cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Divergent modes of autophagy in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris

The budding yeast Pichia pastoris responds to methanolic media by synthesizing high levels of cytosolic enzymes (e.g. formate dehydrogenase) and peroxisomal enzymes (e.g. alcohol oxidase), which are necessary to assimilate this carbon source. Major alterations in cellular metabolism are initiated upon a shift in carbon source to ethanol or glucose. These alterations require the synthesis of new proteins and the rapid degradation of those enzymes no longer needed for methanol utilization. In this study, we have measured cytosolic and peroxisomal enzyme activities and examined the fate of morphologically distinct peroxisomes to assess the degradative response of this yeast during nutrient adaptation. Utilizing biochemical, morphological and genetic approaches, we have shown that there exist in P. pastoris at least two pathways for the sequestration of peroxisomes into the vacuole for degradation. The ethanol-induced pathway is independent of protein synthesis and includes an intermediate stage in which individual peroxisomes are sequestered into autophagosomes by wrapping membranes, which then fuse with the vacuole. This process is analogous to macroautophagy. The glucose-induced pathway invokes the engulfment of clusters of peroxisomes by finger-like protrusions of the vacuole by a process analogous to microautophagy. Unlike ethanol adaptation, glucose stimulated the degradation of formate dehydrogenase as well. Peroxisomes remained outside the vacuoles of glucose-adapted cycloheximide-treated normal cells, suggesting that protein synthesis is required for peroxisome entry into the yeast vacuole. Two complementary mutants (gsa1 and gsa2) that are unable to degrade peroxisomes or formate dehydrogenase during glucose adaptation were isolated. The mutated gene products appear to function in one or more events upstream of degradation within the vacuole, since ethanol-induced peroxisome degradation proceeded normally in these mutants and peroxisomes were found outside the vacuoles of glucose-adapted gsa2 cells. Mutants lacking vacuolar proteinases A and B were unable to degrade alcohol oxidase or formate dehydrogenase during ethanol or glucose adaptation. Peroxisomes were found to accumulate within the vacuoles of these proteinase mutants during adaptation. Combined, the results suggest that there exist in Pichia pastoris two independent pathways for the sequestration of peroxisomes into the vacuole, the site of degradation.
Telaprevir with Peginterferon and Ribavirin for Chronic HCV Genotype 1 Infection

Background Current therapy for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is effective in less than 50% of patients infected with HCV genotype 1. Telaprevir, a protease inhibitor specific to the HCV nonstructural 3/4A serine protease, rapidly reduced HCV RNA levels in early studies. Methods We randomly assigned patients infected with HCV genotype 1 to one of three telaprevir groups or to the control group. The control group (called the PR48 group) received peginterferon alfa-2a (180 μg per week) and ribavirin (1000 or 1200 mg per day, according to body weight) for 48 weeks, plus telaprevir-matched placebo for the first 12 weeks (75 patients). The telaprevir groups received telaprevir (1250 mg on day 1 and 750 mg every 8 hours thereafter) for 12 weeks, as well as peginterferon alfa-2a and ribavirin (at the same doses as in the PR48 group) for the same 12 weeks (the T12PR12 group, 17 patients) or for a total of 24 weeks (the T12PR24 group, 79 patients) or 48 weeks (the T12PR48 group, 79 patients). The primary outcome was a sustained virologic response (an undetectable HCV RNA level 24 weeks after the end of therapy). Results The rate of sustained virologic response was 41% (31 of 75 patients) in the PR48 group, as compared with 61% (48 of 79 patients) in the T12PR24 group (P = 0.02), 67% (53 of 79 patients) in the T12PR48 group (P = 0.002), and 35% (6 of 17 patients) in the T12PR12 group (this group was exploratory and not compared with the control group). Viral breakthrough occurred in 7% of patients receiving telaprevir. The rate of discontinuation because of adverse events was higher in the three telaprevirbased groups (21%, vs. 11% in the PR48 group), with rash the most common reason for discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS Treatment with a telaprevir-based regimen significantly improved sustained virologic response rates in patients with genotype 1 HCV, albeit with higher rates of discontinuation because of adverse events. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00336479.)
Antibiotics in the treatment of experimental acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis in dogs.

