cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Female Circumcision and Genital Mutilation

Female circumcision is a popular practice in northern African and southern Arabian regions that involves the removal of some, or all, of the external female genitalia. Between 100 and 140 million living women have been circumcised, and it is performed on 3 million more girls annually. Defenders argue that these surgeries involve important cultural practices, but critics see them as forms of oppression leaving women sexual cripples. Studies show they cause morbidity and mortality among women and bad obstetrical outcomes. Female genital cutting has become a test case for extreme ethical relativism because these rites are approved within the cultures where they are practiced, but otherwise disapproved.
Cellular and molecular pathology of adrenocortical carcinoma

Information molecular and genetic alterations as well as about morphological stages of adrenocortical tumorigenesis is sparse in comparison with our understanding of the development of more common neoplasms like those arising in breast or colon tissue. Breast and colon cancer have well-defined pre-cancerous or cancerous precursor lesions, carcinoma in situ, and adenoma, respectively. Stages and related genetic and epigenetic alterations are well defined. In contrast, adrenocortical tumorigenesis is less well defined. It is still a matter of debate whether adrenocortical carcinomas (ACCs) arise from normal tissue via the stages of hyperplasia or adenoma. It is certainly known that some hereditary diseases predispose to the development of ACC and, in fact, some of the alterations caused by these genetic syndromes can also be found in sporadic ACCs (see Chapter 10). The contributions of p53, IGF2, and WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway to adrenocortical tumorigenesis are discussed in chapters in this book dedicated to hereditary syndromes and their underlying genetic changes. This chapter will focus on the contributions of other known or suggested pathways, genomic and genetic alterations, as well as common principles of carcinogenesis, such as aneuploidy and clonal origin.
The nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics of the dietary requirement for choline

Advances in nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics have been instrumental in demonstrating that nutrient requirements vary among individuals. This is exemplified by studies of the nutrient choline, in which gender, single-nucleotide polymorphisms, estrogen status, and gut microbiome composition have been shown to influence its optimal intake level. Choline is an essential nutrient with a wide range of biological functions, and current studies are aimed at refining our understanding of its requirements and, importantly, on defining the molecular mechanisms that mediate its effects in instances of suboptimal dietary intake. This chapter introduces the reader to challenges in developing individual nutrition recommendations, the biological function of choline, current and future research paradigms to fully understand the consequences of inadequate choline nutrition, and some forward thinking about the potential for individualized nutrition recommendations to become a tangible application for improved health.
Quantifying the Separation of Enhanced ZDR and KDP Regions in Nonsupercell Tornadic Storms

AbstractTornadoes associated with nonsupercell storms present unique challenges for forecasters. These tornadic storms, although often not as violent or deadly as supercells, occur disproportionate...
How Do We Solve Maria's Problem? A Hospitalist Perspective.

Maria’s case is quite familiar to me. I practice as an internal medicine hospitalist in Indiana, and in my county hospital I am frequently asked to admit uninsured immigrant patients for emergent h...
L-Oxothiazolidine 4-carboxylate pretreatment of isolated human peripheral blood lymphocytes reduces sulfur mustard cytotoxicity

Sulfur mustard (HD, mustard gas) is a vesicant chemical warfare agent for which there is no specific medical countermeasure. A potential approach to combating the debilitating effects of this agent is the use of compounds that can react with this material before it interacts with critical macro-molecules. Glutathione (GSH), a tripeptide that exists in high concentrations in cells, reacts with HD and is involved in HD detoxification. Pretreatment of human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) with 10 mmol/L L-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylate (OTC), a "masked" cysteine precursor, increased intracellular glutathione levels 25-50% over control values. Pretreated PBL were harvested, washed, and exposed to 10, 50, or 100 µmol/L HD. Flow cytometry was used to measure cytotoxicity by propidium iodide uptake. Pretreatment of PBL with OTC led to small decreases in cytotoxicity after HD exposure. However, treatment of cells with OTC after HD exposure was not beneficial. Compounds that can modulate GSH levels within the cell may help to reduce the cytotoxicity of HD when used as a pretreatment.
Urinary oxalate as a potential mediator of kidney disease in diabetes mellitus and obesity.

Purpose of review Hyperoxaluria can cause kidney disease through multiple mechanisms, including tubular obstruction from calcium oxalate crystals, sterile inflammation, and tubular epithelial cell injury. Hyperoxaluria is also observed in individuals with diabetes mellitus and obesity, which are in turn risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD). Whether hyperoxaluria is a potential mediator of increased risk of CKD in diabetes mellitus and obesity is unknown. Recent findings Individuals with diabetes have increased levels of plasma glyoxal (a protein glycation product) and glyoxylate, both of which are precursors for oxalate. Increased gut absorption of oxalate in obesity may be because of obesity-associated inflammation. A recent study in individuals with CKD found that higher 24 h urinary oxalate excretion was independently associated with increased risk of kidney disease progression, especially in individuals with diabetes and obesity. Summary Both diabetes mellitus and obesity are associated with higher urinary oxalate excretion through distinct mechanisms. Hyperoxaluria could be a mechanism by which kidney disease develops in individuals with diabetes mellitus or obesity and could also contribute to progressive loss of renal function. Future research on pharmacologic or dietary measures to limit oxalate absorption or generation are required to test whether lowering urinary oxalate excretion is beneficial in preventing kidney disease development and progression in diabetes mellitus and obesity.
A website assessment tool for patient engagement: A verification

