cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effects of chronic lithium chloride administration on complex schedule performance, activity, and water intake in the albino rat

In an attempt to examine the behavioral effects of lithium, rats were trained on a multiple schedule consisting of fixed-ratio, fixed-interval, and time-out extinction requirements, and were subjected to lithium chloride in doses of 1.5, 2.5, and 3.0 meq/kg/day administered for 15 days at a time. The performance on the 5 days preceding the drug was compared to the performance on the last 5 days of lithium treatment. While there was a significant increase in water consumption in the two higher dose groups, there was little effect on the schedule performance of the 2.5 meq/kg dose group and no effect upon the activity of any group. The 3.0 meq/kg dose tended to result in prolongation of the postreinforcement pauses on the fixed-ratio portions of the schedule and to truncate the fixed-interval response curve.
Loss of heterozygosity and tumor suppressor activity of Bin1 in prostate carcinoma.

The genetic events underlying the development of prostate cancer are poorly defined. c-Myc is often activated in tumors that have progressed to metastatic status, so events that promote this process may be important. Bin1 is a nucleocytoplasmic adaptor protein with features of a tumor suppressor that was identified through its ability to interact with and inhibit malignant transformation by c-Myc. We investigated a role for Bin1 loss or inactivation in prostate cancer because the human Bin1 gene is located at chromosome 2q14 within a region that is frequently deleted in metastatic prostate cancer but where no tumor suppressor candidate has been located. A novel polymorphic microsatellite marker located within intron 5 of the human Bin1 gene was used to demonstrate loss of heterozygosity and coding alteration in 40% of informative cases of prostate neoplasia examined. RNA and immunohistochemical analyses indicated that Bin1 was expressed in most primary tumors, even at slightly elevated levels relative to benign tissues, but that it was frequently missing or inactivated by aberrant splicing in metastatic tumors and androgen-independent tumor cell lines. Ectopic expression of Bin1 suppressed the growth of prostate cancer lines in vitro. Our findings support the candidacy of Bin1 as the chromosome 2q prostate tumor suppressor gene. Int. J. Cancer 86:155–161, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Effects of Sexual Sensation Seeking and Alcohol Use on Risky Sexual Behavior Among Men Who Have Sex with Men

Men who have sex with men (MSM) remain most at risk for developing HIV infection. The best prevention in this population is to identify risk factors associated with unprotected sex. Recent research suggests that sexual sensation seeking (SSS) and level of average drinking moderates the relationship between drinking alcohol in the context of sex and risky sexual behavior in a young MSM population (ages 16–20 years). Current study is an exploratory analysis using multilevel modeling to examine if these results are consistent across a MSM population with a wider range of ages who are also heavy drinkers. Participants (n = 181) included MSM (ages 18–75 years) from a longitudinal clinical research trial. Results indicate that MSM with higher SSS were more likely to have unprotected anal sex if they drank alcohol 3 h prior to sex than those who did not, (OR = 1.07; 95 % CI 1.03–1.12). There was no significant interaction effect for average levels of drinking.
URCA Shells in Dense Stellar Interiors

Thermal and vibrational energy losses due to URCA shells in stellar interiors are calculated. Analytic expressions are derived for semidegenerate, relativistic electrons. Results are given for more general cases calculated with a computer. The calculations are carried out for a large number of nuclei that may contribute to URCA energy losses in various stages of stellar evolution. An illustration is given of the cooling and vibrational damping of a white dwarf. For a central Fermi energy ≳5 MeV, the internal temperature of the star should be reduced to the order of 106 K and the relative vibrational amplitude should be reduced to the order of 10−5 on a time scale of 109 yr. URCA shells are present, the URCA neutrino energy loss dominates in the temperature region up to about 2×109 K.
HIV Transmission by HIV-Infected Women Using Hormonal Contraception

This letter to the editor argues that no longer recommending hormonal contraception (HC) to HIV-infected women because of concern for increased risk of transmission to uninfected sexual partners would be an unfortunate choice for providers. It states that it is imperative that HIV-infected women have access to the best contraception services as non-infected women to reduce the high rate of unintended pregnancy.
Focal enhancement of motor cortex excitability during motor imagery: a transcranial magnetic stimulation study.

Objectives – In order to learn more about the physiology of the motor cortex during motor imagery, we evaluated the changes in excitability of two different hand muscle representations in the primary motor cortex (M1) of both hemispheres during two imagery conditions. Materials and methods – We applied focal transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over each M1, recording motor evoked potentials (MEPs) from the contralateral abductor pollicis brevis (APB) and first dorsal interosseus (FDI) muscles during rest, imagery of contralateral thumb abduction (C-APB), and imagery of ipsilateral thumb abduction (I-APB). We obtained measures of motor threshold (MT), MEP recruitment curve (MEP-rc) and F waves. Results – Motor imagery compared with rest significantly decreased the MT and increased MEPs amplitude at stimulation intensities clearly above MT in condition C-APB, but not in condition I-APB. These effects were not significantly different between right and left hemisphere. MEPs simultaneously recorded from the FDI, which was not involved in the task, did not show facilitatory effects. There were no significant changes in F wave amplitude during motor imagery compared with rest. Conclusions – Imagery of unilateral simple movements is associated with increased excitability only of a highly specific representation in the contralateral M1 and does not differ between hemispheres.
The earth radiation budget experiment (ERBE) 15-year data set

