cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diabetic retinopathy, metabolic memory and epigenetic modifications

Retinopathy, a sight-threatening disease, remains one of the most feared complications of diabetes. Although hyperglycemia is the main initiator, progression of diabetic retinopathy continues even after re-institution of normal glycemic control in diabetic patients, and the deleterious effects of prior hyperglycemic insult depend on the duration and the severity of this insult, suggesting a 'metabolic memory' phenomenon. Metabolic memory phenomenon is successfully duplicated in the experimental models of diabetic retinopathy. Hyperglycemia, in addition to initiating many other biochemical and functional abnormalities and altering expression of genes associated with them, also increases oxidative stress. Increased production of cytosolic reactive oxygen species dysfunctions the mitochondria, and a compromised antioxidant defense system becomes overwhelmed to neutralize free radicals. With the duration of diabetes extending, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is also damaged, and transcription of mtDNA-encoded genes, important for function of the electron transport chain, is compromised. This fuels into a 'self-propagating' vicious cycle of free radicals, and retinopathy continues to progress. Hyperglycemic insult also affects the enzymatic machinery responsible for epigenetic modifications; these modifications alter gene expression without affecting the DNA sequence. Histones and/or DNA modifications of many enzymes, important in mitochondrial homeostasis, affect their activities and disturb mitochondrial homeostasis. Experimental models have shown that these epigenetic modifications have potential to halt only if normal glycemia is maintained from the day of induction of diabetes (streptozotocin) in rats, but if hyperglycemia is allowed to proceed even for couple months before initiation of normal glycemia, these epigenetic modification resist reversal. Supplementation of a therapy targeted to prevent increased oxidative stress or epigenetic modifications, during the normal glucose phase, which has followed high glucose insult, however, helps ameliorate these abnormalities and prevents the progression of diabetic retinopathy. Thus, without undermining the importance of tight glycemic control for a diabetic patient, supplementation of their 'best possible' glycemic control with such targeted therapies has potential to retard further progression of this blinding disease.
Sex and Gender in Emergency Medicine: Advancing Care Through Person-Specific Research, Education, and Advocacy

Abstract Marrying the vital and growing field of sex- and gender-based research and medical practice with the only recently born specialty of Emergency Medicine (EM) has been a rewarding task. The many collaborations and connections that I have made with national and international colleagues who have been pioneers in sex and gender health has made it overwhelmingly clear to me that the practice of EM has much to offer this new field. Creating the momentum necessary to effectively engage my EM colleagues and inform them of the essential and inescapable impact that the sex and gender of their patients has on the ability to provide meaningful health care services has been challenging. I first established a novel Division of Sex and Gender in Emergency Medicine (SGEM) within the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University, and this initiative has led to local, regional, and national educational programs and research collaborations, which incorporate sex and gender as essential factors in the delivery of patient care.
Design automation and testing of monolithic 3D ICs: Opportunities, challenges, and solutions: (Invited paper)

Monolithic 3D ICs (M3D) are fabricated using a sequential process that grows new device and interconnect tiers in a bottom-up fashion. This fabrication process is in contrast to through-silicon via (TSV) technology that aligns and bonds pre-built tiers. M3D offers key advantages over TSVs, including (1) orders-of-magnitude smaller inter-tier vias, (2) no need for high alignment accuracy, (3) finer-grained tier partitioning options, etc. Recent studies have shown power, performance, area, and reliability (PPAR) advantages of M3D over TSV. However, M3D also suffers from its own problems, including (1) device and interconnect performance mismatch between tiers, (2) lack of EDA solutions, (3) testing challenges, (4) cost, etc. Research efforts have also been made to model and mitigate the impact of these undesirable characteristics of M3D. We will provide a survey of work that address the above issues and conclude with future directions.
PREJUÍZOS DECORRENTES DE PERDAS NA COLHEITA DO ALGODÃO COM DIFERENTES TIPOS DE COLHEDORAS

Com o aumento da procura de algodao, surgiram novas tecnicas de cultivo que reduzem o espacamento entre linhas (0,76 m e 0,45 m), aumentando a densidade de plantas, diminuindo o ciclo da cultura e conduzindo a um consequente aumento de producao. Com as novas tecnologias associadas a fatores tais como climaticos, de topografia do solo, das variedades utilizadas e das regulagens e modelos de colhedoras, surgiram tambem os problemas com perda na colheita. O objetivo do trabalho foi mensurar e analisar a viabilidade economica das perdas na colheita do algodao, com alguns modelos de colhedoras, verificando qual modelo oferece melhor rendimento para o espacamento de 0,45 m entre linhas. A metodologia utilizada foi de estudo de campo, avaliando areas colhidas por cada colhedora em uma jornada de trabalho. Os resultados obtidos para o rendimento operacional foram abaixo do desejado; as perdas foram superiores ao padrao estabelecido, podendo diminuir o valor com melhor regulagem das colhedoras. O modelo de colhedora que se destacou com menor perda foi a de Escova.
Genetic counselors as social and behavioral scientists in the era of precision medicine

