cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Post‐traumatic stress and stress disorders during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Survey of emergency physicians

Objective Emergency physicians routinely encounter stressful clinical situations, including treating victims of crime, violence, and trauma; facing the deaths of patients; and delivering bad news. During a pandemic, stress may be increased for healthcare workers. This study was undertaken to identify symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among emergency physicians during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Methods This cross-sectional survey was developed using the Life Events Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition: DSM-5 (DSM-5) and the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). The survey was distributed to members of the American College of Emergency Physicians from May 21, 2020, through June 22, 2020. Results Among 1300 emergency physicians, a significant number of participants (22.3%; 95% confidence interval, 20.3-24.3%) reported symptoms of stress consistent with PTSD (PCL score ≥ 33). Higher PCL-5 scores were associated with age younger than 50 years (P < 0.05) and <10 years in practice (P < 0.05). The major sources of stress identified by participants included disinformation about COVID-19, computer work/electronic medical record, personal protective equipment concerns, and workload. The most common consequences of workplace stress were feeling distant or cut off from other people and sleep disturbance, such as trouble falling or staying asleep. Conclusions A significant number of emergency physicians reported symptoms of stress consistent with PTSD. Higher PCL-5 scores were associated with age younger than 50 years and <10 years in practice.
The Impact of Residential Segregation on Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment, and Mortality

Disparities in pancreatic cancer outcomes between black and white patients are well documented. This study aimed to use a more novel index to examine the impact of racial segregation on the diagnosis, management, and outcomes of pancreatic cancer in black patients compared with white patients. Black and white adults with pancreatic cancer in urban counties were identified using data from the 2018 submission of the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program and the 2010 Census. The racial index of dissimilarity (IoD), a validated proxy of racial segregation, was used to assess the evenness with which whites and blacks are distributed across census tracts in each county. Multivariate Poisson regression was performed, and stepwise models were constructed for each of the outcomes. Overall survival was studied using the Kaplan–Meier method. The study enrolled 60,172 adults with a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer between 2005 and 2015. Overall, the black patients (13.8% of the cohort) lived in more segregated areas (IoD, 0.67 vs 0.61; p < 0.05). They were less likely to undergo surgery for localized disease (relative risk [RR], 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76–0.83) and more frequently had a diagnosis of advanced-stage disease (RR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.01–1.19) with increasing segregation. They also had shorter survival times (9.8 vs 11.4 months; p < 0.05). Disparities in advanced-stage disease at diagnosis, surgery for localized disease, and overall survival are directly related to the degree of residential segregation, a proxy for structural racism. In searching for solutions to this problem, it is important to account for the historical marginalization of black Americans.
The effects of dithiothreitol (DTT) on fluorescent qPCR dyes.

DNA extractions of semen samples commonly utilize dithiothreitol (DTT) to reduce and disrupt disulfide bonds. Although traditional extraction techniques remove DTT before downstream analyses, the forensic DNA community has recently explored Y-screening, direct amplification, and direct cell lysis assays that omit purification but employ reducing agents to lyse spermatozoa. This study examined the impact of residual DTT on downstream processes involving fluorescent dyes. Quantification using Investigator® Quantiplex HYres revealed a significant increase in the male DNA yield (p = 0.00056) and a >150,000,000-fold increase in the male:human DNA ratio when DTT remained in extracts versus when it was filtered out using a traditional purification method. When DTT was present with Quantifiler™ Trio, the true mean DNA yield for the large autosomal target significantly increased (p = 0.038) and the average reported DNA yields increased 1.1-fold, >9.5-fold, and 1.3-fold for the small autosomal, large autosomal, and male targets, respectively. DTT-spiked DNA standards from both kits were impacted similarly to samples with residual DTT, demonstrating that observed effects were related to DTT and not the extraction method. This study corroborates other reports that DTT adversely affects multiple dyes (e.g., Cy5, Quasar 670, SYBR Green I, TMR, and Mustang Purple® ). Overall, DTT causes inaccurate quantities and, consequently, inaccurate calculated male:female ratios when used in conjunction with these kits. Thus, implementation of newer direct-to-PCR assays incorporating DTT should either be avoided or used only with carefully evaluated, compatible dyes.
Acridones circumvent P-glycoprotein-associated multidrug resistance (MDR) in cancer cells

