cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Epidermal growth factor receptor modulation of radiation response: preclinical and clinical development.

Abstract Approximately two thirds of all human solid tumors derive from epithelial tissues. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) serves as an important regulator of cellular growth in epithelial tumors. A spectrum of new anticancer agents have been specifically designed to target the EGFR in an effort to inhibit malignant growth. Although several of these new drugs show single-agent activity in early clinical trials, the predominant growth effect of EGFR signaling inhibition is cytostatic. However, the interaction of EGFR inhibition combined with conventional cytotoxic therapies (radiation and chemotherapy) is more potent, and shows great promise in the treatment of a variety of solid tumors that overexpress this receptor. This report focuses primarily on the capacity of EGFR inhibitors to modulate cellular and overall tumor response to ionizing radiation. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Optimized two-frequency phase-measuring-profilometry light-sensor temporal-noise sensitivity

Temporal frame-to-frame noise in multipattern structured light projection can significantly corrupt depth measurement repeatability. We present a rigorous stochastic analysis of phase-measuring-profilometry temporal noise as a function of the pattern parameters and the reconstruction coefficients. The analysis is used to optimize the two-frequency phase measurement technique. In phase-measuring profilometry, a sequence of phase-shifted sine-wave patterns is projected onto a surface. In two-frequency phase measurement, two sets of pattern sequences are used. The first, low-frequency set establishes a nonambiguous depth estimate, and the second, high-frequency set is unwrapped, based on the low-frequency estimate, to obtain an accurate depth estimate. If the second frequency is too low, then depth error is caused directly by temporal noise in the phase measurement. If the second frequency is too high, temporal noise triggers ambiguous unwrapping, resulting in depth measurement error. We present a solution for finding the second frequency, where intensity noise variance is at its minimum.
Silent myocardial ischemia: Classification, prevalence, and prognosis

In the United States there may be four to five million patients with silent myocardial ischemia, including approximately 50,000 asymptomatic patients who have had myocardial infarction, one to two million asymptomatic patients with no history of myocardial infarction or angina, and three million patients with angina. The prognosis for patients who have had infarction and for patients with angina varies, but, in general, it is worse for patients with more extensive disease because sudden cardiac death may be the only clinical sign in asymptomatic patients. Silent myocardial ischemia is an important public health issue; it is hoped that its detection may prevent many episodes of sudden cardiac death annually.
Cellular mechanisms by which tumor necrosis factor-α produces disruption of the blood–brain barrier

The first goal of the present study was to determine the effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) on the permeability of the blood-brain barrier in vivo. The second goal of this study was to investigate cellular pathways responsible for changes in permeability of the blood-brain barrier in response to TNF-alpha. We examined the pial microcirculation in rats using intravital fluorescence microscopy. Permeability of the blood-brain barrier was quantitated by calculating the clearance of fluorescent-labeled dextran (mol. wt=10,000; FITC-dextran-10K) during superfusion with vehicle, tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha; 10 ng/ml), TNF-alpha in the presence of an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase (ODQ; 1.0 microM), and TNF-alpha in the presence of an inhibitor of protein tyrosine kinase (genistein; 10 microM). During superfusion with vehicle, clearance of FITC-dextran-10K from pial vessels remained relatively constant during the experimental period. In contrast, superfusion with TNF-alpha markedly increased clearance of FITC-dextran-10K from the cerebral microcirculation. Topical application of ODQ and genistein, significantly inhibited increases in permeability of the blood-brain barrier to FITC-dextran-10K during application of TNF-alpha. Thus, TNF-alpha increases the permeability of the blood-brain barrier to a moderately sized molecule via a mechanism which appears to involve activation of soluble guanylate cyclase and protein tyrosine kinase. In light of evidence suggesting that TNF-alpha production is increased during cerebrovascular trauma, we suggest that the findings of this study may contribute to our understanding of the pathogenesis of disruption of the blood-brain barrier during brain trauma and inflammation.
Effect of signal coordination on traffic emission

Abstract This study investigates the effect of traffic signal coordination on emissions and compares it with their effects on operational performance measures of delay and stops. Various platoon ratios are obtained by simulating cycle lengths and offsets. Our results indicate that the impact of the cycle length on delay is more significant than those on stops and emissions for under-saturation traffic conditions. Given a fixed cycle length, increasing the platoon ratio can reduce delay, stops, and emissions, with reduction in emissions being correlated with stops than delay. The effect on emissions from the platoon arrival with respect to the onset of green or red indication is identified. With the same cycle length and platoon ratio, the early arrival situation, when the leading vehicles of a platoon encounters the red signal, can generate more emissions than are associated with late platoon arrival, when the last few vehicles in a platoon are stopped at the intersection by the onset of the red signal.
N-methyl-D-aspartate enhancement of phasic responses in primate neocortex

