cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pre-treatment maximum standardized uptake value predicts outcome after frontline therapy in patients with advanced stage follicular lymphoma

The impact of pre-treatment maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) on the outcome of follicular lymphoma (FL) following specific frontline regimens has not been explored. We performed a retrospective analysis of 346 patients with advanced stage follicular lymphoma (FL) without histological evidence of transformation, and analyzed the impact of SUVmax on outcome after frontline therapy. Fifty-two (15%) patients had a SUVmax >18, and a large lymph node ≥6 cm was the only factor associating with SUVmax >18 on multivariate analysis (odds ratio 2.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.3-5.3, P=0.006). The complete response rate was significantly lower among patients treated with non-anthracycline-based regimens if SUVmax was >18 (45% vs 92%, P 18 was associated with significantly shorter progression-free survival among patients treated with non-anthracycline-based regimens (77 months vs. not reached, P=0.02), but not among patients treated with R-CHOP (P=0.73). SUVmax >18 associated with shorter overall survival (OS) both in patients treated with R-CHOP (8-year OS 70% vs. 90%, P=0.02) and non-anthracycline-based frontline regimens (8-year OS 50% vs 85%, P=0.001). In conclusion, pre-treatment PET scan has prognostic and predictive value in patients with advanced stage FL receiving frontline treatment.
Custodial Requirements for Customer Funds

If any one place his property with another for safe keeping, and there, either through thieves or robbers, his property and the property of the other man be lost, the owner of the house, through whose neglect the loss took place, shall compensate the owner for all that was given to him in charge. But the owner of the house shall try to follow up and recover his property, and take it away from the thief.
Assessing the Quality of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Care in Nursing Homes.

BACKGROUND Quality of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care in nursing homes (NHs) has never been measured. DESIGN A cross-sectional study. SETTING NHs. PARTICIPANTS A total of 203 NHs and 1375 persons living with HIV. MEASUREMENTS Medicare claims from 2011 to 2013 were linked to assessments of resident health, prescription dispensing data, and national reports of NH characteristics. Five nationally validated HIV care quality measures (prescription of antiretroviral therapy; CD4/viral load monitoring; frequency of medical visits; gaps in medical visits; and Pneumocystis pneumonia prophylaxis) were adapted and applied to NHs. Logistic regression predicted compliance by organizational factors. Random intercept logistic regression predicted if persons living with HIV received care by person and organizational factors. RESULTS Compliance ranged from 43.3% (SD = 31.1%) for CD4/viral load monitoring to 92.4% (SD = 13.6%) for gaps in medical visits. More substantiated complaints against an NH decreased the likelihood of high compliance with CD4/viral load monitoring (odds ratio [OR] = 0.846; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.726-0.986), while NH-reported incidents increased the likelihood of high compliance with pneumocystis pneumonia prophylaxis (OR = 1.173; 95% CI = 1.044-1.317). Differences between NHs explained 21.2% or less of variability in receipt of care. CONCLUSIONS Since 2013, the population with HIV and NH HIV care quality has inevitably evolved; however, this study provides previously unknown baseline metrics on NH HIV care quality and highlights significant challenges when measuring HIV care in NHs. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:1226-1234, 2020.
Syphilis in China from 2000 to 2013: epidemiological trends and characteristics

Objective To investigate the trends in and characteristics of syphilis epidemiology in China,and to provide a scientific basis for the development of control strategies.Methods An epidemiological study was performed on syphilis cases reported from 31 provinces,autonomous regions and municipalities between 2000 and 2013.Results The reported syphilis incidence increased yearly from 6.43 per 100 000 person-years in 2000 to 32.86 per 100 000 person-years in 2013,with an average annual growth rate of 13.37％.Syphilis was reported in most (99％) counties/districts in China mainland except for a few remote mountain areas,with a significant difference in the incidence of syphilis between different regions.The regions with a high incidence of syphilis included minority areas in Northwest China (Xinjiang,Qinghai and Ningxia),Minjiang River area,Yangtze River Delta (Zhejiang,Shanghai),Zhujiang River Delta (Guangxi,Guangdong),etc.There had been a rapid increase in the incidence of syphilis in some regions previously reported to have a low incidence (such as Guizhou,Shaanxi,Henan,etc).Among the reported cases,female patients predominated with an average male/female ratio of 0.92 ∶ 1.The incidence of syphilis was highest in the age group of 20-39 years,but increased yearly by more than 30％ in the population aged ＞ 60 years.Of 20 occupations,peasant workers accounted for the highest proportion (31.56％) of syphilis cases,and retired population showed the most rapid increase by about 27.35％ per year.The constituent ratio of primary and secondary syphilis in all the syphilis cases had declined yearly,while that of latent syphilis increased by more than 50％ after 2010.Conclusions Syphilis remains a major public health issue in China,and measures based on the epidemiological features are urgently needed to effectively control epidemic syphilis. Key words: Syphilis; Epidemiology; Data collection
New families of bivariate copulas via unit weibull distortion

