cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Plasma Metabolomic Profiles in Breast Cancer Patients and Healthy Controls: By Race and Tumor Receptor Subtypes

BACKGROUND: A few studies in the last several years have shown that metabolomics, the study of metabolites and small intermediate molecules, may help better understand the breast carcinogenesis. However, breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease with different subtypes. Additionally, there is a significant racial difference in terms of breast cancer incidence and mortality. Few, if any, metabolomics studies in breast cancer have considered race and tumor subtypes in the study design. METHODS: We performed a global metabolomic profiling using mass spectrometry and samples from 60 breast cancer cases and 60 matched controls. RESULTS: A total of 375 named metabolites were observed, with 117 metabolites whose levels were significantly different between African American and Caucasian American women (P < .05 and q < 0.10) and 78 that differed between breast cancer cases and healthy controls (P < .05 and q < 0.10). Most of those differentiated metabolites belong to amino acids, fatty acids, and lysolipids. In the pathway-based analysis, we found that plasma levels of many amino acids were statistically significantly lower in patients with breast cancer, especially those with triple-negative breast cancer, than healthy controls. However, plasma levels of many FAs related to β-oxidation were statistically significantly higher in patients with breast cancer than healthy controls, suggesting the possibility of altered FA β-oxidation in patients with breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Because of small sample size, the clinical usage of the metabolites from this study is unclear. Further validation of those significant metabolites is warranted, especially with the consideration of racial difference.
Behavior and disease: a possible approach.

This paper presents one possible approach to the study of the mutual adaptation between acute infectious diseases and the human host. The dynamic interaction between the German measles virus and human populations has been used to illustrate the three main phases of this approach. The first phase is a delineation of the existing disease pattern based on clinical and laboratory data. The second part is a consideration of possible evolutionary, biological and behavioral factors leading to the formation of such a pattern, and the third part is a description of significant behavioral responses to the disease.
Electron-helium absolute total scattering cross sections from 0. 5 to 50 eV

Absolute total cross sections for electron scattering from He have been measured over the energy range from 1 to 50 eV with an accuracy of 3% or better. A novel method employing time-of-flight monochromatization and energy determination of electrons from a pulsed secondary-emission source in transmission through a gas cell has been used. This method is contrasted with conventional ones and a comprehensive error discussion is given. The reported results are then compared to existing experimental and theoretical results. Discrepancies in existing experimental data are resolved and good agreement is obtained with some recent theoretical results.
Target diagnostic system for the national ignition facility (invited)

A review of recent progress on the design of a diagnostic system proposed for ignition target experiments on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) will be presented. This diagnostic package contains an extensive suite of optical, x ray, gamma ray, and neutron diagnostics that enable measurements of the performance of both direct and indirect driven NIF targets. The philosophy used in designing all of the diagnostics in the set has emphasized redundant and independent measurement of fundamental physical quantities relevant to the operation of the NIF target. A unique feature of these diagnostics is that they are being designed to be capable of operating in the high radiation, electromagnetic pulse, and debris backgrounds expected on the NIF facility. The diagnostic system proposed can be categorized into three broad areas: laser characterization, hohlraum characterization, and capsule performance diagnostics. The operating principles of a representative instrument from each class of diagnostic employed in this package will be summarized and illustrated with data obtained in recent prototype diagnostic tests.
Subcellular distribution of cytosolic Ca2+ in isolated rat hepatocyte couplets: evaluation using confocal microscopy.

Abstract Ca 2+ agonists induce Ca 2+ waves and other non-uniform Ca 2+ patterns in the cytosol of epithelial cells. To define subcellular Ca 2+ transients in the cytosol of hepatocytes we examined Fluo-3-loaded isolated rat hepatocyte couplets using confocal microscopy. Optical sections of less than 1 micron in thickness were observed in couplets, and fluorescence from cytosolic Ca 2+ signals was readily distinguished from nuclear, mitochondrial, and lysosomal fluorescence. The nature of the noncytosolic components of the fluorescent images was verified by double labelling with the mitochondrial dye DIOC 6 (3) and with the lysosomal marker acridine orange. Using the line scanning mode of confocal microscopy, measurements of cytosolic Ca 2+ made with a frequency of up to 250 Hz and without significant bleaching. It was found that phenylephrine-induced Ca 2+ signals generally began at the basal pole of the hepatocytes, then spread to the canallculus at average speeds of 80 μm/s. These findings demonstrate the utility of confocal line scanning microscopy for detecting rapid changes in the subcellular distribution of cytosolic Ca 2+ in hepatocyte couplets, and suggest that phenylephrine-induced Ca 2+ waves radiate in a basal-to-apical direction in this cell type.
Web 2.0 Tools Ease Renovation Service Disruptions at The Ohio State University Libraries

ABSTARCT The Thompson Library, the main library of The Ohio State University (OSU), began a major renovation in fall 2006 that required the library to close for three years. During this time, the bulk of the circulating collection and many of the personnel relocated to an interim facility. The distance imposed by the renovation created special challenges for service to patrons and communication among library faculty and staff. The OSU Libraries used blogs, podcasts, a wiki, instant messaging, and the campus course management system to reach as many of the constituents of the campus community as possible.
On games without side payments arising from a general class of markets

