cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Learning to perform microvascular anastomosis

The skills necessary to connect ultrasmall vessels and neural structures successfully require commitment and practice to refine. The techniques require only a few specialized instruments and a high-quality microscope. Several exercises can simulate real-life anatomical situations using a rubber sheet, chicken vessels, or the rat femoral artery model. A series of graduated drills can help develop proficiency and confidence.
Estrogens: Protective or risk factors in brain function?

Over the past century, the average lifespan of women has increased from 50 to over 80 years, but the age of the menopause has remained fixed at 51 years. This "change of life" is marked by a dramatic and permanent decrease in circulating levels of ovarian estrogens. Therefore, more women will live a greater proportion of their lives in a chronic hypoestrogenic state. Ovarian steroid hormones are pleiotropic and have multiple, diverse, and possibly opposing actions in different contexts. In light of recent reports of the possible health risks of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on several different physiological systems, the question of whether estrogens are protective or risk factors must be carefully re-evaluated.
Metabolism of 1,4-dihydro-6-trifluoromethylquinoxaline-2,3-dione (Lilly 72525) in rats and cats.

1. The metabolism of 1,4-dihydro-6-trifluoromethylquinoxaline-2,3-dione (Lilly 72525), a sedative hypnotic drug, was studied in rat and cat.2. Plasma concentrations of Lilly 72525 were measured fluorometrically after oral and intravenous doses of the compound in rats. A comparison of the area under the two curves suggested that 84% of the oral dose was absorbed.3. Studies with 14C-labelled material in both species confirmed that the drug was well absorbed after oral administration and revealed that the dione was mainly eliminated unchanged in the urine. Bile duct cannulation experiments suggested that biliary excretion accounted for most or all of the drug present in faeces of rats.4. Metabolites isolated from urinary extracts by t.l.c. were identified by g.l.c.-mass spectrometry. The only metabolite detected in rat urine or bile extracts was a ring-hydroxylated compound. This metabolite plus two N-hydroxylated metabolites were identified in extracts of cat urine.
Reticular pseudodrusen: A tale of two species

The anatomic localization of reticular pseudodrusen (RPD) has been an important area of research study. A multimodal imaging analysis was conducted of two patients who were classified as having presumed RPD. Analysis of case 1 lends credence to original histopathologic evidence suggesting a choroidal origin of RPD, and analysis of case 2 supports RPD as originating above the RPE. This case series demonstrates that RPD may represent a compilation of diseases rather than one distinct clinical entity.
Effect of processing method on the properties of multifunctional exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets/polyamide 12 composites

Abstract The focus of this study is to determine the effect of the processing method on the mechanical, thermo-mechanical and electrical properties of graphite nanoplatelets (GNP) reinforced polyamide 12 (PA12) composites. The two processing methods studied are injection molding (IM) and selective laser sintering (SLS). The composites made by SLS exhibited higher tensile modulus, comparable or better flexural properties and lower impact strength than those made by IM. This enhancement is supported by the higher degree of crystallinity and more effective interfacial interactions observed in the SLS composites compared to those made by IM. At higher GNP content the property enhancement is compromised due to the presence of GNP agglomerates. Furthermore, it was found that the SLS composites filled with 5 wt% of GNP exhibited four orders of magnitude higher electrical conductivity compared to their counterpart made by IM which exhibited electrical properties similar to the neat PA12. The understanding of the processing-structure-property relationship investigated here can lead to composites engineered for targeted applications.
Transient events in the outer magnetosphere : boundary waves or flux transfer events ?

Simultaneous solar wind and magnetospheric observations are presented for a series of flux transfer events (FTEs) observed by the UKS and IRM spacecraft in the outer prenoon magnetosphere on October 28, 1984. The CCE satellite, located near local noon, observed an enhancement in the magnetospheric magnetic field strength 4 min prior to each IRM/UKS event, suggesting the antisunward propagation of a compression in the magnetopause surface. It is suggested that these compressions resulted from wavy magnetopause motion driven by variations in the solar wind dynamic pressure applied to the magnetosphere, rather than the motion of FTEs formed by magnetic merging. This hypothesis is confirmed by the fact that the events previously identified as FTEs occurred during a sequence of quasi-periodic (5-6 min) oscillations in the magnetospheric plasma velocity and magnetic field.
The development, application and limitations of breast cancer cell lines to study tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitor resistance

