cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Feed management of Litopenaeus vannamei in a high density biofloc system

Abstract One area with significant potential for improvement in commercial shrimp production is feed management. Consequently, feed management is critical to optimize especially in intensive systems. Hence, the purpose of this study was to observe the response of Litopenaeus vannamei to different feed inputs in an intensive production system. The growth trial was conducted in an outdoor biofloc recirculating aquaculture system consisting of 24, 0.75m2 culture tanks stocked at a density of 160 shrimp/m2 (initial weight 0.17 g) and grown for 63 days. Treatments consisted of seven varying feeding rates (30%, 60%, 90%, 105%, 120%, 135%, and 150%) which was offered 4 times per day, and an eighth treatment that was fed 150% of the standard feeding rate using a belt feeder that fed six times daily. At the conclusion of the trial, significant differences in final weight and feed conversion ratio were observed. Regression analysis performed on the first three feeding rates (30%, 60% and 90%) determined that natural foods were responsible for approximately 280 g of total shrimp biomass, or 17% of maximum biomass gain. Results indicated that increasing feed rates over 100% of the standard rate led to an increase in final weight, albeit shrimp growth shows signs of approaching plateau, and FCR increases. Results demonstrate efficacy of culturing shrimp in high density biofloc systems across a range of feed inputs and achieving desirable growth (1.27–1.55 g/week), final weight (11.62–14.15), feed conversion ratios (1.04–1.19), and survival (94.17–96.94). Restrictive feeding produces the most efficient use of feed, albeit at a cost of total weight gain. As maximum gain is approached, there is an inflection point at 101% of the standard feeding rate where growth and feed utilization decline rapidly leading to increase in FCR and smaller gains in growth. Hence, a goal for maximum gain will be offset by increased FCR. Consequently, to maximize nutrient utilization it is recommended to feed below maximum gain.
Safety evaluation of a clinical focused ultrasound system for neuronavigation guided blood-brain barrier opening in non-human primates.

An emerging approach with potential in improving the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and brain tumors is the use of focused ultrasound (FUS) to bypass the blood–brain barrier (BBB) in a non-invasive and localized manner. A large body of pre-clinical work has paved the way for the gradual clinical implementation of FUS-induced BBB opening. Even though the safety profile of FUS treatments in rodents has been extensively studied, the histological and behavioral effects of clinically relevant BBB opening in large animals are relatively understudied. Here, we examine the histological and behavioral safety profile following localized BBB opening in non-human primates (NHPs), using a neuronavigation-guided clinical system prototype. We show that FUS treatment triggers a short-lived immune response within the targeted region without exacerbating the touch accuracy or reaction time in visual-motor cognitive tasks. Our experiments were designed using a multiple-case-study approach, in order to maximize the acquired data and support translation of the FUS system into human studies. Four NHPs underwent a single session of FUS-mediated BBB opening in the prefrontal cortex. Two NHPs were treated bilaterally at different pressures, sacrificed on day 2 and 18 post-FUS, respectively, and their brains were histologically processed. In separate experiments, two NHPs that were earlier trained in a behavioral task were exposed to FUS unilaterally, and their performance was tracked for at least 3 weeks after BBB opening. An increased microglia density around blood vessels was detected on day 2, but was resolved by day 18. We also detected signs of enhanced immature neuron presence within areas that underwent BBB opening, compared to regions with an intact BBB, confirming previous rodent studies. Logistic regression analysis showed that the NHP cognitive performance did not deteriorate following BBB opening. These preliminary results demonstrate that neuronavigation-guided FUS with a single-element transducer is a non-invasive method capable of reversibly opening the BBB, without substantial histological or behavioral impact in an animal model closely resembling humans. Future work should confirm the observations of this multiple-case-study work across animals, species and tasks.
Using evaluation to enhance a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) social marketing campaign in real time in Los Angeles County, California.

Abstract Objective To describe the application of a formative evaluation conducted concurrently with implementation of a public health social marketing campaign to allow for substantive changes to the campaign messaging to subsequently improve acceptability. Method A serial cross-sectional survey was used to evaluate the acceptability of two campaign messages among Black and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender persons (TGP) in Los Angeles County from 2016 to 2018 through an online survey. Theinitial message, which presented the PrEP Protectors, a trio of superheroes embodying the power, knowledge, and protection pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can provide, was revised based on respondent feedback collected in the survey to increase specificity and clarity. An adjusted regression model tested whether the revised campaign message, (the initial campaign plus revised imagery and streamlined language) was predictive of increased campaign acceptability compared to the initial message alone. Results A total of 911 eligible respondents were surveyed, most were MSM (83 %), Conclusion Conducting an evaluation concurrently with campaign implementation to test campaign acceptability facilitated responsive modifications to improve campaign which in turn enhanced clarity of campaign messaging and acceptability to the priority populations.
Doctors, Patients, Guns and the Public's Health: Wollschlaeger II

