cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A SURVEY OF NOVEL MOLECULAR TARGETS FOR ANTICANCER DRUG DISCOVERY

Publisher Summary This chapter provides a general survey of validated and emerging molecular targets for cancer drug discovery and development, with a focus on those explored for the discovery of molecularly targeted cancer therapeutics. The targeting of oncogenic protein tyrosine kinase signal transduction pathways in cancer cells ushered in the molecularly targeted approach to therapeutics. The signaling cascade is initiated by the growth factors binding to their cognate receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) at the extracellular domain. Protein and lipid kinases modulate the cellular functions of numerous other proteins and play critical roles in signal transduction pathways of cell growth and proliferation. The chapter explains the major receptor and cytosolic tyrosine kinases identified as novel cancer targets. It is found that, in addition to the HER or erbB family of oncogenic RTKs, several other RTKs constitute potential novel molecular targets for cancer drug discovery such as the platelet-derived growth factor receptor. The transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor has also been shown to be important in cancer progression and angiogenesis. Its overexpression has been correlated with treatment failure and mortality in brain, breast, cervical, esophageal, oropharyngeal, and ovarian cancers.
The Isotopomers of Nitrous Oxide: Analytical Considerations and Application to Resolution of Microbial Production Pathways

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is an important greenhouse gas and the most important substance involved in ozone depletion. The N2O molecule consists of two N atoms that differ in the nature of their covalent bonds and consequently tend to acquire distinct isotopic compositions. Thus, N2O contains both bulk (δ15N and δ18O) and site specific isotopic information. Site preference (SP) is defined as the difference in δ15N between the central (α) and outer (β) N atoms in N2O. SP has emerged as a potential conservative tracer of microbial N2O production because (1) it is independent of the isotopologue composition of the substrates of nitrification and denitrification and (2) does not exhibit fractionation during production. In pure microbial culture distinct SP values for N2O production from bacterial denitrification, including nitrifier denitrification (−10 to 0 ‰), relative to hydroxylamine oxidation and fungal denitrification (33–37 ‰) provides a basis to resolve production pathways in the natural environment. Future directions for isotopomer research include (1) improvements in calibration and mass overlap corrections, (2) evaluation of SP signals of microbial production pathways not yet studied including heterotrophic nitrification, codenitrification, and dissimilatory reduction of nitrate to ammonium, and (3) evaluation of the potential for biological production to produce a 17O anomaly in atmospheric N2O.
The Association Between Emotional Labor and Burnout: the Moderating Role of Psychological Capital

Relationships among surface and deep acting, psychological capital (PsyCap), and the three burnout components (i.e., emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, personal accomplishment) were examined. Data were collected from a sample of 416 working professionals. While surface acting positively correlated with emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, it negatively correlated with personal accomplishment. Deep acting positively correlated with depersonalization and personal accomplishment, but was not significantly related to emotional exhaustion. PsyCap negatively correlated with emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, but positively correlated with personal accomplishment. Surface acting negatively correlated with PsyCap, while deep acting positively correlated with it. Lastly, PsyCap moderated the relationship between surface acting and emotional exhaustion, as well as between deep acting and both depersonalization and personal accomplishment. Identifying the benefits and costs of emotional labor, specifically surface and deep acting, can lead to organizational practices that benefit employers and employees alike. Organizations should invest in resources that increase employees’ PsyCap to help workers combat the negative outcomes associated with emotional labor, specifically the components of burnout.
COOLING MENU ITEMS BY AGITATION UNDER REFRIGERATION1

Summary The present investigation was concerned with cooling menu items by agitation, under refrigeration. The aim was to investigate the effects on cooling times of foods of the following variables: the design of the agitator, the width of the scraper blade of the agitator, and the rate of agitation. Observations were made of changes in certain quality characteristics of the items cooled by agitation. The cooling times of the agitated menu items were reduced to fractions of the time lengths required when comparable batches were cooled without agitation. The design of the agitator and the rate of agitation had little effect on cooling time but had a strong effect on the physical quality of the entrees, especially stews. A simple frame agitator equipped with wide plastic scraper blades rotating at 8 rpm gave satisfactory results in that it effected fast cooling without rendering the item unacceptable in appearance. Agitation under refrigeration may be looked upon as an efficient and feasible method of prec...
A Breath-Taking Diagnosis

A Breath-Taking Diagnosis A 71-year-old woman with a history of locoregional recurrent breast cancer and a remote and recent history of radiation therapy presented with new, progressive dyspnea on ...
Activating a Reserve Neural Stem Cell Population In Vitro Enables Engraftment and Multipotency after Transplantation.

