cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prescription dose evaluation for APBI with noninvasive image-guided breast brachytherapy using equivalent uniform dose.

PURPOSE: Noninvasive image-guided breast brachytherapy (NIBB) is an attractive novel approach to deliver accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI). Calculations of equivalent uniform dose (EUD) were performed to identify the appropriate APBI dose for this technique. METHODS AND MATERIALS: APBI plans were developed for 15 patients: five with three- dimensional conformal APBI (3D-CRT), five with multi-lumen intracavitary balloons (m-IBB), and five simulating NIBB treatment. Prescription doses of 34.0 and 38.5 Gy were delivered in 10 fractions for m-IBB and 3D-CRT, respectively. Prescription doses ranging from 34.0 to 38.5 Gy were considered for NIBB. Dose-volume histogram data from all 3D-CRT, m-IBB, and NIBB plans were used to calculate the biologically effective EUD and corresponding EUD to the PTV_eval using the following equation: EUD 5 EUBED/(n (1 þ EUD/a/b)). An a/b value of 4.6 Gy was assumed for breast tumor. EUD for varying NIBB prescription doses were compared with EUD values for the other APBI techniques. RESULTS: Mean PTV_eval volume was largest for 3D-CRT (372.9 cm 3 ) and was similar for NIBB and m-IBB (88.7 and 87.2 cm 3 , respectively). The EUD value obtained by prescribing 38.5 Gy with 3D-CRT APBI was 38.6 Gy. The EUD value of 34.0 Gy prescribed with m-IBB was 34.4 Gy. EUD values for NIBB ranged from 33.9 to 38.2 Gy for prescription doses ranging from 34.0 to 38.5 Gy. CONCLUSIONS: Using EUD calculations to compare APBI techniques and treatment doses, a prescription dose of 36.0 Gy in 10 fractions using NIBB has a comparable biologic equivalent dose to other established brachytherapy techniques. 2015 American Brachytherapy Society. Published
Incumbency and News Coverage of the 1980 Presidential Election Campaign

the enduring myths of the American political system. Incumbents enjoy many advantages in running for election which challengers do not have. Much of the evidence we have about incumbency supports this myth. About 90 percent of congressmen and 80 percent of United States senators are able to hold onto their seats if they wish to, according to Boyd (1974), and the president is "one of the safest incumbents." Reedy (1970) points out that the tradition of a "two-term presidency" is deeply ingrained on the American electorate. Since the Civil War, only Presidents Cleveland, Taft, Hoover, Ford, and Carter have failed to gain reelection while sitting as president, and each ran under some special and mitigating circumstances. Despite the presidential elections of 1976 and 1980, which resulted in defeats for incumbents, many commentators believe that incumbency is still a powerful force in presidential politics. In fact, Asher (1980) argues that it was incumbency that helps explain why Gerald Ford did so well in 1976; a president with so many things going against him (the Nixon pardon, no national constituency, a reputation for physical incompetence, etc.) could not have hoped to do as well as he did without the power of the office behind him. The same logic might be used to explain why Jimmy Carter garnered more than 40 percent of the vote after his illstarred first term.
Repellency of a Kaolin Particle Film, Surround, and a Mineral Oil, Sunspray Oil, to Silverleaf Whitefly (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) on Melon in the Laboratory

Abstract Surround, a kaolin-based particle film formulation, and Sunspray oil, a mineral oil, were evaluated alone or in combination in choice and no-choice laboratory assays on melon leaves for repellency to adults of the silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia argentifolii Bellows & Perring. In no-choice tests, the number of adults and eggs on leaves did not significantly differ among the three treatments and the water control when materials were applied to either the upper or lower leaf surface. Significantly fewer adults and eggs were found on treated leaves compared with water when materials were applied to both leaf surfaces. Application of Surround did not affect the oviposition pattern, with 80.2–88.5% eggs oviposited on lower surface. However, whiteflies oviposited more eggs (53.1–63.8%) on the upper compared with the lower surface when Sunspray oil or Surround + Sunspray oil was applied on the lower leaf surface and both leaf surfaces. When whiteflies were allowed to choose among leaves treated with differ...
Fully plastic asymmetric crack growth near a single shear band

Abstract An asymmetric configuration may arise if a crack is near a weld or shoulder. In this case, loading into the plastic range can give a single asymmetric shear band extending from the crack tip instead of the two shear zones of the symmetric case. The resulting crack propagation near the active slip band, into previously pre-strained material, may give less ductility than the typical symmetric case where the crack advances into relatively unstrained material between the two shear zones. An approximate solution for the growth of such asymmetric cracks in regions dominated by an HRR type strain singularity is presented. The effect of strain hardening on crack growth is investigated and the predicted growth rate is compared with test data on several alloys.
Expression of human bone morphogenic protein-7 in primary rabbit periosteal cells : Potential utility in gene therapy for osteochondral repair

