cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Applications of Ultrasound to Stimulate Therapeutic Revascularization

Many pathological conditions are characterized or caused by the presence of an insufficient or aberrant local vasculature. Thus, therapeutic approaches aimed at modulating the caliber and/or density of the vasculature by controlling angiogenesis and arteriogenesis have been under development for many years. As our understanding of the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of these vascular growth processes continues to grow, so too do the available targets for therapeutic intervention. Nonetheless, the tools needed to implement such therapies have often had inherent weaknesses (i.e., invasiveness, expense, poor targeting, and control) that preclude successful outcomes. Approximately 20 years ago, the potential for using ultrasound as a new tool for therapeutically manipulating angiogenesis and arteriogenesis began to emerge. Indeed, the ability of ultrasound, especially when used in combination with contrast agent microbubbles, to mechanically manipulate the microvasculature has opened several doors for exploration. In turn, multiple studies on the influence of ultrasound-mediated bioeffects on vascular growth and the use of ultrasound for the targeted stimulation of blood vessel growth via drug and gene delivery have been performed and published over the years. In this review article, we first discuss the basic principles of therapeutic ultrasound for stimulating angiogenesis and arteriogenesis. We then follow this with a comprehensive cataloging of studies that have used ultrasound for stimulating revascularization to date. Finally, we offer a brief perspective on the future of such approaches, in the context of both further research development and possible clinical translation.
The Problem of Multidimensionality in Course Scores and Course Choices in the Production of a Single Year 12 Tertiary Entrance Score.

The present study considers the problem of multidimensionality in Tertiary Entrance (TE) scores where a single TE score is the desired goal. Using data from the 1988 cohort of the ACT college system, course scores as assessed by teachers were shown to distinguish performance in a four dimensional space. TE scores, computed using both a modified multiple regression strategy and the Daley's Other Course Score scaling method, were shown to be related to, at best, two of the four dimensions. A second phase of the study revealed the presence of multidimensionality in the choices of courses that students made when assembling their college curricula. These dimensions of course choice were subsequently related back to the students and to the two types of TE scores. Conclusions were drawn regarding the dubious validity of assuming that a single TE score carries all the information needed to summarise the performance of secondary school students
A meta-analysis of global crop water productivity of three leading world crops (wheat, corn, and rice) in the irrigated areas over three decades

The overarching goal of this study was to perform a comprehensive meta-analysis of irrigated agricultural Crop Water Productivity (CWP) of the world’s three leading crops: wheat, corn, and rice bas...
Securing a Wireless Network-on-Chip Against Jamming Based Denial-of-Service Attacks

Wireless Networks-on-Chips (NoCs) have emerged as a panacea to the non-scalable multi-hop data transmission paths in traditional wired NoC architectures. Using low-power transceivers in NoC switches, novel Wireless NoC (WiNoC) architectures have been shown to achieve higher energy efficiency with improved peak bandwidth and reduced on-chip data transfer latency. However, using wireless interconnects for data transfer within a chip makes the on-chip communications vulnerable to various security threats from either external attackers or internal hardware Trojans (HTs). In this work, we propose a mechanism to make the wireless communication in a WiNoC secure against persistent jamming based Denial-of-Service attacks from both external and internal attackers. Persistent jamming attacks on the on-chip wireless medium will cause interference in data transfer over the duration of the attack resulting in errors in contiguous bits, known as burst errors. Therefore, we use a burst error correction code to monitor the rate of burst errors received over the wireless medium and deploy a Machine Learning (ML) classifier to detect the persistent jamming attack and distinguish it from random burst errors. In the event of jamming attack, alternate routing strategies are proposed to avoid the DoS attack over the wireless medium, so that a secure data transfer can be sustained even in the presence of jamming. We evaluate the proposed technique on a secure WiNoC in the presence of DoS attacks. It has been observed that with the proposed defense mechanisms, WiNoC can outperform a wired NoC even in presence of attacks in terms of performance and security. On an average, 99.87% attack detection was achieved with the chosen ML Classifiers. A bandwidth degradation of <3% is experienced in the event of internal attack, while the wireless interconnects are disabled in the presence of an external attacker.
Excitatory and inhibitory circuits differentially regulate local and distant cerebral hemodynamics

Optogenetic photostimulation of excitatory or inhibitory circuits differentially regulated local cerebral blood volume and flow in awake, transgenic mice. Each neural subclass also uniquely influenced distant cortical hemodynamic activity.
Lysine63-linked ubiquitin chains earmark GPCRs for BBSome-mediated removal from cilia