For years, the American Medical Association and other medical and public health associations have strongly counseled doctors and other health care workers (HCWs) to engage patients about the risk of gun-related injuries and safety measures. However, in Wollschlaeger v. Governor of Florida [PDF] (Wollschlaeger II), decided on July 28, 2015, the US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit upheld (for the second time) a Florida law that restricts HCWs in their ability to talk to their patients truthfully about how to reduce gun-related risks of death and injury. In doing so, the court rejects doctors' First Amendment rights to speak to patients about firearms in favor of the need to protect patients' privacy rights. Absent further appeal, Wollschlaeger II estops Florida HCWs from dispensing meaningful information on gun safety to many patients.
Coordination control method for multi-wind farm systems to prevent sub/super-synchronous oscillations

In recent years, the sub/super-synchronous oscillations occur frequently in the large-scale wind power bases of China. Since the oscillation frequencies are close to the fundamental frequency, the current components can spread over a large area, and may destroy the shafting of rotating devices in the power grid. Improving the control strategy and parameters of wind turbines can prevent this problem to some extent, however, due to the complex operation conditions and continuous development of wind power, the off-line improvement measure on wind turbines cannot eliminate the potential oscillations risks. This paper is to propose an oscillation risk screening and stability assessment method, and develop a coordination control method for the large-scale wind farm systems to prevent the sub/super-synchronous oscillations. The Nyquist criterion and the modal analysis method are combined to generate quantitative factors for the stability assessment and the control strategy design. The coordination control method consists of minute-level power coordinated allocation and second-level fast power control to prevent and eliminate the oscillations. Detailed simulation model of a multiple wind farms system originated from the actual wind power base in China is presented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Robust broadcast: improving the reliability of broadcast transmissions on CSMA/CA

This paper presents a scheme to improve the efficiency of radio MAC protocols in the case of broadcast and multicast transmissions, like TCP/IP multicasting. First, the reliability problems with broadcast packets and their consequences are analysed. Then the robust broadcast scheme is presented, which decreases the probability of loss of broadcast packets over MAC protocols based on CSMA/CA. Finally, the new protocol is simulated against other simple solutions to show how it performs.
Identifying Chromosomal Targets of DNA‐Binding Proteins by Sequence Tag Analysis of Genomic Enrichment (STAGE)

Sequence Tag Analysis of Genomic Enrichment (STAGE) is a method for experimentally identifying the in vivo chromosomal targets of DNA-binding proteins in any sequenced genome. STAGE generates 21-bp tags derived from DNA isolated by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP; unit 21.3). Concatamers of tags are cloned and sequenced to yield a STAGE library. Tags in the library represent DNA fragments that were occupied by the DNA-binding protein, and mapping these tag sequences to the genome identifies the binding loci of the DNA-binding protein in vivo. STAGE can be applied to any sequenced genome to identify targets of DNA-binding proteins without requiring extensive microarray resources. Keywords: Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP); DNA-protein interaction; Serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE); Sequence tag analysis of genomic enrichment (STAGE); Tags
Admixture Mapping and the Role of Population Structure for Localizing Disease Genes

Admixture mapping, or mapping by admixture linkage disequilibrium, is a disease mapping strategy that has gained considerable popularity in recent years. It exploits the long-range linkage disequilibrium generated by admixture between genetically distinct ancestral populations. Compared to case-control association designs, admixture mapping requires fewer markers, and is more robust to allelic heterogeneity. At the same time, admixture mapping can be more powerful, and can achieve higher mapping resolution than traditional linkage studies, provided that the underlying trait variants occur at sufficiently different frequencies in the ancestral populations. In this chapter, we describe the recent methodology and software development, review successful applications, and comment on the future of this approach.
Diferències individuals i aprenentatge en el comportament agresiu observat en rates que han viscut en petites colònies mixtes

An experiment was performed to determine the relationship between open field measures (ambulation and defecation) and aggressive behavior in laboratory rats. Learning influences over this relation were considered. Colony-maintained laboratory procedure was not effective to increasethe aggresive behavior of animals when un intruder rat was placed into the colony. In the subjects not exposed to prior attack conditioning the classification variables ambulation and defecation were not enough important to determine or influence the aggression level. Nevertheless, the observed tendency was that the rats with high ambulatory scores were more aggressive than the low ones, and the rats with low defecation scores were more aggressive than the high ones. In the subjects exposed to prior attack oonditioning the Subjects with high ambulation and high defecation scores were the more aggressive. Then, these Subjects learned more quickly than the low ambulation and defecation ones.
The influence of tumor oxygenation on (18)F-FDG (fluorine-18 deoxyglucose) uptake: a mouse study using positron emission tomography (PET).