1125 Multidrug resistance (MDR) mediated by overexpression of MDR1 P-glycoprotein (Pgp) is one of the best characterized transporter-mediated barriers to successful chemotherapy in cancer patients. Chemosensitizers are the agents that increase the sensitivity of multidrug-resistant cells to the toxic influence of previously less effective drugs. In an attempt to find such vital chemosensitizers, a series of N10-substituted-2-chloroacridone analogues (1-17) has been synthesized. Compound 1 was prepared by the Ullmann condensation of o-chlorobenzoic acid and p-chloroaniline followed by cyclization. The N-(ω-chloroalkyl) analogues were found to undergo iodide catalyzed nucleophilic substitution reaction with secondary amines and the resultant products were characterized by spectral methods. All compounds were examined for their ability to increase the uptake of vinblastine (VLB) in MDR KBChR-8-5 cells and the results showed that the compounds 6, 8, 11-14, 16 and 17 at their respective IC50 concentrations caused a 1.0- to 1.7-fold greater accumulation of VLB than did a similar concentration of the standard modulator, verapamil (VRP). Results of the efflux experiment showed that VRP and each of the modulators significantly inhibited the efflux of VLB, suggesting that they may be competitors for P-gp. All modulators effectively competing with [3H] azidopine for binding to P-gp pointed out this transport membrane protein as their likely site of action. Compounds at IC10 were evaluated for their efficacy to modulate the cytotoxicity of VLB and the results showed that modulators 11, 13-14, 16 and 17 were able to completely reverse the 25-fold resistance of KBChR-8-5 cells to VLB. Study of the relationship between lipophilicity and antagonism of MDR showed a good correlation suggesting that hydrophobicity is one of the determinants of potency for anti-MDR activity.The results allowed us to draw preliminary conclusions about structural features of 2-chloroacridones important for MDR modulation.
Ideal Donor Site for Osteochondral Autografting of the Distal Femur Using Radius of Curvature: A 3-Dimensional High-Resolution Scanner Comparison.

ObjectiveTo compare radius of curvature (RoC) of distal femur osteochondral autograft transfer (OAT) donor sites from the intercondylar notch and trochlear ridge with recipient sites on the distal ...
Divergent and overlapping hippocampal and cerebellar transcriptome responses following developmental ethanol exposure during the secondary neurogenic period.

Background The developing hippocampus and cerebellum, unique among brain regions, exhibit a secondary surge in neurogenesis during the third trimester of pregnancy. Ethanol (EtOH) exposure during this period is results in a loss of tissue volume and associated neurobehavioral deficits. However, mechanisms that link EtOH exposure to teratology in these regions are not well understood. We therefore analyzed transcriptomic adaptations to EtOH exposure to identify mechanistic linkages. Methods Hippocampi and cerebella were microdissected at postnatal day (P)10, from control C57BL/6J mouse pups, and pups treated with 4 g/kg of EtOH from P4 to P9. RNA was isolated and RNA-seq analysis was performed. We compared gene expression in EtOH- and vehicle-treated control neonates and performed biological pathway-overrepresentation analysis. Results While EtOH exposure resulted in the general induction of genes associated with the S-phase of mitosis in both cerebellum and hippocampus, overall there was little overlap in differentially regulated genes and associated biological pathways between these regions. In cerebellum, EtOH additionally induced gene expression associated with the G2/M-phases of the cell cycle and sonic hedgehog signaling, while in hippocampus, EtOH-induced the pathways for ribosome biogenesis and protein translation. Moreover, EtOH inhibited the transcriptomic identities associated with inhibitory interneuron subpopulations in the hippocampus, while in the cerebellum there was a more pronounced inhibition of transcripts across multiple oligodendrocyte maturation stages. Conclusions These data indicate that during the delayed neurogenic period, EtOH may stimulate the cell cycle, but it otherwise results in widely divergent molecular effects in the hippocampus and cerebellum. Moreover, these data provide evidence for region- and cell-type-specific vulnerability, which may contribute to the pathogenic effects of developmental EtOH exposure.
Spatially resolved transcriptomics reveals gene signatures underlying the vulnerability of human middle temporal gyrus in Alzheimer's disease

Human middle temporal gyrus (MTG) is a vulnerable brain region in early Alzheimer’s disease (AD); however, little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying this regional vulnerability. Here we use the 10x Visium platform to define the spatial topography of gene expression in the MTG from both early AD and control cases. We identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and enriched pathways that may contribute to the layer-specific vulnerability of AD pathology. Also, gene co-expression analyses reveal four gene modules, which significantly change their co-expression patterns in the presence of variations of AD pathology. Furthermore, we validate the changes of key representative DEGs that are associated with AD pathology using single-molecule fluorescent in situ hybridization. In summary, we provide a rich resource for the spatial transcriptomic profile of the human MTG, which will contribute to our understanding of the complex architecture and AD pathology of this vulnerable brain region.
Insulin signaling and osmotic stress response regulate arousal and developmental progression of C. elegans at hatching.