Conclusion1. Treatment with penicillin G in oil and wax has been effective in lowering the fatality rate of experimental hemorrhagic pancreatitis in dogs. 2. Total pancreatectomy as a treatment or preoperative oral streptomycin or sulfasuxidine as prophylaxis have been ineffective.
A classification of grammar development strategies

In this paper, we propose a classification of grammar development strategies according to two criteria: hand-written versus automatically acquired grammars, and grammars based on a low versus high level of syntactic abstraction. Our classification yields four types of grammars. For each type, we discuss implementation and evaluation issues.
EEO: an efficient MDS-like RAID-6 code for parallel implementation

In recent years, researchers have found that some XOR erasure codes lead to higher performance and better throughput in fault-tolerant distributed data storage applications. However, little consideration has been given to the advantages of parallel processing or hardware implementations taking advantage of the emergence of multi-core processors. This paper presents an efficient horizontal MDS-like (Maximum Distance Separable) RAID-6 scheme, called EEO, which significantly improves the performance of the decoding procedure in parallel implementations with little storage overhead. We show that EEO is the fastest and most efficient double disk failure recovering algorithm in RAID-6 at the cost of only two more parity symbols. In practice, it is very useful for application where high decoding throughput is desired.
Real-time visual servoing

A real-time tracking algorithm in conjunction with a predictive filter to allow real-time visual servoing of a robotic arm that is tracking a moving object is described. The system consists of two calibrated (but unregistered) cameras that provide images to a real-time, pipeline-parallel optic-flow algorithm that can robustly compute optic-flow and calculate the 3-D position of a moving object at approximately 5-Hz rates. These 3-D positions of the moving object serve as input to a predictive kinematic control algorithm that uses an alpha - beta - gamma filter to update the position of a robotic arm tracking the moving object. Experimental results are presented for the tracking of a moving model train in a variety of different trajectories. >
Embracing Discursive Paradox: Consultants Navigating the Constitutive Tensions of Diversity Work

This article addresses how diversity consultants manage the dual demands of social justice and organizational goals or priorities. I suggest that navigating this “discursive paradox” is one of—if n...
Reducing Forecast Uncertainty to Understand Atmospheric Flow Transitions

A key forecast challenge is to anticipate transitions in the atmospheric flow. Ensemble prediction has become an indispensable tool in weather forecasting, as a means of quantifying the relative likelihood of particular future states. One of the issues in ensemble prediction, however, is that regardless of the method, the prediction error does not map well to the underlying physics (in other words, error estimates do not project strongly onto physical structures). In this work, we show through a series of experiments evidence that a nonlinear approach will allow us to isolate and eliminate a deterministic portion of the error in an ensemble prediction. This, in combination with appropriate diagnostics, will first enable a more accurate prediction of transitions in the large-scale atmospheric flow and second, more cleanly relate the error to the underlying state, thereby gaining insight into the predictability of such transitions. The experimental basis is provided from results obtained from three increasingly sophisticated chaotic systems, which incorporate atmospheric transitions and hemispheric structure. Using neural networks to probe the deterministic component of forecast error, we show that the error recovery relates to the underlying type of flow and that it can be used to better-forecast transitions in the atmospheric flow using ensemble data. We discuss a diagnostic method that might be employed on more sophisticated atmospheric models such as the full primitive equation ensemble-modeling systems currently employed in operations.
Inferring transducer viewpoints in cardiac echo videos

During a 2D echo exam, the transducer position is varied to elicit important information about the heart function and its anatomy. Knowledge of the transducer viewpoint is important in automatic cardiac echo interpretation to understand the regions being depicted as well as in the quantification of their attributes. In this paper, we address the problem of inferring the transducer viewpoint from the spatio-temporal information in cardiac echo videos. Unlike previous approaches, we exploit motion of the heart within a cardiac cycle in addition to spatial information to discriminate between viewpoints. Specifically, we use an active shape model (ASM) to model cardiac appearance in an echo frame, and cardiac motion is modeled using eigen-motions of ASM feature tracks. We test our method on 2 data sets of patients with various cardiac diseases, and we report comparison with re-implementations of two state-of-the-art view recognition methods.
The journey to independent nurse practitioner practice

Purpose The aim is to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the journey of states that achieved independent nurse practitioner (NP) practice from 2007 to 2011. Data sources Qualitative, retrospective, descriptive study with interviews of NP state leaders in those states as well as literature review. Conclusions There are key strategies that should be utilized by states when attempting to pass independent NP practice legislation. Strategies that have been tried and tested by states that have successfully passed legislation are collated and presented. Implications for practice Data from key national movements and legislation with release of the 2010 Institute of Medicine Report The Future of Nursing and the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act add weight and supportive context to the independent NP legislative process, and were used in addition to and as groundwork for arguments and evidence of a national trend toward increasing access to primary care services and decreasing barriers to practice. Kingdon's model illustrates these research findings and suggests the open window for policy change is now.
Peptide Vaccination in Montanide Adjuvant Induces and GM-CSF Increases CXCR3 and Cutaneous Lymphocyte Antigen Expression by Tumor Antigen–Specific CD8 T Cells

