cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Radiation Therapy Administration and Survival in Stage I/II Extranodal Marginal Zone B-Cell Lymphoma of Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue

Summary In this analysis of 7774 early-stage mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma cases from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, administration of radiation therapy as part of initial treatment was associated with excellent survival in most sites of origin. The risk of lymphoma-related death was negligibly low with radiation therapy in cutaneous and ocular lymphomas. Significant disparities in the use of radiation therapy exist with regard to patient age, sex, race, and socioeconomic status. Purpose: To determine the factors associated with the use of radiation therapy and associated survival outcomes in early-stage marginal zone lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT). Methods and Materials: We extracted data on adult patients with stage I/II MALT lymphoma diagnoses between 1998 and 2010 recorded in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. We studied factors associated with radiation therapy administration in a logistic regression model and described the cumulative incidence of lymphoma-related death (LRD) according to receipt of the treatment. The association of radiation therapy with survival was explored in multivariate models with adjustment for immortal time bias. Results: Of the 7774 identified patients, 36% received radiation therapy as part of the initial course of treatment. Older patients; black or Hispanic men; white, Hispanic, and black women; and socioeconomically disadvantaged and underinsured patients had a significantly lower chance of receiving radiation therapy. Radiation therapy administration was associated with a lower chance of LRD in most sites. In cutaneous, ocular, and salivary MALT lymphomas, the 5-year estimate of LRD after radiation therapy was 0%. The association of radiation therapy with overall survival in different lymphoma sites was heterogeneous, and statistically significant in cutaneous (hazard ratio 0.45, PZ.009) and ocular (hazard ratio 0.47, P<.0001) locations after multivariate adjustment. Conclusions: Demographic factors are associated with the use of radiation therapy in MALT lymphoma. Clinicians should be sensitive to those disparities because the administration of radiation therapy may be associated with improved survival, particularly in cutaneous and ocular lymphomas. 2014 Elsevier Inc.
The early history of the eosinophil

Summary In 1879 Paul Ehrlich published his technique for staining blood films and his method for differential blood cell counting using coal tar dyes and mentions the eosinophil for the first time. Eosin is a bright red synthetic dye produced by the action of bromine on fluorescein and stains basic proteins due to its acidic nature. It was discovered in 1874 by Heinrich Caro, Director of the German chemical company Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik. Ehrlich introduced the term ‘eosinophil’ to describe cells with granules (which he called alpha-granules) having an affinity for eosin and other acid dyes. He also observed black-staining, indulinophilic, beta-granules in bone marrow-derived eosinophils, which were probably immature crystalloid granules in eosinophil myelocytes. Ehrlich described the features of the alpha-granule and the cell's distribution in various species and tissues. He speculated correctly that the alpha-granule contents were secretory products and described several causes of eosinophilia including asthma, various skin diseases, helminths and reactions to medications. However, the cell was almost certainly observed by others before Ehrlich. In 1846 Thomas Wharton Jones (1808–1891) described ‘granule blood cells’ in the lamprey, frog, fowl, horse, elephant and man. He ‘borrowed’ the term granule cell from Julius Vogel (1814–1880) who had observed similar cells in inflammatory exudates. Vogel in turn was aware of the work of the Gottlieb (Theophile) Gluge (1812–1898) who used the term ‘compound inflammatory globules’ to describe cells in pus and serum. Almost 20 years before Ehrlich developed his staining methods, Max Johann Sigismund Schultze (1825–1874) performed functional experiments on coarse granular cells using a warm stage microscopic technique and showed they had amoeboid movement and phagocytic abilities. Although these early investigators recognised distinct granular cells Ehrlich's use of stains was a landmark contribution, which heralded modern studies on eosinophils and other blood leucocytes.
Installation of Valvtechnologies Ball Valves in Severe Service Applications Within the Advanced Test Reactor

The Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) located at the Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory, is the most powerful test reactor operating in the United States rated at a design power of 250 MW(t). Operating cycles are nominally seven per year with outages that last 7 to 14 days, allowing time for routine plant maintenance and experiment insertions and manipulations. While the ATR pressurized water loops can operate at the same temperature and pressure requirements of a pressurized water reactor, the loops also have the ability to operate at higher conditions. Hence, it is critical to ensure that when component replacements are called for, they can meet or exceed design requirements of a typical power reactor, while continuing to satisfy the design requirements of the ATR experiment loops.
Internal Cardioversion of Atrial Fibrillation Marked Reduction in Defibrillation Threshold With Dual Current Pathways

