cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Repeatability and Reproducibility of a Clinically Based QUS Phantom Study and Methodologies

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the repeatability and reproducibility (RR 10log10BSC: 0.23–0.27 ${\rm dB}^{2}$ ). The reproducibility variance is statistically significantly lower than the repeatability variance. The total R&R was not influenced by phantom properties over a wide range representing those found in liver in vivo .
Abstract 1583: SRI31215, a novel inhibitor of oncogenic HGF/MET signaling

Constitutive activation of MET signaling, frequently observed in cancer, triggers signaling by AKT, ERK 1/2 and STAT3, and promotes survival, proliferation, migration and invasion of cancer cells. Accordingly, MET amplification or overexpression of its ligand, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), are associated with tumor aggressiveness, resistance to therapy and poor prognosis in many cancer patients. Cancer cells can secrete HGF which triggers autocrine HGF/MET signaling, however, fibroblasts are the predominant source of HGF and activate MET expressed on tumor cells in a paracrine manner. Cancer cells and fibroblasts secrete HGF as an inactive precursor, pro-HGF. A crucial step in the regulation of HGF/MET signaling is the proteolytic processing of the inactive precursor, pro-HGF, to its active form by one of the three serine proteases, matriptase, hepsin or HGF activator (HGFA). This is the rate-limiting step in the HGF/MET signaling pathway, controlled by the inhibitors of HGF activation, hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitors 1 and 2 (HAI-1/2). We synthesized a novel small molecule, SRI31215, a triplex inhibitor of matriptase, hepsin and HGFA, mimicking the biological activity of HA1-1/2. We confirmed that SRI31215 inhibits the proteolytic activation of pro-HGF and blocks HGF-induced MET activation and signaling by AKT, ERK 1/2 and STAT3. SRI31215 blocked fibroblast-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and prevented scattering and migration of cancer cells. Finally, we demonstrated that SRI31215 sensitized HGF-producing colon cancer cells to epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors (EGFRi) and inhibited fibroblast-mediated, HGF-dependent, resistance to EGFRi in colon cancer. Thus, SRI31215 blocks signaling between cancer cells and fibroblasts and inhibits the tumor-promoting activity of cancer associated fibroblasts. Taken together, our data demonstrate that inhibitors of HGF activation, such as SRI31215, represent a novel approach to curb the growth and metastatic spread of tumor cells that are addicted to HGF/MET signaling and to overcome primary and acquired resistance to EGFR-targeted therapy. Citation Format: Benjamin Y. Owusu, Phanindra K. Venukadasula, Robert A. Galemmo, Lidija Klampfer. SRI31215, a novel inhibitor of oncogenic HGF/MET signaling. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 1583.
DOA estimation of mixed coherent and uncorrelated signals exploiting a nested MIMO system

We propose a new scheme to estimate the directions-of-arrival of mixed coherent and uncorrelated signals exploiting a nested multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system. In the proposed scheme, the DOAs of the uncorrelated sources are first estimated using subspace-based methods, whereas those of the coherent sources are resolved using compressive sensing techniques. The proposed approach works for nonuniform linear sum coarrays and may resolve more sources than the number of coarray elements.
The viability of trajectory analysis for diagnosing dynamical and chemical influences on ozone concentrations in the UTLS

To evaluate the utility of trajectory analysis in the tropical upper-troposphere/lower-stratosphere (UTLS), Lagrangian predictions of ozone mixing ratio are compared to observations from the Airborne Tropical TRopopause EXperiment (ATTREX). Model predictions are based on backward trajectories that are initiated along flight tracks. Ozone mixing ratios from analysis data interpolated onto ‘source locations’ (at trajectory termini) provide initial conditions for chemical production models that are integrated forward in time along parcel trajectories. Model sensitivities are derived from ensembles of predictions using two sets of dynamical forcing fields, four sets of source ozone mixing ratios, three trajectory formulations (adiabatic, diabatic, and kinematic), and two chemical production models. Direct comparisons of analysis ozone mixing ratios to observations have large random errors that are reduced by averaging over 75 min (~800 km) long flight tracks. These averaged values have systematic errors that motivate a similarly systematic adjustment to source ozone mixing ratios. Sensitivity experiments reveal a prediction error minimum in parameter space and, thus, a consistent diagnostic picture: The best predictions utilize the source ozone adjustment and a chemical production model derived from WACCM (a chemistry-climate model) chemistry. There seems to be slight advantages to using ERA-interim winds compared to MERRA and to using kinematic trajectories compared to diabatic; however, both diabatic and kinematic formulations are clearly preferable to adiabatic trajectories. For these predictions, correlations with observations typically decrease as model error is reduced and, thus, fail as a model comparison metric.
Drive Around the Block