This study investigated whether changing a tumor's oxygenation would alter tumor metabolism, and thus uptake of 18F-FDG (fluorine-18 deoxyglucose), a marker for glucose metabolism using positron emission tomography (PET). Tumor-bearing mice (squamous cell carcinoma) maintained at 37°C were studied while breathing either normal air or carbogen (95% O2, 5% CO2), known to significantly oxygenate tumors. Tumor activity was measured within an automatically determined volume of interest (VOI). Activity was corrected for the arterial input function as estimated from image and blood-derived data. Tumor FDG uptake was initially evaluated for tumor-bearing animals breathing only air (2 animals) or only carbogen (2 animals). Subsequently, 5 animals were studied using two sequential 18F-FDG injections administered to the same tumor-bearing mouse, 60 min apart; the first injection on one gas (air or carbogen) and the second on the other gas. When examining the entire tumor VOI, there was no significant difference of 18F-FDG uptake between mice breathing either air or carbogen (i.e. air/carbogen ratio near unity). However, when only the highest 18F-FDG uptake regions of the tumor were considered (small VOIs), there was a modest (21%), but significant increase in the air/carbogen ratio suggesting that in these potentially most hypoxic regions of the tumor, 18F-FDG uptake and hence glucose metabolism, may be reduced by increasing tumor oxygenation. Tumor 18F-FDG uptake may be reduced by increases in tumor oxygenation and thus may provide a means to further enhance 18F-FDG functional imaging.
High throughput exploration of Data Vortex network

3×3 routing nodes are proposed to eliminate traffic control and nodal buffering in Data Vortex for improved network performance. The blocking rate is low for proper operations. Cost effectiveness can be improved with micro-resonator switches.
A 'Holocaust in Slow Motion?' America's Mass Incarceration and the Role of Discretion

Numbers don’t lie: America has suffered an explosion in imprisonment that has been fundamentally unrelated to actual crime levels. In this article, a federal District Court Judge and a former federal prosecutor examine the roots of this explosion with a focus on the discretion of Congress, the United States Sentencing Commission, federal prosecutors, and judges. This dark period may be in its twilight, though, and the authors conclude by describing specific actions each of these four groups could take to dismantle the cruel machinery of mass incarceration.
Functional communication training during reinforcement schedule thinning: An analysis of 25 applications

Two principal goals of functional communication training (FCT) are (a) to eliminate destructive behavior and (b) to establish a more acceptable, yet functionally equivalent, communication response (FCR). A related and critically important goal is to thin the schedule of reinforcement for the FCR to levels that can be reasonably managed by caregivers. Researchers have described several approaches to thinning FCT reinforcement schedules. We summarize the results of 25 consecutive applications (among 20 cases) in which schedule-thinning procedures employed discriminative stimuli to signal when the FCR would and would not produce reinforcement (i.e., using multiple schedules, response restriction, or chained schedules). Results suggest that schedule-thinning procedures that use discriminative stimuli can maintain the effectiveness of FCT while they minimize the need for punishment or other supplemental procedures.
Nephrology elective experience during medical residency: a national survey of US nephrology fellowship training program directors

Interest in nephrology careers continues to decline in the United States. The reasons for this declining interest are not fully understood but it is plausible that inadequate exposure to the full spectrum of what a career in nephrology encompasses may be part of the explanation. Inpatient-based nephrology electives have been a common venue for residents to gain exposure to nephrology but little is known regarding the details of such electives and how often they include outpatient experiences. We carried out a national survey of nephrology fellowship training program directors to obtain data on the content of nephrology elective experiences as well as their ideas on how to promote interest in the field. The survey revealed the majority of elective experiences to be either exclusively or heavily inpatient based, with only a small percentage having a substantial outpatient component, particularly in outpatient dialysis or transplantation. Training program directors felt that providing greater outpatient experiences to residents during elective rotations would be an effective means to promote interest in nephrology, along with structured faculty mentoring. Our findings suggest that current approaches to the nephrology elective experience are heavily inpatient-based and might benefit from incorporating much more of the rich spectrum of activities a career in nephrology entails. Hopefully such efforts can create and enhance interest in careers in nephrology and potentially begin a sustained reversal of an unfortunate and serious decline in interest.
Latinos, Inc.: The Marketing and Making of a People

Latinos, Inc.: The Marketing and Making of. People. Arlene Davila. Berkley, CA, and London, UK: University of California Press, 2001. xv. 287 pp. (Cloth US$55.00; Paper US$22.50)
Oxide laminated composites with aluminum phosphate (AlPO4) and alumina platelets as crack deflecting materials

Abstract Oxide–oxide laminated composites with aluminum phosphate (AlPO 4 ) and alumina platelets as crack deflecting interphases were developed by the tape casting method. Dense bodies of Al 2 O 3 , mullite, 50 vol% Al 2 O 3 ·50 vol% YAG in situ composite, and 3Y-TZP were sintered and characterized. Tape casting formulations for different oxides with solid contents of 25.1 and 30 vol%, respectively, were developed. XRD indicated compatibility between alumina, mullite, zirconia and AlPO 4 . Laminated, matrix-interphase composite systems consisting of Al 2 O 3 –AlPO 4 , mullite-AlPO 4 , 50 vol% Al 2 O 3 ·50 vol% YAG in situ composite-AlPO 4 , and 50 vol% Al 2 O 3 ·50 vol% YAG in situ composite-alumina platelets were made. The 50 vol% Al 2 O 3 ·50 vol% YAG in situ matrix-alumina platelet composite showed ‘quasi-elastic’ load–displacement behavior under the conditions of fabrication, and had a 3-point bending strength and work of fracture of 188±8 MPa and 0.65±0.02 kJ/m 2 , respectively. The 3Y-TZP–AlPO 4 laminated composite could not be made because of delamination due to thermal expansion mismatch.
Water exchange and inflow affect the accuracy of T1-GRE blood volume measurements: implications for the evaluation of tumor angiogenesis

