cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
MDM2 inhibitor MI-319 in combination with cisplatin is an effective treatment for pancreatic cancer independent of p53 function

Small molecule inhibitors (SMIs) of murine double minute 2 (MDM2) are known to restore the apoptotic and cell cycle regulatory functions of p53 by disrupting the MDM2-p53 interaction. In principle, these SMIs are not effective against tumours with mutation in the tumour suppressor p53 (mut-p53), which is known to be present in approximately 50% of all cancers. In this study we are reporting, for the first time, that MI-319 in combination with cisplatin induced cell growth inhibition and apoptosis in pancreatic cancer (PC) cells irrespective of their p53 mutational status. MI-319-cisplatin combination synergistically suppressed cell growth (MTT Combination Index [CI]<1) and colony formation (clonogenic assay) and induced apoptosis. Western blot analysis and siRNA silencing studies in mutant as well as p53 null cells highlighted a mechanism involving p73 which is also known to be under the regulation of MDM2, and unlike p53, it is rarely mutated in PC. Down-regulating MDM2 using siRNA enhanced p73 reactivation and increased cell death. Further, the combination effectively reduced tumour growth in both wt-p53 and mut-p53 tumour xenograft models (50% Capan-2 animals were tumour free). Consistent with our in vitro results, remnant tumour tissue analysis showed up-regulation of p73 and the cell cycle regulator p21. In conclusion, this study highlights a new role of MDM2 inhibitors in combination with cisplatin, and thus warrants further clinical investigation in human pancreatic tumours containing both wt-p53 and mut-p53.
Direct filtration of natural and simulated river water with air sparging and sponge ball application for fouling control

Abstract Membrane filtration is increasingly used for converting surface water to drinking water. This study investigated the effectiveness of air sparging in reducing fouling during direct membrane filtration of river water. Air sparging via side-stream filtration in tubular membranes at crossflow velocities (CFV) between 0.5–1.0 m/s enhanced the permeability by up to a factor of 4.6, given that the water used showed a high propensity of fouling. Sponge ball application to remove fouling proved, for model solutions with silt and clay, that chemical cleaning with NaOCI cannot erase fouling on the membrane surface by 100%. Residual fouling, indicated by flux increase above the initial flux observed after sponge ball cleaning, remains. Repeated sponge ball application appears to reduce the residual fouling. In terms of seasonal water sampling, the fouling potential declined from spring to fall due to a decrease of natural organic matter (NOM), colloids and mineral load (indicated by total organic carbon and turbidity). Air sparging (AS) effectiveness, measured by the ratio ofAS-enhanced versus non-enhanced permeability, decreased with the dwindling fouling potential of the raw water. When model solutions were investigated (silt 5 g/L and clay 10 g/L), the enhancement factor for the silt slurry was less than that for the clay.
Hands and fingers: a mobile platform for a person-centric network of computational objects

We describe a practical vision of ubiquitous computing with tangible interfaces, that orbits around an individual and is mediated by his or her personal consumer electronic devices. We illustrate this with a software and hardware platform for creating a personal area network of information accessories, connecting people physically with network-accessible information.The toolkit hardware consists of a Bluetooth-connected microcontroller to which input sensors and output actuators are connected. The software component consists of a networking library residing on the microcontroller, and a corresponding application on a handheld consumer electronics device that routes data between the Bluetooth modules and the Internet. This platform is used to create three examples of locally networked consumer objects that expose their inputs and outputs to a wide area network.
Behavioral effects of phenylpiperidine narcotic antagonists

The effects of three phenylpiperidines were studied in pigeons responding under a multiple fixed-ratio 30-response, fixed-interval 5-minute schedule of grain presentation. The first one studied was LY-27372 which as narcotic agonist analgesic effects but not antagonist activity. It decreased responding in both components and was not antagonized by naloxone. The two other drugs, LY-88329 and LY-99335, are tri-alkyl-4-phenylpiperidines which have narcotic antagonist activity. They decreased responding at doses of 5 and 40 mg/kg, respectively, when administered alone. When administered in combination with 20 mg/kg of morphine, they antagonized morphine's effects at 0.16 and 0.08 mg/kg respectively. A 10 mg/kg dose of pentobarbital attenuated the behavioral suppressant effects of 40 mg/kg of LY-99335, but not the suppressant effects of 5 mg/kg of LY-88329 or of 10 mg/kg of LY-27372. The data show that LY-99335 has a large separation between the doses which antagonized morphine and those which alone produce behavioral suppression by a proconvulsant effect at higher doses.
Evaluation of similar-media scaling and a one-parameter model for estimating the soil water characteristic