The progression of animal development from embryonic to juvenile life depends on the coordination of organism-wide responses with environmental conditions. We found that two transcription factors that function in interneuron differentiation in Caenorhabditis elegans, fax-1 and unc-42, are required for arousal and progression from embryogenesis to larval life by potentiating insulin signaling. The combination of mutations in either transcription factor and a mutation in daf-2 insulin receptor results in a novel peri-hatching arrest phenotype; embryos are fully-developed but inactive, often remaining trapped within the eggshell, and fail to initiate pharyngeal pumping. This pathway is opposed by an osmotic sensory response pathway that promotes developmental arrest and a sleep state at the end of embryogenesis in response to elevated salt concentration. The quiescent state induced by loss of insulin signaling or by osmotic stress can be reversed by mutations in genes that are required for sleep. Therefore, countervailing signals regulate late embryonic arousal and developmental progression to larval life, mechanistically linking the two responses. Our findings demonstrate a role for insulin signaling in an arousal circuit, consistent with evidence that insulin-related regulation may function in control of sleep states in many animals. The opposing quiescent arrest state may serve as an adaptive response to the osmotic threat from high salinity environments.
Depressive symptoms and other negative psychological states relate to ex vivo inflammatory responses differently for men and women: Cross-sectional and longitudinal evidence.

Abstract An array of negative psychological states – including depressive symptoms, perceived stress, rumination, and negative affect – have been linked to immune function and inflammatory responses. Herein we show evidence of gender-dependent associations between ex vivo lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cytokine responses and such psychological states, in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses from three annual waves (N = 162 at baseline, 67.3% female). In cross-sectional analyses (at baseline), gender moderated the associations of depressive symptoms (previously reported), perceived stress (B = -0.043, 95%CI [-0.080, -0.015]), rumination (B = -0.500, [-1.015, -0.232]), negative affect (B = -0.020, [-0.020, -0.005]), and positive affect (B = 0.024, [0.008, 0.047]) with LPS-stimulated cytokine responses. In each analysis, negative psychological states were positively associated with LPS-stimulated cytokine responses among men but negatively among women (with associations for positive affect in the opposite direction). In longitudinal analyses (across three annual measurements), similar associations were seen for depressive symptoms (B = -0.024, [-0.059, -0.004]), perceived stress (B = -0.045, [-0.069, -0.024]), and rumination (B = -0.381, [-0.622, -0.120]). These results indicate that gender is a critical factor in associations between a broad array of negative psychological states and inflammatory responses and identify one pathway by which gender may influence psychosomatic health.
Development of a Functional Disc Spacer (Artificial Disc)

There are basically two different types of prostheses; replacement of the nucleus pulposus alone and subtotal or total replacement of the intervertebral disc. Preliminary results of research on an “artificial disc” which has adequate compression and compression-torsion properties and can be manufactured with biocompatible materials using either thermoset elastomers with fiber reinforcement or composite thermoplastic elastomers.
A Review of Personal Identification from Human Remains

Is it possible for a book to be published without passing editorial review? This book is filled to distraction with run-on sentences, inappropriate subtitles, typographical errors, and misspellings. Parts of it are written in a stream-of-consciousness style that is quite disorganized and results in a great deal of unnecessary repetition.
What About Certificates? Evidence on the Labor Market Returns to Nondegree Community College Awards in Two States

The annual number of certificates awarded by community colleges has increased dramatically, but relatively little research has been conducted on the economic benefits of certificates in the labor market. Based on detailed student-level information from matched college transcript and employment data in two states, this article estimates the relationship between earning a certificate and student earnings and employment status after exiting college. Our results indicate that certificates have positive impacts on earnings in both states overall, and in cases where there is no impact on earnings, certificates may nonetheless lead to increased probability of employment. In addition, we find substantial variation in the returns across fields of study and, more importantly, across specific programs within a particular field. Finally, in-depth analysis of the industry of employment before and after college enrollment indicates that many adult learners use certificate programs to switch to a new industry, which may...
Increasing Women's Representation Via Gender Quotas:: The Argentine Ley de Cupos

The Argentine Ley de Cupos (Law of Quotas) is the singular example of a national law requiring all political parties to place a minimum quota of women in electable positions on their party lists for the election of national deputies. The law represents an important and previously untried interim method in the worldwide struggle to achieve gender parity in legislative bodies. This article examines the electoral impact of Ley de Cupos, discussing both its success in increasing the number of women elected as well as some areas of concern. It concludes by assessing the practical implications of the Argentine model for other nations considering a gender quota law.
Time for a Twenty-First Century Justice Department

This is a brief contribution to an issue of The Federal Sentencing Reporter directed to criminal justice policy discussions relevant to the current election season.
The predictive value of serum interleukins in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis: a preliminary study.

Objective: IL-2 is the primary interleukin responsible for activation of the cell-mediated (Th1) arm of the immune response. Our objective was to determine whether a correlation existed between circulating levels of interleukin-2 as well as its soluble receptor (sIL-2R) and the clinical course of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Methods and Materials: Fifteen children with a histological diagnosis of RRP were recruited. Age at the time of study, time since first diagnosis, and number of surgical interventions were recorded. The number of surgically treated recurrences per year was then calculated. We obtained serum samples from each of these 15 children and from 10 normal control subjects. We then performed in vitro determination of serum IL-2 and soluble IL-2 receptor levels using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques. Results: IL-2 was significantly lower (136.6 vs. 199.9 pg/mL, p = .035) in papilloma patients than in control subjects. IL-2R was also lower in papilloma patients (531.7 vs. 785.8 U/mL, p = .025). There was no statistical age difference between the papilloma and control groups. Among patients with papillomatosis, IL-2 and sIL-2R levels were significantly higher in those with aggressive disease (>4 surgically treated recurrences per year) versus non-aggressive disease (179.2 vs. 99.2 pg/mL, p =.024; and 697 vs. 387 U/mL, p =.022). Age was also significantly lower in the aggressive papilloma group (p =.002). Conclusions: Levels of interleukin-2 and IL-2 receptor were significantly lower in patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis compared with normal children. These data support the presence of an aberrant cell-mediated immune response in children with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.
Intelligent off-board management of vehicle operating parameters