In area 17 of the awake macaque, disinhibition by blockade of GABAA receptors results in a marked elevation in neuronal excitability, with a particular focus in the supragranular laminae. We examined the possibility that the excitatory supragranular response is N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)-mediated. Laminar activity profiles consisting of flash-evoked field potential, current source density (CSD) and multiunit activity (MUA) measures were obtained during striate cortex penetrations using multicontact electrodes that incorporated single or double microinjection cannulae. Profiles were recorded before and at successive time points after bicuculline induction of disinhibition. Both the noncompetitive NMDA antagonist MK-801 and the competitive antagonist APV reversed bicuculline effects, producing a normal laminar activity profile. NMDA-mediated enhancement of excitatory responses in the supragranu- lar laminae of neocortex is believed to play a role in normal signal processing, as well as in epileptic manifestations.
On issues and tradeoffs in design of fault tolerant VOD servers

Recent technological advances in digital signal processing, data compression techniques, and high speed communication networks have made Video-on-Demand (VOD) servers feasible. A challenging task in such systems is servicing multiple clients simultaneously while satisfying real-time requirements of continuous delivery of objects at specified rates. To accomplish these tasks and realize economies of scale associated with servicing a large user population, a VOD server requires a large disk subsystem. Although a single disk is fairly reliable, a large disk farm can have an unacceptably high probability of disk failure. Furthermore, due to real-time constraints, the reliability and availability requirements of VOD systems are even more stringent than those of traditional information systems. In this paper we discuss some of the main issues and tradeoffs associated with providing fault tolerance in multidisk VOD systems.
Sustainable Manufacturing Analysis for Titanium Components

Product designers are seeking effective ways to meet customer requirements, government policies, and internal business drivers for sustainability. Sustainable products encompass attributes including recyclable and renewable materials use, low energy consumption, cost competitiveness, and consideration of safety and health concerns. Beyond product attributes, however, sustainable products are cognizant of a broader life cycle perspective, which necessitates consideration of manufacturing and supply chain issues during design. Current life cycle assessment tools are often deficient in assisting design for manufacturing efforts due to coarseness of available process data or even a lack of representative process models. In addition, such tools consider only the environmental impacts and do not account for broader sustainability measures. Research with a titanium component manufacturer is addressing these deficiencies. A unit process modeling-based method is described to assist in strategic decision making to balance cradle-to-gate economic, environmental, and social attributes. A set of metrics is defined and used as a basis for comparison of design alternatives. The method is demonstrated for analysis of titanium component alternatives resulting from design for manufacturing activities. It is shown that this method can assist engineers in developing more sustainable products.© 2011 ASME
Energy expenditure and substrate utilization in mechanically ventilated children.

The objective of the study was to determine the value of indirect calorimetry and nitrogen balance (N balance) in order to evaluate the current feeding protocols of mechanically ventilated children. The study was designed as a cross-sectional prospective study. In 36 mechanically ventilated children energy expenditure was measured by indirect calorimetry, and total urinary nitrogen excretion (TUN) was determined. Substrate utilization and respiratory quotient (RQ) were calculated from the measured values of oxygen consumption (Vo2), carbon dioxide production (Vco2), and TUN. The RQ was compared with the RQ of the macronutrients administered (RQmacr) according to the modified criteria of Lusk. In results, the total measured energy expenditure (TMEE) showed a wide variation (range 155–272 kJ · kg−1 · d−1). The N balance was positive in 20 and negative in 16 patients. The ratio of caloric intake/TMEE was significantly higher in patients with a positive N balance (1.50 ± 0.06) as compared with those with a negative N balance (0.8 ± 0.1, P < 0.001). There was a significant relationship between the difference of RQ − RQmacr versus the ratio caloric intake/TMEE (r = 0.72, P < 0.001). Carbohydrate and fat utilization were not significantly different in patients with a positive or negative N balance. Protein utilization was significantly higher in those patients with a negative N balance. We concluded that measurement of TMEE with indirect calorimetry results in accurate determination of energy needs in critically ill mechanically ventilated children. Feeding according to or in excess of the TMEE is correlated with a positive N balance. A combination of the RQ and the RQmacr can be helpful in differentiating under- or overfeeding.
Theoretical interpretation of the measured X-ray spectrum of beryllium in the region of the Raman band

Abstract The X-ray spectrum of beryllium in the region of the Raman band displays characteristic peaks, similar to the ones observed in graphite. An ab initio unrestricted Hartree—Fock cluster calculation is performed to investigate the bonding character of the electronic structure of beryllium and to identify the “anomalous” peaks. These peaks are found to be due to the 3spxPy−3spz splitting of the 3ps hybridized band. A similar splitting of the 2sp orbitals is responsible for the dip in the density of states curve at the Fermi level.
On semigroups admitting ring structure II

We shall consider semigroups with O, which contain a unique maximal right ideal generated by a finite number of independent generators and in which every proper right ideal is contained in the unique maximal right ideal and investigate when these semigroups are multiplicative semigroups of a ring. We prove in particular that the necessary condition for this class of semigroups S to admit ring structure is S=S2 if |S|>2. Furthermore the admissible ring structure of S is determined when the product of every two generators of the maximal right ideal M is O and when S satisfies one of the two conditions, namely S is commutative without idempotents except O and 1 or every generator of M is nilpotent.
A prospective comparison of paramedic judgment and the trauma triage rule in the prehospital setting