The current healthcare environment encourages patients to participate in their healthcare. One way to do so is to design and manage a website that empowers patients and family members to be involve...
Synthesis of Nitrogen-Bridged Purine-Like C-Nucleosides from Ethyl 2,5-Anhydro-6-O-benzoyl-D-allonodithioate.

Coupling of the title compound (I) with 2-(aminomethyl)pyridine (II) produce the thioamide (III) which is cyclized in the presence of mercuric oxide/mercuric bromide, yielding the imidazolo(1,5-a)pyridine (IV).
Moderate failure as an instructional tool.

There is some research to suggest a departure from the classic psychocurricular approach which uses only success in the special classes for the mentally retarded. Various patterns of success and fa...
Measured Improvement in the Competency and Comfort Level of Respiratory Therapists Obtained Through the Implementation of a Program of Independent Ventilator Study, Review and Practice

Background: Respiratory Therapists in a small community Hospital need to maintain mechanical ventilation skills including accurate initial set up even though they may not regularly use mechanical ventilation. A unit of instruction including independent study modules, review of basic mechanical ventilator set up according to facility approved protocols and practice scenarios with rationale was developed to assess whether comfort and competency of the RT staff could be improved with participation. Methods: Pre and post participation comfort (using a Likert scale) and competency (using a timed assessment of initial ventilator settings according to approved facility protocols) by respiratory therapists in a small community hospital was measured. A unit of instruction including seven independent study modules, scenarios for practice with associated correct answers and rationale was developed. Participants completed the independent study modules and practiced equipment set up according to facility specific protocol parameters. A co-worker measured the time to complete set up and assessed the accuracy of settings for each module according to given parameters and answers/rationale. Comfort and competency of initial ventilator set up was measured following completion of the instruction and practice. Results: Prior to the study, 75% of the study participants felt that a unit of instruction on their facility ventilator and protocol parameters would be helpful with only 50% agreeing to a statement that they felt comfortable using the facility ventilator on their own. Prior to the unit of instruction, when given a written scenario and asked to set up the ventilator 43% of participants set up the ventilator correctly according to the facility protocols in under 5 min. Following the unit of study, 86% of participants set up the ventilator correctly and 100% were able to set it up in under 5 min. Following the unit of study 100% of the participants agreed (or strongly agreed) with a statement that they felt more confident using the facility ventilator protocols and 100% agreed with a statement that a review is important to maintain skills. Conclusions: Regular instruction, practice with feedback/rationale and monitoring can improve RT comfort and competence in relation to mechanical ventilator performance.
Pre-diagnosis Multidisciplinary Tumor Board and Time to Staging in Lung Cancer: The Case Western MetroHealth Experience

Introduction National guidelines support the discussion of cancer patients by multidisciplinary tumor boards (MTB). We researched whether early pre-diagnosis multidisciplinary tumor board discussions are associated with shorter times to staging in lung cancer. Methods We reviewed our institution's lung cancer and MTB registries to retrospectively study if an early discussion at pre-diagnostic MTB (pd-MTB) influenced the timeliness of diagnostic evaluation. Over 14 months, 161 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of lung cancer were included. Fifty-five patients were presented at pd-MTB while 106 (controls) patients were not. The primary outcome was the difference in the time interval from suspicious imaging (Ix) to completion of staging (Sx). Outcomes were adjusted for key confounders with a multiple regression analysis. Results For stages I, II, and III lung cancer, where time to therapy matters, early discussion of patients with nodules suspicious for malignancy at pd-MTB was associated with no time delays when compared to patients who were not discussed in pd-MTB. The mean time intervals for imaging to staging (with standard deviations) are 65 days in controls (sd = 42.67) and 75 days (sd = 58.27) in tumor board cases (p=0.39). Adjusting for confounders with a multiple regression analysis among all stages revealed a similar lack of difference in time intervals to diagnosis, staging, and therapy. Conclusion Our stage I-III lung cancer cases (pd-MTB) completed staging in a timely manner, similar to controls (no pd-MTB). The severity of illness at presentation and the availability of diagnostic services and others likely influence the results. Our manuscript shares important numerical data on timelines during cancer diagnosis and treatment. Using this data, prospective registries examining the process workflow may help standardize cancer quality goals and maximize referrals from primary-care/specialty providers. The key findings in our study create a paradigm for future studies to create and achieve "door-to-balloon" time targets for lung cancer care (akin to cardiac care) across different styles of tumor boards.
Attentiveness and Fidgeting While Using a Stand-Biased Desk in Elementary School Children.

