cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transport of alkali metal cations across liquid membranes by crown ether carboxylic acids

Abstract Competitive alkali metal transport from an alkaline aqueous source phase through a chloroform phase to an acidic aqueous receiving phase facilitated by nine crown ethers with pendant carboxylic acid groups has been investigated. Transport selectivity is controlled by the size of the polyether cavity of the carrier. Increasing the lipophilicity of the carrier, while maintaining a constant polyether cavity size, enhances the total transport rate but does not affect the selectivity. There is poor agreement between the results of competitive transport and the behavior anticipated on the basis of single cation transport studies.
Real-Time Microscopy of Two-Dimensional Critical Fluctuations: Disordering of the Si(113)-( 3×1) Reconstruction

Using low-energy electron microscopy, we have studied the critical fluctuations associated with the disordering of the $(3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1)$ reconstruction on Si(113). We not only observe and quantify the increased spatial correlations near ${T}_{c}$, but also the associated slowing down of the relaxation of long wavelength critical fluctuations. The dependence of the slowing down on correlation length is consistent with theories for phase transitions with nonconserved order parameters. In addition, we show that steps limit the size of the correlation length, as is often conjectured.
Frozen Orbits for Satellites Close to an Earth-Like Planet

We say that a planet is Earth-like if the coefficient of the second order zonal harmonic dominates all other coefficients in the gravity field. This paper concerns the zonal problem for satellites around an Earth-like planet, all other perturbations excluded. The potential contains all zonal coefficientsJ 2 throughJ 9. The model problem is averaged over the mean anomaly by a Lie transformation to the second order; we produce the resulting Hamiltonian as a Fourier series in the argument of perigee whose coefficients are algebraic functions of the eccentricity — not truncated power series. We then proceed to a global exploration of the equilibria in the averaged problem. These singularities which aerospace engineers know by the name of frozen orbits are located by solving the equilibria equations in two ways, (1) analytically in the neighborhood of either the zero eccentricity or the critical inclination, and (2) numerically by a Newton-Raphson iteration applied to an approximate position read from the color map of the phase flow. The analytical solutions we supply in full to assist space engineers in designing survey missions. We pay special attention to the manner in which additional zonal coefficients affect the evolution of bifurcations we had traced earlier in the main problem (J 2 only). In particular, we examine the manner in which the odd zonalJ 3 breaks the discrete symmetry inherent to the even zonal problem. In the even case, we find that Vinti's problem (J 4+J 2 2 =0) presents a degeneracy in the form of non-isolated equilibria; we surmise that the degeneracy is a reflection of the fact that Vinti's problem is separable. By numerical continuation we have discovered three families of frozen orbits in the full zonal problem under consideration; (1) a family of stable equilibria starting from the equatorial plane and tending to the critical inclination; (2) an unstable family arising from the bifurcation at the critical inclination; (3) a stable family also arising from that bifurcation and terminating with a polar orbit. Except in the neighborhood of the critical inclination, orbits in the stable families have very small eccentricities, and are thus well suited for survey missions.
Efficacy of SmartStax® insect-protected corn hybrids against corn rootworm: The value of pyramiding the Cry3Bb1 and Cry34/35Ab1 proteins

Monsanto Company and Dow AgroSciences have used conventional breeding techniques to develop the combined-trait corn (Zea mays L.) product MON 89034 × TC1507 × MON 88017 × DAS-59122-7 (“SmartStax® corn”) that confers insect resistance against key lepidopteran pests and the corn rootworm complex (Diabrotica spp.), as well as herbicide tolerance. This product contains the Cry3Bb1, Cry34Ab1, and Cry35Ab1 proteins for corn rootworm (CRW) control. Replicated field trials were conducted in 2006 and 2007 to test the efficacy of Cry3Bb1, Cry34Ab1/Cry35Ab1, and SmartStax under both natural and controlled infestations. In both years, root damage and adult beetle emergence were significantly less for Bt-containing hybrids than for non-Bt controls. In trials with heavy insect pressure, adult beetle emergence (a measure of larval control) was significantly reduced for SmartStax hybrids compared with hybrids with the individual traits and with non-Bt controls. Similarly, strip-plot testing in 2012 in grower fields with high levels of root injury to non-Bt hybrids showed significantly lower feeding on SmartStax than on the non-Bt control or on either single-trait product. In grower fields where single-trait Cry3Bb1 products incurred heavy CRW damage in 2011, SmartStax provided consistent protection against CRW in 2012. The combination of these insecticidal proteins in a single plant provides better rootworm control than current single-trait Bt corn products and represents an effective approach for corn rootworm resistance management.
Predicting particle number concentrations near a highway based on vertical concentration profile