T cell infiltration of melanoma is associated with enhanced clinical efficacy and is a desirable endpoint of immunotherapeutic vaccination. Infiltration is regulated, in part, by chemokine receptors and selectin ligands on the surface of tumor-specific lymphocytes. Therefore, we investigated the expression of two homing molecules - CXCR3 and CLA - on vaccine-induced CD8 T cells, in the context of a clinical trial of a melanoma-specific peptide vaccine. Both CXCR3 and CLA have been associated with T cell infiltration of melanoma. We demonstrate that a single subcutaneous/intradermal administration of peptide vaccine in Montanide adjuvant induces tumor-specific CD8 T cells that are predominantly positive for CXCR3, with a subpopulation of CXCR3+CLA+ cells. Addition of GM-CSF significantly enhances CXCR3 expression and increases the proportion of CLA-expressing cells. Concurrent with CXCR3 and CLA expression, vaccine-induced CD8 cells express high levels of Tbet, IFN-γ, and IL-12Rβ1. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that peptide vaccination in adjuvant induces CD8 T cells with a phenotype that may support infiltration of melanoma.
All-optical wavelength shifting of subcarrier channels using difference-frequency-generation in a PPLN

Summary form only given. It may be critical for future networks to provide wavelength shifting and subcarrier modulation to ensure high-throughput performance. Wavelength shifting is important because it enables wavelength reuse, contention resolution and efficient use of the wavelength domain. Similarly, subcarrier modulation is important for data grooming, bandwidth allocation flexibility, control/header information transportation, and access networks. In this paper, we demonstrate and characterize all-optical wavelength shifting of subcarrier channels in a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) structure.
Using deceptive packets to increase base-station anonymity in wireless sensor network

In wireless sensor networks, nodes probe ambient conditions in their surrounding and report back to the base-station via multi-hop routing. In a hostile environment the network may be subject to adversary attacks. Given the role that the base-station plays, it can be targeted in order to inflict the most damage to the network. Although stealth design and other physical precautionary measures may be pursued to hide the base-station, the fact that the base-station acts as a sink of all data transmission enables an adversary to employ traffic analysis techniques and identify the location of the base-station. This paper presents a novel approach for countering such traffic analysis and boosting the anonymity of the base-station. Sensors in low activity areas will send out deceptive packets among each other in order to distract the attention of the adversary and make the traffic analysis inconclusive. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the approach.
The Hardness Of Ion Implanted Ceramics

It has been established that the wear behavior of ceramic materials can be modified through ion implantation. Studies have been done to characterize the effect of implantation on the structure and composition of ceramic surfaces. To understand how these changes affect the wear properties of the ceramic, other mechanical properties must be measured. To accomplish this, a commercially available ultra low load hardness tester has been used to characterize Al 2 O 3 with different implanted species and doses. The hardness of the base material is compared with the highly damaged crystalline state as well as the amorphous material.
The Use of Acryloid B-72 in the Treatment of Archaeological Ceramics: Minimal Intervention

The treatment of archaeological ceramics, whether on site or in the laboratory, can be effectively carried out with the use of one synthetic material, Acryloid B-72. This acrylic copolymer provides excellent properties for the strengthening or consolidation of weak and friable ceramics, and also makes an excellent adhesive. The strength and durability of B-72 make it a suitable adhesive for a broad range of ceramics, from low-fired earthenwares to china and porcelain. Acryloid B-72 is easily prepared on site, and for most applications can be dissolved in acetone. Various concentrations are recommended and application can be modified to suit local conditions and needs. Flaking and fragile fragments can be consolidated in situ (if dry) and lifted for individual attention in the laboratory. Soluble salts may be extracted from consolidated ceramics by soaking or using poultices. The well-known stability and reversibility of Acryloid B-72 allow for easy retreatment, or subsequent repair of additional fragments.
Performance analysis of RAKE receivers for ultra-wideband communications with PPM and OOK in multipath channels

The performance of a single-user, ultra-wideband (UWB) communication system employing binary block-coded modulation with pulse-position modulation (PPM) or on-off keying (OOK) and operating in indoor multipath channels is considered. We examine the tradeoff between receiver complexity and performance for the case of RAKE receivers with maximal-ratio combining (MRC). The derived expressions are evaluated numerically with measured UWB channel data for various cases.
Stereochemical assignment, antiinflammatory properties, and receptor for the omega-3 lipid mediator resolvin E1

The essential fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) present in fish oils displays beneficial effects in a range of human disorders associated with inflammation including cardiovascular disease. Resolvin E1 (RvE1), a new bioactive oxygenated product of EPA, was identified in human plasma and prepared by total organic synthesis. Results of bioaction and physical matching studies indicate that the complete structure of RvE1 is 5S,12R,18R-trihydroxy-6Z,8E,10E,14Z,16E-EPA. At nanomolar levels, RvE1 dramatically reduced dermal inflammation, peritonitis, dendritic cell (DC) migration, and interleukin (IL) 12 production. We screened receptors and identified one, denoted earlier as ChemR23, that mediates RvE1 signal to attenuate nuclear factor-kappaB. Specific binding of RvE1 to this receptor was confirmed using synthetic [(3)H]-labeled RvE1. Treatment of DCs with small interference RNA specific for ChemR23 sharply reduced RvE1 regulation of IL-12. These results demonstrate novel counterregulatory responses in inflammation initiated via RvE1 receptor activation that provide the first evidence for EPA-derived potent endogenous agonists of antiinflammation.
Complications of Percutaneous Ethanol Ablation