Spring, 1974, The Pewter Pot, a coffee house near Coolidge Corner in Brookline, Massachusetts. I am drinking coffee with Joske Agassi, my friend and mentor. I bring up the subject of the 1973 Yom Kippur war and the Egyptian attack across the Suez Canal. I report what I have read in the London Times about the attack: The IDF (Israeli Defense Force) had a plan to thwart an Egyptian crossing, a system that would flood the waters of the canal with a flammable fluid, like gasoline, ignite it and turn the Canal into a flaming moat. But when the Egyptians began their incursion, the Israeli defense malfunctioned and the crossing succeeded. Official Egyptian press reports said that Egyptian commandos had sabotaged the fluid delivery system the night before the attack.
Abstract LB-133: De novo expression of gastrin and CCK-B receptors in cell lines derived from KPC mice

Background: Animal models to study cancer progression and therapeutics are essential but these animal models are most useful when they resemble human cancers, particularly with respect to inflammation and the immune system in carcinogenesis and therapy. Hence, athymic nude mice bearing human cancer explants are being replaced by genetically modified animal models with intact immune systems. Panc02 cancer cells have been used to create a syngeneic immune competent murine model of pancreatic cancer. However, unlike human pancreatic cancer, Panc02 cells express wild-type KRAS and CCK-A type receptors (rather than CCK-B type receptors). We previously showed that the Pdx1-Cre / LSL-KrasG12D transgenic mice develop de novo CCK-B receptors with PanIN progression. Aim: The goal of this investigation was to examine cell cultures derived from the KrasG12D mice to determine if they are indeed similar to human cancers in regard to in vivo growth properties and expression of gastrin and CCK-B receptors. Methods: Five different pancreatic cell lines were obtained that had been derived from the KPC mice (KPC1, KPC2) or organoids (MT3-2D, MT4-2D, and MT5-2D) of the KPC mice. RNA was extracted from the cell lines and evaluated for CCK-A and CCK-B receptors and the ligand gastrin. Growth studies were characterized in syngeneic C57BL/6 mice. The effects of CCK receptor blockade with proglumide was evaluated on tumor growth in vivo. Histologic sections were stained with HE 2017 Apr 1-5; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2017;77(13 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-133. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2017-LB-133
Patterns of co-occurring addictions, posttraumatic stress disorder, and major depressive disorder in detoxification treatment seekers: Implications for improving detoxification treatment outcomes

Abstract Background and objectives Poly-substance use and psychiatric comorbidity are common among individuals receiving substance detoxification services. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are the most common co-occurring psychiatric disorders with substance use disorder (SUD). Current treatment favors a one-size-fits-all approach to treating addiction focusing on one substance or one comorbidity. Research examining patterns of substance use and comorbidities can inform efforts to effectively identify and differentially treat individuals with co-occurring conditions. Methods Using latent class analysis, the current study identified four patterns of PTSD, MDD, and substance use among 375 addiction treatment seekers receiving medically supervised detoxification. Results The four identified classes were: 1) a PTSD-MDD-Poly SUD class characterized by PTSD and MDD occurring in the context of opioid, cannabis, and tobacco use disorders; 2) an MDD-Poly SUD class characterized by MDD and alcohol, opioid, tobacco, and cannabis use disorders; 3) an alcohol-tobacco class characterized by alcohol and tobacco use disorders; and 4) an opioid-tobacco use disorder class characterized by opioid and tobacco use disorders. The observed classes differed on gender and clinical characteristics including addiction severity, trauma history, and PTSD/MDD symptom severity. Discussion and conclusions The observed classes likely require differing treatment approaches. For example, people in the PTSD-MDD-Poly SUD class would likely benefit from treatment approaches targeting anxiety sensitivity and distress tolerance, while the opioid-tobacco class would benefit from treatments that incorporate motivational interviewing. Appropriate matching of treatment to class could optimize treatment outcomes for polysubstance and comorbid psychiatric treatment seekers. These findings also underscore the importance of well-developed referral networks to optimize outpatient psychotherapy for detoxification treatment-seekers to enhance long-term recovery, particularly those that include transdiagnostic treatment components.
Chapter 36 Urban areas with decentralized employment: Theory and empirical work

Abstract This chapter discusses theoretical and applied research in urban economics on decentralized cities, i.e., cities in which employment is not restricted to the central business district. The first section discusses informally the incentives that firms face to suburbanize. The next section summarizes the theoretical literature on decentralized cities, including both models which solve for the optimal spatial pattern of employment and models in which the spatial pattern of employment is exogenously determined. In other sections, I discuss rent and wage gradients in decentralized cities and review the empirical literature testing whether, or not, wage gradients exist in urban areas. A section covers the question of whether people follow jobs or jobs follow people to the suburbs and the last section discusses the “wasteful” commuting controversy.
Linkage-Specific Detection and Metabolism of Human Milk Oligosaccharides in Escherichia coli.