Background The ultimate acceptance of a fully automatic atrial defibrillator will depend on the reduction of pain to acceptable levels, requiring a marked decrease in defibrillation thresholds. The purpose of this study was to determine whether atrial defibrillation thresholds can be reduced by sequential shocks delivered through two current pathways. Methods and Results Sustained atrial fibrillation was induced with rapid atrial pacing in 12 adult sheep. Defibrillation electrodes were positioned in the right atrial appendage (RAap), distal coronary sinus (DCS), proximal coronary sinus (CSos), main/left pulmonary artery junction (PA), and right ventricular apex (RV). Single-capacitor biphasic waveforms (3/1 ms) were delivered through combinations of these electrodes. Probability-of-success curves were determined for single shocks with a single current pathway and sequential shocks with either single- or dual current pathways. The ED50 for delivered energy for the dual current pathway RAap to DCS then CSos to PA was 0.36±0.13 J, which was significantly lower than the ED50 of the standard single current pathway RAap to DCS (1.31±0.3 J) and was significantly lower than all other configurations tested. Conclusions Internal atrial defibrillation thresholds can be markedly reduced with two sequential biphasic shocks delivered over two current pathways compared with the standard single shock delivered over a single current pathway or with sequential shocks delivered over a single current pathway.
Management of complex immunogenetics information using an enhanced relational model

Flow cytometry has become a technique of paramount importance in the armamentarium of the scientist in such domains as immunogenetics. In the PENGUIN project, we are currently developing the architecture for an expert database system to facilitate the design of flow-cytometry experiments. This paper describes the core of this architecture--a methodology for managing complex biomedical information in an extended relational framework. More specifically, we exploit a semantic data model to enhance relational databases with structuring and manipulation tools that take more domain information into account and provide the user with an appropriate level of abstraction. We present specific applications of the structural model to database schema management, data retrieval and browsing, and integrity maintenance.
The early iron age of the Mössbauer era

The demonstration that the 14.4 keV level of57Fe was an ideal Mossbauer example produced a veritable explosion in the discoveries of new physical phenomena. Among the important features of57Fe are its ready availability and ease of preparation, its magnetic properties in many environments, the high intensity of its Mossbauer spectrum even at elevated temperatures, the relative sharpness of the Mossbauer lines, and the possibility of obtaining the resolution provided by this sharpness by relatively simple techniques. This paper hopes to capture some of the excitement and enthusiasm generated by the discoveries and demonstrations of the nuclear Zeeman effect, together with its polarization properties, the nuclear isomer shift, the quadrupole splitting, the temperature effect, temporal effects, nuclear hyperfine fields, transferred magnetism, the gravitational red shift, and many other new or newly elucidated phenomena.
Temperature dependence of conductivity of κ(BEDTTTF)2Cu(SCN)2; Resolution into two components; Small polaron

Abstract The variation of resistance with temperature of κ(BEDTTTF)2Cu(NCS)2 displays a maximum or a suppressed maximum near 90 K. These unusual variations can be interpreted in terms of a model which resolves the variation into metal-like and thermally activated components. The resolution suggests the applicability of the small polaron model of Bottger and Bryksin with tunneling and hopping conductivities (Hopping Conduction in Solids, VCH Verlagsgesellchaft, 1985).
A homeomorphism of R3 almost periodic but not periodic on an indecomposable continuum

Abstract Almost periodic but not periodic maps are constructed on a solenoid and on a “pseudosolenoid”. Each of the maps can be extended to a homeomorphism of R 3 onto itself.
PEDIATRIC URTICARIA AND ANGIOEDEMA

It is estimated that 15% to 25% of the general population experiences at least one episode of acute, transient urticaria or angioedema. Although children are affected frequently, the pfecise incidence in childhood is not known. Urticaria and angioedema should be regarded as symptoms that might be triggered by a wide range of exogenous factors or endogenous disease states with allergic, inflammatory, or infectious mechanisms. though urticaria1 le- sions are typically benign, the intense pruritus and chronicity may produce significant distress. In contrast, angioedema of the upper airway may be life threatening. Regardless, an acute episode of urticaria or angioedema is often frightening to parents and the affected child, prompting consultation with a physician. All too often there is a tendency to assume a casual attitude toward common, benign children's dermatologic problems. Parental anxiety and patient suffering can be serious consequences of dismissing hives as something that will "just go away."7 As urticaria can be one symptom of a clinical spectrum, ranging from vasculitis to anaphylaxis, it should be approached in a mechanistic manner with logical protocols. Although the cause of an acute episode is sometimes evident from a care- fully obtained- history, selected laboratory studies are helpful in some cases. In chronic urticaria, an undergying cause is frequently not determined, leading to frustration among patient, parents, and physician. Parents frequently seek the opinion of allergists or dermatologists in the hopes of discovering the cause. Fortunately, acute urticaria is more common in children and young adults while the peak incidence of chronic urticaria is during the third and the fourth decades.
Isolation and characterization of DNA from fixed cells and tissues

Abstract DNA was isolated from cultured mammalian cells, liver tissue and Escherichia coli after treatment with the common laboratory fixatives for various periods of time. The cultured cells included the mouse cell strain LM and the Chinese hamster cell strain Don C. Liver tissue was obtained from young adult Chinese hamsters. Ultraviolet spectral absorbance ratios, CsCl buoyant density determinations, melting curves and hyperchromicity were used to characterize the DNA samples. Recovery of “normal” DNA was excellent with most fixatives, but not when formalin was used. Formalin fixation interfered with the isolation procedure, and when DNA was extracted the buoyant densities in CsCl were significantly different from the DNA extracted from unfixed materials, but the Tm values were not different.
Expression of The Transient Receptor Potential Channel 4 (TRPC4) Gene in Goats Naturally Exposed to Haemonchus contortus Infection