Estrogen plays important roles in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. Endocrine therapies, such as the antiestrogen tamoxifen, antagonize the binding of estrogen to estrogen receptor (ER), whereas aromatase inhibitors (AIs) directly inhibit the production of estrogen. Understanding the mechanisms of endocrine resistance and the ways in which we may better treat these types of resistance has been aided by the development of cellular models for resistant breast cancers. In this review, we will discuss what is known thus far regarding both de novo and acquired resistance to tamoxifen or AIs. Our laboratory has generated a collection of AI- and tamoxifen-resistant cell lines in order to comprehensively study the individual types of resistance mechanisms. Through the use of microarray analysis, we have determined that our cell lines resistant to a particular AI (anastrozole, letrozole, or exemestane) or tamoxifen are distinct from each other, indicating that these mechanisms can be quite complex. Furthermore, we will describe two novel de novo AI-resistant cell lines that were generated from our laboratory. Initial characterization of these cells reveals that they are distinct from our acquired AI-resistant cell models. In addition, we will review potential therapies which may be useful for overcoming resistant breast cancers through studies using endocrine resistant cell lines. Finally, we will discuss the benefits and shortcomings of cell models. Together, the information presented in this review will provide us a better understanding of acquired and de novo resistance to tamoxifen and AI therapies, the use of appropriate cell models to better study these types of breast cancer, which are valuable for identifying novel treatments and strategies for overcoming both tamoxifen and AI-resistant breast cancers.
"My crooked vision": the well sib views ataxia-telangiectasia.

The ataxia-telangiectasia gene (designated ATM) has been identified by positional cloning. Retrospective studies in cystic fibrosis (CF) have shown that the illness and death of a sib have far-reaching ramifications on the surviving sib's life. However, there have been no studies on sibs of children and adults with ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T). Thirty-five sibs from 24 families, including 26 adults and 9 adolescents, were drawn from the University of California, Los Angeles; the A-T Clinical Center at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine; and the A-T Children's Project Interviews indicated that, unlike CF, the visibility of A-T caused less resentment of time or attention given to the affected, less guilt, and less identification or idealization of the affected, but more embarrassment and shame. It may be said that, unlike CF, the dynamic is one of burden rather than trauma. The specific phenotypic expression of a genetic illness predisposes the way in which the well sib will encounter problems. In A-T affected families, one must help families locate caregiving resources so they will not burden their well children; sibs need help with managing feelings of embarrassment and shame. Geneticists must be alert to understanding characteristic differences of disorders they encounter in order to offer the most appropriate support to affected families. Am. J. Med. Genet. 87:420–425, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Home-Based Early Childhood Services: Cultural Sensitivity in a Family Systems Approach

Home-based models of early childhood services have been utilized as a major type of service delivery for infants and toddlers who are developmentally disabled or at risk for developmental disabilit...
Functional Characterization of Amyloid β Precursor Protein Regulatory Elements: Rationale for the Identification of Genetic Polymorphism

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the formation of senile plaques of the amyloid peptide (Abeta) derived from a large Abeta precursor protein (APP). Autosomally inherited or "familial" AD has only been previously demonstrated in connection with coding sequence missense mutations. Abnormal regulation of APP gene expression has been demonstrated to play a role in AD. Genome screen and linkage analysis suggest that the APP locus may predispose to AD. The aim is to characterize genetic variability in the APP gene within its upstream regulatory region and to determine whether that variability is associated with AD and affects the expression of APP. This article describes the rationale and strategy for identifying genetic polymorphisms in the APP regulatory region, including its promoter, to associate any variability with the disease.
Compactified Jacobians and Torelli Map

We compare several constructions of compactified jacobians — using semistable sheaves, semistable projective curves, degenerations of abelian varieties, and combinatorics of cell decompositions — and show that they are equivalent. We give a detailed description of the “canonical compactified jacobian” in degree g − 1. Finally, we explain how Kapranov’s compactification of configuration spaces can be understood as a toric analog of the extended Torelli map.
Perspective Making and Perspective Taking in Communities of Knowing

Knowledge-intensive firms are composed of multiple communities with specialized expertise, and are often characterized by lateral rather than hierarchical organizational forms. We argue that producing knowledge to create innovative products and processes in such firms requires the ability to make strong perspectives within a community, as well as the ability to take the perspective of another into account. We present models of language, communication and cognition that can assist in the design of electronic communication systems for perspective making and perspective taking. By appreciating how communication is both like a language game played in a local community and also like a transmission of messages through a conduit, and by appreciating how cognition includes a capacity to narrativize our experience as well as a capacity to process information, we identify some guidelines for designing electronic communication systems to support knowledge work. The communication systems we propose emphasize that narratives can help construct strong perspectives within a community of knowing, and that reflecting upon and representing that perspective can create boundary objects which allow for perspective taking between communities. We conclude by describing our vision of an idealized knowledge intensive firm with a strong culture of perspective making and perspective taking, and by identifying some elements of the electronic communication systems we would expect to see in such a firm.
Selegiline protects dopaminergic neurons in culture from toxic factor(s) present in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients with Parkinson's disease

The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) contains substance(s) that inhibit the growth and functions of dopaminergic neurons. Further, selegiline, a monoamine oxidase B (MAO) inhibitor (0.125-0.250 microM) enhanced the number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neurons, augmented the high affinity uptake of dopamine (DA), and averted the neurotoxic effects of CSF of PD patients on rat mesencephalic neurons in culture. The neuroprotective effects of selegiline may be related either to its ability to inhibit MAO B, preventing the generation of free radicals, or to neuronal rescue property due to unknown mechanisms.
Typology of Ohio, USA, Tree Farmers Based Upon Forestry Outreach Needs