A commonly encountered problem in orthopedics is bone and cartilage tissue injury which heals incompletely or without full structural integrity. This necessitates development of improved methods for treatment of injuries which are not amenable to treatment using current therapies. An already large and growing number of growth factors which play significant roles in bone remodeling and repair have been identified in the past few years. It is well established that bone morphogenic proteins induce the production of new bone and cartilage. An efficient method of delivery of these growth factors by conventional pharmacological means has yet to be elucidated. We wished to evaluate the use of retroviral vector-mediated gene transfer to deliver genes of therapeutic relevance for bone and cartilage repair. To determine the feasibility of using amphotropically packaged retroviral vectors to transduce primary rabbit mesenchymal stem cells of periosteal origin, primary periosteal cells were isolated from New Zealand white rabbits, transduced in vitro with a retroviral vector bearing both the nuclear localized lacZ marker gene and the neor gene, and selected in G418. We used a convenient model for analysis of in vivo stability of these cells which were seeded on to polymer scaffold grafts and implanted into rabbit femoral osteochondral defects. The nuclear localized β-galactosidase protein was expressed in essentially 100% of selected cells in vitro and was observed in the experimental explants from animals after both 4 and 8 weeks in vivo, while cells transduced with a retroviral vector bearing only the neor gene in negative control explants showed no blue staining. We extended our study by delivering a gene of therapeutic relevance, human bone morphogenic protein 7 (hBMP-7), to primary periosteal cells via retroviral vector. The hBMP-7 gene was cloned from human kidney 293 cell total RNA by RT-PCR into a retroviral vector under control of the CMV enhancer/promoter. Hydroxyapatite secretion, presumably caused by overexpression of hBMP-7, was observed on the surface of the transduced and selected periosteal cells, however, this level of expression was toxic to both PA317 producer and primary periosteal cells. Subsequently, the strong CMV enhancer/promoter driving the hBMP-7 gene was replaced in the retroviral vector by a weaker enhancer/promoter from the rat β-actin gene. Nontoxic levels of expression of hBMP-7 were confirmed at both the RNA and protein levels in PA317 producer and primary periosteal cell lines and cell supernatants. This work demonstrates the feasibility of using a gene therapy approach in attempts to promote bone and cartilage tissue repair using gene-modified periosteal cells on grafts.
Thermal Decomposition of Energetic Materials 37. SMATCH/FT-IR (Simultaneous MAss and Temperature CHange/FT-IR) Spectroscopy

A description is given of the design and operation of a new infrared spectroscopy sampling technique that permits real-time, Simultaneous MAss and Temperature CHange (SMATCH)/FT-IR measurements to be made on samples heated at high rates (up to 320°C/s) to about 600°C. The technique is illustrated with 13.4%N nitrocellulose.
Real-time analysis of ethylene vinyl acetate random copolymers using near infrared spectroscopy during extrusion

Poly(ethylene vinyl acetate) (EVA) is a very common polymer used in hot melt adhesives. The rheological and thermal-mechanical properties of these adhesives are strongly related to the content of vinyl acetate (VA) incorporated into this random copolymer during polymerization. Results of in-line monitoring of VA content in flowing molten EVA polymers, using fiberoptic near infrared spectroscopy, shall be discussed in detail. In-line monitoring is not only desired for its numerous advantages (such as high quality products, lower waste, lower developmental cycle time, and lower costs) but also because it eliminates the sample handling concerns associated with molten polymers.
Percentage Points of the Distribution of the t Statistic When the Parent is Student's t

In this paper, the lack of robustness of the Student's t statistic for long-tailed underlying distributions such as the Student's t with small degrees of freedom is demonstrated. Classical approaches for deriving the distribution of Student's t from a nonnormal universe (like those advanced by Gayen (I), Tiku (5), Srivastava (2) and also those based on an expansion of the underlying density) depend on the existence of moments up to a certain order, which also determines the accuracy of the approximation. Unfortunately, when the parent is Student's t with small degrees of freedom, these procedures either fail or do not work well. A Monte Carlo method with appropriate swindle is applied to obtain the percentage points of this distribution. These are compared with Gayen's approximation. An empirical formula for these percentiles is also obtained which works well but unfortunately depends on the α-level of the test.
Vibrating Coil Magnetometer for Use at Very Low Temperatures

A vibrating coil type magnetometer is described for measuring magnetization curves of small specimens in the magnetic cooling range of temperature. For a 3 mm diam sphere the sensitivity of magnetic moment measurements is 10−6 emu. At this sensitivity the amplitude of vibration is 0.5 mm, and at 0.3°K the extra heat influx into the sample thereby introduced is less than 10 erg/min. Examples of magnetization curves are shown.
Tackling higher derivative ghosts with the Euclidean path integral

An alternative to the effective field theory approach to treat ghosts in higher derivative theories is to attempt to integrate them out via the Euclidean path integral formalism. It has been suggested that this method could provide a consistent framework within which we might tolerate the ghost degrees of freedom that plague, among other theories, the higher derivative gravity models that have been proposed to explain cosmic acceleration. We consider the extension of this idea to treating a class of terms with order six derivatives, and find that for a general term the Euclidean path integral approach works in the most trivial background, Minkowski. Moreover we see that even in de Sitter background, despite some difficulties, it is possible to define a probability distribution for tensorial perturbations of the metric.
STABLE AND UNSTABLE NUMERICAL BOUNDARY CONDITIONS FOR GALERKIN APPROXIMATIONS TO HYPERBOLIC SYSTEMS