Abstract This paper presents vertical profiles of particle number concentration and size distribution near the Interstate 405 Freeway. Based on vertical concentration data, averaged emission factor for total particle number concentration was determined to be 8.3e14 particle −1 vehicle −1 mile −1 . A simple analytical solution was obtained by solving the atmospheric diffusion equation and used to predict horizontal profiles of total particle number concentrations. Good agreement was achieved when model results were compared with previously published experimental data (J.Air Waste Manage. Assoc. 52 (2002b) 174–185). Model inputs are traffic, wind, and locations. With the particle emission factors, traffic compositions, and meteorological data, particle number concentrations near freeways can be quantitatively determined using the simple equation achieved in this study.
Energetics of intermolecular HONO formation in condensed-phase octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX)

Abstract We present preliminary work on the formation of HONO in condensed-phase HMX for the three pure polymorphic phases. Our results show that the energetics of the intermolecular hydrogen transfer (to form HONO on an adjacent molecule) is more favorable in δ-HMX than in α-HMX and β-HMX. The energetics of this intermolecular hydrogen transfer process follow the same trends of HMX sensitivity, where δ-HMX is found to be more sensitive to explosion compared to β-HMX.
Colloquium : Scaled particle theory and the length scales of hydrophobicity

Hydrophobic hydration plays a crucial role in self-assembly processes over multiple length scales, from the microscopic origins of inert gas solubility in water, to the mesoscopic organization of proteins and surfactant structures, to macroscopic phase separation. Many theoretical studies focus on the molecularly detailed interactions between oil and water, but the extrapolation of molecular-scale models to larger-length-scale hydration phenomena is sometimes not warranted. Scaled particle theories are based upon an interpolative view of that $\text{microscopic}\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}\text{macroscopic}$ issue. This Colloquium revisits the scaled particle theory proposed 30 years ago by Stillinger [J. Solution Chem. 2, 141 (1973)], adopts a practical generalization, and considers the implications for hydrophobic hydration in light of our current understanding. The generalization is based upon identifying a molecular length, implicit in previous applications of scaled particle models, which provides an effective radius for joining microscopic and macroscopic descriptions. It will be demonstrated that the generalized theory correctly reproduces many of the anomalous thermodynamic properties of hydrophobic hydration for molecularly sized solutes, including solubility minima and entropy convergence, successfully interpolates between the microscopic and macroscopic extremes, and provides new insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms. The model considered here serves as a reference for theories that bridge microscopic and macroscopic hydrophobic effects. The results are discussed in terms of length scales associated with component phenomena. In particular, first there is a discussion of the microscopic-macroscopic joining radius identified by the theory; then follows a discussion of the Tolman length that describes curvature corrections to a surface area model of hydrophobic hydration free energies and the length scales on which entropy convergence of hydration free energies are expected.
Nonlinear generation of harmonics through the interaction of an internal wave beam with a model oceanic pycnocline

Abstract The interaction of an internal wave beam (IWB) with an idealized oceanic pycnocline is examined using two-dimensional fully nonlinear direct numerical simulations based on a spectral multidomain penalty method in the vertical direction. The phenomenon of focus is the nonlinear generation of harmonics. A total of 24 simulations have been performed, varying the normalized pycnocline thickness and the ratio of peak pycnocline Brunt-Vaisala frequency to that of the stratified lower layer. Harmonics at the point of IWB entry into the pycnocline increase in amplitude and number with a measure of the maximum gradient of the Brunt-Vaisala frequency, suggesting refraction as an important factor in harmonic generation. Among the simulations performed, two distinct limits of pycnocline thickness are identified. For thin pynoclines, whose thickness is 10% of the incident IWB's horizontal wavelength, harmonics trapped within the pycnocline have maximum amplitude when their frequency and wavenumber match those of the natural pycnocline interfacial wave mode. Results in this case are compared with weakly nonlinear theory for harmonic generation by plane wave refraction. For thicker pycnoclines, whose thickness is equal the incident IWB's horizontal wavelength, IWB refraction results in harmonic generation at multiple locations in addition to pycnocline entry, giving rise to complex flow structure inside the pycnocline.
The sensory optimum of chicken broths supplemented with calcium di-glutamate: A possibility for reducing sodium while maintaining taste

This study examined the effects of calcium di-glutamate (CDG) supplementation on the sensory and hedonic characteristics of chicken broth. Thirty-four normal weight men and women aged 20–35 years tasted 12 soups containing 4 different concentrations of sodium chloride (.16%, .53%, .85%, and 1.7% w/w) and three concentrations of CDG (0%, .17%, and .33% w/w). Participants tasted all the soups twice over 2 days and used computer-administered visual analog scales to record taste intensity and hedonic ratings. Soups were presented in random order, at least 3 min apart to allow for taste ratings and mouth rinsing. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to determine the hedonic optima for sodium chloride and CDG. Results indicated that CDG could partly replace sodium chloride at constant levels of liking and pleasantness. These data provide evidence that lower sodium broths can be made more palatable with CDG supplementation.
Exposure to Copper Dust