The availability of a 15-year data set of radiative fluxes from the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) allows us to investigate the interannual variability of top-of-the-atmosphere (TOA) outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) and reflected shortwave radiation (SWR). Variance maps and empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis are used to describe temporal and spatial patterns of variability.
DESIGN AND OPERATION OF A FLUIDIZED BED REACTOR MINI-PILOT PLANT FOR GASOLINE SYNTHESIS

Abstract MethanoI-to-Gasoline (MTG) process is an excellent process which produces aromatics-rich gasoline from methanol over the ZSM-5 catalyst. The methanol feed in this process is usually derived from coal or natural gas based syngas. The dehydration of methanol to dimethyl ether (DME) is a key intermediate step in converting methanol into gasoline. The substitution of syngas-to-methanol step in the MTG process by the direct one stage conversion of syngas-to-DME is thus a very attractive option. This substitution is particularly justified on the basis of the fact that DME results in virtually identical hydrocarbon product distribution as methanol. Synthesis of gasoline via this direct DME route has several significant advantages over the MTG process, in the areas of product yield, selectivity, overall syngas conversion, exothermicity, and reactor size. The conceptual advantages of this DME-to-gasoline (DTG) process can be demonstrated in a laboratory scale fluidized bed gasoline synthesis unit. This pa...
Content of Special Education Teacher Preparation Are We Headed in the Right Direction

This article represents an effort to examine the content of special education teacher-training programs in relationship to the changing role and function of special educators. This investigation involved a national survey of special education undergraduate and graduate programs on the relative amount of emphasis placed on (a) preschool, primary, adolescent, and adult populations and (b) 11 content areas. While the data reveal no significant differences with regard to the four pupil populations, rankings for the 11 content areas were significantly different across university educational levels (i.e,, undergraduate and graduate programs). Implications for training special education personnel are discussed.
Heavy particle production in high energy hadron collisions

We consider the problem of how to compute the cross section for producing heavy strongly interacting particles (quarks, gluinos, squarks …) in high-energy hadron collisions, supposing that the heavy particle masses are large compared to 1 GeV. We use heavy quark production as an example. We consider several low-order graphs in the kinematic region expected to produce the bulk of the total production cross section. Based on the structure of the low-order graphs, we argue that the cross section can be reliably computed in QCD by using the same factorization formula that is used for jet production and W and Z production, but inserting the appropriate parton level cross sections for the heavy particle production. We emphasize that an analysis at all orders of perturbation theory is needed to reliably establish this conjecture.
Parental anxiety due to abnormal behaviour following withdrawal of sedation

Abnormal behaviour has been previously reported on withdrawal of sedation in critically-ill children. This description of a child who had prolonged withdrawal symptoms lasting almost 2 weeks includes a report on his parent's comments in relation to the anxiety they felt while he was behaving abnormally. Health professionals need to be aware of the severe nature of this withdrawal reaction and its effect on the parents.
Charge Transport Analysis in Two-Phase Composite Dielectric Systems

Analyses of unipolar charge transport phenomena in series, two-region composite dielectric systems are presented for planar, coaxial cylindrical, and concentric spherical electrode geometries. Space charge limited condition is applied at the charge emitting electrode for steady state and transient. Method of characteristics is used to convert the governing partial differential equations into a set of ordinary differential equations that allow analytical solutions as functions of time and space for volume and interfacial surface charge densities, charge trajectories, electric field intensity, and voltage drop across the electrodes. Solutions given in this paper can be used in design of high-voltage capacitors, pulsed-power transmission lines, and other apparatus. These solutions have also been used as a way of gaining confidence in the correctness and accuracy of our charge transport and prebreakdown models in two-phase insulation systems.
Use of saturable absorber dyes for self-starting operation of a self-mode-locked Ti:Al2O3 laser