Summary The olfactory epithelium (OE) regenerates after injury via two types of tissue stem cells: active globose cells (GBCs) and dormant horizontal basal cells (HBCs). HBCs are roused to activated status by OE injury when P63 levels fall. However, an in-depth understanding of activation requires a system for culturing them that maintains both their self-renewal and multipotency while preventing spontaneous differentiation. Here, we demonstrate that mouse, rat, and human HBCs can be cultured and passaged as P63+ multipotent cells. HBCs in vitro closely resemble HBCs in vivo based on immunocytochemical and transcriptomic comparisons. Genetic lineage analysis demonstrates that HBCs in culture arise from both tissue-derived HBCs and multipotent GBCs. Treatment with retinoic acid induces neuronal and non-neuronal differentiation and primes cultured HBCs for transplantation into the lesioned OE. Engrafted HBCs generate all OE cell types, including olfactory sensory neurons, confirming that HBC multipotency and neurocompetency are maintained in culture.
Optofluidic control using plasmonic TiN bowtie nanoantenna [Invited]

The performance of plasmonic titanium nitride (TiN) nanoantennas for the manipulation of fluidic flow and suspended particles in an optofluidic chip is studied. A unified theoretical framework is utilized to model the multidisciplinary problem that comprises optics, thermodynamics, and hydrodynamics. Using multiphysics finite element analysis, we simulate the temperature rise resulting from the photothermal heating of a plasmonic TiN bowtie nanoantenna (BNA) and the accompanying hydrodynamic flow generated in a microfluidic channel. We show that the TiN BNA enables over three times higher electrothermoplasmonic flow velocity in comparison to a gold BNA under similar signal conditions. Our analysis shows that TiN BNAs at near-IR biological transparency wavelengths can be utilized to initiate strong microfluidic flow for directed transport and trapping of target nanoscale objects. This makes TiN an excellent plasmonic material choice for optically controlling heat, fluidic dynamics and heat-induced forces in microfluidic devices.
The President's Tax Returns

This Article examines whether congressional committees enjoy the unrestricted authority to demand a President’s tax returns. It concludes that they do not. Though a federal statute seemingly compels the IRS to furnish, on request, anyone’s tax returns to some congressional committees, a statute cannot transcend the constitutional limits on Congress’s investigative authority. Congress enjoys a near-automatic right to review a President’s tax returns only through a proper impeachment inquiry. After analyzing the general constitutional principles, the Article briefly examines the House Ways & Means Committee’s disputed request for President Trump’s tax return information. That controversy remains ongoing, and subsequent events may affect the legitimacy of any congressional request for that information. However, the Article expresses doubt that the Committee’s request satisfies the relevant constitutional standard.
Tracking the prelude of the electroreduction of carbon monoxide via its interaction with Cu(100): Studies by operando scanning tunneling microscopy and infrared spectroscopy

Abstract The first isolable intermediate in the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide is carbon monoxide. This species, or its hydrated form, formic acid, is also the primary end product from all but a handful of metallic electrodes; with the latter, hydrogen gas is generated, but it emanates from the reduction of water and not from CO2. Only one electrode material, zerovalent copper, can spawn, in greater-than-trace quantities, a variety of species that are more highly reduced than CO. Hence, if the aim is to pursue a reaction trail of the reduction of CO2 to products other than CO, it would be both logical and expedient to track the electrocatalytic reaction of CO itself. Heterogeneous electrocatalysis is a surface phenomenon; it transpires only when the reactant, CO in this case, chemisorbs on, or chemically interacts with, the Cu electrode surface. There is no electrocatalytic reaction if there is no CO adsorption. In ultrahigh vacuum, no CO resides on the Cu(100) surface at temperatures higher than 200 K. However, under electrochemical conditions, CO is chemisorbed on Cu at ambient temperatures at a given potential. We thus paired, in seriatim fashion, scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and polarization-modulation IR reflection-absorption spectroscopy (PMIRS) to document the influence of applied potential on the coverage, the molecular orientation, and the adlattice structure of CO adsorbed on Cu(100) in alkaline solutions; the results are described in this paper.
Re-treatment of Hepatitis C Infection After Multiple Failures of Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy

Background Direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies for hepatitis C virus (HCV) result in initial cure rates of 95% to 99% and re-treatment cure rates of 95%. Nevertheless, given the sheer magnitude of infected persons, some will ultimately fail multiple DAA therapies, and re-treatment of these persons has not been adequately studied. Methods We evaluated treated an HIV-infected man with cirrhosis from genotype 1b HCV who had failed 3 DAA regimens. Results We treated and cured our "particularly difficult-to-cure" patient with sofosbuvir plus glecaprevir/pibrentasvir plus ribavirin for 24 weeks. We discuss the literature on potential biological factors behind his treatment failures such as lack of HCV seroconversion during his infection course, and multiple failures of hepatitis B seroconversion after vaccination, and the rationale for choosing his curative salvage regimen. Discussion There are no clinical trials-proven re-treatment regimens for "particularly difficult-to-cure" patients. Multiple patient- and virus-related factors that do not affect cure rates in treatment-naive patients may need to be considered in choosing a re-treatment regimen for these patients. These regimens may need to include combinations drugs that are not available in single-tablet form, addition of ribavirin, and longer durations of treatment than standard.
A Distributed Routing Algorithm for Data Aggregation in Wireless Sensor Networks