Abstract In the lapping (polishing) of copper plates, unexpected exposures to copper dust were found to occur. Exposures of the order of one-tenth of the TLV were associated with mild symptomatology similar to “metal fume fever.” Dust control achieved primarily by exhaust ventilation reduced copper concentrations to a minimum, and employee complaints ceased.
Evolution of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Envelope during Infection Reveals Molecular Corollaries of Specificity for Coreceptor Utilization and AIDS Pathogenesis

The evolution of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection is associated with a shift in the target cell population, driven by variability in coreceptor utilization resulting from diversity in env. To elucidate the potential consequences of these changes for Env-mediated fusion over the course of AIDS, we examined the biological properties of serial viral isolates and determined coreceptor utilization by the products of env cloned from two individuals, followed from the detection of seroconversion throughout the course of their infection. One had a typical course, and the other had an accelerated progression. Early isolates were non-syncytium inducing, and the corresponding Env exclusively utilized CCR5, whereas Env from late phases of infection showed restricted utilization of CXCR4 in both patients. Env from subject SC24, who had a standard progression, demonstrated multitropism, manifested by utilization of CCR3, CXCR4, and CCR5 in the intervening period. In contrast, Env from patient SC51, who experienced early conversion to the syncytium-inducing phenotype, developed dualtropic coreceptor utilization of CCR5 and CXCR4. Genetic analysis of env from each isolate revealed that those with an X4 phenotype formed a distinct subcluster within each subject. Analysis of chimeras constructed from R5 and multispecific env from patient SC24 demonstrated that while the V3 domain played a dominant role in determining coreceptor utilization, sequences in the V4–V5 region also contributed to the latter phenotype. Immunoprecipitation experiments confirmed that the hybrid Env proteins were expressed at similar levels. These experiments demonstrate that progression from the R5 to X4 phenotype may occur through a multi- or dual-tropic intermediate and that multiple domains contribute to this process.
Brief paper: Structured semidefinite programs for the control of symmetric systems

In this paper we show how the symmetry present in many linear systems can be exploited to significantly reduce the computational effort required for controller synthesis. This approach may be applied when controller design specifications are expressible via semidefinite programming. In particular, when the overall system description is invariant under unitary coordinate transformations of the state space matrices, synthesis semidefinite programs can be decomposed into a collection of smaller semidefinite programs.
Financial sector reform and sustainable development: the case of Costa Rica

Abstract How can financial sector reform be designed specifically so that it enhances the prospects for sustainable development? This paper begins an analysis of this little-discussed intersection, with a focus on the problems and possibilities facing Costa Rica. Policy changes that encourage financial markets to incorporate long-term environmental sustainability concerns will require moving beyond a standard model of financial liberalization. Flighty financial flows, systemic pressures against innovation, and unpriced environmental externalities all mean that real sector environmental performance will be adversely affected by financial sector dynamics, lacking appropriate policy markers. Financial market policies must encourage market forces to channel capital flows that build productive capabilities based on complementarities between development and environmental quality. Costa Rica's reform process and unusual depth of experience in pursuing sustainable development make it an ideal place for such financial market innovations to be attempted. Getting its incentive system right in financial restructuring could aid immensely in the emergence and application of sustainability-based competitive capabilities. A set of market-based ‘green’ financial reforms is proposed, including tax-advantaged banking and bond programs, rural group lending, and a single certification entity for potential borrowers in these programs.
Phyllotactic transitions in the vascular system of Populus deltoides bartr. as determined by (14)C labeling.

Populus deltoides seedlings progress through 2/5, 3/8, and 5/13 orders of phyllotaxis in attaining Plastochron Index 16 (PI 16). The manner in which the vascular system was reoriented during these phyllotactic transitions was determined by anatomical analysis of serial microsections, whereas the positions of the transitions were determined by 14C labeling. The midvein at the tip of leaves representing plants of different PI and leaves of different Leaf Plastochron Index (LPI) was fed 14CO2 photosynthetically, and primordia LPI 0 through LPI-9 were dissected from the buds and analyzed for 14C. By combining the labeling data with the anatomical observations it was possible to reconstruct the vascular system of a plant of PI 16 and to locate the phyllotactic transitions. Both the anatomical and the labeling data showed a high degree of reproducibility among plants suggesting that the phyllotactic pattern to which the vascular system conforms may be programmed in the plant and transmitted acropetally through the developing leaves and procambial strands. The origin of new primordia and the concepts of orthostichy, ontogenetic helix, and Fibonacci sequence are discussed as they apply to the vascular system of P. deltoides.
Individuals with a Gifted/Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Diagnosis.