SUMMARY Two simple methods for estimating the soil water characteristic curve from saturated soil water content, or even just the soil bulk density, plus one other measured point on the curve (such as the water content at a matric potential of –33 kPa) were evaluated. A similar-media scaling approach and the one-parameter model of Gregson et al. were compared for eight diverse soils from within the USA. The scaling method also requires knowledge of one complete curve to serve as a reference. The one-parameter model was extended to include the residual water content, and the soils were divided into three textural groups for the analysis. Visual comparison of the calculated vs. measured soil water content for both methods showed less scatter in the relationship to the 1:1 line, concomitant with smaller calculated error terms, for the one-parameter model. These results demonstrate that the one-parameter model is better than similar-media scaling in estimating soil water content.
Measurement and Optimization of Minimally Invasive Intervention Device Design Fitness Using a Multiobjective Weighted Isotropy Index

The recent transition from multiple-port to single-port systems in minimally invasive intervention (MII) procedures has created a need for more flexible, dexterous robotic manipulation devices capable of spanning an entire surgical workspace without the risk of collateral damage. The design of such devices requires a careful balance of the mechanical complexity needed to facilitate clinical functionality and the cost of manufacturing and operating the device. This paper presents a novel metric for measuring the design fitness of kinematically redundant robotic MII devices and for optimizing them to achieve that balance. The proposed fitness metric rewards designs that are conducive to collision avoidance and energy conservation while penalizing those with exorbitant design complexities that adversely affect the economic feasibility of an MII system. The authors' metric is used here to design a kinematically redundant, single-port MII device capable of accessing the cardiothoracic cavity through a single subxiphoid port and reaching several regions of interest, consistent with procedures such as epicardial ablation and therapeutic substance injection, with minimal physiologic disturbance. The design of this device is determined by a morphological optimization process, which searches a discrete mechanical design parameter space, consisting of linkage parts, part dimensions, and actuator types, using genetic algorithms. The execution of specific surgical maneuvers is simulated for each candidate MII device design, and the design is improved until the fitness metric is maximized. The results of this optimization study demonstrate that redesigning a 20 degree-of-freedom (DOF) MII device using the proposed metric decreased the DOF in the design by 45% while ensuring near-optimal levels of kinematic flexibility. The results also demonstrate the ability of the fitness metric to elucidate the relationship between functionality and complexity and to produce suitable device designs over a broad range of performance and cost goals. The authors conclude that this new design fitness metric, while heuristic in nature, holds the potential to improve both the clinical value and the economy of a wide variety of single-port MII devices, including those used in cardiothoracic surgery.
Changing Career Patterns of Deans of Medicine, 1940-1992.

This study examined the occupational experiences of deans of medicine during five decades, 1940-1992, to explore whether changes in their prior career paths could explain the increasing turnover of deans that occurred during this period. The results indicate that deans are now more likely to have had previous administrative experience, as either chairs or lower-level administrators, than they were in earlier decades; in most cases, this administrative experience has occurred in the same institutions in which they were appointed to the deanship ("inside hires"). However, the greater number of deans with prior administrative experience cannot explain the increasing turnover of deans because administrative experience was associated with longer tenures. The kinds of positions the deans took upon leaving office did not change during the study period, particularly among those who had short tenures of four years or less. During the five decades, inside hires leaving during their first five years in office most often moved into faculty, chair, or lower-level administrative positions. Outside hires leaving during their first five years most often went on to higher-level administrative positions. The study results do not support the hypothesis that the shorter tenures of deans in recent decades are related to their previous professional experiences or to increasing opportunities for deans to move to better positions. In conclusion, the authors emphasize that organizational and environmental factors rather than deans' individual characteristics must have played the dominant role in the increasing turnover of deans of medicine in recent years.
Hyperviscosity in the neonate

Clinical and blood viscosity studies were performed in a group of 18 polycythemic newborn infants. The infants had signs and symptoms such as plethora, cyanosis, respiratory distress, central nervous system manifestations, hyperbilirubinemia, thrombocytopenia, fragemented red cells, and hypoglycemia. The whole blood of these infants showed increased viscosity when compared to normal limits for healthy newborn infants. The pathogensis of the clinical manifestations associated with hyperviscosity is discussed. Studies indicate the possible importance of erythrocyte deformability in hyperviscosity of the neonate. The newborn infant is uniquely susceptible to developing hyperviscosity. Clinical manifestations associated with hyperviscosity may results in permanent sequenllae in these infants. Partial exchange transfusion results in an improvement in the whole blood viscosity which is associated with an improved clinical course.
Amylin, Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide, Calcitonin, and Adrenomedullin: A Peptide Superfamily