This paper introduces a new family of bivariate copulas constructed using a unit Weibull distortion. Existing copulas play the role of the base or initial copulas that are transformed or distorted into a new family of copulas with additional parameters, allowing more flexibility and better fit to data. We present a general form for the new bivariate copula function and its conditional and density distributions. The tail behaviors are investigated and indicate the unit Weibull distortion may result in new copulas with upper tail dependence when the base copula has no upper tail dependence. The concordance ordering and Kendall’s tau are derived for the cases when the base copulas are Archimedean, such as the Clayton and Frank copulas. The Loss-ALEA data are analyzed to evaluate the performance of the proposed new families of copulas.
Impacts of surface depletion on the plasmonic properties of doped semiconductor nanocrystals

Degenerately doped semiconductor nanocrystals (NCs) exhibit a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in the infrared range of the electromagnetic spectrum. Unlike metals, semiconductor NCs offer tunable LSPR characteristics enabled by doping, or via electrochemical or photochemical charging. Tuning plasmonic properties through carrier density modulation suggests potential applications in smart optoelectronics, catalysis and sensing. Here, we elucidate fundamental aspects of LSPR modulation through dynamic carrier density tuning in Sn-doped In2O3 (Sn:In2O3) NCs. Monodisperse Sn:In2O3 NCs with various doping levels and sizes were synthesized and assembled in uniform films. NC films were then charged in an in situ electrochemical cell and the LSPR modulation spectra were monitored. Based on spectral shifts and intensity modulation of the LSPR, combined with optical modelling, it was found that often-neglected semiconductor properties, specifically band structure modification due to doping and surface states, strongly affect LSPR modulation. Fermi level pinning by surface defect states creates a surface depletion layer that alters the LSPR properties; it determines the extent of LSPR frequency modulation, diminishes the expected near-field enhancement, and strongly reduces sensitivity of the LSPR to the surroundings.
Impact of Media-based Negative and Positive Age Stereotypes on Older Individuals' Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: During the COVID-19 pandemic, stigmatization of older persons has increased in traditional and social media. It was unknown whether this negative messaging could be detrimental to the mental health of older individuals, and whether the relatively uncommon positive messaging about older individuals could benefit their mental health. METHOD: To address these gaps, we designed age-stereotype interventions based on actual news stories that appeared during the pandemic, and divided them into negative and positive versions of what we term personified (i.e., person-based) and enumerative (i.e., number-based) age-stereotype messaging. The negative versions of the two types of messaging reflected the age stereotype of decline whereas the positive versions of the two types of messaging reflected the age stereotype of resilience. RESULTS: As expected, the exposure of older individuals to the negative-age-stereotype-messaging interventions led to significantly worse mental health (more anxiety and less peacefulness), compared to a neutral condition; in contrast, the positive-age-stereotype-messaging interventions led to significantly better mental health (less anxiety and more peacefulness), compared to a neutral condition. The findings were equally strong for the personified and enumerative conditions. Also as expected, the interventions, which were self-irrelevant to the younger participants, did not significantly impact their mental health. DISCUSSION: This is the first-known study to experimentally demonstrate that institutional ageism, and statistics that reflect stereotypes about older individuals, can impact mental health. The results demonstrate the need for media messaging aimed at empowering older individuals during the pandemic and beyond.
Intelligent Mechanical Fault Diagnosis Using Multi-Sensor Fusion and Convolution Neural Network

Diagnosis of mechanical faults in manufacturing systems is critical for ensuring safety and saving costs. With the development of data transmission and sensor technologies, measuring systems can acquire massive amounts of multi-sensor data. Although Deep-Learning (DL) provides an end-to-end way to address the drawbacks of traditional methods, it is necessary to do deep research on an intelligent fault diagnosis method based on Multi-Sensor Data. In this project, a novel intelligent diagnosis method based on Multi-Sensor Fusion (MSF) and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is explored. Firstly, a Multi-Signals-to-RGB-Image conversion method based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is applied to fuse multi-signal data into three-channel RGB images. Then, an improved CNN with residual networks is proposed, which can balance the relationship between computational cost and accuracy. Two datasets are used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. The results show the proposed method outperforms other DL-based methods in terms of accuracy.
Wecken theorems for Nielsen intersection theory

Nielsen theory, originally developed as a homotopy-theoretic approach to fixed point theory, has been translated and extended to various other problems, such as the study of periodic points, coincidence points and roots. Recently, the techniques of Nielsen theory have been applied to the study of intersections of maps. A Nielsen-type number, the Nielsen intersection number NI(f, g), was introduced, and shown to have many of the properties analogous to those of the Nielsen fixed point number. In particular, it is a homotopy-invariant lower bound for the number of intersections of a pair of maps. The question of whether or not this lower bound is sharp can be thought of as the Wecken problem for intersection theory. In this paper, the Wecken problem for intersections is considered, and some Wecken theorems are proved.
Chapter 11 Mechanism of action of angiotensin II