Percutaneous ethanol injection therapy performed with sonographic visualization is a steadily growing therapeutic method that can be used in the ablation of solid and cystic masses in a variety of anatomic locations. Ethanol has been used for many years as an angiographically administered agent for vascular embolization of tumors such as hepatic and renal neoplasms. It was first used as a percutaneously injected agent for the sclerosis of renal cysts. Local infiltration or intravascular injection of ethanol leads to cell death by causing cell membrane lysis, protein denaturation, and vascular occlusion. Because of the initial success in the sclerosis of renal cysts, percutaneously injected ethanol is now used in the ablation of hepatic cysts and solid tumors, such as hepatocellular carcinomas. As a treatment agent, ethanol combines the benefits of being widely available, inexpensive, efficacious, and relatively easy to administer. Optimal results require that the radiologist have considerable experience in ultrasonographic scanning techniques and facility with percutaneous needle insertion under real-time visualization. Alternatively, the radiologist may choose CT as a method to visualize needle placement. Percutaneous ethanol injection therapy usually is an effective alternative to conventional surgical resection of liver lesions and has a low complication rate. We present two patients in whom hypotensive complications occurred during percutaneous ethanol injection therapy and discuss the likely causative mechanisms.
Use of neurotransmitter precursors for treatment of depression

Insufficient activity of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine is a central element of the model of depression most widely held by neurobiologists today. In the late 1970s and 1980s, numerous studies were performed in which depressed patients were treated with the serotonin precursors L-tryptophan and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5HTP), and the dopamine and norepinephrine precursors tyrosine and L-phenylalanine. This article briefly reviews the published research on the efficacy of neurotransmitter precursors in treating depression, highlights the findings of studies, and discusses issues regarding the interpretation of those findings. The nature of the studies makes it difficult to draw firm conclusions regarding the efficacy of neurotransmitter precursors for treating depression. While there is evidence that precursor loading may be of therapeutic value, particularly for the serotonin precursors 5-HTP and tryptophan, more studies of suitable design and size might lead to more conclusive results. However, the evidence suggests neurotransmitter precursors can be helpful in patients with mild or moderate depression. (Altern Med Rev 2000;5(1):64-71.)
Soil carbon storage, respiration potential, and organic matter quality across an age and climate gradient in southwestern Greenland

Geological factors influence biological cycling of organic carbon in soils but are not well represented in our understanding of Arctic carbon dynamics. Landscape age, for instance, directly affects quantity and quality of soil carbon, which are two strong controls of the temperature sensitivity of soil organic matter. We investigated soil carbon storage, respiration potential, and organic matter quality for microbial decomposition across a climate and landscape age gradient in southwest Greenland that deglaciated during the Holocene. We measured soil respiration during a 370-day laboratory incubations of active layer soils collected from four study areas across this gradient (ages 1.8 × 102, 6.8 × 103, and 1.0 × 104, coinciding with a climate gradient from drier inland to wetter coastal terrain) and used a soil respiration model comparison approach to assess the substrate quality of stored organic matter for microbial decomposers. Soils store more than three times greater organic carbon at the 10,000-year-old, maritime climate study areas than the 180-year-old, continental climate study areas. Respiration rates were highest in the surface soils of the coastal areas. Model comparisons reveal important heterogeneity in the quality of organic matter for microbial decomposition between areas: coastal soils were best modeled by both one- and two-pooled models, and inland soils were best represented by one-pooled respiration models. Together, the measures of carbon quality (C:N, CO2 production, and model parameters estimating initial CO2 production rates from different organic matter pools) show that shallow soils at the southern coastal area, Kobbefjord, had the highest respiration rates from the recalcitrant carbon pool. This study reveals differences in carbon storage and turnover associated with landscape age and climate factors in western Greenland. When applied to thermodynamic theory, which predicts that temperature sensitivity increases with carbon recalcitrance, our findings suggest that carbon stored in coastal soils may be more sensitive to climate warming than inland soils.
Herpes Simplex Virus and Interferon Signaling Induce Novel Autophagic Clusters in Sensory Neurons