The calcitonin gene peptide superfamily consists of calcitonin (CT), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and amylin. CT and CGRP derive from the CT/CGRP gene, which is encoded on chromosome 11. Alternative splicing of the primary RNA transcript leads to the translation of CGRP and CT peptides in a tissue-specific manner. CGRP (a 37-amino-acid neuropeptide) and its receptors are widely distributed in the body, and it is the most potent endogenous vasodilatory peptide discovered so far. CT (a 32-amino-acid peptide) is, however, a hormone primarily involved in protecting the skeleton during periods of "calcium stress" such as growth, pregnancy, and lactation. CT derives from the C cells of the thyroid gland and is the most potent peptide inhibitor of osteoclast-mediated bone resorption. Therefore, treatment with CT is highly effective for conditions associated with increased bone turnover such as Paget's disease, osteoporosis, Sudeck's atrophy, and hypercalcemia. Amylin (a 37-amino-acid peptide) is generated from a gene located on chromosome 12 (thought to be an evolutionary duplication of chromosome 11) and shares 46% amino acid sequence homology with CGRP and 20% with human CT. Amylin is predominantly located in the beta cells of the islets of the pancreas and may be involved in the pathogenesis of type II diabetes by deposition as amyloid within the pancreas, leading to beta cell destruction. Adrenomedullin, a recently discovered 52-amino-acid vasoactive peptide from adrenal tissue, shares 24% homology with CGRP and is also a member of this superfamily of peptides. A portion of the B-chain of insulin is strongly homologous to these four peptides. Not only does adrenomedullin (13-52) show 24% amino acid homology with CGRP, it also has a biological activity profile similar to that of CGRP.CGRP, CT, and amylin are related to the insulin gene superfamily of peptides, which may all have diverged from a common ancestral gene during evolution. When the crystallographic- and nuclear magnetic resonance-based molecular modeling of the three-dimensional structure of CGRP, CT, amylin, and adrenomedullin peptides and their receptors is available, it will lead to a greater understanding of the involvement of this family of peptides in pathophysiology. Together, CGRP, CT, amylin and adrenomedullin have overlapping biological effects owing to their structures and cross-reactivity between receptors. I propose that CT, CGRP, adrenomedullin, and amylin belong to a family of G-protein-coupled receptors (an "insulin superfamily" of peptides) and therefore share some of the characteristics of insulin, such as growth factor-like effects, and possible interaction at insulin receptor sites as an antagonist.
The Oxford Companion to English Literature

What hath Harvey wrought? In 1932 Sir Paul Harvey edited the first version of this “useful companion to ordinary everyday readers of English literature” (Harvey 1932, p.v). Harvey provided a guide to writers, some of their writings, some allusions, places, and some other information pertinent to an informed appreciation of English literature. Because of the nature of the work—the one‐volume companion—Harvey made the decision to eschew “Completeness in a moderate compass, and the equipment of a specialist at all points” (ibid.).
The syllogism of apologia: Rhetorical stasis theory and crisis communication

Abstract Rhetorical stasis theory – the process of identifying a debate's core issue – can provide a hierarchical structure for crisis response strategies. The accusation in a crisis situation – the kategoria – has a syllogistic form, allowing crisis managers to decide whether to attack an accusation at its minor premise level, major premise level or conclusion. This article connects current crisis communication options to those three staseis.
THE EFFECT OF HEAVY METAL CHELATORS ON THE RENAL ACCUMULATION OF PLATINUM AFTER cis-DICHLORO-DIAMMINEPLATINUM II ADMINISTRATION TO THE RAT

1 Rats received a total of 18 mg/kg cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum (II) (CDDP) intravenously and were treated concomitantly with calcium-disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (CaNa2EDTA), 2,3-dimercaptopropanol (BAL), deferoxamine, 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMS) or vehicle. In comparison to controls, renal platinum concentration was significantly reduced in the DMS and deferoxamine-treated groups. However, significant deterioration occurred in the deferoxamine-treated group. The hepatic platinum concentration was unaffected by the chelating agents. 2 Following a dose of 6 mg/kg CDDP intravenously, eight days of treatment with DMS, 50 mg/kg daily, had no effect on renal platinum excretion, while treatment with 100 or 200 mg/kg daily reduced renal platinum concentration by 50%. 3 In order to determine whether DMS could prevent the nephrotoxicity of CDDP, rats were given 6 mg/kg CDDP intravenously, followed by a four day course of DMS treatment at doses of 0, 50, 100 or 200 mg/kg daily begun 3 h after the CDDP dose. DMS failed to prevent renal toxicity as indicated by weight loss, serum creatinine concentration, renal histology, and the urinary excretion of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase, a renal tubular enzyme.
Two Bianchi type VIII spatially homogeneous cosmologies

We study two Bianchi type VIII analogues of Taub space and maximal analytic extensions of them. The first one has SL(2,R) as an isometry group, which acts transitively on spacelike hypersurfaces. The maximal extension has all of the pathological features of Taub-NUT space. The second one has the universal covering group of SL(2,R) as an isometry group. The maximal extension of the latter does not have these pathological properties and is geodesically complete.
A dynamic crash model for energy absorption in braided composite materials. Part I: Viscoplastic material model