Considering the impact of aggregation cost on the performance of aggregation routes in wireless sensor networks,an aggregation-decision-based distributed routing algorithm for data aggregation is proposed.When source nodes arrive or leave,the algorithm can calculate the aggregation benefit according to data correlation,aggregation cost and transmission cost.Then the algorithm will adaptively make aggregation and routing decisions based on aggregation benefit.Therefore,it can jointly optimize the aggregation and transmission costs and reduce the energy consumption for data gathering.This distributed algorithm makes all decisions only relying on the local information;hence,the routing maintenance cost is limited.Simulation results show that the energy consumption difference between this distributed online algorithm and the previous offline one is within 17% under any network conditions.
Social Determinants of Health and Patient-Reported Outcomes Following Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty in Veterans.

Abstract Background Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age. They are associated with disparities in outcomes following total joint arthroplasty (TJA). These disparities occur even in equal-access healthcare systems such as the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Our goal was to determine whether SDOH affect patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) following TJA in VHA patients. Methods Patients scheduled to undergo total hip or knee arthroplasty at VHA Hospitals in Minneapolis, MN, Palo Alto, CA, and San Francisco, CA, prospectively completed PROMs before and 1 year after surgery. PROMs included the Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, and their Joint Replacement subscores. SDOH included race, ethnicity, marital status, education, and employment status. The level of poverty in each patient’s neighborhood was determined. Medical comorbidities were recorded. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine whether SDOH were significantly associated with PROM improvement after surgery. Results On multivariate analysis, black race was significantly negatively correlated with knee PROM improvement and Hispanic ethnicity was significantly negatively correlated with hip PROM improvement compared to whites. Higher baseline PROM scores and lower age were significantly associated with lower PROM improvement. Significant associations were also found based on education, gender, comorbidities, and neighborhood poverty. Conclusion Minority VHA patients have lower improvement in PROM scores after TJA than white patients. Further research is required to identify the reasons for these disparities and to design interventions to reduce them.
Correlation Between Neurosurgical Residency Written Board Scores and Case Logs

Objective There are few objective measures for evaluating individual performance throughout surgical residency. Two commonly used objective measures are the case log numbers and written board examination scores. The objective of this study was to investigate possible correlations between these measures. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of the American Board of Neurological Surgery (ABNS) written board scores and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education case logs of 27 recent alumni from neurologic surgery residency training programs at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center and the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Results The number of spine cases logged was significantly correlated with the ABNS written examination performance in univariate linear regression (r2 = 0.182, P = 0.0265). However, case numbers from all other neurosurgical subspecialties did not significantly correlate with ABNS written board performance (P > 0.1). Conclusions Identifying which objective measures correlate most closely with resident education could help optimize the structure of residency training programs. We believe that early exposure to focused aspects of neurosurgery helps the young resident learn quickly and efficiently and ultimately score highly on standardized examinations. Therefore program directors may want to ensure focused exposure during the early years of residency, with particular attention to worthwhile rotations in spine neurosurgery.
Erosion of Access to Consumer Bankruptcy's 'Fresh Start' Policy in the United States: Statutory Reforms Needed to Enhance Access to Justice and Promote Social Justice

There is limited ability of qualified debtors to access justice in the form of bankruptcy relief in the United States. One-third of bankruptcy filers are below the poverty level. In the words of one researcher, "debtors are simply too broke to file." This paper explores issues of access to justice through the Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding in the United States, in particular, access to justice in the era following the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (the "Reform Act"). We show how, to date, policymakers have not adequately addressed the issue of access to justice raised by this paper. We argue that increased access to justice though bankruptcy is fundamental to the social and economic goals under Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings and that access to justice (or relief) is at the core of bankruptcy law and policy in the United States. One of the chief policies undergirding the Reform Act is to ensure that debtors who can pay creditors actually pay their creditors. For those debtors who cannot pay their creditors, bankruptcy proceedings extend relief. However, access for these debtors to bankruptcy relief is limited due to a number of barriers. We explore the limitations and barriers preventing debtors from accessing justice through Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings. We explore contending conceptions of justice in the context of bankruptcy and argue the purpose or intent behind bankruptcy relief is inherently a liberal conception of social justice. We propose several specific statutory reforms that will increase access to justice through Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings.
Why Does Intellectual Disability Matter to Philosophy? Toward a Transformative Pedagogy

This article explores what it means to include intellectual disability (ID) in philosophical discourse and in the philosophy classroom. Taking Audre Lorde’s claim that “the master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house” as a starting point, it asks how certain forms of cognitive ableism have excluded ID from the “philosopher’s house.” Drawing upon Michel Foucault’s work as a theoretical framework, part one critically examines the ways that ID has been included, excluded, and constructed within philosophical discourse. Part two then considers what it would mean for ID and people with an ID to be included in the philosophy classroom. It offers some examples of how the work in disability studies, philosophies of disability, and philosophy of art can lead to a more inclusive and transformative pedagogy that will generate new critical questions and expand our philosophical dwelling places.
Preparing a healthcare workforce for geriatrics care: an Interprofessional team based learning program