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the mechanism of action of angiotensin II (AII). The octapeptide AII is the primary effector hormone of the rennin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, regulating not only the release of aldosterone from the adrenal but also that of renin from the kidney. By inhibiting the secretion of renin—the enzyme which catalyses the proteolysis of angiotensinogen to the AII-precursor angiotensin I (AI)—AII effectively regulates its own formation as well via a negative feedback loop. AII receptors have also been identified in the kidney, brain, uterus, placenta, pituitary, and reticuloendothelium. Saturable binding of radiolabeled AII is demonstrable in adrenal glomerulosa, vascular smooth muscle, and hepatic plasma membranes. In some smooth-muscle cell types, AII alters the activity of both phospholipase C and adenylate cyclase, presumably via a single-receptor type. The biological effect of AII on its target tissues can be altered by changing either receptor affinity or receptor number. In the adrenal, liver, and vasculature the affinity of the receptor for AII is modulated by cations, such as sodium, calcium or magnesium, and by reducing agents.
A Linear Delay Algorithm for Building Concept Lattices

Concept lattices (also called Galois lattices) have been applied in numerous areas, and several algorithms have been proposed to construct them. Generally, the input for lattice construction algorithms is a binary matrix with size |G||M| representing binary relation Ii¾? G×M. In this paper, we consider polynomial delay algorithms for building concept lattices. Although the concept lattice may be of exponential size, there exist polynomial delay algorithms for building them. The current best delay-time complexity is O(|G||M|2). In this paper, we introduce the notion of irregular concepts, the combinatorial structure of which allows us to develop a linear delay lattice construction algorithm, that is, we give an algorithm with delay time of O(|G||M|). Our algorithm avoids the union operation for the attribute set and does not require checking if new concepts are already generated. In addition, we propose a compact representation for concept lattices and a corresponding construction algorithm. Although we are not guaranteed to achieve optimal compression, the compact representation can save significant storage space compared to the full representation normally used for concept lattices.
Abstract 19134: Elevated Troponin T is Associated with Adverse Outcomes After Aortic Valve Replacement

Background: Data regarding association of elevated cardiac enzymes and adverse outcomes in patients who undergo aortic valve replacement (AVR) has been inconclusive. Role of coronary revascularization prior to AVR remains uncertain. We sought to understand prognostic implication of post procedure troponin T (TnT) elevation in patients undergoing AVR. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that patients with significantly elevated TnT after AVR will have worse outcomes representing important coronary circulation which is not revascularized. Methods: We retrospectively studied 4648 consecutive patients who underwent AVR at a single tertiary care center between January 2007 and December 2013. These were divided into surgical AVR (SAVR) and transcatheter AVR (TAVR). Median post procedure peak TnT was identified in the SAVR and TAVR groups. Patients were divided into quartiles based on median TnT level. Results: Of 4648 patients who underwent AVR, 4200 (66% male) were SAVR and 448 (59% male) were TAVR. Median post proced...
Modular Symbols in Iwasawa Theory

This survey paper is focused on a connection between the geometry of \(\mathop{\text{GL}}\nolimits _{d}\) and the arithmetic of \(\mathop{\text{GL}}\nolimits _{d-1}\) over global fields, for integers d ≥ 2. For d = 2 over \(\mathbb{Q}\), there is an explicit conjecture of the third author relating the geometry of modular curves and the arithmetic of cyclotomic fields, and it is proven in many instances by the work of the first two authors. The paper is divided into three parts: in the first, we explain the conjecture of the third author and the main result of the first two authors on it. In the second, we explain an analogous conjecture and result for d = 2 over \(\mathbb{F}_{q}(t)\). In the third, we pose questions for general d over the rationals, imaginary quadratic fields, and global function fields.
Quantum Phase Transitions in Finite Nuclei: Theoretical Concepts and Experimental Evidence

The concept of quantum phase transitions in the equilibrium structure of finite nuclei as a function of N and Z has recently taken on considerable interest. Sparked by data in nuclei with N=90, which pointed towards the presence of coexisting spherical and deformed phases, a new class of models for nuclei at the phase transitional point, called Critical Point Symmetries, was developed: E(5), for nuclei in a second order vibrator to γ‐soft rotor, and X(5) for nuclei in a first order vibrator to axially deformed rotor. Empirical examples of both symmetries were discovered, in 134Ba and 152Sm, respectively. Following this, a large body of research ensued, both theoretical and experimental, including new approaches to the mapping of structural evolution, new ideas about the relation of geometrical and algebraic models, about order and chaos in nuclear spectra, and about the relation of residual proton‐neutron interactions to the development of correlations in the nuclear many‐body system. Some of these develo...
Cardiac Troponin T Before and After Kidney Transplantation: Determinants and Implications for Posttransplant Survival