Summary Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are important prebiotic complex carbohydrates with demonstrated beneficial effects on the microbiota of neonates. However, optimization of their biotechnological synthesis is limited by the relatively low throughput of monosaccharide and linkage analysis. To enable high-throughput screening of HMO structures, we constructed a whole-cell biosensor that uses heterologous expression of glycosidases to generate linkage-specific, quantitative fluorescent readout for a range of HMOs at detection limits down to 20 μM in approximately 6 hr. We also demonstrate the use of this system for orthogonal control of growth rate or protein expression of particular strains in mixed populations. This work enables rapid non-chromatographic linkage analysis and lays the groundwork for the application of directed evolution to biosynthesis of complex carbohydrates as well as the prebiotic manipulation of population dynamics in natural and engineered microbial communities.
Abstract WP383: Neuropsychological Outcomes Following Pediatric Cerebral Sinovenous Thrombosis

Introduction: Few research studies have investigated neuropsychological domains beyond IQ in pediatric cerebral sinovenous thrombosis (CSVT). Additionally, prior studies have contained small sample sizes making generalization of results difficult. This study investigates a broad set of neuropsychological domains in pediatric CSVT and identifies predictors of poor outcomes. Hypothesis: Children with CSVT were predicted to have worse cognitive outcomes compared to the normative sample. Earlier age at CSVT and the presence of acute symptoms associated with CNS dysfunction (e.g., altered mental status, aphasia, ataxia, seizure, and hemiparesis) were also hypothesized to predict worse long-term outcomes. Methods: 20 children (mean age = 15.6 years) who suffered a CSVT during childhood (range = 3.6 to 18.0 years) participated in this study. Children completed a comprehensive neuropsychological battery and parents completed several standardized behavioral questionnaires. Testing was completed at least 6 months p...
BUMPy: A Model-Independent Tool for Constructing Lipid Bilayers of Varying Curvature and Composition

Molecular dynamics is a powerful tool to investigate atomistic and mesoscopic phenomena in lipid bilayer systems. These studies have progressed with the advent of increased computational power, and efforts are now increasingly being directed toward investigating the role of curvature and bilayer morphology, as these are critical features of biological processes. Computational studies of lipid bilayers benefit from tools that can create starting configurations for molecular dynamics simulations, but the majority of such tools are restricted to generating flat bilayers. Generating curved bilayer configurations comes with practical complications and potential ramifications on physical properties in the simulated system if the bilayer is initiated in a high-strain state. We present a new tool for creating curved lipid bilayers that combines flexibility of shape, force field, model resolution, and bilayer composition. A key aspect of our approach is the use of the monolayer pivotal plane location to accurately estimate interleaflet area differences in a curved bilayer. Our tool is named BUMPy (Building Unique Membranes in Python), is written in Python, is fast, and has a simple command line interface.
A National Survey of Transplant Surgeons and Nephrologists on Implementing Apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) Genetic Testing Into Clinical Practice

Introduction:There is debate over whether Apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) gene risk variants contribute to African American (AA) live donors’ (LD) increased risk of kidney failure. Little is known about ...
Stable non-BPS states on a 3-brane probe

As a novel application of string junctions, we construct stable non-BPS states on a 3-brane probe in the 7-brane background associated with N = 2 SU(2) Super-Yang-Mills theory. These states introduce a second curve of marginal stability, across which some of them decay. Moduli space is therefore divided into four regions, each containing a different stable particle spectrum.
Aerosolized pentamidine prevented Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients with HIV

Source Citation Leoung GS, Feigal DW, Montgomery AB, et al. and the San Francisco County Community Consortium. Aerosolized pentamidine for prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. The Sa...
Aortofemoral Bypass Graft Access for Impella Placement

Abstract Left ventricular support with Impella requires a large-bore sheath. Alternate access sites have often been required in patients with severe peripheral artery disease. This paper reports the first case in which an aortofemoral bypass graft for Impella access was used in a patient without other alternatives and the method of access closure. (Level of Difficulty: Advanced.)
Comparing star and pancake networks

Low dilation embeddings are used to compare similarities between star and pancake networks. The pancake network of dimension n, Pn, has n! nodes, one for each permutation, and an undirected edge between permutations (nodes) when some prefix reversal transforms one permutation into the other. The star network of dimension n, Sn, has n! nodes, one for each permutation, and an undirected edge between permutations (nodes) when the exchange of the first element with some other element transforms one permutation into the other. Comparisons with the burnt pancake network are also discussed. The burnt pancake network, BPn, has 2nċn! nodes, one for each signed permutation, and an undirected edge between signed permutations (nodes) when some prefix reversal transforms one signed permutation into the other, and all symbols in the reversed prefix change sign. Some of the embeddings shown are: • Pn ⇒dil 1 S2n • Sn ⇒dil 1 P(n3-4n2+5n+4)/2 • BPn ⇒dil 1 S2n • Sn ⇒dil 1 P2n-2.
Lower-extremity edema is common after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt creation and is associated with lower survival: A two-institution study