BACKGROUND Improving the care of older adults in our healthcare system involves teams working together. As the geriatrics population rises globally, health science learners need to be prepared to work collaboratively to recognize and treat common conditions in geriatrics. To enable workforce preparation, the Institute of Medicine and the National League for Nursing emphasize the need to implement interprofessional active learning activities for undergraduate healthcare learners at academic medical centers. METHODS The Geriatrics Champions Program was a team-based learning activity created to meet this task. It was a 24-month program, repeated twice, that impacted 768 learners and 151 faculty from medicine, occupational therapy, physical therapy, nursing, social welfare, psychology, pharmacy and dietetics. Each class was intentionally divided into 20 interprofessional teams that met four times annually. Each session focused on one geriatrics domain. The objectives were centered around the specific geriatrics competencies for each health profession, divided into the eight domains written in the "American Geriatrics Society IM-FM Residency Competencies". Evaluation consisted of individual and team Readiness Assessment Tests (iRAT and tRAT). Surveys were also used to collect feedback using a Likert scale. Wilcoxon signed rank tests were used to compare iRAT and tRAT scores. Other analyses identified characteristics associated with tRAT performance group (Unpaired t-tests) and tRAT performance on the raw scale (Pearson correlation). Paired t-tests using a 7-level Likert Scale measured pre-post change in learner knowledge. RESULTS Student tRAT scores were 30% higher than iRAT scores (p < 0.001). Teams were more likely to score 100% on the initial tRAT attempt if more team members attended the current session (p < 0.001), more health professions were represented by team members in attendance (p = 0.053), and the team had a better track record of past attendance (p < 0.01). In the post-program evaluation, learners felt this program was helpful for their career preparation in interprofessional geriatrics care. CONCLUSIONS Learners understood that teams performed better than individuals in the care of older adults. Feedback from the learners and faculty was consistently positive and learners felt better prepared for geriatrics care. The program's benefits may extend beyond individual sessions.
Experimental studies on impurity particle behavior in electrolyte and the associated distribution on the cathode in the process of copper electrorefining

Abstract A three factor 2-level designed set of experiments was performed to determine the effects of inlet flow rate, temperature, and current density on impurity particle behavior in electrolyte and the associated distribution on the cathode in copper electrorefining. Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) was used to measure the concentration of impurities on the cathode. The results of the experiments were statistically analyzed using Minitab. The inlet flow rate was identified as the most significant factor. All three factors and their two-factor interactions have a significant effect on impurity concentration on the cathode. The impurity concentrations in corner positions of cathodes had higher impurity levels than those in the center position of cathodes. The current density exerts more effect on both impurity concentrations at corner positions than at the center position. A possible explanation for the phenomena observed is proposed.
Examination of community and consumer nutrition, tobacco and physical activity environments at food and tobacco retail stores in three diverse North Carolina communities.

To advance our understanding of multiple health-related dimensions of the built environment, this study examined associations among nutrition, tobacco, and physical activity community and consumer environments. Community environment measures included supermarket access, tobacco outlet density, and physical activity resource density in store neighborhoods. Cross-sectional observations of the nutrition, tobacco and physical activity environments were conducted in 2011 at and around 303 food stores that sold tobacco products in three North Carolina counties. Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple linear regression were used to examine associations between community and consumer environments. Correlations between community nutrition, tobacco, and physical activity environments ranged from slight to fair (− 0.35 to 0.20) and from poor to fair (− 0.01 to − 0.38) between consumer environments. Significant relationships between consumer tobacco and nutrition environments were found after controlling for store and neighborhood characteristics. For example, stores with higher amounts of interior tobacco marketing had higher healthy food availability (p = 0.001), while stores with higher amounts of exterior tobacco marketing had lower healthy food availability (p = 0.02). Community and consumer environments for nutrition, tobacco, and physical activity were interrelated. Measures that assess single aspects of community or consumer environments could miss characteristics that may influence customer purchasing. Even chain supermarkets, typically regarded as healthful food sources compared to smaller food stores, may expose customers to tobacco marketing inside. Future research could explore combining efforts to reduce obesity and tobacco use by addressing tobacco marketing, healthy food availability and physical activity opportunities at retail food outlets.
Diversifying selective pressure on influenza B virus hemagglutinin.