Abstract The Galerkin method for first order hyperbolic systems is considered. This method is seen to be unstable in an example because of improper treatment of the boundary conditions in the discrete problem. The Galerkin method is modified to be stable for any well-posed initial-boundary value problem in one dimension. It is shown that the previous estimates of the error in this modified method can be improved when the system admits an energy conserving norm. A system in two space dimensions in a region with a corner is considered. It is shown how the construction of stable methods for such problems can be reduced to a very simple linear programming problem.
The dynein heavy chain: structure, mechanics and evolution

The translocation of dynein along microtubules is the basis for a variety of essential cellular movements. Despite a general domain organization that is found in all the cytoskeletal motors, there are structural features of dynein that set it apart from the other motors. These include a track-binding site that is located at the tip of a long projection, and six nucleotide-binding modules that together form the globular head of dynein. These unique features suggest that dynein produces movement by a mechanism that is different from that used by the other motors.
A classification scheme for local government documents collections

Abstract The University of Dayton's Roesch Library required a classification scheme for its local documents collection. It needed a scheme that would assign each title a unique call number. Existing schemes were examined but rejected. A new alphanumeric scheme was devised. It is intended primarily for collections limited to publications from the governments and civic organizations of no more than several countries.
Noninvasive monitoring hemodynamic responses in RIF tumors during and after PDT

Changes in blood flow and oxygenation during and after PDT provide information about tumor vessel and cellular damage. The characterization of these changes may improve our understanding of PDT mechanisms and help predict treatment efficacy. We have designed a hybrid system that can non-invasively measure in vivo hemodynamic changes and provide independent information about tumor oxygenation and blood flow. Diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) monitors blood flow by measuring the optical phase shifts caused by moving blood cells, while diffuse photon density wave (DPDW) spectroscopy measures tissue absorption and scattering. When mounted on a camera, our unique probe allows non-contact measurements that avoid compressing the tumor and altering blood flow. An optical filter mounted in front of the camera lens cut off light below 650nm, which allowed monitoring of blood flow during PDT. The utility of the hybrid system was demonstrated by monitoring the hemodynamic changes during and after PDT in mice bearing the experimental radiation-induced fibrosarcoma (RIF). For the first time, we non-invasively and continually monitored the in vivo flow changes during PDT. Relative oxygen consumption was calculated using flow values measured by DCS and oxygenation measured by a broadband absorption spectrometer. During PDT an initial rapid increase in blood flow was found, followed by a decrease and slow recovery. After PDT, substantial and continued reductions in blood saturation, blood flow and oxygen consumption were found after 3 hours, suggesting that permanent damage to tumor cells and blood vessels had occurred. The comparison of flow values after PDT as measured by DCS and by Power Doppler ultrasound (CWFA) demonstrated that both techniques non-invasively detected similar global changes in tumor blood flow or perfusion after PDT.
The Gas-Phase Decomposition of CF3OH with Water: A Radical-Catalyzed Mechanism

CF(3)OH is an atmospheric sink for hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and hydrofluoroethers (HFEs). Several new mechanisms, including catalyzation via H(2)O and OH radical, for the decomposition of CF(3)OH into HF and CF(2)O are studied using ab inito methods. The present work demonstrates that the OH radical has a strong catalytic effect on the transition state for the decomposition of CF(3)OH. The barrier is found to be reduced from 45.9 kcal mol(-1) for the unimolecular decomposition to 11.0 kcal mol(-1) for decomposition including H(2)O and OH.
Flight Capability and the Pectoral Girdle of Archaeopteryx

As the earliest birds known, the late Jurassic specimens of Archaeopteryx have been the object of great speculative interest. Ostrom1–3 has argued that Archaeopteryx was a terrestrial, cursorial predator that represents a preflight stage in the origin of birds in which the forelimbs were used as nets to trap insects. So far, this has been challenged mainly on the grounds that such activity would have caused excessive feather wear4. The principal evidence for regarding Archaeopteryx as flightless, or at best an inept non-flapping glider, has come from interpretations of the structure of the pectoral girdle. The absence of an ossified sternum for attachment of flight muscles has long been cited. More recently, it has been argued that the structure of the coracoid of Archaeopteryx would not have permitted the supracoracoideus muscle to function as a wing elevator2,5. Because the asymmetrical remiges of Archaeopteryx prove that the wing had an aerodynamic function6, we now hope to show that neither of the preceding points precludes a capacity for powered flight in Archaeopteryx.
Corporate healthcare costs and smoke-free environments