Standing desks are a viable option to decrease sedentary time in the classroom. However, it is important that standing desks are not detrimental to classroom behavior or learning. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of stand-biased desks on fidgeting and attentiveness. Ninety-seven students in grades 3, 4, and 6 (ages 8–12 years) volunteered to participate in this study. The intervention employed a within-classroom crossover design, with teacher-determined allocation for seating within each classroom and included the replacement of one-half of the traditional sitting desks with stand-biased desks. Direct observation of student’s attentive and fidgeting behaviors occurred at three assessment periods, at baseline when all students were in a sitting desk condition and at the end of each nine-week intervention. Stand-biased desks did not influence fidgeting behavior, but did have an impact on attentive behavior. Students that were less attentive at baseline had a 40–80% increase incidence rate in non-attentive behavior while in the traditional desk as compared to the stand-biased desk after the intervention. While fidgeting and non-attentive episodes (p = 0.034) were significantly related, the type of desk did not significantly moderate this relationship (p = 0.810). Standing desks can be incorporated into the classroom without negatively influencing classroom behavior.
Congruence of Executive Compensation to Firm Strategy: Cost Leadership Strategy and Shift in Weight on Accounting Measures in Executive Compensation

We investigate the relationship between the strategies pursued by firms and the emphasis on different accounting measures in executive compensation. Ittner and Larcker (2001) note that despite the claim that performance is enhanced when the measurement system is tied into the critical success factors (i.e. strategies pursued by firms), there has been scant investigation into the emphasis on different performance measures used by firms pursuing different strategies. Firms pursuing a cost leadership strategy seek to achieve their competitive advantage by competing through lower prices and high volume which shows up in terms of higher sales. Accordingly in firms that pursue a cost leadership strategy, the compensation contracts of managers have a high emphasis on sales. On the other hand, firms pursuing differentiation strategy require their managers to improve performance through a wide variety of options with the emphasis being on creative flair, exploring novel ideas and strong research. Accounting measures such as returns on assets (ROA) and sales limit managerial attention to specific areas of firm performance; accordingly, compensation contracts of managers of firms pursuing a differentiation strategy have a low and insignificant emphasis on accounting measures and put more emphasis on multiple dimensions of performance measure (for example non-financial measures Ittner et al. 1997). Our study provides empirical evidence on the congruence properties of performance measures in compensation contracts. Following Tripathy (2006) we develop constructs using publicly available data that capture the strategies pursued by firms. We employ these measures in empirical models to examine the emphasis on accounting measures in executive compensation. The results indicate that both sales and ROA have positive and significant weight in executive compensation contracts. However, when evaluated in the context of the strategies pursued by the firms, firms pursuing a cost leadership strategy place a higher weight on the sales measure and lower (albeit insignificant) weight on the ROA measure. On the other hand, firms pursuing a differentiation strategy place a low or insignificant weight on the accounting measures. Our empirical findings show that the weight on accounting measures in compensation contracts shift from ROA to sales for firms pursuing a cost leadership strategy. In so doing, we bring to light the congruence properties of performance measures in compensation contracts in the context of the strategies pursued by the firms. Our results remain consistent to alternative specifications using additional control variables. This study has important implications for both compensation committee members and regulators as they seek to devise effective and efficient reward systems.
Resource Room Programs: Where are we Now?:

Resource room programs are reported to be the most widely used educational service delivery system for the mildly handicapped, but there appears to be considerable variation in the ways in which th...
A Naphthalene Diimide Covalent Organic Framework: Comparison of Cathode Performance in Lithium-Ion Batteries with Amorphous Cross-linked and Linear Analogues, and Its Use in Aqueous Lithium-Ion Batteries

We report a two-dimensional (2D) imine-linked covalent organic framework (COF) containing naphthalene diimide (NDI) redox groups, TAPB-NDI COF. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with TAPB-NDI COF-based ...
BPA Replacement Compounds: Current Status and Perspectives

Since growing evidence has manifested that bisphenol A (BPA) may adversely affect human health, numerous BPA replacement compounds have been gradually introduced into the industry. Although BPA rep...
The Role of AI Attribution Knowledge in the Evaluation of Artwork

Artwork is increasingly being created by machines through algorithms with little or no input from humans. Yet, very little is known about people’s attitudes and evaluations of artwork generated by ...
Application of Interacting Multiple Model for Future State Prediction of Small Unmanned Aerial Systems

In this paper, an interacting multiple model (IMM) is proposed to generate future position estimates and enable the safe deployment of small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) in the national airspace (NAS). The proposed system has been developed in the ROS-Gazebo physics engine environment. The IMM module is executed on the ground control station (GCS) and it is isolated from the vehicle. The IMM requires positional information of the sUAS, we utilize the current position and velocity estimates to predict future sUAS states. This system is capable of tracking multiple vehicles simultaneously. The IMM module consists of three different motion models, viz. the constant velocity (CV) model, the constant acceleration (CA) model and the constant turn (CT) model. These models independently or in combinations can handle the expected maneuvers of the commercial sUAS in flight. The models are tuned to incorporate kino-dynamic constraints of the vehicle. The structure of the IMM and detailed information on sub-modules of the future predictor are presented. The Gazebo simulations for tracking multiple vehicles are presented and the hardware results are included to show the application of IMM for one unmanned aerial vehicle.
Association of pre-pregnancy subclinical insulin resistance with cardiac dysfunction in healthy nulliparous women.