Extremely stable and self-starting operation of a self-mode-locked Ti:Al2O3 laser can be achieved by incorporating a jet of dilute saturable absorber in the laser resonator. We have demonstrated a laser which generates pulses as short as 47 fs, with 700 mW average power near 800 nm when pumped by 7 W from an all-lines argon laser. A mixture of saturable absorber dyes starts the mode-locking process but does not restrict the tuning range of the laser. Pulses less than 100 fs in duration are generated at wavelengths between 700 nm and 900 nm with two sets of optics. Pulses of 100 fs from this laser have been compressed to 26 fs with standard fibre-prism techniques.
Blood flow quantification of the human retina with MRI.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of measuring blood flow to the retina using arterial spin labeling MRI, a quantitative, noninvasive tomographic technique. Blood flow imaging was performed in a single axial slice through both eyes of five healthy volunteers with no history of retinal diseases. The imaging was optimized to minimize the errors from motion and nonuniform magnetic fields caused by proximity to the sinuses. Key hemodynamic factors for flow quantification, including arterial transit delay and the apparent decay time of the signal, were estimated by repeated measurements with different arterial spin labeling timing. A clearly elevated signal, consistent with the anatomical location of the retina, was observed in all subjects. The measured blood flow to a 1 cm × 1.47 cm section of the retina, centered on the fovea, was 1.75 ± 0.54 µL/mm2/min (total blood flow of 261 ± 87 µL/min). The arterial transit delay from a labeling plane 5 cm below the slice was 1137 ± 288 ms. These results establish the feasibility of measuring blood flow to the retina with MRI, and support the future characterization of the healthy and diseased ocular circulation with this method. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sildenafil attenuates vaso-obliteration and neovascularization in a mouse model of retinopathy of prematurity.

PURPOSE We sought to determine the effect of sildenafil on retinal vascular changes in a mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR). METHODS Vascular defects in OIR mice were quantified by measuring vaso-obliteration at postnatal days 12 and 17 (P12 and P17) and neovascularization at P17 to compare sildenafil-treated to dextrose-treated OIR mice. Retinal HIF1α protein expression was quantified by Western blotting and normalized to that of β-actin. Right ventricular hypertrophy was measured by Fulton's index as a surrogate for hyperoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension. RESULTS At P12, OIR mice treated with sildenafil demonstrated a 24% reduction in vaso-obliteration (P < 0.05), whereas at P17, treated animals showed a 50% reduction in neovascularization (P < 0.05) compared to dextrose-treated controls. Sildenafil-treated OIR mice had stabilization of retinal HIF1α at P12, immediately after hyperoxia. At P17, sildenafil-treated OIR mice had decreased HIF1α relative to untreated mice. OIR mice developed right ventricle hypertrophy that was significant compared to that in room air controls, which was abrogated by sildenafil. CONCLUSIONS Sildenafil treatment significantly decreased retinal vaso-obliteration and neovascularization in a mouse OIR model. These effects are likely due to sildenafil-induced HIF1α stabilization during hyperoxia exposure. Furthermore, we confirm disease overlap by showing that OIR mice also develop hyperoxia-induced right ventricular hypertrophy, which is prevented by sildenafil. This study is a first step toward delineating a potential therapeutic role for sildenafil in OIR and further suggests that there may be common pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying hyperoxia-induced retinal and pulmonary vascular disease.
Separation of DNA restriction fragments by high performance capillary electrophoresis with low and zero crosslinked polyacrylamide using continuous and pulsed electric fields.

This paper presents results on the separation of DNA restriction fragments by high performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE). Capillaries containing polyacryl- amide with low amounts of crosslinking agent (i.e. 0.5% C) were first studied. The greater molecular accessibility offered with columns of low crosslinking, relative to higher crosslinked gels (e.g. 5%C), permitted high efficiency separations of double stranded DNA fragments up to 12 000 base pairs in length. Capillaries containing no crosslinking agent, i.e. linear polyacrylamide, were then examined. Ferguson plots (i.e. log mobility vs. %T) were used to assess the size selectivity of linear polyacryl- amide capillaries. In another study, it was determined that the relative migration of DNA species was a strong function of applied electric field and molecular size. Lower fields yielded better resolution than higher fields for DNA molecules larger than about 1000 base pairs, albeit at the expense of longer separation time. Based on these results, we have examined pulsed field HPCE and have demonstrated the use of this approach to enhance separation.
Renal colic, a presenting symptom of pelviureteric varices.

A case of renal colic secondary to varicosities of pelviureteric veins is reported. The diagnosis of this relatively rare condition is discussed.
Influences of water depth and substrate nitrogen on leaf surface area and maximum bed extension in Nymphaea odorata

Abstract Relationships among water depth, substrate nitrogen, and leaf surface area in the floating-leaved macrophyte Nymphaea odorata Aiton (fragrant waterlily) were studied in seven ponds in Rhode Island, USA. Beds of N. odorata in ponds that varied three- to seven-fold in depth, total area, water-column phosphorus and nitrogen, transparency, and chlorophyll content grew to strikingly similar water depth maxima (1.9–2.2 m; coefficient of variation 5%) suggesting a significant effect of water depth on N. odorata growth. Surface areas of leaves growing within N. odorata beds were not influenced by water depth, yet leaves growing at the pondward perimeter of beds were up to 74% larger than mid-bed leaves. Water depth was not significantly correlated with the mean surface area of these bed-edge leaves ( r = 0.28, P > 0.05) but 71% of the variance in surface area of mid-bed and bed-edge leaves was accounted for by the concentration of ammonium-nitrogen in the corresponding substrates ( R 2 = 0.71, P N. odorata was also related to pond trophic state, probably as a result of the inherent linkage between trophic state and nutrient dynamics. We conclude that both water depth and substrate nitrogen are instrumental in limiting growth of N. odorata .
Corpus callosum shape analysis with application to dyslexia