Expulsion of gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) requires gut contractions and glycoprotein hyper-secretion for detachment from the gut wall. The Transient receptor potential cation channels (TRPC) facilitates contraction of smooth muscle. A mutation in the TRPC4 of mice significantly reduces contraction and motility of the intestine. Thus far, the correlation between TRPC4 and GIN infection has not been evaluated in goats or any other species. This study evaluated gene expression of TRPC4 in Haemonchus contortus exposed resistant goats. Goats that were naturally susceptible and resistant to Haemonchus contortus were sacrificed and intestinal tissues collected. From conserved regions of human, mouse, rat, and bovine TRPC4 gene alignments, oligonucleotide primers were generated using CLC Main Workbench bioinformatics software. The RT-PCR and quantitative real time pcr were performed using total RNA extracted from intestinal tissues. The expected 388bp cDNA product was amplified and sequenced. The goat TRPC4 showed 88 and 87% homology to rat and mouse and 98%, 92%, 91% and 90% homology to the bovine, horse, pig and human TRPC4 genes, respectively. The TRPC4 expression increased (P<0.05) in naturally susceptible goats. There were breed and gender effects (P<0.05) on TRPC4 expression. A strong (P<0.05) correlation was evident when the variables TRPC4 gene expression, clinical anemia, and parasite load were compared in goats. These data indicate that TRPC4 may aid in elucidation of the mechanism of action of the TRPC genes involved in gastrointestinal contraction and motility and their link to GIN infection.
The antinociceptive and motivational effects of intranigral injection of opioid agonists

The antinociceptive potency of morphine and the morphine metabolite morphine-6-glucuronide (M6G) was examined after injection into the substantia nigra and periaqueductal gray (PAG) of rats. Both drugs produced antinociception in both sites. The antinociceptive potency of M6G was significantly greater than morphine in the nigra. There was no difference in the antinociceptive potency of M6G in the nigra and PAG. M6G and other opioids were also examined for motivational effects after intranigral injection. A high dose of intranigral morphine (10.0 nmol) produced a conditioned place preference. No significant motivational effects were produced by 1.0 nmol of M6G, d-Ala2, N-Me-Phe4, Gly5-ol-enkephalin (DAGO), d-Pen2,d-Pen5-enkephalin (DPDPE), or U-50,488H. It is concluded that the substantia nigra plays an important role in opioid antinociception. The role of the nigra in opioid reward is questionable.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of fluticasone versus montelukast in children with mild-to-moderate persistent asthma in the Pediatric Asthma Controller Trial

Background Cost-effectiveness analyses of asthma controller regimens for adults exist, but similar evaluations exclusively for children are few. Objective We sought to compare the cost-effectiveness of 2 commonly used asthma controllers, fluticasone and montelukast, with data from the Pediatric Asthma Controller Trial. Methods We compared the cost-effectiveness of low-dose fluticasone with that of montelukast in a randomized, controlled, multicenter clinical trial in children with mild-to-moderate persistent asthma. Analyses were also conducted on subgroups based on phenotypic factors. Effectiveness measures included (1) the number of asthma-control days, (2) the percentage of participants with an increase over baseline of FEV 1 of 12% or greater, and (3) the number of exacerbations avoided. Costs were analyzed from both a US health care payer's perspective and a societal perspective. Results For all cost-effectiveness measures studied, fluticasone cost less and was more effective than montelukast. For example, fluticasone treatment cost $430 less in mean direct cost ( P P 20 subgroup (PC 20 Conclusion For children with mild-to-moderate persistent asthma, low-dose fluticasone had lower cost and higher effectiveness compared with montelukast, especially in those with more airway inflammation, as indicated by increased levels of eNO and more responsivity to methacholine.
The tricky problem of nuclear waste

Despite Fukushima, nuclear power remains prominent in the push for energy solutions. But what of the waste problem, asks Allison Macfarlane
Gene from a novel plant virus satellite from grapevine identifies a viral satellite lineage

We have identified the genome of a novel viral satellite in deep sequence analysis of double-stranded RNA from grapevine. The genome was 1,060 bases in length, and encoded two open reading frames. Neither frame was related to any known plant virus gene. But translation of the longer frame showed a protein sequence similar to those of other plant virus satellites. Other than in commonalities they shared in this gene sequence, members of that group were extensively divergent. The reading frame in this gene from the novel satellite could be translationally coupled to an adjacent reading frame in the -1 register, through overlapping start/stop codons. These overlapping AUGA start/stop codons were adjacent to a sequence that could be folded into a pseudoknot structure. Field surveys with PCR probes specific for the novel satellite revealed its presence in 3% of the grapevines (n = 346) sampled.
Socialization and demographic determinants of mortality expectations