Pretransplant cardiac troponin T(cTnTpre) is a significant predictor of survival postkidney transplantation. We assessed correlates of cTnT levels pre- and posttransplantation and their relationship with recipient survival. A total of 1206 adult recipients of kidney grafts between 2000 and 2010 were included. Pretransplant cTnT was elevated (≥0.01 ng/mL) in 56.4%. Higher cTnTpre was associated with increased risk of posttransplant death/cardiac events independent of cardiovascular risk factors. Elevated cTnTpre declined rapidly posttransplant and was normal in 75% of recipients at 3 weeks and 88.6% at 1 year. Elevated posttransplant cTnT was associated with reduced patient survival (cTnT3wks: HR = 5.575, CI 3.207–9.692, p < 0.0001; cTnT1year: 3.664, 2.129–6.305, p < 0.0001) independent of age, diabetes, pretransplant dialysis, heart disease and allograft function. Negative/positive predictive values for high cTnT3wks were 91.4%/50% respectively. Normalization of cTnT posttransplant was associated with reduced risk. Variables related to elevated cTnT posttransplant included pretransplant diabetes, older age, time on dialysis, high cTnTpre and lower graft function. Patients with delayed graft function and those with GFR < 30 mL/min at 3 weeks were more likely to have an elevated cTnT3wks and remained at high risk. When allografts restore sufficient kidney function cTnT normalizes and patient survival improves. Lack of normalization of cTnT posttransplant identifies a group of individuals with high risk of death/cardiac events.
Subsidence of Sand due to Surface Vibration

Laboratory tests were conducted using a plate-type vibrator on the surface of a sand sample. The static weight, dynamic force, and frequency of the vibrator were independently varied and the resulting contact force, acceleration, amplitude of vibration, and residual settlement were measured. Results showed that the parameter that governs the surface settlement of a vibrating footing on a granular mass is the steady-state transmitted energy. This is true for a wide range of frequencies both above and below resonance and for large variations in the ratio of the dynamic force to static weight, provided this ratio is less than unity and the total transmitted force does not exceed the static failure load. It was demonstrated that, in general, the surface settlement cannot be correlated to acceleration only. The transmitted energy may also be a key factor in the design of efficient vibratory compaction equipment.
Hopkins Lupus Cohort: assessment of treatment effects

The Hopkins Lupus Cohort is a longitudinal study in which all SLE patients are seen quarterly, by protocol, by one rheumatologist. The specific aims include prevention of organ damage. In this abstract, two projects - noncalcified plaque (NCP) and treatment of antiphospholipid antibodies - will be reviewed.
Electron Microscopy of Cell Fusion in Conjugating Hansenula wingei

Abstract Conti, S. F. (Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, N.H.), and T. D. Brock. Electron microscopy of cell fusion in conjugating Hansenula wingei. J. Bacteriol. 90:524–533. 1965.—The heterothallic yeast Hansenula wingei is a favorable organism for the study of the process of cell fusion, since strong agglutination of cells of the two mating types ensures a high percentage of cell fusions. The initial agglutination reaction results in cell-wall deformation, so that the walls in the region of contact are tightly appressed over an extensive area. The fusion process is initiated when the walls of two cells elongate, and this elongation seems to be restricted to the region where the cells touch. Occasionally, one cell is seen to push in the wall of the other, but in many cases both cells elongate equally, as would be expected in an isogamous organism. The precise disposition of the elongating wall probably reflects the manner in which the cells initially become associated in the agglutinated cell clump. Soon after wall elongation begins, cell-wall fusion occurs along the margin of contact. Only after fusion is complete is the wall separating the two cells dissolved away. If wall dissolution begins at one edge of the conjugation tube, a flap is formed in which can be seen the remnants of the fused walls. Alternatively, dissolution can begin at the center of the conjugation tube, proceeding towards the outside. Conjugating cells are uninucleate, and the nuclei are large and frequently lobed or elongated. After the conjugation tube is formed, the nuclei migrate towards the center, and fusion occurs only over a small region where the nuclear membranes come in contact. After nuclear fusion, the first diploid bud forms from the conjugation tube and at right angles to the tube axis. The diploid nucleus then migrates into this bud. Frequently, in the later stages of conjugation, a large vacuole develops in each of the original cells. All of the above events will occur in a medium devoid of a nitrogen source and in which vegetative budding will not occur.
Hyponatremia in the prognosis of acute ischemic stroke.

Background Hyponatremia is a risk factor for stroke and cardiovascular disease. Even mild hyponatremia is associated with increased 30-day mortality after myocardial infarction, and it has recently shown to increase the 3-year mortality after a stroke. In this work, we investigated both acute and chronic clinical outcomes after a stroke in hyponatremic patients. Methods We reviewed all patients admitted between 2004 and 2011 with the diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke. Hyponatremia was defined as serum sodium level less than 135 mmol/L and recorded on admission. All hemorrhagic strokes were excluded. Data were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. Results A total of 3585 patients with stroke were identified. Hyponatremia was observed in 565 (16%) patients. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups except heart failure ( P = .015), cancer ( P = .038), diabetes ( P P = .015). Hyponatremic patients had higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score on admission ( P = .032) and at discharge ( P = .02). Despite similar modified Barthel Index (mBI) preadmission, patients with hyponatremia had worse mBI on admission ( P = .049). Hyponatremia was associated with higher mortality in hospital ( P = .039) and at 3-month ( P = .001) and 12-month follow-ups ( P = .001). A poorer discharge disposition was seen in the hyponatremia group ( P = .004). Complications during admission were similar between groups except for urinary infection ( P = .008). Patients with hyponatremia had worse NIHSS and mBI values on admission, and their deficits worsened during their hospitalization. Conclusions This is the first study to demonstrate that hyponatremia is associated with acute mortality and poorer discharge dispositions and to confirm that higher mortality occurs in these patients, even after 12 months after a stroke.
Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure Worsens Central Apneas During Sleep