The goal of this study was to determine the degree to which vascular water exchange and blood flowing into an imaging slice affect the accuracy of blood volume measurements of brain and tumor tissue when using intravascular T(1) contrast agents. The study was performed using 2D and 3D gradient-echo imaging sequences, since these are two of the most commonly used MRI methods used to evaluate tissue blood volume fraction. Computer simulations were performed and measurements made in a rat 9L gliosarcoma brain tumor model. The computer simulations demonstrate that, with either water exchange or inflow effects alone, the dependence on the physiologic and imaging parameters can be well characterized and therefore potentially offset. In the exchange only case, the parametric dependence of 3D simulations suggest that the best accuracy is achieved with high flip angles, short TR, and low blood contrast agent concentrations. However, for a 2D GRE sequence which is influenced by both water exchange and inflow, the simulations predict that the error trend as a function of the imaging and physiologic parameters is unpredictable and therefore difficult to compensate. With both 2D and 3D GRE the measured blood volume data in rat brain and tumor tissue demonstrate tissue-specific trends, which reflect differences in the considered physiologic parameters. The experimental data strongly support the computer simulations and also indicate that minimization of the physiological effects by proper selection of imaging parameters, contrast concentration, and volume calculation methods is crucial for accurate assessment of absolute blood volume fraction.
Regulation of lipogenesis in adipose tissue: the significance of the activation of pyruvate dehydrogenase by insulin.

Abstract Simultaneous measurements were made of lipogenesis and pyruvate dehydrogenase activity in segments of rat epididymal adipose tissue incubated with saturating amounts of [U- 14 C]glucose and insulin. Glucose was converted to fatty acids at a rate only 64–79% of that permitted by the tissue's content of the active form of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH a ). Addition of either of the electron acceptors, phenazine methosulfate (10 μ m ) or N,N,N′,N′ -tetramethyl- p -phenylenediamine (50 μ m ), increased lipogenesis until it equalled the PDH a activity of the tissue. Pyruvate release was increased 2-fold or more by the electron acceptors, suggesting that the increase in lipogenesis might have resulted from an increase in the intracellular pyruvate levels such that PDH a became saturated with substrate. Higher levels of the electron acceptors decreased PDH a activity, and reduced lipogenesis correspondingly. The data suggest that the maximal rate of lipogenesis in the presence of glucose and insulin is limited by the inability of the tissue to elevate pyruvate levels sufficiently to saturate PDH a . Although glycerol release was increased by either electron acceptor and insulin partially overcame this effect, the effects of the electron acceptors on PDH a activity could not be attributed to an increase in lipolysis.
Breaking Habits: Fashion and Identity of Women Religious

(1998). Breaking Habits: Fashion and Identity of Women Religious. Fashion Theory: Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 165-192.
Acute dependence on, but not tolerance to, heroin and morphine as measured by respiratory effects in rhesus monkeys.

Acute dependence on and tolerance to heroin and morphine were assessed in rhesus monkeys using measures of respiration. Respiratory frequency (f) and minute volume (V(e)) were measured in monkeys breathing air or 5% CO(2) in air using a pressure-displacement plethysmograph. Cumulative doses of naltrexone (0.0001-1.0 mg/kg, i.m) did not alter these parameters in untreated monkeys. Twenty-four hours after a cumulative dose of heroin (1 mg/kg, i.m.), naltrexone produced an increase in both f and V(e) when monkeys were breathing air or 5% CO(2). Following 1 to 3 days of treatment with heroin (0.5 mg/kg/day, i.m.) or morphine (16 mg/kg/day, i.m.), naltrexone produced an increase in f and V(e) that was related to the dose of naltrexone and the number of days of agonist administration. Two days following termination of heroin administration, naltrexone-induced respiratory stimulation declined and had disappeared completely by the fifth day. In tolerance studies, heroin (0.032-0.5 mg/kg, i.m.) and morphine (1-16 mg/kg, i. m.) were injected cumulatively each day for three consecutive days. These drugs suppressed f and V(e) to nearly the same extent on day 3 as they had on day 1 of administration. These results suggest that dependence to morphine and heroin can be measured under conditions of acute 1 to 3 day administration conditions in primates using f and V(e) as reliable and quantitative indicators of opioid withdrawal. Under these conditions, tolerance does not occur.
Moving beyond the “patchwork:” a review of strategies to promote consistency for extended producer responsibility policy in the U.S.

