cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 3827: Predictions for recurrence of non-muscle invasive bladder cancers by circulating miRNAs

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Background: Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) have been extensively associated with disease conditions, and shown to be involved in tumorigenesis. In the current study, we aimed to identify miRNAs which are present specifically in the serum of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients and correlate these miRNAs with clinical outcomes. Method: A pilot study was first conducted to profile the expression of 754 miRNAs using the Taqman® microRNA Array and identified 89 miRNAs that can be detected at high levels in more than 30% of samples. In this study, we applied a two-stage design with discovery phase of 280 cases followed by the validation phase of 276 cases using the Fluidigm BioMark™ System to assess whether these 89 miRNAs were associated with bladder cancer clinical outcomes. Results: Among 280 cases in the discovery phase, 134 recurrence events were observed. Further stratification by treatment showed that 147 patients received Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) treatment and 78 patients received transurethethral resection only (TUR). COX regression on dichotomized expression of miRNAs revealed that 2 and 6 miRNAs were associated with recurrence in the BCG group and the TUR group with p-values <0.05, respectively. The most significant observed association with recurrence had p-values of 0.008(BCG) and 0.005 (TUR). We constructed risk scores for recurrence using previous miRNAs identified by COX regression. Patients with high risk scores had significantly shorter recurrence-free survival in BCG group (p=0.006, mean survival time 9.04 and undefined for high risk and low risk scores) but not in TUR group possibly due to small sample size (p=0.114, mean survival time 4.60 and 14.04). We are in the progress of further verifying associations between candidate miRNAs and clinical outcomes in an additional 276 NIMBC samples. Conclusion: Our preliminary results demonstrate the potential of miRNAs as predictive markers for NMIBC recurrence. Citation Format: Shu-Hong Lin, Jie Lian, Yuanqing Ye, Colin P. Dinney, Xifeng Wu. Predictions for recurrence of non-muscle invasive bladder cancers by circulating miRNAs. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3827. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3827
INTERMITTENT CURRENTS: THE FAILURE OF RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY REQUIREMENTS

Concern over emissions and climate change has led over half of the states to enact "renewable portfolio standard" legislation requiring regulated electric utilities to obtain some fraction of their power requirements from sources defined as "renewable." Legislation to institute a federal RPS may follow. In reality RPS is a policy in search of a rationale, at odds with principles of efficient environmental regulation and poorly suited to promote other policies favored by its supporters. The actual record of state implementations has been largely symbolic. Only one state with a binding RPS requirement is currently in compliance with its own program, and a federal RPS will be subject to the same forces that have led to state-level failure. The recent history of renewables leads to a conclusion that existing and proposed mandates are best viewed as special interest legislation for wind-driven generators, rather than rational responses to climate change and fossil-fuel powerplant emissions.
Methods and Models: A Guide to the Empirical Analysis of Formal Models in Political Science

At present much of political science consists of a large body of formal mathematical work that remains largely unexplored empirically and an expanding use of sophisticated statistical techniques. While there are examples of noteworthy efforts to bridge the gap between these, there is still a need for much more cooperative work between formal theorists and empirical researchers in the discipline. This book explores how empirical analysis has, can, and should be used to evaluate formal models in political science. The book is intended to be a guide for active and future political scientists who are confronting the issues of empirical analysis with formal models in their work and as a basis for a needed dialogue between empirical and formal theoretical researchers in political science. These developments, if combined, are potentially a basis for a new revolution in political science.
Analyzing Stock Lock-Ups: Do Target Treasury Sales Foreclose or Facilitate Takeover Auctions?

In negotiating his controversial takeover of the Trans Union Corporation (Trans Union), Jay A. Pritzker proposed an initial offer of $55 per share.1 The Chief Executive Officer of Trans Union, Jerome W. Van Gorkom, responded that: to be sure that $55 was the best price obtainable, Trans Union should be free to accept any better offer. Pritzker demurred, stating that his organization would serve as a "stalking horse" for an "auction contest" only if Trans Union would permit Pritzker to buy [treasury] shares of Trans Union at market price which Pritzker could then sell to any higher bidder.2 Ultimately, Pritzker entered into an agreement with Trans Union in which Pritzker agreed to make a $55 cash offer to Trans Union stockholders and in return Trans Union agreed to sell Pritzker one million treasury shares at the premerger market price of $38 per share.3 While
Inequalities from Group Relaxations

This article provides a review of the group-theoretic approach to the generation of cutting planes in mixed integer programming. After motivating the notion of corner relaxation graphically, we give a definition of master group problems. We then present a hierarchy of valid inequalities for master group problems that can be used as cutting planes for mixed integer programs. We describe next various procedures that can be used to obtain the “strongest” valid inequalities for master group problems. We conclude by commenting on the computational possibilities of group-theoretic cuts in mixed integer programming. Keywords: mixed integer program; corner relaxation; group problems; group cuts; valid inequalities
H+ Changes Associated with Divalent Cation Uptake by Mouse Liver Mitochondria