Abstract The class of games without side payments obtainable from finite trader markets having possibly infinite dimensional commodity spaces, individual compact, convex consumption and production sets, and concave upper-semicontinuous utility functions is considered. It is shown that these market games are precisely the totally balanced games. In fact, each totally balanced game is shown to have both a finite commodity representation and an infinite commodity ‘simple’ representation.
Immunocytochemical Localization of GABAA Receptors in Rat Somatosensory Cortex and Effects of Tactile Deprivation

Immunocytochemical techniques were used to investigate the distribution of gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptors in the rat primary somatosensory cortex (SI). Monoclonal antibody 62-3G1 (de Blas et al., 1988; Victorica et al., 1988), which recognizes an epitope common to the beta 2 and beta 3 subunits of the GABAA receptor, produces staining of small punctate structures throughout the neuropil, and around somata and linear processes in all laminae of SI. Receptor immunostaining is relatively intense in upper lamina I and in lamina IV, where patches of intense receptor staining are interleaved with narrow zones of moderate immunoreactivity. Staining is lightest in lamina Vb, where stained puncta appear to be aligned with radially oriented processes, and moderate in the remaining laminae. Tangential sections through lamina IV reveal that each large cortical barrel encompasses several patches of intense receptor staining that are aligned with the corners or edges of individual barrels; interbarrel septa are moderately of intense cytochrome oxidase (CO) histochemical staining. A similar correspondence is apparent between a complex lattice of dense receptor clustering and a plexus of dark CO staining in the cortical trunk representation. Six to eight weeks of tactile deprivation produced by simple whisker trimming have no visible effect on GABAA receptor distribution. This is the case for rats whose whiskers were trimmed only during adulthood and for rats deprived from the day of birth until examination 6-8 weeks later. However, electrocautery ablation of whisker follicles leads to a marked decline in GABAA receptor immunoreactivity in cortical barrels associated with the ablated follicles. Our findings indicate that there is reasonable, though not perfect, correspondence between the distribution of GABAA receptors and the distribution of GABA-containing neurons and terminals in rat SI. These elements are associated with regions of intense oxidative metabolic activity revealed by CO staining. The density of GABAA receptors is reduced in lamina IV following complete loss of peripheral afferent input. However, less severe tactile deprivation, which is known to affect cortical neuron responsiveness, produces little or no change in receptor distribution.
Correlation of Size and Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering Activity of Optical and Spectroscopic Properties for Silver Nanoparticles

The primary focus of this research is to investigate the potential correlations between the absorption band and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) activity of solution-based silver nanoparticles and the morphology and size of the silver nanoparticles. Silver nanoparticles were synthesized using sodium borohydride reduction methods. The silver nanoparticles were tested for SERS activity using a highly SERS-active compound, trans-1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene (BPE). Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) was used to analyze the size and shape of the Ag nanoparticles. The STEM, SERS, and UV−vis data have been investigated in order to make correlations between SERS activity, size, and shape of the nanoparticles and their corresponding λmax or surface plasmon (SP) band. The data suggest that as particle size increases, SERS activity decreases. Thus, using the sodium borohydride reduction and solution-based SERS studies, there appears to be an optimal nanoparticle size that is obtained at a λmax of...
Real-time control under clock offsets between sensors and controllers

This paper studies the impact of clock mismatches in spatially distributed real-time control systems. We consider a configuration in which sensor measurements are collected by one processor that transmits the measurements to another control/actuation processor through a network, but the two processors do not have a common clock. Due to the clock mismatch, there will be an offset between the actual time at which a measurement is taken and the time reported by the sensor. Our goal is to discover fundamental limitations to the ability to stabilize the control loop arising from the clocks mismatch. We consider time-varying bounded offsets and derive limitations on the offset bound for the stability of the feedback system. For the case of a scalar linear process, there exists a critical limitation, which depends on the level of instability of the plant and the nominal sampling period. In contrast, for the vector linear processes, if the process dynamics has at least two distinct real eigenvalues, then there is no fundamental limitation on the offset bound.
Void nucleation in astroloy: theory and experiments

Abstract The process of nucleation of grain boundary voids in astroloy by room temperature deformation and annealing has been studied both experimentally and theoretically. Cavities form at the interface between matrix and grain boundary carbides, close to the ends of the carbides. Most cavities are associated with one or two slip bands. Slip bands tend to intersect grain boundaries close to the ends of the carbides. A calculation has been made of the stresses which are produced in the neighborhood of an elastic elliptical inclusion embedded in a deformable matrix when the matrix suffers a plastic strain. Plastic deformation causes shear stresses which peak near the ends of the inclusion. These concentrations of shear stress cause the slip bands observed near the carbide ends. Estimates of the interfacial stress produced by dislocation pile ups show that under optimum conditions, a plastic strain in the matrix of about 1% is sufficient to cause decohesion (i.e. void nucleation). Residual normal stresses also are produced which drive vacancy flow during annealing and thus cause cavity growth on certain boundaries. It is noted that the build up of compressive residual stresses on transverse boundaries during high temperature creep may affect void growth.
Experimental demonstration of all-optical polarization multiplexing and polarization demultiplexing between two 50-Gbit/s channels and a single 100-Gbit/s channel