Study objective: To study paramedic judgment and the Trauma Triage Rule in prehospital trauma triage. Design: Prospective. Setting: A county emergency medical services system. Participants: Six hundred fifty-three trauma patients. Results: Over a 3-month period, 653 trauma patients were evaluated in the prehospital setting. Paramedic judgment and the Trauma Triage Rule (TTR), as described by Baxt, were evaluated for accuracy in identifying patients requiring trauma center care. The TTR achieved a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 86%. Paramedic judgment had a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 60%. Combining the TTR and paramedic judgment achieved a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 75%. Conclusion: The TTR and paramedic judgment are effective in identifying patients who require trauma center care in the prehospital setting. The TTR and paramedic judgment combined have the greatest predictive value in identifying seriously injured patients.
Fabrication of 58Co positron sources

Abstract A technique for producing 58 Co positron sources for use in slow positron beams has been developed. The method has been successfully tested at the μCi and mCi level. Scaling up of the technique is under way to consistently produce 1–2 Ci sources from 60 g of irradiated nickel.
Effect of Hip Abduction and External Rotation on Femoral Vein Exposure for Possible Cannulation

Femoral vein access is often required during resuscitation efforts and when other routes of intravenous access are difficult. This study evaluated by ultrasound the effect of abduction/external rotation of the hip on venous accessibility. This was a prospective repeated measurement study. The common femoral veins of 25 volunteers were scanned transversely inferior to the inguinal ligament with the leg straight and in external rotation/abduction. The diameter of the vein and percent accessible (not posterior to the femoral artery) were determined. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance. The mean percentage of the femoral vein accessible with the leg in external rotation/abduction was greater than with the leg straight (82.6 ± 20.3 vs. 70.4 ± 26.3, respectively); p < 0.03. External rotation/abduction of the hip may improve the success rate of femoral vein cannulation by increasing the percentage of the femoral vein accessible.
Kinetics of Hydrolysis of 8-(Arylamino)-2‘-deoxyguanosines

The 8-(arylamino)-2‘-deoxyguanosines, or C-8 adducts, are the major adducts formed by reaction of N-arylnitrenium ions derived from carcinogenic and mutagenic amines with 2‘-deoxyguanosine (d-G) and guanosine residues of DNA. The hydrolysis kinetics of three C-8 adducts 1a−c were determined by UV and HPLC methods at 20 °C under acidic, neutral, and mildly alkaline conditions. At pH < 2 the dominant hydrolysis process is spontaneous cleavage of the C−N bond of the doubly protonated substrate, 1H2+2 (Scheme 2). The C-8 adducts are 2- to 5-fold more reactive than d-G under these conditions. At 3 < pH < 6 the hydrolysis kinetics are dominated by cleavage of the C−N bond of the monoprotonated nucleoside 1H+. Under these conditions the hydrolysis kinetics are accelerated by 40- to 1300-fold over that of d-G. The rate increase appears to be caused by a combination of steric acceleration of C−N bond cleavage and a decrease in the ionization constant of 1H+, Ka1, due to the electron-donating properties of the aryl...
Accuracy of Feelings of Correctness on the WAIS and Binet

Students learning to use assessment procedures are warned against offering feedback to clients. Research shows conflicting influences of knowledge of such results and has largely ignored the client's feelings of correctness. Data were collected to determine whether WAIS and Binet examinees were aware of the accuracy of their responses. Subjects were administered the tests and were asked to indicate whether they thought each of their answers was correct. Generally subjects knew whether their responses were correct. There was a significant correlation between the accuracy of such feelings of correctness and IQ but not between the self-knowledge and either age or sex.
Alfalfa growth following release from drought stress

Compensatory growth (increased growth relative to normal) of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) when released from periods of drought stress has been observed or suggested. The objective of this research was to determine whether such compensatory growth does occur. Alfalfa was subjected to drought stress (plant water potential < − 1.5 MPa) for 2 and 4 wk in a greenhouse study and 2, 4, and 6 wk in a field (Palouse silt loam soil, fine-silty, mixed, mesic Pachic Ultic Haploxerolls) study near Moscow, ID. Following harvest and removal of the drought stress, plant growth measurements were made after 30 d of growth in the greenhouse and biweekly during 5 wk of growth in the field [...]
Tensorial basis to the constancy of perceived object extent over variations of dynamic touch

