cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract B53: Patterns of meat intake and risk of prostate cancer among African-Americans in a large prospective cohort of men

Objective: Given the large racial differences in prostate cancer risk, further investigation of diet and prostate cancer is warranted among high-risk groups. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between type of meat intake and prostate cancer risk among African-American men. Methods: In the large, prospective NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study, we analyzed baseline (1995–1996) data from African-American participants, ages 50–71 years. Incident prostate cancer cases (n=1,089) were identified through 2006. Dietary and risk factor data were ascertained by questionnaires administered at baseline. Cox models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) within intake quantiles. Results: Neither white nor processed meat intake was associated with prostate cancer, regardless of meat cooking method. Red meats cooked at high temperatures were associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer (HR=1.18, 95%CI=1.00-1.38 and HR=1.22, 95%CI=1.03-1.44, for the upper two intake tertiles). Intake of the heterocyclic amine (HCA), 2-amino-3,4,8-trimethylimidazo[4,5-f] quinoxaline (DiMeIQx) was positively associated with prostate cancer (HR=1.30; 95% CI=1.05-1.61, P=0.02). No associations were observed for intake of other HCAs. Conclusion: Red meats cooked at high temperatures were positively associated with prostate cancer risk among African-American men. Further studies are needed to replicate these findings. Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2011;20(10 Suppl):B53.
Simultaneous determination of Ziagen and its phosphorylated metabolites by ion-pairing high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry

Abstract An ion-paring HPLC–MS–MS method with positive ion mode electrospray ionization has been developed to simultaneously quantify Ziagen, carbovir monophosphate, carbovir diphosphate and carbovir triphosphate. N ′, N ′-Dimethylhexylamine was used as the ion-pairing agent. The presence of this ion-pairing agent allowed the retention and separation of the four compounds on a reversed-phase HPLC column as well as the detection of the nucleotides with positive ion mode electrospray ionization. The limits of detection were found to be better than 25 n M for all the analytes. Calibration curves of the analytes showed excellent linearity over the range of 25 n M to 5 μ M . The relative standard deviations and accuracies for replicate analyses of quality control samples were less than 15%. The method has been successfully applied to the analysis of these compounds in human liver cells treated with Ziagen.
Antioxidant and Antiapoptotic Function of Metallothioneins in HL-60 Cells Challenged with Copper Nitrilotriacetate

Antioxidant activity is believed to be an important intracellular function of metallothioneins (MT), yet the specific mechanisms of their antioxidant action are not known. Under conditions when cells are challenged with elevated concentrations of free copper as a result of metabolic disturbances or environmental and occupational exposures, MTs may be ideally suited for antioxidant function as effective copper chelators. In the study presented here, we tested this hypothesis using a recently established model of copper nitrilotriacetate-induced oxidative stress in HL-60 cells. Since copper-induced oxidative stress triggers apoptosis, we further investigated antiapoptotic function of MTs in HL-60 cells. Using a Sephadex G-75 chromatographic partial purification of MTs from cell homogenates with subsequent immuno-dot-blot assay, we showed that zinc pretreatment yielded a pronounced induction of MTs in HL-60 cells. We report that zinc-induced MTs were able to (i) completely bind intracellular copper, (ii) com...
Algebraic decoding of the (32, 16, 8) quadratic residue code

An algebraic decoding algorithm for the 1/2-rate (32, 16, 8) quadratic residue (QR) code is found. The key idea of this algorithm is to find the error locator polynomial by a systematic use of the Newton identities associated with the code syndromes. The techniques developed extend the algebraic decoding algorithm found recently for the (32, 16, 8) QR code. It is expected that the algebraic approach developed here and by M. Elia (1987) applies also to longer QR codes and other BCH-type codes that are not fully decoded by the standard BCH decoding algorithm. >
Therapeutics: Detective work on drug dosage.