Author(s): Shinde, Swapnil Rohidas; Nager, Andrew; Nachury, Maxence | Abstract: ABSTRACT Regulated trafficking of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) controls cilium-based signaling pathways. β-arrestin, a molecular sensor of activated GPCRs, and the BBSome, a complex of Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS) proteins, are required for the signal-dependent exit of ciliary GPCRs but the functional interplay between β-arrestin and the BBSome remains elusive. Here we find that, upon activation, ciliary GPCRs become tagged with K63-linked ubiquitin (K63Ub) chains in a β-arrestin-dependent manner prior to BBSome-mediated exit. Removal of ubiquitin acceptor residues from the somatostatin receptor 3 (SSTR3) and from the orphan GPCR GPR161 demonstrates that ubiquitination of ciliary GPCRs is required for their regulated exit from cilia. Furthermore, targeting a K63Ub-specific deubiquitinase to cilia blocks the exit of GPR161, SSTR3 and Smoothened (SMO) from cilia. Finally, ubiquitinated proteins accumulate in cilia of mammalian photoreceptors and Chlamydomonas cells when BBSome function is compromised. We conclude that K63Ub chains mark GPCRs and other unwanted ciliary proteins for recognition by the ciliary exit machinery.
A Porous Nano-Micro-Composite as a High-Performance Bi-Functional Air Electrode with Remarkable Stability for Rechargeable Zinc–Air Batteries

The development of bi-functional electrocatalyst with high catalytic activity and stable performance for both oxygen evolution/reduction reactions (OER/ORR) in aqueous alkaline solution is key to realize practical application of zinc-air batteries (ZABs). In this study, we reported a new porous nano-micro-composite as a bi-functional electrocatalyst for ZABs, devised by the in situ growth of metal-organic framework (MOF) nanocrystals onto the micrometer-sized Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3 (BSCF) perovskite oxide. Upon carbonization, MOF was converted to porous nitrogen-doped carbon nanocages and ultrafine cobalt oxides and CoN4 nanoparticles dispersing inside the carbon nanocages, which further anchored on the surface of BSCF oxide. We homogeneously dispersed BSCF perovskite particles in the surfactant; subsequently, ZIF-67 nanocrystals were grown onto the BSCF particles. In this way, leaching of metallic or organic species in MOFs and the aggregation of BSCF were effectively suppressed, thus maximizing the number of active sites for improving OER. The BSCF in turn acted as catalyst to promote the graphitization of carbon during pyrolysis, as well as to optimize the transition metal-to-carbon ratio, thus enhancing the ORR catalytic activity. A ZAB fabricated from such air electrode showed outstanding performance with a potential gap of only 0.83 V at 5 mA cm-2 for OER/ORR. Notably, no obvious performance degradation was observed for the continuous charge-discharge operation for 1800 cycles over an extended period of 300 h.
Anakinra and Intravenous IgG versus Tocilizumab in the Treatment of COVID-19 Pneumonia

Abstract Background COVID-19 can lead to acute respiratory failure and an exaggerated inflammatory response. Studies have suggested promising outcomes using monoclonal antibodies targeting IL-1β (Anakinra) or IL6 (Tocilizumab), however no head to head comparison was done between the two treatments. Herein, we report our experience in treating COVID-19 pneumonia associated with cytokine storm with either subcutaneous Anakinra given concomitantly with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), or intravenous Tocilizumab. Methods Comprehensive clinical and laboratory data from patients with COVID-19 pneumonia admitted at our hospital between March and May 2020 were collected. Patients who received either Anakinra/ IVIG or Tocilizumab were selected. Baseline characteristics including oxygen therapy, respiratory status evaluation using ROX index, clinical assessment using NEWS score and laboratory data were collected. Outcomes included mortality, intubation, ICU admission and length of stay. In addition, we compared the change in ROX index, NEWS score and inflammatory markers at days 7 and 14 post initiation of therapy. Results 84 consecutive patients who received either treatment (51 in the Anakinra/ IVIG group and 33 in the Tocilizumab group) were retrospectively studied. Baseline inflammatory markers were similar in both groups. There was no significant difference regarding to death (21.6% vs 15.2%, p 0.464), intubation (15.7% vs 24.2%, p 0.329), ICU need (57.1% vs 48.5%, p 0.475) or length of stay (13+9.6 vs 14.9+11.6, p 0.512) in the Anakinra/IVIG and Tocilizumab, respectively. Additionally, the rate of improvement in ROX index, NEWS score and inflammatory markers was similar in both groups at days 7 and 14. Furthermore, there was no difference in the incidence of superinfection in both groups. Conclusion Treating COVID-19 pneumonia associated with cytokine storm features with either subcutaneous Anakinra/IVIG or intravenous Tocilizumab is associated with improved clinical outcomes in most subjects. The choice of treatment does not appear to affect morbidity or mortality. Randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm our study findings. Funding None.
High-throughput, image-based flow cytometry and clustering method for phenotyping heterogeneous cell populations

Abstract Image-based cell profiling has become a common tool to identify phenotypic changes in cells exposed to various stimuli. To apply this approach to any research organism, we developed Image3C (Image-Cytometry Cell Classification), a tool that enables clustering of single cells based on their intrinsic phenotypic features by combining image-based flow cytometry with cell cluster analysis. We conducted a morphology analysis of hematopoietic tissue from zebrafish and a phagocytosis experiment. Here, Image3C could identify major hematopoietic cell lineages and, in addition, cells with specific functions, which abundance can be statistically compared between different treatments. To test the versatility of Image3C, we also clustered hemocytes of the apple snail Pomacea canaliculata obtaining results consistent with those collected by classical histochemical approaches. These experiments illustrate how Image3C can be used to classify and visualize heterogenous cell population obtained from either invertebrates or vertebrates without the need of antibodies or molecular databases.
Pediatric Subspecialists' Practices and Attitudes Regarding Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare for Adolescent and Young Adult Women Prescribed Teratogenic Medications.