This study differentiated groups of Ohio tree farmers through multivariate clustering of their perceived needs for forest management outreach. Tree farmers were surveyed via a mailed questionnaire. Respondents were asked to rate, on a 1-7 scale, their informational needs for 26 outreach topics, which were reduced to six factors. Based on these factors, three clusters were identified-holistic managers, environmental stewards, and pragmatic tree farmers. Cluster assignment of individuals was dependent upon a tree farmer's age, acreage owned, and number of years enrolled in the American Tree Farm System. Holistic managers showed a greater interest in the outreach topics while pragmatic tree farmers displayed an overall lesser interest. Across clusters, print media and in-person workshops were preferred over emails and webinars for receiving forest management information. In-person workshops should be no more than 1 day events, held on a weekday, during the daytime, at a cost not exceeding $35. Programming related to environmental influences, which included managing for forest insects and diseases, was concluded to have the greater potential to impact clientele among all outreach factors due to the information being applicable across demographics and/or management objectives.
Using surfactants to control the formation and size of wakes behind moving bubbles at order-one Reynolds numbers

A bubble translating through a continuous liquid (i.e. Newtonian) phase moves as a sphere when inertial and viscous forces are small relative to capillary forces. Spherical bubbles with stress-free interfaces do not retain wakes at their trailing ends as inertial forces become important (increasing Reynolds number). This is in contrast to translating spheres with immobile interfaces in which flow separation and wake formation occurs at order-one Reynolds number. Surfactants present in the continuous phase adsorb onto a bubble surface as it translates, and affect the interfacial mobility by creating tension gradient forces. Our recent theoretical research has demonstrated that at low Reynolds numbers, the mobility of a surfactant-retarded bubble interface can be increased by raising the bulk concentration of a surfactant which kinetically rapidly exchanges between the surface and the bulk. At high bulk concentrations the interface saturates with surfactant, effectively removing the tension gradient. We demonstrate theoretically that this interfacial control is still realized at order-one Reynolds numbers, and, more importantly, we show that the control can be used to manipulate the formation, size and ultimately the disappearance of a wake
Pseudoephedrine Use Among US Children, 1999–2006: Results From the Slone Survey

OBJECTIVE: Pseudoephedrine, a decongestant found in many cough-and-cold and allergy medications, has been associated with deaths and adverse events in young children; however, the absolute risks of pediatric pseudoephedrine use are difficult to assess because the number of children exposed on a population basis and typical patterns of use are unknown. In addition, use may be changing because of the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005, which limited pseudoephedrine availability. We sought to describe the prevalence and patterns of pseudoephedrine use among US children and to assess any change since the 2005 law took effect. METHODS: We analyzed data on pseudoephedrine use among 4267 children who were aged 0 to 17 years and enrolled from 1999 to 2006 in the Slone Survey, a national random-digit-dial telephone survey of medication use in the US population. RESULTS: Overall, 214 children took pseudoephedrine in a given week. Use was highest for children who were younger than 2 years. Sixteen children (7.5% of users) took>1 pseudoephedrine-containing product within the same week, including 6 children who were younger than 2 years. Of the pseudoephedrine products used, most were multiple-ingredient liquids (58.9%) and multiple-ingredient tablets (24.7%). Fifty-two children (25.0% of users) took pseudoephedrine for>1 week, including 7 children who were younger than 2 years. Use in 2006 (2.9%) was significantly lower than in 1999-2005 (5.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Pseudoephedrine exposure, mostly in the form of multiple-ingredient products, is common among US children, especially children who are younger than 2 years, who are at the highest risk for toxicity and for whom safe dosing recommendations are lacking. Concerning patterns of use include taking>1 pseudoephedrine-containing product concurrently and using pseudoephedrine for extended periods. Pediatric pseudoephedrine use seems to be declining since the institution of the 2005 Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act. Language: en
A decision support system for economic justification of material handling investments

Abstract This paper presents a decision support system for the economic justification of material handling investments. In particular it provides users with a formal mechanism to consider intangible or “soft” benefits associated with the investment in advanced material handling systems. The approach presented here is an extension to the work of Liggett and Sullivan [Engng. Economist, 37 (1992) 91] and Sullivan and Liggett [Manuf. Rev., 1 (1988) 151]. In addition to the development of the approach, we present a complete VisualBASIC program called JustMAT that serves as the implementation of the decision support system. The entire approach is illustrated with a numerical example.
Stability of coupled core reactors by the second method of Liapunov

Abstract In this study the Second Method of Liapunov is employed in the non-linear stability analysis of a coupled core reactor system. To insure conservative results, the time delay due to the transport of neutrons between cores, is incorporated directly into the Second Method. This, in effect, avoids the use of series approximations for the time delay which may lead to non-conservative results. Regions of stability are determined as functions of the coupling coefficient, intrinsic reactivity contribution, and delay time.
Turbulent separated convection flow adjacent to backward-facing step—effects of step height