Since subjective life expectancy (SLE) has been found related to a variety of personal orientations, the clarification of its determinants should facilitate understanding of social behavior. A theoretical model is presented which includes sociodemographic and socialization predictors. It was hypothesized that SLE would vary with exposure to early death among near relatives, family size, and desired longevity (DL). Exposure and DL were expected to vary with socioeconomic status (SES), age, and ethnic membership. Results from a sample of 513 students (18–29 years of age) indicated that the mean SLE of females exposed to same-sex early death was markedly lower than that of males or of females exposed to opposite-sex death. Among respondents with death exposure, family size was inversely related to SLE. SES had a direct effect on the dependent variable; the effects of age and ethnic membership were indirect. While death socialization attenuates SLE, it does not affect DL. It was suggested, therefore, that increased exposure to early death could heighten personal frustration, especially among females.
Improving the performance of client Web object retrieval

The growth of the Internet has generated Web pages that are rich in media and that incur significant rendering latency when accessed through slow communication channels. The technique of Web-object prefetching can potentially expedite the presentation of Web pages by utilizing the current Web page's view time to acquire the Web objects of likely future Web pages. The performance of the Web object prefetcher is contingent on the predictability of future Web pages and quickly determining which Web objects to prefetch during the limited view time interval of the current Web page. The proposed Markov-Knapsack method uses an approach that combines a Multi-Markov Web-application centric prefetch model with a Knapsack Web object selector to enhance Web page rendering performance. The Markov Web page model ascertains the most likely next Web page set based on the current Web page and the Web object Knapsack selector determines the premium Web objects to request from these Web pages. The results presented in the paper show that the proposed methods can be effective in improving a Web browser cache-hit percentage while significantly lowering Web page rendering latency.
Nonlinear transport due to driven collective modes

Abstract The various nonlinear phenomena which occur in Josephson junctions and in charge density wave systems in the presence of dc and ac drives are summarized.
Managing Risks in the Age of Terror

This paper examines terrorism from a crisis management perspective. It provides a framework for understanding terrorism in terms of organizational and social processes, causes and consequences. These processes include crisis preconditions, triggering events, and the expansion and resolution of terrorism crises. Terrorism causes include structural, social and political conditions, organizational influences, cultural and religious influences, and individual factors. With this expanded view of terrorism, decision makers in government and private organizations can better identify preventive and remedial actions.
Components of the 50S ribosomal subunit involved in GTP cleavage.

Abstract The “β core” (i.e., the 50S subunit of E. coli from which about eight “split β proteins” had been removed) can substitute for the whole 50S subunit in promoting the cleavage of GTP from the aminoacyl-tRNA-S 3 -GTP complex (S 3 -dependent GTP cleavage). As was reported, the S 2 -dependent GTP cleavage requires, in addition to the “β core”, at least one of the “split β proteins”. Thiostrepton, known to inhibit both the S 2 -dependent and the S 3 -dependent GTP cleavage, is bound to the “β core”.
Feasibility and Economics of Continuous Assurance

Given the growing interest in the topic, both in practice and academia, it is timely and important to examine the concept of continuous assurance (CA) and the possible paths along which such services will evolve. There has been a tendency to see CA purely from the point of view of its technological enablers. As such, it has virtually been taken for granted that CA will follow as a matter of course. What has been less thought through is the business architecture that must underlie CA. In particular, we show that the key driver of CA is the demand for it. While there may be many economic transactions between the company and its stakeholders that could benefit from the provision of CA, there is no guarantee that CA is either cost effective—the only way of enhancing efficiency—or actually has to be continuous. Other factors that will affect the development of CA are the need for a new infrastructure to pay for it, as well as concerns about the independence of the assurors. We also identify some important rese...
S matrix proof of consistency condition derived from mixed anomaly

For a confining quantum field theory with conserved current J and stress tensor T, the and anomalies computed in terms of elementary quanta must be precisely equal to the same anomalies computed in terms of the exact physical spectrum if the conservation law corresponding to J is unbroken. These strongly constrain the allowed representations of the low energy spectrum. We present a proof of the latter consistency condition based on the proof by Coleman and Grossman of the former consistency condition.
Compiling short‐circuit boolean expressions in one pass

We present a very simple scheme for compiling boolean expressions in the short-circuit manner in one pass. The generated code is of very high quality and avoids most inefficiencies commonly associated with one-pass code generation. In particular, redundant conditional and unconditional branches are kept to a minimum. The scheme is general enough to compile the boolean expressions of a typical high-level language such as Pascal. It is presented in a format suited for syntax-directed translation and can be used with both top-down and bottom-up parsing.
Application of [Hydroxy(tosyloxy)iodo]benzene in the Wittig-Ring Expansion Sequence for the Synthesis of β-Benzocyclo-alkenones from α-Benzocycloalkenones

The conversion of α-benzocycloalkenones to homologous β-benzocyclo-alkenones containing six, seven and eight-membered rings is reported. This wasaccomplished via a Wittig olefination-oxidative rearrangement sequence using[hydroxy(tosyloxy)iodo]-benzene (HTIB) is the oxidant, that enables the synthesis ofregioisomeric pairs of methyl-substituted β-benzocycloalkenones. The incorporation ofcarbon-13 at C-1 of the β-tetralone nucleus was also demonstrated. The Wittig-HTIBapproach is a useful alternative to analogous sequences in which Tl(NO3)3·3H2O or thePrevost combination (AgNO3/I2) are employed in the oxidation step.
Bonding self-assembled, compact organophosphonate monolayers to the native oxide surface of silicon.