Abstract Results from two studies were combined to assess potential market impact for programs to reduce health risks, as well as to define how small businesses can better control their healthcare operating expenses, widen their profit margins, and increase their productivity. The most effective solutions resulted from partnerships among the medical, business, and patient communities for the joint implementation of intensive smoking-cessation programs. In the first study, the chief executive officers of 1,100 small businesses in the Chicago area were polled regarding their opinions on healthcare costs. During the 4-year study period, 1986–1990, we observed a significant increase in their recognition of the impact of employee smoking on rising healthcare costs. From this study we identified three profile attributes of small-business leaders. First, these leaders possess a weak knowledge base regarding healthcare cost-containment methods; second, they understand the magnitude of the impact rising healthcare costs have on corporate profitability; and third, they have a strong level of confidence (85%) that lifestyle modification programs for their employees, such as smoking cessation, can help control healthcare costs. In the second study we found that smoking-cessation programs with physician involvement, addiction assessment and treatment, and behavioral training and follow-up are preferred by those who want to stop smoking. Such programs have also enjoyed the highest level of sustained success.
Malonate metabolism by plant tissues.

INTEREST in malonic acid has been largely directed towards its role as a competitive inhibitor of succinic dehydrogenase. Very little attention has been directed towards the occurrence of malonic acid in plant tissues or toward the metabolism of malonic acid per se. In 1952 Bentley1 showed malonate to be present in about eighteen species of leguminous plants. Malonic acid has also been reported in species from families other than the legume family1–3. That malonic acid could be metabolized was established more than thirty years ago when it was shown that malonate could serve as the sole carbon source for certain bacteria4. More recent work established that malonate was readily metabolized by enzyme preparations from fungi5,6, mammals7,8, and plants9,10. The present communication reports a wide range of higher plants which possess the ability to metabolize malonate.
Glycerolipid and cholesterol ester analyses in biological samples by mass spectrometry

Neutral lipids are a diverse family of hydrophobic biomolecules that have important roles in cellular biochemistry of all living species but have in common the property of charge neutrality. A large component of neutral lipids is the glycerolipids composed of triacylglycerols, diacylglycerols, and monoacylglycerols that can serve as cellular energy stores as well as signaling molecules. Another abundant lipid class in many cells is the cholesterol esters that are on one hand sterols and the other fatty acyl lipids, but in either case are neutral lipids involved in cholesterol homeostasis and transport in the blood. The analysis of these molecules in the context of lipidomics remains challenging because of their charge neutrality and the complex mixtures of molecular species present in cells. Various techniques have been used to ionize these neutral lipids prior to mass spectrometric analysis including electron ionization, atmospheric chemical ionization, electrospray ionization and matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization. Various approaches to deal with the complex mixture of molecular species have been developed including shotgun lipidomics and chromatographic-based separations such as gas chromatography, reversed phase liquid chromatography, and normal phase liquid chromatography. Several applications of these approaches are discussed. .
Approximate solution (with error bounds) to a nonlinear, nonautonomous second-order differential equation

Abstract Two approximations are developed to the solution of an important nonlinear, nonautonomous second-order differential equation that arises in various fields of science and technology such as operations research, mathematical ecology and epidemiology. The origin of the second-order differential equation from a system of two nonlinear first-order differential equations modelling, for example, Lanchester-type combat between two homogeneous military forces is discussed. Extension of our results to a more general system of nonlinear first-order differential equations is indicated. Error bounds that do not require that the exact solution be known are developed. Some connections between our results and those for the Liouville-Green (or WKB ) approximation to the solution of the linear second-order equation are indicated.
Infrared Radiation Activates Mitochondrial Calcium Cycling in Neurons

Pulsed infrared radiation (IR) elicits controllable intracellular calcium and electrical responses in excitable tissue. Application of focused optical stimuli to target single cell activation and even subcellular mechanisms may lead to a broad range of basic science and prosthetic applications. It is therefore important to characterize the interactions between ion channels, microdomains and organelles in the intracellular Ca2+ cycling and related events. Towards this goal, we analyzed whether pulsed IR modulates mitochondrial membrane potential, Ψm, activating intracellular Ca2+ cycling. Experiments were performed on cultured spiral and vestibular ganglion neurons isolated from p2-p3 rat pups. The neurons were loaded and incubated for 30 minutes with Δψm sensors JC-1 (1.5 μM) or rhodamine 123 (10 μM). Oligomycin A and FCCP were used as positive controls. Pulsed IR was delivered to the neurons using a 400 μm optical fiber connected to a Capella laser (λ = 1863 nm). Image sequences of the neurons under IR stimulation were collected using a confocal microscope. Image processing was done using ImageJ and Matlab to study fluorescence intensity changes proportional to a stimulus. We measured the fluorescence intensity of the probes at the baseline level and after the application of IR stimulus. The neurons responded with a pulse-by-pulse response in rhodamine 123 fluorescence synchronized with the low frequency IR pulses applied. JC-1 capable of entering selectively into mitochondria reversibly changed its fluorescence emission after IR stimulation. The change in fluorescence intensity with pulsed IR reflects the change in relative levels of Ψm. The changes were reversible and matched the depolarization of mitochondria produced by positive controls. Results suggest that pulsed IR stimulus can potentially be utilized to study spatial Ca2+ buffering and the mitochondrial regulation of spatio-temporal properties of intracellular Ca2+ waves. Funded by NIH NIDCD R01DC011481.
A note on the spread of worms in scale-free networks