Abstract Simulations of turbulent convection flow adjacent to a two-dimensional backward-facing step are presented to explore the effects of step height on turbulent separated flow and heat transfer. Reynolds number and duct’s height downstream from the step are kept constant at Re0 = 28,000 and H = 0.19 m, respectively. Uniform and constant heat flux of qw = 270 W/m2 is specified at the stepped wall downstream from the step, while other walls are treated as adiabatic. The selection of the values for these parameters is motivated by the fact that measurements are available for this geometry and they can be used to validate the flow and heat transfer simulation code. Two-equation low-Reynolds-number model is employed to achieve the turbulent Prandtl number. The primary and secondary recirculation regions increase in size as the step height increases. The bulk temperature increases more rapidly as the step height increases. Increasing the step height causes the magnitude of the maximum turbulent kinetic energy to increase. Near the step and below the step height, the turbulent kinetic energy becomes smaller as the step height increases. Inside the recirculation region, magnitude of the peak friction coefficient does not significantly change with the increase of step height. The friction coefficient becomes smaller in magnitude with the increase of the step height. The peak Stanton number becomes smaller as the step height increases.
Measurement of the phase coexistence curve in the critical region of a phenol-water binary mixture

We have performed measurements of the phase-coexistence curve of a binary mixture of phenol and water in the vicinity of the critical mixing temperature and calculated the critical exponent β of the order parameter. A least square fit to the 21 data points in the temperature range Tc−T<900 mdeg leads to a value of β equal to 0.334.
Ligand Binding Mode Prediction by Docking: Mdm2/Mdmx Inhibitors as a Case Study

The p53-binding domains of Mdm2 and Mdmx, two negative regulators of the tumor suppressor p53, are validated targets for cancer therapeutics, but correct binding poses of some proven inhibitors, particularly the nutlins, have been difficult to obtain with standard docking procedures. Virtual screening pipelines typically draw from a database of compounds represented with 1D or 2D structural information from which one or more 3D conformations must be generated. These conformations are then passed to a docking algorithm that searches for optimal binding poses on the target protein. This work tests alternative pipelines using several commonly used conformation generation programs (LigPrep, ConfGen, MacroModel, and Corina/Rotate) and docking programs (GOLD, Glide, MOE-dock, and AutoDock Vina) for their ability to reproduce known poses for a series of Mdmx and/or Mdm2 inhibitors, including several nutlins. Most combinations of these programs using default settings fail to find correct poses for the nutlins but...
Wavelength-reuse in optical time-slotted networks

An all-optical approach to achieve finer bandwidth granularity is to time division multiplex low capacity circuits on each wavelength channel and switch time-wavelength slots optically within the network. One such time-slotted network proposed in the literature is the Time Domain Wavelength Interleaved Network (TWIN), which eliminates slot switching within the network by using a non-reconfigurable core and an intelligent edge utilizing a fast tunable laser to emulate fast switching. In contrast to the TWIN, an optical time-slotted network which incorporates slot-switching within the network is the Time Wavelength Switched Network (TWSN), wherein the Time Wavelength Space Routers (TWSRs) are configured to change their routing pattern on a time-slot basis. The TWIN network assigns a unique wavelength to each node in the network and thus requires a total of W=N wavelengths for an N-node network. We call such a TWIN network as an unconstrained TWIN network. In this paper, we first provide integer linear programs and heuristic algorithms to solve the scheduling problem for a static traffic matrix (of connections) for both, the unconstrained TWIN and the TWSN networks and also compare their performances under a dynamic traffic scenario. To address the problem of scalability of the unconstrained TWIN network, we propose to design a wavelength-constrained (i.e., W
Smart image design for large image databases

Abstract We propose an active image information system based upon the concept of smart images. A smart image is an image with an associated knowledge structure, consisting of protocols, hot spots, active indexes and attributes. This active image information system enables us to accomplish the objectives of timely delivery and easy accessibility by handling long-duration operations and supporting unitary image information usage. The experimental prototype of the smart image system is described.
Kummer Theory over Cyclotomic Zp-extensions

In the last chapter we studied the ideal class groups in a Z p -extension of a number field. Here we shall consider especially the cyclotomic Z p -extension, and then Kummer extensions above it, as in Iwasawa [Iw 12], obtained by adjoining p n th roots of units, p-units, and ideal classes of p-power order.
Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Adults With Cardiac Arrest

Cardiac arrest (CA) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite the use of conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), rates of return of spontaneous circulation and survival with minimal neurologic impairment remain low. Utilization of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for CA in adults is steadily increasing. Propensity-matched cohort studies have reported outcomes associated with ECMO use to be superior to that of conventional CPR alone in in-hospital patients with CA. In this review, we discuss the mechanism, indications, complications, and evidence for ECMO in CA in adults.
Getting the Most Out of Clinical Supervision: Strategies for Mental Health