A dynamic crash model is developed and implemented to model the failure behavior and energy absorption of braided composite structures. Part I describes the development and theoretical foundation of a viscoplastic material model that captures the rate-dependent behavior present in braided composite materials. Part II presents the implementation of the model into a FEM program and contains experimental results for tubes crushed from quasi-static rate to 4000 mm/s rates used to verify the model. The model is presented from the mesoscale to the structural scale, starting with the constitutive model applied to composite tow segments. Tow segment response is homogenized to determine the response of the braided unit cell, while consideration for braider tow rotation and stress concentration appear at the structural level.
Comparative biology of taste: Insights into mechanism and function

Each animal lives in its own sensory world that is coordinated with its diet. In this brief review, we describe several examples of this coordination from studies of the sense of taste, particularly from species of the order Carnivora. This order includes species that are obligate carnivores (e.g., Felis species), omnivores, and strict plant eaters. Many of the obligate carnivores have lost function for sweet taste, presumably through relaxation of selection for eating sugars from plants. In contrast, the giant panda, which feeds almost exclusively on bamboo, retains sweet taste function but may have lost amino acid (umami) taste perception. Finally, mammals that have “returned” to the sea, such as sea lions, have experienced even more extensive taste loss, presumably as a consequence of adaptations to a diet of fish and other sea creatures swallowed whole. Future comparative studies will surely reveal important relationships between diet and molecular, cellular, and behavioral taste adaptations that will shed light on how evolution moulds sensory structure and function.
Virtual domains for seamless user mobility

The population of mobile users seeking connectivity to the Internet has been growing over the years, spurred by the capabilities of handsets and the increasing rich Internet content and resources. Mobility management to enable efficient Internet access for users on the move is thus gaining significance. With future Internet design initiatives gaining momentum, it is important that these initiatives consider mobility management as an integral part of the design, keeping in mind that these initiatives also offer the potential for new and novel mobility management schemes. In this article, we introduce the concept of Virtual Mobility Domains (VMD), and describe mobility management using the VMD approach in a newly proposed tiered Internet architecture. The results from a comparative performance study of VMD with mobility management protocols such as Mobile IPv6, Hierarchical Mobile IPv6 and Proxy Mobile IPv6 using simulations show the potential for efficient mobility management under new Internet architectures.
Increased Early Mortality in Women Undergoing Cardiac Transplantation

Background To evaluate factors that explain sex differences affecting mortality after cardiac transplantation, a retrospective analysis of adult patients undergoing orthotopic cardiac transplantation was undertaken at the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. Methods and Results The study population consisted of 379 patients (75 women, 304 men) ≥18 years of age who survived for ≥48 hours after undergoing orthotopic cardiac transplantation between March 1985 and March 1992. The following were analyzed: incidence of death and treated rejection episodes, donor and recipient cytomegalovirus (CMV) matches, use of OKT3 induction therapy, and donor and recipient HLA mismatches. Women 49±12 years old and men 47±12 years old were characterized by differences in race and diagnosis. Women were more likely to be nonwhite (P<.01) and have idiopathic cardiomyopathy than were men (P<.01). A trend toward an increase in first-year rejection frequency was seen in women compared with men (P=.08). Overall actuarial survival ...
Synergistic effects of three Piper amides on generalist and specialist herbivores.

The tropical rainforest shrub Piper cenocladum, which is normally defended against herbivores by a mutualistic ant, contains three amides that have various defensive functions. While the ants are effective primarily against specialist herbivores, we hypothesized that these secondary compounds would be effective against a wider range of insects, thus providing a broad array of defenses against herbivores. We also tested whether a mixture of amides would be more effective against herbivores than individual amides. Diets spiked with amides were offered to five herbivores: a naive generalist caterpillar (Spodoptera frugiperda), two caterpillar species that are monophagous on P. cenocladum (Eois spp.), leaf-cutting ants (Atta cephalotes), and an omnivorous ant (Paraponera clavata). Amides had negative effects on all insects, whether they were naive, experienced, generalized, or specialized feeders. For Spodoptera, amide mixtures caused decreased pupal weights and survivorship and increased development times. Eois pupal weights, larval mass gain, and development times were affected by additions of individual amides, but increased parasitism and lower survivorship were caused only by the amide mixture. Amide mixtures also deterred feeding by the two ant species, and crude plant extracts were strongly deterrent to P. clavata. The mixture of all three amides had the most dramatic deterrent and toxic effects across experiments, with the effects usually surpassing expected additive responses, indicating that these compounds can act synergistically against a wide array of herbivores.
Estimated Nutrient Intakes from Food Generally Do Not Meet Dietary Reference Intakes among Adult Members of Pacific Northwest Tribal Nations