We demonstrate all optical multiplexing and demultiplexing between two WDM 50-Gbit/s channels and a single Polarization Multiplexed 100-Gbit/s. Both On-Off-Keying and Differential Phase-Shift-Keying formats are shown.
Determination of Retinol and Retinoic Acid in Capillary Blood by High Performance Liquid Chromatography

A simplified method for quantitation of retinol in capillary blood by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is described. Serum (10-20 μl) obtained by centrifugation of capillary blood is extracted with a solvent mixture of isopropanol-dichloroethane, and the extract is directly injected into a HPLC system to quantitate retinol. The lower limit of quantitation is 0.25 ng retinol, thus permitting quantitation of serum or plasma level of 8 μg or more retinol/L. Although endogenous retinoic acid cannot be analyzed, retinoic acid, following an oral dose, can be extracted along with retinol in presence of acetic acid and quantitated. The lower limit of quantitation of retinoic acid is 0.5 ng, thus permitting quantitation of 50 ng or more of retinoic acid/ml serum or plasma. The small sample size required, their simple preparation, and rapid analysis make this method well suited for clinical studies. The method should be very useful for monitoring retinol level in blood of patients suspected of vitamin A deficiency or of retinol and retinoic acid levels in patients undergoing retinoic acid therapy for skin disorders or acute promyelocytic leukemia
A 700 bp cis-Acting Region Controls Mating-Type Dependent Recombination Along the Entire Left Arm of Yeast Chromosome III

Abstract Homothallic switching of the mating-type MAT a gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae results from replacement by gene conversion of MAT -Ya DNA with Yα sequences copied from one of two unexpressed donors. MAT a preferentially recombines with HML α, located near the left end of chromosome III, but can use HMR α, near the right chromosome end. MAT a donor preference depends on a 700 bp orientation-independent cis -acting recombination enhancer, located 17 kb proximal to HML . Deletion of this element markedly reduces MAT a's use of a donor inserted at any of four different locations along the leftmost 92 kb of chromosome III. This enhancer is sufficient for donor activation, since it stimulates use of the "wrong" donor, when it is inserted 7 kb proximal to HMR .
Production of benzaldehyde: a case study in a possible industrial application of phase-transfer catalysis

The conventional method of producing benzaldehyde by direct oxidation of toluene has a major drawback: low conversion to achieve high selectivity. Phase-transfer catalysis (PTC) may be used as an alternative route for benzaldehyde production. In the present study, routes to produce benzaldehyde from benzyl chloride in the liquid phase by using PTC have been examined based on the kinetic data obtained. Using the results of this study and the available information on the conventional route, process design simulations have been carried out for all the routes. While PTC-based processes offer advantages, the study shows that the conventional route appears to be the preferred one for this relatively large-scale organic intermediate with current conversions, selectivities, and chemical costs. However, even minor improvements in one or two PTC steps can greatly enhance the prospects of the PTC route. In general, as the processes get increasingly chemistry intensive, the PTC route becomes increasingly the preferred candidate.
Moral Feedback and Motivation: Revisiting the Undermining Effect

Social psychologists have evidence that evaluative feedback on others' choices sometimes has unwelcome negative effects on hearers' motivation. Holroyd's article (Holroyd J. Ethical Theory Moral Pract 10:267-278, 2007) draws attention to one such result, the undermining effect, that should help to challenge moral philosophers' complacency about blame and praise. The cause for concern is actually greater than she indicates, both because there are multiple kinds of negative effect on hearer motivation, and because these are not, as she hopes, reliably counteracted by implicit features of praise and blame. The communicative ideal that she articulates does point us in the right direction, but it requires further elaboration. Once it is spelled out, we find that realizing this ideal, in light of the empirical research, requires rethinking the role of verdict-like judgments within moral feedback.
Blockade of peripheral neuronal barrage reduces postoperative pain