Strategies are presented for helping mental health counseling (MHC) students navigate the process of receiving clinical supervision, from preparing for and initiating supervision to participating actively within and between sessions. Information from supervision practices and principles provides the foundation for guiding students in making the most of their first experiences in clinical supervision. Within the field of counseling and psychotherapy, clinical supervision has only recently been recognized as a specialty in its own right (Bernard & Goodyear, 1998). No longer viewed as merely an extension of the therapeutic process, some licensing boards (e.g., Alabama and Louisiana) are requiring clinicians to receive specialized training in clinical supervision before credentialing them as approved supervisors. Actual training in supervision, however, still lags far behind available knowledge and research, resulting in wide variability of styles and quality. Moreover, even with extensive training and optimum conditions, supervision is a challenging and sometimes daunting enterprise. One way to mitigate the impact of the varying quality of supervision is through education of the consumer, the supervisee.
Dynamic Reconfiguration in Beaconless IEEE 802.15.4 Networks under Varying Traffic Loads

IEEE 802.15.4, a MAC/PHY protocol for low power and low data rate wireless networks, is emerging as the popular choice for various monitoring and control applications. Depending on the application, the traffic load on an IEEE 802.15.4 network may vary over a wide range. The performance of the protocol, measured in terms of the packet loss probability and the packet latency, depends upon the prevailing traffic load as well as the configuration of IEEE 802.15.4 MAC parameters. Static configuration of IEEE 802.15.4 MAC parameters, good for a particular traffic load range, may result in bad performance when the traffic load changes beyond that range. In this paper, we present a scheme that can be used by an IEEE 802.15.4 node to dynamically adjust its MAC configuration based on the observed loss rate and latency suffered by recent packets generated by the node. The performance benefits of the proposed scheme are illustrated via NS2 simulations.
Morphometry of small recent impact craters on Mars: Size and terrain dependence, short-term modification

Most recent studies of crater morphometry on Mars have addressed large craters (D>5 km) using elevation models derived from laser altimetry. In the present work, we examine a global population of small (25 m ≤D≤5 km), relatively well-preserved simple impact craters using HiRISE stereo-derived elevation models. We find that scaling laws from prior studies of large simple craters generally overestimate the depth and volume at small diameters. We show that crater rim curvature exhibits a strong diameter dependence that is well-described by scaling laws for D<1 km. Above this diameter, upper rim slopes begin to exceed typical repose angles and crater rims sharpen significantly. This transition is likely the result of gravity-driven collapse of the upper cavity walls during crater formation or short-term modification. In addition, we identify a tendency for small craters (D<500m) to be more conical than large craters, and we show that the average cavity cross section is well-described by a power law with exponent ∼1.75 (neither conical nor paraboloidal). We also conduct a statistical comparison of crater subpopulations to illuminate trends with increasing modification and target strength. These results have important implications for describing the “initial condition” of simple crater shape as a function of diameter and geological setting and for understanding how impact craters are modified on the Martian surface over time.
The Role of PLLs in Future Wireline Transmitters

As data rates in wireline transmitters approach 80-100 Gb/s, phase-locked loops emerge as a serious bottleneck, requiring co-design of the clock and data paths. This paper describes speed, skew, and jitter issues at these rates and formulates the corruption due to effects such as the reference phase noise and the loop filter leakage. The phase noise performance of cascaded loops is also analyzed and a new transmitter architecture is proposed that substantially relaxes the speed and skew requirements.
Defining and measuring river health

Summary 1. Society benefits immeasurably from rivers. Yet over the past century, humans have changed rivers dramatically, threatening river health. As a result, societal well-being is also threatened because goods and services critical to human society are being depleted. 2. ‘Health’— shorthand for good condition (e.g. healthy economy, healthy communities) — is grounded in science yet speaks to citizens. 3. Applying the concept of health to rivers is a logical outgrowth of scientific principles, legal mandates, and changing societal values. 4. Success in protecting the condition, or health, of rivers depends on realistic models of the interactions of landscapes, rivers, and human actions. 5. Biological monitoring and biological endpoints provide the most integrative view of river condition, or river health. Multimetric biological indices are an important and relatively new approach to measuring river condition. 6. Effective multimetric indices depend on an appropriate classification system, the selection of metrics that give reliable signals of river condition, systematic sampling protocols that measure those biological signals, and analytical procedures that extract relevant biological patterns. 7. Communicating results of biological monitoring to citizens and political leaders is critical if biological monitoring is to influence environmental policies. 8. Biological monitoring is essential to identify biological responses to human actions. By using the results to describe the condition, or health, of rivers and their adjacent landscapes and to diagnose causes of degradation, we can develop restoration plans, estimate the ecological risks associated with land use plans in a watershed, or select among alternative development options to minimize river degradation.
Public Opinion on the Use of Consumer Racial Profiling to Identify Shoplifters: An Exploratory Study:

