cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optical coherence tomography in the study of the Goldmann-Favre syndrome

Abstract PURPOSE: To report a case of Goldmann–Favre syndrome with special emphasis on the optical coherence tomography findings. METHODS: In a 23-year-old white man with an 8-year history of visual impairment in both eyes and night blindness, vertical and horizontal optical coherence tomography images were obtained through the macula and through the retinoschisis located at the temporal side of the macula. RESULTS: Optical coherence tomography showed in the left eye a clear loss of the inner retinal layer at the fovea and the formation of inner and outer retinal layer holes in the temporally located retinoschisis. The outer retinal layer hole had rolled edges. CONCLUSION: In Goldmann–Favre syndrome, optical coherence tomography demonstrated confluent macular cystoid changes and retinoschisis in both eyes. In the left eye, a lamellar macular hole and retinoschisis with inner retinal layer and outer retinal layer holes were observed. The outer retinal layer hole had rolled edges.
Ionic Control of Chromosome Architecture in Living and Permeabilized Cells

Studies with isolated chromatin show that higher order chromosome architecture can be regulated by ionic conditions; however, the physiological relevance of these findings remains unknown. In the present study, chromosome architecture was analyzed in situ in living and detergent-extracted cells exposed to different ionic conditions. In intact mitotic endothelial cells, chromosomes instantly unfolded as detected by phase contrast microscopy when the salt concentration in the culture medium was increased from 110 to 410 mM NaCl or from 0 to 65 mM MgCl2. When the ions were removed and the preexisting culture conditions were restored, chromosomes refolded into their original shapes and subsequently underwent mitotic division. Similar reversible effects were observed on nucleolar structure in living interphase cells as well as on mitotic chromosomes exposed to high salt after cell membranes were removed by treatment with Triton X-100. This permeabilized mitotic cell model was then used to identify proteins that remained tightly associated with chromatin during the ion-driven chromosome unfolding‐refolding cycle and which therefore could be important for maintenance of chromosome structure. Under these conditions in which disassembled chromosomes retained their ability to fully recondense, more than 95% of Topoisomerase I was extracted whereas approximately 25% of Topoisomerase IIa and 50% of Histone H1 remained tightly associated with chromatin. These data demonstrate the sensitivity of chromosome structure to variations in ionic concentration in situ and suggest that there are at least two distinct pools of Histone H1 and Topoisomerase IIa associated with chromatin during mitosis, one of which may be required for chromosome compaction. © 1998 Academic Press
Detection of septicemia in chicken livers by spectroscopy

To establish a procedure for differentiating normal chickens from chickens with septicemia/toxemia (septox) by machine inspection under the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point-Based Inspection Models Project, spectral measurements of 300 chicken livers, of which half were normal and half were condemned due to septox conditions, were collected and analyzed. Neural network classification of the spectral data after principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that normal and septox livers were correctly differentiated by spectroscopy at a rate of 96%. Analysis of the data established 100% correlation between the spectroscopic identification and the subset of samples, both normal and septox, that were histopathologically diagnosed. In an attempt to establish the microbiological etiology of the diseased livers, isolates from 30 livers indicated that the poultry carcasses were contaminated mostly with coliforms present in the environment, hindering the isolation of pathogenic microorganisms. Therefore, to establish the cause of diseased livers, a strictly aseptic environment and procedure for sample collection is required.
Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer Is All Grown Up

Technologies to reprogram the identity of adult somatic cells will open new avenues for disease modeling and personalized regenerative medicine. Morphing readily accessible adult somatic cells, such as blood and skin fibroblasts, into pluripotent stem cell lines either by transcription factors—induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)—or somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) into enucleated oocytes—SCNT human embryonic stem cells (hESCs)—should allow for advances in patient-specific care. Although SCNT works well in rodents, it has proven difficult to translate into human cells. In 2013, the laboratory of Mitalipov reported optimized techniques that enabled the generation of the first diploid human SCNT hESC lines. This was a major advance; however, the donor cells used were of fetal and early postnatal origin, so it remained unclear whether adult human cells could be efficiently reprogrammed by means of SCNT. Two recent papers from Chung et al . and Yamada et al . provide important confirmation that human cells can indeed be reprogrammed by means of SCNT to generate hESC lines. Moreover, both reports also demonstrate that adult human cells can be used to generate hESC lines by SCNT. SCNT involves the transfer of a donor nucleus into an unfertilized enucleated egg. The eggs are then artificially activated to initiate developmental progression and reprogramming of the donor nucleus. When successful, the resulting SCNT embryo is a genetic “clone” of the somatic cell donor, with an identical complement of genomic, but not mitochondrial, DNA. Using distinct technical optimizations, both Chung et al . and Yamada et al . were able to generate diploid SCNT hESC lines with efficiencies of roughly 2 to 5%. The major advance in both papers was the first demonstrations of SCNT feasibility when using adult human donor cells. Excitingly, Yamada et al . also generated a SCNT hESC line from a female patient with type I diabetes and showed the ability to further differentiate this line into insulin-producing cells. These studies provide new advances in the ability to generate patient-specific human pluripotent stem cell lines. Although there is evidence in rodents that SCNT may produce more genetically stable and epigenetically normal pluripotent stem cells lines than can iPSC-based techniques, this remains to be shown for human cells. Considering the technical and ethical constraints of using human eggs for SCNT, it will be especially important to rigorously evaluate and justify any advantages of SCNT over iPSC methodologies. Y. G. Chung et al. , Human somatic cell transfer using adult cells. Cell Stem Cell 10.1016/j.stem.2014.03.015 (2014). [[Abstract]][1] M. Yamada et al. , Human oocytes reprogram adult somatic nuclei of a type 1 diabetic to diploid pluripotent stem cells. Nature 10.1038/nature13287 (2014). [[Abstract]][2] [1]: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1934590914001374 [2]: http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nature13287.html
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Improves Myocardial Functional Recovery Following Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