Study objectives While most patients with sleep-disordered breathing are treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), bilevel positive airway pressure (BLPAP) is often used. Having observed that BLPAP therapy increased central apneas in some of our patients undergoing sleep studies, we conducted this study to evaluate the effects of BLPAP. Design Retrospective analysis of all sleep studies performed in an outpatient sleep center that used BLPAP over a 2-year period. We assessed the incidence and frequency of events during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-REM sleep during baseline conditions, CPAP, and BLPAP. Desaturations, hypopneas, obstructive apneas, and central events, including periodic breathing (PB), Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR), and non-CSR central apneas were evaluated. Patients Ninety-five of the 719 patients who underwent sleep studies met inclusion criteria. Eighty of the 95 patients treated with BLPAP were also treated with CPAP. Results BLPAP was more likely to worsen than improve CSR (p = 0.002), non-CSR central apneas (p Conclusions BLPAP often increases the frequency of CSR and non-CSR central apneas during sleep. Since CSR has adverse effects on cardiac function and sleep, it is important to consider this possible adverse effect of BLPAP.
A rapid renal clearance methodology for dextran.

Dextrans are useful probes of glomerular function. As dextrans are thought to be neither secreted nor reabsorbed by the renal tubule [1, 2], their plasma and urine concentrations directly reflect glomerular filtration. Indeed, renal clearance studies using neutral dextran with different molecular weights but uniform chemical composition allow the size selective transport properties of the glomerulus to be directly assessed [2—4]. Other neutral polymers such as polyvinylpyrrolidone [5—71 and polyethylene glycol [8] have also been used. Studies of glomerular transport using dextrans were first attempted using fractions of limited polydispersity, treated as single solutes [9, 10]. Difficulties were encountered, however, since the residual polydispersity of the dextran fractions resulted in a time dependence of the measured clearance as the average molecular weight of the remaining dextran in plasma increased [1, 11, 12]. Wallenius [1] described an alternative approach by injecting polydisperse dextran intravenously, followed by a molecular weight characterization of dextran in the plasma and urine samples. This approach yielded more consistent results and was especially advantageous since the entire molecular weight range of interest could be studied in a single experiment. The molecular weight characterization technique of turbidimetric titration described by Wallenius [1] was of limited resolution and proved impractical. Others subsequently developed chromatographic techniques such as gel filtration or gel permeation chromatography for this purpose [13—161. In spite of these developments, renal clearance studies using polydisperse dextran have remained tedious to perform. A major limitation has been the time required for characterizing the molecular weight distribution of dextran on conventional gel permeation chromatographic systems. Moreover, maintenance of a constant plasma concentration of polydisperse dextran at each molecular weight, a requirement for precise renal clearance determinations [17, 18], has not been technically possible as the glomerulus ultrafilters a disproportionate fraction of the lower molecular weight solutes in a polydisperse dextran sample. We have described methods using high performance gel permeation chromatography for characterizing the molecular weight distribution of neutral dextran that can be performed rapidly [19]. We describe below the application of this method-
Reclaiming Futures initiative from a Sicangu Lakota tribal perspective: Lessons shared

Abstract This paper tells a story about one of the initiatives sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation known as Oyate Teca Owicakiya (Helping Young People). Oyate Teca Owicakiya was located on the Rosebud reservation, an extremely rural area in South Dakota. This was the only indigenous-based initiative funded by the Foundation. The initiative was undertaken by the Sinte Gleska University to provide services to reclaim youth from the justice system. This collaborative built on existing structures and community networks to strengthen and coordinate services for youth. The Reclaiming Futures model was adapted to the local setting by utilizing tribal resources. The background of the setting, its unique tribal governmental structure, demographics, and socioeconomic indicators are presented, and finally, eleven lessons are discussed. The success of the initiative was the strength and resiliency of the community itself, its members, and the network of individuals and organizations who came together for troubled tribal youth and their families.
Cancer prevention through a precautionary approach to environmental chemicals.

1. Primary prevention of cancer: great potential, little progress Progress on the prevention of cancers caused by chemical hazards in the workplace and general environment has fallen far short of what is feasible. I will discuss three main reasons for this: 1) public funds dedicated to primary cancer prevention are inadequate; 2) the process of identifying carcinogens in the environment and regulating them is guided by a failed mind-set of one chemical-at-a-time risk assessment which is hopelessly slow and easily subverted by economic interests; and 3) once a hazard is identified, the usual strategy is to reduce exposures through costly and only partially effective engineering controls instead of eliminating the hazard entirely through redesign of the product or process. I will finish with recommendations for how to improve cancer prevention.
Metabolic interactions of phencyclidine (PCP) and δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the rat☆