Based on a recent state-level poll of Pennsylvania residents (N = 852), this paper extended previous public opinion research on consumer racial profiling (CRP) by exploring whether the views of Pen...
Wilms' Tumor and Neuroblastoma in Children

Major advances have been made in the understanding and management of the malignant diseases of childhood. More than 50% of children with cancer can now be expected to survive five or more years; a few decades ago, most of these patients died within 1 year. These good results have been obtained through the use of combined-modality therapy; that is, the conjoined use of surgery, radiation therapy, and multiple-agent chemotherapy. Wilms9 tumor provides a spectacular example (Fig 1). Although achieving higher cure rates, combined-modality treatment is often rigorous, and has its associated early and late complications. The goals of modern pediatric oncology reflect both of these facts. Higher cure rates continue to be sought, but there is a growing recognition that not all patients need maximum treatment. Therapy can now be modulated according to well-defined prognostic factors for most of the malignant conditions. In that way, the most aggressive therapies are reserved for those at highest risk, while those with a good prognosis can be managed less intensively. The objectives of modern management, then, are to cure most patients while at the same time minimizing, as much as possible, the associated deleterious late consequences of successful treatment. wilms9 tumor and neuroblastoma serve as good examples to demonstrate the above points.
Zanamivir Pharmacokinetics and Pulmonary Penetration into Epithelial Lining Fluid following Intravenous or Oral Inhaled Administration to Healthy Adult Subjects

Zanamivir serum and pulmonary pharmacokinetics were characterized following intravenous (i.v.) or oral inhaled administration. I.v. zanamivir was given as intermittent doses of 100 mg, 200 mg, and 600 mg every 12 h (q12h) for two doses or as a continuous infusion (6-mg loading dose followed by 3 mg/h for 12 h). Oral inhaled zanamivir (two 5-mg inhalations q12h for two doses) was evaluated as well. Each zanamivir regimen was administered to six healthy subjects with serial pharmacokinetic sampling. In addition, a single bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid sample was collected at various time points and used to calculate epithelial lining fluid (ELF) drug concentrations for each subject. For intermittent i.v. administration of 100 mg, 200 mg, and 600 mg zanamivir, the median zanamivir concentrations in ELF collected 12 h after dosing were 74, 146, and 419 ng/ml, respectively, each higher than the historic mean 50% inhibitory concentrations for the neuraminidases of wild-type strains of influenza A and B viruses. Median ELF/serum zanamivir concentration ratios ranged from 55 to 79% for intermittent i.v. administration (when sampled 12 h after the last dose) and 43 to 45% for continuous infusion (when sampled 6 to 12 h after the start of the infusion). For oral inhaled zanamivir, the median zanamivir concentrations in ELF were 891 ng/ml for the first BAL fluid collection and 326 ng/ml for subsequent BAL fluid collections (when sampled 12 h after the last dose); corresponding serum drug concentrations were undetectable. This study demonstrates zanamivir's penetration into the human pulmonary compartment and supports the doses selected for the continuing development of i.v. zanamivir in clinical studies of influenza.
PET/CT unplugged: the merging technologies of PET and CT imaging.

OBJECTIVE. This article discusses the current and potential issues physicians are facing as PET/CT is integrated into medical practice.CONCLUSION. A variety of issues related to PET/CT were discussed at the 2004 ARRS annual meeting. Among the conclusions were that both PET and CT portions of a PET/CT scan need to be reviewed for adequate patient care, and that nuclear medicine should not be exempt from current self-referral legislation.
Lack of standards for the detection of melanoma in sentinel lymph nodes: a survey and recommendations.

Context.—Detection of microscopic melanoma metastases in sentinel lymph nodes drives clinical care; patients without metastases are observed, and patients with metastases are offered completion lym...
J. Agustí, L. Rook, and P. Andrews (eds.): Hominoid evolution and climatic change in Europe: Volume 1, the evolution of neogene terrestrial ecosystems in Europe

(2001). J. Agusti, L. Rook, and P. Andrews (eds.): Hominoid evolution and climatic change in Europe: Volume 1, the evolution of neogene terrestrial ecosystems in Europe. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology: Vol. 20, No. 4, pp. 786-787.
Exploiting a Bacterial Drug‐Resistance Mechanism: A Light‐Activated Construct for the Destruction of MRSA

A cunning and dangerous plan foiled! An enzyme-specific molecular construct exploits the overexpression of beta-lactamase in several drug-resistant bacteria. Specific photodynamic toxicity was detected towards beta-lactam-resistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), whereby the usual mechanism for antibiotic resistance (cleavage of the beta-lactam ring) releases the phototoxic component from the prodrug (see picture; Q = quencher).
SMALL MAMMAL SURVIVAL AND TRAPABILITY IN MARK-RECAPTURE MONITORING PROGRAMS FOR HANTAVIRUS