Today's modern vehicle has a number of on-board embedded control systems that perform a number of functions. These systems provide for a higher user convenience (e.g., cruise control), better safety (e.g., air bag systems), and lower pollutant emissions (e.g., energy and emission control systems). These systems generally operate autonomously, relying on internal state information. In this paper, we describe how these embedded systems can be improved upon through the use of external information provided through ITS telematic capability. There are several examples of this, such as dynamic intelligent speed adaptation, energy management strategies for hybrid electric and fuel-cell vehicles, and dynamically controlled emission control systems. These different application areas and methods are described herein. Further, a number of simulation experiments have been carried for the case of controlling the vehicle operating parameters of a heavy-duty vehicle's emission control system. It has been shown that by simply changing the emission control strategy based on location can result in significantly lower emissions in critical areas at a relatively low cost.
Aortic regurgitation after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: is it a fall from grace or just a storm in a teacup?

Adecade of great enthusiasm has emerged after the first-in-man, successful transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) report in 2002. Subsequently, the results of the pivotal randomized Placement of AoRTic TraNscathetER (PARTNER) trial were instrumental for the TAVR approval as the standard of care for symptomatic inoperable aortic stenosis. 1 This 10-year successful history had major drawbacks that were mostly related to the procedure and overcome, in part, by technique and device refinements. Although the short-term outcomes have improved ( 10%), the long-term mortality post-TAVR has not changed over time. 2-5 Moreover, the high incidence and the association of post-TAVR aortic regurgitation with mortality have been raising concerns. 6,7 However important methodological considerations across these studies hamper the understanding of whether this phenomenon represents a “fall from grace” or just a “storm in a teacup”.
An evaluation of equipment and procedures for the prediction of intramuscular fat in live swine

and Implications Real-time ultrasound is a valuable tool for measurement of loin intramuscular fat (IMF) in the pig and is being utilized by genetics companies. If IMF becomes a component in pork carcass pricing in the United States, producers of commercial market pigs may demand terminal line genetics with the ability to generate higher levels of IMF in their commercial progeny. Thus, swine genetics companies will need to utilize the most time-efficient and accurate methods available for predicting IMF content in live animals to stay competitive. Results can be used as a decision making guide for equipment and procedures used for the prediction of IMF. Useful information is provided for those interested in enhancing their IMF prediction techniques.
Review of Pericytes in Tumor Biology

Pericytes are contractile cells that surround the endothelium of capillaries and venules throughout the body. Pericytes were once thought to have a limited role in blood pressure control and angiogenesis. Today, knowledge about pericytes and other perivascular stem cells has vastly expanded. The understanding of the biologic significance of pericytes was most changed by the recognition of the perivascular identity of mesenchymal stem cells. The following review article will summarize the known functions and importance of pericytes in particular relevance to tumor biology. These roles include: 1) pericytes as the potential cell of origin for multiple soft tissue tumors, 2) the role of pericyte in regulating tumor cell vascular invasion, and 3) angiotropism or ‘pericytic mimicry’ as a mechanism of malignant tumor spread. Although not discussed, the role of pericytes in pathophysiology far exceeds the realms of tumor biology, including cardiovascular atherosclerotic disease, chronic kidney disease, fibrotic repair processes, and fibroproliferative diseases. In summary, the known roles of pericytes in tumor formation, growth, and invasion have greatly expanded. These include pericytic differentiation in soft tissue tumors, regulation of vascular invasion in solid tumors, and extravascular migratory migration of common malignancies.
Lessons learned: PATRIOT PLGR integration

The PATRIOT air defence system is composed of fire units (FU). Each FU includes; radar sets, missile launcher stations, and engagement control stations. There are nominally eight launchers per radar. Each radar must be precisely emplaced with respect to an absolute coordinate frame, and each launcher must be precisely emplaced with respect to its radar. In order to enhance PATRIOT's mobility, reduce the chances of human error, and eliminate its dependence on survey, the emplacement enhancement program (EEP) was born. The EEP automates emplacement by incorporating a north finding system (NFS) for attitude determination and a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver for positioning. The GPS receiver currently being utilized is the precision lightweight GPS receiver (PLGR). The PLGR and the NFS are integrated into each radar and launcher via a GPS/NFS input/output (GNIO) card. This paper details the lessons learned during the course of this integration effort.
Comment on the Special Issue: Jay Douglas Haley.