ABSTRACT Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) establishes lifelong infection in the neurons of trigeminal ganglia (TG), cycling between productive infection and latency. Neuronal antiviral responses are driven by type I interferon (IFN) and are crucial to controlling HSV-1 virulence. Autophagy also plays a role in this neuronal antiviral response, but the mechanism remains obscure. In this study, HSV-1 infection of murine TG neurons triggered unusual clusters of autophagosomes, predominantly in neurons lacking detectable HSV-1 antigen. Treatment of neurons with IFN-β induced a similar response, and cluster formation by infection or IFN treatment was dependent upon an intact IFN-signaling pathway. The autophagic clusters were decorated with both ISG15, an essential effecter of the antiviral response, and p62, a selective autophagy receptor. The autophagic clusters were not induced by rapamycin or starvation, consistent with a process of selective autophagy. While clusters were triggered by other neurotropic herpesviruses, infection with unrelated viruses failed to induce this response. Following ocular infection in vivo , clusters formed exclusively in the infected ophthalmic branch of the TG. Taken together, our results show that infection with HSV and antiviral signaling in TG neurons produce an unorthodox autophagic response. This autophagic clustering is associated with antiviral signaling, the presence of viral genome, and the absence of HSV protein expression and may therefore represent an important neuronal response to HSV infection and the establishment of latency. IMPORTANCE Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a ubiquitous virus and a significant cause of morbidity and some mortality. It is the causative agent of benign cold sores, but it can also cause blindness and life-threatening encephalitis. The success of HSV-1 is largely due to its ability to establish lifelong latent infections in neurons and to occasionally reactivate. The exact mechanisms by which neurons defend against virus infection is poorly understood, but such defense is at least partially mediated by autophagy, an intracellular pathway by which pathogens and other unwanted cargoes are degraded. The study demonstrates and investigates a new autophagic structure that appears to be specific to the interaction between neurotropic herpesviruses and murine primary sensory neurons. This work may therefore have important implications for our understanding of latency and reactivation.
Can International Antitrust Be Saved for the Post-Boeing Merger World? A Proposal to Minimize International Conflict and to Rescue from Misuse

The different approaches taken by the U.S. and E.U. enforcement authorities on the lawfulness of the Boeing/McDonnell-Douglas merger raises the prospect of increasing conflict among the world's antitrust authorities. Both the U.S. and the E.U. claim the right to evaluate transactions which, although occurring abroad, produce economic effects within their borders. Traditional means of avoiding conflict through doctrines of comity or other balancing processes seem unpromising. We make a new proposal for minimizing conflict in the antitrust evaluation of transactions involving significant multimarket effects. We observe that all competition laws are based, to a significant extent, on the promotion of efficiency. Many such laws, however, also embody significant distributional concerns, such as protecting small business, protecting employment or promoting fairness. The most important differences in competition laws among jurisdictions thus are traceable primarily in the amount and design of the distributional concerns which they incorporate. We therefore propose, as a means of lessening international conflict over competition policies, that when a jurisdiction asserts the authority to evaluate a transaction involving significant multimarket effects, that the acting jurisdiction base its evaluation on the common element in all antitrust laws: efficiency. By forsaking distributional concerns which are unique to its domestic constituency, that jurisdiction avoids imposing its domestic policies on others and still performs a valuable service to the global community by enforcing the efficiency standard common to most antitrust laws.
Radiation Exposure and Hand Dominance Using Mini C-Arm Fluoroscopy in Hand Surgery.

Background: The mini C-arm is popular with hand surgeons, and they are particularly at risk for radiation exposure, as they cannot easily distance themselves from the radiation beam. We hypothesize...
Elasticity-based identification of tumor margins using Brillouin spectroscopy

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the efficacy of using Brillouin spectroscopy for differentiation between healthy and cancerous tissues. Previous studies of various cancers indicate that elasticity of the tumor differs from that of the surrounding tissue. We hypothesize that it is possible to distinguish between normal and malignant areas based on their Brillouin measurements. Brillouin spectroscopy is an emerging spectroscopic technique capable of assessing the local elasticity of samples by measuring the Brillouin shift. In the present study, we have used malignant melanoma tissue samples from Sinclair miniature swine to demonstrate the validity of our proposed application. We performed Brillouin measurements on healthy tissue, normal tumor and regressing tumor (as indicated by depigmentation of tissue). Overall, the tumors were found to be stiffer than the surrounding healthy tissue. However, the regressing tumor displayed the elastic properties closer to that of the healthy tissue. Based on the Brillouin measurements, we have successfully differentiated between the tumor and healthy tissues with a high degree of confidence (p<104 for normal tumor, p<0.05 for regressing tumor). Our results indicate that Brillouin spectroscopy is an appropriate tool to not only pinpoint tumor boundaries, but also to monitor tumor growth or evaluate its response to treatment.
Variation in the structure of female brown-headed cowbird vocalizations and its relation to vocal function and development

Female Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) are unusual among temperate zone songbirds in that they possess a distinctive and loud call, known as "chatter" and consisting of a series of brief chevron-shaped syllables. Unlike the high-amplitude vocalizations commonly given by males, which show extreme macrogeographic and microgeographic (i.e., dialect) variation, chatter shows no apparent qualitative variation throughout North America. Quantitative variation in frequency and temporal parameters was assessed by measuring 40 variables on chatter calls given by 45 females from the three recognized cowbird subspecies. Univariate and multivariate (principle components) analyses showed only minor macrogeographic differences among the subspecies and gave no indication that local microgeographic variation or dialects exist. Despite the near lack of spatial variation, analysis of variance demonstrated that nearly every variable shows significant individual variation within each subspecies. This is probably sufficient to allow cowbirds to recognize individual females. Chatter is used in diverse contexts and in communication with both males and other females. Its quantitative features may vary according to context, but this was not investigated because all calls in this study were given in the same context.
17 THz continuous-wave optical modulator

We use coherently rotating hydrogen molecules and demonstrate a continuous-wave optical modulator at a frequency of 17.6 THz that can modulate any laser within the optical region of the spectrum. The molecules are coherently excited using two intense laser beams spaced by the Raman transition frequency inside a high-finesse cavity.
Traumatic aneurysm of vertebral artery: a case report and review of the literature.