The effect of concentration of Ca++ and mitochondria on the stoichiometry of H+ release associated with Ca++ uptake supported by succinate oxidation was examined. Ratios less than unity were observed with low concentrations of Ca++, and higher ratios were obtained with intermediate concentrations of Ca++. The highest values (greater than unity but less than 2) could be obtained with increased mitochondrial concentrations. The concentrations of Ca++ at which the highest ratios were obtained were shifted to higher levels as the mitochondrial concentration was raised. The low ratios observed with low levels of divalent cations are attributed in part to the metabolism-independent binding of Ca++, since 45Ca++ was observed to be bound by mitochondria in the presence of antimycin and oligomycin. This energy-independent uptake of Ca++ was also dependent on the concentration of Ca++ and mitochondrial protein. In contrast to the energy-dependent process, the release of H+ was small or absent when antimycin was present. Added NaCl or KCl, but not further additions of mannitol or sucrose, completed for this Ca++-accessible space. These findings suggested that H+:Ca++ ratios of unity may be underestimated, and those ratios which are based on the assumption that all of the added calcium ions are taken up by an energy-linked mechanism may have to be corrected. Under conditions where the ratio was corrected for the energy-independent binding of Ca++, the (K+ + H+):Ca++ ratio approached 2.
Sterile neutrinos in E6

The opportunity to accommodate three flavors of sterile neutrinos exists within the exceptional group E6. Implications of this description are discussed.
Toward a feminist chamber theatre method

Recent articles in this journal by Michael Bowman and Elizabeth Bell have challenged the foundational assumptions of the oral interpretation legacy within contemporary performance studies discourse. Following these critiques, this essay analyzes traditional chamber theatre practice from a feminist perspective. In particular, it argues that by reinvesting in the basic conventions of staging and scripting within the creation and production of staged adaptations, a feminist chamber theatre method becomes not only imaginable, but desirable.
A combined honeycomb and solid viscoelastic material for structural damping applications

The goal of this paper is to investigate the feasibility of a proposed combined polymer composite damping system. A new composite damping system, which consists of a polymer honeycomb and a viscoelastic solid material is introduced. This new system is primarily intended for energy dissipation and vibration control, whereby the combined viscoelastic system serves as an interface layer within lightweight composite panels subjected to in-plane shear. The basic concept and mechanical properties for combining the polymer honeycomb with 3M solid viscoelastic materials are investigated under different strain inputs and frequencies. Subsequently, numerical models are established in which the effect of the temperature and frequency are taken into account. The analysis results given by the simplified numerical modeling agree with the results of the experiment. This study also leads to useful information with respect to the optimum design of the combined damping system.
A model for oil expulsion by counter-current water imbibition in rocks: one-dimensional geometry

Abstract This paper presents a new, closed-form, analytical model for oil expulsion from rocks by capillary imbibition of water in a one-dimensional geometry. The model is developed by matching the oil expulsion rate determined from Darcy's law, where the driving force is capillary pressure, to the instantaneous change in oil saturation in the matrix block, determined from a material balance. The model compares favorably with published data from the literature. A dimensionless time is developed that provides a general scaling parameter to normalize imbibition data for a variety of petrophysical properties and sample sizes.
Endogenous BDNF Protein Is Increased in Adult Rat Hippocampus after a Kainic Acid Induced Excitotoxic Insult but Exogenous BDNF Is Not Neuroprotective

Systemic administration of the excitotoxin kainic acid to adult rats results in a well defined pattern of loss of the CA1 and CA3 pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus. Prior to this neuronal loss, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) mRNA is substantially increased. We show here that BDNF protein is increased after excitotoxic insult in specific areas of the hippocampus, reaching maximal levels 24 h after the insult. BDNF protein levels in the hippocampus increase in direct relation to the severity of seizure. Up to 7 days after injection of kainic acid, levels of full-length Trk B protein were unchanged, whereas levels of truncated TrkB protein were significantly increased by 12 h. To determine whether elevations in BDNF protein levels are potentially beneficial to hippocampal neurons exposed to an excitotoxic stress, we infused exogenous BDNF prior to and during the period of neuronal death caused by kainic acid. We find that administration of high levels of exogenous BDNF does not affect severity of seizure, but does in fact, exacerbate the injury caused by kainic acid, specifically to CA3 pyramidal neurons. Although there was a trend toward sparing of CA1 pyramidal neurons on the side infused with BDNF, this was not significant. In the same paradigm, infusion of exogenous NT-3 had no effect.
How well do line drawings depict shape