Morphometric studies of the corpus callosum suggest its involvement in a number of psychiatric conditions. In the present study we introduce a novel pattern recognition technique that offers a point-bypoint shape descriptor of the corpus callosum. The method uses arc lengths of electric field lines in order to avoid discontinuities caused by folding anatomical contours. We tested this technique by comparing the shape of the corpus callosum in a series of dyslexic men (n = 16) and age-matched controls (n = 14). The results indicate a generalized increase in size of the corpus callosum in dyslexia with a concomitant diminution at its rostral and caudal poles. The reported shape analysis and 2D-reconstruction provide information of anatomical importance that would otherwise passed unnoticed when analyzing size information alone.
Characterization Of In-Plane Wafer Distortion In An N-Channel Metal Oxide Semiconductor (NMOS) Production Process

This study reports the extent of wafer distortion at different stages in a standard NMOS production process and the residual distortion after linear correction. Measured with Manufacturing Electron Beam Exposure System (MEBES), the statistical normal distributions of the distortion at the edge of a 3 inch wafer are: 0.14 ±0.21 μm (2σ) after oxide and nitride, 0.22 ±0.24 μm after field oxidation, 0.43 ±0.30 μm after polysilicon deposition, 0.44 ±0.37 μm after pyroglass and 0.11 ±0.35 μm after aluminum evaporation. These results show the erratic response of the wafers to the production process: e.g., the wafer expansion ranges from 0.13 μm to 0.73 μm after polysilicon deposition. By applying a linear correction to these distortions wafer by wafer, the ±2σ residual distortion is less than ±0.25 μm, which is the accuracy of this measurement technique.
The nature of hand motor impairment after stroke and its treatment

Hand motor impairments may be viewed as 1) a deficit in motor execution, resulting from weakness, spasticity, and abnormal muscle synergies, and/or 2) a deficit in higher-order processes, such as motor planning and motor learning, which lead to poorly formed sensorimotor associations that lead to impaired motor control. Although weakness and spasticity impede motor execution, strengthening and tone reduction represent simplistic solutions to the deficit in motor control after stroke. Deficits in hand motor control are better appreciated by examining the coordination of fingertip forces and movements during natural movements, and suggest that impairments in motor learning and planning are fundamental impediments to motor recovery following stroke. However, despite an explosion in the number of therapeutic protocols based on the principles of motor learning, little is known about the types of motor learning impairment that occur after stroke and how lesion location may influence motor relearning.
A micromolded connector for reconfigurable millirobots

We have developed a micromolded connector for applications such as folded millirobots where reusability, low engaged profile and rapid assembly are required. Using laser micromachining and micromolding techniques, the microconnector is formed with a manufacturing process that can be integrated with the rapid prototyping of the millirobots. The microconnector engages through shear in one direction while forming a strong connection in orthogonal directions, with an engaged thickness of 200 µm. The microconnectors have been shown to be strong in the shear and normal pull-off directions with strengths of 42 and 27 N cm−2, respectively, as well as being robust to shear failure, maintaining over 65% of their strength after being run to failure ten times. Due to the anisotropic property of the microconnector, it can also be rapidly engaged and disengaged repeatedly in the release direction without degrading the connector strength. The microconnectors have also been successfully integrated into various millirobots for quick appendage changes, showing their applicability to millirobots.
When Life Hands You Lemons: Overcoming Obstacles to Expand Services in an Embedded Librarian Program

ABSTRACT Having launched a pilot program of embedding librarians in faculty Blackboard courses, a team of university regional campus librarians reviewed their library services to faculty teaching online, off-campus, and traditional courses, and returned for Round 2. Just as the library services offered in this collaborative effort were taking off, conditions worsened. A storm of staff reductions, budget cuts, and administrative reorganization hit. Despite the climate of uncertainty and challenges, the embedded librarians persevered as they are convinced of the value of collaborating with faculty in Blackboard as active academic research consultants to further students’ information literacy skills. Project Information Literacy's findings validate this strategic solution. Consequently, the embedded librarians assessed users and implemented sustaining practices to the program to maximize its impact. Moving in the right direction is essential and doable, no matter the difficulties.
Self- and N2-broadened spectra of water vapor between 7.5 and 14.5 μm☆

Abstract Self- and N 2 -broadened absorption spectra of water vapor have been measured in the infrared between 7.5 and 14.5 μm at 294, 311, 333 and 339 K. The so-called continuum aspect of the observed absorption coefficients is interpreted in terms of existing theoretical models.
Characterization of aerobic azo dye-degrading bacteria and their activity in biofilms