This paper considers the spread of worms in computer networks using insights from epidemiology and percolation theory. We provide three new results. The first result refines previous work showing that epidemics occur in scale-free graphs more easily because of their structure. We argue, using recent results from random graph theory that for scaling factors between 0 and /spl sim/3.4875, any computer worm infection of a scale-free network will become an epidemic. Our second result uses this insight to provide a mathematical explanation for the empirical results of Chen and Carley, who demonstrate that the Countermeasure Competing strategy can be more effective for immunizing networks to viruses or worms than traditional approaches. Our third result uses random graph theory to contradict the current supposition that, for very large networks, monocultures are necessarily more susceptible than diverse networks to worm infections.
Diversity and Unity of Modularity

Since the publication of Fodor's (1983) The Modularity of Mind, there have been quite a few discussions of cognitive modularity among cognitive scientists. Generally, in those discussions, modularity means a property of specialized cognitive processes or a domain-specific body of information. In actuality, scholars understand modularity in many different ways. Different characterizations of modularity and modules were proposed and discussed, but they created misunderstanding and confusion. In this article, I classified and analyzed different approaches to modularity and argued for the unity of modularity. Modularity is a multidimensional property consisting of features from several dimensions specifying different aspects of cognition. Among those, there are core features of modularity, and these core features form a cross-dimensional unity. Despite the diverse and liberal characterizations, modularity contributes to cognitive science because of the unity of the core features.
Spatial vision in the echinoid genus Echinometra

Although eyes are generally considered necessary for image resolution, a diffuse photoreceptive system with directional sensitivity may also have this ability. Two species of the echinoid genus Echinometra were tested for spatial vision by examining their ability to locate and move towards targets of different sizes. The echinoids were significantly oriented (P<0.0001) towards a target with an angular width of 33 degrees (0.3 sr) but were not oriented to targets with angular widths of 26 degrees and 16 degrees . This ability is probably due to the blocking of off-angle light by the spines, which have approximately the correct spacing for the observed resolution. Spatial vision is advantageous for echinoids of this genus because they leave and return to small dark shelters. This first demonstration of spatial vision in an echinoderm sheds further light on the complex optical structures and photobehaviors found in this phylum.
Resident Age and Housing Search: Evidence From Hedonic Residuals

Elderly people are likely to have higher housing market search costs than the population as a whole. Costly search increases the price paid by older persons for housing relative to its characteristics, and also increases the range of prices paid. To test this latter hypothesis, hedonic equations are estimated for six SMSAs using data from the Annual Housing Survey. The residuals of these hedonics represent variation in prices not explained by housing characteristics. It is found that the absolute variation of these residuals is positively related to resident age, which is evidence supporting the hypothesis that the elderly pay higher housing prices due to higher search costs. A possible policy response to this problem is to create a housing market information service directed at reducing the search costs of the elderly.
Relationship between phospholipase C activation and prostaglandin E2 and cyclic adenosine monophosphate production in rabbit tubular epithelial cells. Effects of angiotensin, bradykinin, and arginine vasopressin.

Abstract By employing early-passaged rabbit kidney epithelial cells in tissue culture, we demonstrated that angiotensin II (AII) has unique mechanisms of signal transduction. First, unlike its action in other target tissues, micromolar concentrations of AII are required to induce small rises in cytosolic calcium, [Ca2+]i, an action which is not accompanied by the release of inositol phosphates (IP). In contrast, nanomolar bradykinin (BK) mobilizes [Ca2+]i through activation of phospholipase C and release of IP. Neither of these stimulated calcium responses exhibits pertussis toxin (PTx) sensitivity. Secondly, AII and BK at 10(-9) to 10(-7) M stimulate cAMP indirectly through PGE2 production in distal cells. AII- and BK-stimulated PGE2 release is PTx inhibitible, suggestive of the presence of a GTP binding protein mediating the response. By contrast, arginine vasopressin fails to elicit rises in [Ca2+]i but exerts its primary effect on cAMP production in distal cells via direct coupling to a stimulatory GTP binding protein, as evidenced by uncoupling with cholera toxin. Regulation of PGE2 synthesis appears to occur via phospholipase A2, not C, by all three peptides.
Immobilized Nanorod Assemblies: Fabrication and Understanding of Large Area Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Substrates

We describe the fabrication of optimized plasmonic substrates in the form of immobilized nanorod assemblies (INRA) for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Included are high-resolution scanning electron micrograph (SEM) images of the surface structures, along with a mechanistic description of their growth. It is shown that, by varying the size of support microspheres, the surface plasmon resonance is tuned between 330 and 1840 nm. Notably, there are predicted optimal microsphere sizes for each of the commonly used SERS laser wavelengths of 532, 633, 785, and 1064 nm.
Stocking characteristics and perceived increases in sales among small food store managers/owners associated with the introduction of new food products approved by the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.