A 64-year-old woman with a long-stand ing deformity of the neck presented with a rapidly enlarging neck mass following sud den turning of the head. Cervical radio graphs demonstrated a large erosion of the posterior elements of the cervical vertebra at the site of the deformity, and angiography revealed an aneurysmal sac of the left verte bral artery. The differential diagnoses of en larging neck masses associated with these ra diographic findings are discussed.
AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS AND PARKINSONISM-DEMENTIA ON GUAM, 1945–1972 I. DESCRIPTIVE EPIDEMIOLOGY

An overview of the epidemiologic studies of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and parkinsonism-dementia (PD) from 1945 through 1972 is presented. During this period 350 cases of ALS were documented. PD, which is apparently unique to the native Chamorro population, was not recognized during the early years of the study. A total of 213 PD patients have now been seen. The rates of both diseases have declined by approximately 50 per cent since 1965. In the early years incidence per 100,000 for ALS males approached 60; for females it was about 40. For PD males it was about 50; for females it was close to 20. The declines in both diseases have occurred in both sexes and at all age groups and no cohort phenomenon was observed. Marked geographic differences in the distribution of the diseases were observed with southern villages having the highest rates and western villages having the lowest rates; the remainder of the island was intermediate. Recent declines have been most marked in the southern high-rate villages. Chamorros living on the island of Rota have rates similar to those on Guam; those on Saipan have lower rates. A possible excess of ALS among Filipino residents ofGuam was noted; ALS has not been seen among other ethnic groups. Geographic mapping even in high incidence areas did not reveal true clusters or foci. Extensive case-control studies did not reveal any patterns of prior illness, life-style, or exposures distinguishing patients. A tendency for patients to be of somewhat lower socioeconomic level, have less education, eat more homegrown foods and raw meats, and more contact with animals was found. No Mendelian genetic patterns were observed; males were affected more frequently than female for both diseases. Cases did not occur before age 20, reached maximum frequency between ages 55 and 65 and there-after declined. Environmental factors associated with some aspects of the traditional way of life seem to be causally involved, but, since most aspects of the traditional life have changed in the past 50 years, the specific factors remain elusive.
Nonhuman primate in vitro fertilization: seasonality, cumulus cells, cyclic nucleotides, ribonucleic acid, and viability assays *

Since establishing our squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus) in vitro fertilization (IVF) system in 1972,1788 oocytes have been laparoscopically recovered from follicles, with 669 matured and 332 fertilized. Oocyte maturation was higher (P
Patient Pre-Treatment Expectations Do Not Predict Cocaine Use Outcomes: Data From Four Clinical Trials.

ABSTRACTBackground: There are very few data regarding the extent to which patients' initial expectations regarding treatment are associated with substance use treatment outcomes. Objective: This study sought to determine how patients' treatment expectations were associated with treatment outcomes. Methods: This study explored patient pre-treatment expectations and substance use treatment outcomes for 387 individuals participating in treatment for cocaine use within the United States (68.2% male, mean age 36 years old, 54.8% Caucasian). Results: Participants' expectations regarding abstinence were not strongly associated with post-treatment or follow-up cocaine use outcome measures. There was a significant association between the expected timeframe of receiving a positive treatment effect (i.e., outcome efficiency expectations) and days of cocaine use at the 1-month follow-up point (F = 3.45, p =.009). Post-hoc comparisons revealed that participants that expected positive effects of treatment within 0–1 we...
Palliative Care for Pancreatic and Periampullary Cancer

UTMB Clinical and Translational Science Award [UL1TR000071]; NIH T-32 Grant [5T32DK007639]; AHRQ [1R24HS022134]; Cancer Prevention and Research Institute Grant [RP140020]
Scientific Prediction versus Crystal Ball Gazing: Can the Unknown be Known?