Background Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a central growth and survival factor for both the endothelium and the myocardium. Recent evidence also suggests that VEGF may play a critical role in stem-cell-mediated paracrine cardioprotection. However, the acute effect of exogenous VEGF on myocardium after ischemia, indeed whether isolated VEGF alone may be a clinically useful therapeutic modality, remains unknown. We hypothesize that infusion of exogenous VEGF immediately prior to ischemia will improve myocardial functional recovery. Materials and methods Adult male Sprague Dawley rat hearts were isolated and perfused via Langendorff model. All hearts were subject to 15-min equilibration, 25-min warm global ischemia, and 40-min reperfusion. Experimental hearts received a VEGF infusion of 3× physiological (13 nm, n = 4), 5× physiological (20 nm, n = 4), or 10× physiological (40 nm, n = 5) immediately prior to ischemia. Controls (n = 5) were infused with perfusate vehicle. Functional indices (left ventricular developed pressure), end diastolic pressure, ±dP/dt were continuously recorded. Results End diastolic pressure (mmHg) was elevated in response to ischemia/reperfusion. However, hearts infused with 10× VEGF demonstrated significantly (P < 0.05, analysis of variance and Bonferroni's) decreased end diastolic pressure throughout reperfusion compared to control (49.82 ± 10.35 mmHg versus 80.73 ± 6.08 mmHg at end reperfusion). 10× VEGF-treated hearts also exhibited significantly (P < 0.05, analysis of variance and Bonferroni's) greater recovery of left ventricular developed pressure (69.97 ± 9.69% versus 39.74 ± 7.01% of equilibration), +dP/dt, and −dP/dt at end reperfusion. However, neither 3× nor 5× VEGF improved recovery after ischemia. VEGF also did not influence coronary flow after ischemia. Conclusion This is the first demonstration that exogenous VEGF administration acutely improves myocardial functional recovery after ischemia. These findings may help elucidate the role of VEGF in acute stem-cell-mediated paracrine effects and suggests that isolated VEGF may be of therapeutic value.
Genesis of fibrous calcite and emerald by amagmatic processes in the southwestern Uinta Mountains, Utah

Large bodies of fibrous calcite, up to 400 m long and up to 20 m wide, are hosted by Mississippian carbonate units in the Uinta Mountains, Utah. Subjacent to the carbonate rocks, emerald mineralization has been recognized recently in the Neoproterozoic Red Pine Shale. Two types of fibrous calcites are recognized on the basis of appearance and geochemical characteristics. Fibrous orange calcite is translucent, similar to “Mexican calcite” commonly sold at gem-and-mineral shows, and is being mined and used in carvings and for other decorative purposes. Recently recognized fibrous brown calcite is also present in the same general vicinity. Calcite veins hosted with Mississippian carbonate rocks are located a few kilometers south of the South Flank fault zone (SFFZ) in the vicinity of a swarm of north-trending faults. Parts of the Red Pine Shale along the SFFZ contain abundant secondary pyrite. Altered shale also contains quartz and calcite veins as well as albitized feldspar in some arkosic units and is variably enriched in Cu and Zn. At least three emeralds have been discovered in altered Red Pine Shale. b 18 O VSMOW values of calcite (-10 to -13‰) would be in equilibrium with basin brines (assumed to be –3 to +5‰), suggesting precipitation in the range of 100°–300° C. Our work suggests that sulfate-bearing basinal brines from the Uinta Basin may have migrated upward along the SFFZ and interacted with the carbon-rich shale. As sulfate was reduced by organic carbon to form sulfides, emerald was produced and a CO 2 -rich fluid migrated upward and dissolved parts of the Mississippian carbonates. The fluid experienced intermittent loss of CO 2 gas, which allowed fibrous calcite with cone-in-cone textures to precipitate rapidly. This model and geologic setting have broad similarities to both Mississippi Valley and Colombian emerald deposits. The genesis of fibrous brown calcite, however, is less certain. These calcites lack critical geochemical characteristics that tie orange calcite to precipitation from hot brines; rather stable isotope data are permissive of origin from low-temperature ground water.
Regular reflection in potential flow and the sonic criterion