Subjects wielded occluded rods, with or without attached masses, and reported the distances reachable with their distal tips. Experiments 1-3 compared wielding about the wrist, the elbow, and the shoulder. Experiments 4 and 5 compared free wielding, using the whole arm, with wielding only about the wrist. The two comparisons, respectively, were of spatial and temporal variations in the rod's rotational inertia. Perceived extent was found to be constant in both comparisons. This constancy was tied to the inertia tensor Iij defined about a point that remains a fixed dis­ tance from the object during wielding-an invariant of the spatially and temporally dependent patterning of mechanical energy impressed upon the tissues of the body. Discussion focused on the reciprocal action and perception capabilities of multisegmented limbs, the tensorial relations in the neurobiology of dynamic touch, and the strategy of understanding perceptual constancy through invariants. Gibson (1966) found that it is useful to differentiate among three types of touch-specifically, cutaneous, hap­ tic, and dynamic-each of which can be considered as a subsystem of the haptic perceptual system. Cutaneous touch is the stimulation of skin and deeper tissues with­ out movement of the joints. Haptic touch is the stimula­ tion of the skin and deeper tissues with movement of the joints. Dynamic touch involves the stimulation of skin and other tissues in combination with muscular exertion. Al­ though all three are the product of time-varying quantities of mechanical energy acting over the tissues of the body, dynamic touch is different from cutaneous and haptic touch in that the muscular exertion involved in produc­ ing a given distribution of mechanical energy is relevant to the properties being perceived. Gibson explained that dynamic touch' 'is a perceptual subsystem in its own right. More than any others, its perception is blended with per­ formance, for the information comes from muscular ef­ fort. One can perceive the inertial properties of something only by wielding it" (1966, p. 128). The perception of object properties by wielding is a prominent example of dynamic touch. Most manual activities entail grasping and manipulating objects. In performing these acts, the hand is usually in contact with only part of the object, as when a cane is grasped by its end, a cup is grasped by its han­ dle, an envelope is grasped by one of its comers, and so on. A person, without the benefit of seeing, can come to know about the spatial properties of objects, contacted tac­ tually only in part, by the act of wielding them.
Extending the value of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program claims dataset to study long-term outcomes: Rate of repeat ventral hernia repair.

Background Existing large clinical registries capture short-term follow-up. Yet, there are many important long-term outcomes in surgery, such as recurrence of a ventral hernia after ventral hernia repair. The goal of the current study was to conduct an exploratory analysis to determine whether the rates, timing, and risk factors for ventral hernia re-repair in claims data linked to registry data were consistent with the known clinical literature. Study Design The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) and Medicare inpatient claims linked data set from 2005 to 2008 was queried to identify ventral hernia re-repairs after index ventral hernia repairs. Survival analysis was used to examine the ventral hernia re-repair rate over time and to quantify the relationship with clinical variables. Results Of 3,730 index ventral hernia repairs identified in ACS-NSQIP, 247 patients (6.6%) underwent re-repair of a ventral hernia during the study period (2005–2008) in the Medicare claims data. ACS-NSQIP clinical variables that were associated with the ventral hernia re-repair rate in Medicare claims data 1 year after index ventral hernia repair were being a smoker (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.70, P = .02), body mass index (HR = 1.16, P = .04), and postoperative superficial surgical-site infection (HR = 2.88, P Conclusion Long-term rate and timing of ventral hernia re-repair obtained from claims data were an underestimate compared with clinical studies. Yet, several known clinical risk factors for recurrence in the clinical registry were associated with the re-repair rate in claims data at one year. It may be possible to study certain long-term outcomes using selected reoperation rates using the technique of linked clinical registry-claims data, with an understanding that event rates are conservative estimates.
Relationship between specific types of communication deviance and attentional performance in patients with schizophrenia

Communication Deviance (CD) characterizes the speech of schizophrenic patients and their relatives. The relationship between specific types of CD as measured from verbatim transcripts of Thematic Apperception Test protocols and attentional performance was investigated in 27 patients with schizophrenia. Assessments were conducted just prior to hospital discharge. Results revealed that a continuous performance attentional test with visually presented stimuli was most highly related to the CD factor indicating that the respondent had misperceived elements of the card. A continuous performance attentional test with auditory stimuli was found to be associated with the factor reflecting odd language use in the speaker. A measure of selective attention/executive control, from the Stroop Color-Word test, was found to be most highly related to the CD factors which involve higher level functions such as abstraction and integration of various elements of the card into a coherent story. Results suggest that CD may be a behavioral consequence of deficits in attention and executive control, and add to the growing literature suggesting that specific types of neuropsychological deficits can be linked to specific overt behaviors.
In-silico Screening using Flexible Ligand Binding Pockets: A Molecular Dynamics-based Approach

In-silico screening of flexible ligands against flexible ligand binding pockets (LBP) is an emerging approach in structure-based drug discovery. Here, we describe a molecular dynamics (MD) based docking approach to investigate the influence on the high-throughput in-silico screening of small molecules against flexible ligand binding pockets. In our approach, an ensemble of 51 energetically favorable structures of the LBP of human estrogen receptor α (hERα) were collected from 3 ns MD simulations. In-silico screening of 3500 endocrine disrupting compounds against these flexible ligand binding pockets resulted in thousands of ER–ligand complexes of which 582 compounds were unique. Detailed analysis of MD generated structures showed that only 17 of the LBP residues significantly contribute to the overall binding pocket flexibility. Using the flexible LBP conformations generated, we have identified 32 compounds that bind better to the flexible ligand-binding pockets compared to the crystal structure. These compounds, though chemically divergent, are structurally similar to the natural hormone. Our MD-based approach in conjunction with grid–based distributed computing could be applied routinely for in-silico screening of large databases against any given target.
Integration of immunotherapy into the management of advanced prostate cancer