A new method is described to prepare strongly bonded, compact monolayer films of alkyl- or arylphosphonates on the native oxide surface of Si (SiO2/Si). This method is illustrated for octadecyl- and α-quarterthiophene-2-phosphonates. For both cases, AFM shows comprehensive coverage of the SiO2/Si surface. The thickness of the continuous film of 4TP/SiO2/Si was measured both by AFM and by X-ray reflectivity to be ca. 18 A. Direct gravimetric analysis shows surface coverage by α-quarterthiophene-2-phosphonate to be about 0.66 nmol/cm2, which corresponds to molecular packing in the film close to that of crystalline α-quarterthiophene. Coverage by octadecylphosphonate was ca. 0.90 nmol/cm2, corresponding to a cross-sectional area of about 18.5 A2/molecule, consistent with close-packed alkyl chains.
On the effect of subphase pH and counterions on transfer ratios and dynamic contact angles during deposition of multiple Langmuir-Blodgett monolayers

Abstract The effects of pH and counterions on the type of deposition of Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) arachidic acid films onto hydrophobic glass slides is revisited. Unusually large differences in contact angles and transfer ratios (TR) were observed for subphase containing 10−4 M of zinc sulfate and 2.10−4 M of cadmium chloride, respectively, for a wide range of pH. Variations in TR occur at the same pH for different subphase cations and at different pH for the same divalent cations. These large variations in dynamic contact angles and TR as a function of pH point to the crucial role of electrical double layer forces in LB deposition phenomena. Transitions from Y- to X-type deposition are reported for pH larger or smaller than the pKA of the fatty acid–subphase salt system. Experimental results are compared with data reported in literature showing Z- to Y-transitions at pH close to the pKA of docosanoic acid monolayers.
Endothelin-1 of keratinocyte origin is a mediator of melanocyte dendricity.

Melanocytes synthesize melanin and transfer it to keratinocytes via dendritic processes. Keratinocytes are known to produce constitutively several factors, including endothelin-1 (ET-1), that together affect melanocyte proliferation, migration, melanogenesis, and dendrite formation. After ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, synthesis and secretion of ET-1 are up-regulated in keratinocytes. Because UV irradiation of skin is known to be associated with increased melanocyte dendricity, and because medium conditioned by UV-irrdiated keratinocytes (UV-KCM) induces melanocyte dendricity to a greater degree than does baseline keratinocyte-conditioned medium (KCM), we investigated whether ET-1 promotes melanocyte dendricity. ET-1, originally recognized as a vasoconstricitive peptide, has recently been shown to stimulate melanocyte proliferation and tyrosinase activity. We now report that ET-1 supplementation of cultured melanocytes significantly increases the percentage of dendritic melanocytes, as well as dendrite length, in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, UV-KCM was found to contain over 25-fold more ET-1 than KCM, and ET-1 supplementation of KCM induced melanocyte dendricity comparable to that induced by UV-KCM. Further, melanocyte dendricity induced by UV-KCM was significantly inhibited by the addition of anti-ET-1 monoclonal antibody to the medium, suggesting that the UV-KCM effect on melanocyte dendricity is mediated largely through ET-1. Our findings suggested that in the skin, ET-1 of keratinocyte origin promotes melanocyte dendricity in response to UV irradiation.
The biological meaning of prostaglandin-levels.

Abstract Two groups of term pregnant rats, one pretreated with progesterone (P) and another with vehicle only, were induced to deliver with PGF2α. Through an implanted intrauterine (extraovular) catheter 5 μg PGF2α was injected into each animal every 15 minutes until delivery occurred. If induction failed the fetuses were removed by hysterotomy. All vehicle controls started delivery within 38.3±11.7 minutes. In contrast, none of the P-treated rats responded to PGF2α. In all animals uterine vein blood and uterine tissue were collected during labor. Measurements of the P and PGF in uterine vein plasma and uterine tissue showed that the P-treated rats had significantly higher P-levels than the controls (P
INFLUENCE OF AGE ON SUSCEPTIBILITY OF MICE TO ST. LOUIS ENCEPHALITIS VIRUS AND ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF LESIONS