Diet is influential in the etiology of chronic diseases in many populations including Native Americans. The objective of this report is to present the first comprehensive dietary survey, to our knowledge, of a representative sample of nonpregnant adultsfromPacificNorthwesttribalnationsparticipatingintheCommunitiesAdvancingtheStudiesofTribalNationsAcross the Lifespan (CoASTAL) cohort. Only participants who completed 1‐4 d of dietary records and had weights and heights measured in the laboratory were eligible for this analysis (n = 418). Mean nutrient intakes were stratified by gender for the totalsample,thosewithplausiblyreportedenergyintakes(rEI),andthosewithimplausiblyrEI.Estimatesofnutrientintakes were compared with Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI). Nutrient estimates from NHANES 2001‐2002 were used as a reference. Among both men and women, total fat contributed 34‐37% of energy intake and saturated fat contributed 11‐
An advanced methodology for under-frequency load shedding relay testing

This paper presents a new methodology for under- frequency load shedding relay testing. This methodology supplements conventional relay acceptance tests by adding tests that simulate actual conditions on the grid. Test environments and procedures, and some preliminary results, are discussed.
Fusion in sensor networks: convergence study

In sensor networks, many sensors cooperate and collaborate to monitor overlapping subsets from a set of targets. We consider the important issue of fusing their soft decisions. These soft decisions depend on the sensor measurements and take the form of probability densities. Consequently, data fusion becomes a problem of probabilistic inference on a factor graph of arbitrary topology, which can be accomplished by belief propagation. This paper studies the convergence of belief propagation when the soft decisions are Gaussian densities, that is, studies the convergence of the variances and means computed by belief propagation. We show that if the spectral radius /spl rho/ of a certain matrix is less than one, the means resulting from belief propagation converge to the true means. This extends to general topology sensor networks the results for a fully-connected network of two sensors and m targets in (P. Rusmevichientong et al., IEEE Trans. Inform. Theory, vol.47, no.2, p.745-765, 2001).
Radiation myelopathy in the rat: An interpretation of dose effect relationships

Abstract Data were collected on the production of overt paralysis in the rat after low linear energy transfer (LET) ionizing radiation exposure of different regions of the spinal cord. Data from both single and multiple radiation exposure schedules were interpreted using the ED 50 value (estimated dose needed to produce 50% paralysis in a group of irradiated animals) as the isoeffect comparison dose. Plots were made of the reciprocal of the ED 50 total dose versus the size of the dose per fraction used. The use of multifractionation data in such a way allows implications to be made about the nature of the in vivo response curve. These reciprocal dose plots indicate that the spinal cord normal tissue system shows two responses that may be specifically characterized by the ration of the intercept (α) of the linear regression fit of the reciprocal total dose versus dose per fraction curve to the slope (β) of the curve (α/β). For rat spinal cord, this value is about 3.8 ± 0.4 (standard error) for the thoraco-lumbar region and about 2.0 ± 0.3 (standard error) for the cervical region. While absolute dose response data vary somewhat among investigators, all of the data on production of paralysis in rats show similar trends with respect to the (α/β). ratio. We feel that this ratio may uniquely characterize this (and other) normal tissue systems. Knowledge of this parameter and how it varies after different treatments (e.g., high LET radiation exposure) may be important.
Reducing inter-cluster TDMA interference by adaptive MAC allocation in sensor networks

The paper presents a self-reorganizing slot allocation (SRSA) mechanism for TDMA based medium access control (MAC) in multi-cluster sensor networks. The aim is to provide a MAC layer protocol that can reduce inter-cluster TDMA interference without having to use spectrum expensive and complex wideband mechanisms such as CDMA or FDMA. The primary contribution of the paper is to demonstrate that, with adaptive slot allocation, it is possible to reduce inter-cluster interference under low loading conditions. The second contribution is to design a feedback based adaptive allocation reorganization protocol that can significantly reduce the inter-cluster interferences without relying on any global synchronization mechanisms. We present the design of SRSA and provide a simulation based characterization of the protocol in comparison with TDMA-over-CDMA, TDMA with random slot allocation and CSMA MAC protocols.
Minimizing Deflection and Bending Moment in a Beam with End Supports

ABSTRACT In this paper, heuristics are given to sequence blocks on a beam, like books on a bookshelf, to simultaneously minimize the maximum deflection and maximum bending moment of the beam. For a beam with simple supports at the ends, one heuristic places the blocks so that the maximum deflection is no more than 16/9V3 ≈ 1.027 times the theoretical minimum and the maximum bending moment is within four times the minimum. Another heuristic allows maximum deflection up to 2.054 times the theoretical minimum but restricts the maximum bending moment to within two times the minimum. Similar results hold for beams with fixed supports at the ends.
xGDB: open-source computational infrastructure for the integrated evaluation and analysis of genome features

The eXtensible Genome Data Broker (xGDB) provides a software infrastructure consisting of integrated tools for the storage, display, and analysis of genome features in their genomic context. Common features include gene structure annotations, spliced alignments, mapping of repetitive sequence, and microarray probes, but the software supports inclusion of any property that can be associated with a genomic location. The xGDB distribution and user support utilities are available online at the xGDB project website, http://xgdb.sourceforge.net/.
Dual energy versus single energy MDCT: measurement of radiation dose using adult abdominal imaging protocols