Background Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation is an accepted treatment of portal hypertension. Lower-extremity edema (LEE) is an underreported complication of TIPS creation. Purpose To assess the epidemiologic findings of LEE after TIPS creation and their association with patient survival. Materials and Methods The medical records of patients who underwent TIPS creation between January 2003 and April 2019 at Oregon Health and Science University and patients who underwent TIPS creation between January 2006 and December 2016 at University of Minnesota were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical, laboratory, and technical parameters, development and outcome of edema, and survival data were collected. LEE was defined as new-onset or worsened edema up to 1 year after TIPS creation. Cardiac ventricular function was evaluated with transthoracic echocardiography. Risk factors for LEE were evaluated with logistic regression analysis, and critical P values were additionally assessed by using the false discovery rate. Survival curves were compared by using the log-rank test. Results Three hundred thirty-four patients were included (mean age, 55 years ± 11 [standard deviation]; 208 men). TIPS creation was primarily performed for ascites (159 of 334 patients, 48%), gastrointestinal bleeding (127 of 334 patients, 38%), or a combination of bleeding and ascites (38 of 334 patients, 11%). One hundred seventy of the 334 patients (51%) developed LEE (new onset, 120; worsened edema, 50). Three of 170 patients (2%) had abnormal left ventricular ejection fraction. Multivariable analysis showed TIPS creation for ascites (odds ratio, 1.7; 95% CI: 1.04, 2.7; P = .03) and hepatic hydrothorax (odds ratio, 2.2; 95% CI: 1.1, 4.2; P = .02) was likely associated with LEE; however, it did not reach significance at a critical P value of .009. Among 164 patients with data on the outcome of LEE, LEE eventually improved in 94 (57%). The median survival of patients with LEE was lower than that of patients without LEE (38 months vs 71 months, respectively; P = .02). Conclusion Lower-extremity edema developed in more than 50% of study patients who underwent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation, regardless of left ventricular function. There was suggestion that TIPS creation for ascites might be an underlying risk factor. Lower-extremity edema portends worse survival. © RSNA, 2020 Online supplemental material is available for this article.
Association of Acute Macular Neuroretinopathy or Paracentral Acute Middle Maculopathy with Sickle Cell Disease

Purpose To investigate the structural and microvascular changes in the retina and choriocapillaris in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) demonstrating acute vision loss and acute macular neuroretinopathy (AMN) or paracentral acute middle maculopathy (PAMM) using multimodal imaging including OCT and OCT angiography (OCTA). Design Retrospective case series. Participants Four hemoglobin SS (HbSS) or hemoglobin SC (HbSC) patients who demonstrated vision loss attributed to AMN (n = 2) or PAMM (n = 2). Methods Clinical characteristics including best-corrected visual acuity and multimodal imaging features from fundus photography, fluorescein angiography, OCT, and OCTA were analyzed. Main Outcome Measures Longitudinal changes in the structure and microvasculature of the retina and choriocapillaris were examined. Results In 2 patients with AMN, characteristic hyperreflective changes were observed in the outer nuclear layer with involvement of the ellipsoid and interdigitation zones. In 1 patient, the lesion was located in the foveal avascular zone, and only flow deficits in the choriocapillaris were noted. In the second patient, no flow loss was observed in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) corresponding to the lesion, but flow loss was seen in the deep capillary plexus (DCP) and choriocapillaris. At the respective 1-year and 4-month follow-up examinations, the hyperreflectivities improved with no ensuing retinal atrophy. Deep capillary plexus and choriocapillaris flow also improved. Of the 2 patients with PAMM, 1 had PAMM in association with branch retinal arteriolar occlusions. In both patients, a hyperreflective band involving the inner plexiform, inner nuclear, and outer plexiform layers was seen in or adjacent to areas of prior macular thinning. These areas corresponded to flow deficits in both the SCP and DCP. At the respective 1-month and 1-year follow-up examinations, the hyperreflective band improved with ensuing atrophy of the middle retinal layers. OCT angiography demonstrated worsening of flow deficits in the corresponding SCP and DCP. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of AMN and the largest case series of AMN or PAMM in SCD to date. Paracentral acute middle maculopathy may precede macular thinning commonly observed in SCD. OCT angiography is a useful tool to demonstrate associated microvascular changes in AMN and PAMM in SCD.
Preferred Child Obesity Message Frames and Their Perceived Strength among State Policymakers.