In the era of precision medicine, translating genomics into clinical care will involve answering key questions in social and behavioral research. The scope of this research addresses assessing how clients perceive and use genomic information, and how effectively genetic counseling is meeting clients' needs. Outcomes are central to enhancing practice effectiveness, improving patient outcomes, and informing cost effective services to address workforce challenges. While genetic counseling is generally thought of as a clinical practice, genetic counselors contribute to research in several ways. Counselors are actively involved in interpretation of sequence data, collaborate in clinical research teams, and serve as lead investigators. This commentary highlights genetic counselors as social and behavioral scientists and reviews evidence generated by genetic counselors, describes advanced training in research, and posits key social and behavioral research questions for genetic counseling in translating genomic science in the era of precision medicine.
A new method for ultrasonic detection of peel ply at the bondline of out-of-autoclave composite assemblies

Out-of-autoclave materials have long been an established material system for secondary structural applications; however, recent advancements in material properties allow for more advanced structura...
Interprofessional Communication Goes Up When the Electronic Health Record Goes Down.

Objective The electronic health record (EHR) has been faulted for the erosion of interprofessional communication and the patient-physician relationship. Surgical residents may be susceptible to communication workarounds facilitated by the EHR, but the full extent is not well understood. A recent ransomware attack with the abrupt return to paper charting provided a unique opportunity to investigate the impact of the EHR on surgical residents’ interprofessional communication. We sought to explore how surgical residents perceived communications during the 2-month period when the EHR was inaccessible. Design General surgery residents who rotated through the regional tertiary referral medical center and level I trauma center were invited to participate in a semistructured interview about communication with one another, faculty, staff, and patients during the downtime. A grounded theory approach was used to analyze the data. Setting Regional tertiary referral medical center and level I trauma center. Participants General surgery residents who rotated through the affected site. Results Ten general surgery residents were interviewed. Interviews revealed that the abrupt loss of the EHR impacted communication in three major ways: (1) engendered more professional courtesy and collegiality, (2) prioritized bedside patient care over documentation demands, and (3) encouraged more explicit and deliberate communications. Conclusions Our study demonstrates that the loss of the EHR encourages surgery residents interprofessional communication. With healthcare becoming increasingly digital, active efforts should be made to preserve the communication benefits by optimizing existing and emerging technology to facilitate direct face-to-face interactions.
A Fully-integrated LC-Oscillator Based Buck Regulator with Autonomous Resonant Switching for Low-Power Applications

In this paper, a fully integrated, LC-oscillator based buck regulator is presented for low power applications. The proposed design uses a self-resonator as both high-speed clock source and a resonant switch driver for the regulator, which not only achieves significantly improved energy efficiency at 2GHz switching frequency but also delivered a high-quality clock source eliminating requirement of the external high-speed clocks. Measurement on a 65nm testchip shows a wide tuning range from 0.35V to 0.82V with an input voltage 1.1V. The proposed design achieves a peak efficiency of 70.3% and an autonomous clock-less operation. The regulator core area is only 0.079mm2.
En Bloc Versus Piecemeal Resection of Metastatic Brain Tumors

Abstract Brain metastases are the most common intraparenchymal brain tumors. As treatments for malignancies continue to advance, patients are surviving longer. Thus, proper management of intracranial disease that limits neurological sequelae and improves control of intracranial disease is vital. The treatment of these lesions is multidisciplinary, with surgery being an important treatment option. The utilization of surgery has to be tailored to each patient's overall condition. Furthermore, the surgical approach needs to maximize effectiveness and minimize immediate and delayed complications such as recurrence, leptomeningeal disease, and neurological deficits. En bloc resection of brain metastases has been shown to decrease the risk of these complications relative to piecemeal resection. Here we summarize important considerations in the surgical treatment of metastatic brain disease.
Principal Sources of Information African American Fathers Draw Upon to Inform their Sons about Sex and Sexual Health Risks.

Abstract Background While parent-child communication about sex is associated with safer sexual practices among African American youth, there is a noticeable gap in the representation of fathers’ perspectives on talking with their sons about sexual and reproductive health. Moreover, less is known about the sources from which fathers seek information to inform such conversations. Purpose To explore the sources of information used by African-American fathers that formulate the basis of conversations they have with their sons about sex and sexual health risks. Methods This was a qualitative study of African American fathers (N = 29) who had sons, ages 10-15 years. The fathers participated in one of five focus groups conducted across urban and rural North Carolina communities. Data were collected using a 2-hour, audio-recorded semi-structured interview. Results Qualitative content analysis revealed three themes: a) fathers’ personal stories and testimonies; b) instructional media preferences; and c) religious teachings and moral examples. The findings indicated that African-American fathers considered father-son sex education an important and critical aspect of their fathering role. Additionally, we found that the content of father-son sexual and reproductive health communication emphasized the importance of sexual risk reduction, open communication, and sharing their values and beliefs regarding initiation of and appropriate context for sex. The findings have implications for social work, nursing, and public health.
Developing Mindful Collection Decision Making: A Case Study on Analyzing Acquisition E-book Projects Using Financial Concepts