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to measure the radiation dose of dual-energy and single-energy multidetector computed tomographic (CT) imaging using adult liver, renal, and aortic imaging protocols. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dual-energy CT (DECT) imaging was performed on a conventional 64-detector CT scanner using a software upgrade (Volume Dual Energy) at tube voltages of 140 and 80 kVp (with tube currents of 385 and 675 mA, respectively), with a 0.8-second gantry revolution time in axial mode. Parameters for single-energy CT (SECT) imaging were a tube voltage of 140 kVp, a tube current of 385 mA, a 0.5-second gantry revolution time, helical mode, and pitch of 1.375:1. The volume CT dose index (CTDI(vol)) value displayed on the console for each scan was recorded. Organ doses were measured using metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor technology. Effective dose was calculated as the sum of 20 organ doses multiplied by a weighting factor found in International Commission on Radiological Protection Publication 60. Radiation dose saving with virtual noncontrast imaging reconstruction was also determined. RESULTS: The CTDI(vol) values were 49.4 mGy for DECT imaging and 16.2 mGy for SECT imaging. Effective dose ranged from 22.5 to 36.4 mSv for DECT imaging and from 9.4 to 13.8 mSv for SECT imaging. Virtual noncontrast imaging reconstruction reduced the total effective dose of multiphase DECT imaging by 19% to 28%. CONCLUSION: Using the current Volume Dual Energy software, radiation doses with DECT imaging were higher than those with SECT imaging. Substantial radiation dose savings are possible with DECT imaging if virtual noncontrast imaging reconstruction replaces precontrast imaging.
A proposed U.S./China theoretical/experimental collaborative effort on baryon resonance extraction

In this paper we discuss the reasons for our work towards establishing a new collaboration between Jefferson Lab (JLab) and the Institute of High Energy Physics (IHEP) in Beijing. We seek to combine experimentalists and theorists into a dedicated group focused on better understanding the current and future data from JLab and from the Beijing Electron Positron Collider (BEPC). Recent JLab results on the extraction of single- and double-polarization observables in both the 1π- and 2π-channel show their high sensitivity to small production amplitudes and therefore their importance for the extraction of resonance parameters. The Beijing Electron Spectrometer (BES) at the BEPC has collected high statistics data on J/Ψ production. Its decay into baryon-antibaryon channels offers a unique and complementary way of probing nucleon resonances. The CEBAF Large Acceptance Spectrometer, CLAS, has access to N* form factors at high Q2, which is advantageous for the study of dynamical properties of nucleon resonances, while the low-background BES results will be able to provide guidance for the search for less-dominant excited states at JLab. Moreover, with the recently approved experimental proposal Nucleon Resonance Studies with CLAS12 and the high-quality data streaming from BES-III and CLAS, the time has come for forging a new Trans-Pacific collaboration of theorists and experimentalists on NSTAR physics.
Blocking probability in WDM multicast switching networks with limited wavelength conversion

Currently, many bandwidth-intensive applications require multicast services for efficiency purposes. In particular, as wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) technique emerges as a promising solution to meet the rapidly growing demands on bandwidth in present communication networks, supporting multicast at the WDM layer becomes an important yet challenging issue. In this paper, we present a new analytical model to compute blocking probabilities for multicast connections in WDM switching networks. Due to the non-uniform nature of multicast traffic, calculating blocking probability in a WDM multicast switching network becomes much more challenging than that under unicast traffic. Based on the link independence and wavelength independence assumptions, our model can calculate the blocking probability of any multicast connection from a single source to multiple destinations in WDM switching networks with various types of wavelength conversion capabilities, ranging from no wavelength conversion, to limited wavelength conversion, to full wavelength conversion. Our analytical results indicate that similar to unicast traffic, a significant improvement in the blocking performance of the network under multicast traffic can be achieved by limited wavelength conversion. We view that utilizing limited wavelength conversion with relatively small conversion degrees in WDM multicast switching networks is a more cost-effective choice. We also validate the analytical model through extensive simulations.
Measurement problems in cost-benefit analysis

This chapter deals with a set of problems associated with the measurement of public sector costs and benefits that are unlikely to arise in the private sector. They derive either from the nature of the government projects themselves or the underlying policy and economic environment. Private investment analysis attempts to measure the expected profitability on an investment—that is the difference between revenues and costs evaluated at current and expected future market prices. In contrast, profitability is usually not the proper criterion for project selection in public sector cost–benefit analysis. Market prices always convey useful information, but they often combine with other evaluative concepts to determine government project costs and benefits. Furthermore, the chapter discusses intangibles. Intangibles are the most intractable of the measurement problems. An intangible is a benefit or cost for which there is no obvious method of assigning a dollar value. By their very nature, economic analysis can offer little by way of guidance on intangibles. Indeed, if they are thought to be the major benefit (cost) of a particular project, as they undoubtedly are in many defense applications, there is no sense even attempting a full cost–benefit study. Cost–benefit analysis is useful only if costs and benefits can be reasonably quantified.
Predictors of Substance Use Among Black Urban Adolescents with Asthma: A Longitudinal Assessment