This paper reviews the current literature on twice-exceptional students who are dual diagnosed as having giftedness and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This area of research is warranted because giftedness and ADHD present similarly but have different ramifications for performance and outcomes. In addition, research inquiry and intervention can ease the frustration of those individuals who have both of these strengths and weaknesses. Giftedness and ADHD are examined in terms of identification of individual and dual diagnoses; performance of gifted students with ADHD, including underachievement and creativity; psychosocial outcomes; and interventions for students with giftedness/ADHD. Gaps in the literature and future directions are discussed.
Lupeol inhibits proliferation of human prostate cancer cells by targeting β-catenin signaling.

Lupeol, a dietary triterpene, was shown to decrease serum prostate-specific antigen levels and inhibit the tumorigenicity of prostate cancer (CaP) cells in vivo. Here, we show that Lupeol inhibits the proliferative potential of CaP cells and delineated its mechanism of action. Employing a focused microarray of human CaP-associated genes, we found that Lupeol significantly modulates the expression level of genes such as ERBB2, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3, cyclin D1 and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 that are known to be associated with proliferation and survival. A common feature of these genes is that all of them are known to either regulate or act as downstream target of β-catenin signaling that is highly aberrant in CaP patients. Lupeol treatment significantly (1) reduced levels of β-catenin in the cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions, (2) modulated expression levels of glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β)–axin complex (regulator of β-catenin stability), (3) decreased the expression level and enzymatic activity of MMP-2 (downstream target of β-catenin), (4) reduced the transcriptional activation of T Cell Factor (TCF) responsive element (marker for β-catenin signaling) in pTK-TCF-Luc-transfected cells and (5) decreased the transcriptional activation of MMP-2 gene in pGL2-MMP-2-Luc-transfected cells. Effects of Lupeol treatment on β-catenin degradation were significantly reduced in CaP cells where axin is knocked down through small interfering RNA transfection and GSK3β activity is blocked. Collectively, these data suggest the multitarget efficacy of Lupeol on β-catenin-signaling network thus resulting in the inhibition CaP cell proliferation. We suggest that Lupeol could be developed as an agent for chemoprevention as well as chemotherapy of human CaP.
Electrically Triggered Water Switches

We have developed an electrically triggered water switch as a low-cost, compact alternative to laser switching. The trigger electrode of the trigatron-type switch consists of a tungsten wire with a diameter of 50 ?m, enclosed in glass tubing. The high electric fields at the triple-point (metal, glass, water) allow the generation of plasma streamers for a trigger voltage of approximately +16 kV at a pulse duration of 100 ns. The luminous streamers propagate with a speed on the order of 20 km/s to the two main electrodes. The applied main gap voltage and the trigger voltage, and the distances between electrodes, can be adjusted such that the filaments reach the opposite electrodes at approximately the same time. The streamers then serve as pre-ionized channels for the breakdown between the main electrodes. Preliminary experiments with this trigger system have demonstrated the feasibility of this concept. We were able to consistently trigger breakdown of the main gap for voltages in the range of 18 to 30 kV. The delay time of the main breakdown to the trigger pulse was approximately 150 ns, and the minimum jitter was less than ± 10 ns ns. Better positioning of the trigger electrode promises to reduce the jitter to values on the order of nanoseconds.
Stability of formations with delays in information exchange.

The effect of delays in information exchange on the stability of a formation is studied. Upper limits for allowable delays are obtained through the use of two methods applicable to a class of systems.
Population-Based Study of Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy and Survival Outcomes of Breast Cancer Patients

Results In a univariate analysis, CPM was associated with improved disease-specific survival (hazard ratio [HR] of death = 0.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.57 to 0.69; P < .001). Risk-stratified analysis showed that this association was because of a reduction in breast cancer–specific mortality in women aged 18–49 years with stages I–II ER-negative cancer (HR of death = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.53 to 0.88; P = .004). Five year–adjusted breast cancer survival for this group was improved with CPM vs without (88.5% vs 83.7%, difference = 4.8%). Although rates of contralateral breast cancer among young women with stages I–II disease undergoing CPM were independent of ER status, women with ER-positive tumors in the absence of prophylactic mastectomy also had a lower overall risk for contralateral breast cancer than women with ER-negative tumors (0.46% vs 0.90%, difference = 0.44%; P < .001). Conclusions CPM is associated with a small improvement in 5-year breast cancer–specific survival mainly in young women with early-stage ER-negative breast cancer. This effect is related to a higher baseline risk of contralateral breast cancer.
Influence of age on the association between lifestyle factors and risk of hypertension.