Patients differ in their requirement for, and response to, various drug doses. A general platform that allows continuous monitoring of drug levels in the blood of rats may open the door to patient-specific dosing.
Performance models of token ring local area networks

This paper presents a simple heuristic analytic algorithm for predicting the “response times” of messages in asymmetric token ring local area networks. A description of the token ring and the model is presented in section 2 the algorithm is described in section 3 and the empirical results in section 4. The analytic results were compared against a detailed simulation model and the results are extremely close over a wide range of models.Local area networks (or LANS) offer a very attractive solution to the problem of connecting a large number of devices distributed over a small geographic area. They are an inexpensive readily expandable and highly flexible communications media. They are the backbone of the automated office - a significant component of the office of the future.This importance of LANS in the future of applied computer science has resulted in a tremendous burst of interest in the study of their behaviour. There are already many different LAN architectures proposed and studied in the literature [Tropper 81] [Tannenbaum 81] [Babic 78] [Metcalfe 76] [Clark 78] One LAN architecture is significant for several reasons. This architecture is the token ring [Carsten 77]. It has attracted interest because of its simplicity fairness and efficiency. The interest it has generated has resulted in the proposal of several different versions. This paper concentrates on one of these versions - the single token token ring protocol as described in [Bux 81]. This particular version is attractive because of its overall simplicity and reliability. This paper presents an algorithm for predicting response times in a token ring with the single token protocol.
Bounding the states of systems with unknown-but-bounded disturbances

Control systems with hard constraints on certain variables are characterized, in an analytical review of recent investigations based on an unknown-but-bounded description of magnitude uncertainties. Hard-constraint problems typically arise in the design of controllers for potentially hazardous systems such as nuclear power plants. Consideration is given to norm bounds based on matrix measures, extensions of Schweppe's (1968) ellipsoid bounds, and set-theoretic regulator design. The performance of these approaches is evaluated by means of numerical simulations involving a third-order nonlinear steam-boiler model; the results are presented in graphs, and it is found that ellipsoid bounds are tightest in the general case, but that box bounds are even tighter for linear systems with Metzler system matrices.
Identification of pyrimidine derivatives as hSMG-1 inhibitors

hSMG-1 kinase plays a dual role in a highly conserved RNA surveillance pathway termed nonsense-mediated RNA decay (NMD) and in cellular genotoxic stress response. Since deregulation of cellular responses to stress contributes to tumor growth and resistance to chemotherapy, hSMG-1 is a potential target for cancer treatment. From our screening efforts, we have identified pyrimidine derivatives as hSMG-1 kinase inhibitors. We report structure-based optimization of this pan-kinase scaffold to improve its biochemical profile and overall kinome selectivity, including mTOR and CDK, to generate the first reported selective hSMG-1 tool compound.
Induction of Follicle Separation in the Mosquito by Physiological Amounts of Ecdysterone

Physiological quantities of the molting hormone, ecdysterone,injected into female Aedes aegypti prematurely induced separation ofincipient follicles in the ovarioles, an event that normally occursonly in blood-fed females. It was possible to stimulate thismorphological event with physiological amounts of hormone bymimicking, with two injections, the timing of normal increases inendogenous hormone of blood-fed females.
Transvaginal sonographic imaging of early second-trimester fetal anatomy assisted by uterine fundal pressure

