (after 6-8 weeks) with the acute effects (24 hours after a dose) on arachidonic acid metabolism by the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) pathway in neutrophils from patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who were beginning therapy with MTX. METHODS Neutrophils and monocytes were isolated from whole blood from 7 patients with RA, immediately before and 24 hours after their first weekly dose of 7.5 mg of MTX, and again after their dose at 6-8 weeks. RESULTS Total immunoreactive leukotriene B4 (LTB4) formation in neutrophils activated ex vivo with calcium ionophore A23187 was significantly suppressed (by 33%) before the 6-8-week dose, compared with the level before the first dose (mean +/- SEM 8.29 +/- 1.24 ng/10(6) cells at predose 6-8 weeks versus 12.29 +/- 2.13 ng/10(6) cells at predose 1; P = 0.03). Reductions were also observed after the first dose (27%; P = 0.07) and after the 6-8-week dose (43%; P = 0.05) compared with the respective predose levels. MTX treatment produced significant reductions in the total generation of 5-LO pathway products (5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid + 6-trans-LTB4 + LTB4 + omega-oxidation products of LTB4) by calcium ionophore-activated neutrophils, as quantitated by integrated optical density after resolution on reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Decreases were observed after the first dose (26%; P = 0.025), immediately before the 6-8-week dose (23%; P = 0.05), and after the 6-8-week dose (47%; P = 0.0033) compared with levels before the first dose, and after the 6-8-week dose compared with the level before it (32%; P = 0.04). The generation of LTB4 by calcium ionophore-activated monocytes was not significantly affected by MTX therapy. CONCLUSION The significant decreases in the formation of omega-oxidation products of LTB4 and in the total generation of neutrophil 5-LO pathway products in the absence of a significant change in the release of 3H-arachidonic acid or the generation of platelet-activating factor suggest that the activity of the 5-LO enzyme in neutrophils is inhibited. We conclude that weekly oral MTX therapy in patients with active RA inhibits neutrophil 5-LO pathway product generation in a pattern consistent with inhibition of the activity of the 5-LO enzyme; an effect is observed after the first dose. The inhibition of 5-LO is cell-selective and cumulative, with a superimposed incremental inhibition observed after the weekly MTX dose.
The F-BAR protein Syp1 negatively regulates WASp-Arp2/3 complex activity during endocytic patch formation.

Summary Background Actin polymerization by Arp2/3 complex must be tightly regulated to promote clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Although many Arp2/3 complex activators have been identified, mechanisms for its negative regulation have remained more elusive. To address this, we analyzed the yeast arp2-7 allele, which is biochemically unique in causing unregulated actin assembly in vitro in the absence of Arp2/3 activators. Results We examined endocytosis in arp2-7 mutants by live-cell imaging of Sla1-GFP, a coat marker, and Abp1-RFP, which marks the later actin phase of endocytosis. Sla1-GFP and Abp1-RFP lifetimes were accelerated in arp2-7 mutants, which is opposite to actin nucleation-impaired arp2 alleles or deletions of Arp2/3 activators. We performed a screen for multicopy suppressors of arp2-7 and identified SYP1 , an FCHO1 homolog, which contains F-BAR and AP-2μ homology domains. Overexpression of SYP1 in arp2-7 cells slowed Sla1-GFP lifetimes closer to wild-type cells. Further, purified Syp1 directly inhibited Las17/WASp stimulation of Arp2/3 complex-mediated actin assembly in vitro. This activity was mapped to a fragment of Syp1 located between its F-BAR and AP-2μ homology domains and depends on sequences in Las17/WASp outside of the VCA domain. Conclusions Together, these data identify Syp1 as a novel negative regulator of WASp-Arp2/3 complex that helps choreograph the precise timing of actin assembly during endocytosis.
PHARMACOKINETICS AND PHARMACODYNAMICS OF MILRINONE LACTATE IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS WITH SEPTIC SHOCK. † 288

PHARMACOKINETICS AND PHARMACODYNAMICS OF MILRINONE LACTATE IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS WITH SEPTIC SHOCK. † 288
Human prolactin and its antagonist, hPRL-G129R, regulate bax and bcl-2 gene expression in human breast cancer cells and transgenic mice

To gain insight into the molecular mechanisms involved in human prolactin receptor antagonist (hPRL-G129R)-induced apoptosis, we used real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to measure bax and bcl-2 gene expression in 11 human breast cancer cell lines following treatment with hPRL and hPRL-G129R. We also measured bax and bcl-2 gene expression in the mammary glands of transgenic mice expressing hPRL or hPRL-G129R. A time-course study of hPRL and antagonist treatment in T-47D cells indicated changing bax/bcl-2 mRNA ratios beginning at 24 h. We found that bax/bcl-2 mRNA ratios were significantly elevated in seven of the 11 hPRL-G129R-treated cell lines, as well as in the hPRL-G129R transgenic mice. To confirm these results, Bax and Bcl-2 proteins were analysed by Western blot methods in mammary gland tissue homogenates of transgenic mice. Bax/Bcl-2 ratios were highest in the 6-month group of hPRL-G129R transgenics, and lowest in the 6-month group of hPRL transgenics. We expanded our findings by examining the release of a downstream Bax-induced protein, cytochrome c, a hallmark protein of apoptosis, in transgenic mice. Again, cytochrome c levels were highest in the 6-month hPRL-G129R transgenic group. Thus, hPRL-G129R-induced breast cancer cell and/or mammary gland apoptosis is mediated, at least in part, through the regulation of Bax and Bcl-2 gene expression.
STUDIES OF THE NATURE OF ANTIGONADOTROPIC SUBSTANCES

The fact that long continued injections of certain hormone preparations result in a loss of reactivity in the experimental animal and in the formation, in the serum of an animal so treated, of substances capable of neutralizing the effects of the hormone, has been emphasized and elaborated in the last few years by Collip and his co-workers (1, 2, 3, 4). Korenchevsky (5), in 1930 using an alkaline extract of ox pituitary glands, injecting 1 to 2 cc. daily for 6 to 11 weeks found no increase in body weight, a decrease in the weights of the penis, testes, prostate, and seminal vesicles, and a 17 per cent decrease in the average weight of the thyroid. Siebert and Smith (6) noted that daily subcutaneous injections of either acid or alkaline extracts of the anterior pituitary glands of cattle caused a very marked and rapid rise in the basal metabolic rate of guinea pigs to +60 per cent in 10 days. The rate then fell to +15 per cent when the experiment was continued for 30 days. No such fall was noted on feeding...