Peripheral afferent neuronal barrage from tissue injury produces central nervous system hyperexcitability which may contribute to increased postoperative pain. Blockade of afferent neuronal barrage has been reported to reduce pain following some, but not all, types of surgery. This study evaluated whether blockade of sensory input with a long-acting local anesthetic reduces postoperative pain after the anesthetic effects have dissipated. Forty-eight patients underwent oral surgery with general anesthesia in a parallel group, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Subjects randomly received either 0.5% bupivacaine or saline intraoral injections, general anesthesia was induced with propofol, a non-opioid anesthetic, and 2-4 third molars extracted. Subjects were assessed at 24 and 48 h for postoperative pain and analgesic intake. Blood samples were collected at baseline, intraoperatively and at 1-h intervals postoperatively for measurement of beta-endorphin as an index of CNS response to nociceptor input. Plasma beta-endorphin levels increased significantly from baseline to the end of surgery in the saline group in comparison to the bupivacaine group (P < 0.05), indicating effective blockade of nociceptor input into the CNS by the local anesthetic. Pain intensity was not significantly different between groups at 24 h. Pain at 48 h was decreased in the bupivacaine group as measured by category scale and graphic rating scales for pain and unpleasantness (P < 0.05). Additionally, subjects in the bupivacaine group self-administered fewer codeine tablets for unrelieved pain over 24-48 h postoperatively (P < 0.05). These data support previous animal studies demonstrating that blockade of peripheral nociceptive barrage during and immediately after tissue injury results in decreased pain at later time points. The results suggest that blockade of nociceptive input by administration of a long-acting local anesthetic decreases the development of central hyperexcitability, resulting in less pain and analgesic intake.
Cycloaddition of CO2 to epoxides over solid base catalysts

The cycloaddition of carbon dioxide to various epoxides (ethylene oxide, epoxybutene, and epoxypropylbenzene) over solid base cata-lysts (KX zeolite, Cs-loaded KX zeolite, Cs-doped alumina, and MgO) was performed in a batch autoclave reactor at 423 K and with excess CO2. Catalysts were characterized by elemental analysis, N2 physisorption, and CO2 adsorption microcalorimetry. The combination of results from elemental analysis and microcalorimetry showed that the occluded base sites on the Cs/KX were actually composed of occluded Cs and K species that could be removed by washing with water. The activity of the zeolite catalysts for ethylene oxide conversion to ethylene carbonate depended on the basicity of the sample, with the sample containing occluded alkali metal oxides being the most active. In addition, the site-time yields of ethylene carbonate formation, based on CO2 adsorption capacity, over Cs/KX, Cs/Al2O3, and MgO were similar to each other and were within a factor of 4 of the site-time yield seen with the homogeneous catalyst [N(C2H5)4]Br. The rates of epoxypropylbenzene conversion over the solid base catalysts were much lower than the rates of ethylene oxide conversion, presumably due to steric hindrance of the bulky side group on the former. Rate measurements with a mixture of ethylene oxide and epoxypropylbenzene over Cs/KX and MgO indicated that most of the basic sites on Cs/KX are located in the zeolite micropores. A high catalytic activity of Cs/Al2O3 for all of the epoxides studied suggests that proximity of surface Lewis acid sites to surface base sites is needed for the cycloaddition reaction. In the case of a zeolite catalyst, addition of a small amount of water enhanced the rate ethylene oxide reaction without significant formation of glycol side products.
The dynamics of infection following bcg and Mycobacterium tuberculosis challenge in t-cell-deficient mice

The purpose of these experiments was to re-evaluate the usefulness of the thymectomized, irradiated, bone marrow reconstituted mouse (TXB mouse) as a model of the effect of immunodeficiency on resistance to mycobacterial infection. It was found that, although TXB mice had no resistance to intravenous infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, such mice were able to express moderate resistance to infection with the BCG vaccine, even when given in high doses. It is concluded, therefore, that rather than representing an animal devoid of immunological reactivity, the TXB mouse retains a residual capacity, albeit minimal, to express acquired immunity.
The Weak Generative Capacity of Linear Tree-Adjoining Grammars

Linear tree-adjoining grammars (TAGs), by analogy with linear context-free grammars, are tree-adjoining grammars in which at most one symbol in each elementary tree can be rewritten (adjoined or substituted at). Uemura et al. (1999), calling these grammars simple linear TAGs (SL-TAGs), show that they generate a class of languages incommensurate with the context-free languages, and can be recognized in O(n4) time.
Long-term deficits in passive avoidance responding following experimental febrile convulsions during infancy.

Abstract Human infantile febrile convulsions are occasionally associated with later deficits in cognitive and motor performance. In the present report, experimental febrile convulsions during various stages of infancy in the rat were investigated. Infant rats that were subjected to a single hyperthermia-induced convulsion at 10, 15, or 20, but not 5, days of age required more trials than controls to acquire a step-down passive avoidance response when tested as adults (50–60 days of age). Although rats that were subjected to a series of convulsions during infancy also evinced deficits in passive avoidance responding at adulthood, the magnitude of the effect was not appreciably greater than that following a single convulsion. The present results indicate that a single experimental febrile convulsion during infancy can have long-term effects on subsequent behavior.
Transcellular Delivery of an Insulin-Transferrin Conjugate in Enterocyte-like Caco-2 Cells