OBJECTIVES To investigate the association between pre-pregnancy subclinical insulin resistance and cardiovascular dysfunction in healthy nulliparous women, and with hypertension in subsequent pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN Secondary analysis of a single center prospective observational study conducted November 2011-June 2014. Healthy nulliparous women underwent detailed cardiovascular and metabolic assessment. Insulin resistance was determined by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR). Associations of HOMA-IR with metabolic and cardiovascular measurements were assessed with Spearman correlations. Charts were reviewed in women who conceived singleton pregnancies. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Metabolic measurements included serum glucose, insulin, creatinine, CRP, and lipids. HOMA-IR was calculated using fasting serum insulin and glucose. Indices of cardiovascular stiffness were determined from pulse wave velocity and response to volume challenge. Pregnancy outcomes included delivery mode and gestational age, birthweight, and hypertension. RESULTS HOMA-IR was positively associated with BMI (r = 0.462, p < 0.001), body fat percentile (r = 0.463, p < 0.001), CRP (r = 0.364, p = 0.003), and negatively associated with serum HDL (r = -0.38, p = 0.002) and creatinine (r = -0.242, p = 0.049). HOMA-IR was positively associated with blood pressure (r = 0.347, p = 0.004), resting heart rate (r = 0.433, p = <0.001), response to volume challenge (r = 0.325, p < 0.01). Increased HOMA-IR was associated with a faster cardiac ejection time in response to volume challenge (r = -0.415, p < 0.001), which is a marker of decreased cardiac compliance to volume increase, or cardiac stiffness. CONCLUSION HOMA-IR is associated with pre-pregnancy cardiac stiffness. Cholesterol was not associated with cardiovascular dysfunction. A non-significant trend was observed between HOMA-IR and hypertension in subsequent pregnancy.
Violence Risk Assessment

This chapter considers, first, why and in what ways law is concerned with anticipating violence, and how evidence in the form of violence risk assessments is legally evaluated in the United States after the Supreme Court's 1993 Daubert v. Merrill Dow Pharmaceuticals decision on the admissibility of scientific evidence. It then contrasts clinical from actuarial or statistical methods of risk assessment, and addresses key issues and controversies pertinent to each. Finally, the chapter argues that the future violence risk assessment is likely to involve more precise depictions of which specific risk factors are validly associated with violence in which specific types of people. Violence risk assessment is likely to continue to move strongly in an actuarial direction, including the introduction of violence risk assessment software. Due to the questionable validity generalization of many actuarial instruments and to the possibility of rare risk or protective factors being present in a given case, clinical judgment is unlikely to be supplanted by actuarial techniques. Increased attention is likely to be given to how estimates of risk are best communicated to those who have to make decisions based on them, and to how risk, once communicated, is to be clinically managed. Keywords: assessment; dangerousness; Daubert; MacArthur; risk; violence
Breaking Down Digital Barriers: How and When ICT Interoperability Drives Innovation

In a paper published in 2005 by the Berkman Center and sponsored by IBM and Oracle, our colleagues argued that interoperability is the first guiding principle of what it means to establish an "open ecosystem" in Information and Communications Technology (ICT). Following on that study, we determined to explore the relationship between interoperability and innovation in the ICT space. We entered into this project with the general idea that openness and interoperability are generally "good things" that facilitate competition, growth, and innovation, while retaining a healthy skepticism that this was true in all cases. While we conducted research into numerous areas of the ICT ecosystem, we have largely based our analysis on three in-depth case studies: DRM-protected music, Digital ID, and Mashups. In each case, we explore several possible ways of developing and sustaining interoperability and assess the potential of each to spur innovation. Through discussions with hundreds of experts, market actors, and other researchers in the field, we have acquired a more nuanced understanding regarding interoperability. There is no "silver bullet" to achieving interoperability, nor is there an optimal level of interoperability that can be applied to all ICT situations. Rather, a case-by-case analysis of the market and incentive structures, technological landscape, and involvement of governments, among other things, is necessary to understand what approaches may be most useful to a given technology or industry. As a policy matter, we tend to prefer open standards processes where they are feasible, but in some cases less broad-based action, such as a market leader releasing technological interfaces or licensing its technology, is easier and more effective in spurring innovation. While we are generally wary of government intervention, we recognize that there are situations where market failures make state action appropriate, usually intervention after the fact to break open legal or market-based bottlenecks that stifle innovation. Available for download at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1033226
Magnetohydrodynamic perturbations of Robertson-Walker universes and of anisotropic Bianchi type-I universes