Traditionally, the College of Staten Island (CSI) library has employed cost per use in determining its collection development strategies but is attempting to broaden these assessments by using cost...
Visual acuity outcomes and anti-VEGF therapy intensity in diabetic macular oedema: a real-world analysis of 28 658 patient eyes

Background/Aim To assess visual acuity (VA) outcomes and antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatment intensity in diabetic macular oedema (DMO). Methods Retrospective analysis was performed in treatment-naive patients with DMO from 2013 to 2018 using a database of aggregated de-identified electronic medical records (Vestrum Health). Results At 1 year, 28 658 patient eyes underwent a mean of 6.4 anti-VEGF injections, gaining a mean of +4.2 letters (95% confidence interval for mean gain: +4.0 to +4.5 letters, p Conclusion In clinical practice, patients with DMO undergo fewer anti-VEGF injections and exhibit worse visual gains compared with patients in randomised clinical trials. Visual outcomes correlate with treatment intensity at 1 year, with ceiling effects related to baseline VA.
Electronic Medical Record Search Engine (EMERSE): An Information Retrieval Tool for Supporting Cancer Research.

PURPOSEThe Electronic Medical Record Search Engine (EMERSE) is a software tool built to aid research spanning cohort discovery, population health, and data abstraction for clinical trials. EMERSE i...
92. PERSPECTIVES ON THE PEDIATRICIAN'S ROLE IN SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH: A NATIONAL SURVEY OF CHIEF RESIDENTS

Background Pediatric resident physicians often care for underserved populations and are expected to address social determinants of health (SDH); however, training varies in the identification of and referral to appropriate local resources. Pediatric physicians have reported insufficient knowledge and confidence as reasons for not addressing SDH, but report higher satisfaction when they do address SDH factors in the care of their patients. We aimed to assess chief resident perspectives of the pediatrician's role in, knowledge of, and referral to community resources which mitigate SDH. Methods We performed a national web-based survey of pediatric chief residents in Fall 2019 on their perspectives of SDH referrals, specifically regarding their knowledge of resources, their responsibility to refer, how often they refer, and confidence level in referring. Social determinant resources included: Development & Early Childhood Services, Education Resources, Dental Services, Mental Health, Housing, Parental Employment & Financial Support, Food Insecurity Support, Recreational/Physical Activity Needs, Legal Aid, Transportation Access, Domestic Violence, Parental Substance Use, and Parental Literacy Support. Results 28% (42/150) of programs responded. Chief residents agreed they must have knowledge of and hold responsibility to refer to many social determinant factors; however, practices and confidence levels in referring to resources were often low. For instance, 90% agreed that general pediatricians must have knowledge of housing resources, yet only 45% reported always or often referring, while 36% felt confident in their ability to refer. Chief residents reported lack of knowledge of resources and time constraints as the top factors influencing referring to social needs resources. Conclusions Understanding the specific resources pediatricians lack knowledge of and confidence in referring to can help develop and tailor residency curriculum in SDH screening, referral, and community resources.
Surviving Cyberbullying: A Thematic Analysis of Online Videos.

The Internet offers a wealth of convenience and nearly unlimited connectivity for sharing news, demonstrating talents, and voicing opinions. However, technology and the cyber world also bring new r...
Reconstruction of Quadriceps Muscle Function Using the Latissimus Dorsi Muscle Transfer in an Elderly Patient: A Case Report.

Case We report a case of a 71-year-old man diagnosed with high-grade undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma in the left thigh. He underwent partial resection of the quadriceps and proximal femoral bone, followed by reconstruction with a latissimus dorsi free muscle flap through end-to-end vascular and nerve anastomosis with the femoral vessels and a branch of the femoral nerve, respectively. Recovery of 3/5 knee extension function was achieved 3 months postsurgery without complications. Conclusion Free neurotized latissimus dorsi muscle transfer is a successful reconstructive option to restore knee extension after quadriceps resection. Level of evidence Level IV.
The political economy of COVID-19

We assess the economic and health costs of COVID and policy responses to COVID. Based on initial estimates of health and economic costs, social distancing policies were justified, but these estimates now seem too high because of learning by doing. Significant differences in mortality rates across US states and countries can be explained by population density, climate, exposure, and policy. Regions that were able to contain the disease early have seen fewer deaths and lower economic losses. Some developing countries initially imposed drastic, costly measures, perhaps motivated by political economy. We also find that there has been underinvestment in prevention and mitigation that could have reduced the cost of adaptation and suggest that there is a lesson for climate change policies.
Corrections for mRNA extraction and sample normalization errors find increased mRNA levels may compensate for cancer haplo-insufficiency.