Background: Health message framing, including gain or loss frames, can influence perceptions of child health messaging. It is unknown how characteristics such as political party and education may i...
Backward Deep BSDE Methods and Applications to Nonlinear Problems

In this paper, we present a backward deep BSDE method applied to Forward Backward Stochastic Differential Equations (FBSDE) with given terminal condition at maturity that time-steps the BSDE backwards. We present an application of this method to a nonlinear pricing problem - the differential rates problem. To time-step the BSDE backward, one needs to solve a nonlinear problem. For the differential rates problem, we derive an exact solution of this time-step problem and a Taylor-based approximation. Previously backward deep BSDE methods only treated zero or linear generators. While a Taylor approach for nonlinear generators was previously mentioned, it had not been implemented or applied, while we apply our method to nonlinear generators and derive details and present results. Likewise, previously backward deep BSDE methods were presented for fixed initial risk factor values X_0 only, while we present a version with random X_0 and a version that learns portfolio values at intermediate times as well. The method is able to solve nonlinear FBSDE problems in high dimensions.
Towards a field deployable pathogen detection system by quartz-crystal microbalance

Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensors have been applied to detect foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella Typhimurium, E.coli O157:H7, and Campylobacter jejuni. As pathogens are placed on vibrating quartz surface, the change in mass of the pathogens affects the characteristic of a QCM. The presence of pathogens that antibody captures can be correlated to the shift in resonance frequency. Thus, theoretical description is necessary to understand the relationship between the change in frequency and mass. In this work, the relationship between theoretical and experimental results is examined by comparing the frequency shift caused by different type of liquids. In general, a QCM can be represented by a Butterworth-Van-Dyke (BVD) circuit made up of resistance R, inductance L, and capacitance C. With physical properties of quartz, viscosity-density product of the liquid has an effect on inductance as well as resistance. As a preliminary experiment, measurements of mixtures of water and glycerol were conducted to evaluate results from the different levels of viscosity and density. The results of the experiments showed that higher viscosity and density resulted in lower resonant frequencies. With regard to theoretical calculation, increase of R and L resulted in a proportional increase in the square root of the viscosity-density product. Increased lumped parameters explains the decreased resonant frequency. Therefore, the shift of the resonant frequency of the load and unloaded QCM could be calculated based on the admittance from circuit components. Blank (air) sample, water, glycerol and water mixture have shown proportional shift in the resonant frequencies. The experiments and theoretical model were matched within reasonable range. The average difference between the theory and the experiments (Matlab/FEM model) was 7.04 %.
Diagnosis and Management of Intraoral Epithelial Dysplasia

It is presumed that the vast majority of cancers develop from a pre-cancerous or dysplastic state. Thus, understanding dysplasia at a clinical and molecular level is critical to our ability to decrease the overall incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. For multiple reasons, our current appreciation of dysplasia is limited; this chapter describes clinical detection and treatment with a special emphasis on future directions.
Proteins identified through predictive metagenomics as potential biomarkers for the detection of microbiologically influenced corrosion.

The unpredictability of microbial growth and subsequent localized corrosion of steel can cause significant cost for the oil and gas industry, due to production downtime, repair and replacement. Despite a long tradition of academic research and industrial experience, microbial corrosion is not yet fully understood and thus not effectively controlled. In particular, biomarkers suitable for diagnosing microbial corrosion which abstain from the detection of the classic signatures of sulfate reducing bacteria are urgently required. In this study, a natural microbial community was enriched anaerobically with carbon steel coupons and in the presence of a variety of physical and chemical conditions. With the characterization of the microbiome and of its functional properties inferred through predictive metagenomics, a series of proteins were identified as biomarkers in the water phase that could be correlated directly to corrosion. This study provides an opportunity for the further development of a protein-based biomarker approach for effective and reliable microbial corrosion detection and monitoring in the field.
Submitral Aneurysm Is Not A False Aneurysm

To the Editor: I enjoyed reading the beautifully illustrated case report of submitral aneurysm by Kontozis et al.1 However, I questioned the appropriateness of the term “false aneurysm” used by the authors to describe the submitral left ventricular aneurysm. False aneurysm is a healed myocardial free-wall rupture of a myocardial infarct.2 Because the authors stated clearly that submitral left ventricular aneurysms are caused by a congenital defect in the posterior portion of …
Research Spotlight: Buoyancy explains asymmetry along mid‐ocean ridges

[1] Oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges, the seam-like boundaries between divergent tectonic plates that can extend more than 50,000 kilometers in length. This crust is made of solidified magma that has segregated from the upwelling, partially molten mantle below. Geographic variation in plate divergence rate and mantle temperature can account for some differences between segments of the ridge, but other features of mid-ocean ridges have not been explained. For instance, seismic tomography indicates that some mid-ocean ridges have a distribution of mantle upwelling and melting that is asymmetrical across the ridge axis. What accounts for this asymmetry? (Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, doi:10.1029/2010GC003282, 2010)
Novel mutants of Escherichia coli that produce recombinogenic lesions in DNA. II. Properties of recombinogenic lambda phages grown on bacteria carrying arl mutations.