This paper investigates the ability of sparse line drawings to depict 3D shape. We perform a study in which people are shown an image of one of twelve 3D objects depicted with one of six styles and asked to orient a gauge to coincide with the surface normal at many positions on the object's surface. The normal estimates are compared with each other and with ground truth data provided by a registered 3D surface model to analyze accuracy and precision. The paper describes the design decisions made in collecting a large data set (275,000 gauge measurements) and provides analysis to answer questions about how well people interpret shapes from drawings. Our findings suggest that people interpret certain shapes almost as well from a line drawing as from a shaded image, that current computer graphics line drawing techniques can effectively depict shape and even match the effectiveness of artist's drawings, and that errors in depiction are often localized and can be traced to particular properties of the lines used. The data collected for this study will become a publicly available resource for further studies of this type.
Kinetics of Photoinduced Electron-Transfer Reactions within Sol-Gel Silica Glass Doped with Zinc Cytochrome c. Study of Electrostatic Effects in Confined Liquids

Silica hydrogel (glass) was doped with native (iron-containing) cytochrome c and with its zinc derivative. Ultraviolet−visible, circular dichroism, and resonance Raman spectra of both proteins and the lifetime of the triplet state of the zinc protein show that encapsulation in the sol-gel glass only slightly perturbs the polypeptide backbone and does not detectably perturb the heme group. Because thermal (ground-state) redox reactions of the encapsulated native cytochrome c are very slow, we take advantage of the transparency of the silica to study, by laser flash spectrometry, photoinduced (excited-state) redox reactions of zinc cytochrome c, which occur in milliseconds. The triplet state, 3Zncyt, is oxidatively quenched by [Fe(CN)6]3-, dioxygen, and p-benzoquinone. These reactions are monophasic in bulk solutions but biphasic in solutions confined in glass. Changes in ionic strength and pH differently affect the kinetics in these two environments. Adsorption of cytochrome c, which is positively charged,...
Structural Characterization of Proline-rich Tyrosine Kinase 2 (PYK2) Reveals a Unique (DFG-out) Conformation and Enables Inhibitor Design

Proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (PYK2) is a cytoplasmic, non-receptor tyrosine kinase implicated in multiple signaling pathways. It is a negative regulator of osteogenesis and considered a viable drug target for osteoporosis treatment. The high-resolution structures of the human PYK2 kinase domain with different inhibitor complexes establish the conventional bilobal kinase architecture and show the conformational variability of the DFG loop. The basis for the lack of selectivity for the classical kinase inhibitor, PF-431396, within the FAK family is explained by our structural analyses. Importantly, the novel DFG-out conformation with two diarylurea inhibitors (BIRB796, PF-4618433) reveals a distinct subclass of non-receptor tyrosine kinases identifiable by the gatekeeper Met-502 and the unique hinge loop conformation of Leu-504. This is the first example of a leucine residue in the hinge loop that blocks the ATP binding site in the DFG-out conformation. Our structural, biophysical, and pharmacological studies suggest that the unique features of the DFG motif, including Leu-504 hinge-loop variability, can be exploited for the development of selective protein kinase inhibitors.
Shuffling: a framework for lock contention aware thread scheduling for multicore multiprocessor systems

On a cache-coherent multicore multiprocessor system, the performance of a multithreaded application with high lock contention is very sensitive to the distribution of application threads across multiple processors (or Sockets). This is because the distribution of threads impacts the frequency of lock transfers between Sockets, which in turn impacts the frequency of last-level cache (LLC) misses that lie on the critical path of execution. Since the latency of a LLC miss is high, an increase of LLC misses on the critical path increases both lock acquisition latency and critical section processing time. However, thread schedulers for operating systems, such as Solaris and Linux, are oblivious of the lock contention among multiple threads belonging to an application and therefore fail to deliver high performance for multithreaded applications. To alleviate the above problem, in this paper, we propose a scheduling framework called Shuffling, which migrates threads of a multithreaded program across Sockets so that threads seeking locks are more likely to find the locks on the same Socket. Shuffling reduces the time threads spend on acquiring locks and speeds up the execution of shared data accesses in the critical section, ultimately reducing the execution time of the application. We have implemented Shuffling on a 64-core Supermicro server running Oracle Solaris 11™ and evaluated it using a wide variety of 20 multithreaded programs with high lock contention. Our experiments show that Shuffling achieves up to 54% reduction in execution time and an average reduction of 13%. Moreover it does not require any changes to the application source code or the OS kernel.
Morphology of the inferior colliculus in C57BL/6J and CBA/J mice across the life span.

Basic anatomical features were evaluated in the inferior colliculus (IC) of C57BL/6J and CBA/J mice across the adult life span (1.5 to 30 months of age). C57BL/6J mice exhibit progressive age-related cochlear pathology and become severely hearing-impaired during the second year of life; CBA/J mice exhibit little hearing loss as they age. Age had little effect on the size of the IC, the size of IC neurons, or the packing density of IC neurons and there was no evidence of age-related neuron loss. However, old CBA/J mice developed numerous spongiform lesions throughout the brainstem. The absence of morphological changes in the IC of hearing-impaired C57BL/6J mice supports the hypothesis that features such as the size of neurons, survival of neurons, and volume of the neuropil are not affected by chronic sensorineural pathology in central auditory nuclei (e.g., as the IC) that do not receive direct input from primary afferent fibers. The data from both strains taken together indicate that certain basic anatomical properties of the mouse IC persist in the face of aging.
Statistical Studies on the Inheritance of Sexual Maturity in White Leghorns and Rhode Island Reds