This is a copy of an article published in the Public Health Nutrition © 2012 Cambridge University Press. The final publication is available at http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=PHN doi: DOI: 10.1017/S1368980012001255
Photogating of ionic currents across the lipid bilayer

The ionic currents of positive and negative hydrophobic ions across a approximately 7-nm-thick lipid bilayer are gated by photoformation of metalloporphyrin cations in the ester region of the bilayer by electron transfer to aqueous acceptors. At low concentrations of the hydrophobic ions there is a 30% change in the conductivity upon photocharging the membrane. The conductivity decreases with increasing concentration of tetraphenylphosphonium cations (TPhP/sup +/) and increases greatly with increasing concentration of tetraphenylboride anions (TPhB/sup -/). The observed photogating of hydrophobic ion currents is attributed to space charge effects in the bilayer. >
A Review of “Anne Sexton: Teacher of Weird Abundance”

Anne Sexton: Teacher of Weird Abundance is a beautifully written, unsettling, and provocative book that artfully explores the teaching life of the poet Anne Sexton. Drawing on her extensive rereadi...
Tamoxifen, raloxifene, and the prevention of breast cancer.

I. Introduction II. Lacassagne’s Prevention Principle: A Target and an Estrogen Antagonist III. Tamoxifen as an Antitumor Agent A. ER status and the duration of tamoxifen B. Contralateral breast cancer C. Endometrial cancer D. Conclusions IV. Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulation A. Antiestrogen activity at the ER B. Coactivators for ER C. Alternate response elements on DNA D. An alternate ER-ERβ V. Biological Basis for Tamoxifen as a Breast Cancer Preventive A. Animal models B. Bones C. Lipids D. Uterus VI. Risk Factors for Breast Cancer A. Interactions among risk factors B. Identification of candidates for chemoprevention VII. Prevention of Breast Cancer with Tamoxifen A. Royal Marsden Pilot Study B. NSABP/NCI Study C. Italian study D. Conclusions VIII. Biological Basis for Raloxifene as a Breast Cancer Preventive A. Antitumor actions B. Bones C. Lipids D. Uterus IX. Study of Tamoxifen And Raloxifene (STAR) X. The Future of Prevention
Managing Short-Lived and Long-Lived Values in Coarse-Grained Reconfigurable Arrays

Efficient storage in spatial processors is increasingly important as such devices get larger and support more concurrent operations. Unlike sequential processors that rely heavily on centralized storage, e.g. register files and embedded memories, spatial processors require many small storage structures to efficiently manage values that are distributed throughout the processor's fabric. The goal of this work is to determine the advantages and disadvantages of different architectural structures for storing values on-chip when optimizing for energy efficiency as well as area. Examination of applications for coarse-grained reconfigurable arrays (CGRAs) shows that most values are short-lived; they are produced and consumed quickly, but the distribution of value lifetimes has a reasonably long tail. We take advantage of this distribution to optimize register storage structures for managing short-, medium-, and long-lived values. We show that using a combination of register storage structures, each tailored for values with different lifetimes, provides a reduction in overall area-energy product to 0.69x the area-energy of the baseline architecture, without loss of performance. Finally we provide energy profiles, characteristics, and comparisons of each register structure to enable architects to guide future design choices.
The Use of the Median as a Measure of Sexual Maturity in White Leghorn Pullets

Abstract IN THE estimation of the production performance of a group of birds, the commonest measure of type used is the arithmetic mean. This constant, of course, requires that all of the members of the population involved need be measured and it cannot be arrived at until all of the individuals involved complete their performance. Whenever complete measurement on all of the members of the group is not carried out, the determination of the mean presents difficulties. The measurement of the sexual maturity of a family of pullets often involves such complications. In some instances, breeders maintain only part of the family, disposing of the late maturing individuals. In other cases a small percentage of birds do not begin to lay till rather late in the year. In fact, occasionally, there are birds which do not come into production until their second year of life. When the estimate of the results . . .
The effect of nonminimum-phase zero locations on the performance of feedforward model-inverse control techniques in discrete-time systems

Noncollocated sensors and actuators, and/or fast sample rates with plants having high relative degree, can lead to nonminimum-phase (NMP) discrete-time zero dynamics that complicate the control system design. In this paper, we examine three stable approximate model-inverse feedforward control techniques, the nonmimimum-phase zeros ignore (NPZ-Ignore), the zero-phase-error tracking controller (ZPETC) and the zero-magnitude-error tracking controller (ZMETC), which have frequently been used for NMP systems. We analyze how the discrete-time NMP zero locations in the z-plane affect the success of the NPZ-Ignore, ZPETC, and ZMETC model-inverse techniques. We also provide simulation examples using plants based on the system identification of an atomic force microscope and a hard disk drive, showing the tradeoffs in performance relative to NMP zero locations in these different application systems.
Testosterone Treatment to Free-Ranging Male Dark-Eyed Juncos (Junco Hyemalis) Exacerbates Hemoparasitic Infection