Freeman and Job (1979) attempt to provide formal mathematical distinctions between predictions and forecasts in international relations. Serious problems exist, however, in their models. For example, they fail to clearly define “probability” in their models, which creates confusion regarding how, exactly, predictions are distinct from forecasts. Also, in their treatment of actual applications of the models, empirical generalizations are not clearly delineated from definitions and assumptions, further confusing their arguments. In general, no firm basis is given in the article to establish a probability value in their models that is distinct from the unscientific practice of “crystal ball gazing.”
Viral Antigen Detection

Laboratorians continually seek methodologies that yield accurate results in a timely fashion, are cost effective, and require less technical expertise. Diagnosis of viral infections via viral antigen detection methods such as immunofluorescence (FA), immunochromatography (lateral flow) (IC), and enzyme immunoassays (EIA) offer many of these attractive features and are useful for direct detection of viral antigens in an array of clinical specimens and for identification of cultivated viruses. Whether the detection method is FA, rapid IC, or EIA, detection of antigens of the common respiratory viruses (i.e., adenovirus; influenza virus [Flu] A and B; parainfluenza virus [PIV] −1, −2, and −3 and respiratory syncytial virus [RSV]), has been shown to be more useful in patient management than either traditional virus isolation (1, 2, 3) or viral detection in rapid culture using centrifugation-enhanced inoculation (4). There is considerable variability in the sensitivity, specificity, technical considerations, and turnaround time among the various methods, and each method may perform differently depending on the viral target. This chapter deals with principles of FA, IC, and EIA and their contemporary applications in viral antigen detection.
Effects of Mobility and Multimorbidity on Inpatient and Postacute Health Care Utilization.

Background This study examines effects of mobility and multimorbidity on hospitalization and inpatient and postacute care (PAC) facility days among older men. Methods Prospective study of 1,701 men (mean age 79.3 years) participating in Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) Study Year 7 (Y7) examination (2007-2008) linked with their Medicare claims. At Y7, mobility ascertained by usual gait speed and categorized as poor, intermediate, or good. Multimorbidity quantified by applying Elixhauser algorithm to inpatient and outpatient claims and categorized as none, mild-moderate, or high. Hospitalizations and PAC facility stays ascertained during 12 months following Y7. Results Reduced mobility and greater multimorbidity burden were independently associated with a higher risk of inpatient and PAC facility utilization, after accounting for each other and traditional indicators. Adjusted mean total facility days per year were 1.13 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.74-1.40) among men with good mobility increasing to 2.43 (95% CI = 1.17-3.84) among men with poor mobility, and 0.67 (95% CI = 0.38-0.91) among men without multimorbidity increasing to 2.70 (95% CI = 1.58-3.77) among men with high multimorbidity. Men with poor mobility and high multimorbidity had a ninefold increase in mean total facility days per year (5.50, 95% CI = 2.78-10.87) compared with men with good mobility without multimorbidity (0.59, 95% CI = 0.37-0.95). Conclusions Among older men, mobility limitations and multimorbidity were independent predictors of higher inpatient and PAC utilization after considering each other and conventional predictors. Marked combined effects of reduced mobility and multimorbidity burden may be important to consider in clinical decision-making and planning health care delivery strategies for the growing aged population.
Ductal Carcinoma In Situ and Margins <2 mm: Contemporary Outcomes With Breast Conservation.

Objective:To determine the relationship between negative margin width and locoregional recurrence (LRR) in a contemporary cohort of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) patients.Background:Recent national consensus guidelines recommend an optimal margin width of 2 mm or greater for the management of DCIS
The Calculation of Brain Elastic Response Parameters in Vivo

Our principle interest is to identify and measure certain response properties of in vivo brain tissue and to relate changes in the values of these measured properties to controlled changes in the system. In Particular we have identified several elastic and viscoelastic tissue properties which can be measured epidurally with a pressure-displacement transducer system and which are analogous to the properties reported for engineering materials. An important material property which characterizes the resistance of a material to deformation is the stress-strain, or elastic, modulus. Analogous to this we have identified a pressure-displacement modulus to characterize in vivo brain tissue. The more “stiff”the brain appears, the larger the value of the pressure-displacement modulus. However, unlike engineering materials whose elastic modulus is essentially constant, brain tissue response appears sensitive to several environmental factors. We have studied the correlation between changes in these factors and changes in the pressure-displacement modulus (Schettini and Fitzer 1981). In addition it has been noted that the pressure-displacement measurements in brain tissue indicate a non-linear response with the compressibility decreasing with increasing insertion depth. This motivates the consideration of a second elastic modulus to identify the nonlinear character of the tissue. It remains then to determine if changes in this parameter can be correlated to changes in the tissue environment and also if it is independent of the pressure-displacement modulus. Following nonlinear elastiCity theory we now identify the pressure-displacement modulus as a tangent modulus and define a second-order or curvature modulus to characterize the nonlinear behavior.
Adaptive Continuation Strategy for Indirect Hypersonic Trajectory Optimization

Continuation addresses one of the major difficulties of practical indirect trajectory optimization—providing a good initial guess—by solving a series of incrementally more difficult subproblems tha...
ONLINE IDENTIFICATION OF DIRECTIONAL GRAPH TOPOLOGIES CAPTURING DYNAMIC AND NONLINEAR DEPENDENCIES