In this special issue of the International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, Jay Douglas Haley is being celebrated worldwide by his friends and family. He shared his ideas and experien...
Localization of fertility factor SP22 to specific cell types within the anterior pituitary gland.

Sperm protein 22 (SP22) was recently identified in the anterior pituitary gland (AP) of male Golden Syrian hamsters using ion trap mass spectrometry. SP22 has been implicated in apoptosis, androgen receptor function, fertility, and ontogeny of early-onset Parkinson’s disease. However, the role of SP22 in the pituitary has not been investigated. We cloned the cDNA for full-length SP22 from AP and posterior lobe (posterior pituitary and intermediate lobe) of the pituitary gland in adult male rats and Golden Syrian hamsters, confirming the presence of SP22 mRNA in the AP and posterior lobe. Because gonadal steroids are important regulators of AP function, and SP22 is associated with androgen receptor function, we used Western blots to compare SP22 in the AP of intact and orchidectomized male rats given placebo or a low or high dose of testosterone. SP22 did not differ with treatment, indicating that AP SP22 concentration was not regulated by testosterone. To localize SP22 to specific cells of the AP, mirror-image paraffin sections were labeled against SP22 and either luteinizing hormone (LH)b, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)b, prolactin, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), or growth hormone (GH) using peroxidase-conjugated secondary antibody. Additional sections were colabeled with SP22 and one of the AP hormones using fluorescent secondary antibodies. SP22 colocalized in somatotropes and thyrotropes in rat and hamster. We identified SP22 in a small percentage of corticotropes, gonadotropes, and lactotropes. This is the first report that SP22 mRNA is present specifically in the AP, and SP22 is localized primarily in somatotropes and thyrotropes. SP22 may help regulate AP function and be particularly important for the control of GH and TSH secretion. Exp Biol Med 230:721–730, 2005
Linear filtering of spatially invariant image sequences for feature separation under three types of image noise

Many important imaging applications in medical imaging, remote sensing and other areas result in a set of images of the same scene with no relative scene-sensor motion and in which the pixel intensities are the linear sum of the contributions of the distinct features in the scene. Such image sets are called linearly additive, spatially invariant (LA SI) image sequences. Previous research has shown, both mathematically and with examples, that a K-image sequence with M distinct features (M<K) can be linearly filtered to extract the individual features from the original image sequence. In those studies, the noise was modeled as Gaussian (uniform over the image scene) or Poisson (dependent on the feature distribution). This paper explores the effectiveness of the same technique for LA SI image sequences with salt and pepper noise, which is neither uniform nor feature dependent, and compares the results with those for the same image scene with equal Gaussian and Poisson noise. It is shown here that the method extracts the features in this case with similar effectiveness.
A New Epistasis Group for the Repair of DNA Damage in Bacteriophage T4: Replication Repair

The gene 32 mutation amA453 sensitizes bacteriophage T4 to the lethal effects of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, methyl methanesulfonate and angelicin-mediated photodynamic irradiation when treated particles are plated on amber-suppressing host cells. The increased UV sensitivity caused by amA453 is additive to that caused by mutations in both the T4 excision repair (denV) and recombination repair (uvsWXY) systems, suggesting the operation of a third kind of repair system. The mutation uvs79, with many similarities to amA453 but mapping in gene 41, is largely epistatic to amA453. The mutation mms1, also with many similarities to amA453, maps close to amA453 within gene 32 and is largely epistatic to uvs79. Neither amA453 nor uvs79 affect the ratio of UV-induced mutational to lethal hits, nor does amA453 affect spontaneous or UV-enhanced recombination frequencies. Gene 32 encodes the major T4 ssDNA-binding protein (the scaffolding of DNA replication) and gene 41 encodes a DNA helicase, both being required for T4 DNA replication. We conclude that a third repair process operates in phage T4 and suggest that it acts during rather than before or after DNA replication.
N-cadherin functions as a growth suppressor in a model of K-ras-induced PanIN

Cadherin subtype switching from E-cadherin to N-cadherin is associated with the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process required for invasion and dissemination of carcinoma cells. We found that N-cadherin is expressed in human and mouse pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN), suggesting that N-cadherin may also have a role in early-stage pancreatic cancer. To investigate the role of N-cadherin in mouse PanIN (mPanIN), we simultaneously activated oncogenic K-ras(G12D) and deleted the N-cadherin (Cdh2) gene in the murine pancreas. Genetic ablation of N-cadherin (N-cad KO) caused hyperproliferation, accelerated mPanIN progression, and early tumor development in K-ras(G12D) mice. Decreased E-cadherin and redistribution of β-catenin accompanied the loss of N-cadherin in pancreatic ductal epithelial cells (PDEC). Nuclear accumulation of β-catenin and its transcription co-activator Tcf4 led to activation of Wnt/β-catenin target genes. Unexpectedly, loss of N-cadherin in the K-ras(G12D) model resulted in increased mPanIN progression and tumor incidence. These in vivo results demonstrate for the first time that N-cadherin functions as a growth suppressor in the context of oncogenic K-ras.
Dynamic light scattering as a probe of the evolution of a self-preserving size distribution in a fractal system.