Objective To evaluate pediatric subspecialists’ practices and attitudes regarding sexual and reproductive healthcare for adolescent and young adult women for whom they prescribe teratogens. Study design We surveyed pediatric subspecialists at 1 tertiary care pediatric hospital. Items assessed attitudes and practices related to sexual and reproductive healthcare for adolescent and young adult women prescribed teratogens, and barriers and facilitators to sexual and reproductive healthcare provision. We used descriptive statistics, χ2 tests, and logistic regression to analyze results. Results There were 200 subspecialists from 17 subspecialties who completed the survey; 77% reported prescribing teratogens to adolescent and young adult women and 18% reported caring for a patient who became pregnant while taking a teratogen. Overall, 99% indicated that it is important to address sexual and reproductive healthcare. Respondents endorsed confidence in sexual and reproductive healthcare skills, including contraceptive counseling (71%), although 29% never or rarely discuss sexual and reproductive healthcare, and one-third never speak privately to this population. Of providers who discuss sexual and reproductive healthcare, 26% never assess reproductive intentions and 36% do so less often than annually. Nearly one-half never or rarely ask about sexual activity, and 68% never or rarely assess contraceptive knowledge. Barriers to sexual and reproductive healthcare provision included available time (80%) and the presence of family or partners at clinic visits (61%). Facilitators included a quick referral process to sexual and reproductive healthcare providers (92%) and access to lists of local sexual and reproductive healthcare providers (90%). Conclusions Pediatric subspecialists from a single institution report suboptimal sexual and reproductive healthcare provision for adolescent and young adult women prescribed teratogens. Identified barriers and facilitators may guide intervention development to improve sexual and reproductive healthcare for this population.
Seamless Introduction of a Purely Laparoscopic Full-Lobe Living Donor Hepatectomy Program in a North American Center.

Laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) has significantly evolved over the last two decades through improvements in approach, technique, and instrumentation and offers benefits over open liver surgery in terms of quicker recovery, early return to normal life, and cosmesis.1 However, the associated technical complexity of LLR coupled with overarching emphasis on donor safety have been the primary reasons for its delayed introduction into the domain of living liver donation.
The Right Tool for the Job: Child Support Enforcement Tools and Their Relationship to Payments

Child support staff have an array of tools to use when noncustodial parents fail to pay. Drawing on staff interviews, this analysis examines staff perspectives on when and how to enforce; practice ...
Human Monoclonal Antibodies

The monoclonal antibody technology has had a major impact on the serological and biochemical analysis of human tumor antigens. Monoclonal antibodies have rapidly led to the identification and characterization of a large number of antigenic determinants on cancer cells. To date, most of these monoclonal antibodies have been of mouse or rat origin. Antigens recognized by these reagents have therefore been defined generally by their immunogenicity in the mouse or rat, and they do not necessarily correspond to antigens that are immunogenic in humans.
Flow past a rotating cylinder predicted by a compact Eulerian viscous vorticity method under non-inertial rotating frame

Abstract An Eulerian vorticity method, based on a vorticity-stream function formulation, initially developed for the 2-D viscous unsteady flow past a circular cylinder, is extended in the case of 2-D flow past a rotating cylinder in a rotational frame of reference. The vorticity equation is shown to have the same form as in the case of an inertial frame of reference. Thus, the general structure of the numerical algorithm remains the same as in the inertial frame of reference. The non-inertial effects only enter in the calculation of the velocity field, and the vorticity induced velocity is modified to account for the non-inertial contributions due to the frame rotation. Results from the current method for the flow past a rotating cylinder are presented and shown to agree very well with those from other numerical methods and experimental benchmark tests.
Opportunities and Possibilities of Developing an Advanced Precision Spraying System for Tree Fruits

Reducing risk from pesticide applications has been gaining serious attention in the last few decades due to the significant damage to human health, environment, and ecosystems. Pesticide applications are an essential part of current agriculture, enhancing cultivated crop productivity and quality and preventing losses of up to 45% of the world food supply. However, inappropriate and excessive use of pesticides is a major rising concern. Precision spraying addresses these concerns by precisely and efficiently applying pesticides to the target area and substantially reducing pesticide usage while maintaining efficacy at preventing crop losses. This review provides a systematic summary of current technologies used for precision spraying in tree fruits and highlights their potential, briefly discusses factors affecting spraying parameters, and concludes with possible solutions to reduce excessive agrochemical uses. We conclude there is a critical need for appropriate sensing techniques that can accurately detect the target. In addition, air jet velocity, travel speed, wind speed and direction, droplet size, and canopy characteristics need to be considered for successful droplet deposition by the spraying system. Assessment of terrain is important when field elevation has significant variability. Control of airflow during spraying is another important parameter that needs to be considered. Incorporation of these variables in precision spraying systems will optimize spray decisions and help reduce excessive agrochemical applications.
Are Social Media Interventions for Health Behavior Change Efficacious among Populations with Health Disparities?: A Meta-Analytic Review