Abstract Background Although hypertension is a highly prevalent disease in older populations, risk factors for developing hypertension have been studied primarily in younger cohorts. We sought to determine whether the strength of traditional hypertensive risk factors varied with age. Methods We analyzed the prospective association between five modifiable risk factors and hypertension incidence among 78,590 initially nonhypertensive women of different ages in the Nurses’ Health Study I cohort over 26 years. Results Older age attenuated the association between incident hypertension and four of five risk factors associated with hypertension in younger women. Persons aged 50 years and younger who were low risk for all five risk factor behaviors had a hazard ratio (HR) for incident hypertension of 0.13 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.03–0.52) compared with others in this age group. In women 61 and older, the HR was 0.62 (95% CI, 0.51–0.75). However, the hypothetical number needed to treat (the number of women needed to join the low-risk-factor group for a 10-year period to prevent one hypertension case) was similar between the age groups. Conclusion The fraction of incident hypertension attributable to modifiable lifestyle factors decreases with age. Because the incidence of hypertension is higher in older persons, however, lifestyle modification would hypothetically prevent similar numbers of hypertension cases in younger and older populations.
Vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN 2/3): Comparing clinical outcomes and evaluating risk factors for recurrence

Abstract Objective To evaluate demographic and clinical characteristics associated with the development of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN 2/3), and factors associated with recurrence. Methods A retrospective chart review of 303 patients with VIN 2/3 evaluated at a single institution between 1993 and 2011 was performed. Medical records were reviewed for demographic information, risk factors, treatment type, pathologic diagnosis, and recurrence/outcome information. Results Median age at diagnosis was 47years (range 14–87). 40% of patients reported current tobacco use and 26% reported previous use. Primary treatment included excision (n=176, 59%), laser ablation (n=40, 13%), imiquimod (n=22, 7.4%), excision with laser (n=24, 8.1%), excision with imiquimod (n=10, 3.4%), and laser with imiquimod (n=3, 1.0%). 92 patients (62.6%) were noted to have positive margins, which was associated with larger tumor size (p=0.004). 87 patients (28.7%) developed recurrent disease, which was associated with smoking (p plus laser had an adverse impact on RFS (p Conclusions This large cohort of women with VIN 2/3 further delineates the demographic and clinical factors associated with VIN 2/3. High rates of recurrence were noted and found to be associated with smoking, larger lesion size, and positive margins. While higher rates of recurrence were found among those treated with laser ablation, it was not inferior with respect to RFS when used alone, but the use of laser with excision was associated with decreased RFS. Our findings provide hypothesis-generating material for further research in the management of VIN2/3.
Coded error performance of MIMO systems in frequency selective Nakagami fading channels

In this paper, we have analyzed the convolutional coded error performance of a 2D-RAKE receiver, in combination with transmit diversity on the downlink of a WCDMA system. The analyses assume correlated fading between receive antenna array elements, and an arbitrary number of independent but nonidentical resolvable multipaths combined by the RAKE receiver in the general Nakagami-m fading channel framework. The closed form expression of pairwise error probability is given in the simple form of a single finite limit integral, with the integrand being an elementary function of array configuration parameters, spatial correlation and operating environment factors. It is shown that the combination of coding and spatial-path combining lead to dramatic performance improvement in various fading environments.
The Effect of Telephone Support Groups on Costs of Care for Veterans With Dementia

Purpose: Few studies have addressed the effects of caregiver interventions on the costs of care for the care recipient. This study evaluated the effects of a caregiver education and support group delivered via the telephone on care recipient health care utilization and cost. Design and Methods: The Telehealth Education Program (TEP) is a manualized program of education and support designed for caregivers of veterans with moderate-to-severe dementia. One hundred fifty-eight spousal caregivers were randomly assigned to either the ten 1-hr sessions of TEP or the usual care (UC). Health care utilization and cost data were extracted from veterans Information System Technology Architecture databases and included outpatient, inpatient, and nursing home data within the VA. Results: Total health care cost data showed a significant (p = .039) average cost savings of $2,768 per patient at 6 months for TEP as compared with UC, but these were not maintained at 1 year. All costs included in the total costs measure contributed to this difference. Inpatient, outpatient, and nursing home costs were all assessed separately, but only nursing home costs reached significance (p = .009), with a savings of $1,057 per patient at 6 months. Implications: The TEP caregiver intervention resulted in short-term cost savings for veteran care recipients. Future studies of caregiver interventions should examine their effects on costs of care for the care recipients in addition to their effects on caregiver outcomes.
Electron showers of high primary energy in lead

The development of electron cascade showers in a lead-scintillator sandwich of 8 plastic scintillators in about 20 radiation lengths of lead has been investigated. This detector, which was used for cosmic-ray studies, has been calibrated with electrons with energies from 2 to 15 GeV at SLAC. Measured shower profiles are presented, and expressions are given which allow an extrapolation of the measured data up to energies around 1000 GeV. The results are compared with analytical shower theories and Monte Carlo calculations.
An end-to-end examination of geometric accuracy of IGRT using a new digital accelerator equipped with onboard imaging system