We consider the behavior of the dimensionless ratio of the first two cumulants that would be observed in a dynamic light-scattering experiment on a coagulation system of particles. This cumulant ratio evolves with time to a limiting value independent of time representing a self-preserving distribution. The limiting value is a function of the fractal dimension of the clusters.
Evaluation of Standard Beam Delivery Devices in Proton Radiosurgery

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the use of standard apertures and range shifters for the treatment of brain metastasis in proton stereotactic radiosurgery. Materials and Methods: Nine patients with localized brain metastasis who had been previously treated using our intracranial proton stereotactic radiosurgery procedure (ie, with a custom aperture and bolus) were randomly selected from our patient cohort. The custom aperture and bolus treatment plans were used as the standard of care in this case and comparative treatment plans using the standard aperture and range shifter concept were generated. Gantry/table angle and the number of treatment beams were optimized as part of this study to evaluate the ability of the standard aperture/range shifter system to deliver a comparable treatment to the patient. Conformity index, homogeneity index, isodose volumes, and integral dose were all evaluated to determine the degree of conformity of the plans created and for comparison to the custom aperture/bolus treatment...
Charged point defects in semiconductors

Abstract Native point defects control many aspects of semiconductor behavior. Such defects can be electrically charged, both in the bulk and on the surface. This charging can affect numerous defect properties such as structure, thermal diffusion rates, trapping and recombination rates for electrons and holes, and luminescence quenching rates. Charging also introduces new phenomena such as nonthermally photostimulated diffusion, thereby offering distinctive mechanisms for defect engineering. The present work incorporates the first comprehensive account of semiconductor defect charging, identifying correspondences and contrasts between surfaces and the bulk as well as among semiconductor classes (group IV, groups III–V, and metal oxides). For example, small lattice parameters, close-packed unit cells, and basis atoms with large atomic radii all inhibit the formation of ionized interstitials and antisites. The charged defects that exist in III–V and oxide semiconductors can be predicted with surprising accuracy from the chemical potential and oxygen partial pressure of the ambient. The symmetry-lowering relaxations, formation energies, and diffusion mechanisms of bulk and surface defect structures often depend strongly on charge state with similar qualitative behavior, although for a given material surface defects do not typically take on the same configurations or range of stable charge states as their counterparts in the bulk.
Lemierre's syndrome due to Fusobacterium necrophorum

We present a case of a patient with Lemierre's syndrome caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum who developed a right frontal lobe brain abscess. We summarise the epidemiology, microbiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis, complications, therapy, and outcomes of Lemierre's syndrome. F necrophorum is most commonly associated with Lemierre's syndrome: a septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein. Patients usually present with an exudative tonsillitis, sore throat, dysphagia, and unilateral neck pain. Diagnosis of septic thrombophlebitis is best confirmed by obtaining a CT scan of the neck with contrast. Complications of the disease include bacteraemia with septic abscesses to the lungs, joints, liver, peritoneum, kidneys, and brain. Treatment should include a prolonged course of intravenous beta-lactam antibiotic plus metronidazole.
Plasma renin and blood pressure after sympathetic stimulation in normotensive and hypertensive patients.

Abstract We have investigated renin release and blood pressure in basal conditions, after 6 consecutive cold pressor tests and after 2 hours of upright posture in 10 normotensive subjects and 9 hypertensive patients who had received a 10 mEq sodium diet for 3 days. After cold pressor tests, normotensive subjects showed no significant change in plasma renin activity, whereas hypertensive patients had increased plasma renin activity. After 2 hours in the upright posture, both groups showed a significant increase in plasma renin activity. The increase in plasma renin activity in the hypertensive patients after cold pressor tests suggests that these patients have an increased sympathetic nervous system response to noxious stimuli and that this enhanced sympathetic response is manifested by an increase of plasma renin activity over the basal level.
Thoughts on Aging

When we, aging scientists, fade away and reach the category of ‘‘but what has he done lately’’, our consolation lies in our past students, post-docs and collaborators, who are now the torchbearers of science and about whom we think (justifiably or not) as having been positively influenced by us. Wolfgang Lubitz was one of my star post-docs. He spent the years 1983 and 1984 in our laboratory and has contributed so much to science since then. Moreover, Wolfgang not only remained a close colleague and collaborator, but he and his family became good friends of ours. I hope Wolfgang looks back to his post-doctoral experience at University of California, San Diego, as having been enjoyable and beneficial to his career. When I was approached by Klaus Mobius to contribute a paper to Wolfgang’s Festschrift on his 60th birthday, I was in a quandary. Although I still ‘‘kibbitz’’ on the activities of my ex-group, now led by Mel Okamura, my contributions do not warrant that I am a co-author on any of their publications and so I don’t have a scientific paper to contribute. I therefore decided to contribute a non-scientific one from my collection of ‘‘Reminiscences and Ruminations’’ (G. Feher, unpubl.). The one ‘‘On Aging’’ seems to me most appropriate for the occasion.
A chemical-shift-insensitive slice-selective RF pulse (CHISS)