While prior reviews have identified positive effects of social media interventions for health behavior change generally, it is unclear whether these effects persist in traditionally underrepresented populations that are at disproportionate risk of disease. The current meta-analysis examined the effectiveness of social media interventions for health behavior change among populations with health disparities. We analyzed 17 studies with a cumulative N = 3,561. Social media interventions had a significant moderate-sized effect on behavior change among populations with health disparities (d = 0.303, 95% CI: 0.156, 0.460, p < .001), and there was significant heterogeneity across the studies (Q = 64.48, p < .001, I2 = 75.19). Exploratory moderator analyses revealed larger effects in studies with smaller sample size (p < .05) and those using additional intervention channels, including e-mail and telephone (p < .05). Findings suggest that social media interventions may be a promising intervention tool for stimulating behavior change among populations with health disparities, but several gaps remain in the literature. Public health professionals and other health communicators should further explore ways to increase both the reach and impact of social media interventions among populations with health disparities.
Transcondylar Odontoid Resection and Stabilization for Craniovertebral Degenerative Compression: 2-Dimensional Operative Video

Non-neoplastic craniovertebral junction lesions are well known with various etiologies.1,2 They are frequently associated with craniovertebral junction instability. Many require only stabilization for their management.2 However, when significant irreducible anterior compression is present, surgical decompression becomes necessary.2-4 The traditional decompression route is direct anterior, such as the transoral, transmaxillary, or endoscopic endonasal approaches with a separate posterior stabilization.1,2 The transcondylar approach offers a wide and direct exposure to the anterolateral foramen magnum and atlantoaxial space, allowing extensive decompression, total resection of the odontoid, and associated pannus, even with large lateral extension, as well as fusion in the same surgical setting.5 The surgical manipulation is parallel to the dural sac in the sagittal plane, which could be safer than perpendicular dissection.5 Understanding the regional anatomy allows safe exposure and transposition of the vertebral artery with the surrounding alveolar and venous plexus (suboccipital cavernous sinus).5-7 We present this technique's details in a case of a 72-yr-old female who presented with progressively worsening bilateral upper extremity weakness and significant anterior compression due to irreducible odontoid degenerative changes. We demonstrate the steps necessary to achieve adequate exposure and decompression. The patient agreed to the surgical intervention. Images at 2:46, 3:00, and 3:25 reused from Al-Mefty et al,5 by permission from JNSPG. Images at 9:28 from Symonds et al,3 by permission of Oxford University Press. Image at 2:15, © Ossama Al-Mefty, used with permission.
Cutaneous Type 2 Innate Lymphoid Cells Come in Distinct Flavors

In a new article published in JID Innovations, Nakatani-Kusakabe et al. (2021) show that type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) in the skin of mice with IL-33 overexpression in keratinocytes are heterogeneous and consist of two distinct populations: skin-resident ILC2s and circulating ILC2s. They show that the circulating subset of skin ILC2s migrates to draining lymph nodes during hapten-induced cutaneous inflammation to potentially enhance the adaptive immune response.
Motor Learning Drives Dynamic Patterns of Intermittent Myelination on Behaviorally-Activated Axons

Myelin plasticity occurs when newly-formed and pre-existing oligodendrocytes remodel existing myelination. Recent studies show these processes occur in response to changes in neuronal activity and are required for learning and memory. However, the link between behaviorally-relevant neuronal activity and circuit-specific changes in myelination remains unknown. Using longitudinal, in vivo two-photon imaging and targeted labeling of behaviorally-activated neurons, we explore how the pattern of intermittent myelination is altered on individual cortical axons during learning of a dexterous reach task. We show that learning-induced plasticity is targeted to behaviorally-activated axons and occurs in a staged response across cortical layers. During learning, myelin sheaths retract, lengthening nodes of Ranvier. Following learning, addition of new sheaths increases the number of continuous stretches of myelination. Computational modeling suggests these changes initially slow and subsequently increase conduction speed. Thus, behaviorally-activated, circuit-specific changes to myelination may fundamentally alter how information is transferred in neural circuits during learning.
Performance Analysis of Ring Oscillator PUF for Robust Security in Smart Transportation

In smart cities, smart transportation (ST) is one of the critical infrastructures for efficient traffic routing, congestion-free roads, and for development of sustainable transportation. The advancement of vehicular technologies, Internet of Things (IoT), high-speed communication channel, allows ST to become a major application of IoT system and an important area for research. Unlike traditional transport systems, ST demands secure communication and rapid validation for ensuring data integrity. In this context, a 64-bit Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) was developed for use in the ST. In this work, PUF shows 94.14% reliability, 34.02% uniqueness, and the time required to generate key is 95.8ms.
China's New 'Common Law': Using China's Guiding Cases to Understand How to Do Business in the People's Republic of China