We study the classical problem of self-similar reflection of shocks at a ramp, modeled by potential flow with γ-law pressure. Depending on corner angle θ and upstream Mach number MI , either regular (RR) or Mach reflections occur. There are several conflicting transition criteria predicting the corner angle at which the type of reflection changes. We show that in some cases, in particular MI =1 and γ =5 /3, an exact RR solution exists for all θ specified by the sonic criterion. Thus all weaker criteria are false.
CASTRATION IN THE MALE NOTES ON THE HYPOTHALAMICO-PITUITARY-GONADAL SYSTEM

REICENTLY Feinier and Rothman (i) stated tha t “It appears that in the full-grown adult the only indispensable sexual function of the testes is that of procreation and that libido and potency are functions of and controlled by the prepituitary and psychic centers.” Their case report was of an adult male castrate who“retained libido and prowess for thirty years after complete orchidectomy.” The present paper is a report of two adult castrates who lost libido and potency, one of whom was treated by male sex hormone (testosterone propionate). Case i.H.K., aged 46, divorced, white male, was seen November 4, 1937 because of impotency andmultiple arthritis. In 1923 a left orchidectomy had been performed for tuberculosis of the epididymis and testicle. Within one month after the operation the hair of the scalp came out in patches(alopecia areata). Libido and potency were not affected.
Functional Proteomics of Arabidopsis thaliana Guard Cells Uncovers New Stomatal Signaling Pathways

We isolated a total of 3 × 108 guard cell protoplasts from 22,000 Arabidopsis thaliana plants and identified 1734 unique proteins using three complementary proteomic methods: protein spot identification from broad and narrow pH range two-dimensional (2D) gels, and 2D liquid chromatography–matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization multidimensional protein identification technology. This extensive single-cell-type proteome includes 336 proteins not previously represented in transcriptome analyses of guard cells and 52 proteins classified as signaling proteins by Gene Ontology analysis, of which only two have been previously assessed in the context of guard cell function. THIOGLUCOSIDE GLUCOHYDROLASE1 (TGG1), a myrosinase that catalyzes the production of toxic isothiocyanates from glucosinolates, showed striking abundance in the guard cell proteome. tgg1 mutants were hyposensitive to abscisic acid (ABA) inhibition of guard cell inward K+ channels and stomatal opening, revealing that the glucosinolate-myrosinase system, previously identified as a defense against biotic invaders, is required for key ABA responses of guard cells. Our results also suggest a mechanism whereby exposure to abiotic stresses may enhance plant defense against subsequent biotic stressors and exemplify how enhanced knowledge of the signaling networks of a specific cell type can be gained by proteomics approaches.
Comparison of the porosity of hand-mixed and capsulated glass-ionomer luting cements

The strength of dental glass-ionomer cements will be influenced by defects present within its structure. This study measured the surface area porosity, percentage surface area porosity, and mean surface area of small bubbles (<0.01 mm2) and the surface area porosity, percentage surface area porosity and diameter of large bubbles within 40-microm-thick layers of four cements, using image analysis software. Two hand-mixed cements (Fuji I and KetacCem) and two capsulated cements (Fuji Cap I and KetacCem Maxicap) were viewed under transmitted light at x117.6 magnification. For each selected area (64.75 mm2) of each cement sample, five independent measurements were made of each of these parameters. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that there were no significant differences between the four cements in the small bubble parameters measured, whilst there were significant differences in the surface area porosity, percentage surface area porosity and diameter of the large bubbles. It was concluded that the hand-mixed cements tested had a greater number of larger diameter bubbles compared with the capsulated cements.
Phylogenetic analysis of Silphium and subtribe Engelmanniinae (Asteraceae: Heliantheae) based on ITS and ETS sequence data.