Influenza B virus hemagglutinin (HA) is a major surface glycoprotein with frequent amino acid substitutions. However, the roles of antibody selection in the amino acid substitutions of HA were still poorly understood. In order to gain insights into this important issue, an analysis was conducted on a total of 271 HA1 sequences of influenza B virus strains isolated during 1940–2007. In this analysis, phylogenetic analysis by maximum likelihood (PAML) package was used to detect the existence of positive selection and to identify positively selected sites on HA1. Strikingly, all the positively selected sites were located in the four major epitopes (120-loop, 150-loop, 160-loop, and 190-helix) of HA identified in previous studies, thus supporting a predominant role of antibody selection in HA evolution. Of particular significance is the involvement of the 120-loop in positive selection, which may become increasingly important in future field isolates. Despite the absence of different subtypes, influenza B virus HA continued to evolve into new sublineages, within which the four major epitopes were targeted selectively in positive selection. Thus, any newly emerging strains need to be placed in the context of their evolutionary history in order to understand and predict their epidemic potential. J. Med. Virol. 81:114–124, 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Inhibition in inferotemporal cortex: generating selectivity for objectfeatures

Wang and colleagues demonstrate how local inhibition contributes to generating the remarkable specificity of responses of inferotemporal cortical neurons for complex stimulus features.
Low Temperature (150–250°C) Deposition of n + and p + Microcrystalline Silicon for VLSI Device Contacts

The rf glow discharge decomposition of dilute mixtures (∼1%) of SiH 4 in H 2 , with suitable doping agents such as PH 3 or B 2 H 6 added, produces n + and p + microcrystalline (μc) silicon films with resistivities (ρ) in the 10 −1 Ω.cm range at exceedingly low substrate temperatures T s (150–250°C). The μc-Si films consist of two phases with crystalline clusters embedded in an amorphous matrix. The films are stable when temperature-cycled in the 30–400°C range and the resistivity decreases when annealed above the original deposition temperature. A model of microcrystalline film growth involving the reactions between the gas phase radicals and the growing film surface is proposed.
Fast hierarchical backprojection for helical cone-beam tomography

Existing algorithms for exact helical cone beam (HCB) tomographic reconstruction are computationally infeasible for clinical applications. Their computational cost is dominated by 3-D backprojection, which is generally an O(N/sup 4/) operation. We present a fast hierarchical 3-D backprojection algorithm, generalizing fast 2-D parallel beam and fan beam algorithms, which reduces the overall complexity of this step to O(N/sup 3/ log N), greatly accelerating the reconstruction.
Contaminated Sediments: Inorganic Constituents

Owing to a variety of physical and chemical factors, in conjunction with aquatic physicochemical conditions, fluvial/lacustrine suspended and bed sediments can act as both sources and carriers of a wide variety of inorganic constituents and nutrients. Many of these constituents reflect local environmental conditions and are derived from both point and nonpoint sources. When sources have an anthropogenic origin, and chemical levels exceed the typical range of local baseline concentrations, sediments can be described as contaminated. Most land-use categories (e.g. agriculture, forested, and rangeland) do not appear to exert a substantial effect on sediment-associated inorganic chemical levels. On the other hand, mining and/or mining-related activities are a major exception, and although this land use can be geographically limited, it can cause extensive local and downstream sediment contamination. Urban centers and urbanization (increasing amounts of impervious surfaces), as a result of industrial and wastewater discharges, power generation, and transportation-related activities, also can cause extensive sediment contamination. Population density can be related to urbanization and, at levels ≥27 people (p) km−2, also appears to exercise a substantive effect on sediment chemistry. In fact, population density appears to be a more consistent influence than urban percentage, and displays stronger positive correlations with sediment contamination. The most common sediment-associated inorganic/nutrient contaminants appear to be Pb, Hg, Ag, Zn, Cd, Cu, Sb, S, Ni, Sn, Cr, As, TC (total carbon), Co, Fe, P, and TOC (total organic carbon). Keywords: sediment; trace elements; metalloids; nutrients; urban effects; mining effects
Lyra: An Interactive Visualization Design Environment

We present Lyra, an interactive environment for designing customized visualizations without writing code. Using drag-and-drop interactions, designers can bind data to the properties of graphical marks to author expressive visualization designs. Marks can be moved, rotated and resized using handles; relatively positioned using connectors; and parameterized by data fields using property drop zones. Lyra also provides a data pipeline interface for iterative, visual specification of data transformations and layout algorithms. Visualizations created with Lyra are represented as specifications in Vega, a declarative visualization grammar that enables sharing and reuse. We evaluate Lyra's expressivity and accessibility through diverse examples and studies with journalists and visualization designers. We find that Lyra enables users to rapidly develop customized visualizations, covering a design space comparable to existing programming-based tools.
A Review of “The Book of CSS3”

Today's Web pages have eye-catching visuals, stylish text, event-driven animations, gradients, and interesting placement—all of which are achieved using CSS3 techniques. In this book and its accomp...
Episcleritis in childhood.