Abstract A NUMBER of investigators have shown that the earlier in life a pullet begins to lay the more eggs she will lay during her first laying year, which is 365 days from the date the first egg is laid. The age at which a pullet begins laying is considered by most investigators as her age at sexual maturity. The economic importance of early sexual maturity has been discussed by Jull (1932) and need not be discussed further here except to state that Leghorns and similar breeds should mature at approximately 180 days of age and Rhode Island Reds and similar breeds at approximately 200 days of age. It might be added that extremely early sexual maturity in any breed is to be avoided because such birds are likely to lay small eggs. Data concerning the inheritance of sexual maturity have been submitted by a few investigators, but their observations, in . . .
Femtosecond optical studies of carrier localization and recombination in III-Nitride semiconductors

We have used femtosecond time-resolved reflectivity and luminescence downconversion techniques to study carrier relaxation, localization, and recombination in III-nitride semiconductors. Intensity dependent, frequency degenerate pump-probe reflectivity measurements employing near-bandgap excitation provide information about initial carrier localization, subsequent ultrafast heat generation due to nonradiative recombination or trapping in states deep in the bandgap, and photoinduced absorption associated with excitation of carriers from localized states to the bands. These phenomena and their experimental signatures are illustrated for Al0.25Ga0.75N and Al0.4Ga0.6N samples, in which the photoinduced change in reflectivity ΔR decays faster with decreasing intensity and changes sign, with faster decays for a given intensity in the higher Al content sample. This behavior suggests that in these cases the dynamics are governed by trapping at localized states associated with alloy fluctuations that become deeper and more numerous as the Al content increases. Within this context the sign change and subsequent temporal evolution of ΔR may be indicative of ultrafast heat generation and/or photoinduced absorption, depending upon A1 content. Nondegenerate pump-probe reflectivity experiments designed to separate the electronic contributions of the ΔR decays from the slower thermal components by using a sub-bandgap probe are used to measure carrier lifetime in GaN. Comparison with data obtained from frequency degenerate experiment sunder identical excitation conditions employing a near bandgap probe indicate that in the frequency degenerate case the decay times in ΔR are inflated due to the presence of an additional long-lived component with the same sign as the electronic contribution. The sign and power dependence of this slow decay suggest that it may be associated with screening of a surface electric field by carriers trapped in deep states. In addition, a new technique is presented that employs luminescence downconversion using an ultrashort gating pulse to enable the characterization of UV light emission from III-nitride semiconductors with subpicosecond temporal resolution. This technique also allows one to measure PL rise times and fast components of multiple decays in the subsequent time evolution of the PL intensity. Comparison of luminescence emission intensity and lifetime in GaN and AlGaN with ~0.1 Al content grown homoepitaxially on GaN templates with the same quantities measured in heteroepitaxial layers grown on sapphire indicate significant improvement in the homoepitaxial layers due to reduction in defect density. Fast (<15 ps) initial decays in the AlGaN are attributed to localization in shallow traps associated with alloy fluctuations, with subsequent recombination through gap states.
Spontaneous electron transfer in the reaction between methylgiyoxal and methylamine

The reactions of glyoxal, methylglyoxal, and diacetyl with methylamine were investigated by electron spin resonance (esr) spectroscopy. Methylgiyoxal rapidly underwent condensation reactions with methylamine to form deeply colored products such as substituted pyrazines and complex polymers. Glyoxal underwent similar condensations but more slowly. Diacetyl spontaneously underwent ring condensation to form 2,5-dimethyl-1,4-semidione at alkaline pH; however, it did not react with methylamine to form colored condensation products. It appears that a critical step in such condensations of glyoxals with amines is the ability to form ene diols. Time-resolved esr studies of the first few seconds of the methylglyoxal and methylamine reaction showed that methylgiyoxal anion radicals were formed, confirming that methylgiyoxal can act as a charge acceptor in this system. No such radicals could be formed from trimethylamine, however, suggesting that the free radicals observed in the methylamine reaction probably formed by electron transfer from a condensation product to methylglyoxal rather than directly from the methylamine itself.
Observations on the synaptonemal complex in Armenian hamster spermatocytes by light microscopy

Using the silver staining technique, in somatic and meiotic chromosomes of the Armenian hamster (Cricetulus migratorius), it is possible to stain synaptonemal complexes (SCs) and the nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) in early spermatocytes. There are five pairs of autosomes (Nos. 2, 4, 6, 7, and 8) which have terminally located NORs. Synaptonemal complexes and accessory structures present in the sex chromosomes within the sex vesicle can be easily observed using light microscopy.
Inducible gene expression in mammalian cells and transgenic mice

Abstract Advances in biomedicine have accentuated the need to develop methods to deliberately modulate gene activity. In addition to improved versions of the system based on components of the tetracyline resistance operon, several strategies have recently emerged to control gene function at the transcriptional level. Particularly promising are approaches based on non-mammalian steroid hormones, and on small molecules that bind immunophilins.
Recombinational repair of mitomycin C lesions in phage T4.