Objective To assess the advantage of applying uterine fundal pressure to assist transvaginal sonographic imaging of early second-trimester fetal anatomy. Methods One hundred consecutive patients with singleton fetuses underwent routine transvaginal sonographic assessment of fetal anatomy between 13 and 17 weeks' gestation. If the entire fetal anatomy including cardiac outflow tracts was not depicted, uterine fundal pressure was applied with the operator's nonscanning hand in a bimanual fashion, to facilitate transvaginal imaging. Transabdominal sonography was performed when visualization of the entire fetal anatomy was not obtainable with transvaginal or uterine fundal pressure-assisted transvaginal sonography. Observed fetal structures with and without fundal pressure were compared. Factors assessed that may have modified the value of fundal pressure included patient weight, gestational age, fetal presentation, previous abdominal surgery, and the presence of uterine fibroids. Statistical analysis included McNemar test, x 2 , Fisher exact test, and t test, with P Results Visualization of lower limbs, head (including intracranial structures), upper limbs, kidneys, spine, gender, feet, hands (digits), face, four-chamber view, and cardiac outflow tracts was significantly enhanced by uterine fundal pressure-assisted versus nonassisted transvaginal sonography. Uterine fundal pressure improved transvaginal sonographic imaging in 91% of subjects, and in 51% of all subjects, a complete examination was thus obtained. In 20% of all subjects, transabdominal sonography was required to complete the examination. Complete fetal anatomic scanning was unobtainable despite uterine fundal pressure supplemented by transabdominal sonography in 29% of cases. Completion of the transvaginal sonographic fetal anatomic survey with uterine fundal pressure was related to gestational age ( P P P = .13), previous abdominal surgery ( P = .06), or uterine fibroids ( P = .26). Conclusion Uterine fundal pressure applied during early second-trimester transvaginal sonographic evaluation of fetal anatomy significantly improves visualization of fetal structures otherwise located beyond the effective range of the transvaginal transducer.
Nonnociceptive afferent activity depresses nocifensive behavior and nociceptive synapses via an endocannabinoid-dependent mechanism.

Previously, low-frequency stimulation (LFS) of a nonnociceptive touch-sensitive neuron has been found to elicit endocannabinoid-dependent long-term depression (eCB-LTD) in nociceptive synapses in t...
The role of factors of portal origin in modifying hepatic regeneration.

Abstract 1. 1. Hepatic hyperplasia can occur in animals on total intravenous alimentation. 2. 2. In the total absence of splanchnic portal organs, partial hepatectomy produces a hyperplastic response of the liver which is significantly greater than that developed in the presence of those organs. 3. 3. The portal blood factors responsible for modifying the hyperplastic response of the liver to partial hepatectomy do not need to perfuse the liver directly. 4. 4. It is suggested that factors of portal origin have a role in the control of hepatic hypertrophy, and in their absence, there is increased hyperplasia after hepatic resection.
Surface-plasmon-enhanced Brillouin scattering on silver films: Double-resonance effect

We report a continuation of our investigation of surface-plasmon-induced enhancement of Brillouin scattering of thermal surface acoustic waves of thin silver films. The experiments were performed in a Kretschmann attenuated-total-reflection configuration. In the backscattering mode, the surface plasmons are resonantly involved both in the incident and scattered radiation. The scattered radiation appears on the surface of a cone defined by the resonant interaction angle and contains Brillouin couplets, which are analyzed by a five-pass Fabry-Perot interferometer. The enhancement factor is determined from the ratio of the peak radiation on this cone to the Brillouin scattered radiation in an external reflection configuration not involving surface plasmons. The theory and experiment agree in that the double resonance gives a much larger enhancement than does the singly resonant process, which was observed in our earlier investigation for the forward-scattering configuration. The enhancement factor observed, 750 (\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}25%), is very dependent on the imaginary part of the dielectric constant of the Ag film, which is determined experimentally for our film as -9.0+i0.57. Finally, we contrast the results of our Brillouin scattering experiment with those of Raman scattering from chemical adsorbates.
Covering codes for multilevel flash memories

Write-once-memory (WOM) and flash codes are used to increase the number of writes in flash memories in order to improve the lifetime of flash-based storage systems. An early construction method of binary WOM codes used cosets of a binary linear code in the writing process, and the covering radius of the code was used to determine the number of writes possible. In this paper, we show how to combine this method with nonbinary codes for multilevel flash cells, and introduce a new family of ternary WOM codes using the finite Euclidean geometry EG(m, 3).
The Vitamin B6 Requirement of the Chick