Abstract Product-oriented environmental policy with an emphasis on extended producer responsibility (EPR) (frequently referred to as product stewardship in the U.S.) is being applied in the United States for an increasingly broad scope of products including waste electronics and household hazardous wastes such as paint and mercury-containing lamps. However, due to the lack of a unified federal response, these efforts are driven by state-level policies and regulations. This state-led approach is frequently characterized as resulting in a “patchwork” of disparate regulations. Historically, two strategies are often suggested as offering a remedy for this situation; 1) federal legislation and 2) model state legislation. However, another policy strategy has emerged in the U.S., that of an overall EPR policy framework, which creates a clear process for selecting and designating products and articulates the roles and responsibilities for the various players along the product chain. This article provides an analysis of the experiences and prospects for each of the three strategies to serve as a policy vehicle for greater consistency of EPR regulations throughout the U.S. In part motivated by global extended producer responsibility policy approaches, particularly in the Canadian Provinces, efforts are now underway to investigate a similar comprehensive regulatory approach to be implemented by individual states in the U.S. The article examines the “framework” model that is envisioned in the U.S. and outlines the recommend components of this policy concept. Finally, the article provides a comparison with other jurisdictions, most notably, British Columbia, which has implemented a broad extended producer responsibility policy.
Fabrication and biocompatibility of polypyrrole implants suitable for neural prosthetics

Finding a conductive substrate that promotes neural interactions is an essential step for advancing neural interfaces. The biocompatibility and conductive properties of polypyrrole (PPy) make it an attractive substrate for neural scaffolds, electrodes, and devices. Stand-alone polymer implants also provide the additional advantages of flexibility and biodegradability. To examine PPy biocompatibility, dissociated primary cerebral cortical cells were cultured on PPy samples that had been doped with polystyrene-sulfonate (PSS) or sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (NaDBS). Various conditions were used for electrodeposition to produce different surface properties. Neural networks grew on all of the PPy surfaces. PPy implants, consisting of the same dopants and conditions, were surgically implanted in the cerebral cortex of the rat. The results were compared to stab wounds and Teflon implants of the same size. Quantification of the intensity and extent of gliosis at 3- and 6-week time points demonstrated that all versions of PPy were at least as biocompatible as Teflon and in fact performed better in most cases. In all of the PPy implant cases, neurons and glial cells enveloped the implant. In several cases, neural tissue was present in the lumen of the implants, allowing contact of the brain parenchyma through the implants.
BN-naphthalene and carbon-containing derivatives: an ab initio study

Abstract Ab initio calculations are used to examine the stability of various isomers of benzene and naphthalene after substitution of pairs of carbon atoms by the isoelectronic boron-nitrogen (BN) tandem. It is found that stability is enhanced by keeping the B and N atoms adjacent to one another. When multiple pairs of BN are present, these pairs prefer to be consecutive with one another. The energy is also lowered by maintaining the heteroatoms on the same ring of naphthalene. Another factor is the preference that consecutive carbon atoms be grouped into even numbers. Successively higher degrees of substitution lead to a regular drop in the molecular valency, as well as increased hardness.
Complications of neglected vaginal pessaries: case presentation and literature review

Vaginal pessaries are often used as first-line management of pelvic organ prolapse in women who are poor surgical candidates or who decline surgical repair. Mostly, pessaries are well tolerated but when neglected may lead to serious complications including vesicovaginal and rectovaginal fistulas. An 89-year-old woman presented with a large vesicovaginal fistula resulting from a Gellhorn pessary that had been neglected for 3 years. The base of the pessary had migrated completely inside the bladder and the fistulous opening measured 4 cm. The pessary was extracted under anesthesia using a Schuchardt incision to increase exposure. After 6 weeks of vaginal estrogen treatment, the fistula was successfully repaired using the Latzko partial colpocleisis technique. Neglect of a vaginal pessary can lead to serious complications. Patient education, local estrogen treatment, excellent fitting, and careful follow-up are of paramount importance in prevention of such complications.
Influence of Spectral Diffusion on the Line Shapes of Single CdSe Nanocrystallite Quantum Dots

We study the emission line shapes of single CdSe nanocrystallite quantum dots. Single dot line shapes are found to result from rapid spectral shifting of the emission spectrum rather than the intrinsic physics of the quantum dot. A strong dependence of single dot line widths on excitation intensity, wavelength, temperature, and integration time is found and is correlated with the number of times that the quantum dot is excited during the acquisition of a single spectrum. The observed results are consistent with thermally assisted spectral diffusion, activated by the release of excess excitation energy.
Immunosuppressive therapy and the skeleton