We analyze magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) perturbations in flat Robertson-Walker universes, emphasizing their effects on galaxy formation. The Newtonian approximation is used. There is no increase in the growth rates beyond those of the usual perturbed Robertson-Walker models: the MHD modes extract as much energy as they contribute. We then analyze some global properties of fully MHD Bianchi I relativistic models, including vorticity, fluid accelerations and dissipative effects. Finally we study the time dependence of perturbations of a fully MHD diagonal Bianchi I cosmology, finding an enhanced growth rate of the density contrast oft which is still not exponential Jeans-type growth. This indicates that a more detailed analysis is needed if we are to find a solution to the galaxy formation problem in MHD cosmologies.
The Emerging West Nile Virus: From the Old World to the New

Publisher Summary West Nile virus (WNV) has undergone alterations in viral genetics and spread geographically. In Mexico and the US, it has spread across a continent inhabited by a predominantly immunologically WNV-naive human population, but in a continent with ample pre-adapted mosquito vectors and vertebrate amplifying hosts. This situation has led to large epidemics that in turn led to the recognition of the rarer clinical manifestations and modes of transmission of this virus. The clinical spectrum and diagnostic findings in WNV diseases have been clarified, and are likely to continue to be refined as new epidemics occur. WNV is expected to continue to find ecologic niches where it can be enzootically maintained, and because of this, also to continue to affect human populations.
Chapter 8 Machine Learning in Computational Chemistry

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of machine learning techniques that have recently appeared in the computational chemistry literature. The natural fit between machine learning and pharmaceutical research leads to the common utilization of learning algorithms to construct quantitative structure activity relationships (QSAR). Until recently, the application of machine learning methods is primarily the domain of specialists in the artificial intelligence or statistics fields. Early machine learning software requires an intimate knowledge of the algorithms and a familiarity with specialized programming languages, such as Prolog or Lisp. The availability of easily accessible, high-quality software has led to the widespread adoption of machine learning among computational chemists. Although modern machine learning techniques require minimal parameter adjustment to achieve reasonable results, it is inappropriate to treat these techniques as black boxes. As with other QSAR techniques, model quality and applicability must be judiciously assessed.
Survey of Infectious Multiple Drug Resistance Among Salmonella Isolated from Animals in the United States

Salmonella cultures were obtained from outbreaks of animal disease from 37 states and 1 territory. They were screened for resistance to 11 antimicrobial drugs. Of the 1,251 strains studied, 935 were resistant to one or more of these agents. The three most common resistance patterns were ampicillin, dihydrostreptomycin, sulfamethoxypyridazine, tetracycline; ampicillin, dihydrostreptomycin, sulfamethoxypyridazine; dihydrostreptomycin, sulfamethoxypyridazine, tetracycline. Resistance transfer was demonstrated on 267 multiply resistant cultures, of which 181 were able to transfer all or part of their resistance pattern to a drug-sensitive recipient.
Singing in the Ear Canal

I faint at my first everything in medical school. First cadaver. First surgery. First autopsy. Well not everything, not the first lecture. I even blow the tour, the first day. The tour's really a test. We're in, mcat scores high enough, first semester tuition paid. Our entire freshman class files into the sub basement, bound together tight as a brownie troop. The space is gigantic, our footsteps echo, and it's so cold we all feel small. We huddle at the edge of an auditorium-sized meat-locker, in one of Philadelphia's five medical schools, in a riot quadrant of the city. Autumn, 1964. We wear short white coats, to advertise we're only students. We all live close to the school, in the ghetto, where police line rooftops with strobe lights and machine guns every night. It is hot, still Indian summer outside, but in the basement, it's so frigid we flap our arms, open and close fists, stamp our feet to beat back the chill. Our teeth chatter so we can hardly hear the instructor. My classmate's breath forms little white clouds, like thought con tainers in comic books. It's several minutes before any of us notices the overhead trolley, a sinuous steel ceiling track, like the retrieval runner in an enormous dry-cleaner. The instructor pushes a button, and a ratcheted metallic movement begins, clacking like Dad's "O" gauge trains at Christmas. The air is brittle glass. There are no col orful dresses or navy suits circling; instead, huge, plastic-wrapped mannequins sway in a bizarre dance, with no clear beat. Our breath fogs the amorphous figures who rotate above us. An exceedingly long minute passes. This is where they store cadavers. Each body is clasped behind the ears by huge, shiny calipers, each skull indented by what could be old fashioned ice tongs, from my childhood, Catskill summers. Mother and I stayed upstate with her parents in the cool mountains during July and August. Dad tutored summer school in the city. My Nana and Pop-Pop rented a small cottage: outhouse, water pump, tin-lined
Cafestrol, a coffee-specific diterpene, increases expression of NQO1 in pancreatic tumor cells