1. Young mice are more susceptible than older mice to the virus of St. Louis encephalitis inoculated intraperitoneally, but with virus inoculated intracerebrally or intranasally, there is no significant age difference in susceptibility. The greatest change in the resistance to the virus inoculated intraperitoneally occurs between the 2nd and 3rd weeks of life. 2. The distribution of the lesions of St. Louis encephalitis in the C.N.S. of young and of old animals following intraperitoneal inoculation indicates that the virus may reach the brain either by the ascending pathway from the spinal cord or by the olfactory pathway irrespective of the age of the animal. However the ascending pathway is most frequently concerned. 3. The distribution of lesions does not offer evidence that the virus enters the C.N.S. of young animals directly from the blood stream following intraperitoneal inoculation. 4. Although widespread lesions occur earlier in the C.N.S. of young mice than in that of older mice inoculated intraperitoneally with large doses of virus, this fact is not satisfactorily explained by assuming the more rapid increase of the virus in the C.N.S. of young animals, since the latter are not more susceptible to virus inoculated directly into the brain. 5. The observations can be explained by the hypothesis that a greater amount of virus survives and reaches the portals of the C.N.S. in young animals following intraperitoneal inoculation and that this is an important factor in the influence of age on susceptibility to the virus.
Salads for everyone—a look at the lettuce plant

If we examine in detail the origin, domestication and breeding system of cultivated lettuce, the following conclusions emerge: 1. The group of species from which lettuce originated is indigenous to the eastern Mediterranean Basin, probably Egypt. 2. Lettuce was most likely domesticated in Egypt, moving at an early date to Rome, Greece and later to China. It moved to the Americas shortly after their discovery, and as early as 1806 seedsmen listed more than a dozen cultivars from the United States. 3. Lettuce is a self-fertilized species which, under cultivation, has produced an abundance of variation, mostly in leaf size, shape, texture and color, and the arrangement of the leaves on the stem. 4. Variation in lettuce can be accounted for by early interspecific hybridization, and the protection of many mutants undesirable under natural conditions, but favorable under cultivation. 5. An analysis of the characters that separate these two species indicates thatL. sativa could be derived fromL. serriola by intensive selection.
Optimal control of ultrasoft cantilevers for force microscopy

The goals of optimal control in force microscopy are: (1) to obtain favorable cantilever dynamic properties and (2) to control the cantilever to a desired amplitude, while (3) exerting as little control force as possible, and (4) preserving the force signal-to-noise ratio of the uncontrolled cantilever. This article describes the experimental implementation of an optimal controller that achieves these goals. The application of this controller to an ultrasoft cantilever with spring constant of 110 μN/m at 10 K reduced the resonant quality from 15 000 to 220, reduced the Brownian amplitude from 11.2 A to 1.4 A, used less than 7×10−17 N of control effort, left the force sensitivity unaltered at 9.8×10−18 N/ Hz, and demonstrated feedback control can force cantilever motion to track a reference input.
Multiple Sequential Steps Involved in the Binding of Inhibitors to Cytochrome P450 3A4

Cytochrome P450 (P450) 3A4 is an extensively studied human enzyme involved in the metabolism of >50% of drugs. The mechanism of the observed homotropic and heterotropic cooperativity in P450 3A4-catalyzed oxidations is not well understood, and together with the cooperative behavior, a detailed understanding of interaction of drug inhibitors with P450 3A4 is important in predicting clinical drug-drug interactions. The interactions of P450 3A4 with several structurally diverse inhibitors were investigated using both kinetic and thermodynamic approaches to resolve the steps involved in binding of these ligands. The results of pre-steady-state absorbance and fluorescence experiments demonstrate that inhibitor binding is clearly a multistep process, even more complex than the binding of substrates. Based on spectrophotometric equilibrium binding titrations as well as isothermal titration calorimetry experiments, the stoichiometry of binding appears to be 1:1 in the concentration ranges studied. Using a sequential-mixing stopped-flow approach, we were also able to show that the observed multiphasic binding kinetics is the result of sequential events as opposed to the existence of multiple enzyme populations in dynamic equilibrium that interact with ligands at different rates. We propose a three-step minimal model for inhibitor binding, developed with kinetic simulations, consistent with our previously reported model for the binding of substrates, although it is possible that even more steps are involved.
Regeneration of cofactors for use in biocatalysis

Cofactor-dependent enzymes catalyze many synthetically useful reactions. The high cost of cofactors, however, necessitates in situ cofactor regeneration for preparative applications. After two decades of research, several cofactors can now be effectively regenerated using enzyme or whole-cell based methods. Significant advances have been made in this area in the past three years and include the development of novel or improved methods for regenerating ATP, sugar nucleotides and 3-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulphate. These approaches have found novel applications in biocatalysis.
Prevalence and characterization of Campylobacter jejuni isolated from pasture flock poultry.