Insulin, acylated with dimethylmaleic anhydride, was conjugated to transferrin (Tf) via a disulfide linkage. The molar insulin: Tf ratio in the conjugate was 3:1. The insulin–Tf conjugate (insulin–Tf) was tested for the transport of insulin across enterocyte-like Caco-2 cell monolayers by the process of transferrin receptor (TfR)-mediated transcytosis. The uptake of insulin–Tf in Caco-2 cells was TfR-mediated but not insulin receptor-mediated. Transport studies showed that insulin–Tf transport was 5- to 15-fold higher than free insulin transport across Caco-2 cells in both apical-to-basal and basal-to-apical directions. Brefeldin A (BFA), an agent that we have previously shown to cause an increase in TfR transcytosis, further enhanced the transport of the conjugated insulin three-fold in both directions; thus, a combination of the conjugate and BFA can cause a net 45-fold increase in the apical-to-basolateral transport of insulin across Caco-2 cell monolayers. The transported conjugate was intact as indicated by elution on a Sephadex G-50 column. Insulin in the transcytosed conjugate, unlike the original dimethylmaleyl insulin, was capable of binding to anti-insulin antibodies, indicating that free amino groups of insulin were regenerated either during or after the transcytotic process. Because Caco-2 cell monolayers provide a good model for intestinal epithelium, the insulin–Tf conjugate in combination with BFA can be a rational approach to increase the oral absorption of insulin in vivo.
Usfda assessment of exposure to 2,3,7,8-TCDD and 2,3,7,8-TCDF from foods contacting bleached paper products

Abstract Migration studies with paper food-contact articles thought to represent the greatest potential for exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin (TCDD) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF) showed that measurable migration occurred with all articles tested. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) combined these results with food consumption estimates to evaluate potential exposure to TCDD and TCDF from bleached paper food-contact articles.
MECHANIHMB OF INTESTINAL IMMUNITY TO ROTAVIRUS ENTERITIS: CHARACTERISTICS OF PERSISTENT INFECTION IN SEVERE COMBINED IMMUNODEFICIENT (SCID) MICE

Using ELISA and fluorescent antibody assays, we followed shedding and replication of mouse rotavirus (MRV) in groups of suckling, adult, and lactating female SCID, and age matched normal (control) mice. The mice were infected, with orally administered live MRV, or spontaneously via ingestion of virus containing feces from infected pups. Suckling normal and SCID mice were infected with MRV with development of disease in a predictable manner. However, SCID infants exhibited more severe disease and persistent viral shedding in the feces. Although normal adult mice could not be infected with the virus, SCID adults developed infection in about 5-10% of villous enterocytes, but with little or no clinical disease, significantly, these animals continued to shed virus in feces intermittently 4 to 5 months (to date) after primary infection. No MRV specific secretory antibody activity was induced in the intestine in SCID mice. However, such infected adults manifested significant resistance to subsequent attempts at reinfection with high dose of virus (8×105 ID50) administered orally. The virus recovered from the SCID mice was highly infectious when re-inoculated in susceptible suckling animals. These data suggest that the virus and host may have achieved a “steady state” in the gut in immunodeficient animals, implying that factors other than rotavirus-specific serum and secretory antibody or T cell function are important in controlling virus replication in the gut.
Hybrid nanomaterial-based nanofluids for micropower generation

This paper reports a new type of nanofluid, which is prepared by dispersing a hybrid nanomaterial single walled carbon nanotube–copper sulfide nanoparticles (SWNT–CuS NPs) into poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSS) solution, and its application for electricity generation. Its optical and thermal properties have been characterized, exhibiting significant improvement in optical extinction and temperature increase over water. In addition, a fluidic micropower generator is designed, fabricated and tested with the nanofluids of different concentrations. Measurements found that open circuit voltage by the fluidic micropower generator can be up to 1.6 mV with 900 μL nanofluid. Operation of a thermistor by the fluidic micropower generator has been demonstrated. Since hundreds and thousands of the micropower generators could be fabricated on a single chip by Si-based MEMS technology, the output power could be improved to the range of microwatts or milliwatts.
A k-mean-directions Algorithm for Fast Clustering of Data on the Sphere

A k-means-type algorithm is proposed for efficiently clustering data constrained to lie on the surface of a p-dimensional unit sphere, or data that are mean-zero-unit-variance standardized observations such as those that occur when using Euclidean distance to cluster time series gene expression data using a correlation metric. We also provide methodology to initialize the algorithm and to estimate the number of clusters in the dataset. Results from a detailed series of experiments show excellent performance, even with very large datasets. The methodology is applied to the analysis of the mitotic cell division cycle of budding yeast dataset of Cho et al. [Molecular Cell (1998), 2, 65–73]. The entire dataset has not been analyzed previously, so our analysis provides an understanding for the complete set of genes acting in concert and differentially. We also use our methodology on the submitted abstracts of oral presentations made at the 2008 Joint Statistical Meetings (JSM) to identify similar topics. Our i...
Analysis and Distribution of Tocopherols and Quinones in the Pea Plant

A procedure is described and evaluated for the analysis of ubiquinone, plastoquinone, tocopherols and vitamin K1 in Pisum sativum L. Vitamin K1 appears to be absent from the roots of this plant. While the pea seed contains only γ-tocopherol, the root and shoot contain only α-tocopherol. During the greening of etiolated tissue, plastoquinone and vitamin K1 levels increase markedly while ubiquinone and α-tocopherol levels are unaffected. On homogenization or damage to tissue, considerable losses of α-tocopherol occur in the pea plant.
Impact of medical tourism on cosmetic surgery in the United States.