The physical and psychological consequences of asthma, a chronic respiratory disease disproportionately affecting black urban adolescents, may be amplified by substance use, yet studies have not assessed rates or predictors of substance use in this at-risk population. Therefore, this study examined rates of substance use and mental health/ asthma-related predictors of use among 110 black urban adolescents with asthma. Participants completed study questionnaires at baseline and 11 to 14 months post baseline. The mean age of the sample was 15.8 (SD ± 1.85), 66 (60%) were female, and 82 (74%) of the participants had intermittent/mild persistent asthma. At follow-up, 37 (34%) participants endorsed using at least 1 substance in the past 30 days, including cannabis (n = 18 [16%]), cigarettes (n = 13 [12%]), and/or alcohol (n = 23 [21%]). The substance use variables were dichotomized for analyses (1 = use, 0 = nonuse). Logistic regression results indicated that older age (odds ratio [OR], 1.83; p
Self-compassion and responses to trauma: the role of emotion regulation

Emerging literature suggests that self-compassion may be an important concept for understanding recovery from the impact of trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The present study explored the interconnection among self-compassion, resilience, emotion dysregulation, and PTSD symptom severity in a sample of treatment-seeking women with PTSD. We predicted that self-compassion would be negatively related to PTSD symptom severity and to emotion dysregulation, and positively related to resilience. The results supported our main hypotheses. In addition, emotion dysregulation mediated the relationship between PTSD symptom severity and self-compassion and affected the relationship between self-compassion and resilience. These findings corroborate previous research that points to the important role of self-compassion in mental health and in the aftermath of stressful life events. The present study expands this research by demonstrating that PTSD symptom severity is negatively related to self-compassion in a clinical population of women with experiences of severe and repeated interpersonal trauma.
Neuroanatomical Techniques for Analysis of Axonal Trajectories in the Cerebral Cortex of the Rhesus Monkey

Connections in the brain have been suggested to take the shortest path between different regions of the brain; however, many neuroanatomical studies using tract tracing methods have shown that individual axons branch or turn at right angles, suggesting that not all connections are made by smooth arcing axons, and may not necessarily traverse the shortest distance. High angular resolution diffusion magnetic resonance imaging and tractography of axon bundles provide additional evidence for regular geometric patterns. To investigate the phenomenon, we have used the rhesus monkey brain as a model system and employed neuroanatomical methods to visualize white matter organization. These include double labeling using both tract tracers to label projections and immunohistochemistry to identify axons not labeled with tract tracers, and complemented, by the use of optical clearing method, modified from the CLARITY protocol. Our results lend support to the presence of geometric organization and, in some instances, orthogonal crossing patterns.
Value-Oriented IT Project Portfolio Management

In the present enterprise computing environment, it becomes more and more important to be able to demonstrate financial gains of IT (Information Technology) initiatives compared to their cost. A valuation methodology is a logical, repeatable framework for making IT investment decisions and monitoring projects to ensure that they ultimately contribute to the financial health and growth of the enterprise. Traditionally, organizations have used a bottom-up approach for technology valuation by using metrics such as return on investment and net present value. While it provides a simple, easy-to-understand valuation mechanism, the traditional approach is limited in the type of analyses. To provide more flexible and versatile valuation of technology, we propose a value-oriented project portfolio management with which organizations can view IT staff and initiatives not only as costs but also as assets managed in a similar way as a fund manager would apply to any other investment. The proposed approach is comprised of multiple steps that collectively compute and help maximizing value of IT initiatives for business transformation. It integrates a value model with a project portfolio to factor in financial values in selecting projects and optimizing the portfolio.
Simulation of frequency noise spectra in injection-locked semiconductor lasers

Injection-locking of conventional Fabry-Perot semiconductor lasers is an effective technique for achieving static and dynamic single-mode operation with a narrow linewidth.1 Noise characteristics of injection-locked diode lasers are of vital importance for their application in optoelectronic systems, for example, in coherent transmission.2 We report we believe the first numerical studies of frequency noise spectra in injection-locked semiconductor lasers.
Abstract 2392: Transcriptional repression of VEGF by Znf24, a C2H2 zinc finger protein