Glucocorticoids and other immunosuppressive drugs, such as cytoclosporine A, are increasingly used today. One of the most common clinical situations in which they are prescribed is for immunosuppression after organ transplantation. These drugs have diverse effects on the skeleton, however, and one of the most common sequelae of organ transplantation is osteoporosis and fractures. Patients treated with immunosuppressive drugs should be carefully evaluated for osteoporosis, preferably prior to or at the time of initiation of immunosuppressive therapy. They should be followed carefully with sequential bone-density measurements and biochemical indices of bone turnover. Measures to prevent bone loss should be initiated early in the course of immunosuppressive therapy.
DNA methylation in prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States. There are three well-established risk factors for prostate cancer: age, race and family history. The molecular bases for these risk factors are unclear; however, they may be influenced by epigenetic events. Epigenetic events covalently modify chromatin and alter gene expression. Methylation of cytosine residues within CpG islands on gene promoters is a primary epigenetic event that acts to suppress gene expression. In tumorigenesis, the normal functioning of the epigenetic-regulatory system is disrupted leading to inappropriate CpG island hypermethylation and aberrant expression of a battery of genes involved in critical cellular processes. Cancer-dependent epigenetic regulation of genes involved in DNA damage repair, hormone response, cell cycle control and tumor-cell adhesion/metastasis can contribute significantly to tumor initiation, progression and metastasis and, thereby, increase prostate cancer susceptibility and risk. In this review, we will discuss current research on genes that are hypermethylated in human prostate cancer. We will also discuss the potential involvement of DNA methylation in age-related, race-related and hereditary prostate cancer, and the potential use of hypermethylated genes as biomarkers to detect prostate cancer and assess its risk.
Sonographic Evaluation of a Pancreatic Pseudocyst in Coniunction with Portal Vein Thrombosis and Cavernous Transformation

Ultrasound and computed tomography are the major diagnostic imaging tools used to evaluate the pancreas. Ultrasound, however, is usually more accessible and less expensive. When pancreatitis at eudocyst is suspected, both imagin moltes can be used to make: an accuate adiagnosis.
The design and cost of optimized systems for residential heating and cooling by solar energy

Abstract An extensive analysis of solar heating and dwellings in eight cities in the U.S.A. has been completed by the authors and recently published. The design of the solar heating system was optimized in each location, and the cost of solar heat was determined. The mathematical model of these systems has now been modified to include heat-operated absorption cooling units of the aqueous lithium bromide type. Approximately one hundred analyses of hourly cooling (and heating) performance for a full year in these locations have been made. Designs have been reoptimized to minimize total annual energy costs for house cooling and heating and for hot water supply. The combined system has been found more economical than heating alone in most locations, and some locations unattractive for solar heating have become candidates for the combination. The paper contains a description of the method of computation and the results of the design and cost analyses.
Kinetic study of folding and misfolding of diacylglycerol kinase in model membranes.

Despite the relevance of membrane protein misfolding to a number of common diseases, our understanding of the folding and misfolding of membrane proteins lags well behind soluble proteins. Here, the overall kinetics of membrane insertion and folding of the homotrimeric integral membrane protein diacylglycerol kinase (DAGK) is addressed. DAGK was purified into lipid/detergent-free urea and guanidinium solutions and subjected to general structural characterization. In urea, the enzyme was observed to be monomeric but maintained considerable tertiary structure. In guanidinium, it was also monomeric but exhibited much less tertiary structure. Aliquots of these DAGK stock solutions were diluted 200-fold into lipid vesicles or into detergent/lipid mixed micelles, and the rates and efficiencies of folding/insertion were monitored. Reactions were also carried out in which micellar DAGK solutions were diluted into vesicular solutions. Productive insertion of DAGK from denaturant solutions into mixed micelles occur...
Perceived risk for cancer in an urban sexual minority

Lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals are a sexual minority experiencing elevated cancer risk factors and health disaparites, e.g., elevated tobacco use, disproportionate rates of infection with human immunodeficiency virus. Little attention has been paid to cancer prevention, education, and control in sexual minorities. This study describes cancer risk perceptions and their correlates so as to generate testable hypotheses and provide a foundation for targeting cancer prevention and risk reduction efforts in this high risk population. A cross-sectional survey of affiliates of a large urban community center serving sexual minority persons yielded a study sample of 247 anonymous persons. The survey assessed demographics, absolute perceived cancer risk, cancer risk behaviors, desired lifestyle changes to reduce cancer risk, and psychosocial variables including stress, depression, and stigma. Univariate and multivariate nonparametric statistics were used for analyses. The sample was primarily white non-Hispanic, middle-aged, and > 80% had at least a high school education. Mean values for absolute perceived cancer risk (range 0–100% risk), were 43.0 (SD = 25.4) for females, and for males, 49.3 (SD = 24.3). For females, although the multivariate regression model for absolute perceived cancer risk was statistically significant (P < .05), no single model variable was significant. For men, the multivariate regression model was significant (P < .001), with endorsement of “don’t smoke/quit smoking” to reduce personal cancer risk (P < .001), and greater number of sexual partners (P = .054), positively associated with absolute perceived risk for cancer. This study provides novel data on cancer risk perceptions in sexual minorities, identifying correlates of absolute perceived cancer risk for each gender and several potential foci for cancer prevention interventions with this at-risk group.
A behaviorally oriented didactic-group treatment of obesity: An exploratory study☆