The relative mRNA levels of differentially expressed (DE) and housekeeping (HK) genes of six aneuploid cancer lines with large-scale genomic changes identified by SNP/SKY analysis were compared with similar genes in diploid cells. The aneuploid cancer lines had heterogeneous genomic landscapes with subdiploid, diploid, and supradiploid regions and higher overall gene copy numbers compared with diploid cells. The mRNA levels of the haploid, diploid, and triploid HK genes were found to be higher after correction of easily identifiable mRNA measurement errors. Surprisingly, diploid and aneuploid HK gene mRNA levels were the same by standard expression array analyses, despite the higher copy numbers of the cancer cell HK genes. This paradoxical result proved to be due to inaccurate inputs of true intra-cellular mRNAs for analysis. These errors were corrected by analyzing the expression intensities of DE and HK genes in mRNAs extracted from equal cell numbers (50:50) of intact cancer cell and lymphocyte mixtures. Correction for both mRNA extraction/sample normalization errors and total gene copy numbers found the SUIT-2 and PC-3 cell lines' cancer genes both had ∼50% higher mRNA levels per single allele than lymphocyte gene alleles. These increased mRNA levels for single transcribed cancer alleles may restore functional mRNA levels to cancer genes rendered haplo-insufficient by the genetic instability of cancer. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Horizontal Case Representation

We present a new case representation that seeks to make case-based reasoning (CBR) more suited to real world applications. We propose a horizontal representation that is composed of two features, one to represent the problem and one to represent the solution. We also present a similarity metric tailored to our representation. Rather than parametrizing the distance function with weights, it requires one parameter that recommends the cardinality of values for new problems to be solved by the system. Our representation is less restrictive during case acquisition as it does not constrain how non-experts can populate cases and it requires less knowledge engineering effort than the traditional method. We compare our representation to the traditional case representation and show that it is superior when cases are incomplete. Finally, we illustrate the effectiveness of our representation in a real world application, where the demarcation between problem and solution is blurred.
A temperature-sensitive trpS mutation interferes with trp RNA-binding attenuation protein (TRAP) regulation of trp gene expression in Bacillus subtilis.

In Bacillus subtilis, the tryptophan-activated trp RNA-binding attenuation protein (TRAP) regulates expression of the seven tryptophan biosynthetic genes by binding to specific repeat sequences in the transcripts of the trp operon and of the folate operon, the operon containing trpG. Steinberg observed that strains containing a temperature-sensitive mutant form of tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase, encoded by the trpS1 allele, produced elevated levels of the tryptophan pathway enzymes, when grown at high temperatures in the presence of excess L-tryptophan (W. Steinberg, J. Bacteriol. 117:1023-1034, 1974). We have confirmed this observation and have shown that expression of two reporter gene fusions, trpE9-9lacZ and trpG9-9lacZ, is also increased under these conditions. Deletion of the terminator or antiterminator RNA secondary structure involved in TRAP regulation of trp operon expression eliminated the trpS1 effect, suggesting that temperature-sensitive expression was mediated by the TRAP protein. Analysis of expression of mtrB, the gene encoding the TRAP subunit, both by examination of a lacZ translational fusion and by measuring the intracellular levels of TRAP by immunoblotting, indicated that the trpS1-induced increase in trp gene expression was not due to inhibition of mtrB expression or to alteration of the amount of TRAP present per cell. Increasing the cellular level of TRAP by overexpressing mtrB partially counteracted the trpS1 effect, demonstrating that active TRAP was limiting in the trpS1 mutant. We also showed that elevated trp operon expression was not due to increased transcription initiation at the upstream aroF promoter, a promoter that also contributes to trp operon expression. We postulate that the increase in trp gene expression observed in the trpS1 mutant is due to the reduced availability of functional TRAP. This could result from inhibition of TRAP function by uncharged tRNA(Trp) molecules or by increased synthesis of some other transcript capable of binding and sequestering the TRAP regulatory protein.
A master-slave network architecture to support QoS routing

QoS routing is concerned with determining a path through the network that has the potential of satisfying the constraints of a QoS connection while simultaneously achieving global efficiency in network resource utilization. Existing QoS routing techniques suffer from excessive computation, communication and storage overheads and/or routing delay, which hinders their applicability in large networks consisting of multiple domains. In this paper we present a novel master-slave network architecture that provides a comprehensive solution to the problem of QoS routing. The architecture combines the existing routing techniques in an intelligent manner, such that the composite routing technique mitigates the overheads associated with each one of the constituent techniques. Due to this the composite routing technique can be used in a large network, and hence the architecture provides a unified solution to the problem of intra-domain and inter-domain QoS routing. The architecture also incorporates the efficient reverse path precomputation technique which further reduces the overheads associated with one of the constituent QoS routing techniques, and hence the composite QoS routing technique
Optical Bistability Effects in a Dye Ring Laser