Beginning in December 2011, the People’s Supreme Court (PSC) in the People’s Republic of China (hereinafter “China”) embarked on substantial changes to China’s legal system when it issued the first four “Guided Cases” under its new “Guided Case system.” While China’s courts are prohibited from making law under China’s Constitution, as China’s law is established by code rather than case law precedent, the Guiding Cases provide a framework by which to understand how to interpret China’s laws related to doing business in China. U.S. companies doing business in China now have a clearer picture of how to predict, avoid, and resolve problems with Chinese business partners. This article explains some of the significant provisions of China’s Constitution, Contract Law, and other relevant statutes, and the impact of the Guiding Cases on doing business with Chinese companies and state entities. Part I explains the underpinnings of Chinese jurisprudence and the pertinent sections of the Chinese Constitution, “the Mother Law,” as it affects U.S. businesses entering into contracts with Chinese entities, both private and governmental. Part II explains relevant portions of China’s Contract Law statute for U.S. companies doing business in China. Part III explains what Guiding Cases are, the relevant Guiding Cases released to date, and other cases which may impact U.S. companies doing business or considering doing business in China. Finally, Part IV explains strategies U.S. companies can use to successfully navigate China’s new judicial landscape.
Case report 872

A case of an ancient schwannoma was presented. The rare occurrence of this tumor has resulted in only a few reported cases with descriptions of its features on imaging. Our patient's tumor, like one previously reported case, demonstrated calcification on the plain film - a finding not associated with other histologic types of schwannomas. Angiography revealed the tumor to be hypervascular. Evaluation by MRI demonstrated a lobulated, encapsulated soft tissue mass containing several cystic areas that corresponded histologically to areas of necrosis. Hypertrophied blood vessels were seen in the periphery of the tumoral mass. Too few ancient schwannomas have been reported to conclude whether or not radiographic evidence of soft tissue calcification is characteristic of this histologically distinctive subtype of schwannoma. However, since calcification is seen histologically as part of the degenerating process, its presence on plain films could be a feature of this tumor. Furthermore, the presence of cystic areas on MRI is not surprising given the pathological changes that occur in this tumor. We suggest that a diagnosis of ancient schwannoma be considered when a patient presents with a hypervascular soft tissue mass containing amorphous calcification on plain films and cystic areas on MRI. Despite the nonspecificity of these imaging findings, this point is relevant because each of these features suggests the presence of a malignant mass. Awareness of the possibility of a benign ancient schwannoma could obviate unnecessary radical surgery.
Influence of UBM metallurgy on Sn textures and EM failure

Influence of UBM and substrate metallurgy on electromigraiton is studied. It is found that SnAg interconnects with Cu UBM and CuOSP substrate finish tend to have single or few grains, while the same SnAg interconnect with Ni UBM and NiAu substrate finish tend to have interlaced twining textures. The twining in Ni/Ni metallurgy randomize the grain orientation to a certain degree, so that no fast diffusion paths exists between the cathode and anode, which could lead to the existence of the critical length observed in EM experiments. With a single grain texture, Cu/Cu metallurgy is more prone to electromigration degradation when the c-axis of the Sn grain is aligned with the current direction, which could be an explanation for the lack of an EM critical current. Morphology of EM induced voids sectioned with FIB, showed that voids are formed by out diffusion of fast diffusors such as Ni and Cu from the intermetallic, leaving behind voids and Sn rich material.
Access to high fat chow, but not sucrose or saccharin, enhances development of locomotor sensitization to cocaine in adolescent female rats (848.8)

Eating high fat chow enhances cocaine-induced locomotion and sensitization in adolescent female rats; it is not known whether consumption of other preferred substances (e.g., sucrose or saccharin) ...
The risk of venous thromboembolic disease associated with adjuvant hormone therapy for breast carcinoma: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND Tamoxifen therapy for patients with breast carcinoma is perceived as an independent risk factor for venous thromboembolic events (VTE), but the risk associated with other adjuvant therapies is less well recognized. METHODS The authors conducted a computerized PubMed literature search for English-language articles published between January 1966 and December 2003. Studies were analyzed with regard to trial design, breast carcinoma staging, adjuvant agent, definition of VTE outcomes, method of VTE case ascertainment, and the presence of concomitant VTE risk factors. RESULTS Accurate determination of VTE rates was impaired by the universal lack of routine assessments for asymptomatic VTE. Therefore, only the risk of symptomatic VTE could be derived. The risk of VTE was increased twofold to threefold during tamoxifen or raloxifene use for breast carcinoma chemoprevention. It remains unknown whether the risk is increased further in women with inherited hypercoagulable states. In the setting of early-stage breast carcinoma, the risk of VTE is increased both with tamoxifen use and anastrozole use. Such risk appeared to be lower, albeit not negligible, with anastrozole. Significant methodologic limitations of all available studies in women with advanced-stage breast carcinoma precluded determination of the true VTE risk associated with different adjuvant hormonal agents and made it nearly impossible to compare the risk between different drugs. CONCLUSIONS All agents used for breast carcinoma chemoprevention and adjuvant therapy appear to increase the risk of VTE. Available data were insufficient to support any assumptions that newer hormonal forms of hormone manipulation are safer than tamoxifen in women with advanced breast carcinoma. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Isofocusing of antigenic small nuclear ribonucleoproteins. II. Preparative isolation.