The current exploratory study reports on the application of a behaviorally oriented didactic-group approach to the treatment of obesity with a diverse population of employees and patients in a medical school setting. Three groups:(1) full treatment; (2) partial treatment (i.e. those failing to meet criteria for group completion); and (3) no treatment controls are compared in numbers of pounds and percent body weight lost over a 9-week treatment program, the goals of which were 1 to 2-lb weekly weight loss. The findings reveal significant differences between Group I vs II and III, but not between Groups II and III. The weight loss for the full treatment group (X = 10·6 lb) was consistent with the goals of the program and results of the 6-week follow-up indicate that Group I members acquired the skills necessary to maintain weight loss and/or continue gradual reduction. The applicability of the current program to the increasing numbers of obese as well as the possibility of paraprofessionals leading such programs are discussed.
Coarctation of the aorta and cerebrovascular accident: A proposal for early corrective surgery

A 9-year-old boy was hospitalized because of an acute onset of right hemiplegia, right homonymous hemianopsia, and aphasia. Diagnostic studies revealed coarctation of the aorta distal to the origin of the left subclavian artery and a cerebrovascular accident involving the left cerebral hemisphere. Repair of isolated coarctation of the aorta at an early age, i.e., 8 years or younger, might possibly prevent cerebrovascular complications and relieve the continued stress upon the left ventricular muscle.
Boric acid recovery using polymer filtration: Studies with alkyl monool, diol, and triol containing polyethylenimines

Three water-soluble polymers containing linear alkyl monool, 1,2-diol, and 1,2,3-triol groups, mostly on the primary amines of polyethylenimine, were synthesized, characterized, and tested for their ability to recover boric acid. The boron-binding capacities of these polymers and the backbone polyethylenimine were determined by titration, ultrafiltration, and inductively coupled plasma/atomic emission spectroscopy analysis. At low boron concentrations, the 1,2,3-triol polymer performed better than the 1,2-diol, whereas at high boron concentrations, the 1,2-diol outperformed the 1,2,3-triol. 11B-NMR spectroscopy and retention studies with various salt concentrations indicated that boron interacted with these two polymers by means of ion pairing with the protonated amines and by borate ester formation. For the monool and the polyethylenimine backbone, the mechanism for boron binding was ion pairing only. These polymers are under consideration for the selective recovery and recycling of enriched boric acid used in the primary coolant loop of pressurized water nuclear reactors. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 1590–1604, 2005
Phase iteration and spacing iteration algorithms for speckle fringe pattern processing

Abstract Speckle fringe pattern is characterized by speckle noise because the speckle is the information carrier. Phase iteration and Spacing iteration are algorithms that are able to extract the information as well as suppress noise. Phase iteration is a loop of smoothing, phase calculation, and pattern reconstruction. Spacing Iteration is a repetition of correlation, phase calculation, and least-squares fit. The two algorithms are reviewed and compared in this paper. The modern computer provides the capability to explore all sorts of convergent methods by simply ‘do it again’. Phase iteration and Spacing iteration are two of the convergent methods in processing optical metrology fringe pattern.
Trap Characteristics In Large Area CCD Image Sensors

Detailed measurements and characterization of trap behavior in large area CCDs have been performed. The effect of these defects is to cause a local decrease in the charge transfer efficiency in the affected pixel. Bias-temperature stressing of the device has lead to the conclusion that the source of the traps is in the dielectric. A model is proposed which can explain all the current data.
Moral Consensus in Public Ethics: Patient Autonomy and Family Decisionmaking in the Work of One State Bioethics Commission

Focusing on the work of one bioethics commission, the New York State Task Force on Life and the Law, this article explores the role played by moral consensus in public ethics. Task Force members, who were appointed to represent diverse interests in New York State, identified a culturally strong value of individual autonomy as the ethical basis for their work on life-sustaining treatment. This moral consensus permitted the members to unite across their differences and develop public policy recommendations that substantially reformed a highly troubling New York law. However, the principle of autonomy insufficiently guides decisions by caring family members for incompetent adults in cases where little is known of patient preference. A different, more innovative moral vision is required--one that grants a more robust moral authority to the family. While government efforts that rely on moral consensus developed in a broad-based and well-reasoned manner can serve us well, in some cases the consensus will provide inadequate moral guidance. Government bioethical efforts must guard against the limits of moral vision in light of their disproportionate societal power.
The Link Between Gastroenterology and Autism

References in the popular literature and media support a theory that gastrointestinal pathology may relate to autism. Parents often report their children as having gastrointestinal symptoms that surfaced about the same time autistic symptoms also appeared. The scope and range of information concerning autism available to the public is very extensive. Parents with children having autism are seen in gastroenterology and may request information related to the publicized connection between gastroenterology and autism. It is important for healthcare providers to be able to answer these questions based on the most recent research. The purpose of this article is to review an example of the current literature available to parents on this subject and compare this literature to relevant medical research.
Finitary bases and formal generating functions