Abstract Treatment of phage T4-host adsorption complexes with mitomycin C (MMC) doubled the frequency of recombination between two r II markers. The rate at which MMC delivered lethal lesions to cells infected by two or more phage (multicomplexes) was 10-fold less than the rate at which they were delivered to singly infected cells (monocomplexes). Thus there was very strong multiplicity reactivation (MR) of MMC lesions. Four out of five phage mutants tested which were defective in recombination functions were deficient in MR. Mutants defective in genes 46 and 47 lost most of their MR capacity whereas gene 32 and y mutants had a smaller loss. A mutant defective in uvs X had the wild-type level of MR. Mutants defective in two genes with functions unrelated to recombination had no loss of MR. These results suggest that MR of MMC lesions is a recombinational repair process. Mutants defective in genes 46, 47, uvs X, and y , which are involved in recombination, also showed clearly reduced survival in monocomplexes compared to wild type after MMC treatment. This suggests that recombinational repair of MMC lesions occurs in monocomplexes as well as in multicomplexes.
The Risks of Asymptomatic Hyperuricaemia and the Use of Uricosuric Diuretics

Introduction of new uricosuric diuretics will be accompanied by the unknown risk factors associated with the use of any new drug, as demonstrated by reports of hepatic toxicity associated with ticrynafen. In addition to unexpected reactions, there are potential risks related to induction of uricosuria, which are serious and have been reported to occur. More importantly, the risk of developing clinical gout or coronary heart disease due to mild asymptomatic hyperuricaemia appears minimal, so indications for the use of uricosuric diuretics are limited. If a uricosuric diuretic is thought necessary (and is available), it would seem prudent to measure the daily excretion rate of uric acid to identify those patients with hyperuricaemia related to overproduction of uric acid. A uricosuric diuretic should be avoided in those patients, as well as in patients with uric acid stones, and possibly in those with calcium stones. A uricosuric diuretic might be useful for patients with hypertension who also have hyperuricaemia due to a low excretion of uric acid.
The spectroscopy and dynamics of microparticles

The 137th Faraday Discussion covered a wide range of subjects divided into the four categories of Spectroscopic Techniques, Dusty Plasmas and X-Ray Characterization, Atmospheric Aerosols, and Particle Manipulation. These divisions organized the thinking into specific areas of research and allowed one to see interconnections between the two central foci of physical chemistry; techniques and applications. Physical chemists excel at developing and mastering a wide range of new techniques and applying them to a variety of tasks as the need arises. At times specific tasks present themselves and in response new techniques are developed. The presentations provided examples of both such interplays. In these remarks the presentations are summarized, common features are highlighted, and possible directions for future research are suggested.
Blast resistance of unidirectional fiber reinforced composites

Abstract Three-dimensional transient deformations of a laminate comprised of several unidirectional fiber reinforced layers perfectly bonded to each other and subjected to a blast load are analyzed by the finite element method with an in-house developed, verified and fully validated code with rate-dependent damage evolution equations for anisotropic bodies. The continuum damage mechanics approach employing three internal variables is used to characterize damage due to fiber/matrix debonding, fiber breakage, and matrix cracking. The delamination between two adjoining layers is assumed to ensue when the stress state there satisfies a failure criterion, and may initiate simultaneously at several points. The relative sliding between adjoining layers is simulated by the nodal release technique. The interaction among fiber/matrix debonding, fiber breakage, matrix cracking and delamination, and the possibility of their initiating concurrently at one or more points in the composite are considered. The effect of different material, geometric and loading parameters on the damage development and propagation, and the energy absorbed in each one of the four failure modes have been examined. These results give preliminary information on composite structure’s design for maximizing the energy absorption and hence increasing structure’s resistance to blast loads. The paper is a sequel to Hassan and Batra’s paper [Hassan NM, Batra RC. Modeling damage development in polymeric composites. Composites B, doi:10.1016/j.compositesb.2007.02.001 ] wherein details of the damage evolution equations, verification of the code, and the validation of the mathematical model are given.
Icosahedral structure of large charged argon clusters

Abstract Measurements of the mass distribution of large argon clusters formed about positive ions in a free jet expansion are reported. The results support an icosahedrally derived shell model of cluster structure through completion of the fourth shell (N = 309 atoms), but significant differences are found near the completion of the fifth shell (N = 561).
Thermodynamics of oxygen ordering in YBa2Cu3Oz