Abstract In a companion report ( T. B. Okarma, W. S. Schrier, and R. Feinbaum, 1985 , Anal. Biochem. 147 , 27–37) the behavior of small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) in native isofocusing gels was characterized. This communication extends those findings and describes a gentle procedure for the preparative isolation of snRNPs in native form from cultured murine L-5178y leukemia cells using sucrose density gradient centrifugation, preparative isofocusing, and gel filtration chromatography. Isofocusing in granulated gels separated intact uridylic acid (U)-snRNPs from tRNA and La RNPs. The U-snRNPs remained immunoprecipitable by lupus antisera throughout fractionation. The final product obtained in 2% yield contained primarily U1 and U2 snRNAs and lesser amounts of U3, U4, U5, and U6, along with the core U-snRNP polypeptides A-G. The core polypeptides displayed apparent p I 's which ranged from 4.5 to 9.5 when analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Proteins B (28,000), D (16,000), and E (13,000) exhibited isoelectric variants. The Sm determinant proteins B′ (28,000) and E (13,000) isofocused as basic peptides with apparent p I 's of 9.5 and 8.5, respectively. The purity of the final fractions compared well with that of immunoprecipitates and the procedure reproducibly generated yields of native snRNPs sufficient for in vitro studies of their biological function.
Assessment of Dimensional Integrity and Spatial Defect Localization in Additive Manufacturing Using Spectral Graph Theory

The ability of additive manufacturing (AM) processes to produce components with virtually any geometry presents a unique challenge in terms of quantifying the dimensional quality of the part. In this paper, a novel spectral graph theory (SGT) approach is proposed for resolving the following critical quality assurance concern in the AM: how to quantify the relative deviation in dimensional integrity of complex AM components. Here, the SGT approach is demonstrated for classifying the dimensional integrity of standardized test components. The SGT-based topological invariant Fiedler number (λ2) was calculated from 3D point cloud coordinate measurements and used to quantify the dimensional integrity of test components. The Fiedler number was found to differ significantly for parts originating from different AM processes (statistical significance p-value <1%). By comparison, prevalent dimensional integrity assessment techniques, such as traditional statistical quantifiers (e.g., mean and standard deviation) and examination of specific facets/landmarks failed to capture part-to-part variations, proved incapable of ranking the quality of test AM components in a consistent manner. In contrast, the SGT approach was able to consistently rank the quality of the AM components with a high degree of statistical confidence independent of sampling technique used. Consequently, from a practical standpoint, the SGT approach can be a powerful tool for assessing the dimensional integrity of the AM components, and thus encourage wider adoption of the AM capabilities.
Amyloid goiter in cystic fibrosis

Chronic infectious or inflammatory diseases lead to amyloid infiltration and dysfunction of many organs, including the kidney, liver, heart, and gastrointestinal tract. Subclinical amyloid infiltration of the thyroid gland has been described in over 80% of such patients. However, symptomatic involvement of the thyroid gland by amyloid is rare. We describe a euthyroid patient with cystic fibrosis and widespread amyloidosis who presented with a rapidly enlarging goiter and symptoms of local compression that compromised his pulmonary status. Fine needle aspiration of the goiter was nondiagnostic. At surgery he proved to have replacement of the thyroid gland by amyloid. A review of the literature reveals only five previous cases of amyloid goiter in patients with cystic fibrosis. However, as more patients survive into adulthood, amyloid goiter may become a more common complication of cystic fibrosis. In contrast to other patients with reactive amyloidosis and goiter, patients with cystic fibrosis may require ...
The economic impacts of positive feedbacks resulting from deforestation

Abstract Forests can affect environmental conditions in ways that enhance their survival. This effect may contribute to a positive feedback whereby deforestation could degrade environmental conditions and inhibit forest re-establishment. Sudden changes in forest functioning can be attributed to the existence of multiple stable states with one high and one low vegetation state. Multiple factors govern whether a transition between states will occur following deforestation. One such factor is strategic behavior and whether communities or stakeholders with an interest in the forest cooperate to maintain the forest in the fully vegetated state by reducing extraction levels or choose their own extraction rates without considering the collective effect of this behavior. We examine how the effect of a positive feedback and strategic behavior affect the optimal quantity of vegetation, V*. A clear hysteresis exists for logged forests exhibiting a positive feedback whereby an increase in extraction rates leads to a shift to the low vegetation state. An increase in the ecological value of the forest increases V* whereas the opposite is true for an increase in the value of timber. V* is also higher under cooperative conditions than non-cooperative conditions. Notably, accounting for the effect of a positive feedback substantially increases V*.
After Emancipation: Thomas Fowell Buxton and Evangelical Politics in the 1830s