Abstract In NMR imaging and in vivo spectroscopy, slice selection is usually achieved by applying a frequency-selective RF pulse in the presence of a magnetic field gradient. A serious limitation of this method of slice selection is that, in a system with many different chemical shifts, the selected slice is offset in space for each chemically shifted resonance. In the present study, a composite RF pulse that is insensitive to chemical-shift differences has been developed. The pulse involves applying a RF pulse of desired shape in the presence of an alternating magnetic field gradient, together with hard 180° pulses at each gradient transition. Calculations are presented to show that excitation with the proposed pulse averages the chemical-shift term to zero. An exact calculation for a rectangular RF excitation shape verifies this. Experiments based on observing the RF excitation profiles have been performed to demonstrate the validity of the proposed pulse.
Primate cytomegalovirus US12 gene family: A distinct and diverse clade of seven-transmembrane proteins

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV; Human herpesvirus 5) and the other betaherpesviruses encode a number of distinct gene families, including the US12 family, which is represented only in the cytomegaloviruses of higher primates, and is comprised of a set of 10 contiguous genes (US12 through US21), each encoding a seven-transmembrane (7TM) protein. Nonessential for replication in cell culture but well-conserved among clinical isolates, little is known of possible US12 family member functions, other than a previously identified amino acid sequence similarity between US21 and a group of 7TM proteins that include known inhibitors of apoptosis, and a very limited description of similarity between US12 family members and G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). As a prelude to biochemical analysis, we have conducted a detailed analysis of the relationships among US12 family members and between these proteins and other proteins, particularly GPCR and other 7TM molecules. In most cases, the closest relatives of individual genes are their colinear counterparts in the other viruses. Thus, the initial duplication and divergence events that resulted in the current version of the US12 family preceded divergence of the rhesus and hominoid lineages. Our phylogenetic analysis indicates that the US12 family represents a distinct branch of the 7TM superfamily. Although they are distantly related, at least some of the US12 family members may have GPCR-related properties, but they are also likely to embody functions and mechanisms that differ from more conventional GPCRs. Our analyses suggest that the 7TM structure of US12 family members constitutes a functionally flexible structural scaffold that can be readily adapted to diverse functional ends. This strategy may be the driving force in the emergence of the several families of duplicated and diverged betaherpesvirus genes.
Free Trade and Exotic Species Introductions

Several researchers and commentators have addressed the effects of introductions of harmful exotic species (Mooney & Drake 1989; Soule 1990; Temple 1990; U.S. Congress, Office of Technology Assessment [OTA] 1993). The only comprehensive review suggested that about 4500 exotic species occur in a free-ranging condition in the United States, and, roughly, up to one-fifth of these have caused serious economic or ecological harm (OTA 1993). Both intentional and unintentional releases of exotics have led to serious problems. In addition to the extensive damage caused by exotic pests and weeds to forestry, agriculture, and other economic interests, exotics have been a major cause of native species endangerment and extinction, particularly on islands and in other isolated habitats. Exotics are recognized as one of the most pervasive and insidious threats to biodiversity (Soule 1990). Yet some authors, including some published in Conservation Biology, fail to consider exotic species introductions when discussing the environmental impacts of international trade liberalization (U.S. Interagency Task Force 1992; Yu 1994). The most important pathway of harmful exotics into the United States is neither intentional releases nor contraband brought in by international travellers. It is unintentional importation through international trade. Exotics frequently "stowaway" in ships, planes, trucks, shipping containers, and packing materials, or "hitchhike" on nursery stock, fruits, vegetables, seeds, and other imports (OTA 1993; 81% of the harmful new exotics detected from 1980 through 1993 with identified pathways were unintentional imports). The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT should lead to even more unintentional imports of exotics. Trade liberalization stimulates greater trade volume (U.S. Interagency Task Force 1992). Perhaps the assumption of those advocating trade liberalization is that risk analysis, inspection, and enforcement to prevent harmful introductions somehow will keep pace with the volume increase. But the response
Back to the Basics: A Process Approach for Managing Portfolio Risk

This paper examines the traditional views of risk in the finance and economics literature as applied to portfolio management. The paper demonstrates the inherent weaknesses in such approaches and suggests a process framework as a method for portfolio managers to manage risky situations. The framework incorporates seven considerations which may include both quantitative and qualitative factors which will affect the value of each consideration. The framework logically links the considerations to nine potential strategies for the management of a risky situation. The use of the framework provides a systematic approach to the management of a risky situation which should lead to improved performance.
Visualization evaluation for cyber security: trends and future directions