Abstract THE essential nature of vitamin B6 for the chick was first shown by Carter and O’Brien (1939), Hegsted, Oleson, Elvehjem, and Hart (1939), and Jukes (1939). No attempt was made by these workers to establish the actual requirement of this vitamin, probably because their rations were low in other necessary factors as evidenced by the poor growth obtained at three weeks when vitamin B6 was added to their rations. Stokstad, Manning, and Rogers (1940) reported that chicks receiving 250 micrograms of vitamin B6 per 100 grams of ration weighed 99 grams at three weeks. Increasing the level of vitamin B6 produced no increase in growth. These workers state that their basal ration was also low in factor U. The first observations on the actual requirement of the chick for vitamin B6 were made by Hogan, Richardson, Patrick, O’Dell, and Kempster (1941) while studying anemia and perosis in chicks. These workers . . .
WE‐D‐L100F‐02: Parallel Magnetic Resonance Imaging (or, Scanners, Cell Phones, and the Surprising Guises of Modern Tomography)

Today, parallel data acquisition approaches are used widely in MRI, both for clinical diagnostic imaging and for research applications. Whereas in a traditional sequential MRI scan, data are collected one point and one line at a time in the presence of varying magnetic field gradients, parallel MRI uses spatial information from arrays of radiofrequency detector coils to acquire multiple data points simultaneously, thereby circumventing basic limits on imaging speed and efficiency associated with traditional sequential approaches. The use of RF coil information in combination with the traditional Fourier information available from field gradients increases the complexity of image reconstruction. In fact, parallel MRimage reconstruction may be represented as a generalized linear inverse problem. This formulation highlights connections with other modalities as well as shedding light on both the potential and the limitations of parallel imaging. In this talk, the fundamentals of parallel MR image acquisition and reconstruction will be reviewed. Analogies with X‐ray computed tomography, MIMO wireless communication, and magnetoencephalography will be explored, and some future directions in parallel MRreconstruction algorithms, hardware design, and clinical applications will be surveyed. Educational Objectives: 1. Understand the basic physical principles of parallel MRdata acquisition and the basic mathematical principles of parallel MRimage reconstruction. 2. Recognize analogies with other imaging modalities and communication technologies. 3. Identify fundamental physical (electrodynamic) limits of performance of parallel MRI systems. 4. Appreciate some of the most common current and the most promising future clinical applications of parallel MRI.
Enhancement of cell and tissue destruction in cryosurgery by use of eutectic freezing

An in vitro study was performed to investigate a more effective method of destroying malignant tissue during cyrosurgery, which is based on eutectic crystallization. Eutectic formation is a solidification process through which water and solutes form a hydrate and can be recognized by a secondary heat release in differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). We investigated whether it is possible to induce eutectic crystallization by infusing concentrated salt solutions into cell suspension and tissue systems. These systems included AT-1 rat prostate tumor and normal rat liver tissues. In cell suspensions, the post-thaw viability significantly drops at or below the temperatures where eutectic crystallization occurred. When eutectic crystallization is induced in tissues, histological analysis shows significantly enhanced freezing injury. These results imply that this method may be of benefit in cryosurgical applications particularly at the edge of the iceball where tumor cell survival is in question. The possible advantages of inducing eutectic crystallization are i) enhancement of direct cell injury; ii) enlargement of effective cryosurgical cell/tissue destruction zone by selecting a salt with a high eutectic temperature; and iii) improvement of the efficacy of monitoring during cryosurgery.
Two-mirror unobscured optical system for reshaping the irradiance distribution of a laser beam

The design of a two-mirror optical system for reshaping the irradiance distribution of a laser beam is presented. The second mirror is decentered relative to the first to eliminate the obscuration inherent in an axially symmetric design. A geometric-optics approach is used to derive a set of equations that describe the surface figures of each of the mirrors. (In general, the mirror surfaces are not rotationally symmetric.) The special case of a system to convert a Gaussian input beam into a uniform output distribution is considered. The expressions for the surface figures are evaluated numerically for several specific systems to provide illustrative examples. It is observed that in some cases rotationally symmetric aspheres may be used to construct the beam-shaping system.
The relationship between egalitarianism, dominance, and violence in intimate relationships.