Abstract It is shown that the (three-dimensional) tetragonal to orthorhombic transition in the 1-2-3 superconducting compound can be mapped onto a two-dimensional lsing model with anisotropic second neighbor effective pair interactions. The Cluster Variation Method (CVM) has been used to calculate a phase diagram based on interaction parameters provided by first principles linear muffin-tin orbital-atomic sphere approximation (LMTO-ASA) calculations performed by P. Sterne at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. At high temperature, agreement with experimental phase transition data is excellent. At low temperatures, two-dimensional ordering gives way to quasi one-dimensional states of order as described by the linear chain Ising model for which the thermodynamics are known exactly. Structures produced by Monte Carlo simulation and theoretical diffraction patterns are in striking agreement with recent experimental results.
The Use of Non-Viral Nucleic Acids Carriers for the Modulation of Leukocytes

Induction of drug-free permanent organ accommodation is the ultimate goal of transplant therapy. Current pharmacological agents, however, are non-specific in their actions and generally do not confer immunological tolerance. Inhibitors of T cell receptor signaling (tacrolimus and cyclosporine A) represent the mainstay in transplant management. These agents exert their therapeutic effects by dampening the activities of all T cells. Chronic exposure to these agents increases the risk of developing opportunistic infections and malignancies. Given that more than 20,000 Americans undergo organ transplantations each year, there is an urgent need to develop specific therapies to mitigate graft rejection and create conditions conducive for long-term transplant accommodation.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
HPV vaccine and adolescent males

Abstract In 2009, the United States approved quadrivalent HPV vaccine for males 9–26 years old, but data on vaccine uptake are lacking. We determined HPV vaccine uptake among adolescent males, as well as stage of adoption and vaccine acceptability to parents and their sons. A national sample of parents of adolescent males ages 11–17 years (n = 547) and their sons (n = 421) completed online surveys during August and September 2010. Analyses used multivariate linear regression. Few sons (2%) had received any doses of HPV vaccine, and most parents and sons were unaware the vaccine can be given to males. Parents with unvaccinated sons were moderately willing to get their sons free HPV vaccine (mean = 3.37, SD = 1.21, possible range 1–5). Parents were more willing to get their sons vaccinated if they perceived higher levels of HPV vaccine effectiveness (β = 0.20) or if they anticipated higher regret about their sons not getting vaccinated and later developing an HPV infection (β = 0.32). Vaccine acceptability was also modest among unvaccinated sons (mean = 2.98, SD = 1.13, possible range 1–5). Sons were more willing to get vaccinated if they perceived higher peer acceptance of HPV vaccine (β = 0.39) or anticipated higher regret about not getting vaccinated and later developing an HPV infection (β = 0.22). HPV vaccine uptake was nearly nonexistent a year after permissive national recommendations were first issued for males. Vaccine acceptability was moderate among both parents and sons. Efforts to increase vaccine uptake among adolescent males should consider the important role of peer acceptance and anticipated regret.
Abstract 416: Mammographic density and ECM stiffness

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Breast tissue homoeostasis depends on the complex regulation of biochemical and biophysical factors present in the extra cellular matrix (ECM). Tumor tissue in mouse and human breast is characteristically stiffer than normal tissue, and changes to the ECM contribute to this phenotype. Breast density is associated with elevated collagen content, while increased deposition of collagen is known to augment ECM stiffness. Mammographic density imaging provides a qualitative description of breast density, and high mammographic density is associated with increased risk to malignancy. However, little is known about the correlation between ECM stiffness and the density in the breast image. Previously, we have used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to characterize the changes in breast tissue stiffness with cancer progression (Levental et al., Cell 2009). We hypothesized that mammographically dense breasts would be stiffer. To further understand the biophysical regulation of breast stiffness, we investigated whether mammographic density is a predictor of ECM stiffness. Towards this goal, we studied tissue samples from prophylactic mastectomies, from women with low versus high mammographic density. Tissue samples were obtained from the peripheral quadrants as well as from the retroareolar (nipple) regions, which are known to be of higher mammographic density. We performed AFM force mapping to characterize the ECM stiffness in the different regions. Our preliminary data indicate a heterogeneous pattern of stiffness within the breast. Moreover, we found that the peripheral terminal ductal lobuli have the most compliant ECM. By contrast, the stroma stiffness in the retroareolar region was 2-fold higher than in the peripheral quadrants. This work demonstrates the technical feasibility of measuring the mechanical properties as well as defined histological characteristics within the same patient specimen. The data suggest that ECM stiffness may be greater in breast tissue of high mammographic density. The correlation between mammographic density and ECM stiffness may reveal the role of collagen status in the risk to malignancy. (supported by W81XWH-05-1-0330 and R01 CA138818-01A1 to VMW, 1U01 ES019458-01 to VMW and ZW, and P50 CA 58207 to JG, VW, SH and LC.) Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 416. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-416
Radiation gauge in general relativity

A new radiation gauge for general relativity is presented. In analogy to the radiation (or Coulomb) gauge for electrodynamics, it leads to spatially covariant elliptic equations for the four gauge variables ${g}^{0\ensuremath{\mu}}$ of the spacetime metric. The radiation gauge conditions include as special cases maximal or hyperboloid time slicing and minimal distortion shift vectors. For the linearized theory, our gauge conditions reduce to those of Arnowitt, Deser, and Misner and of Dirac; however, our gauge is equally useful for strong time-dependent gravitational fields. An extensive discussion of appropriate asymptotic boundary conditions is given. Finally, our gauge is compared to and contrasted with the de Donder or harmonic gauge.
Stability of ertapenem 100 mg/mL in polypropylene syringes stored at 25, 4, and -20 °C.