An azo dye-degrading strain, originally named TBX65, was isolated from the mixed liquor of the Mill Creek waste water treatment plant in Cincinnati, Ohio. Strain TBX65 has the unusual ability to aerobically reduce the azo bond of several azo dyes and is able to use some of these dyes as growth substrate. Subsequent investigations have revealed that TBX65 is actually composed of several strains including two azo dye-degrading strains, MC1 and MI2. Strain MI2 is able to use the azo dyes AO7 and AO8 as its sole source of carbon, energy, and nitrogen. In contrast, MC1 can aerobically reduce the azo bond of these dyes but only in the presence of an exogenous source of carbon and nitrogen. Both MC1 and MI2 are Gram negative, rod-shaped bacteria that form yellow colonies. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene of MC1 indicates that it is a strain of Sphingomonas . Based on this phylogenetic analysis, the most closely related strain to MC1 is strain C7, a previously described azo dye-degrading bacterium isolated from biofilms growing in our laboratories. A strain-specific fluorescent antibody has been developed for strains MC1 and MI2, and is being used to determine the survival and azo dye-degrading ability of these strains in biofilms generated in a rotating drum bioreactor.
Pharmacokinetics of the potent redox-modulating manganese porphyrin, MnTE-2-PyP5+, in plasma and major organs of B6C3F1 mice

Mn(III) tetrakis(N-ethylpyridinium-2-yl)porphyrin, MnTE-2-PyP(5+), a potent catalytic superoxide and peroxynitrite scavenger, has been beneficial in several oxidative stress-related diseases thus far examined. Pharmacokinetic studies are essential for the better assessment of the therapeutic potential of MnTE-2-PyP(5+) and similar compounds, as well as for the modulation of their bioavailability and toxicity. Despite high hydrophilicity, this drug entered mitochondria after a single 10 mg/kg intraperitoneal injection at levels high enough (5.1 muM; 2.95 ng/mg protein) to protect against superoxide/peroxynitrite damage. Utilizing the same analytical approach, which involves the reduction of MnTE-2-PyP(5+) followed by the exchange of Mn(2+) with Zn(2+) and HPLC/fluorescence detection of ZnTE-2-PyP(4+), we measured levels of MnTE-2-PyP(5+) in mouse plasma, liver, kidney, lung, heart, spleen, and brain over a period of 7 days after a single intraperitoneal injection of 10 mg/kg. Two B6C3F1 female mice per time point were used. The pharmacokinetic profile in plasma and organs was complex; thus a noncompartmental approach was utilized to calculate the area under the curve, c(max), t(max), and drug elimination half-time (t(1/2)). In terms of levels of MnTE-2-PyP(5+) found, the organs can be classified into three distinct groups: (1) high levels (kidney, liver, and spleen), (2) moderate levels (lung and heart), and (3) low levels (brain). The maximal levels in plasma, kidney, spleen, lung, and heart are reached within 45 min, whereas in the case of liver a prolonged absorption phase was observed, with the maximal concentration reached at 8 h. Moreover, accumulation of the drug in brain continued beyond the time of the experiment (7 days) and is likely to be driven by the presence of negatively charged phospholipids. For tissues other than brain, a slow elimination phase (single exponential decay, t(1/2)=60 to 135 h) was observed. The calculated pharmacokinetic parameters will be used to design optimal dosing regimens in future preclinical studies utilizing this and similar compounds.
Poliomyelitis outbreak caused by vaccine-derived virus in Haiti and the Dominican Republic

In October 2000, the Ministries of Health of the Dominican Republic and Haiti notified two cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) in rural areas, one of them in a 9-month-old female, and the other in a 2-year-old female, respectively. Stool samples that were obtained from these cases, which occurred in July and August 2000, after a 9-year interruption of wild poliovirus circulation in the Western Hemisphere, revealed the presence of type 1 poliovirus. Genetic sequencing, which was later performed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America, revealed an atypical descendant of the virus used in the manufacture of the oral polio vaccine (OPV), but with 3% genetic divergence with respect to the parent strain. Normally, viral isolates that derive from vaccine components show 99.5% genetic agreement with the parent strain; in wild polioviruses, on the other hand, this agreement is usually less than 82.0%. Thus, the 3% genetic divergence detected in this study suggests that, in areas with low vaccine coverage, the virus used in the vaccine remained in circulation for at least two years, during which it recovered the neurovirulence and communicability of wild poliovirus type 1. This report describes the characteristics and results of the active search for cases of AFP that was sparked by the detection of the two index cases. It also looks at the public health implications of this outbreak for the entire Region of the Americas.
Plantation rubber in the new world

The exigencies of the recent war induced the establishment of rubber plantations in the New World, of which there may now be 30,000 acres in the Island of Haiti, Mexico, Central America and northern South America.
Pertuzumab : evolving therapeutic strategies in the management of HER2-overexpressing breast cancer.

Introduction: HER2 overexpression or amplification is present in approximately one-fifth of breast cancers and historically was associated with aggressive disease and poorer prognosis. The introduction of the humanized monoclonal antibody trastuzumab dramatically improved disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in this subgroup. As the majority of patients with metastatic disease ultimately develop resistance to trastuzumab, a need exists for more effective targeted therapies. Pertuzumab is an anti-HER2/neu-targeted therapy in the late stages of clinical development. The combination of pertuzumab, trastuzumab and docetaxel has been found to have an OS benefit in patients with HER2 positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) when used in the first-line setting. This reflects a new standard of care, and pertuzumab was recently approved for this indication by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The efficacy of pertuzumab and trastuzumab in conjunction with chemotherapy is currently being evalua...
PS1-07: PSA Test Use in Primary Care.