1382 Coffee components kahweol and cafestol have been reported to be protective against mutagenic damage by heterocylic amines and aflatoxin B1 in rat models. Further, human consumption of these agents has been associated with lower rates of colon tumors. Possible mechanisms proposed have involved the modulation of several enzymes responsible for carcinogen detoxification. The present study demonstrates that cafestol, a diterpene found in unfiltered coffee, increased the expression of the phase II enzyme, NQO1, in both PANC-1 and Mia PaCa pancreatic tumor cells (p
The Strain Behavior of the Anterior Cruciate Ligament During Bicycling An In Vivo Study

Stationary bicycling is commonly prescribed after anterior cruciate ligament injury or reconstruction; however, the strains on the ligament or ligament graft during stationary bicycling remain unknown. In this study we measured ligament strain on eight patients who were candidates for arthroscopic meniscectomy under local anesthesia. Six different riding conditions were evaluated: three power levels (75, 125, and 175 W), each of which was performed at two cadences (60 and 90 rpm). The peak ligament strain values ranged from 1.2% for the 175-W, 90-rpm, condition to 2.1% for the 125-W, 60-rpm, condition. No significant differences were found in peak strain values due to changes in power level or cadence. Thus, the strain values were pooled across the six riding conditions tested. The mean peak strain value was 1.7%, a value that is relatively low compared with other rehabilitation activities previously tested. These data suggest that knee rehabilitation programs can be designed to include this selection of power and cadence levels without significantly changing ligament strain values. Thus, stationary bicycling is a rehabilitation exercise that permits the patient to increase muscle activity by increasing the power level or decreasing the cadence without subjecting the ligament or ligament graft to higher strain values.
Ab initio quantum mechanical modeling of infrared vibrational frequencies of the OH group in dioctahedral phyllosilicates. Part I: Methods, results and comparison to experimental data

The infrared (IR) spectra of small clusters of atoms ([MM′(OH)2] and [MM′ (OH)2 (H2O)6], where M, M′ = Al3+, Mg2+, Fe2+, Fe3+) mimicking the environment of the OH group in dioctahedral phyllosilicates have been modeled using ab initio quantum mechanical calculations. These modeling results are relevant to establishing the connections between IR spectra of phyllosilicates and their composition, and to investigate the utility of quantum mechanical models for calculating IR frequencies of minerals. This study focused on the OH stretch and in-plane bend fundamentals, because they give rise to a combination band near 4545 cm−1 (2.2 μm) that can be observed in imaging spectrometer or hyperspectral remote sensing data. A comparison among results obtained using both ab initio [Hartree-Fock (HF) and Density Functional Theory (DFT)], and semi-empirical [PM3(tm)] methods, showed that the DFT model approaches IR frequency experimental values most closely. IR spectra of phyllosilicates were modeled using the DFT method. The modeled frequencies were scaled using a mode-dependent linear transformation, and experimental frequencies were reproduced satisfactorily. The modeling results show that most of the variability observed in the OH in-plane bend fundamental of dioctahedral phyllosilicates can be explained by the effects of neighboring octahedral cations alone. Discrepancies between modeling and experimental results in the case of the OH stretch point to the existence of factors other than the nature of the neighboring octahedral cations, such as tetrahedral substitution, affecting this fundamental mode.
Catecholamines Potentiate Amyloid β-Peptide Neurotoxicity: Involvement of Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, and Perturbed Calcium Homeostasis☆

Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are implicated in the neuronal cell death that occurs in physiological settings and in neurodegenerative disorders. In Alzheimer's disease (AD) degenerating neurons are associated with deposits of amyloid beta-peptide (A beta), and there is evidence for increased membrane lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation in the degenerating neurons. Cell culture studies have shown that A beta can disrupt calcium homeostasis and induce apoptosis in neurons by a mechanism involving oxidative stress. We now report that catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine) increase the vulnerability of cultured hippocampal neurons to A beta toxicity. The catecholamines were effective in potentiating A beta toxicity at concentrations of 10-200 microM, with the higher concentrations (100-200 microM) themselves inducing cell death. Serotonin and acetylcholine were not neurotoxic and did not modify A beta toxicity. Levels of membrane lipid peroxidation, and cytoplasmic and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, were increased following exposure to neurons to A beta, and catecholamines exacerbated the oxidative stress. Subtoxic concentrations of catecholamines exacerbated decreases in mitochondrial energy charge and transmembrane potential caused by A beta, and higher concentrations of catecholamines alone induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Antioxidants (vitamin E, glutathione, and propyl gallate) protected neurons against the damaging effects of A beta and catecholamines, whereas the beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist propanolol and the dopamine (D1) receptor antagonist SCH23390 were ineffective. Measurements of intracellular free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) showed that A beta induced a slow elevation of [Ca2+]i which was greatly enhanced in cultures cotreated with catecholamines. Collectively, these data indicate a role for catecholamines in exacerbating A beta-mediated neuronal degeneration in AD and, when taken together with previous findings, suggest roles for oxidative stress induced by catecholamines in several different neurodegenerative conditions.
Treatment of neonatal hyperthyroidism due to Graves' disease with sodium ipodate