The Varian's new digital linear accelerator (LINAC), TrueBeam STx, is equipped with a high dose rate flattening filter free (FFF) mode (6 MV and 10 MV), a high definition multileaf collimator (2.5 mm leaf width), as well as onboard imaging capabilities. A series of end-to-end phantom tests were performed, TrueBeam-based image guided radiation therapy (IGRT), to determine the geometric accuracy of the image-guided setup and dose delivery process for all beam modalities delivered using intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and RapidArc. In these tests, an anthropomorphic phantom with a Ball Cube II insert and the analysis software (FilmQA (3cognition)) were used to evaluate the accuracy of TrueBeam image-guided setup and dose delivery. Laser cut EBT2 films with 0.15 mm accuracy were embedded into the phantom. The phantom with the film inserted was first scanned with a GE Discovery-ST CT scanner, and the images were then imported to the planning system. Plans with steep dose fall off surrounding hypothetical targets of different sizes were created using RapidArc and IMRT with FFF and WFF (with flattening filter) beams. Four RapidArc plans (6 MV and 10 MV FFF) and five IMRT plans (6 MV and 10 MV FFF; 6 MV, 10 MV and 15 MV WFF) were studied. The RapidArc plans with 6 MV FFF were planned with target diameters of 1 cm (0.52 cc), 2 cm (4.2 cc) and 3 cm (14.1 cc), and all other plans with a target diameter of 3 cm. Both onboard planar and volumetric imaging procedures were used for phantom setup and target localization. The IMRT and RapidArc plans were then delivered, and the film measurements were compared with the original treatment plans using a gamma criteria of 3%/1 mm and 3%/2 mm. The shifts required in order to align the film measured dose with the calculated dose distributions was attributed to be the targeting error. Targeting accuracy of image-guided treatment using TrueBeam was found to be within 1 mm. For irradiation of the 3 cm target, the gammas (3%, 1 mm) were found to be above 90% in all plan deliveries. For irradiations of smaller targets (2 cm and 1 cm), similar accuracy was achieved for 6 MV and 10 MV beams. Slightly degraded accuracy was observed for irradiations with higher energy beam (15 MV). In general, gammas (3%, 2 mm) were found to be above 97% for all the plans. Our end-to-end tests showed an excellent relative dosimetric agreement and sub-millimeter targeting accuracy for 6 MV and 10 MV beams, using both FFF and WFF delivery methods. However, increased deviations in spatial and dosimetric accuracy were found when treating lesions smaller than 2 cm or with 15 MV beam.
Photo-cross-linkers incorporated into G-protein-coupled receptors in mammalian cells: a ligand comparison.

Although G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the molecular target of almost half of today's pharmaceuticals, little is known about the molecular basis of the specific interaction with their ligands, due to the difficulty of obtaining spectroscopic data for such highly flexible and complex systems integrated in the cell membrane. A powerful experimental approach to investigate ligand-receptor interactions in a native environment is the use of photoaffinity crosslinking, which usually involves photo-activatable crosslinkers installed into chemically achievable ligands to establish spatial constraints in the ligand-receptor complex.[1] However, only a few positions within the ligand can be modified with the photocrosslinker without affecting binding or signaling behavior.[2] This limitation prevents comprehensive mapping of the ligand-receptor interaction and prevents comparison of ligands with different pharmacological properties.
Publications from multicentre clinical trials: Statistical techniques and accessibility to the reader

Articles from multicentre randomized clinical trials were analysed by methods adapted from Emerson and Colditz and Juzych et al. to compare the frequency with which different statistical methods are used by clinical trials investigators with the frequency used by other researchers, and to determine how much statistical knowledge is required to interpret the statistical treatment of data from clinical trials. We observed differences between the frequency of usage of statistical methods and the accessibility of the clinical trials publications and those of all medical research articles published by specific journals. Clinical trials publications are less accessible than others in medical journals to the reader who knows only descriptive statistics, t-tests, contingency tables, power calculations, and life table methods. Many more statistical methods must be known by a reader to understand fully publications regarding treatment group comparisons for the primary outcomes of interest from clinical trials.
Scalability Re-examined

This book began with a restatement of the obvious: Trait words, used properly, can map on to personality structures, and so can explain behavior. In this chapter, I will review the empirical studies of Chapters 4 – 7 and reexamine my theoretical position in light of these findings. This leads to the description of an additional empirical study, in which I investigate the utility of measuring scalability in the domain of authoritarianism. I conclude by briefly considering the context of scalability in the discipline of personality psychology, and, moreover, by evaluating the tension between quantitative and idiographic approaches to the psychology of personality.
Investigation following resuscitated cardiac arrest