The phylogenetic relationships of Silphium and subtribe Engelmanniinae were examined using DNA sequence data. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and the external transcribed spacer (ETS) region were sequenced for 39 specimens representing the six genera of subtribe Engelmanniinae (Berlandiera, Chrysogonum, Dugesia, Engelmannia, Lindheimera, and Silphium), plus five additional genera identified as closely related to the Engelmanniinae by chloroplast DNA restriction site analysis, and three outgroups. Phylogenetic analysis supported the monophyly of Silphium with Lindheimera as sister. Silphium can be divided into two sections based upon two well-supported clades that correspond to root type and growth form. These results also supported the expansion of subtribe Engelmanniinae to include Balsamorhiza, Borrichia, Rojasianthe, Vigethia, and Wyethia. We hypothesize that subtribe Engelmanniinae originated in Mesoamerica and later radiated to the United States. We suggest that the cypsela complex, which is present in Berlandiera, Chrysogonum, Engelmannia,and Lindheimera, arose only once and was subsequently lost in Silphium. Silphium L., commonly known as rosin-weed, is a member of the sunflower family Asteraceae. The genus is primarily distributed in the eastern United States with a small part of its range extending into Canada. Small (1933) recognized 33 species of Silphium, which he divided into five sections (Composita, Dentata, Integrifolia, Laciniata, and Perfoliata) based upon leaf, stem, capitulum, and phyllary morphology. Perry (1937) included 23 species in her revision of Silphium. Cronquist (1980), as part of the Asteraceae volume for the Vascular Flora of the Southeastern United States, revised Silphium to include 15 species. Since these treatments, only one additional species of Silphium has been described, Silphium wasiotense Medley (1989) from Kentucky and Tennessee. Medley hypothesized that S. wasiotense is most closely related to S. brachiatum and S. mohrii, which would place it in sect. Dentata. Silphium, because of its carbonized cypselae and paleate receptacles, is a member of the mostly Neotropical tribe Heliantheae. Traditionally, the genus has been classified in subtribe Melampodiinae Lessing because its capitula have functionally staminate disc florets. Stuessy (1973) treated subtribe Melampodiinae as an artificial 1
Semiparametric estimation of multinomial discrete-choice models using a subset of choices

Nonlogit maximum-likelihood estimators are inconsistent when using data on a subset of the choices available to agents. I show that the semiparametric, multinomial maximum-score estimator is consistent when using data on a subset of choices. No information is required for choices outside of the subset. The required conditions about the error terms are the same conditions as for using all the choices. Estimation can proceed under additional restrictions if agents have unobserved, random consideration sets. A solution exists for instrumenting endogenous continuous variables. Monte Carlo experiments show the estimator performs well using small subsets of choices.
Neutron Radiography as an “In-Line” Product Acceptance Tool

The background, advantages, and limitations of conventional x-ray or gamma-ray radiography in the acceptance inspection of electro-explosive components is examined. The development and application of neutron radiography proceeds and demonstrates the unique contribution of this technique toward higher product reliability when used as an ''in-line'' product acceptance tool.
Histological-MRI correlation in the primary motor cortex of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Purpose The goal of this study was to establish the relationship between ALS histopathology and quantitative MRI metrics.
Distributed learning under imperfect sensing in cognitive radio networks

We consider a cognitive radio network, where M distributed secondary users search for spectrum opportunities among N independent channels without information exchange. The occupancy of each channel by the primary network is modeled as a Bernoulli process with unknown mean which represents the unknown traffic load of the primary network. In each slot, a secondary transmitter chooses one channel to sense and subsequently transmit if the channel is sensed as idle. Sensing is considered to be imperfect, i.e., an idle channel can be sensed as busy and vice versa. Users transmitting on the same channel collide and none of them can transmit successfully. The objective is to maximize the system throughput under the collision constraint imposed by the primary network while ensuring synchronized channel selection between each secondary transmitter and its receiver. The performance of a channel selection policy is measured by the system regret, defined as the expected total performance loss with respect to the optimal performance under the ideal scenario where all channel means are known to all users and collisions among users are eliminated throughput perfect scheduling. We show that the optimal system regret has the same logarithmic order as the centralized counterpart with perfect sensing. An order-optimal decentralized policy is constructed to achieve the logarithmic order of the system regret while ensuring fairness among all users.
Vector restoration for video coding

We present a novel concept, vector restoration, for motion compensated predictive coding of video. Conventional predictive coders generate predictions of the input signal and encode the residual signal. Here, the predicted images are operated upon directly with the goal of restoring the original images at the decoder. The predicted images are processed in a piecewise manner using restoration functions chosen from a codebook. Compression is achieved by transmitting only an index of the chosen restoration function for each image region. We describe the manner in which the restoration functions are generated and chosen. Vector restoration is shown to outperform residual vector quantization and transform-based coders. This superiority is due to vector restoration's ability to adaptively exploit the non-trivial correlation between the predicted and residual images.
A Method to Optimize the Geometry of Radiation Detectors by Exploiting the Multiphysics Nature of the Simulations

Monte Carlo simulations of radiation detectors invoke computationally-intensive methods, to model a broad range of dynamical physical processes. In this paper, we examine the applicability of a black-box optimization technique, multiple fidelity sequential kriging optimization, as a framework for studying design optimization in systems modeled by multiphysics. The proposed optimization technique is able to combine the results of simulations with varying degree of multiphysical detail in order to reduce the overall computational cost. In this preliminary case study, geometrical parameters of a prototypical HPGe detector are adjusted to maximize the detection efficiency. Microphysics of secondary effects are approximated, rather than explicitly calculated, to generate fast, lower-fidelity simulations. Low-cost and high-cost data are integrated in the optimization method which sequentially searches the parameter space on variable fidelity levels.
Extreme Insulin Resistance: Indications and Approaches to the Use of U-500 Insulin in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