We describe the effect of administration of repeated doses of sodium ipodate in a newborn infant with hyperthyroidism due to transient Graves' disease. Pretreatment (day 3) serum T4 and T3 concentrations were 49 micrograms/dl and 590 ng/dl, respectively. With 24 h after the first dose of ipodate, serum T3 fell by 40%, and it subsequently ranged from 209-278 ng/dl throughout the 39-day ipodate treatment period. Serum T4 also decreased after ipodate administration to 69% and 41% of the pretreatment value after 72 h and 7 days of treatment, respectively; values thereafter during treatment ranged from 19-22 micrograms/dl. These plateau values are in the upper range of normal for the neonatal period. Rapid clinical improvement occurred as the hyperiodothyroninemia abated. Serum rT3 concentrations increased from 468-672 ng/dl to greater than 1400 ng/dl 24 h after each ipodate dose. Thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin was present in maternal and cord sera, and the half-life of serum thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin in the infant was approximately 12 days. Antithyroglobulin and antimicrosomal antibodies were present in the infant at 10 days of age, and the titers decreased progressively thereafter; the half-life for the antimicrosomal antibody titer was 3 weeks. The data suggest that sodium ipodate can be useful for treatment of neonatal hyperthyroidism due to Graves' disease.
Atmospheric entry heating and helium retentivity of interplanetary dust particles

We have modeled atmospheric entry heating of interplanetary dust to characterize the population of particles carrying extraterrestrial He to the seafloor. We find that ∼0.5% of the mass and ∼4% of the surface area of the infalling dust transits the atmosphere at temperatures lower than that required for He release (∼600°C). Size-dependent heating causes the particles which retain He to be far smaller than those in the parental interplanetary dust population. The particle-size distribution of He-bearing dust is such that most of the mass is delivered by particles of ∼20 μm diameter, while most of the surface area (relevant for surface-correlated constituents, e.g., implanted solar wind He) is carried by particles of ∼7 μm diameter. Knowledge of these size distributions allows us to evaluate the possibility of sedimentary redistribution of extraterrestrial dust in the atmosphere and ocean. The size distributions also have important consequences for interpretation of He abundances in seafloor sediment samples that integrate over fairly small areas and times. Sediment samples generally will not record a representative distribution of interplanetary dust but will have a strong tendency to undersample rare large particles. We predict a high degree of variability in replicate He analyses of a single sediment sample, with a mass-correlated He component yielding greater variability than a surface-correlated component. Comparison with sediment measurements confirms such variability and demonstrates excellent agreement with the statistical distribution expected for a surface correlated component, consistent with suggestions that seafloor extraterrestrial He is surface-correlated implanted solar wind or solar flare He. A second important statistical effect is that sediment measurements systematically underestimate the true extraterrestrial He flux, typically by 50%.
Monte Carlo study of polymerization on a lattice: Two dimensions

Monte Carlo methods were used to study a two-dimensional lattice model for equilibrium polymerization, incorporating activation energy, stiffness, monomer-monomer binding energy, and excluded volume (bifunctionality). For stiff monomers we found a low-temperature orientationally ordered phase separated from the disordered state by first-order and Ising second-order boundaries. The transition to the ordered phase is coupled with an increase (but no apparent singularity) in average polymer weight. The ordered state portion of the phase diagram shrinks as monomer stiffness is reduced, until for flexible activated monomers it disappears and the ground-state entropy is proportional to the number of sites. The number of polymers of size s decreases exponentially with s wherever finite-lattice effects can be ignored. The average square of the radius of gyration for flexible polymers was found to be proportional to the average polymer length s, as would be the case in a monodisperse polymer melt.
Reliability of Ratings of Children’s Expressive Reading

This study examined ratings of fourth graders’ oral reading expression. Randomly assigned participants (n = 36) practiced repeated readings using narrative or informational passages for 7 weeks. After this period raters used the Multidimensional Fluency Scale (MFS) on two separate occasions to rate students’ expressive reading of four equivalent passages. Results of this generalizability study showed that a minimum of two and preferably three equivalent passages, two raters, and one rating occasion are recommended to obtain reliable ratings. This research substantiates the reliability of the MFS and demonstrates the importance of raters collaborating and finding texts at students’ independent reading levels.
Dosimetric benefits of respiratory gating: a preliminary study.

Abstract: In this study, we compared the amount of lung tissue irradiated when respiratory gating was imposed during expiration with the amount of lung tissue irradiated when gating was imposed during inspiration. Our hypothesis was that the amount of lung tissue spared increased as inspiration increased. Computed tomography (CT) image data sets were acquired for 10 patients who had been diagnosed with primary bronchogenic carcinoma. Data sets were acquired during free breathing and during breath-holds at 0% tidal volume and 100% tidal volume, and, when possible, at deep inspiration, corresponding to approximately 60% vital capacity. Two treatment plans were developed on the basis of each of the gated data sets: one in which the treatment portals were those of the free-breathing plan, and the other in which the treatment portals were based on the gated planning target volumes. Dose-mass histograms of the lungs calculated at 0% tidal volume were compared to those calculated at deep inspiration and at 100% tidal volume. Data extracted from the dose-mass histograms were used to determine the most dosimetrically beneficial point to gate, the reduction in the amount of irradiated lung tissue that resulted from gating, and any disease characteristics that might predict a greater need for gating. The data showed a reduction in the mass of normal tissue irradiated when treatment portals based on the gated planning target volume were used. More normal lung tissue was spared at deep inspiration than at the other two gating points for all patients, but normal lung tissue was spared at every point in the respiratory cycle. No significant differences in the amount of irradiated tissue by disease characteristic were identified. Respiratory gating of thoracic radiation treatments can often improve the quality of the treatment plan, but it may not be possible to determine which patients may benefit from gating prior to performing the actual treatment planning.
Chromosomal abnormalities of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas: identifying early and late changes