The theory of a homogeneously broadened two-mode ring laser is discussed. Because the mode coupling constant can be twice as great as under conditions of inhomogeneous broadening, new effects like quasi-bistability appear, and the radiation field undergoes a phase transition near threshold that is of the first order. This is reflected in a double peaked probability distribution of each mode intensity, and in alternate switching of the excitation between modes. A first passage time calculation shows that the dwell times should increase rapidly with excitation. These predictions are tested by photoelectric counting and other measurements on a dye ring laser. Although the observed photoelectric counting distributions closely resemble the theoretical ones, measurements of the dwell times reveal significant discrepancies between theory and experiment, that are believed to be due to backscattering. The adequacy of a theory based on two-level atom models in accounting for the behavior of a dye ring laser is briefly discussed.
Compiling MATLAB programs to ScaLAPACK: exploiting task and data parallelism

We suggest a new approach aimed at reducing the effort required to program distributed-memory multicomputers. The key idea in our approach is to automatically convert a program written in a library-based programming language (MATLAB) to a parallel program based on the ScaLAPACK parallel library. In the process of performing this conversion, we apply compiler optimizations that simultaneously exploit task and data parallelism. As our results show, our approach is feasible and practical and our optimization provides significant performance benefits.
Characteristics of microscale diffusion flames

This paper describes an investigation of microscale diffusion flames, which are potential sources of energy for future micro power generators. Of particular interest was the extinction process, as it would have direct bearing on the minimum size and power of the devices in which such flames would be used. Propane diffusion flames stabilized on top of vertical stainless steel hypodermic tubes were studied. Since intrusive probes could not be used at small scales, flame visualization and chemiluminescence measurements were used to investigate the extinction process. The causes of extinction and blowoff were elucidated by correlating measured microflame behavior with the predictions of a simple jet flame model. The flame lengths, predicted by the model were in good agreement with observations. Moreover, provided with one experimental parameter, the flame standoff distance, the model properly predicted the dependence of the flame shape upon the fuel flow rate. The model also predicted that at fuel flow rates near extinction, the fuel jet completely premixes with air within the standoff distance to form a combustible mixture just upstream of the flame, suggesting that near extinction the fuel burns in a flat premixed flame. The model accurately determined the fuel flow rate at quenching by equating the predicted flame length to the measured standoff distance. Finally, experiments conducted under this study showed that heating the surrounding air significantly reduces the fuel flow rate at extinction.
Which Middle Ages? Literature Anthologies and Critical Ideologies

This article surveys the representation of Middle English literature in seven successive editions (1962–2 ) of the Norton Anthology of English Literature, the anthology most commonly used in undergraduate British Literature courses in the United States. An analysis of which texts and excerpts have appeared in this anthology can provide insights into the recent history of medieval studies and can also reveal the extent to which anthologies can be said to invent as much as to represent a literary tradition.
Exploiting subjectivity analysis in blogs to improve political leaning categorization

In this paper, we address a relatively new and interesting text categorization problem: classify a political blog as either liberal or conservative, based on its political leaning. Our subjectivity analysis based method is twofold: 1) we identify subjective sentences that contain at least two strong subjective clues based on the General Inquirer dictionary; 2) from subjective sentences identified, we extract opinion expressions and other features to build political leaning classifiers. Experimental results with a political blog corpus we built show that by using features from subjective sentences can significantly improve the classification performance. In addition, by extracting opinion expressions from subjective sentences, we are able to reveal opinions that are characteristic of a specific political leaning to some extent.
REDS: Resistance Extraction for Digital Simulation

This paper describes an extractor designed to produce resistance values for use in digital circuit simulation. REDS avoids resistance extraction on most nets in a design using a simple filter based on the perimeter and area values calculated by the capacitance extractor, allowing it to concentrate on areas where resistance may substantially affect circuit timing. Nets are extracted using a fast square counting algorithm, and simplified before output to remove spurious elements. REDS is designed to work on the Magic layout database.
Plant Toxins That Affect Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors: A Review

Plants produce a wide variety of chemical compounds termed secondary metabolites that are not involved in basic metabolism, photosynthesis, or reproduction. These compounds are used as flavors, fragrances, insecticides, dyes, hallucinogens, nutritional supplements, poisons, and pharmaceutical agents. However, in some cases these secondary metabolites found in poisonous plants perturb biological systems. Ingestion of toxins from poisonous plants by grazing livestock often results in large economic losses to the livestock industry. The chemical structures of these compounds are diverse and range from simple, low molecular weight toxins such as oxalate in halogeton to the highly complex norditerpene alkaloids in larkspurs. While the negative effects of plant toxins on people and the impact of plant toxins on livestock producers have been widely publicized, the diversity of these toxins and their potential as new pharmaceutical agents for the treatment of diseases in people and animals has also received wides...
Maximizing Responses to a Nationwide Faculty Survey.