Abstract The in vitro effects of THC on the metabolism of PCP by rat liver were determined. Samples containing 1 mM PCP were incubated for 1 hr at 37°C with an NADPH-generating system containing 10,000 × g supernatant or Ca ++ -precipitated rat liver microsomes. These incubations were carried out in the presence or absence of THC and at the end of 1 hr, PCP metabolites were determined by gas chromatography. In the presence of 0.1, 0.05, 0.025 and 0.0125 mM THC, the production of 1-(1-phenyl-4-hydroxycyclohexyl)piperidine (metabolite I) by the 10,000 × g supernatant was decreased by 46, 29, 23 and 16% respectively. Similarly, production of 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl)-4-hydroxypiperidine (metabolite II) was reduced significantly by 58, 44, 34 and 23% with the respective concentrations of THC. However, the production of 1-phenylcyclohexylamine (metabolite III) was increased by 18, 32, 30 and 22% with 0.1, 0.05, 0.025 and 0.0125 mM THC. Incubations with Ca ++ -precipitated liver microsomes revealed similar trends in PCP metabolism in the presence or absence of THC. Metabolites I and II were reduced by 62 and 67% by 0.1 mM THC. Another concentration of THC (0.025 mM) caused a 50 and 62% decrease in I and II. These observations suggest that THC alters the in vitro microsomaal metabolism of PCP.
GH response to GHRH before and after meals at different hours of the day in obese patients.

Abstract In normal subjects several factors are involved in the regulation of the GH response to GHRH, such as nutritional status, metabolic fuels and neurotransmitters. We previously have shown a paradoxical increase in the GH response to GHRH after meals in obese patients, in contrast to the blunted GH response observed after feeding in normal subjects. We have further investigated this phenomenon, studying the GH response to GHRH before and after meal at three different hours during the day in 10 obese patients, aged 18–35 yr, in comparison to that in eight normal women, aged 20–35 yr. GHRH was injected in a fasting state or 1 hr after a standard meal (800 KCal). In obese subjects, after food ingestion the peak GH response to GHRH was increased at 0900h and 1300h and was significant when the patients were tested after lunch (1300h). On the contrary, in the evening the GH response to GHRH remained unchanged, both before and after feeding. These data point to an altered sensitivity of GH secretion to metabolic signals in patients with obesity.
Reconstructing host range evolution of bacterial plant pathogens using Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato and its close relatives as a model

Several lines of evidence suggest that highly virulent bacterial human pathogens evolved from less virulent wider host range animal pathogens since human migration out of Africa. To investigate evolution of host specificity of bacterial plant pathogens, here we report a molecular evolutionary analysis of the model plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 and of close relatives that are pathogens of a diverse set of crop plants. Extensive host range tests on five different plant species were performed. Combining phylogenetic data with host range data, a reconstruction of host range of all putative ancestors was performed. In particular, the hypothesis was tested that highly virulent narrow host range pathogens of today's crops grown in monoculture evolved from ancestors with wider host range that were adapted to natural mixed plant communities of pre-agricultural times. We found support for this hypothesis in individual clades. However, reconstruction of host range of the most recent common ancestor of all analyzed strains was not conclusive. Based on the obtained results we stress the importance of including pathogens from wild plants when reconstructing the evolution of plant pathogenic bacteria.
Metabolism: Tick, tock, a high-fat clock

Research published in Cell has shed light on the reorganization of circadian rhythm by nutrients. Mice fed a high-fat diet displayed extensive reprogramming of the hepatic clock with profound effects on key metabolic pathways. These changes involved repression of the Clock–Bmal1 network and PPARγ-regulated induction of a novel gene set.
Studies on vasoactivity of catecholamines in man.

Abstract The effects of administration of noradrenaline and serotonin on systemic arterial pressure, cardiac output, renal plasma flow and blood flow to the lower extremities in man were compared. Modification of vascular responses to these two substances by drug-induced hypotension were studied. The results failed to support the hypothesis that noradrenaline may play a major role in the mechanism of hypertension in human beings. On the other hand, blood flow responses after administration of catecholamine inhibitors as well as after use of a monoamine oxidase inhibitor strongly support the view that noradrenaline is one of the most potent physiologic peripheral vasoconstrictors in man.
Broadband transient THz conductivity of the transition-metal dichalcogenide MoS2

The transient dynamics of transition-metal dichalcogenides is of significant interest for clarifying fundamental manyparticle interactions at the nanoscale as well as for novel applications. We report an ultrafast terahertz study up to 7 THz of the lamellar semiconductor MoS 2 to access the non-equilibrium conductivity of photo-excited indirect e-h pairs in this multi-layered parent compound. While the equilibrium transport is Drude-like, near-IR optical excitation results in a complex photo-induced conductivity that consists of two components. Mobile charge carriers dominate the low frequency response below 2 THz, while at low temperatures an additional excess conductivity is observed that is enhanced around 4 THz. Two time scales appear in the dynamics: a slow ns relaxation due to non-radiative recombination and a faster sub-100 ps decay connected to the high-frequency THz feature. We discuss the broad THz peak within a model of intra-excitonic transitions in MoS 2 . It agrees well with the expected binding energy and oscillator strength, yet results in an anomalous temperature dependence of the exciton fraction requiring an electronically inhomogeneous phase.
Bulk QCD thermodynamics and sterile neutrino dark matter