Until recently, the only therapy shown to improve survival in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) had been chemotherapy, usually reserved for symptomatic patients. However, sipuleucel-T, a cellular product directed toward a specific antigen, prostatic acid phosphatase, was Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved in 2010 in the United States, based on phase 3 data showing improved overall survival in men with minimal or no symptoms due to mCRPC compared with placebo. Subsequently, several other promising immunotherapeutic approaches have advanced to study in the phase 3 setting, including ipilimumab and PROSTVAC. The demonstration of efficacy of immunotherapy in prostate cancer provides a new treatment option for men with no or few symptoms early in the course of mCRPC. Since sipuleucel-T was approved, several drugs that favorably impact survival have also been approved or are close to approval in the United States. These agents include cabazitaxel, abiraterone, radium-223, and MDV3100. There are many unresolved issues about sipuleucel-T, such as best timing in the course of mCRPC, the role for booster therapy, and the role of combinations with other active drugs, including other immune-modulating approaches. There are also many questions regarding sequencing of these new agents and, given the number of other promising agents in phase 3 trials, these questions will become more complicated, underscoring the need for better predictors of benefit for the individual patient.
Occlusive Dressing versus Oxygen Mist Therapy Following CO2 Laser Resurfacing

face was treated with an oxygen mist protocol for 5 days, while the other half was treated with occlusive dressing for 4 days. results. At postoperative day 5, significantly less crusting was observed on the half of the face treated with the oxygen mist protocol (p , 0.05). conclusion. The oxygen mist postoperative protocol may offer patients similar overall healing rates and significantly less crusting compared to occlusive dressing. LASER RESURFACING is a popular treatment for rhytides, actinic skin damage, and acne scarring. Technologic advances in laser surgery have made this procedure relatively simple, safe, and reproducible. 1‐11 However, despite the well-documented benefits of laser resurfacing, patients must undergo a prolonged and painful healing process. Complications may occur, the most common of which are persistent erythema, hyperor hypopigmentation, acne, and scarring. Because of this, both the laser surgeon and the patient are interested in a postoperative protocol that accelerates wound healing, optimizes treatment efficacy, and enhances patient comfort. 12 Recently a post-laser resurfacing wound care protocol has been developed that delivers oxygen and a nutrient mist to the healing skin. It has been suggested that oxygen therapy could enhance collagen formation and accelerate reepithelialization. The purpose of this study is to compare the rate and quality of wound healing in patients treated on half of the face with oxygen therapy and on the other half of the face with occlusive dressing following CO 2 laser resurfacing.
Global Modes of Sea Surface Temperature Variability in Relation to Regional Climate Indices

AbstractA century-long EOF analysis of global sea surface temperature (SST) was carried out and the first six modes, independent by construction, were found to be associated with well-known regional climate phenomena: the El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO), the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO), the North Pacific Gyre Oscillation (NPGO), El Nino Modoki, and the Atlantic El Nino. Four of the six global modes are dominated by Pacific changes, the other two (M2 and M6) being associated with the AMO and Atlantic El Nino, respectively. The principal component time series of the ENSO (M1) and North Pacific (M3) modes are coherent at time scales >10 yr, and their interaction results in the traditional PDO pattern and the dominant mode of Pacific multidecadal variability. The M3 and PDO time series are well correlated, but the EOFs have different spatial patterns. The fourth mode (M4) has been strengthening since the 1950s and is related to the NPGO but also to El Nin...
Phase locking in Josephson ladders and the discrete sine-Gordon equation: the effects of boundary conditions and current-induced magnetic fields.

We report on the stability of phase-locked solutions to ladder arrays of underdamped Josephson junctions under both periodic and open boundary conditions and in the presence of current-induced magnetic fields. We calculate the Floquet exponents based on the resistively and capacitively shunted junction (RCSJ) model, as well as on a simplified model of the ladder that leads to a discrete sine-Gordon (DSG) equation for the horizontal, current-biased junctions. In the case of zero induced magnetic fields, we find the DSG equation (commonly applied to parallel arrays) appreciably overestimates the exponents of the full ladder in the overdamped regime (corresponding to the limit of small junction capacitance, ${\ensuremath{\beta}}_{c}),$ and that difference physically results from differing spectra for small-amplitude phase oscillations of the DSG and RCSJ equations. mutual inductance between plaquettes is included we find there are ranges of values for the mutual inductance for which the ladder is in fact unstable. To understand the cause of the observed instabilities, it is crucial to consider the behavior of the vertical junctions.
Tumor Cell Targeting by Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Is Dominated by Different Factors In Vitro versus In Vivo