Linear structural vector autoregressive models (SVARMs) have well-documented merits for topology inference of directional graphs emerging in diverse applications, including gene-regulatory, brain, and social networks. Although simple and tractable, linear SVARMs cannot capture nonlinearities that are inherent to complex systems, such as the human brain, that can also vary over time. Given nodal measurements, these considerations motivate the dynamic nonlinear SVARM approach developed here to track the possibly directed and dynamic nonlinear interactions among network nodes. For slow-varying topologies, nonlinear model parameters are estimated via functional stochastic gradient descent. Numerical tests showcase the effectiveness of the novel algorithms in unveiling sparse dynamically-evolving topologies.
Assessing and Treating Psychopaths

The psychopathic individual is characterized by limited affective experiences, is known to act impulsively and often antisocially, but also seems calm and at ease in the presence of others (Cleckley, The mask of sanity, Mosby, St. Louis, MO, 1941/1996; Hare, Manual for the Hare Psychopathy Checklist—Revised, Multi-Health Systems, Toronto, ON, 2003). Psychopathic individuals are present in significant numbers within the criminal justice system, where their persistent antisocial behavior strains both human and financial resources. Upon release they are more likely to reoffend than nonpsychopathic offenders, resulting in greater cost to their communities and—typically—return to the system (Hemphill et al., Legal Criminol Psychol 3: 139–170, 1998). Despite the seriousness of this syndrome, little systematic research has been conducted examining treatment within this population. Based on early negative conceptualizations, strengthened by a small number of documented treatment failures, psychopathic individuals have been described as “untreatable”. More recently, some evidence suggests that, although they are less likely to retain in treatment than non-psychopathic individuals, adult offenders with psychopathy who complete intensive CBT and risk-reduction oriented treatment programs respond similarly to these interventions as nonpsychopathic offenders. In this chapter, research in this area is reviewed, with an emphasis on placing early research in context and identifying the gaps in the existing literature. Specifically, the chapter includes: (1) review of the assessment and prevalence of psychopathy across diverse groups; (2) review and discussion of early research on the treatment of psychopathy; and (3) review and discussion of more recent intervention research, including studies with adults and adolescents. Overall, although it appears that there may be some treatments that impact positively the functioning of psychopathic individuals, it is not clear yet the extent or duration of these benefits. Moving forward, information regarding the responses of psychopathic individuals to existing treatments must be collected, and interventions targeted to this resistant group must be developed and systematically tested. Despite some advances, the field as a whole is still in the early stages of development and growth is urgently needed.
Assessing thermal adaptation using family-based association and FST outlier tests in a threatened trout species

Discovering genetic markers associated with phenotypic or ecological characteristics can improve our understanding of adaptation and guide conservation of key evolutionary traits. The Lahontan cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii henshawi) of the northern Great Basin Desert, USA, demonstrated exceptional tolerance to high temperatures in the desert lakes where it resided historically. This trait is central to a conservation hatchery effort to protect the genetic legacy of the nearly extinct lake ecotype. We genotyped full-sibling families from this conservation broodstock and samples from the only two remaining, thermally distinct, native lake populations at 4,644 new single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Family-based genome-wide association testing of the broodstock identified nine and 26 SNPs associated with thermal tolerance (p < 0.05 and p < 0.1), measured in a previous thermal challenge experiment. Genes near the associated SNPs had complex functions related to immunity, growth, metabolism and ion homeostasis. Principal component analysis using the thermotolerance-related SNPs showed unexpected divergence between the conservation broodstock and the native lake populations at these loci. FST outlier tests on the native lake populations identified 18 loci shared between two or more of the tests, with two SNPs identified by all three tests (p < 0.01); none overlapped with loci identified by association testing in the broodstock. A recent history of isolation and the complex genetic and demographic backgrounds of Lahontan cutthroat trout probably limited our ability to find shared thermal tolerance loci. Our study extends the still relatively rare application of genomic tools testing for markers associated with important phenotypic or environmental characteristics in species of conservation concern.
Updating the neurodevelopmental profile of Alazami syndrome: Illustrating the role of developmental assessment in rare genetic disorders

Alazami syndrome, caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in LARP7, is a recently-described rare genetic disorder, with 17 patients currently reported in the literature. We present a case of a male infant referred for genetics evaluation at 5 months of age, found at 17 months of age to have Alazami syndrome. He was promptly referred for developmental evaluation, where he was found to be higher functioning than prior reports of individuals with this condition. This demonstrates the neurodevelopmental phenotypic variability seen in rare genetic disorders; it also demonstrates the important role of developmental programs to measure and track outcomes and provide support for infants with genetic disorders that put them at risk of developmental disabilities.
Quality of care and survival of women with uterine cancer by Hispanic origin: An NCDB analysis.

e17120Background: In cancer research in the US, Hispanic patients are often analyzed as a homogeneous group despite significant diversity within this ethnic classification. Our objective was to ass...