Purpose The stability of ertapenem solution in syringes at room, refrigerator, and freezer temperatures was determined to establish options for extended storage. Methods Six replicate solutions of ertapenem (100 mg/mL) in 0.9% sodium chloride injection were prepared in 20-mL polypropylene syringes and stored at 25, 4, or −20 °C. Syringe samples were collected immediately after preparation and at preselected time points and assayed by a validated high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method. The ertapenem solution was considered stable if at least 90% of the mean initial concentration remained at the time of HPLC analysis. Results The mean ± S.D. baseline ertapenem concentration across all stability studies was 109.9 ± 9.2 mg/mL. One hour after preparation, the mean ± S.D. ertapenem concentration of samples kept at room temperature was 87.8 ± 4.6% of the initial concentration. After 24 and 48 hours of refrigeration, mean ± S.D. drug concentrations had declined to 93.6 ± 5.9% and 86.2 ± 4.3% of the respective baseline concentrations. Frozen syringes required 1 hour to thaw at room temperature; after 14 and 28 days of frozen storage, the mean ± S.D. ertapenem concentrations of these samples 4 hours after thawing were 93.4 ± 3.5% and 86.4 ± 2.6% of the respective baseline values. Conclusion Ertapenem 100 mg/mL prepared in 20-mL polypropylene syringes was stable at room temperature for approximately 30 minutes. Room-temperature stability was extended to 4 hours after 24 hours of refrigeration. After being frozen for 14 or 28 days, ertapenem was stable for 3–5 hours after removal from the freezer.
The Role of Problem-Solving Appraisal in the Process and Outcome of Career Counseling.

Abstract Because problem-solving appraisal has been demonstrated to be a critical variable in psychological adjustment, this study examined its potential role as both a static and dynamic client attribute influencing the process and outcome of career counseling. Participants were 151 adults who received an average of five sessions of naturally occurring career counseling; data were collected before, during, and after counseling. The results indicated that: (a) in line with a static attribute model, clients' pre-counseling problem-solving appraisal scores predicted post-counseling career and psychological outcomes as well as career decidedness even after partialling out clients' pre-decidedness scores; (b) in line with a dynamic attribute model, clients who experienced positive changes in problem-solving appraisal in counseling were more likely to have more positive career resources to use in their career transitions as well greater goal directedness; (c) participation in career counseling related to positive change in problem-solving appraisal scores at a level similar to problem-solving training workshops; and (d) clients' changes in problem-solving appraisal related to changes in the working alliance over time.
A subtropical North Atlantic regional atmospheric moisture budget

The synergistic effects of evaporation (E), precipitation (P), and Ekman transport make the Salinity Processes in the Upper Ocean Regional Study (SPURS-1) region in the subtropical North Atlantic (15–30°N, 30–45°W) the natural location for the world's highest open ocean SSS maximum. Using the MERRA and ERA-Interim atmospheric reanalyses, we reproduce the mean hydrologic state of the atmosphere over the SPURS-1 region since 1979 and roughly deduce the change in salinity across the meridional domain due solely to interactions between E-P and Ekman transport. Our findings suggest a region that is highly evaporative at a mean rate of 4.87 mm/d with a standard deviation of 1.2 mm/d and little seasonality. Precipitation is much more variable with an annual fall maximum around 3 mm/d but only a mean rate of 1.37 mm/d with a standard deviation of 1.46 mm/d. The resulting E-P variable has a mean rate of 3.50 mm/d with a standard deviation of 1.92 mm/d and matches well with the moisture flux divergence term although the former is typically larger by a small margin. Strong prevailing easterly trade winds generate northward Ekman transports that advect water toward the salinity maximum around 25°N. A short calculation shows that atmospheric moisture dynamics could potentially account for about one third of the change in salinity between 15°N and 25°N giving an estimate of the role that surface freshwater flux plays in the maintenance of the salinity maximum.
Na+/Ca2+ exchange, Ca2+ binding, and electrogenic Ca2+ transport in plasma membranes of human placental syncytiotrophoblast.