Using on-campus facilitators to distribute and retrieve an 11-page questionnaire administered to a nationwide sample of humanities faculty and nonhumanities department chairmen in two-year colleges resulted in an 84% return rate. The 2,000 subjects were drawn from 156 junior/community colleges selected on the basis of geographic locale and type of control. Secondary stratification variables included college size, organization, and curriculum emphasis. Accurate rosters of full-time and part-time faculty were generated from class schedules. Pilot procedures, selection of the college and faculty samples, and the use of facilitators are described.
Mathematical aspects of laser beam shaping and splitting

We will discuss general mathematical ideas arising in the problems of Laser beam shaping and splitting. We will be particularly concerned with questions concerning the scaling and symmetry of such systems.
Effects of the antiestrogen tamoxifen and the aromatase inhibitor letrozole on serum hormones and bone characteristics in a preclinical tumor model for breast cancer.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of the antiestrogen tamoxifen and the aromatase inhibitor letrozole on tumor growth, serum hormones, uterine weight, body composition, and bone characteristics in mice. Experimental Design: Human estrogen-dependent breast cancer cells stably transfected with the aromatase gene (MCF-7CA cells) were inoculated in Matrigel subcutaneously into ovariectomized nude mice. This model represents postmenopausal breast cancer in many respects, including the fact that estrogen is no longer produced by the ovaries and is not under feedback regulation by gonadotropins. Mice that received subcutaneously implanted MCF-7CA cancer cells were then treated with tamoxifen or letrozole for 7 weeks. Results: As reported previously, tumor growth was markedly inhibited by both tamoxifen (100 μg/day) and letrozole (10 μg/day). Tamoxifen treatment led to increased bone mineral density (BMD) and hyperplastic uteri. Mice treated with letrozole had significantly smaller uteri than the controls and tamoxifen-treated mice. Letrozole did not affect BMD. There was no significant difference in systemic leptin and insulin-like growth factor I levels as a result of tamoxifen or letrozole treatment. Conclusions: Tamoxifen treatment inhibited breast cancer cell growth and increased BMD but caused uterine hypertrophy in this preclinical model of postmenopausal breast cancer. Letrozole inhibited tumor growth without inducing uterine hypertrophy. In addition, letrozole had no effect on BMD. These findings provide experimental evidence that letrozole is an effective and safe (in terms of risk of endometrial cancer risk and osteoporosis) alternative or complement to tamoxifen treatment for breast cancer.
Synthetic, spectroscopic and antitumor activity studies on phosphacyanoboranes

Abstract Triphenylphosphinecyanoborane (1), diphenyl(2-methoxyphenyl)phosphinecyanoborane (2), diphenyl(p-tolyl)phosphinecyanoborane (3), methyldiphenylphosphinecyanoborane (4) were synthesized either by Lewis-base exchange reaction or by the reaction of the sodium cyanoborohydride with the corresponding phosphine hydrochloride in 54–88% yields. All the products were characterized by spectroscopic techniques and elemental analyses. These compounds were evaluated for their antitumor activity.
Interference of K -Capture, Gamma Transitions through a Virtual State, and Inner Bremsstrahlung Transitions

The energy distribution of photons emitted during the transition from the ground state of ${\mathrm{Ni}}^{59}$ to that of ${\mathrm{Co}}^{59}$ has been calculated with allowance being made for interference between the $K$-capture, $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray transition through a virtual intermediate excited state of ${\mathrm{Co}}^{59}$ and the second forbidden $K$-capture transition, accompanied by inner bremsstrahlung, between ground states. The effect of the transition through the virtual state is to introduce terms in the photon energy distribution whose maxima are at higher energies than those resulting from inner bremsstrahlung transitions. In particular, the energy distribution for the leading interference term is similar to that used by Schmorak, who found that a better fit to his data was obtained by assuming that the virtual capture transition exists. Thus, the present calculation confirms Schmorak's method of analysis and, therefore, gives support for the existence of the virtual capture transition.
The future of thiazolidinedione therapy in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Since their approval, thiazolidinediones (TZDs) have been used extensively as insulin-sensitizers for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Activation of peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) nuclear receptors by TZDs leads to a vast spectrum of metabolic and antiinflammatory effects. In the past decade, clinicians and scientists across the fields of metabolism, diabetes, liver disease (NAFLD), atherosclerosis, inflammation, infertility, and even cancer have had high hopes about the potential for TZDs to treat many of these diseases. However, an increasing awareness about undesirable “off-target” effects of TZDs have made us rethink their role and be more cautious about the long-term benefits and risks related to their use. This review examines the most relevant work on the benefits and risks associated with TZD treatment, with a focus on the only PPARγ agonist currently available (pioglitazone), aiming to offer the reader a balanced overview about the current and future role of TZDs in the management of insulin-resistant states and T2DM.
First report of bacterial soft rot on Vanda orchids caused by Dickeya chrysanthemi (Erwinia chrysanthemi) in the United States.