Abstract The “immunocompetence handicap” hypothesis predicts that reproductive hormones, in particular testosterone (T), are immunosuppressive and consequently increase susceptibility to diseases and parasite infections, but this prediction has not been evaluated in free-living birds and the factors mediating the immunosuppressive influence of T remain poorly known. To address these issues, we administered supplemental T via implants to free-ranging adult male Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis) and characterized the effects of this treatment on infection with the two most prevalent hematozoan parasites in this species, Leucocytozoon fringillinarum and Trypanosoma avium. Males caught at the beginning of their breeding season (May) received T-filled, empty (control), or no Silastic capsules, and were recaptured five weeks later. Capsule implantation had, by itself, no effect on parasite infections, body mass, or size of an androgen-dependent secondary sexual characteristic, the cloacal protuberance. Testoste...
Turbulent transport in the core of a trailing half-delta-wing vortex

The development of a turbulent streamwise vortex core in the wake of a half delta wing has been examined using high-resolution DPIV. The objective of this work was to gain understanding of the transport processes at work a short distance downstream of the wing trailing edge as the wake vortex developed. Experiments were conducted in the Rutgers Free Surface Water Tunnel using an in-house DPIV system. A turbulent streamwise vortex was generated by a half delta wing, with 44 cm chord length and 60° sweep angle, mounted at 30° angle of attack. Reynolds number based on chord length was 65 000. Laser sheets oriented perpendicular to the flow direction were positioned 1, 3.5, and 7 chord lengths downstream of the wing trailing edge. Instantaneous vortex centres were identified in order to track vortex meandering as well as for better quantification of turbulence levels in the vortex core. Mean and fluctuating turbulence terms in the mean streamwise vorticity transport equation along with turbulent kinetic energy dissipation and production were evaluated relative to an inertial reference frame as well as relative to a vortex-centred frame. The results of this analysis highlight the importance of this near-wake region to the downstream evolution of the trailing vortices. There is a high degree of dissipation as well as streamwise vorticity convection in the very near wake which decreases rapidly with increasing distance from the trailing edge.
Association of the decreased expression of α3β1 integrin with the altered cell: Environmental interactions and enhanced soft agar cloning ability of c-myc-overexpressing small cell lung cancer cells

Abstract Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a highly invasive and metastatic tumor, and the decreased expression of α3β1 integrin may contribute to its virulence. α3β1 is a critical integrin for pulmonary development and epithelial integrity, and its reduced expression has been linked to the increased malignancy and invasion of other cancers. The amplification of the c-myc oncogene is seen frequently in relapsed SCLC tumors and is associated with a worsened prognosis. In the present study using a model of SCLC tumor progression, overexpression of c-myc in a classic SCLC cell line, NCI H209, enhanced in vitro features of tumorigenesis, altered the relationships between cell and environment, and markedly down-regulated the expression of the α3 integrin subunit at both the transcript and protein levels. This inverse relationship between the expression of the α3 integrin subunit and c-myc is mimicked by other c-myc-overexpressing SCLC cell lines. Restoring α3 expression in the myc-transfected 209 cells reversed the effects of c-myc: α3 transfection increased cell:cell adhesion and reduced soft agar cloning without affecting the in vitro doubling time. The diminished soft agar cloning produced by α3 transfection was reversed by an antibody that specifically engages α3β1 integrins, P1B5. These results suggest first, that α3β1 integrin mediates homotypic adhesion of SCLC cells, and second, that unengaged α3β1 integrin suppresses the growth of disaggregated SCLC cells. Thus, the down-regulation of the α3 integrin subunit may contribute to the enhanced tumorigenicity of c-myc-overexpressing SCLCs by allowing the growth of tumor cells that have reduced contact with ligand-expressing substratum or cells, a condition that occurs during the growth of the primary tumor, tumor invasion, and metastasis.
Identification of quantitative trait loci for resistance to whitebacked planthopper, Sogatella furcifera, from an interspecific cross Oryza sativa × O. rufipogon

Quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for resistance to whitebacked planthopper (WBPH), Sogatella furcifera, were determined using 202 backcrossed inbred lines derived from a cross between the recurrent parent Xieqingzao B and an accession of Oryza rufipogon, and then tested using chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) selected from BC3F3 populations of the same cross. Seedling mortality with WBPH infestation was measured to evaluate the resistance. Three QTLs were detected and the wild alleles always had the effect for decreasing seedling mortality. There were qWph2 located in the interval RM1285-RM555 on the short arm of chromosome 2, qWph5 in RM3870-RZ70 on the long arm of chromosomes 5, and qWph9 in RG451-RM245 on the long arm of chromosomes 9, among which qWph9 had the most stable effect. Duplicate lines of seven CSSLs carrying homozygous alleles of O. rufipogon at qWph9 were tested with WBPH infestation. Significant effects at P = 0.01 were observed for all the 14 lines. On the average, the seedling mortality was decreased by 55.2%. Validation of the major effect of qWph9 on enhancing WBPH resistance not only provides a useful QTL but also a series of breeding materials for rice improvement.
Graph drawing by force-directed placement