Author(s): Abazajian, KN; Fuller, GM | Abstract: We point out that the relic densities of singlet (sterile) neutrinos of interest in viable warm and cold dark matter scenarios depend on the characteristics of the QCD transition in the early universe. In the most promising of these dark matter scenarios, the production of the singlets occurs at or near the QCD transition. Since production of the singlets, their dilution, and the disappearance of weak scatterers occur simultaneously, we calculate these processes contemporaneously to obtain accurate predictions of relic sterile neutrino mass density. Therefore, a determination of the mass and superweak mixing of the singlet neutrino through, for example, its radiative decay, along with a determination of its contribution to the critical density, can provide insight into the finite-temperature QCD transition. © 2002 The American Physical Society.
Comparison of Rhodamine-WT and bromide as a tracer for elucidating internal wetland flow dynamics

Abstract Artificially constructed wetlands offer a low-cost treatment alternative to remove a number of pollutants found in effluent water from industry, mining, agriculture, and urban areas. The determination of treatment efficiency cannot be determined without understanding the flow dynamics of individual parcels of water through the wetland. A method for tracking parcels of water is proposed, using Rhodamine-WT as a tracer. A series of tracer tests were conducted on a 1.2 ha treatment wetland. Bromide and Rhodamine-WT were simultaneously dosed into the inlet and monitored at 60 sampling locations for 5 weeks. Rhodamine-WT concentrations were found to be coincident with bromide. For all three events the relationship between Rhodamine-WT concentration and bromide concentration was linear at each sampling point with a slope of 0.82. The peak concentration of Rhodamine-WT and bromide was also found to coincide throughout the wetland. Rhodamine-WT can be used to determine the movement of individual parcels of water through a treatment wetland and used to determine treatment efficiencies at individual locations within a wetland.
Synthesis and thermal characterization of hafnium polythioethers

Abstract Hafnium polythioethers were synthesized utilizing both the aqueous solution and interfacial condensation techniques. Synthesis is general and fairly rapid being complete within 1 min. Several products exhibit reasonably good weight retention (70% at 1000°C) but all show poor low temperature stabilities with degradation beginning about 100°C. Initial degradation to ∼250°C is via an internal non-oxidative pathway where as degradation at higher temperatures occurs via an oxidative mode in air.
Powerful alliances in graphs

For a graph G=(V,E), a non-empty set S@?V is a defensive alliance if for every vertex v in S, v has at most one more neighbor in V-S than it has in S, and S is an offensive alliance if for every v@?V-S that has a neighbor in S, v has more neighbors in S than in V-S. A powerful alliance is both defensive and offensive. We initiate the study of powerful alliances in graphs.
Oncogenic transformation of mammalian cells in vitro by proflavine-photoinactivated herpes simplex virus type 2

Summary Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) was photodynamically inactivated by exposure to normal fluorescent light following direct treatment with proflavine. Exposure of hamster embryo cells to appropriately inactivated virus yielded clones of non-contact-inhibited cells. The HSV-2-transformed cells were oncogenic when inoculated into newborn Syrian hamsters; resulting tumors were undifferentiated fibrosarcomas. HSV-2-specific antigens were found in the cytoplasm and on the surface of the transformed cells; however, no virus was recovered. Results further confirmed the oncogenic potential of HSV after photodynamic inactivation.
The effect of secondary electrons on plasma potential in a multi-dipole device

Abstract A simple model and the corresponding experimental results show that secondary electrons emitted from the walls of a filament discharge plasma device dominate the behavior of the plasma potential at low neutral pressures.
Passive hemagglutination for cytomegalovirus antibody: Specificity and stability of reagents

Abstract Glutaraldehyde fixed red cells coated with CMV antigen were lyophilized in the presence of stabilizers such as glycerol, lactose, sorbitol and sucrose. These cells maintained their sensitivity for anti-CMV detection for at least 6 mth when held at 4°C. Some rheumatoid factors containing sera react non-specifically with crude CMV antigen coated cells. The agglutinins in these sera could be effectively removed by adsorption with red cells coated with polymerized IgG.
Managing the Post-Myocardial Infarction Patient with Asymptomatic Left Ventricular Dysfunction

The percentage of post-myocardial infarction (MI) patients with asymptomatic left ventricular dysfunction (ALVD) is now estimated at 10%, and that number is expected to grow as reperfusion procedures
Control of the California Extremely Large Telescope primary mirror