Vanda orchids are epiphytes grown for their attractive flowers by commercial producers and hobbyists throughout Florida. In August 2007, five Vanda hybrids, with an economic value of $150 each, were found at a nursery in central Florida with leaves that were macerated, brown, and water soaked. According to the growers, the plants were normal the previous day but symptoms developed rapidly. The plants were immediately removed from the greenhouse to prevent potential disease spread. Bacteria were isolated according to the method of Schaad et al. (1). Isolated bacteria grew at 37°C, were gram negative, degraded pectate, and produced phosphatase. MIDI (Sherlock version TSBA 4.10; Microbial Identification 16 System, Newark, DE) (SIM 0.906) identified the bacteria as Erwinia chrysanthemi (Dickeya chrysanthemi Burkholder et al. 1953) Samson et al. 2005. PCR was performed on the 16S rRNA gene (GenBank Accession No. EU526397) with primers 27f (5′-GAGAGTTTGATCCTG GCTCAG-3′) and 1495r (5′-TACGGCTACCTTGTTACGA-3′) (2)...
Garnet-orthopyroxene-plagioclase-quartz barometry : refinement and application to the English River subprovince and the Minnesota River valley

Recent experimental, theoretical, and thermodynamic studies permit better calibration of two reactions for geobarometry: grossular+pyrope+quartz=anorthite+enstatite grossular+almandine+quartz=anorthite+ferrosilite If both reactions are applied using the same thermodynamic data and activity models they should yield the same pressure for a given garnet-pyroxene-plagioclase-quartz assemblage. Application to a variety of high-grade terrains generally yielded excellent results. However, poor results have been obtained for high-Fe rocks which can be traced to errors in activity models for garnet and/or pyroxene. Either a two-site ideal mixing model for orthopyroxene (cf. Wood and Banno 1973) underestimates enstatite activity for high-Fe orthopyroxenes or the Ganguly and Saxena (1984) model overestimates pyrope activity in low-Mg garnets.
Subcellular compartmentalization by local differentiation of cytoplasmic structure

The compartmentalization of eukaryotic cells by internal membranes and the subcellular localization of endogenous macromolecules by specific binding mechanisms are familiar concepts. In this report we present evidence that the cytoplasmic ground substance, which surrounds and contains the membrane-bound compartments, may also be compartmentalized by local differentiations of its submicroscopic structure that sort subcellular particles on the basis of size. The subcellular distribution of size-fractionated, fluorescent tracer particles was studied in living cells by ratio imaging and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP). Large and small particles showed different distributions within the cytoplasmic volume, suggesting that the large particles were relatively excluded from some domains. While the structural basis for this phenomenon is not yet understood in detail, ratio imaging of large and small particles can be used as an empirical tool to identify cytoplasmic compartments for further study. The cytoplasmic diffusion coefficient (Dcyto) and % mobile fraction of the large particles showed considerable spatial variation over the projected area of the cell, while Dcyto and % mobile fraction of the small particles did not. A model is presented to account for this difference. Based on this model, a method is proposed by which FRAP can be used to detect sol-gel transitions in the cytoplasmic ground substance of living cells.
Determination of Binding Selectivities in Host-guest Complexation By Electrospray/Quadrupole Ion Trap Mass Spectrometry

The quantifiable relationship between the equilibrium solution composition and electrospray (ESI) mass spectral peak intensities of simple host-guest complexes was investigated. Specifically, host-guest complexes of simple crown ethers or glymes with alkali metals and ammonium ions were studied. Comparisons were made between the theoretical concentrations of host-guest complexes derived in solution from known stability constants and the peak intensities for the complexes observed by ESI mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Two types of complexation experiments were undertaken. First, complexation of a single guest ion, such as an alkali metal, and two crown ethers was studied to evaluate the determination of binding selectivities. Second, complexation of two different guest ions by a single polyether host was also examined. In general, solvation was found to play an integral part in the ability to quantify binding selectivities by ESI-MS. The more similar the solvation energies of the two complexes in the mixture, the more quantifiable their binding selectivities by ESI-MS. In some cases, excellent correlation was obtained between the theoretically predicted selectivity ratios and the ESI mass spectral ratios, in particular when the ESI ratios were adjusted based on evaluation of ESI response factors for the various host-guest complexes.
Recent progress in deep-space optical communications

Progress in the NASA-funded optical communications program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is described. This description includes a system-level breadboard for an optical communications flight package, the planning for the Earth-reception facilities, and the results of a recent optical communications experiment to deep space with the Galileo spacecraft.
Differential display of messenger ribonucleic acid: a useful technique for analyzing differential gene expression in human brain tumors.