SUMMARY We present a modification of the spring-embedder model of Eades [ Congresses Numerantium, 42, 149–160, (1984)] for drawing undirected graphs with straight edges. Our heuristic strives for uniform edge lengths, and we develop it in analogy to forces in natural systems, for a simple, elegant, conceptuallyintuitive, and efficient algorithm.
Auditory Brainstem Response

Auditory brainstem response to auditory stimulation is a non-invasive technique used to test the functional integrity of the brainstem connections and nuclei involved with hearing This method has been used in evaluating potential early brain damage from high serum levels of unconjugated bilirubin. The concept is that small discreet brain regions such as the cochlear (eighth) nucleus is uniquely sensitive to toxic effects of unconjugated bilirubin. Since function of this nucleus and its brainstem connections can be tested without invasive techniques (see Fig. 1), it is an ideal target to determine if unconjugated bilirubin brain damage has occurred in newborn infants.
The Utility of Ultrasound for Diagnosing Purulent Infections of the Upper Extremity

The purpose of this study was to determine the test characteristics of formal ultrasound when used to diagnose upper extremity soft tissue abscess in the setting of suspected infection. We completed a retrospective chart review of all patients who had formal ultrasounds at our institution for the indication of diagnosing upper extremity abscess between July 2010 and July 2013. Using presence of purulence as the gold standard for diagnosis of abscess, we calculated the test characteristics of ultrasound. We then performed a series of logistic regression models with ultrasound being the independent variable of interest. Using search criteria consistent with upper extremity abscess, we identified 512 patients who underwent ultrasound examinations during our study period. Of these, 178 met the enrollment criteria. Ultrasound reports revealed 110 negative findings, 37 definitively positive findings, and 31 ambiguous findings. Forty-four patients had a final diagnosis of abscess, and 15 of these patients had negative or ambiguous ultrasounds. The sensitivity of definitively positive ultrasound was 65.9 %. The specificity was 94.0 %. Positive predictive value (PPV) of a definitively positive ultrasound result was 78.4 %, and negative predictive value (NPV) of a definitively negative result was 90 %. Logistic regression demonstrated a statistically significant association between definitively positive ultrasound and abscess, but no association between ambiguous ultrasound and abscess after adjustment for significant covariates. Ultrasound is not a sensitive method to detect the presence of abscess in the setting of upper extremity infection. However, in this population of patients with suspected abscess, the negative predictive value was high with and without the inclusion of ambiguous results, suggesting reasonable utility of ultrasound as a rule-out test. Diagnostic study, Level II
Is Food the Answer to Malnutrition

Many of the traditional strategies, such as food aid distribution programs, school feeding programs and food stamps, as well as interference in food markets through food subsidies and ration programs, do not address the most pressing and malnutrition. This reflects the fact that the critical period of undernutrition is generally in early life, and the causes of malnutrition often have little to do with food access and availability. Instead, pre-natal care, immunization programs, breastfeeding promotion, the quality of child care and nurturing behaviors, the sanitary and home environment, food supplementation and fortification schemes to deal with micronutrient deficiencies, and related education programs, are likely the critical inputs into the production of improved health and nutritional outcomes.
Oncogenicity of the R-35 Rat Mammary Tumor Virus

Observed oncogenicity of the R-35 MTV virus as shown by the mammary tumor incidence in female rats inoculated neonatally is reported. The R-35 mammary tumor virus (R-35 MTV) is a C-type virus originally isolated from the R-35 mammary adenocarcinoma. Rat neonates were obtained from Sprague-Dawley derived females. This particular stock (GFRC:SPF(SD)) is negative for known rodent virus and is almost 100 percent susceptible to grafts of R-35 mammary adenocarcinoma. Male and female neonates 24-48 hours old were inoculated sc; control animals were not inoculated. During a 20-month observation period overall mammary tumor incidence in the inoculated female group was 29.5 percent and in the control group 18.5 percent. Benign tumors were of about equal frequency 16.7 and 18. 7 percent respectively. Malignant tumors were only 1.8 percent in controls but 10.8 percent in inoculated rats (p smaller than .05). Malignant tumors appeared at 4-5 months in virus-treated rats but not until 9-13 months in controls. These tumors were mostly of epithelial cell origin. No tumors were found at the site of inoculation. No mammary tumors were found in virus-inoculated males. Estrogen imbalance brought about by implantation of 17beta-estradiol pellets and hysterectomy was followed by a mammary adenocarcinoma incidence of 35 percent among 20 virus-inoculated rats within 13 months but no tumors in a control group of 21 animals. Of 8 tumors from animals given virus implants all had R-35 MTV antigen and 3 had C-type particles as seen by electron microscopy. In 5 tumors from controls no antigen or C-type particles were found. Leukemia was not found in any of 315 virus-inoculated or in 247 control rats. Estrogen imbalance may be cocarcinogenic with R-35 MTV virus infection in mammary tumorigenesis. The absence of mammary tumors in R-35 MTV inoculated males also suggests a cofactor function for mammotrophic hormones.