Following the 1993 hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) epidemic in the southwestern United States, mammalogists and epidemiologists instituted long-term studies to monitor population density and prevalence of infection in rodents which constitute the reservoir for Sin Nombre virus (SNV). In this study, field techniques used in sampling small mammals for SNV infection were evaluated to determine if trapping and handling protocols were having significant effects on future trapability or mortality of animals. We compared rodent mark-recapture control plots, on which all rodents were simply measured, marked, and released on site, with experimental plots on which all animals were anesthetized with methoxyflurane, sampled for blood and saliva, measured, marked, and released. Blood samples were obtained from anesthetized animals on the experimental plots via a retro-orbital sinus puncture using a heparinized capillary tube. Dacron tipped oral swabs were used to collect buccal cells and saliva from the rodent's o...
An ultra-high sensitive protein lab-on-a-chip on polymer for prostate cancer diagnostics

In this paper, we report a disposable, fast and high sensitive protein lab-on-a-chip on cyclic olefin copolymer (COC) substrate, which can be used for the detection of prostate specific antigen (PSA), a biomarker of prostate cancer. In this protein lab-on-a-chip, chemiluminescence-based sandwich immunoassay was developed for detecting PSA with the detection limit of 1 ng/mL. With the developed immunoassay, the protein lab-on-a-chips on polymer have successfully detected PSA in the range of 4-200 ng/mL. The protein lab-on-a-chip developed in this work can also be used for the detection of other biomarkers and proteins.
The Role of Vertebrate Hosts in Tick-Borne Infections

Abstract Ticks require vertebrate hosts for survival and reproduction and can acquire pathogens when they ingest blood. Reservoir competency, however, varies greatly. Some rodents, such as white-footed mice ( Peromyscus leucopus ), are efficient reservoirs for Borrelia burgdorferi infections and infect attached larval and nymphal Ixodes scapularis ticks. Although white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) probably do not efficiently pass Lyme disease spirochetes to ticks when these ectoparasites feed, they are reservoirs for Ehrlichia chaffeensis (the agent for human monocytic ehrlichiosis). Deer are important hosts for I. scapularis and Amblyomma americanum adults, and as the number of deer has increased over the past four decades, there has been a corresponding sharp rise in abundance of both tick species. Birds transport immature ticks to new sites, even from one continent to another, and in some cases can pass B. burgdorferi to attached larvae and nymphs. Increased populations of ticks, deer, rodents, birds, and other wildlife species and the rising prevalence of tick-borne pathogens are linked, in part, to the reversion of agricultural lands to woodlands during the past century. When human dwellings are built in or near tick-infested habitats, such as in suburban developments near forests, and when people engage in more outdoor activities (e.g., camping, hiking, hunting, and fishing), there are greater risks for acquiring tick-transmitted pathogens.
Successful rechallenge after ixabepilone-induced radiation recall dermatitis using an alternative dosing strategy

Radiation recall dermatitis (RRD) is an inflammatory reaction occurring in a previously irradiated area, precipitated by the administration of certain drugs. The drugs most commonly associated with RRD are intravenous antineoplastic agents. The frequency of development of this toxicity in clinical practice is unclear. We report a case of RRD induced by ixabepilone, an epothilone antineoplastic agent, with successful rechallenge utilizing an alternative dosing regimen.
Hard-phase engineering in hard/soft nanocomposite magnets

Bulk SmCo/Fe(Co) based hard/soft nanocomposite magnets with different hard phases (1:5, 2:17, 2:7 and 1:3 types) were fabricated by high-energy ball-milling followed by a warm compaction process. Microstructural studies revealed a homogeneous distribution of bcc-Fe(Co) phase in the matrix of hard magnetic Sm-Co phase with grain size ⩽20 nm after severe plastic deformation and compaction. The small grain size leads to effective inter-phase exchange coupling as shown by the single-phase-like demagnetization behavior with enhanced remanence and energy product. Among the different hard phases investigated, it was found that the Sm2Co7-based nanocomposites can incorporate a higher soft phase content, and thus a larger reduction in rare-earth content compared with the 2:17, 1:5 and 1:3 phase-based nanocomposite with similar properties. (BH)max up to 17.6 MGOe was obtained for isotropic Sm2Co7/FeCo nanocomposite magnets with 40 wt% of the soft phase which is about 300% higher than the single-phase counterpart prepared under the same conditions. The results show that hard-phase engineering in nanocomposite magnets is an alternative approach to fabrication of high-strength nanocomposite magnets with reduced rare-earth content.
The informational needs of patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis—development of an informational needs questionnaire