Realizing the full potential of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONP) for cancer diagnosis and therapy requires selective tumor cell accumulation. Here, we report a systematic analysis of two key determinants for IONP homing to human breast cancers: (i) particle size and (ii) active vs passive targeting. In vitro, molecular targeting to the HER2 receptor was the dominant factor driving cancer cell association. In contrast, size was found to be the key determinant of tumor accumulation in vivo, where molecular targeting increased tumor tissue concentrations for 30 nm but not 100 nm IONP. Similar to the in vitro results, PEGylation did not influence in vivo IONP biodistribution. Thus, the results reported here indicate that the in vitro advantages of molecular targeting may not consistently extend to pre-clinical in vivo settings. These observations may have important implications for the design and clinical translation of advanced, multifunctional, IONP platforms.
Correlation of Myocardial Ultrastructure and Function

The electron microscopic structure of heart muscle and the ultrastructural basis of cardiac contraction have been reviewed. The relation between muscle length and developed tension has been explained in terms of the structure of the sarcomere, which is the basic unit of contraction. Using the derived length-tension curve of the sarcomere, developed tension has been attributed to the overlap of thick and thin filaments within the sarcomere, lending support to the "sliding" mechanism in heart muscle. It has been shown that initial sarcomere length is a function of ventricular filling pressure and that this relation explains the normal limits of the heart as a pump, including: (1) the Starling mechanism whereby increased diastolic volume (EDV) engenders an increased stroke volume (SV), (2) the upper limits to ventricular filling pressure and volume, and (3) the normal range to the ventricular ejection fraction (SV/EDV). Further, ultrastructure helps to define the processes which occur with acute and chronic ventricular dilatation. In this regard, the importance of sarcomere dispersion and "fiber slippage," which may lead to disordered ventricular function, have been discussed.
COMPARATIVE STUDIES ON THE MECHANISM OF MICROBIAL GLUTAMATE FORMATION

1. The pathways of glutamate formation from glucose and acetatewere compared in Brevibacterium flavum No. 2247 (ATCC No. 14067) and Micrococcus glutamicus No. 534 (ATCC No. 13032) using biotin-poor media.2. B. flavum and M. glutamicus produced large amounts of glutamate from glucose in biotin-poor media, and resting cells of both strains produced α-ketoglutarate, or glutamate in the presence of ammonium salt, from glucose with a yield of 45-55%.3. Oxidative metabolism of glucose in resting cells of both M. glutamicusand B. flavum was inhibited by arsenite, and 1 mole of pyruvatewas formed from 1 mole of glucose, accompanied by 1 mole of O2 uptakeand 1 mole of CO2 evolution.4. Labeled pyruvate was formed from glucose-1-, -6-, and -U-14C in the presence of arsenite by resting cells of M. glutamicus. From the 294 OTSUKA, MIYAJIMA and SHIIO Vol. 11 relative specific activity of pyruvate to substrate glucose and from distribution of 14C in pyruvate molecule, it was concluded that glucose was metabolized aerobically by both the EM and HMP pathways in the approximate ratio 85:15.5. It was confirmed that glutamate was formed from acetate by resting cells of B. flavum, while acetate was completely oxidized to carbon dioxide by resting cells of M. glutamicus. Acetate oxidation of both strains was markedly inhibited by 5×10-2M of monofluoroacetate.
Examination of Parameters Affecting Large-Eddy Simulations of Flow Past a Square Cylinder

Separated flow over a bluff body is analyzed via large eddy simulations. The turbulent flow around a square cylinder features a variety of complex flow phenomena such as highly unsteady vortical structures, reverse flow in the near wall region, and wake turbulence. The formation of spanwise vortices is often times artificially suppressed in computations by either insufficient depth or a coarse spanwise resolution. As the resolution is refined and the domain extended, the artificial turbulent energy exchange between spanwise and streamwise turbulence is eliminated within the wake region. A parametric study is performed highlighting the effects of spanwise vortices where the spanwise computational domain's resolution and depth are varied. For Re=22,000, the mean and turbulent statistics computed from the numerical large eddy simulations (NLES) are in good agreement with experimental data. Von-Karman shedding is observed in the wake of the cylinder. Mesh independence is illustrated by comparing a mesh resolution of 2 million to 16 million. Sensitivities to time stepping were minimized and sampling frequency sensitivities were nonpresent. While increasing the spanwise depth and resolution can be costly, this practice was found to be necessary to eliminating the artificial turbulent energy exchange.
Bladder augmentation using acellular collagen biomatrix: a pilot experience in exstrophic patients

Purpose A preliminary experience on in vivo bladder wall regeneration in a subset of patients born with exstrophy–epispadias complex is reported. The objective was to improve bladder capacity and compliance without bowel augmentation.
Physiologic Changes in Pregnancy