The high level of karyotypic complexity found in epithelial neoplasms hinders the characterization of their cytogenetic evolution. Derivation of such pathways in adenocarcinoma of the pancreas has been particularly limited, because only a few pancreatic carcinomas are resected at an early stage of disease and so the number of primary carcinomas for which analysis of abnormal karyotypes has been reported is small. Here we report the clonal karyotypic abnormalities identified by G-banding analysis of 36 primary pancreatic carcinomas obtained from patients undergoing a Whipple resection with curative intent. The majority of the 36 carcinomas were diploid or triploid (33 of 36; 91%). Numerical alterations were found in all carcinomas for which a complete karyotype was determined. All the chromosomes were involved in gain, loss, or both gain and loss of the entire chromosome, in at least 8 and up to 28 of the carcinomas. Most commonly lost were chromosomes 18 (in 78% of the 36 carcinomas), 17 (56%), 6 (44%), 21 (42%), 22 (42%), Y (36%), and 4 (33%). Gain of chromosome 20 was observed in 10 of the 36 carcinomas. Structural abnormalities were common, resulting in partial chromosomal gains and losses, with a median number of 7 partial imbalances per carcinoma (range, 1-15). Sixteen carcinomas contained double-minute chromosomes, homogeneously staining regions, or both, indicating gene amplification. Pooling data for these 36 carcinomas with the primary carcinomas with karyotypes published in the Mitelman database (http://cgap.nci.nih.gov/Chromosomes/Mitelman), we defined pathways of karyotypic evolution. The most frequent chromosomal imbalances were -18 (67.6%), -10 (34.3%), -4 (31.4%), +20 (31.4%), -15p (23.8%), -14p (22.9%), +2 (21.9%), -5 (21.9%), -13p (20%), +16 (20%), -21p (19%), -17p (19%), +1q (19.0%). Recurrent imbalances identified as occurring early were -1p, -15p, -18, -7q, -8p, -17p, and -5; late recurrent imbalances were +11q, +7q, +6p, -19p, and +2. In contrast to reports from similar analyses in other epithelial carcinomas, we did not find evidence for multiple karyotypic evolutionary pathways.
Experimental investigation of a PtSi source and drain field emission transistor

A p‐type PtSi source and drain, no ‘‘gap,’’ metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) has been successfully fabricated and experimentally investigated in detail down to 4.2 K. Gate curves (source current versus gate voltage) clearly show that, in the ‘‘on’’ state, the current flow mechanism from the source metal into the channel gradually changes from primarily thermal emission over the small ∼0.2 eV Schottky barrier to holes to completely field emission through the triangular Schottky barrier as the temperature is lowered below ∼100 K. Gate curves for different channel lengths also show minimal short channel effects down to 1.0 μm, in agreement with previous simulations. Drain curves (source current versus drain voltage) demonstrate that the drive current is comparable to that of a conventional MOSFET, and that the Schottky barrier is rendered transparent to the flow of holes when the device is strongly ‘‘on.’’
Unique specificity of in vitro inhibition of mosquito midgut trypsin-like activity correlates with in vivo inhibition of malaria parasite infectivity.

Abstract Synchrony in the egress of Plasmodium ookinetes from the food bolus and enzymatic digestion of the blood meal in the mosquito midgut suggests that digestive enzymes play a role in the successful transmission of malaria parasites. Previously, we found that parasite-produced chitinase is essential for parasite transmission and can be activated by mosquito midgut protease. To determine the suitability of developing a transmission-blocking vaccine directed against mosquito trypsinlike enzyme(s), Aedes aegypti midgut trypsin-like proteases were characterized biochemically and compared to a mammalian trypsin. Mosquito trypsin is more sensitive to inhibition by aprotinin and less sensitive to egg white trypsin inhibitor than is bovine pancreatic trypsin. Soybean trypsin inhibitor and leupeptin inhibit both enzymes to similar extent. Membrane-feeding assays with aprotinin, leupeptin, and egg white trypsin inhibitor revealed a correlation between in vitro inhibition of mosquito trypsin-like activity and transmission-blocking activity; The results suggest a role for mosquito midgut trypsin(s) in malaria parasite development and indicate that the protease(s) is a potential target for blocking malaria transmission.