Abstract Objective To describe the characteristics and systemic disease associations of episcleritis in childhood. Design Retrospective, observational case series. Participants Twelve children diagnosed with episcleritis between July 1981 and June 1998. Methods/Testing Complete eye and systemic evaluations. Main outcome measures Characteristics of episcleritis and presence and nature of concurrent systemic disease. Results The 12 children (10 boys and 2 girls) ranged in age from 13 months to 16 years. Five children had bilateral simple episcleritis, one had bilateral nodular episcleritis, and six had unilateral simple episcleritis. The eye examination was otherwise normal and recovery was uneventful in all cases. Six of the nine children older than 5 years of age had one of the following rheumatologic diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthropathy, inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatic fever, or polyarteritis nodosa. All three children younger than 5 years of age had simple episcleritis, an antecedent viral illness, and presented within 2 months of each other. Conclusions Episcleritis is a rare occurrence in childhood, especially in children younger than 5 years of age. In older children, it is frequently associated with rheumatologic disease.
C‐terminal binding: An expanded repertoire and function of 14‐3‐3 proteins

Amino and carboxyl termini are unique positions in a polypeptide. They tend to be exposed in folded three dimensional structures. Diversity and functional significance of C-terminal sequences have been appreciated from studies of PDZ and PEX domains. Signaling 14-3-3 protein signaling by recognizing phosphorylated peptides plays a critical role in a variety of biological processes, including oncogenesis. The preferential binding of 14-3-3 to phosphorylated C-terminal sequences, mode III, provides a means of regulated binding and considerably expands the substrate repertoire of 14-3-3 interaction partners.
A New Limit on the Anisotropy of the Microwave Background Radiation on Arcminute Scales

Observations of the cosmic microwave background radiation, obtained using a sensitive maser receiver (noise temperature about 25 K) on the 40-m radio telescope at Owens Valley Radio Observatory on 170 days beginning in January 1984, are reported. The data are presented in tables, graphs, and contour maps and compared with the predictions of cosmological models. Assuming a single main field, the upper limit on the contribution of Delta-T/T to the main-field rms is found to be 0.000017, at the 95-percent confidence level. It is shown that, although the relationship between such a limit and theoretical predictions is complex, purely baryonic models with standard recombination and low-density cold-dark-matter models appear to have difficulty accounting for the observations. 14 refs.
Strategies for syphilis prevention in the 1990s.

Reconfiguring and refocusing syphilis control and prevention programs in the United States is required by the changing epidemiology and sociology of syphilis as well as by the importance and magnitude of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention efforts. An updated strategic approach to syphilis prevention might involve three categories, or tiers, of prevention activities. Tier 1 activities involve the basic elements or tools of prevention programs, such as screening, treatment, partner notification, or behavior change counseling. Tier 2, or prevention effectiveness activities, represent ways to select among the basic prevention elements and to specify how they should be applied in particular epidemiologic situations to yield the greatest impact on disease transmission and persistence from available resources. Tier 3 involves strategic linkages to and alignment with other broad public health programs and initiatives to help accomplish the substantive work of syphilis control and to promote sustained advocacy and public support for syphilis prevention efforts. Although efforts within and across these tiers of syphilis prevention activities should and do reinforce each other, they also compete for resources : Tier 2 activities have been particularly in need of enhancement for many years. Tier 3 activities are especially important in the mid-1990s because, after the major epidemic of the late 1980s, syphilis rates are on the decline, making it urgent but difficult to sustain prevention efforts.
Early responses of the liver of B6C3F1 mice to the hepatocarcinogen oxazepam.

Abstract Oxazepam has recently been shown to induce hepatocarcinogenicity in B6C3F1 mice. Due to the widespread human exposure to this anxiolytic compound and other structurally similar benzodiazepines, we conducted toxicity and cell proliferation studies on oxazepam to determine possible mechanisms whereby this nonmutagenic chemical may have exerted a carcinogenic effect. Male B6C3F1 mice (10 per dose-time group) received diets containing oxazepam at 0, 25, 125, 2500. and 5000 ppm. Mice were treated for 15, 30, 45, or 90 days, at which time they were evaluated for feed consumption, liver/body weight ratios, clinical pathology, serum oxazepam levels, and histopathology of the liver. During the final 7 days before sacrifice, the mice were exposed to BrDU via osmotic minipump to quantify hepatocellular replicative DNA synthesis. Few effects were observed resulting from chronic exposure to oxazepam other than statistically significant, dose-related increases in liver/body weight ratios. Replicative DNA synthesis was significantly increased in a dose-related manner at the 15-daytime point in the 125, 2500, and 5000 ppm dose groups, and attained levels of four- to fivefold above control levels which returned to control levels by 30 days. The lack of significant toxicity, sustained increased liven body weight ratios, and the rapid and transient induction of replicative DNA synthesis are similar to the effects reported for exposure to another widely used therapeutic agent shown to be a nongenotoxic carcinogen, phenobarbital.
Heart rate response and plasma lactate concentrations of horses competing in the cross-country phase of combined training events.