The aim of this study was to understand the relationship between egalitarianism, dominance, and intimate partner violence within the context of couples’ dynamics. 87 heterosexual dyads completed questionnaires on gender role egalitarianism, dominance/control, sexism, power dynamics, and aggression. The relationship between female and male scores on the dominance, egalitarianism, sexism, and intimate partner violence scales were examined using Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM). Findings indicated that the APIM model provided a satisfactory fit to the data. For both sexes, dominance had more explanatory power than sexism and egalitarianism when all else was controlled in the model. Contrary to our expectation, male egalitarian attitude had no significant actor or partner effect on relationship aggression, while female egalitarian attitude had significant actor and partner effects on relationship aggression. Dyadic analysis indicated that cultural pointers of patriarchy, such as egalitarianism among young college students, were not associated with male-to-female violence.
Elongation Growth of Setae of Pellia (Bryophyta): Effects of Auxin and Inhibitors

Summary Growth of setae of the liverwort, Pellia epiphylla, was monitored with intact plants and with excised stalks in aqueous solutions. Growth of sporangiophores of intact plants was linear for nearly 48 hours at an average rate of about 0.6 mm/h. Excised setae in the presence of a near optimal concentration of 0.1 mM indole-3-acetic acid (auxin) grew at a steady-state rate of 0.7-1.2 mm/h, greater than that of the sporangiophores of the intact plant. Elongation was not a simple passive phenomenon since growth of excised setae was inhibited by cycloheximide, puromycin, fluorophenylalanine, anti auxins, coumarin, and heavy water as well as ionophores. Colchicine inhibited auxin-induced but not basal elongation as did the cellulose synthesis inhibitor dichlobenil. Both basal and auxin-induced elongation were sensitive to cytochalasin B. The inhibitory effects of cytochalasin B are obvious only in short pieces of setae. As shown by the application of radioactive cytochalasin B, this is due to its poor penetration. The results are significant in that they demonstrate an example of auxin-promoted elongation where the rate of growth of excised setae equals or exceeds that of the intact plant and is clearly not an example of a passive thinning of auxin-loosened walls. Rather growth is dependent upon maintenance of organized structure and macromolecule synthesis.
Effect of renal replacement therapy on cellular cytokine production in patients with renal disease.

Effect of renal replacement therapy on cellular cytokine production in patients with renal disease. To evaluate the effect of renal replacement therapy on cellular cytokine production in patients with renal disease, we studied interleukin 1 (IL-1) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) production by target cells stimulated with supernatants from cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with end-stage renal disease, who were treated with hemodialysis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) before and after hemodialysis or a peritoneal dialy sate exchange, compared to normal subjects used as time controls, and patients with chronic renal insufficiency. Initial cellular IL-2 production was increased in patients with hemodialysis, compared to normal controls. The ratio of pretreatment cellular IL-2 and IL-1 production was increased in all patient groups compared to normal subjects. Both hemodialysis and CAPD treatments resulted in increased cellular IL-1 (51.7%, P
Student Behaviors, Teacher Reinforcement, Student Ability, and Learning.

Abstract Ninety-eight children were observed for 6-min periods on each of 10 days during 50-min, small-group classes in either mathematics, science, geography, or language usage. Two student behaviors (on-task behavior and accuracy of responding to teacher-directed questions) and three types of teacher reinforcement (verbal reinforcement for on-task behavior and accurate responding and tangible reinforcers) were coded during each observation period. A post-test of achievement, directly related to the content of the lessons, was administered at the end of the 10 days of instruction. The causal effects of student behaviors, teacher reinforcement, and student ability (reading achievement and intelligence) on achievement were evaluated using path analysis. The strongest effects were from student ability measures, with accurate responding by students and teacher reinforcement of accurate responding exhibiting smaller, but significant effects. Findings are discussed to qualify the relationship between overt classroom behaviors and degree of learning and the mediating effects of student ability.
50,000 Frequent Flier Miles: Thoughts on a Multi-Sited Organizational Ethnography