UNLABELLED The growing interest in organic and natural foods warrants a greater need for information on the food safety of these products. In this study, samples were taken from 2 pasture flock farms (N = 178; feed, water, drag swabs, and insect traps), pasture flock retail carcasses (N = 48) and 1 pasture flock processing facility (N = 16) over a period of 8 mo. A total of 105 Campylobacter isolates were obtained from 53 (30%), 36 (75%), and 16 (100%) samples from the farms, retail carcasses, and processing facility, respectively. Of the 105 isolates collected, 65 were C. jejuni, 31 were C. coli, and 9 were other Campylobacter spp. Using PCR, the C. jejuni isolates were further analyzed for virulence genes involved in colonization and survival (flaA, flaC, cadF, dnaJ, racR, cbrR), invasion (virB11, ciaB, pldA), protection against harsh conditions (sodB, htrA, clpA), toxin production (cdtA, cdtB, cdtC), siderophore transport (ceuE), and ganglioside mimicry (wlaN). In addition, the short variable region of the flaA locus (flaA SVR) was sequenced to determine the genetic diversity of the C. jejuni isolates. The flaA SVR diversity indices increased along the farm to carcass continuum. PCR-based analysis indicated a low prevalence of 5 genes involved in colonization (dnaJ, ciaB, pldA, racR, virB11). The results of this survey indicate that the prevalence of Campylobacter on organic retail carcasses is similar to prevalence reports of Campylobacter on conventional retail carcasses. However, the genetic diversity of the flaA SVR genotypes increased along the farm to carcass continuum that contrasted with conventional poultry studies. PRACTICAL APPLICATION Campylobacter jejuni is a leading cause of foodborne illness with poultry and poultry products being leading sources of infection. Free-range and pasture flock chickens are becoming more popular; however, there is an inherent biosecurity risk that can increase the prevalence of foodborne pathogens in these flocks. This study aimed to determine sources and characterize C. jejuni isolated from pasture flocks.
Pediatric tumors of the eye and orbit

Most ocular and orbital tumors of childhood are distinct from tumors that occur in adults. Many are congenital with early presentations. Most pediatric orbital tumors are benign; developmental cysts comprise half of orbital cases, with capillary hemangioma being the second most common orbital tumor. The most common orbital malignancy is rhabdomyosarcoma. The most common intraocular malignant lesion is retinoblastoma. Choroidal melanoma, which is common in adults, is extremely rare in children. The orbit is the most common location for metastases in children, whereas the choroid is the predominant site in adults. Pediatricians play a vital role in diagnosis of pediatric ocular tumors. They are the first to recognize ocular problems that may not be apparent to parents. It is therefore important to recognize the signs and symptoms of ocular tumors of childhood so that prompt ophthalmologic evaluation and treatment may be undertaken. Whereas the malignant tumors may be life-threatening, both malignant and benign tumors may be vision-threatening.
The fragmentation of psychology

Rather than being viewed as disintegration, the apparent fragmentation of psychology is interpreted positively as an inevitable consequence of increasing specialization of knowledge as our science matures and our range of applications expands. The field's specialization creates the familiar tensions regarding requirements of training and professional certification, but these issues are best resolved by pragmatic marketplace forces alongside persuasive arguments. Despite specialization, national umbrella organizations, such as the American Psychological Association, the American Psychological Society, and the Federation of Behavioral, Psychological, and Cognitive Sciences, provide necessary services for all behavioral scientists. These services include social bonding around mutual interests to promote scientific information exchange and to focus advocacy of our positions in national forums.
Effect of 0.62 ppm NO2 on cardiopulmonary function in young male nonsmokers.

Cardiopulmonary and metabolic responses of three groups, each consisting of five adult males (aged 20 to 25), were determined before, during, and after a 2-hr exposure to 0.62 +- 0.12 ppM NO/sub 2/ at 25/sup 0/C and 45% RH. The three groups exercised during exposure at 40% of V/sub O/sub 2/ max/ for either 15, 30, or 60 min for Groups A, B, and C, respectively. During the exercise periods the ventilation was about 33 liter/min, a fourfold increase over the resting level. There were no physiologically significant cardiovascular, metabolic, or pulmonary function changes which could be attributed to exposure to this level of NO/sub 2/ (0.62 ppM). There were no differences between the groups in their response despite the fact that Groups A and B received more NO/sub 2/ as a result of 28% and 84% greater ventilations, respectively.
Case 6-2010: Noncardiac surgery in patients with a left ventricular assist device

ENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICES (VADs) are being implanted with greater frequency in patients with circulatory failure. These devices can be used for short-term support in hopes that the patient’s myocardium will recover, longerterm as a “bridge” to heart transplantation, or even as permanent solutions to end-stage heart failure, so-called “destination therapy.” As a result of expanded usage, these patients increasingly are presenting for noncardiac surgery. 1 Two cases of patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) undergoing noncardiac surgery are presented. The discussion reviews the different types of devices, their pathophysiology, and the unique perioperative considerations when dealing with these challenging cases. CASE PRESENTATIONS* Case 1: Thoracoscopy A 58-year-old woman with an LVAD for idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy was scheduled for left thoracoscopy for persistent pleural effusion. Past medical history included New York Heart Association class IV congestive heart failure, which had been managed medically for 10 years, with several months of worsening symptoms. She also had a history of migraines, obesity, mild asthma, and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Her past surgical history included automated implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) placement, total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, 3 caesarean sections, and tonsillectomy, all without anesthetic complications. Nine days earlier, she had a Heartmate II LVAD (Thoratec Corporation, Pleasanton, CA) implanted as a bridge to transplant. The original surgery included LVAD insertion, patent foramen ovale closure, and a DeVega tricuspid valve annuloplasty, which proceeded without complications. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) performed immediately after LVAD implantation showed adequate left ventricular (LV) decompression, no valvular abnormalities, and adequate right ventricular (RV) function. Initial pulmonary artery pressure before LVAD placement was 32/15 mmHg, with minimal change after LVAD insertion. Postoperatively, the patient had been doing well except for some difficulty optimizing her international normalized ratio (INR) with warfarin. A left-sided pleural effusion was noted that did not resolve despite chest tube drainage, and the decision was made to perform a thoracoscopy and pleurodesis. Medications at the time of thoracoscopy included metoprolol, insulin glargine, furosemide, esomeprazole, docusate, and nebulized albuterol/ipratropium. Heparin infusion was stopped the morning of the scheduled thoracoscopy. The patient was allergic to amoxicillin/clavulanate, torsemide, and cefdinir. Vital signs immediately before the induction of anesthesia in
Phobic neurosis and ABO blood types