Roughly two thirds of resuscitated cardiac arrests in children and youth are due to inherited heart diseases. The most commonly implicated are the cardiac ion channelopathies long QT syndrome, CPVT (catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia) and Brugada syndrome. Diagnosis is pivotal to further management of the child if he/she survives, and also to other family members who may be at risk. Thorough investigation of the cardiac arrest survivor is essential to either identify or exclude inherited heart disease. If standard cardiac investigation does not reveal a diagnosis, pharmacological provocation tests are needed to unmask electrocardiographic signs of disease, even if, due to severe brain injury, it is planned ultimately to allow a natural death. Examples are the ajmaline/flecainide challenge for Brugada syndrome and epinephrine for CPVT. A supportive, informative and sympathetic approach to the family is essential. An arrhythmia specialist and a cardiac genetic service should be involved early, with storage of DNA and cardiac/genetic investigation of the family. This review proposes a diagnostic algorithm-based approach to the investigation of this increasingly common clinical scenario.
Structure of a designed tetrahedral protein assembly variant engineered to have improved soluble expression

We recently reported the development of a computational method for the design of coassembling multicomponent protein nanomaterials. While four such materials were validated at high-resolution by X-ray crystallography, low yield of soluble protein prevented X-ray structure determination of a fifth designed material, T33-09. Here we report the design and crystal structure of T33-31, a variant of T33-09 with improved soluble yield resulting from redesign efforts focused on mutating solvent-exposed side chains to charged amino acids. The structure is found to match the computational design model with atomic-level accuracy, providing further validation of the design approach and demonstrating a simple and potentially general means of improving the yield of designed protein nanomaterials.
Mechanisms of myocardial infarction without obstructive coronary artery disease

Angiography in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) most commonly reveals one or more significantly narrowed coronary arteries, but a substantial minority of patients with spontaneous MI have no obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) at angiography. This review summarizes evidence for the most commonly hypothesized mechanisms, including plaque disruption, plaque erosion, vasospasm, embolism, and spontaneous coronary dissection. In addition, tako-tsubo syndrome and myocarditis are discussed. The best treatment of MI without obstructive CAD is likely to differ substantially based on the underlying cause. Additional mechanistic research is needed to facilitate the design of research studies aimed at documenting the best treatments for these patients, numbering as many as 225,000 per year in the US.
Le Fort II fractures are associated with death: a comparison of simple and complex midface fractures.

Purpose To investigate whether complex midface fractures have a greater association with death and intracranial injury than simple midface fractures. Materials and Methods A retrospective chart review was performed for patients with blunt-mechanism midface fractures who had presented to an urban trauma center from 1998 to 2010. The survival and intracranial injury status was evaluated for patients with simple and complex midface fractures, including Le Fort, naso-orbitoethmoid, and/or zygomaticomaxillary fractures. Intracranial injury included hemorrhage and brainstem injury. Patients with upper face fractures were excluded to minimize confounding. Adjusted relative risk estimates were obtained using multivariate regression analysis. Results Of 3,291 patients with midface fractures, 213 (6.3%) died and 693 (21.3%) had an intracranial injury. The cumulative mortality reached 11.6% in patients with complex midface fractures and 5.1% in those with simple midface fractures ( P P P P P Conclusions Le Fort II fractures are associated with increased mortality. Furthermore, Le Fort II and III fractures are associated with serious intracranial injury, even in the absence of alterations in consciousness. These patients should be monitored with heightened vigilance and followed up closely during hospitalization, regardless of the presenting clinical findings.
Control of epileptiform activity with electric stimulation

The effect of electric fields on epileptic tissue in the rat hippocampus was investigated to determine the feasibility of blocking abnormal neuronal firing. Anodic currents applied extracellularly to the CA1 region via a monopolar electrode showed a large effect on the epileptiform activity indicated by the reduction of 90% or more in the amplitude of the population spikes. Intracellular recordings showed that the repetitive action potentials characteristic of epileptiform activity were abolished sequentially starting from the last one under increasing field strengths. Transmembrane potentials induced by the electric fields were also monitored and were observed to increase with the level of excitation of the neurons. >
Representation of Terrestrial Hydrology and Large-Scale Drought of the Continental United States from the North American Regional Reanalysis

AbstractThe North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR) is a state-of-the-art land–atmosphere reanalysis product that provides improved representation of the terrestrial hydrologic cycle compared to previous global reanalyses, having the potential to provide an enhanced picture of hydrologic extremes such as floods and droughts and their driving mechanisms. This is partly because of the novel assimilation of observed precipitation, state-of-the-art land surface scheme, and higher spatial resolution. NARR is evaluated in terms of the terrestrial water budget and its depiction of drought at monthly to annual time scales against two offline land surface model [Noah v2.7.1 and Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC)] simulations and observation-based runoff estimates over the continental United States for 1979–2003. An earlier version of the Noah model forms the land component of NARR and so the offline simulation provides an opportunity to diagnose NARR land surface variables independently of atmospheric feedback...
Hybrid media access protocols for a DSM system based on optical WDM networks