After the Emancipation Act of 1833 officially abolished slavery in the British empire, it became clear that the anti-slavery coalition was even more tenuous than many had believed. The expectations created by reform, and by the previous measures removing disabilities on dissenters and catholics, sent the various elements within the anti-slavery camp in different directions. This splintering of efforts was especially true of evangelicals in parliament. During the next four years, the anti-slavery leader, Thomas Fowell Buxton, went through a reorientation as he worked to make sense of his priorities under new political conditions. Although involved with many issues of the day, Buxton came to focus on the plight of aboriginal peoples in the British empire and then formulated his proposals to end African slavery. Buxton's shift represents a larger one for evangelicals in England. While they could not all agree on the benefits or morality of poor law reform or the appropriate way to handle the Irish Church question, most could agree that the peoples coming under British rule should have their rights protected, especially if it opened a way for further missionary activity. By 1840, Buxton's efforts provided a set of concepts and an agenda for many people of otherwise diverse political bent. Domestically, the evangelical communities in Britain might disagree on what policy and programmes served their civilisation best; but they all agreed that Britain's growing empire needed to be directed in a way that promoted christianity and commerce, and hence the spread of �civilisation�.
Dopamine and angiotensin as renal counterregulatory systems controlling sodium balance.

Purpose of reviewTo review the recent evidence demonstrating how the renal dopaminergic and angiotensin systems control renal electrolyte balance through various receptor-mediated pathways with counterregulatory interactions.Recent findingsStimulation of the renal rennin–angiotensin system results i
The changing profile of the cardiac donor.

Abstract Background: Expansion of traditional donor criteria has become standard in most centers. To determine how this has affected donor profiles, at our institution, we reviewed all adult (age ≥ 16) cardiac donors of the past 15 years. Methods: We separated 261 cardiac donors into 2 groups based on time periods: Group I, 1983 to 1991 ( n = 131), and Group II, 1991 to 1998 ( n = 130). Results: The groups differed significantly in mean donor age (26.2 years vs 30.9; p p p = 0.04), percent distant procurement (54% vs 22%; p p p = 0.008). Older donors had significantly more non-traumatic deaths than younger donors (79% vs 13%; p p = not significant [NS]). Recipients with hearts from older donors had a 5-year survival similar to recipients with younger donor hearts (61% vs 64%; p = NS). Traumatic and non-traumatic donors had similar 5-year survivals (64% vs 63%, p = NS). A stepwise multivariate analysis of the entire cohort identified donor age, donor weight, recipient United Network for Organ Sharing status, and cardiopulmonary bypass time as significant independent risk factors for recipient survival. Recipients of hearts from donors p = 0.01). Conclusions: Our evolving cardiac donor pool now has more minorities, women, and older donors whose deaths are often non-traumatic. At our institution, donor pool expansion has had no adverse effect on the long-term survival of recipients.
KARYOLOGY OF PERMANENT HUMAN CELL LINE, W-18VA2, ORIGINATED BY SV40 TRANSFORMATION.

The karyology of a permanent human cell line, which retains a viral induced complement-fixing antigen as a result of its original transformation with simian virus 40, is described. This line, W-18VA2, is primarily subdiploid after more than two and one-half years of cultivation in vitro and exhibits high variability of chromosome number and form in the parental line as well as in various clones and sublines.
The pure rotational spectrum of ZnO in the X1Σ+ and a3Πi states

Abstract The pure rotational spectrum of ZnO has been measured in its ground X 1 Σ + and excited a 3 Π i states using direct-absorption methods in the frequency range 239–514 GHz. This molecule was synthesized by reacting zinc vapor, generated in a Broida-type oven, with N 2 O under DC discharge conditions. In the X 1 Σ + state, five to eight rotational transitions were recorded for each of the five isotopologues of this species ( 64 ZnO, 66 ZnO, 67 ZnO, 68 ZnO, and 70 ZnO) in the ground and several vibrational states ( v = 1–4). Transitions for three isotopologues ( 64 ZnO, 66 ZnO, and 68 ZnO) were measured in the a 3 Π i state for the v = 0 level, as well as from the v = 1 state of the main isotopologue. All three spin–orbit components were observed in the a 3 Π i state, each exhibiting splittings due to lambda-doubling. Rotational constants were determined for the X 1 Σ + state of zinc oxide. The a 3 Π i state data were fit with a Hund’s case (a) Hamiltonian, and rotational, spin–orbit, spin–spin, and lambda-doubling constants were established. Equilibrium parameters were also determined for both states. The equilibrium bond length determined for ZnO in the X 1 Σ + state is 1.7047 A, and it increases to 1.8436 A for the a excited state, consistent with a change from a π 4 to a π 3 σ 1 configuration. The estimated vibrational constants of ω e ∼ 738 and 562 cm −1 for the ground and a state agreed well with prior theoretical and experimental investigations; however, the estimated dissociation energy of 2.02 eV for the a 3 Π i state is significantly higher than previous predictions. The lambda-doubling constants suggest a low-lying 3 Σ state.
Reaction between triplet methylene and CO2: rate constant determination