IN THIS STUDY, a differential display method for messenger ribonucleic acid was successfully used to identify genes differentially expressed between normal human brain and malignant glioma tissues. A total of 60 differentially expressed sequences were initially identified, of which 21 were cloned and sequenced. Twenty of the cloned sequences represented novel genes, and one sequence represented a kinesin heavy chain (KHC) gene isoform. The KHC isoform was selected for further characterization. Northern blots of total ribonucleic acid isolated from normal brain and a glioblastoma were probed with our KHC probe and confirmed the differential expression of this gene. Expression analysis of a variety of normal human tissues demonstrated that this KHC isoform is expressed only in brain tissues, with no detectable expression in placenta, spleen, kidney, lung, liver, or skeletal muscle. Our results confirm the rapid and sensitive nature of the differential display technique in identifying differential gene expression. This method offers a means to identify new genes of biological interest in human brain tumors such as oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and tumor-specific markers.
Inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3beta activity with lithium prevents and attenuates paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain

Paclitaxel (taxol) is a first-line chemotherapy-drug used to treat many types of cancers. Neuropathic pain and sensory dysfunction are the major toxicities, which are dose-limiting and significantly reduce the quality of life in patients. Two known critical spinal mechanisms underlying taxol-induced neuropathic pain are an increased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and suppressed glial glutamate transporter activities. In this study, we uncovered that increased activation of glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3β) in the spinal dorsal horn was concurrently associated with increased protein expressions of GFAP, IL-1β and a decreased protein expression of glial glutamate transporter 1 (GLT-1), as well as the development and maintenance of taxol-induced neuropathic pain. The enhanced GSK3β activities were supported by the concurrently decreased AKT and mTOR activities. The changes of all these biomarkers were basically prevented when animals received pre-emptive lithium (a GSK3β inhibitor) treatment, which also prevented the development of taxol-induced neuropathic pain. Further, chronic lithium treatment, which began on day 11 after the first taxol injection, reversed the existing mechanical and thermal allodynia induced by taxol. The taxol-induced increased GSK3β activities and decreased AKT and mTOR activities in the spinal dorsal horn were also reversed by lithium. Meanwhile, protein expressions of GLT-1, GFAP and IL-1β in the spinal dorsal horn were improved. Hence, suppression of spinal GSK3β activities is a key mechanism used by lithium to reduce taxol-induced neuropathic pain, and targeting spinal GSK3β is an effective approach to ameliorate GLT-1 expression and suppress the activation of astrocytes and IL-1β over-production in the spinal dorsal horn.
Investigation of internal interfacial reactions of the Fe−Ti hydride system

FeTi is an excellent candidate material for the reversible storage of hydrogen, however, the system requires an activation process after exposure to air and experiences deactivation after a number of charge-discharge cycles. Backscatter Conversion Electron Mossbauer Spectroscopy (CEMS) has been used to determine mechanistic details about reactions occurring in thin-films of FeTi during initial activation and cyclic deactivation.
The contribution of agriculture to economic growth : some empirical evidence

The paper analyzes the contribution of agriculture to economic growth. By employing cross-section data for the developing and developed countries during 1960-1970 and 1970-1979, it is found that in the context of Mr. Chenery-Syrquin's model intercountry variation in agricultural growth explains a significant portion of intercountry variation in the industrial (non-agricultural) growth. Further, in the context of an aggregate production function agricultural growth is found to contribute significantly to productivity increases and thus to overall economic growth. For the developing countries sample of the 1970-79 period, the results show that a one percent increase in agricultural growth leads to approximately four-tenths of a percentage point increase in productivity. It is also found that export growth contributes positively to productivity growth while the inflation rate contributes negatively.
The role of universities and colleges in educating gifted undergraduates

The overwhelming weight of the literature on "gifted learners" deals with the K-12 years; little attention is given to postsecondary efforts. Among the many approaches to meeting the needs of gifted students at the college level are admission without high school graduation; credit for previous advanced work; identification during and after admission; advising by specifically designated personnel; career planning; and special programs such as honors programs, admission to graduate courses, mentorships, and research opportunities. Professors can encourage gifted learners by adapting their teaching methods and by personal contact. Scholarships and academic recognition also support high aspirations. Many issues at the college level echo those encountered in the K-12 system. Attention to the gifted learner at the college level represents uncharted territory and a new frontier.
Voxel-based motion bounding and workspace estimation for robotic manipulators

Identification of regions in space that a robotic manipulator can reach in a given amount of time is important for many applications, such as safety monitoring of industrial manipulators and trajectory and task planning. However, due to the high-dimensional configuration space of many robots, reasoning about possible physical motion is often intractable. In this paper, we propose a novel method for creating a reachability grid, a voxel-based representation that estimates the minimum time needed for a manipulator to reach any physical location within its workspace. We use up to second-degree constraints on joint motion to model motion limits for each joint independently, followed by successive voxel approximations to map these limits on to the robot's physical workspace. Results using a simulated manipulator indicate that our method can produce accurate reachability grids in real-time, even for robots with many degrees of freedom. Furthermore, errors are almost exclusively biased towards producing more optimistic reachability estimates, which is a desirable characteristic for many applications.