Summary:Developing countries have been attracting more international patients by building state-of-the-art facilities and offering sought-after healthcare services at a fraction of the cost of the US healthcare system. These price differentials matter most for elective procedures, including cosmetic
Supraglottic laryngectomy for intermediate-stage cancer: U.T. M.D. Anderson Cancer Center experience with combined therapy.

We reviewed the records of all patients with previously untreated squamous cell carcinomas of the supraglottic larynx who presented to The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center from 1974 to 1987. Of 404 patients, 60 (15%) underwent supraglottic laryngectomy and functional anterior neck dissection as a primary modality of therapy; these patients were studied. Fifty of the 60 patients (83%) received adjunctive postoperative radiotherapy. Tumor-free survival was 96% at 2 years and 91% at 5 years. There were no local failures, 4 regional failures, and 3 distant metastases. Second cancers, mostly of the lung, occurred in 9 patients (15%). Three patients required completion laryngectomies for intractable aspiration. Analysis of deglutition and tracheal decannulation rehabilitation revealed a higher incidence of complications in patients who underwent arytenoidectomies.
The PPS1 Gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Codes for a Dual Specificity Protein Phosphatase with a Role in the DNA Synthesis Phase of the Cell Cycle

Abstract We report the identification of the PPS1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae The deduced amino acid sequence of PPS1p shows similarity with protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) and is most closely related to a subfamily of PTPases that are capable of dephosphorylating phosphoseryl and phosphothreonyl residues as well as phosphotyrosyl residues. Analysis of the predicted amino acid sequence suggests that the protein consists of an active phosphatase domain, an inactive phosphatase-like domain, and an NH2-terminal extension. Mutation of the catalytic cysteinyl residue in the active phosphatase domain reduced the in vitro activity of the mutant protein to less than 0.5% of wild type activity, while mutation of the corresponding cysteinyl residue of the inactive phosphatase-like domain had no effect on in vitro activity. The PPS1 protein was expressed in Escherichia coli, and the protein was shown to catalyze the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl phosphate, dephosphorylate phosphotyrosyl, and phosphothreonyl residues in synthetic diphosphorylated peptides and to inactivate the human ERK1 protein. PPS1 transcript abundance is coregulated with that of the divergently transcribed DPB3 gene, which codes for a subunit of DNA polymerase II, with both transcripts showing peak abundance in S phase. pps1Δ mutant strains did not differ from PPS1 strains under any of the conditions tested, but overexpression of the PPS1 protein in S. cerevisiae led to synchronous growth arrest and to aberrant DNA synthesis. A screen for suppressors of this growth arrest identified the RAS2 gene as a multicopy suppressor of the PPS1p overexpression arrest. The arrest was not suppressed by the presence of multicopy RAS1, TPK2, or TPK3 genes or by the presence of 5 mM cAMP in the growth medium, suggesting that PPS1 functions in a pathway involving RAS2, but not TPK kinases or adenylate cyclase.
Spatial Characterization of Germanium-on-Silicon C-Band PIN Photodiodes

Spatially-resolved photoresponse and modulation measurements of vertically- illuminated germanium-on-silicon photodiodes are presented. It is shown that, even in a planar device, localized traps at the perimeter limit both quantum efficiency and modulation bandwidth.
Sputtering of cobalt film with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy on disorder-free graphene

Growth of thin cobalt film with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy has been investigated on pristine graphene for spin logic and memory applications. By reduction of the kinetic energy of the sputtered atoms using indirect sputtered deposition, deposition induced defects in the graphene layer have been controlled. Cobalt film on graphene with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy has been developed. Raman spectroscopy of the graphene surface shows very little disorder induced in the graphene by the sputtering process. In addition, upon increasing the cobalt film thickness, the disorder density increases on the graphene and saturates for thicknesses of Co layers above 1 nm. The AFM image indicates a surface roughness of about 0.86 nm. In addition, the deposited film forms a granular structure with a grain size of about 40 nm.
Converging evidence supports fuzzy-trace theory's nested sets hypothesis, but not the frequency hypothesis

Evidence favors the nested sets hypothesis, introduced by fuzzy-trace theory (FTT) in the 1990s to explain “class-inclusion” effects and extended to many tasks, including conjunction fallacy, syllogistic reasoning, and base-rate effects (e.g., Brainerd & Reyna 1990; Reyna 1991; 2004; Reyna & Adam 2003; Reyna & Brainerd 1995). Crucial differences in mechanisms distinguish the FTT and Barbey & Sloman (B&S) accounts, but both contrast with frequency predictions (see Reyna & Brainerd, in press).
Ciprofloxacin and dexamethasone inhibit the proliferation of human retinal pigment epithelial cells in culture.