The use of U-500 insulin in the management of highly insulin resistant diabetic patients is growing. There are a number of reports that have noted the effects of U-500 insulin using multiple daily injections or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion on hemoglobin A1c, weight, and total daily insulin dosage. The effect of U-500 insulin use on glycemic control, changes in body weight, total daily insulin dosage, incidence of hypoglycemia, and effect on lipid levels and blood pressure as well as patient satisfaction and quality of life will be reviewed. In addition, this article will delineate algorithms of U-500 use, compare multiple daily injections or continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion, and discuss U-500 insulin pharmacokinetics.
Offspring sex ratio varies with clutch size for female house wrens induced to lay supernumerary eggs

Theory predicts that a mother’s ability to produce high-quality offspring should influence whether she produces sons or daughters. We tested this hypothesis in house wrens (Troglodytes aedon) using a within-clutch design in which we induced females to produce more eggs (8–10 eggs) than they normally would (6 or 7 eggs) to determine whether maternal effort and the allocation of resources to supernumerary eggs (those laid beyond the usual number) influence the offspring sex ratio. At the clutch level, we predicted that high-quality females, as defined by their ability to produce supernumerary eggs in response to egg removal, would overproduce sons relative to females treated the same way but producing fewer eggs. At the level of the egg, we predicted that supernumerary eggs would more likely contain daughters than sons. As predicted, females producing extralarge clutches overproduced sons and those producing smaller clutches produced relatively more daughters. Last-laid eggs were also more likely to contain daughters than earlier-laid eggs although there was no difference in the mass of eggs containing males and females. These results suggest that mothers adjust the sex of their offspring strategically to maximize fitness.
Daphnia fatty acid composition reflects that of their diet

We conducted a series of experiments feeding Daphnia pulex nine different phytoplankton monocultures with widely varying fatty acid composition and nutritional values to test the extent to which Daphnia fatty acid composition was affected by diet. In general, Daphnia fatty acid composition matched that of their diet much more closely than it did the fatty acid composition of Daphnia consuming other diets. However, Daphnia had consistently less saturated fatty acids and more arachidonic acid than did their diet, and Daphnia consuming cyanobacteria had substantially less saturated fatty acids and more monounsaturated fatty acids than their diets. Daphnia that consumed cryptophytes, which are rich in v3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), had on average 47% 6 8% (61 SD) v3 PUFAs within their fatty acid pool, whereas Daphnia that consumed v3 PUFA–poor cyanophytes only had 6% 6 3% v3 PUFAs. The ratio of v 3t ov6 fatty acids in Daphnia was also strongly dependent on diet, and averaged < 10 : 1, 2 : 1, and 1 : 1 for Daphnia that consumed cryptophytes, chlorophytes, and cyanophytes, respectively. Furthermore, the sum of C20 and C22 v3 and v6 fatty acids in Daphnia was highly correlated with that of their diet (r 2 5 0.94). These results suggest analyses of Daphnia fatty acid composition may be a powerful means of inferring diet in the field. These results also suggest the nutritional benefits of consuming v3-rich phytoplankton will transfer up the food web, making zooplankton both more efficient at converting phytoplankton biomass to their own biomass as well as much more nutritious for the zooplanktivorous fish that consume them.
Atrial Natriuretic Peptide Decreases Cardiac Output Independent of Coronary Vasoconstriction

Studies were performed in isolated, Langendorff-perfused rat hearts and anesthetized dogs to determine the effects of synthetic atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP 8-33) on the coronary circulation. In vitro studies in the rat examined coronary flow dynamics to ANP 8-33 over a defined range from physiologic to pharmacologic concentrations. No changes in coronary flow or chronotropic and inotropic function of the isolated Langendorff-perfused heart were observed in response to increasing concentrations of ANP 8-33 (10(2) to 10(6) pg/ml). In the dog, a low, nonhypotensive dose of ANP 8-33 (0.05 microgram/kg/min) decreased cardiac output with no change in coronary blood flow or coronary vascular resistance. At a high, hypotensive dose (0.3 microgram/kg/min) ANP 8-33 decreased cardiac output in association with transient coronary vasodilation. Continued infusion resulted in a decrease in coronary blood flow and arterial pressure with no change in coronary vascular resistance. Thus, in vitro physiologic and pharmacologic concentrations of ANP, or in vivo low concentrations of ANP, do not result in an alteration in coronary flow. In vivo ANP 8-33, at both nonhypotensive and hypotensive concentrations, decreased cardiac output in the absence of coronary vasoconstriction.
Textured Titanium Technology