George Marcus (1995:96), in a 1995 paper, defined multi-sited ethnography as "moving out from single sites and local situations of conventional ethnographic research designs to circulation of cultural meanings, objects, and identities in diffuse time-space." In the 18 years since, multi-sited ethnography as an object of study and practice has gained immense popularity. Both scholars and practitioners have applied the concept to many phenomena, including migrations (Fitzgerald 2006) and commodity chains (Bestor 2001; Freidberg 2001). Several recent books explore the concept in depth (Coleman and Von Hellermann 2011; Falzon 2009). However, little of this work has directly focused upon organizational ethnographies, and less still has examined how applied anthropologists inside and outside of academia can design projects to ensure benefit to those informants who make these ethnographies possible.
Household-specific variables and forest dependency in an Indian hotspot of biodiversity: challenges for sustainable livelihoods

Deforestation studies have attracted considerable attention over the past two decades. Analyses of local deforestation examine the significance of numerous explanatory variables for the extraction of forest products. This study distinguishes among the explanatory variables as household-specific and site-specific, and argues for in-depth analysis of household-specific variables. It examines the role of household size, income, and education on firewood extraction and beedi-making in the Western Ghats of India, a hotspot of biodiversity. The study documents the incidence of these livelihoods, investigates the interaction among the three variables, and uses logistic regression models to determine the exact probability for the livelihoods. Two novel features of the study include analysis of wood and non-wood extraction through a single dataset and determination of model by the data. The results show high dependency of households on forest-based livelihoods, situations when the probability of livelihoods changes substantially, and non-parallel trends for household dependency. The study suggests the role of household-specific variables as the agents of motivation and persistence for forest-based livelihoods and presents a hypothesis about the critical size of household in forest dependency. The study recommends four measures—harvest of ecosystem services, rise in income, migration and mobility, and environmental education—to promote sustainable livelihoods.
Complexity in models of cultural niche construction with selection and homophily

Niche construction is the process by which organisms can alter the ecological environment for themselves, their descendants, and other species. As a result of niche construction, differences in selection pressures may be inherited across generations. Homophily, the tendency of like phenotypes to mate or preferentially associate, influences the evolutionary dynamics of these systems. Here we develop a model that includes selection and homophily as independent culturally transmitted traits that influence the fitness and mate choice determined by another focal cultural trait. We study the joint dynamics of a focal set of beliefs, a behavior that can differentially influence the fitness of those with certain beliefs, and a preference for partnering based on similar beliefs. Cultural transmission, selection, and homophily interact to produce complex evolutionary dynamics, including oscillations, stable polymorphisms of all cultural phenotypes, and simultaneous stability of oscillation and fixation, which have not previously been observed in models of cultural evolution or gene–culture interactions. We discuss applications of this model to the interaction of beliefs and behaviors regarding education, contraception, and animal domestication.
Physical Properties of Elastic Duplicating Materials