Abstract The rate constant ( k 3 ) for the reaction 3 CH 2 + CO 2 → HCHO + CO has been measured using flash photolysis in conjunction with both gas chromatography and kinetic spectroscopy. k 3 was found to be (3.9 ± 1.9) × 10 −14 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 . CO, vibrationally excited to at least ν′ = 2 is a product of the reaction. The rate constant for the abstraction by triplet CH 2 from CH 2 N 2 to produce CH 3 was determined to be 1.0 × 10 −12 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 .
Design of Reconfigurable Machine Tools

In this paper, we present a systematic methodology for designing Reconfigurable Machine Tools (RMTs). The synthesis methodology takes as input a set of functional requirements-a set of process plans and generates a set of kinematically viable reconfigurable machine tools that meet the given design specifications. We present a mathematical framework for synthesis of machine tools using a library of building blocks. The framework is rooted in (a) graph theoretic methods of enumeration of alternate structural configurations and (b) screw theory that enables us to manipulate matrix representations of motions to identify appropriate kinematic building blocks.
Recognition of Antigen-Specific B-Cell Receptors from Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Patients by Synthetic Antigen Surrogates

Summary In patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), a single neoplastic antigen-specific B cell accumulates and overgrows other B cells, leading to immune deficiency. CLL is often treated with drugs that ablate all B cells, leading to further weakening of humoral immunity, and a more focused therapeutic strategy capable of targeting only the pathogenic B cells would represent a significant advance. One approach to this would be to develop synthetic surrogates of the CLL antigens allowing differentiation of the CLL cells and healthy B cells in a patient. Here, we describe nonpeptidic molecules capable of targeting antigen-specific B cell receptors with good affinity and selectivity using a combinatorial library screen. We demonstrate that our hit compounds act as synthetic antigen surrogates and recognize CLL cells and not healthy B cells. Additionally, we argue that the technology we developed can be used to identify other classes of antigen surrogates.
Sensitivity analysis for constraint and variational systems by means of set-valued differentiation

In this paper we study general classes of parametric systems arising in optimization and related problems. We provide a local sensitivity analysis of such systems using tools of the generalized differentiation for nonsmooth and set-valued mappings. The main attention is paid to computing the so-called coderivatives of multi-valued solution maps and studying on this basis some concepts of robust Lipschitzian stability. The latter means that we ensure Lipschitzian properties of solution maps which are robust with respect to perturbations of the initial data. In this way, we obtain effective sufficient conditions as well as necessary and sufficient conditions for robust Lipschitzian stability with the evaluation of corresponding Lipschitz moduli.
Prediction of Viscous Trailing Vortex Structure from Basic Loading Parameters

An analytical method has been developed to predict the structure of a fully developed trailing vortex with a viscous core. Vortex structure is calculated from the load distribution on the generating wing and fundamental conservation laws are satisfied. The present rollup model implicitly addresses viscous effects in the vortex core region by assuming a turbulent mixing process in the core during formation. Mixing theory suggests the appropriate functional form of the solution velocity profiles within this region, with constants that are determined uniquely by the method for arbitrary wing loading distributions. Important structural properties such as vortex strength, core size, and peak swirl velocity are calculated directly from these solution constants. The viscous core model was validated against two recent experimental studies, which provided new insight into vortex growth
Optical Q-branch pumping of the P- and R-branch transitions in the ν3 mode of SF6

Abstract One consequence of pumping the Q-branch of the ν3 mode of SF6 heretofore not examined is the production of substantial gain on certain low J R-branch transitions. In the analysis, the small-signal gain equation is derived for an individual symmetry species within a rotational manifold, since the nuclear spin statistical weigfhts play a significant role in the gain. The large value for the gain is a consequence of the selection rules governing the symmetry species and the way the spin statistical weights vary with the rotational quantum number J. It is shown that the transitions with gain, although only a fraction of a wave number removed from the pumped Q-branch, should be observable under appropriate conditions. For example, at a temperature of 135 K and a pump intensity of 10 kW/cm2, the transitions with gain are not obscured by either hot-band absorption or by power broadening of the Q-branch. This induced gain may be of importance for the multiple photon dissociation of SF6.
Suppression of the wing-body junction vortex by body surface suction

A horseshoe-shaped vortex, known as a wing-body junction vortex or horseshoe vortex, forms when spanwise vorticity in the boundary layer along a surface wraps around a wing protruding from the surface. In the past, various techniques of suppressing the wing-body junction vortex have been attempted. Reported here is a novel approach whereby the oncoming wall boundary layer is removed by suction along the body surface immediately upstream of the wing. The idea is that elimination of the boundary layer essentially removes the spanwise vorticity, and inhibits the formation of a wing-body junction vortex. To test this concept experimentally, velocity data were acquired via five-hole probe surveys in a plane normal to one of the walls of a semi-infinite symmetrical airfoil. Differentiation of these data yielded mean stream wise vorticity contours and values of net circulation. In the unmodified (no suction) case, the streamwise leg of the horseshoe vortex was clearly identified. The addition of suction successfully reduced the size and circulation of the large scale vortex. In fact, at a suction volumetric flow rate of about twice that through the boundary layer, the large scale horseshoe vortex could no longer be found for our configuration.