Background/AimsSome professional organizations advocate for PSA testing to screen for prostate cancer while others recommend against it. Regardless of position, each advocates for consideration of individual risk factors and for patients to consult with their physician when deciding. We describe men’s use of PSA testing around the time of a periodic health examination (PHE), whether test use varies by patient risk factor status, and the extent to which PSA testing occurs following patient-physician discussion of PSA testing, prostate cancer, or both.MethodsPhysician and patient subjects were enrolled in an observational study of patient-physician decision making in primary care. Physicians were salaried, general internal and family medicine physicians. Patients were insured, aged 50–80 years, without a history of prostate cancer, and due for colorectal cancer screening at the time of an audio-recorded office visit between 2007–2009. Office visit recordings were joined with data from pre-visit patient surveys and automated laboratory data for the 6 prior and 8 subsequent weeks. Content of patient-physician discussions was coded with a structured coding worksheet (mean Cohen’s Kappa = 0.77). Generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate associations among patient-physician screening-related talk, patient risk factors, and PSA use.ResultsAmong N=161 study-eligible men, just over half (53%) presented with at least one risk factor: 11.2% family history; 29.2% aged 65+; and 21.2% black. Eighty-one percent used PSA testing around the time of their PHE (8.3% prior and 72.7% subsequent to visit). Test use did not differ significantly by risk factor status: family history, 94.4% vs. no family history, 79.4%, (p=0.13); aged 65+, 85.1% vs. aged <65, 79.8% (p=0.39); and blacks, 76.5% vs. whites, 82.7%(p=0.49). Prostate cancer, PSA testing, or both was mentioned during 82% of visits: 34.8% mentioned prostate cancer and 79.5% PSA testing. Among men tested subsequent to visit, these percents were 92.9%, 35.0% and 89.3%, respectively.DiscussionPSA testing is common among men who schedule a PHE, regardless of risk factor status. Furthermore, 7% of men who receive PSA testing subsequent to their PHE, do so in absence of any mention of prostate cancer or PSA screening during the visit.
Long-term trends in maximum size of sport-caught chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha): a data-analytic approach to weights of first-prize fish in four southeastern alaska salmon derbies

Abstract Weights of first-prize chinook salmon vary with time in four competitive, pulsed Southeastern Alaska recreational fisheries. In the long-established Juneau (1947-present) and Ketchikan (1948-present) derbies, weights of winning fish decrease at average rates of 0.22 and 0.13 kg year −1 . Sitka (1956-present) and Haines (1972-present) fish exhibit no demonstrable overall size trend. Exploratory analysis of the derby data indicates additional variation over time. The analysis illustrates fisheries research applications of recent exploratory and graphical data analysis methods, including residual analysis, robust regression, and lowess scatterplot smoothing.
Pulmonary Cryptococcosis in Patients Without HIV Infection

Purpose To further elucidate the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis who are not HIV-infected. Subjects All of the patients without HIV infection who received care at two Midwest hospitals between January 1986 and February 1996 and had a respiratory isolate of Cryptococcus neoformans. Methods The medical records of the study patients were reviewed for demographic data, host immune status, respiratory symptoms, diagnostic studies, treatment, and follow-up. Results Forty-two patient presentations comprised the overall study group. Thirty-six patients (85.7%) had no evidence of dissemination, and six patients (14.3%) had disseminated disease. Seven of the 36 patient presentations were definitive pulmonary cryptococcosis, 15 were presumptive disease, and 14 were colonization with C neoformans. Neither the baseline demographic parameters nor the immune status appeared to discriminate the patients with disease from the patients with colonization. A serum cryptococcal antigen (sCRAG) was positive for 7 of 18 patients, 3 of whom were proven by culture to have a disseminated infection. A negative sCRAG was observed in 11 patients, one of whom had proven dissemination. Fifteen patients underwent a lumbar puncture as part of their evaluation, and cryptococcal meningitis was diagnosed in three of these patients, all of whom had positive blood cultures for C neoformans. The majority of the patients did not receive antifungal therapy. Conclusion In the majority of the patients, the lung appeared to be the sole organ involved, and a workup for systemic infection was rarely helpful. A positive sCRAG was not specific for dissemination. Antifungal therapy should be reserved for symptomatic patients, for patients with a positive sCRAG, and for patients with underlying immunosuppression.
Abstract IA14: Novel therapeutic targets in prostate cancer