Abstract Let k be a nonzero, commutative ring with 1, and let R be a k-algebra with a countably-infinite ordered free k-basis B = [pn: n ⩾ 0]. We characterize and analyze those bases from which one can construct a k-algebra of ‘formal B-series’ of the form f=∑cnpn, with cn e k, showing inter alia that many classical polynomial bases fail to have this property.
CULTURED SYMPATHETIC NEURONS EXPRESS FUNCTIONAL INTERLEUKIN-1 RECEPTORS

Since recent work has identified an apoptotic pathway in sympathetic neurons that is mediated by autocrine interleukin-1 (IL-1), we investigated whether cultured sympathetic neurons possess functional IL-1 receptors. Cultured sympathetic neurons express levels of IL-1RI and IL-1RAcP mRNAs consistent with signal transduction. Neurons stimulated with IL-1 demonstrate enhanced p65 NF-kappaB nuclear translocation and enhanced NF-kappaB DNA binding activity, with at least p65 and p50 subunits participating in the DNA binding activity. RNA differential display identified several neuronal mRNAs regulated by IL-1, including a member of the reticulon family. We conclude that IL-1 stimulates a potential component of a neuronal secretory pathway.
Remote Vision System for Dozers on Coal Stockpiles

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Pittsburgh Research Laboratory (PRL) participated in an experiment to facilitate the remote control of dozers used on coal stockpiles. The experiment consisted of supplementing the normal sensory cues an operator requires to manipulate the dozer from a remote location. NIOSH provided and tested a vision systems intended to give the operator the ability to operate the dozer safely and efficiently from a remote position. This paper highlights the genesis of the experiment, identifies the contributions of Consol Energy and Caterpillar, and details the NIOSH efforts and successful test results.
Sister chromatid exchanges and chromosome aberrations in fibroblasts from patients with retinoblastoma

The frequencies of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and chromosome breaks were investigated in five diploid fibroblast strains derived from three patients with deletion 13[del(13)] retinoblastoma, one patient with a hereditary form of retinoblastoma, and one trisomy 13. The fibroblasts with del(13)(q14q22) showed slightly increased SCEs (at a P level of 5–10%), but the others, including del(13)(q12q14), the hereditary form of retinoblastoma, and trisomy 13, did not have increased SCEs as compared to normal controls. No increase in chromosome breaks was found in these fibroblasts. The results suggest that retinoblastoma is not associated with spontaneous increased chromosomal instability.
Assessment and management of patients with intellectual disabilities by psychiatric consultants.

Background Although most individuals with intellectual disability (ID) currently reside in the community and receive their health care in general medical settings, there is no specific literature on psychiatric consultation to those requiring inpatient medical or surgical care. Objective The authors discuss the specialized features of the consultation-liaison (C-L) evaluation and common requests for psychiatric consultation in the hospitalized ID population. Method This article reviews the literature on general psychiatric care in this population and presents the experience of practitioners in the ID-Psychiatry field who have followed their patients through episodes of inpatient non-psychiatric care. Results The C-L clinician must adapt the interview to accommodate a patient's cognitive, sensory, and language capacities; integrate information from collateral sources; and serve as a liaison between multiple parties. Discussion ID should not be a barrier to the delivery of appropriate health care. This article provides evidence and recommendations on C-L assessment, management, and liaison for hospitalized individuals with ID.
Interplay among Bilayer pseudoSpin field-effect transistor (BiSFET) performance, BiSFET scaling and condensate strength

It has been proposed that superfluid excitonic condensates may be possible in dielectrically separated graphene layers or other two-dimensional materials. This possibility was the basis for the proposed ultra-low power Bilayer pseudoSpin Field-effect Transistor (BiSFET). Previously, we developed an atomistic tight-binding quantum transport simulator, including the non-local exchange interaction, and used it to demonstrate the essential excitonic superfluid transport physics which underlies the proposed BiSFET in presence of such a condensate. Here we report on extension of that work to analyze dependencies on device scaling and the condensate strength of BiSFET performance and required device parameters including interlayer conductance, and critical current and voltage.
Validation of the proximal flow convergence method. Calculation of orifice area in patients with mitral stenosis.

BACKGROUNDIt has been proposed recently that measuring the flow convergence region proximal to an orifice by Doppler flow mapping can provide a means of calculating regurgitant flow rate. Although verified in experimental models, this approach is difficult to validate clinically because there is no ideal gold standard for regurgitant flows in patients. However, this method also can be used to derive cardiac output or flow rate proximal to stenotic orifices and therefore to calculate their areas by the continuity equation (area = flow rate/velocity). Applying this method in mitral stenosis would provide a unique way of validating the underlying concept because the predicted areas could be compared with those measured directly by planimetry.METHODS AND RESULTSWe studied 40 patients with mitral stenosis using imaging and Doppler echocardiography. Doppler color flow recordings of mitral inflow were obtained from the apex, and the radius of the proximal flow convergence region was measured at its peak diastoli...