Abstract Lambda duplication phages grown for several rounds on Escherichia coli strains containing arl mutations were recombined at elevated frequencies (3 to 6-fold higher) in subsequent test infections. Enhanced recombination of Arl − phages (grown on arl bacteria) was demonstrable by assays for altered genetic linkages as well as by the standard assay, which measures the conversion of duplication phages (EDTA-sensitive) to single-copy phages (EDTA-resistant). The accumulated potential for enhanced recombination was lost during subsequent growth of the phages on arl + bacteria. Arl − phages had the same mutation frequencies, at a variety of loci, as control phages; arl bacteria themselves exhibited normal mutation rates. Arl − phages had normal plating efficiencies and buoyant densities. DNA extracted from Arl − phages exhibited the same frequency of strand interruption, the same superhelical density (when circularized in vivo ), and the same thermal denaturation profile as DNA from phages grown on arl + bacteria. Recombination of Arl − phages in the presence of λ repressor was very low, as is the case for normal phages. The recombination frequency of ultraviolet light irradiated (80 J/m 2 ) Arl − phages was more than twice the sum of the frequencies for unirradiated Arl − phages and irradiated control phages. Substantially increased recombination of Arl − phages was observed when either the E. coli RecBC, or RecE (but not RecF) pathway was active.
Right and left ventricular systolic time intervals. Effects of heart rate, respiration and atrial pacing.

Abstract Right ventricular systolic time intervals were measured from high fidelity pulmonary arterial pulse waves and compared to simultaneously recorded left ventricular systolic time intervals in 27 normal subjects with normal hemodynamic findings and a wide range of resting heart rates. As heart rate increased there was a parallel diminution in the length of total systole for both ventricles, but the ejection time diminished more rapidly for the right ventricle. With increasing heart rate the preejection period shortened slightly for the left ventricle and remained unchanged for the right ventricle. The effects of respiration and atrial pacing were studied in 4 normal subjects. Respiration was associated with a continuous opposite change in the duration of right ventricular preejection period and ejection time, but no significant change occurred in left ventricular intervals. In response to atrial pacing, the preejection period lengthened for the right ventricle and remained constant for the left ventricle. The ejection time of each ventricle diminished with increasing heart rate, varying linearly with stroke volume. Alterations in duration of the right ventricular preejection period correlated with changes in pulmonary arterial diastolic pressure and resulted principally from changes in duration of the isovolumetric contraction time. Mechanisms are proposed for the dissimilar responses of each ventricle to respiration and to changes in heart rate.
Beyond “The Ecological Indian” and “Virgin Soil Epidemics”: New Perspectives on Native Americans and the Environment

Indians figured prominently in many of the now-classic works that helped to define the burgeoning new field of environmental history during the 1970s and 1980s. Although a great deal of new and interesting work on Native Americans and the environment has been conducted since 1990, most of it has been produced not by scholars who think of themselves as environmental historians, but rather by archaeologists, anthropologists, historians of Native Americans, and Native people themselves. This essay surveys this new, multidisciplinary literature, and suggests some ways in which non-specialists, and particularly environmental historians, might fruitfully engage with it.
Unilateral Anterior Knee Pain as a Sign of Knee Asymmetry

Anterior knee pain is a common complaint in the orthopaedic community. It is nonspecific in nature and can be frustrating to treat. Symmetry between the knees is necessary for people to perform everyday activities comfortably and for athletes to function at a high level. Through observation and research on thousands of patients, we have found that unilateral anterior knee pain can largely be attributed to asymmetry between knees, in particular the loss of full knee extension. Loss of full knee extension can be caused by many factors. Regardless of the specific etiology, patients favor one knee by standing solely on the normal knee rather than using both legs equally. Patients subconsciously stop using the involved leg and a flexion contracture can develop when they avoid weight bearing on the leg and they keep the knee bent. As the leg becomes weaker, the patient favors it even more and the knee can become “deconditioned.” Even small degrees of extension loss can cause anterior knee pain. Our experience has shown that the most important objective to keep in mind when dealing with anterior knee pain is the restoration and maintenance of symmetry between knees. This is primarily accomplished by treating any deficits in knee range of motion first followed by improving leg strength with appropriate rehabilitative exercises and instructions for correct symmetrical use of the legs with daily activities.
New and Simplified Defensive Strategies Against Corporate Raiders in Value-Destroying Merger & Acquisition Attempts: Behavioral-Finance-Based Models as Legal Defense Strategies and Litigation Finance as Funding Vehicle

With continued attacks by some short-sighted, value-destroying, highly secretive, and deep-pocketed corporate raiders against many well managed and value-maximizing companies like Amgen and Allergan here in California, there is a need for further development and deployment of robust and unconventional legal strategies to counter and neutralize such attacks. Attacks that are not even zero-some games in our societies. They are effectively ransom-seeking assaults by face-less and community-less financiers that may not only lead to forced break ups and possibly eventual destruction of well-managed and resource-challenged companies; but they may also lead to destruction of whole communities. My main arguments against such takeover attempts draw upon well-established economic/financial theories and practices that could be used in defense strategies in the courts of law. One set of strategy involves real-life and trust-based versions of the otherwise non-functioning Principal-Agent theory; another set involves newly developed Behavioral-Finance-based Value/Risk models and strategies. The financing strategy of choice for all such cases would be the growing Litigation Finance vehicle.
Algebraic structures determined by 3 by 3 matrix geometry