Abstract Recurrent fusions of ETS genes are considered driving mutations in a diverse array of cancers, including Ewing9s sarcoma, acute myeloid leukemia, and prostate cancer. We investigate the mechanisms by which ETS fusions mediate their effects, and find that the product of the predominant ETS gene fusion, TMPRSS2:ERG, interacts in a NA-independent manner with the enzyme poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) and the catalytic subunit of DNA protein kinase (DNAPKcs). ETS gene-mediated transcription and cell invasion require PARP1 and DNAPKcs expression and activity. Importantly, pharmacological inhibition of PARP1 inhibits ETS-positive, but not ETS-negative, prostate cancer xenograft growth. Finally, overexpression of the TMPRSS2:ERG fusion induces DNA damage, which is potentiated by PARP1 inhibition in a manner similar to that of BRCA1/2 deficiency. Citation Format: Arul M. Chinnaiyan. Novel therapeutic targets in prostate cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Prostate Cancer Research; 2012 Feb 6-9; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(4 Suppl):Abstract nr IA14.
Information for Clinical Social Work Practice: A Potential Solution

The field of social work requires knowledgeable, skilled and self-confident professionals. We assume that many of these social workers will have less than optimal access to professionally relevant information, within and outside of their workplaces. We also assume that they, like others searching for information, will have a limited set of search skills yet will want to obtain the information for practice they need as easily as possible. Finally, we assume they will continue turning to the Internet to access relevant information. This paper describes Information for Practice (IP), an Internet service designed for social work practitioners based on these assumptions. Data regarding use of this service are presented.
Comparison of Personality Characteristics of Physical Education and Recreation Majors, and Factors which Affect Career Choice.

This study examined the personality characteristics of physical education and recreation majors, and ascertained why some students choose one over the other. Forty-nine physical education and recreation majors were administered Holland's Self-directed Search. A 2 × 3 fixed-factorial design was employed, sex and major plus a control group were independent variables. Both 24 recreation and 25 physical education majors were alike in the personality profiles and were very similar to recreation and physical education professionals already in the field. Significant differences were found on secondary, less dominant characteristics which may contribute to selection of a specialization area.
Successful treatment of optic neuropathy in association with systemic lupus erythematosus using intravenous cyclophosphamide

BACKGROUND Optic neuropathy is a rare manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In a previous series most patients with optic neuropathy in association with SLE had a final visual acuity of 20/200 or less despite corticosteroid therapy. METHODS Three patients (five affected eyes) with severe retrobulbar optic neuropathy in association with SLE were treated promptly with intravenous cyclophosphamide and corticosteroids. RESULTS All patients recovered excellent visual acuity. CONCLUSION Although optic neuropathy in association with SLE might have several different aetiologies, intravenous cyclophosphamide should be strongly considered as a therapeutic alternative.
Environment-Neuroendocrine Interactions in the Control of Amphibian Metamorphosis

The profound morphological changes which occur during amphibian metamorphosis are controlled by thyroid hormone, the production of which is regulated by the ncurocndocrine system. Attempts to identify neurohormones which control the tadpole thyroid axis have focussed on the tripcptide thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). However, exogenous TRH does not influence the rate of metamorphosis or stimulate the release of thyrotropic activity (TSH) by tadpole pituitaries in vitro. We found that corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is a potent stimulator of the thyroid axis in tadpoles and this led us to hypothesize that CRH may function as a common neuroregulator of thyroid and interrenal activity during metamorphosis (DENVER & LICHT, 1989). We and others have since demonstrated that injection of CRH-like peptides accelerates metamorphosis in several amphibian species and elevates whole body concentrations of corticosterone, thyroxine and triiodothyronine. Conversely, treatment with anti-CRH serum or a CRH receptor antagonist blocks or slows metamorphosis. Expression of the CRH gene is correlated with thyroid hormone production and morphogenesis. The activity of CRH neurons is extremely sensitive to fluctuations in the environment, and changes in the larval habitat can influence the rate of morphogennesis. We have evidence that CRH is involved in the acceleration of metamorphosis in a toad which undergoes rapid development in response to habitat desiccation. This response can be replicated in the laboratory, and treatment of tadpoles with CRH receptor antagonist blocks this response. The CRH neuron may function as a transducer of environmental information (e.g., environmental 'stress') during development and allow tadpoles to assess habitat quality and alter their rate of development accordingly.
Robust elasticity imaging using external tracker

The potential of ultrasound elasticity imaging (USEI) have been shown in numerous medical applications especially in detection and diagnosis of cancer. However, the widespread use of this imaging technique in clinical setups is limited by its dependency to the user expertise. Insufficient skill in freehand palpation of the tissue easily translates into poor quality of the images. In this paper, the synchronized data from an external tracker is employed to reduce this dependency and to increase the overall quality of the images. Based on the information from the external tracker, pairs of RF frames suitable for USEI are selected from the pool of incoming RF sequences. The selection of RF frames is tuned to match the known properties of the underlying elasticity estimation technique. Experiments on breast phantom are carried to evaluate the performance of the proposed method.
Echocardiographic Assessment of Left Ventricular Outflow Width in the Selection of Mitral Valve Prosthesis