We investigated the inhibition of proliferation of human retinal pigment epithelial cells in vitro by the 4-quinolone, ciprofloxacin, and the steroid, dexamethasone. The concentration of ciprofloxacin that inhibited growth by 50% (lC50) was found to be 14.1 μg/mL Growth was 100% inhibited at 83 μg/mL. At 166 μg/mL, all the cells became completely detached and appeared dead at the end of seven days. The lC50 for dexamethasone in RPE cells was found to be 141 μg/mL A dexamethasone concentration of 1.3 mg/mL inhibited proliferation 100% after five days. When the two drugs were combined, the inhibitory effect was found to be additive; i.e., the lC50 dose of the two drugs in combination inhibited RPE cell proliferation by 75%. A combination of the two drugs was also tested for retinal toxicity in rabbit eyes. An examination of histological sections and electroretinograms showed that a dose of 100 μg of ciprofloxacin, alone or in combination with 200 μg of dexamethasone in saline, was not toxic to the rabbit re...
Tissue response and Msx1 expression after human fetal digit tip amputation in vitro

Regeneration of mammalian digit tips is well described; however, associated cellular or molecular events have not been studied in humans. We describe an in vitro human fetal model of response to digit tip amputation, and report expression of the transcription repressor Msx1 in the developing and regrowing human digit tip. Human fetal digits from specimens ranging from 53 to 117 days' estimated gestational age (EGA) were cultured in a defined serum-free medium with supplemented oxygen for time periods from 4 days to 4 weeks. Histology and immunohistochemistry were performed on paired control and tip-amputated digits. Regrowing tissue covered the cut end of the distal phalanx in digits up to 80 days' EGA. Msx1 expression was detected beneath the nail field in control digits to at least 70 days' EGA and at the regrowing tip of 57-day digits at 4 and 7 days post-amputation. Our results show that human fetal digits regrow tissue in vitro in response to tip amputation. This process appears spatially associated with Msx1 expression. Msx1 expression appears increased at the regrowing tip of 57-day digits by 4 days after amputation.
Quantifying error in aerial survey data

Aerial survey, also referred to as aerial sketchmapping, is the technique of observing symptoms of forest damage from an aircraft and transferring the information manually onto a base map. Recent high levels of bark beetle mortality across the western United States have generated greater demands for, and more disparate uses of, aerial survey data. While aerial survey data are typically considered to be qualitative in nature, the recent application of the data has driven an interest in assessing its spatial and categorical accuracies quantitatively. This paper describes methods for assessing the accuracy of aerial survey data and discusses several implications and applications related to the error results. The error matrix and kappa (κ) statistic, commonly used to assess accuracies of image classifications in remote sensing, were used to describe errors present in the aerial survey data. Field crews collected ground data that were used to validate the aerial classifications on 233 plots across 17.3 million ha. An additional 24 plots were incorporated into the validation from a complementary project, bringing the total number of plots to 257. Errors within the aerial survey data were found to be acceptable for coarse-scale analyses but excessive for use at fine spatial scales. In addition, this paper discusses the benefits of error analysis which include the quantification of errors for reporting purposes, the inclusion of error rates in the metadata, and the ability to focus training programs and technology development by highlighting classes with the highest error. Finally, the cost associated with accuracy assessment implementation is described and weighed against the benefits.
Quasi-circular splines: a shape-preserving approximation

Abstract The "quasi-circular spline" is introduced as a new method for approximating closed, smooth planar shapes from curvature information. A current application is the measurement of shapes of solid rocket booster cross-sections. Because of the efficiency of the algorithm and its desirable geometric properties, it is also particularly appropriate for computer graphics. The simplicity and efficiency of the quasi-circular spline compare well with previously proposed schemes which are important in graphical applications. It is invariant under the transformations of the Euclidean group. Furthermore, it is shape-preserving in that the quasi-circular spline approximation to a convex planar curve is also convex. Sufficient conditions for convergence are described, and O ( h 2 ) approximation to sufficiently smooth curves is demonstrated.
Agonistic and antagonistic properties of a Rhizobium sin-1 lipid A modified by an ether-linked lipid

LPS from Rhizobiumsin-1 (R.sin-1) can antagonize the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) by E. coli LPS in human monocytic cells. Therefore these compounds provide interesting leads for the development of therapeutics for the prevention or treatment of septic shock. Detailed structure activity relationship studies have, however, been hampered by the propensity of these compounds to undergo β-elimination to give biological inactive enone derivatives. To address this problem, we have chemically synthesized in a convergent manner a R.sin-1 lipid A derivative in which the β-hydroxy ester at C-3 of the proximal sugar unit has been replaced by an ether linked moiety. As expected, this derivative exhibited a much-improved chemical stability. Furthermore, its ability to antagonize TNF-α production induced by enteric LPS was only slightly smaller than that of the parent ester modified derivative demonstrating that the ether-linked lipids affect biological activities only marginally. Furthermore, it has been shown for the first time that R.sin-1 LPS and the ether modified lipid A are also able to antagonize the production of the cytokine interferon-inducible protein 10, which arises from the TRIF-dependent pathway. The latter pathway was somewhat more potently inhibited than the MyD88-dependent pathway. Furthermore, it was observed that the natural LPS possesses much greater activity than the synthetic and isolated lipid As, which indicates that di-KDO moiety is important for optimal biological activity. It has also been found that isolated R.sin-1 LPS and lipid A agonize a mouse macrophage cell line to induce the production of TNF-α and interferon beta in a Toll-like receptor 4-dependent manner demonstrating species specific properties.
Stem cells for skeletal muscle regeneration: therapeutic potential and roadblocks