Scalable, hierarchical, all-optical wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) networks for interconnection in distributed cluster-based computing systems have been recently considered. Hybrid access protocols combining reservation and pre-allocation have been studied for this type of network which supports a distributed shared memory (DSM) environment. The objectives of the protocols are reduced average latency per packet, support of broadcast/multicast, collisionless communication, and exploitation of inherent DSM tragic characteristics. This paper compares random and static access strategies on the control channel to establish reservation for data packets. Random access provides reduced packet latency under light traffic conditions and has simpler implementation. Static access is free of collisions and instability but has longer control cycle lengths. The performance of the network is analyzed through simulation models with varying system parameters such as number of nodes and channels. Dynamic schemes which switch between random and static access and vice-versa are also considered.
Creating a Holistic Extractables and Leachables (E&L) Program for Biotechnology Products.

The risk mitigation of extractables and leachables presents significant challenges to regulators and drug manufacturers with respect to the development, as well as the lifecycle management, of drug products. A holistic program is proposed, using a science- and risk-based strategy for testing extractables and leachables from primary containers, drug delivery devices, and single-use systems for the manufacture of biotechnology products. The strategy adopts the principles and concepts from ICH Q9 and ICH Q8(R2). The strategy is phase-appropriate, progressing from extractables testing for material screening/selection/qualification through leachables testing of final products. The strategy is designed primarily to ensure patient safety and product quality of biotechnology products. The holistic program requires robust extraction studies using model solvents, with careful consideration of solvation effect, pH, ionic strength, temperature, and product-contact surface and duration. From a wide variety of process- and product-contact materials, such extraction studies have identified and quantified over 200 organic extractable compounds. The most commonly observed compounds were siloxanes, fatty acid amides, and methacrylates. Toxicology assessments were conducted on these compounds using risk-based decision analysis. Parenteral permitted daily exposure limits were derived, as appropriate, for the majority of these compounds. Analysis of the derived parenteral permitted daily exposure limits helped to establish action thresholds to target high-risk leachables in drug products on stability until expiry. Action thresholds serve to trigger quality investigations to determine potential product impact. The holistic program also evaluates the potential risk for immunogenicity. This approach for primary drug containers and delivery devices is also applicable to single-use systems when justified with a historical knowledge base and understanding of the manufacturing processes of biotechnology products. LAY ABSTRACT: In the development of a drug product, careful consideration is given to impurities that may originate from manufacturing equipment, process components, and packaging materials. The majority of such impurities are common chemical additives used to improve the physicochemical properties of a wide range of plastic materials. Suppliers and drug manufacturers conduct studies to extract chemical additives from the plastic materials in order to screen and predict those that may leach into a drug product. In this context, the term extractables refers to a profile of extracted compounds observed in studies under harsh conditions. In contrast, the term leachables refers to those impurities that leach from the materials under real-use conditions and may be present in final drug products. The purpose of this article is to present a holistic approach that effectively minimizes the risk of leachables to patient safety and product quality.
MicroRNA 21 in tissue injury and inflammation

This editorial refers to an article by S. Roy et al .[1][1] published in Cardiovascular Research in 2009. It is accompanied by an editorial by J. Bauersachs (doi:10.1093/cvr/cvs200) as part of this Spotlight on Landmark Papers in Cardiovascular Research. This editorial celebrates the extraordinary citation of our recent publication1 in Cardiovascular Research highlighting the emerging significance of miR-21 in the heart, particularly in the context of tissue injury, inflammation, and remodelling. The work was first submitted to a leading cardiovascular journal in January 2008. The submission was summarily rejected, citing ‘paucity of novel mechanistic insight’. The work went on to be published in Cardiovascular Research and has now been cited 150 times in 3 years, being recognized as one of the most highly cited articles in the journal. Had the work been published in the original journal it would have been published almost a year in advance and would have today ranked third in citation score among all of nearly 300 articles published in that journal in 2009. Here, we briefly review the progress in the field since our original work was published.⇓ Box 1 Title page including abstract from the original 2009 publication in Cardiovascular Research .1 Used with permission of Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. Identified as one of the first mammalian microRNAs (miRs), the miR-21 sequence is strongly conserved throughout evolution. During the early phase of development of miR-21 biology, most of the target coding genes reported were tumour suppressors. Thus, miR-21 represents one of the first ‘oncomirs’ named. Two concurrent works1,2 published by the Engelhardt laboratory2 and us1 markedly changed the landscape by introducing the cardiac fibroblast as a major hub for miR-21 action. Taken together, these studies drew attention to the role of miR-21 … [1]: #ref-1