Pregnancy is associated with physiologic changes that affect virtually every organ system in the mother. These physiologic changes allow the parturient to support the growing uterus and fetus and to withstand labor and the postpartum course. Because the gravida may require surgery while pregnant, it is important to have an appreciation of these physiologic changes. These maternal adaptive responses have significant implications for anesthetic, operative, and perioperative management
Managerial Impediments to US Microgrid Development

Conventional electric power plants are now being replaced by advanced microgrids at major military bases. This is a significant shift from purchase of a simple, fixed technological product to partnership with a service provider employing a flexible array of technologies that exploit a broad range of opportunities that will continue to change rapidly over a long period. The US military is currently leading the conversion to microgrids. Policy levers have been applied to make microgrids a success, including new contracting mechanisms, modified rules, ample funding, and political support. Everything appears to be in place, except that the underlying managerial culture is poorly matched to the opportunity. Habitual management and procurement practices have become an impediment, and policy levers have left this culture untouched. These practices grew from experience with the purchase of commodities and long-term fixed assets. While these practices continue to be workable in many situations, they tend to suppress complex, systemic, evolutionary programs for energy and resource management. Alternative practices are proposed that are more likely to bring out the full potential of microgrids.
Safety assessment of animal drugs.

The Food and Drug Administration has published a proposal (Chemical Compounds in Food-Producing Animals: Criteria and Procedures for Evaluating Assays for Carcinogenic Residues, Federal Register 44, 17070–17114 March 20 1979) to establish procedures and minimum criteria to ensure the absence of cancer-causing residues in edible products of food-producing animals to which drugs, food additives, or color additives have been administered. Section III of the proposed rule (termed the Sensitivity of the Method Document or SOM) would require that metabolism and comparative metabolism studies be conducted in target (food-producing) and test (laboratory) animals, respectively. As a practical matter, current agency policy prescribes that information from such studies would be required whether the compound was considered to be a suspect carcinogen or a noncarcinogen. Metabolism studies to determine what drug-derived residues may be present in the tissues of food-producing animals at a particular withdrawal time as well as comparative metabolism studies to determine the appropriateness of the laboratory animal as a test species, and the relationship of the two studies to each other, are discussed in terms of the procedures used for the human safety assessment of animal drugs.
Matrix Convexity: Operator Analogues of the Bipolar and Hahn–Banach Theorems☆

Abstract Several basic results of convexity theory are generalized to the “quantized” matrix convex sets of Wittstock. These include the Bipolar theorem, a gauge version of the Hahn–Banach theorem, and the existence theorem for support functionals.
Sound‐pressure Levels and Song Preferences in Female Red‐winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) (Aves, Emberizidae)

Female red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) were tested for response to songs of male red-winged blackbirds differing in sound-pressure level (SPL) of playback. Subjects gave significantly more copulation-solicitation displays in response to playback of songs at 85 dB SPL than to playback of the same songs at 72 dB SPL. The strength of the preference, as judged by the ratio of response to high and low SPL playback (1.15 :1), was lower than that of preferences for high SPL shown by insects and anurans. Female red-winged blackbirds responded preferentially to a conspecific song relative to a heterospecific imitation, even when the imitation was presented at an SPL 13 dB higher than that of the conspecific song. By contrast, female redwings did not maintain a preference for multiple conspecific song types over single types when the single song types were presented at the higher SPL. These results are compatible with KLUMP & GERHARDT's (1987) suggestion that the intensity independence of female preferences varies with the relative benefit females obtain from each preference.
Capecitabine-associated cerebellar ataxia.

Purpose. A case of capecitabine-associated cerebellar ataxia is presented. Summary. A 65-year-old white woman with stage IV colorectal cancer with liver metastasis was started on a chemotherapy regimen of capecitabine, oxaliplatin, and bevacizumab, given every three weeks. She tolerated the first two treatment cycles fairly well without major toxicities. The capecitabine dosage was started at 2000 mg daily for 14 days during the first cycle and increased to 2500 and 3000 mg daily during the second and the third cycles, respectively. On day 5 of the third cycle, the patient reported increased nausea, fatigue, and sleepiness, and the dosage of capecitabine was subsequently reduced to 2500 mg daily. On day 12 of the fourth treatment cycle, she reported ongoing lightheadedness and progressive gait disturbance with worsening ataxia over the past 3 days. Her capecitabine dosage was further reduced to 2000 mg daily, and the time between treatment intervals was increased to four weeks. The patient continued to experience intermittent, but less severe, ataxia during the fifth treatment cycle. On the day before the seventh cycle was to begin, she had ataxic gait and could not walk without assistance. Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed no evidence of brain metastasis or cerebellar abnormality. The chemotherapy was postponed for a total of six weeks until the ataxia completely resolved. Her chemotherapy was ultimately discontinued due to disease progression. Her neurologic symptoms did not recur. Conclusion. A patient receiving capecitabine-containing chemotherapy developed persistent but reversible cerebellar ataxia.
Impact of telemonitoring on older adults health-related quality of life: the Tele-ERA study