Investigations have been concluded which indicate that a new generation of materials with greatly improved and consistent properties can be provided through controlled crystallographic preferred orientation. This adds a third dimension to alloy development along with composition and microstructure. Titanium alloys were examined for crystallographic preferred orientation and its effect on the elastic and plastic properties. Material characteristics studies include fatigue, toughness, stress-corrosion cracking, and creep-stress rupture. Results indicate that proper selection and control of texture will allow increased structural efficiency because current design allowances reflect the low material properties obtained in titanium when texturing is not taken into account. The utilization of texture for property improvement will increase as quantitative data on the subject become available, and when a greater appreciation of this phenomenon is inculcated among designers and materials application people.
Ovarian Cancer Complicating Pregnancy

An estimated 21,000 new cases of ovarian cancer in the United States were anticipated in 1991 and 13,000 deaths due to this lesion. It is estimated that about 1 of every 70 newborn girls (1.4%) will develop ovarian cancer during their lifetime. This neoplasm accounts for 4% of all cancers among women and 27% of the cancers of the female reproductive system. Although ovarian cancer ranks second in incidence among gynecologic cancers, it causes more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system.
Abstract 84: The L-ferritin receptor, Scara5, is expressed on breast cancer and glioma cells: A potential functional significance for cancer-associated high serum/CSF levels

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Elevated levels of circulating ferritin have been associated with several neoplasms, including neuroblastoma, glioblastoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, and breast cancer. Despite the prognostic value of serum ferritin levels, its role in cancer biology is not understood. Ferritin has long been considered exclusively as an intracellular iron storage protein. However, several lines of evidence have suggested a role for ferritin beyond iron storage, such as angiogenesis, iron delivery, and modulation of the immune response. Recently, a receptor for L-ferritin (the predominant ferritin subunit in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid) has been identified as scavenger receptor class A, member 5 (Scara5). Our preliminary data show Scara5 to be expressed in glioma, neuroblastoma, and breast cancer cells. This novel observation led us to hypothesize that Scara5 internalizes L-ferritin, and serves as a non-transferrin iron delivery mechanism in cancer cells. In support of this hypothesis, we report here that both human liver and human heart ferritins increased cellular survival of the breast cancer cell line MCF-7 in serum free conditions. Taken together, these observations suggest an active functional role for circulating ferritin in tumor biology. The elevated levels of circulating ferritin observed in some cancers may enhance tumor metabolism and growth. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 84.
Knowledge about AIDS prevention among high school students in Shifang city,Sichuan

Objective To understand current situation of AIDS related knowledge awareness among high school students in Shifang,Sichuan.Methods A total of 467 senior high school students at grade two were randomly chosen from a school in Shifang city.All students were interviewed with anonymous uniform questionnaire by self-administration.Results Overall awareness of knowledge related to AIDS prevention was 71.5 percent in these students,higher in those living in urban areas than those in rural areas(P0.05).Boys scored higher in awareness than girls did(P0.05).Awareness of three transmission routes of AIDS by blood,sexual and mother-to-child was 96.1 percent,96.4 percent and 86.5 percent,respectively.But,their awareness of non-transmission routes for AIDS was lower,and 37.5 percent and 60.2 percent of them believed that AIDS can not be transmitted by mosquito sting and dining with those with HIV infection,respectively.Their related knowledge mainly sourced from television and only 27.2 percent of them thought their knowledge came from school education or other publicity organized by the school.Conclusion Health education for AIDS prevention was poor among high school students in Shifang,especially among those from rural areas,and needs to be further strengthened to improve their awareness.
THE FLEXURAL CAPACITY OF CONCRETE BEAMS PRESTRESSED WITH BONDED AND/OR UNBONDED FRP TENDONS

Fiber reinforcement polymer(FRP) has high strength and high stiffness-to-weight ratio,which owns potential to be used as prestressing tendons in corrosive environment.However,concrete beams have showed brittle flexural failure due to the elastic rupture of FRP tendons.In order to improve the ductility,a combination of bonded and/or unbonded prestressing tendons is used.The flexural capacity of concrete beam prestressed with bonded and/or unbonded FRP tendons has been studied theoretically.According to the definition of balanced ratio,the failure modes of concrete beams prestressed with FRP tendons were defined in this paper,and the balanced ratio and the corresponding formula for calculating the flexural strength were derived.In order to verify the correctness of the formula,a series of flexural tests were conducted on 9 concrete beams prestressed with bonded and/or unbonded FRP tendons.The test program validated the proposed method.The results of experiments show that,if the reinforcement of prestressed beam remains the same,the concrete beam prestressed with bonded FRP tendons has the highest carrying capacity,followed by the unbonded prestressed beam,while the external unbonded prestressed beam without deviators has the lowest carrying capacity.Through combination of different FRP tendons,the ductility of concrete beams prestressed with FRP tendons can be improved.
Automatic estimation of the first two subglottal resonances in children's speech with application to speaker normalization in limited-data conditions.