Objective. The aim of the study was to compare the informational needs of patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Methods. We developed a Vasculitis Informational Needs Questionnaire that was distributed to members of Vasculitis UK (VUK) by mail and registrants of the Vasculitis Clinical Research Consortium (VCRC) online registry with self-reported AAV. Patients were asked to use a 5-point scale (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important) to rank aspects of information in the following domains: disease, investigations, medication, disease management and psychosocial care. The source and preferred method of educational delivery were recorded. Results. There were 314 VUK and 273 VCRC respondents. Respondents rated information on diagnosis, prognosis, investigations, treatment and side effects as extremely important. Information on patient support groups and psychosocial care was less important. There was no difference in the ratings of needs based on group, sex, age, disease duration, disease or method of questionnaire delivery. The most-preferred methods of providing information for both groups were by a doctor (with or without written material) or web based; educational courses and compact disc/digital video disc (CD/DVD) were the least-preferred methods. Conclusion. This study demonstrates that people with AAV seek specific information concerning their disease, treatment regimes and side effects and the results of investigations. Individuals preferred to receive this information from a doctor. Patients with AAV should be treated in a similar manner to patients with other chronic illnesses in which patient education is a fundamental part of care.
First Documented Spawning of White Sturgeon in the Lower Willamette River, Oregon

Abstract White sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) in the lower Columbia River system were previously known to spawn in only one area; within the 12 km of mainstem Columbia River downstream of Bonneville Dam. Our work provides the first documentation of white sturgeon spawning in the Willamette River, Oregon, a major tributary of the lower Columbia River. We used artificial substrates to sample for white sturgeon eggs downstream of Willamette Falls from 18 May to 20 May 2009 and collected a total of 22 fertilized eggs. Embryonic developmental stages ranged from pigmentation change (Stage 2) to early epithelial (Stage 8), corresponding to fertilization times of approximately 5–17 hours prior to collection. We estimated that spawning occurred between 2100 hours on 19 May and 0900 hours on 20 May 2009, and that a minimum of three independent spawning events took place during that time. Results suggest that the area immediately downstream of Willamette Falls may be important white sturgeon spawning habitat, an...
5-Hydroxyconiferyl aldehyde modulates enzymatic methylation for syringyl monolignol formation, a new view of monolignol biosynthesis in angiosperms.

S-Adenosyl-L-methionine-dependent caffeate O-methyltransferase (COMT, EC 2.1.1.6) has traditionally been thought to catalyze the methylation of caffeate and 5- hydroxyferulate for the biosynthesis of syringyl monolignol, a lignin constituent of angiosperm wood that enables efficient lignin degradation for cellulose production. However, recent recognition that coniferyl aldehyde prevents 5-hydroxyferulate biosynthesis in lignifying tissue, and that the hydroxylated form of coniferyl aldehyde, 5-hydroxyconiferyl aldehyde, is an alternative COMT substrate, demands a re-evaluation of the role of COMT during monolignol biosynthesis. Based on recombinant aspen (Populus tremuloides) COMT enzyme kinetics coupled with mass spectrometry analysis, this study establishes for the first time that COMT is in fact a 5-hydroxyconiferyl aldehyde O-methyltransferase (AldOMT), and that 5-hydroxyconiferyl aldehyde is both the preferred AldOMT substrate and an inhibitor of caffeate and 5-hydroxyferulate methylation, as measured by K(m) and K(i) values. 5-Hydroxyconiferyl aldehyde also inhibited the caffeate and 5-hydroxyferulate methylation activities of xylem proteins from various angiosperm tree species. The evidence that syringyl monolignol biosynthesis is independent of caffeate and 5-hydroxyferulate methylation supports our previous discovery that coniferyl aldehyde prevents ferulate 5-hydroxylation and at the same time ensures a coniferyl aldehyde 5-hydroxylase (CAld5H)-mediated biosynthesis of 5-hydroxyconiferyl aldehyde. Together, our results provide conclusive evidence for the presence of a CAld5H/AldOMT-catalyzed coniferyl aldehyde 5-hydroxylation/methylation pathway that directs syringyl monolignol biosynthesis in angiosperms.
Civil War Command And Strategy: The Process Of Victory And Defeat

Jones analyzes the conduct of the American Civil War. He argues that Presidents Lincoln and Davis, and their Generals, showed a firm grasp of established military strategy as well as an ability to innovate. He believes the war was decided by strategic skill rather than industrial might. Jones argues that the industrial dominance of the North was offset by the territorial vastness of the South, the difficulties in supplying a distant army, and by the fact that the man with the rifle was the basic and decisive unit of combat rather than large military machinery. He analyzes a variety of strategic manoeuvres - turns, concentration of forces and raids - and relates them to the outcome of the war.
A Salient Problem in Informatics

The Jan/Feb issue of JAMIA contained an interesting series of articles about the automated identification of smoking status from medical discharge records. It profiled the comparative performance of 11 different systems for the classification of patient records into five general categories for smoking status. The various classification approaches used, such as Bayesian classifiers, natural language processing, support vector machines and neural networks, illustrated the rich and diverse set of algorithms used in automated text processing and classification today. Even more impressive was the performance of some of these systems, which, in certain aspects, approximated the gold standard. I wonder, however, whether the organizers of the i2b2 challenge could not have picked a test task that would have appeared …