ABSTRACT: To transfer a large amount of Ca2+ to the fetus, the basal (fetal-facing) plasma membrane (BPM) of human placenta must be equipped with various extrusion mechanisms. We studied one such mechanism, Na+/Ca2+ exchange, as well as related membrane potential effects and binding properties of the two membranes. Na+/Ca2+ exchange was present in BPM and absent in microvillous (maternal-facing) membrane. Uptake and efflux of Ca2+ in BPM were enhanced by Na+ when it was present on the opposite side of the membranes. Na+-gradient-dependent Ca2+ uptake was saturable with a Km of 19 μ.M and a Vmax of 0.8 nmol/min/mg. The Na+/Ca2+ exchange in BPM and the facilitated diffusion transporters in both BPM and microvillous membrane are electrogenic processes. Ca2+ binding in both BPM and microvillous membrane was affected by various monovalent cations and enhanced by Na+ more than by K+. In vivo, together with other sequestration mechanisms, Na+/Ca2+ exchange may play an important role in transsyncytial transfer and in regulating intracellular Ca2+, which is essential for a variety of physiologic mechanisms.
Variable-rate colour image quantization based on quadtree segmentation

A novel variable-sized block encoding with threshold control for colour image quantization (CIQ) is presented in this paper. In CIQ, the colour palette used has a great influence on the reconstructed image quality. Typically, a higher image quality and a larger storage cost are obtained when a larger-sized palette is used in CIQ. To cut down the storage cost while preserving quality of the reconstructed images, the threshold control policy for quadtree segmentation is used in this paper. Experimental results show that the proposed method adaptively provides desired bit rates while having better image qualities comparing to CIQ with the usage of multiple palettes of different sizes.
Pulmonary Metastasectomy : Current Indications

Surgical resection remains an important form of treatment for pulmonary metastases from a variety of solid tumors. The most significant factors in selecting patients for operation include control of the primary tumor, ability to resect all metastatic disease, absence of extrathoracic metastases, lack of better alternative systemic therapy, and sufficient cardiopulmonary reserve for the planned resection. A solitary pulmonary nodule and long tumor doubling times and disease-free intervals usually define patients who experience better long-term survival after pulmonary resection but do not constitute absolute criteria by which to select such patients. Complete surgical resection is critical to achieving long-term survival and is best accomplished via a standard or "clamshell" thoracotomy or a median sternotomy. The decision to proceed with the surgical resection of pulmonary metastases should be a multidisciplinary one, made jointly by the thoracic surgeon and the medical oncologist.
Reconstitution of the Very Short Patch Repair Pathway from Escherichia coli

The Escherichia coli very short patch (VSP) repair pathway corrects thymidine-guanine mismatches that result from spontaneous hydrolytic deamination damage of 5-methyl cytosine. The VSP repair pathway requires the Vsr endonuclease, DNA polymerase I, a DNA ligase, MutS, and MutL to function at peak efficiency. The biochemical roles of most of these proteins in the VSP repair pathway have been studied extensively. However, these proteins have not been studied together in the context of VSP repair in an in vitro system. Using purified components of the VSP repair system in a reconstitution reaction, we have begun to develop an understanding of the role played by each of these proteins in the VSP repair pathway and have gained insights into their interactions. In this report we demonstrate an in vitro reconstitution of the VSP repair pathway using a plasmid DNA substrate. Surprisingly, the repair track length can be modulated by the concentration of DNA ligase. We propose roles for MutL and MutS in coordination of this repair pathway.
A systematic review of patient and health system characteristics associated with late referral in chronic kidney disease

To identify patient and health system characteristics associated with late referral of patients with chronic kidney disease to nephrologists. MEDLINE, CENTRAL, and CINAHL were searched using the appropriate MESH terms in March 2007. Two reviewers individually and in duplicate reviewed the abstracts of 256 articles and selected 18 observational studies for inclusion. The reasons for late referral were categorized into patient or health system characteristics. Data extraction and content appraisal were done using a prespecified protocol. Older age, the existence of multiple comorbidities, race other than Caucasian, lack of insurance, lower socioeconomic status and educational levels were patient characteristics associated with late referral of patients with chronic kidney disease. Lack of referring physician knowledge about the appropriate timing of referral, absence of communication between referring physicians and nephrologists, and dialysis care delivered at tertiary medical centers were health system characteristics associated with late referral of patients with chronic kidney disease. Most studies identified multiple factors associated with late referral, although the relative importance and the combined effect of these factors were not systematically evaluated. A combination of patient and health system characteristics is associated with late referral of patients with chronic kidney disease. Overall, being older, belonging to a minority group, being less educated, being uninsured, suffering from multiple comorbidities, and the lack of communication between primary care physicians and nephrologists contribute to late referral of patients with chronic kidney disease. Both primary care physicians and nephrologists need to engage in multisectoral collaborative efforts that ensure patient education and enhance physician awareness to improve the care of patients with chronic kidney disease.
Paperless Letters Of Credit and EDI on the Internet

The purpose of this paper is to build a better understnading of the operation of a Letter of Credit (L/C) in the transportation of goods. Related and of growing Importance are some recent developme...
Graft-versus-Host Disease in a Liver Transplant Recipient

Excerpt The classic requirements for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) (1) exist in recipients of liver allografts: 1) The donor liver and recipient are histo-incompatible; 2) lymphocytes within the...