Agar has been used for a number of years in the preparation of elastic duplicating materials. These duplicating materials have been used mainly in partial denture prosthesis for the preparation of a duplicate refectory cast of the original stone cast of the patient's mouth. Since moderately large quantities of duplicating materials are used in these procedures, the low cost and reversibility of the agar materials are a definite advantage. The mercaptan and silicone rubber elastic impression materials have not been used extensively in duplicating procedures because of their high cost and the fact that these materials, once set, are irreversible. Recently, a plastic duplicating material has been developed which is a reversible polyvinyl chloride plastic gel. Because of its chemical and physical nature, this material has elastic properties somewhat different from the agar compounds. The agar duplicating compounds are composed primarily of agar and water but may also contain borax to increase the strength, salts to accelerate the setting of the investment, and other ingredients. Cellulose fibers, waxes, and fillers, which may be found in impression compounds, generally are omitted from duplicating compounds, since the duplicating materials are often stored in the sol state for extended periods and these ingredients tend to separate under this condition of storage. Since the duplicating compounds may be stored at temperatures of 130°-150° F., their resistance to thermal degradation is an important property. The basic composition of the agar impression compounds is much the same as for the agar duplicating compounds. The principal difference is that the impression compounds may contain 10-15 per cent agar, while the duplicating materials may contain only 5 per cent agar and, as just indicated, need not contain waxes, fillers, and other modifiers common to impression materials. In fact, agar impression materials have been used as duplicating compounds by simply diluting the impression material with an equal amount of water. The properties of the agar impression compounds have been studied by numerous investigators. Skinner and Kern' determined the linear-dimensional changes in air and subsequently in water of various agar impression compounds. They also measured the compressive properties of proportional limit, maximum flexibility, and crushing strength, as well as the plastic flow properties of these agar materials. Paffenbarger2 reported the compressive properties of strength, deformation, set, and stiffness of a number of agar compounds. The temperature of gel formation and the impression-
Blind image quality metrics for optimal speckle image reconstruction in horizontal imaging scenarios

We propose using certain blind image quality metrics to tune the inverse filter used for amplitude recovery in speckle imaging systems. The inverse filter in these systems requires knowledge of the blurring function. When imaging through turbulence over long horizontal paths near the ground an estimate of the blurring function can be obtained from theoretical models incorporating an estimate of the integrated turbulence strength along the imaging path. Estimates provided by the user in these scenarios are likely to be inaccurate resulting in suboptimal reconstructions. In this work, we use two blind image quality metrics; one metric is based on image sharpness, and the other on anisotropy in image entropy, to tune the value of integrated turbulence in the long exposure atmospheric blurring model with the goal of providing images equivalent to the minimum mean squared error (MMSE) image available. We find that both blind metrics are capable of choosing images that differ from the MMSE image by less than 4% using simulated data. Using the image sharpness metric, it was possible to produce images within 1% of the MMSE on average. Both metrics were also able produce high quality reconstructions from field data.
Comparison of 1540-nm laser-induced injuries in ex vivo and in vitro rabbit corneal models

Despite the increasing use of infrared lasers in medical, industrial, and military settings, data on threshold radiant exposures and median effective dose (ED 50 ) as they relate to laser-tissue interaction are limited. Our goals were to determine the ED50 for single-pulse, 1540-nm laser exposures in ex vivo and in vitro rabbit corneal models and to characterize the histopathological changes associated with the laser-tissue interaction. An erbium-glass laser was used to deliver single, 1540-nm wavelength pulses to 27 ex vivo and 24 in vitro rabbit corneal models. The ex vivo model was exposed to single pulses of 0.8-ms duration and radiant energies ranging from 17.61 J/cm 2 to 42.26 J/cm 2 . The in vitro corneal models were exposed to single pulses of 0.8 ms duration and had radiant exposures ranging from 14.87 to 29.72 J/cm 2 . Tissue exposure sites were observed for presence of a lesion immediately post-exposure and 24 h after exposure. Histopathological evaluations of tissue exposure sites were conducted 24 h after exposure. The ED 50 was determined to be 21.24 J/cm 2 for the in vitro rabbit corneal models and 30.86 J/cm 2 for the ex vivo corneal models. Both the in vitro and ex vivo models displayed similar histopathological responses of tissue necrosis and epithelial cell proliferation.
IC-P3-232: MRI and MRS-derived hippocampal correlates of quantitative gait dysfunction in older adults