The exercise intensity of horses (n = 175) competing in the cross-country phase of 4 combined training events at 5 levels of competition [novice (N), training (T), preliminary (P), intermediate (I) and advanced (A)] was investigated. Environmental conditions varied from cool and humid (mean +/- s.d. temperature and humidity = 12.1 degrees C +/- 0.6 and 88.4% +/- 8.9 RH) to moderately hot and humid (27.8 degrees C +/- 2.1 and 62.5% +/- 7.8 RH). Heart rates (beats/min) were recorded continuously at 5 s intervals with a heart monitor. Mean +/- s.d. heart rates (beats/min) for each level of competition were: 154.4 +/- 19.2 beats/min (n = 45) (N), 160.4 +/- 28.1 beats/min (n = 47) (T), 160.6 +/- 33 beats/min (n = 53) (P), 181 +/- 26.6 beats/min (n = 29) (I) and 194.6 +/- 4.2 beats/min (n = 4) (A). Plasma lactate concentration was determined at rest in a random sampling of horses (n = 36) from all competitions and within 60 s of completion of the cross-country phase in all horses. Mean +/- s.d. lactate concentration at rest was 0.98 +/- 0.3 mmol/l. Mean +/- s.d. lactate concentrations (mmol/l) of horses after exercise were: N = 8.1 +/- 7, T = 11.5 +/- 4.7, P = 17.6 +/- 6.1, I = 19 +/- 6.7 and A = 21.3 +/- 7.3. Mean plasma lactate increased significantly (P < 0.001) as levels of competition increased, although there were few significant differences in heart rate between levels. Rectal temperatures were taken immediately after completion of the cross-country phase and 10 min later. Mean +/- s.d. rectal temperatures were significantly higher 10 min after completion of the cross-country than those taken immediately after cross-country (P < 0.001). Rectal temperatures 10 min after completion of exercise were significantly higher as the level of competition increased for N through I (P < 0.001). Rectal temperatures 10 min after completion of exercise were correlated with ambient temperatures (r = 0.22, P = 0.01). There was no significant correlation between either pulse or respiratory rate taken immediately after completion of exercise with heart rate during the course.
Effect of Resveratrol on the Expression of Autocrine Growth Modulators in Human Breast Cancer Cells

The effect of resveratrol on the growth of human breast cancer cells was examined. Resveratrol inhibited the growth of estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 cells cultivated in the presence of estradiol in a dose-dependent fashion. At 10-5 M, resveratrol maximally inhibited the growth stimulatory effect mediated by 10-9 M estradiol without affecting cell viability. At the molecular level, resveratrol in a dose-dependent fashion antagonized the stimulation by estradiol of an estrogen response element reporter gene construct and of progesterone receptor gene expression in MCF-7 cells. Resveratrol also inhibited the proliferation of the estrogen-receptor negative human breast carcinoma cell line MDA-MB-468. These later data suggest that resveratrol can also inhibit breast cancer cell proliferation by another mechanism besides estrogen receptor antagonism. We show here that resveratrol altered the expression of several autocrine growth modulators and their receptors in MCF-7 cells. Resveratrol at 10-5 M inhibited ...
Rehabilitation of neurogenic dysphagia with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.

Neurogenic oropharyngeal dysphagia is common in nursing home populations, and the risk of aspiration is sufficient to indicate the need for percutaneous endoscopid gastrostomy (PEG) feedings. Although intake provided through the PEG may meet the nutritional and hydration requirements for this group of patients, the risk of complication, e.g., aspiration of reflux, skin breakdown at the site of insertion, potential for infection, digestive difficulties, higher risk of rehospitalization, pneumonia, prolonged nursing home stay, and greater morbidity than for those without PEG tubes, may compromise the gains accrued from the ease of feeding. In an attempt to reduce these complications and return individuals to per orum (PO) diets, a program was developed to treat the dysphagia. Sixteen male nursing home patients were enrolled in a treatment program based on videofluoroscopic examination. Interventions included combinations of dietary consistency modifications, compensatory techniques, and direct swallow retraining. Results indicated such an approach reintroduced successful oral feeding in all patients, improved dietary consistency, resulted in a mean weight gain of 5.1 pounds, yielded a mean albumin increase of 0.5 g/dl, and allowed PEG tubes to be removed in 10 of the 16 patients. As a result of intervention, these findings suggest significant benefits in both quality of life issues and health care savings for this neurogenically based population.
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacts with estrogen receptor alpha and orphan receptors COUP-TFI and ERRalpha1.