This paper proposes an automatic algorithm for estimating the first two subglottal resonances (SGRs)—Sg1 and Sg2— from continuous speech of children, and applies it to automatic speaker normalization in mismatched, limited-data conditions. The proposed algorithm is based on the observation that Sg1 and Sg2 form phonological vowel feature boundaries, and is motivated by our recent SGR estimation algorithm for adults. The algorithm is trained and evaluated, respectively, on 25 and 9 children, aged between 7 and 18 years. The average RMS errors incurred in estimating Sg1 and Sg2 are 55 and 144 Hz, respectively. By applying the proposed algorithm to a connected digits speech recognition task, it is shown that: 1) a linear frequency warping using Sg1 or Sg2 is comparable to or better than maximum likelihood-based vocal tract length normalization (MLVTLN), 2) the performance of SGR-based frequency warping is less content dependent than that of ML-VTLN, and 3) SGRbased frequency warping can be integrated into ML-VTLN to yield a statistically-significant improvement in performance.
The interpretation of test results.

Antecedents: Les dermatologues doivent interpreter un nombre croissant de rapports de recherche et d'examens diagnostiques. Les techniques d'interpretation et les methodes decisionnelles fondees sur ces examens sont d'importants outils pour les cliniciens comme pour les chercheurs. Objectif: Presenter etape par etape un exemple simple de la verification des parametres essentiels des examens diagnostiques, brievement evoque dans l'article, soit: sensibilite, specificite, prevalence, valeurs predictives, rapports de vraisemblance et concept des courbes ROC. Conclusion: Les principes de l'interpretation des resultats d'examens s'apprennent et s'appliquent facilement dans la pratique quotidienne. Les dermatologues devraient donc bien comprendre les concepts abordes dans l'article.
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE OF CALMODULIN

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses about the crystal structure of calmodulin. The structure of calmodulin was originally reported at a resolution of 3.0 A by the multiple isomorphous replacement method. The model includes all of the polypeptide chain except for the first two residues and the last residue, whose positions cannot be identified with certainty at this stage of the refinement. The molecule consists of two globular lobes connected by an eight-turn α-helix; however, there are no contacts between the two lobes. The most prominent secondary structural features are seven α-helices involving residues 7–19, 29–40, 46–55, 65–92, 102–112, 119–128 and 138–148. Calmodulin contains four calcium binding sites and in the crystal structure, all four sites are occupied. The seven ligands used in coordination of the Ca2+ ion are arranged in a pentagonal bipyramidal fashion. There is a hydrophobic cleft in each half of the molecule. The environments of the two tyrosine residues in calmodulin are quite different. Calmodulin has one unusual residue, trimethyllysine, at position 115.
‘A Breaker-up of Parties’

Palmerston observed that the autumn weather of 1857 was ‘like the squares on a chess board alternately black and white — one day beautifully fine the next … cloudy and rainy’.1 Yet as an unusually mild Christmas season approached, Palmerston’s political outlook grew increasingly threatening. He had survived the months since the 1857 election with an apparent ease that obscured the real precari-ousness of his position. Anxiety about the Indian Mutiny had been subsumed within a moral outcry against the perpetrators of atrocity. Reform legislation had been deferred. Potential sources of political threat had been content that this should be so.
Catalytic Hot Gas Conditioning of Biomass Derived Product Gas

Biomass gasification provides the potential to efficiently and economically produce a renewable source of a clean gaseous fuel suitable for power generation or synthesis gas (syngas) applications. An important side benefit of the use of biomass is the effective minimization of the primary greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide (CO2), by providing a means to close-loop the CO2 cycle. However, high molecular weight hydrocarbon constituents (tar) in the product gas from gasification can complicate the downstream uses of the gas. This paper discusses both the development of a low cost, disposable catalyst system that can eliminate these heavy hydrocarbons from the gas and the use of the catalyst in conjunction with the Battelle high-throughput gasification process for power generation and synthesis applications.
Herpes Simplex Virus Capsid Localization to ESCRT-VPS4 Complexes in the Presence and Absence of the Large Tegument Protein UL36p.

ABSTRACT UL36p (VP1/2) is the largest protein encoded by herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) and resides in the innermost layer of tegument, the complex protein layer between the capsid and envelope. UL36p performs multiple functions in the HSV life cycle, including a critical but unknown role in capsid cytoplasmic envelopment. We tested whether UL36p is essential for envelopment because it is required to engage capsids with the cellular ESCRT/Vps4 apparatus. A green fluorescent protein (GFP)-fused form of the dominant negative ATPase Vps4-EQ was used to irreversibly tag ESCRT envelopment sites during infection by UL36p-expressing and UL36-null HSV strains. Using fluorescence microscopy and scanning electron microscopy, we quantitated capsid/Vps4-EQ colocalization and examined the ultrastructure of the corresponding viral assembly intermediates. We found that loss of UL36p resulted in a two-thirds reduction in the efficiency of capsid/Vps4-EQ association but that the remaining UL36p-null capsids were still able to engage the ESCRT envelopment apparatus. It appears that although UL36p helps to couple HSV capsids to the ESCRT pathway, this is likely not the sole reason for its absolute requirement for envelopment. IMPORTANCE Envelopment of the HSV capsid is essential for the assembly of an infectious virion and requires the complex interplay of a large number of viral and cellular proteins. Critical to envelope assembly is the virally encoded protein UL36p, whose function is unknown. Here we test the hypothesis that UL36p is essential for the recruitment of cellular ESCRT complexes, which are also known to be required for envelopment.
Predictive factors for late (>5 years) distant recurrences in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative breast cancer patients: >20-year follow-up.