Telemonitoring is being increasingly used for chronic disease monitoring. While the primary aim of telemonitoring is to improve chronic disease management and decrease hospitalizations, the potential impact on patient’s health-related quality of life may be an additional benefit. Two hundred and five patients aged 60 years and older with multiple medical conditions were enrolled in a one-year randomized controlled trial of daily home telemonitoring. Health-related quality of life was measured with the 12-Item Short-Form at the beginning and at the completion of the study. Per protocol analysis of the 166 patients responding to the follow-up survey was performed. Among the 166 responders, there were no significant differences at baseline in the physical component summary (PCS) scores (p value = 0.32), nor the mental component summary (MCS) scores (p value = 0.12) between the telemonitored group and the usual care group. There was also no difference in the 12-month PCS scores (p value = 0.39) or MCS scores (p value = 0.10) between groups. There was no difference in the change from baseline to 12-month MCS scores between groups (p value = 0.89); however, there was a significant difference in the baseline to 12-month change of PCS scores between groups, with the telemonitored group having a greater decrease in PCS scores (−4.3 ± 9.3), compared to the usual care group (−1.2 ± 8.5) over the course of the study (p value = 0.03). Home telemonitoring in older adults with multiple comorbidities does not significantly improve self-perception of mental well-being (as measured by MCS scores) and may worsen self-perception of physical health (as measured by PCS scores).
The effect of midpolar regime mimics on anion transport mediated by amphiphilic heptapeptides

Nine amphiphilic heptapeptides, synthetic anion transporters (SATs) of the form (C18H37)2N–Y–(Gly)3-Pro-(Gly)3–OCH2Ph were prepared. The unit (OH2)Y represents the diacids succinic, glutaric, diglycolic, 3-thiaglutaric, N-methyliminodiglycine, isophthalic, and terephthalic acids. Additionally, Y was absent or present as acetic acid affording the structure (C18H37)2N–(Gly)3-Pro-(Gly)3–OCH2Ph or (C18H37)2N–(Gly)4-Pro-(Gly)3–OCH2Ph. The diglycolic acid derivative was reported previously but the remaining compounds are new. These nine peptides mediated release of Cl– from DOPC/DOPA vesicles with varying efficacy. Chloride release diminished for the Y-containing amphiphilic heptapeptides in the order glutaric, succinic > 3-thiaglutaric > terephthalic > acetic, N-methyliminodiacetic, > no Y, isophthalic. The release of Cl– was generally exponential over time but the curve shapes were distinctly sigmoidal for the more flexible diacids. Computational studies were undertaken to assess differences in conformation. Overall, it appeared that Cl– release for those SATs that could adopt a linear conformation on the N-terminal side of proline correlated best with the polarity of the diacid.
Enhancing our understanding of physical activity and wellbeing with a lifespan perspective

Physical activity might be a viable tool for enhancing mental wellbeing because, in general, physical activity has been found to be related to more positive affect and higher satisfaction with life. The way we think, feel, and act changes with age, so it may be that physical activity, wellbeing, and the link between physical activity and wellbeing change with age too. Without consideration for developmental changes, study findings are decontextualized and difficult to translate into people's lives. Aiming to become better equipped to use physical activity as a tool to intervene with wellbeing, we explored a lifespan perspective of physical activity and wellbeing. In this review, we (1) discuss physical activity, wellbeing, and the link between physical activity and wellbeing at different life stages, (2) highlight the need to consider interpersonal and intrapersonal differences in these constructs, and (3) identify gaps in the literature that, if filled, would further enhance our understanding of physical activity and wellbeing across the lifespan.
Comparison of shank- and drip-applied methyl bromide alternatives in perennial crop field nurseries.

Methyl bromide has been used extensively in open-field perennial crop nurseries to ensure the production of plants that are free of soilborne pests and pathogens. California regulations require that nursery stock for farm planting be commercially clean with respect to economically important nematodes. Under the terms of the Montreal Protocol, the use of methyl bromide by developed countries was phased out 1 Jan. 2005. Although the perennial nursery industry in the United States largely continues to use methyl bromide under critical use exemptions and quarantine/preshipment criteria allowed under provisions of the Montreal Protocol, nursery growers need viable alternatives to this fumigant. Two fumigation trials in perennial crop field nurseries with sandy loam and clay loam soils, respectively, were conducted to compare the efficacy of fumigants applied through standard shank-injection equipment or as emulsifiable compounds applied through drip irrigation equipment. In the garden rose (Rosa multiflora) nursery trial, nematodes were detected at planting in the untreated control, no-tarpaulin 1,3-dichloropropene + chloropicrin, and chloropicrin alone several months after treatment. Nematodes included root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) and stunt nematode (Tylenchorhynchus semipenetrans). At harvest 2 years later, root-knot nematode was detected in rose roots from untreated plots and plots treated with untarped 1,3-dichloropropene + chloropicrin, metam sodium, and chloropicrin alone. In the nut tree (Prunus spp.) nursery field trial, shank-injected treatments typically provided better nematode control than the same chemicals applied via the drip lines, although weed control and marketable trees were similar among treatments.