Conditions involving muscle wasting, such as muscular dystrophies, cachexia, and sarcopenia, would benefit from approaches that promote skeletal muscle regeneration. Stem cells are particularly attractive because they are able to differentiate into specialized cell types while retaining the ability to self-renew and, thus, provide a long-term response. This review will discuss recent advancements on different types of stem cells that have been attributed to be endowed with muscle regenerative potential. We will discuss the nature of these cells and their advantages and disadvantages in regards to therapy for muscular dystrophies.
Impact of Time Interval Between Surgery and Radiation on Partial Breast Radiation and Infection and Cosmesis

Median followup was 491 days (min 19 and max 1115). There were 5 relapses and all were elsewhere failures. 2 died of intercurrent disease and 92 were alive with no evidence of disease. Conclusions: The initial data seem show good concordance between physicians and nurses and patients in about 50% of the patients. The presence of seroma and number of re-excisions seem to have an impact on cosmesis. We plan to continue this study by including surgeons in the cosmesis evaluation. The data required breast cup size, laterality and quadrant will be presented at the MTG. Impact of chemotherapy will also be evaluated.
Short-term effect of domperidone on gastroesophageal reflux in newborns assessed by combined intraluminal impedance and pH monitoring.

Neonatal gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is primarily due to a transient motility disorder and characterized by a prevalence of weakly acid refluxes. Drug management, where necessary, must set out to reduce the number of refluxes besides correct their acidity. Prokinetics could be of assistance in this respect, though the evidence in favor of their efficacy and safety is still far from sufficient. In this randomized controlled study, the action of domperidone, a prokinetic antidopaminergic drug with little effect on the central nervous system, was evaluated in newborns with symptomatic GER. Combined multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH measuring for 24 h was carried out in 13 newborns receiving 0.3 mg per kg domperidone per os at the eighth and the sixteenth hour, and 13 controls. Each newborn was compared to the control nearest in postconceptional age. GER episodes per hour increased significantly compared to the baseline in the domperidone group (4.06±1.16 vs 2.8±1.42; P=0.001) and were shorter (16.68±4.49 vs 20.18±7.83 s; P=0.043), whereas there were no differences in the maximu proximal extent reached by the refluxes (3.37±0.45 vs 3.34±0.94 channels; P=0.894) and their pH (4.72±0.69 vs 4.60±1.17; P=0.634). This paradoxical increase in the number of GER episodes could be the expression of a domperidone-induced amplification of the motor incoordination of the neonatal gastroesophageal tract. Doubt is thus cast on the efficacy of prokinetics in this age bracket, especially in view of their adverse effects as described in the literature.
A subordinal classification of frogs (Amphibia: Anura)

Two new anuran suborders, based on two states of the trigeminofacial ganglion character complex are proposed. A subsidiary character is the presence or absence of free ribs in extant taxa. These new suborders are more clades (sister groups) than sequential levels of organization. Discoglossoidei, retaining separate trigeminal and facial ganglia and free ribs, encompasses only Leiopelmatidae and Discoglossidae, although by definition it would include the common ancestor of both lineages. Ranoidei have the trigeminal and facial ganglia fused and extant taxa lack free ribs. This group includes all other frogs. Only the superfamiliesPelobatoidea and Pipoidea are reallocated by the new arrangement. The former are now regarded as representing the ranoidean stem group. Both laival and adult morphology show that pipoids are highly derived rather than primitive frogs, and their trigeminofacial systems show that they are ranoideans rather than discoglossoideans. They presumably are ultimately derived from pelobatoids, but the known taxa are too specialized for direct derivation and there must have been an intermediate group with pipoid tadpoles but without extreme specializations for either fossorial or aquatic life.
Effects of Paddlewheel Aeration on Water Quality in Crawfish Ponds

ABSTRACT Six experimental ponds (1.8–2.2 ha each) were planted with rice Oryza sativa in August as forage for red swamp crawfish, Procambarus clarkii, and flooded in October. From late October through May, three ponds were aerated nightly for 10 hours (2200–0800 hours) with two 2.2-KW (3 hp) paddlewheel aerators per pond. The other three ponds were not mechanically aerated. Dissolved oxygen (DO) less than 3 mg/L in non-aerated ponds occurred four to five times more frequently than in aerated ponds. Chlorophyll a, biochemical oxygen demand, turbidity, nitrite, and total ammonia were significantly higher in aerated ponds. The DO, free carbon dioxide, total ammonia-nitrogen, and nitrite-nitrogen were within acceptable levels for crawfish in both aerated and non-aerated ponds. Mean crawfish harvest from aerated ponds (2,300 kg/ha) did not differ from non-aerated ponds (2,396 kg/ha). Paddlewheel aerators effectively mixed and circulated pond water but mechanical aeration was not effective in increasing crawfis...