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key regulator during the formation of new blood vessels during angiogenesis. It functions to promote the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells under both physiological conditions such as embryogenesis and pathological conditions such as tumor growth. VEGF has been shown to play an important role in the development and metastasis of breast as well as other human cancers. To date, many trans-activating factors of VEGF have been described, whereas transcriptional repression of VEGF remains less studied. We have previously reported the identification of a SCAN-domain containing C2H2 zinc finger protein, Znf24, which functions to repress the transcription of VEGF. In this study we explore the mechanism by which Znf24 represses VEGF transcription. We have generated a series of VEGF promoter constructs bearing deletions from the 5′ end. Reporter gene assays in the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 have revealed a proximal region of the VEGF promoter essential for Znf24-induced repression. To determine whether Znf24 represses VEGF transcription through direct binding to the VEGF promoter, we have performed electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) using the VEGF proximal promoter region as a probe. We have found that Znf24 protein binds to this proximal region, suggesting that VEGF is a direct downstream target of Znf24. To begin to investigate Znf24 functions in vivo, we have conducted immunohistochemistry assays using human breast cancer tissue microarrays representing different stages of disease progression and tumor sizes, as well as matched normal breast tissues. We have determined that Znf24 protein levels are significantly decreased in malignant tissues compared to normal adjacent tissues. A potential negative correlation between Znf24 protein levels and tumor sizes is also observed, suggesting that Znf24 may serve as a negative regulator of tumor growth. Our data suggest that Znf24 represses VEGF transcription through direct binding to the VEGF promoter and that it may function as a negative regulator of tumor growth by inhibiting tumor angiogenesis. (Supported by NIH P01 CA045548 and the Simeon J. Fortin Charitable Foundation) 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 2392.
Catalytic enantioselective addition of organoboron reagents to fluoroketones controlled by electrostatic interactions

Organofluorine compounds are central to modern chemistry, and broadly applicable transformations that generate them efficiently and enantioselectively are in much demand. Here we introduce efficient catalytic methods for the addition of allyl and allenyl organoboron reagents to fluorine-substituted ketones. These reactions are facilitated by readily and inexpensively available catalysts and deliver versatile and otherwise difficult-to-access tertiary homoallylic alcohols in up to 98% yield and >99:1 enantiomeric ratio. Utility is highlighted by a concise enantioselective approach to the synthesis of the antiparasitic drug fluralaner (Bravecto, presently sold as the racemate). Different forms of ammonium-organofluorine interactions play a key role in the control of enantioselectivity. The greater understanding of various non-bonding interactions afforded by these studies should facilitate the future development of transformations that involve fluoroorganic entities.
The intrathoracic kidney.

Two cases of intrathoracic kidney are discussed, both diagnosed by intravenous pyelography when other studies failed to disclose the nature of a left thoracic mass. The potential value of intravenous pyelography in the study of a posterior mediastinal mass is emphasized. Review of the literature and of these 2 cases indicates that if the intrathoracic kidney occurs as an isolated anomaly it usually functions normally and requires no treatment.
The role of resilience and gratitude in posttraumatic stress and growth following a campus shooting.

OBJECTIVE This study investigated the role of resilience and gratitude in the relationship between trauma exposure, posttraumatic stress (PTS), and posttraumatic growth (PTG) following the campus shooting at Seattle Pacific University. The prevalence of community traumatic events such as school shootings has increased dramatically in the last decade. However, a significant number of individuals report positive changes such as enhanced appreciation for life, suggesting that some people are able to convert adverse experiences into personal growth. The purpose of this study was to understand characteristics about trauma and protective characteristics that contribute to PTG. METHOD Participants were 359 students, faculty, and staff (75% female; mean age = 27.26, SD = 12.61) enrolled or employed the day the shooting took place. Approximately four months following the event respondents completed self-report questionnaires about trauma exposure (i.e., physical and emotional proximity), PTS symptoms, PTG, resilience, and gratitude. RESULTS Results supported our moderated-mediation hypothesis (B = 3.97, t = 4.11, 95th confidence interval [2.08, 5.88], p < .01), suggesting that both resilience and gratitude can be conceptualized as protective mechanisms, with resilience operating to prevent adverse outcomes while gratitude may promote positive outcomes following trauma. CONCLUSION Given the prevalence of lifetime trauma, findings indicate that mental health professionals should consider a multifaceted approach to buffer the effects of trauma by preventatively cultivating resilience and enhancing gratitude in posttrauma interventions as a means to decrease PTS and increase PTG. Additional research is needed to understand how individuals develop positive traits as both protective and coping mechanisms. (PsycINFO Database Record
Prensa y patria: The Spanish-Language Press and the Biculturation of the Tejano Middle Class, 1920–1940

C ultural flux and shifting ethnic awareness characterized the TexanMexican community between the years 1920-1940. An ethos of "mexicanismo" that held sway during the 1920s was challenged in the 1930s by tejanos who increasingly "faced north" These middle-class tejanos asserted their Americanness and consciously distinguished themselves from the people and culture south of the Rio Bravo. They thus brought into relief an emergent "Mexican American mind," which gained ascendancy by the mid-twentieth century.1 This cultural reorientation, however, was a long and uneven process. Deep-seated attachments to Mexico lindo (beautiful Mexico) persisted, even as tejanos strove for entry into the American mainstream. The intellectual and social dilemma of being not quite American, yet not quite Mexican, produced a cultural synthesis-tejano biculturality.2 This phenomenon