Using a 3 by 3 matrix trick we show that multiplication (an algebraic structure) in a C*-algebra A is determined by the geometry of the C*-algebra of the 3 by 3 matrices with entries from A, M 3 (A). This is an example of an algebra-geometry duality which, we claim, has applications.
Mutational study of sapovirus expression in insect cells

Human sapovirus (SaV), an agent of human gastroenteritis, cannot be grown in cell culture, but expression of the recombinant capsid protein (rVP1) in a baculovirus expression system results in the formation of virus-like particles (VLPs). In this study we compared the time-course expression of two different SaV rVP1 constructs. One construct had the native sequence (Wt construct), whereas the other had two nucleotide point mutations in which one mutation caused an amino acid substitution and one was silent (MEG-1076 construct). While both constructs formed VLPs morphologically similar to native SaV, Northern blot analysis indicated that the MEG-1076 rVP1 mRNA had increased steady-state levels. Furthermore, Western blot analysis and an antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that the MEG-1076 construct had increased expression levels of rVP1 and yields of VLPs. Interestingly, the position of the mutated residue was strictly conserved residue among other human SaV strains, suggesting an important role for rVP1 expression.
Observation on Low Fat Dairy Spreads

Summary The desirability of making available to the public a low fat dairy spread is discussed. A product containing 40% fat and 8% milk solids-not-fat is recommended. The merits of using- modifying flavors and ingredients such as salt, minerals, antioxidant, coloring, starter distillate, and preservative (sodium benzoate) are considered. Studies made of consumer acceptance of the spread showed a rather wide range of possible uses.
Fast Linear Approximation for Phase Retrieval of Partially Coherently Illuminated Objects

An approximation to partial coherence is shown to improve the performance of a transverse-translation-diversity phase-retrieval algorithm for an object having Schell model partial coherence, with application to the James Webb Space Telescope.
Community Colleges in the Spotlight and under the Microscope.

Never before have community colleges received so much attention and recognition. From modest beginnings at the start of the twentieth century, community colleges have become the largest, most affordable, and most responsive sector of American higher education. Policy makers, media, and the public in general seem to have only now discovered community colleges, which have been put in a spotlight by President Barack Obama and leading national foundations as important to the economic prosperity of the United States. With increased attention comes increased scrutiny, however. What will be expected of community colleges, and how can they best respond, especially given severe financial limitations? What are their most pressing challenges, and what opportunities are ahead for college leaders?
Novel investigational agents for the treatment of scleroderma

Introduction: The purpose of this article is to highlight novel therapies that are being used in scleroderma (SSc). Therapeutic interventions in SSc generally target at least one of three ongoing biological processes characteristic of the disease: vasculopathy, autoimmunity and tissue fibrosis. Treatment decisions in SSc are determined by the level of disease activity and the degree of specific organ involvement. Traditional therapy has primarily focused on organ-specific management without clear evidence of overall disease modification. Areas covered: The authors provide a review of a variety of agents, which are already used for other autoimmune diseases, that are now being used to treat active SSc skin or lung disease, including rituximab, tocilizumab and IVIG. Several agents studied in vitro and in animal models of fibrosis have shown promise, including bortezomib, LPA-1 antagonists, anti-CCN2 therapy, anti-IL-13 and thrombin antagonists. The authors also provide details on targeting intracellular mol...
Infinite number of conditions for local mixed-state manipulations

It is shown that a finite number of conditions are not sufficient to determine the locality of transformations between two probability distributions of pure states as well as the locality of transformations between two $d\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}d$ mixed states with $d\ensuremath{\geqslant}4$. As an example, an infinite, but minimal, set of necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a local procedure that converts one probability distribution of two pure pair of qubits into another one is found.
Exclusion of an isolated iliac artery aneurysm using a bifurcated endograft following failed covered stent exclusion

Endovascular exclusion with covered stents is an alternative to surgical repair of iliac artery aneurysms (IAAs). We report a case where covered stent implantation failed to exclude an IAA, as demonstrated by persistent endoleak. The aneurysm was successfully excluded with a bifurcated aortoiliac endograft. This option should be considered for endovascular treatment of IAAs. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv 2004;61:306–309. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A comparative study of amylases and proteinases in some decapod crustacea.