The Visualization for Cyber Security research community (VizSec) addresses longstanding challenges in cyber security by adapting and evaluating information visualization techniques with application to the cyber security domain. This research effort has created many tools and techniques that could be applied to improve cyber security, yet the community has not yet established unified standards for evaluating these approaches to predict their operational validity. In this paper, we survey and categorize the evaluation metrics, components, and techniques that have been utilized in the past decade of VizSec research literature. We also discuss existing methodological gaps in evaluating visualization in cyber security, and suggest potential avenues for future research in order to help establish an agenda for advancing the state-of-the-art in evaluating cyber security visualizations.
Conditioning U.S. Security Assistance on Human Rights Practices

In the United States, with its government of separated powers and functions, it is the executive branch, and in particular the Department of State, that bears responsibility for implementing legislation on foreign relations. The success of implementation will depend on political decisions, involving competing national interests, as well as on institutional and personal considerations of the officials concerned. Inevitably, there is a gap between legislation and execution, especially when the Executive is not wholly sympathetic to the law. The gap may even devour legislated policies as the Executive refuses "to take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed,"2 and bureaucratic and personal considerations distort judgments, exploit the generality and uncertainty of language, and lead to abuse of discretion. A notable instance of this problem has been executive implementation of legislation on international human rights. The international law of human rights imposes obligations on governments in the exercise of their domestic sovereignty. Under the Universal Declaration, the United Nations Covenants, the European and Inter-American Conventions, and the Helsinki accords, states have defined and agreed to respect certain basic freedoms of persons within their jurisdiction.3 These obligations suggest a corresponding duty of one government not to support another engaged in serious violations of internationally recognized human rights. In the world of states,
Thermodynamic properties from intensity measurements in microwave spectroscopy

Abstract It is shown that the number of molecules per unit volume in the lower of the two levels of a rotational transition may be determined by measurement of the absolute intensity of the transition. If the total number of molecules per unit volume is obtained by pressure measurement, the internal partition function may be calculated and from this the free energy function may be calculated. An analysis of probable errors in measurement indicates that this technique is competitive with calorimetric measurements in accuracy.
Controlling tyrosinase activity on charged polyelectrolyte surfaces: a QCM-D analysis.

The quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) was used to monitor the immobilization of tyrosinase on polycationic and polyanionic precursor assemblies in situ and in real-time. The resulting enzymatic surfaces were then exposed to various flavonoids, and the degree of binding was measured using QCM. We show that enzyme activity is retained when immobilized on polycationic films (flavonoid binding observed), while the active site is blocked when assembled on a polyanionic film (no flavonoid binding to the enzyme). We rationalize these observations by considering a combination of interlayer interpenetration and strong electrostatic interactions between the polyelectrolyte and tyrosinase’s dicopper 2+center. Ion-pair formation between anionic moieties of the polyanion and the metal-coordinated active site is suggested as the dominant mechanism leading to the deactivation of tyrosinase. We are currently working to expand this research to achieve a more general theory of how various metal-coordinated enzymes react wi...
Microbial oxidation of methanol: Properties of crystallized alcohol oxidase from a yeast, Pichia sp

Abstract Alcohol oxidase (alcohol:oxygen oxidoreductase) was crystallized from a methanolgrown yeast, Pichia sp. The crystalline enzyme is homogenous as judged from polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Alcohol oxidase catalyzed the oxidation of short-chain primary alcohols (C 1 to C 6 ), substituted primary alcohols (2-chloroethanol, 3-chloro-1-propanol, 4-chlorobutanol, isobutanol), and formaldehyde. The general reaction with an oxidizable substrate is as follows: Primary alcohol + O 2 → aldehyde + H 2 O 2 Formaldehyde + O 2 → formate + H 2 O 2 . Secondary alcohols, tertiary alcohols, cyclic alcohols, aromatic alcohols, and aldehydes (except formaldehyde) were not oxidized. The K m values for methanol and formaldehyde are 0.5 and 3.5 m m , respectively. The stoichiometry of substrate oxidized (alcohol or formaldehyde), oxygen consumed, and product formed (aldehyde or formate) is 1:1:1. The purified enzyme has a molecular weight of 300,000 as determined by gel filtration and a subunit size of 76,000 as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis, indicating that alcohol oxidase consists of four identical subunits. The purified alcohol oxidase has absorption maxima at 460 and 380 nm which were bleached by the addition of methanol. The prosthetic group of the enzyme was identified as a flavin adenine dinucleotide. Alcohol oxidase activity was inhibited by sulfhydryl reagents ( p -chloromercuribenzoate, mercuric chloride, 5,5′-dithiobis-2-nitrobenzoate, iodoacetate) indicating the involvement of sulfhydryl groups(s) in the oxidation of alcohols by alcohol oxidase. Hydrogen peroxide (product of the reaction), 2-aminoethanol (substrate analogue), and cupric sulfate also inhibited alcohol oxidase activity.