The current design concept for the California Extremely Large Telescope (CELT) includes 1080 segments in the primary mirror, with the out-of-plane degrees of freedom actively controlled. We construct the control matrix for this active control system, and describe its singular modes and sensor noise propagation. Data from the Keck telescopes are used to generate realistic estimates of the control system contributions to the CELT wavefront error and wavefront gradient error. Based on these estimates, control system noise will not significantly degrade either seeing-limited or diffraction-limited observations. The use of supplemental wavefront information for real-time control is therefore not necessary. We also comment briefly on control system bandwidth requirements and limitations.
Experimental Study of Separation from the Base of a Cone at Supersonic Speeds

ranging from 1600 to 18,000. These results are plotted in Figs. 1 and 2 showing ar and a> vs the real frequency /i At each value of R the range of values of ft was chosen to include the whole region of amplification and also sections of the damping region near the neutral curve. In Fig. 1, the graphs of ar vs ft are monotonically increasing and the slope of these lines, representing the reciprocal of the group velocity, becomes slightly steeper as the Reynolds number increases. However, it is observed that at Reynolds number above 12,000, the slope d(y.r/dp, decreases with increasing ft at values of ft which correspond to points in the damping region beyond those of amplification. For amplification, a,must be negative and it is evident from Fig. 2 that, according to the present calculations, the critical Reynolds number is slightly less than 6000. The curves of a, = const are shown in Fig. 3. The important parameters of the neutral stability curve are given in Table 1. The critical Reynolds number, according to present calculations, is 5778 and the corresponding value of ar being 1.0219. The numerical calculations of Thomas give a neutral stability curve which is almost identical with the present results. Thomas found the critical Reynolds number to be 5780 with the corresponding a to be 1.026. Orszag's results of the critical Reynolds number and wave number a were 5772 and 1.0206, respectively. His numerical solution was based on expressing the differential equations in terms of Chebyshev polynomials. The frequency ft corresponding to the critical Reynolds number is found to be 0.269.
Syria: Hanging together or hanging separately

Bashar Asad's ascent to power continues a generational shift throughout the Middle East. Unlike other countries, Syria is not a monarchy and legitimacy is not automatically transferred to the ruler's son. Is fear of instability enough to keep the elite united?
Surgical Management of Sustained Ventricular Arrhythmias Presenting within Eight Weeks of Acute Myocardial Infarction

Abstract When it occurs after a recent (less than eight weeks) myocardial infarction, sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) or fibrillation (VF) has resulted in a high one-year mortality despite antiarrhythmic drug therapy. We have operated on 29 patients with this syndrome either on an emergency basis because they had medically refractory VT or VF (19 patients) or electively if they had persistent congestive heart failure or angina and VT or VF (10 patients). Ages ranged from 36 to 82 years (mean, 60 years), and the mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 31 ± 13%. Each patient had failed a trial of one or more (average, four) antiarrhythmic drugs and because of VT, required electrical cardioversion on an average of five occasions. Intraoperative mapping was complicated by multiple VT morphologies (9 patients), the rapid degeneration of VT to VF (5 patients), and the inability to induce VT reliably (5 patients). Subendocardial excision was performed at the site of the earliest electrical activity, or if no single site could be identified, a wide subendocardial excision of all visible scar was performed. There were 4 perioperative deaths (14%). All operative survivors underwent postoperative electrophysiological studies. Twenty of them required no further antiarrhythmic therapy, but 5 patients required drug therapy because of either spontaneous (2 patients) or electrically induced (3 patients) VT. During follow-up (average, 16 months) of these 25 patients, there have been 3 late deaths, 2 of them sudden. Two of the 3 late deaths were those of patients taking antiarrhythmic drugs. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of early operative intervention when sustained ventricular arrhythmias complicate recovery after myocardial infarction. Satisfactory results can be obtained using an aggressive operative approach.
Dissipation of heat during polymerization of acrylics used for external skeletal fixator connecting bars

Objective— To determine the amount of heat conducted by transfixation intramedullary pins (IP) and Kirschner wires (KW) during polymerization of acrylics used for external skeletal fixator (ESF) connecting bars. Study Design— Thermal conduction was measured using thermistors applied to IP and KW surfaces during the polymerization phase of acrylics. Methods— Type II ESF were created from IP or KW placed into wooden dowels and plastic tubing used to create connecting bars filled with one of two types of acrylic (Acrylic Pin External Fixation System or Technovit, Jorgensen Laboratories, Loveland, CO). Thermistors were positioned on the acrylic column surface and on IP or KW surfaces 5 or 10 mm from the acrylic column. Five ESF test groups were created. The maximum temperature (Tmax) of the acrylic column (Tmax-A), IP (Tmax-IP), KW (Tmax-KW), and duration that Tmax-IP or Tmax-KW remained greater than or equal to 55°C were calculated. Results— All IP and KW thermistors placed 5 mm from acrylic columns reached mean temperatures greater than 50°C and had peak temperature ranges greater than 55°C compared with all IP and KW thermistors placed 10 mm from the acrylic columns in all groups. Thermistors placed 5 mm from the acrylic column in two groups maintained temperatures greater than 55°C for greater than or equal to 0.5 minutes. Conclusions— Acrylic columns positioned 5 mm from a thermistor on a IP or KW had the potential to reach or exceed temperatures that have been reported to cause thermal necrosis of tissues. Clinical Relevance— Acrylic Pin External Fixation System or Technovit acrylic connecting bars used in ESF designs have the potential to cause thermal injury to soft and bony tissue by thermal conduction along transfixation pins or wires.