Assessment of left ventricular outflow tract (LVO) width was made from preoperative mitral valve echocardiograms in 26 patients with pure or predominant mitral stenosis who later had valve replacement. LVO width was measured as the minimum space between the ventricular septal echo and the anterior mitral leaflet at beginning systole. Prosthesis encroachment on LVO (PE) was estimated by comparing the length of the poppet expected to protrude into the LVO in systole with LVO width determined by ultrasound (poppet length/LVO width x 100). Group 1 (12 patients) had normal LVO widths (≥20 mm) and received Starr-Edwards prostheses. There was one in-hospital death in this group. Group 2 (seven patients) had narrow LVO (<20 mm) and also received Starr-Edwards prostheses. Five patients died, four of them due to low cardiac output syndrome. Group 3 (seven patients) also had narrow LVO, but Cross-Jones disc prostheses were used. Only one died. The high mortality in Group 2 appears to be related to obstruction of LVO by the caged ball prosthesis; PE in this group ranged from 60% to 80% while it was less than 50% in all but two patients in Group 1. A low profile prosthesis appears desirable when the LVO width measures <20 mm by echocardiography.
Carbon substrate utilization, antibiotic sensitivity, and numerical taxonomy of bacterial isolates from the Great Salt Plains of Oklahoma

The current work extends the phenotypic characterization of a bacterial culture collection from the Great Salt Plains of Oklahoma. This barren expanse of mud flats is typically crusted with thalassohaline salt evaporites. The initial account of the aerobic heterotrophic bacteria from the Great Salt Plains described 105 halotolerant isolates that represented 47 phylotypes. Extensive phenotypic analyses were performed on 76 isolates representing 37 unique phylotypes. The current report extends these observations for 60 of the isolates by measuring a wider set of phenotypic characteristics. Utilization patterns for 45 carbon substrates were used to assign the isolates into seven coherent phenons, along with several singletons and a group of isolates that did not grow on single carbon substrates. Most of the isolates were able to utilize nearly all of the nitrogen sources tested, with nitrate being the least utilized. Little antibiotic resistance was seen in the collection as a whole; however, certain phenons were enriched for antibiotic-resistant organisms. A total of 81 phenotypic characteristics were used to generate dendrograms. The numerical taxonomy trees essentially agreed with those generated using 16S rRNA gene sequences. The pattern of carbon substrate utilization showed substantial changes at different salinities that may have relevance to the variable salinities microbes experience at the Salt Plains over time.
Surface structure of ultrathin copolymer films of ferroelectric vinylidene fluoride (70%) with trifluoroethylene (30%) on graphite

The structure and local structural distortions, through the polarization manipulation, of crystalline films of ferroelectric vinylidene fluoride (70%) with trifluoroethylene (30%) [P(VDF-TrFE)] copolymer on graphite were studied by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). A quasispiral twist in $\mathrm{C}\mathrm{C}$ bonds with rotations about the polymer chain axis was observed by high-resolution STM, indicating a surface relaxation of the strained copolymer films. Such a relaxation behavior appears to be linked to the observed local dipole rotations accompanied by the reversal of the local polarization with biasing the STM tip. A structure model is proposed based upon the observations.
Performance of stabilized explicit time integration methods for parallel air quality models

Comprehensive air quality models (AQMs) describe the fate and transport of atmospheric chemical constituents associated with the gas and aerosol phases. Air quality studies involve multi-scale multi-physics simulations which follow the evolution of ~ 107 -- 108 variables on relatively long time scales. Air quality simulations are therefore computationally intense and require efficient parallelization to make them practical.The goals of this work are twofold. First we study the use of Runge Kutta Chebyshev (RKC) time integration of the advection-diffusion equations in AQMs. RKC are stabilized explicit time integration methods which are appropriate for the time integration of mildly stiff diffusion terms. Second, we assess the benefits of a tiled domain decomposition scheme for parallelization of AQMs. This approach is feasible due to the reduced data dependencies associated with explicit time stepping.Numerical results indicate that RKC methods have the necessary stability properties to handle turbulent diffusion. Moreover, the parallelization based on tiled domain decomposition with explicit time stepping shows a much-improved parallel performance when compared to the parallelization of implicit time stepping schemes. Our benchmarks also highlight a possibly significant bottleneck in the I/O system of an air quality model. This research demonstrates the viability of RCK time stepping methods and motiviates future research into parallel I/O.
Introduction to chromosome analysis

Abstract The mass screening facility for automatic chromosome analysis of the National Biomedical Research Foundation is described. The facility has the capability of processing both microscope slides of Giemsa-stained chromosome preparations and photomicrographs of quinacrine-mustard stained preparations and includes an automatic microscope scanner (SPIDAC), a film scanning device (FIDAC), an interactive-graphic display device (MACDAC), and associated software systems for complete automatic recognition, measurement, and statistical analysis of chromosomal data. The five essential steps involved in large-scale chromosome analysis, namely automatic scanning, manual pictorial editing, classical computer analysis of chromosomes, banding computer analysis of chromosomes and statistical analysis of chromosomal data are all discussed.