The molecular mechanisms underlying the apparent "cross-talk" between estrogen receptor (ER)- and arylhydrocarbon receptor (AHR)-mediated activities are unknown. To determine how AHR ligand 2, 3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) may inhibit ER action and, conversely, to examine how 17-beta-estradiol (E(2)) affects AHR activity, we examined discrete activities of each receptor, i.e., protein-protein interactions, DNA binding, and transcriptional activation. We report that AHR interacts directly with ERalpha, COUP-TF, and ERRalpha1, in a ligand-specific manner in vitro. Unoccupied or beta-napthoflavone (beta-NF)-occupied AHR showed stronger interaction with ERalpha, COUP-TF, and ERRalpha1 than when AHR was occupied by the partial antagonist alpha-naphthoflavone (alpha-NF), indicating a role for ligand in AHR interaction with these proteins. We also report that AHR interacts with COUP-TF in transfected CV-1 cells. In contrast, the AHR nuclear translocator protein (ARNT) did not interact with COUP-TF, ERRalpha1, or ERalpha. We next examined the interaction of either ERalpha or COUP-TF with a consensus xenobiotic response element (XRE). Purified ERalpha did not bind the consensus XRE, but COUP-TFI bound the consensus XRE, suggesting a role for COUP-TF as a AHR/ARNT competitor for XRE binding. In transiently transfected MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, overexpression of COUP-TFI inhibited TCDD-activated reporter gene activity from the CYP1A1 promoter. TCDD inhibited estradiol (E(2))-activated reporter gene activity from a consensus ERE and from the EREs in the pS2 and Fos genes, and COUP-TFI did not block the antiestrogenic activity of TCDD. The specific interaction of COUP-TF with XREs and AHR together with the inhibition of TCDD-induced gene expression by COUP-TF suggests that COUP-TF may regulate AHR action both by direct DNA binding competition and through protein-protein interactions.
Spatial Attack Pattern, Reproduction, and Brood Development of Ips calligraphus (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in Relation to Slash Pine Phloem Thickness: A Field Study

Ips calligraphus (Germar) spatial attack pattern, reproduction, and development were studied in 55-cm-long bolts of slash pine ( Pinus elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii ) with thick (3–4 mm) or thin (1–2 mm) phloem. Bolts, artificially infested with two male beetles each, were placed in the field to allow colonization by wild populations. Quadrat and distance sampling methods indicated that the spatial pattern of male attacks (nuptial chambers) was uniform (ca. 9 cm apart) on bolts of both phloem classes. Males attacked predominantly (93%) through bark crevices. Attack, gallery, egg, and brood adult densities were all positively correlated with phloem thickness. Averages of 3.3 and 3.0 parent females per attacking male were found in thick and thin phloem, respectively. Gallery systems of introduced males tended to have more total gallery length and more eggs than those of wild males in both phloem classes. Brood adults from thick phloem emerged earlier and were larger than those from thin phloem. The sex ratios of brood adults reared from thick and thin phloem were similar (ca. 45% males). Results of this field study agreed with previous laboratory studies.
Formation and properties of multivariant assemblies of surface-tethered diblock and triblock copolymers

We present methodologies for fabricating block copolymer assemblies grafted onto flat solid substrates, where each block of the copolymer possesses a systematic and gradual variation of molecular weight as a function of the position on the substrate. We demonstrate the utility of this technique on two case studies. In the first project, we generate surface-tethered poly[(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-b-(methyl methacrylate)] (PHEMA-b-PMMA) diblock copolymer brushes and study systematically morphological transitions associated with collapsing either the top PMMA or the bottom PHEMA block while keeping the other block solvated. Scanning force microscopy studies of systems having the top block collapsed reveal the presence of either flat (F), or micellar (M) or bicontinuous (BC) morphologies, whose locus in the phase diagram agrees with theoretical predictions and results of computer simulations. The second case study demonstrates the extension of the deposition method to the case of surface-anchored triblock copolymer brushes. Specifically, we present results pertaining to the formation of poly[(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)-b-(methyl methacrylate)-b-(dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate)] brushes with independent variation of all three block lengths.
Laparoscopic radical parametrectomy and pelvic and aortic lymphadenectomy for vaginal carcinoma: A case report.

Abstract Objective. The objective of this study was to examine the feasibility of laparoscopic radical parametrectomy after previous hysterectomy. Methods. This was a prospective study of a patient with vaginal adenocarcinoma after previous simple hysterectomy. The technique of radical parametrectomy with vaginectomy and pelvic and aortic lymphadenectomy as used for open cases for years was performed laparoscopically. Results. The operating time was 270 min, the estimated blood loss was 200 mL, and the duration of hospitalization was 3 days. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. Conclusions. Radical parametrectomy with vaginectomy and pelvic and aortic lymphadenectomy can be successfully accomplished laparoscopically.
Influence of glucose on cephalic-vagal-stimulated gastric acid secretion in man

Gastric acid secretion was stimulated by the preparation and anticipation of a self-selected meal in five healthy male subjects. The purpose of the investigation was to determine whether intravenous (IV) or intraduodenally (ID) administered glucose solution given during the test hour of meal preparation and anticipation altered psychically stimulated acid secretion. Each subject had seven self-selected meals and received in a randomized, blinded manner the following IV or ID solutions during the test hour: IV normal saline (200 ml/hr and 1000 ml/hr;N=2); IV glucose, 10 g (200 ml/hr, 5% D/W;N =1); IV glucose, 25 g (250 ml/hr, 10% D/W;N=1); IV glucose, 100 g (1000 ml/hr 10% D/W:N=1); ID normal saline (1000 ml/hr;N=1) and ID glucose, 30–100 g (600–2000 ml/hr, 5% D/W;N=1). Analysis of results revealed that only ID glucose significantly inhibited psychically stimulated acid secretion at doses and resultant plasma glucose concentrations considered physiological.