Abstract 1. 1. Amylase, protease and cathepsin activities in midgut gland extracts of six decapod crustaceans were determined. 2. 2. The amylase pH optimum of the crab, Metapograpsus messor, was 8·0. 3. 3. The protease and cathepsin pH optima of the portunid crab, Podophthalmus vigil, were 7·9 and 6·0, respectively. 4. 4. Comparison of the digestive enzymatic activities revealed that the three omnivores had greater amylase and proteinase activities than did the carnivores. 5. 5. Food preference in two sympatric species, P. vigil and Portunus sanguinolentus, may be due to differences in catheptic activities.
Composite materials with self-contained wireless sensing networks

The increasing demand for in-service structural health monitoring, particularly in the aircraft industry, has stimulated efforts to integrate self sensing capabilities into materials and structures. This work presents efforts to develop structural composite materials which include networks of sensors with decision-making capabilities that extend the functionality of the composite materials to be information-aware. Composite panels are outfitted with networks of self-contained wireless sensor modules which can detect damage in composite materials via active nondestructive testing techniques. The wireless sensor modules will communicate with one another and with a central processing unit to convey the sensor data while also maintaining robustness and the ability to self-reconfigure in the event that a module fails. Ultimately, this research seeks to create an idealized network that is compact in size, cost efficient, and optimized for low power consumption while providing a sufficient data transfer rate to a local host.
Molecules of Madness

My professional life over five decades meandered from a high school ambition to be a psychiatrist and understand the "mind" to biochemical studies of neurotransmitters and drugs. Hopefully, the tale of my quirky impatient curiosity about "too many" different areas will be useful for young scientists embarking on their own careers.
Lower bounds on the independence number in terms of the degrees

Abstract Wei discovered that the independence number of a graph G is at least Σv(1 + d(v))−1. It is proved here that if G is a connected triangle-free graph on n ≥ 3 vertices and if G is neither an odd cycle nor an odd path, then the bound above can be increased by n Δ(Δ + 1) , where Δ is the maximum degree. This new bound is sharp for even cycles and for three other graphs. These results relate nicely to some algorithms for finding large independent sets. They also have a natural matrix theory interpretation. A survey of other known lower bounds on the independence number is presented.
POTASSIUM-TITANYL-PHOSPHATE LASER LAPAROSCOPIC PARTIAL NEPHRECTOMY WITHOUT HILAR CLAMPING IN THE SURVIVAL CALF MODEL

ABSTRACTPurpose: Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) with hilar clamping represents the various challenges associated with warm ischemia. We tested the feasibility, and acute and chronic outcomes of LPN using a potassium-titanyl-phosphate (KTP) laser without vascular hilar clamping in the survival calf model.Materials and Methods: Six Jersey calves weighing 76 to 94 kg underwent a total of 12 staged bilateral transperitoneal laser LPNs of the mid/lower pole using an 80 W KTP laser, including left kidney chronic LPN with 1-month followup in 6 and right kidney acute LPN with immediate sacrifice in 6. Two techniques (ablative vaporization in 5 subjects and wedge resection in 7) were evaluated. Renal parenchymal resection and hemostasis were achieved only with the laser without any adjunctive hemostatic sutures or bioadhesives. Retrograde pyelography, renal arteriography and histological analyses were performed.Results: All 12 procedures were successful performed laparoscopically without open conversion an...
Electron energy‐loss spectra in molecular fluorine

Electron energy‐loss spectra in molecular fluorine, for energy losses from 0 to 17.0 eV, have been taken at incident electron energies of 30, 50, and 90 eV and scattering angles from 5° to 140°. Features in the spectra above 11.5 eV energy loss agree well with the assignments recently made from optical spectroscopy. Excitations of many of the eleven repulsive valence excited electronic states are observed and their location correlates reasonably well with recent theoretical results. Several of these excitations have been observed for the first time and four features for which there are no identification appear in the spectra.
Relations between nicotine-induced convulsive behavior and blood and brain levels of nicotine as a function of sex and age in two inbred strains of mice.

Abstract Nicotine levels in blood and whole brain were measured as a function of sex and age in C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice and compared to the behavioral responses following an intraperitoneal injection of nicotine. The results indicate that blood levels of nicotine alone do not accurately predict either brain levels of nicotine or the behavioral responses to a single injection of nicotine. It general, brain levels of nicotine proved to be a fairly accurate predictor of the behavioral responses to nicotine. The data indicate that the sexes differ in their sensitivity to nicotine. Forty-two-day-old male mice of both strains given comparable doses of nicotine were found to concentrate the drug in the brain more than females. However, there was no corresponding increase in sensitivity to this increased brain concentration as measured by LD50, ED50, latency to tremor or latency to death.
The Universal Basic Education (UBE) Programme and the Development of School Libraries in Nigeria: A Catalyst for Greater Female Participation in National Development

Nigeria was given a very low rating in human development by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for the year 2002. This is due partly to the patriarchal nature of Nigeria, which emphasizes male education more than that of the female. The result is that fewer educated women than men are available to contribute to national development activities. The recent introduction of the Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme by the Federal Government is seen as a catalyst which will result in greater female participation in national development. The scheme sets out specifically to redress the gender imbalance which has been evident in the Nigerian educational landscape. The provision of standard multimedia school libraries will help schools to produce a more educated citizenry in Nigeria. This will enable Nigeria to achieve a more balanced contribution of both men and women to national development activities and hence improve the country’s human development rating internationally.