543 Background: ER+ breast cancer (BC) by virtue of tumor dormancy can present with delayed recurrences, frequently years after initial diagnosis. Methods: Over 2,500 charts of ER+/HER2 negative BC...
The Effect of State Transfers on Poverty in Post-Socialist Eastern Europe

During the market transition in Eastern Europe, social support mechanisms shifted from employment-based measures to means-tested ones. This restructuring, along with an overall decrease in social support and economic productivity and an increase in unemployment, meant that these payments were often inadequate to address the large rise in poverty during this period of time. Little research, however, considers whether individual-level payments were effective in reducing poverty. This paper considers the efficacy of these individual-level payments in Bulgaria, Hungary, and Romania, using two-wave panel data. It shows that state transfers to individuals reduced their poverty in all these countries. Thus, while the level of payments may have been inadequate to eliminate the adverse effects of the market transition, the payments themselves were beneficial to individuals and reduced their poverty.
Creation and Assessment of an Active e-Learning Introductory Geology Course

The recent emphasis in higher education on both student engagement and online learning encouraged the authors to develop an active e-learning environment for an introductory geohazards course, which enrolls 70+ undergraduate students per semester. Instructors focused on replicating the achievements and addressing the challenges within an already established face-to-face student-centered class (Brudzinski and Sikorski 2010; Sit 2013). Through the use of a learning management system (LMS) and other available technologies, a wide range of course components were developed including online homework assignments with automatic grading and tailored feedback, video tutorials of software programs like Google Earth and Microsoft Excel, and more realistic scientific investigations using authentic and freely available data downloaded from the internet. The different course components designed to engage students and improve overall student learning and development were evaluated using student surveys and instructor reflection. Each component can be used independently and intertwined into a face-to-face course. Results suggest that significant opportunities are available in an online environment including the potential for improved student performance and new datasets for educational research. Specifically, results from pre and post-semester Geoscience Concept Inventory (GCI) testing in an active e-learning course show enhanced student learning gains compared to face-to-face lecture-based and student-centered courses.
Patient perspectives on physical function after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a qualitative study.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a life-saving treatment for some patients with aggressive hematologic malignancies, but many recipients develop temporary or persistent impairments in physical functioning.1 There is increasing evidence that impaired physical functioning is prognostic for survival in transplant recipients.2, 3 Furthermore, preserved physical functioning is necessary for patients to live independently and achieve goals that support their overall quality of life.
Diffuse Lymphadenopathy in a Patient After Stem Cell Transplantation

A 59-year-old man with past medical history of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia following a haplo-cord stem cell transplant 1 year before presented as a transfer from another hospital. He had a new fever and cervical lymphadenopathy. He had been in his usual state of health until 2 days prior to the outside hospital admission, when he noted feeling more tired than usual. Computed tomography of the chest demonstrated diffuse lymphadenopathy, a loculated anterior pericardial effusion, liver cysts, and concentric thickening of the antral wall of the stomach.
Effects of White Noise Achilles Tendon Vibration on Quiet Standing and Active Postural Positioning

Applying white noise vibration to the ankle tendons has previously been used to improve passive movement detection and alter postural control, likely by enhancing proprioceptive feedback. The aim of the present study was to determine if similar methods focused on the ankle plantarflexors affect the performance of both quiet standing and an active postural positioning task, in which participants may be more reliant on proprioceptive feedback from actively contracting muscles. Twenty young, healthy participants performed quiet standing trials and active postural positioning trials designed to encourage reliance on plantarflexor proprioception. Performance under normal conditions with no vibration was compared to performance with 8 levels of vibration amplitude applied to the bilateral Achilles tendons. Vibration amplitude was set either as a percentage of sensory threshold (n = 10) or by root-mean-square (RMS) amplitude (n = 10). No vibration amplitude had a significant effect on quiet standing. In contrast...
Tools for building de novo transcriptome assembly

Abstract The availability of RNA-Seq method allows researchers to capture the spatial or temporal profile of transcriptomes from various types of biological samples. The transcriptome data from a species can be analyzed in the context of its sequenced genomes or closely related genome to score biological sample-specific transcript isoforms, novel transcribed regions and to refine gene models including identification of new genes, in addition to the differential gene expression analysis. However, many plant species of importance currently lack a sequenced genome or a closely related reference genome and thus, rely on the de novo methods for generating transcript models and transcriptome assemblies. Here we describe various tools used for de novo transcriptome assembly and discuss the data management practices and standards.