Abstract Previous studies suggest that patients with either obsessive-compulsive neurosis or hysteria demonstrate a higher incidence of blood phenotype A and a lower incidence of blood phenotype O, as compared to a representative sample of the general population. 1,2 In this article, the results obtained from the investigation of a possible assoication between phobic neurosis and ABO blood types are presented.
Apex predators and trophic cascades in large marine ecosystems: Learning from serendipity

The global loss of large predators is undeniable. However, the effects of predator depletion on the structure and functioning of ecosystems are far from resolved, especially as they apply to large pelagic marine ecosystems. Much of what we know about how marine predators function in ecosystems comes from small-scale studies on relatively small, slow-moving, seafloor-feeding predators that are easy to manipulate. Scaling up to consider pelagic (ocean) ecosystem effects from large predatory fish has been challenging for several reasons. For one thing, predators have been functionally removed from many marine ecosystems due to unsustainable fishing that occurred decades or centuries ago. Also, studies often rely on correlations showing increases in prey populations as predators decline, but these correlations can be confounded if coincident oceanographic factors such as ocean warming control prey abundances. What is needed is an ecosystem-scale, large predator addition experiment for which most biotic components of the ecosystem are monitored before and after predator addition. Such an experiment is exactly what Casini et al. (1) report in PNAS.
Drilling in the Cathedral

Utilitarianism, alienation, consumerism, and oppression are major forces endangering Earth's well-being. Over and against these morally and ecologically destructive forces are practices and ideas rooted and nourished in both ancient and modern religio-moral institutions and traditions. As powerful voices of faith calling the present to account, sacramentalism, mysticism, asceticism, and prophetic liberative practices offer Earth-honoring ways of life that draw from shared wells and deep-running waters.
What is the best drug-delivery approach for the acute treatment of migraine?

The best approach to the acute treatment of migraine is stratified care, defined as matching treatment to patient or migraine attack characteristics. A plethora of new formulations and classes of a...
Quantitative Profile of the Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Outer Membrane Proteome during Growth in Human Urine

Outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of microbial pathogens are critical components that mediate direct interactions between microbes and their surrounding environment. Consequently, the study of OMPs is integral to furthering the understanding of host-pathogen interactions and to identifying key targets for development of improved antimicrobial agents and vaccines. In this study, we used two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) and tandem mass spectrometry to characterize the uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) outer membrane subproteome; 30 individual OMPs present on the bacterial surface during growth in human urine were identified. Fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis was used to identify quantitative changes in levels of UPEC strain CFT073 OMPs during growth in urine; six known receptors for iron compounds were induced in this environment, i.e., ChuA, IutA, FhuA, IroN, IreA, and Iha. A seventh putative iron compound receptor, encoded by CFT073 open reading frame (ORF) c2482, was also identified and found to be induced in urine. Further, the induction of these seven iron receptors in human urine and during defined iron limitation was verified by using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). An eighth iron receptor, fepA, displayed similar induction levels under these conditions as measured by qPCR but was not identified by 2D-PAGE. Addition of 10 microM FeCl(2) to human urine repressed the transcription of all eight iron receptor genes. A number of fecal-commensal, intestinal pathogenic, and uropathogenic E. coli strains all displayed similar growth rates in human urine, showing that the ability to grow in urine per se is not a urovirulence trait. Thus, human urine is an iron-limiting environment and UPEC enriches its outer membrane with iron receptors to contend with this iron limitation.
Substance P and Neurokinin 1 Receptors as Potential Therapeutic Targets in Children With OSA

Methods The effects of SP and the NK1 antagonist GR-82334 were examined on mixed cell cultures prepared from dissociated tonsils harvested intraoperatively from children with OSA and RI. Proliferation was assessed by [3H]-thymidine or 5-ethynyl-29-deoxyuridine incorporation, and inflammatory cytokine production (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, IL-6, IL-1β) was assessed in supernatants by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results SP elicited dose-dependent increases in tonsillar cell proliferation in mixed cell cultures from children with OSA but not with RI (P Conclusions SP pathways appear to underlie intrinsic proliferative and inflammatory signaling pathways in tonsillar tissues from children with OSA but not with RI. Selective disruption of these pathways may provide nonsurgical alternatives for prevention and treatment of pediatric OSA.