Background: Gait measures have been shown to predict cognitive decline and dementia in older adults independent of memory performance and other clinical variables. Investigation of the neurobiology associated with gait dysfunction is needed to elucidate this relationship. Neuroimaging has emerged as a powerful tool for the identification of brain morphometry and physiology associated with dementia risk factors. This study aimed to examine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS)derived hippocampal correlates of gait function in a well-characterized sample of nondemented older adults. Methods: 4T MRI, 1H MRS, and quantitative gait evaluations were conducted in a subset of 48 nondemented older adults (24 males; mean age 81 years) drawn from the Einstein Aging Study, a community-based sample of individuals over the age of 70 residing in the Bronx, New York. Hippocampal volumes, hippocampal neurochemistry (Nacetyl-aspartate to creatine ratios), and quantitative gait measures (stride length, swing, and stride variability) were obtained in all participants. Gait measure selection was based on three gait domains identified in our prior research. Volumetrics were obtained by a single trained rater with high intrarater reliability (ICC 0.99). Results: Separate linear regression analyses controlling for age were used to examine hippocampal volume and neurochemistry as predictors of gait function (stride length, swing, and stride variability). Stride variability was associated with hippocampal neurochemistry ( -0.38, p 0.01; overall model R2 0.14, p 0.04), but not hippocampal volume ( -0.33, p 0.08). Conversely, stride length was associated with hippocampal volume ( 0.36, p 0.03; overall model R2 0.33, p 0.01), but not hippocampal neurochemistry ( 0.09, p 0.48). Gait swing was not significantly related to any neuroimaging measure. Conclusions: Nondemented older adults exhibit increased stride variability that is associated with lower levels of hippocampal neuronal metabolism as measured by MRS neurochemistry, but not hippocampal volume. Furthermore, decreased stride length is associated with smaller hippocampal volumes, but not hippocampal neurochemistry. If confirmed in larger samples, this pattern of results suggests that distinct neurobiological substrates may support decreased stride length and increased variability in older adults. Additional investigation is necessary to examine the longitudinal sequence of motor, cognitive, neurochemical and neuroanatomic changes in normal aging and dementia.
Dependence of tissue oxygen on oxygen delivery

Abstract The viability of tissue flaps depends on adequate blood flow and oxygenation. To help ensure oxygen delivery, increased inspired oxygen is often provided. This study uses a porcine model to measure tissue oxygen (TPO2) in a muscle flap, in response to varying levels of inspired oxygen concentration (FiO2). Six swine underwent the creation of a latissimus dorsi island flap. An ultrasonic flow probe was used to monitor afferent flow through the thoracodorsal artery, and a 20-ga fluorescence-quenching optode was employed to monitor TPO2. Additional optodes were inserted in muscle of an ipsilateral hindlimb, and in the terminal ileum. Inspired oxygen concentration was varied from 15 to 100%, and oxygen delivery variables measured. Analysis of variance and multiple linear regression were used to determine which variables had the greatest effect on TPO2. All three sites varied directly with inspired oxygen concentration. Flap TPO2had a strong dependence on FiO2and local oxygen delivery (r2= 0.54). PaO2and hemoglobin were the most significant determinants of ileal submucosal TPO2(r2= 0.65). A correlation between average submucosal and flap TPO2was observed (r> 0.9,P
In vitro activity of trimethoprim alone compared with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and other antimicrobials against bacterial species associated with upper respiratory tract infections

Abstract Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole has been used to treat various respiratory tract infections. Nevertheless, for many patients, intolerance of the sulfonamide component precludes use of this combination. This study examined the activity of trimethoprim alone in comparison to that of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and other antimicrobials against bacterial species implicated in respiratory tract infections. For Haemophilus influenzae , minimal inhibitory concentrations of trimethoprim were equal to or one dilution greater than those of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, with 56 of 58 strains inhibited by the former at ≤0.25 μg/ml. All oxacillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus and 96.7% of Streptococcus pyogenes were inhibited by trimethoprim ≤2 μg/ml. In contrast, only 50% of Streptococcus pneumoniae were inhibited by this concentration of trimethoprim, whereas 93.3% were susceptible to the combination at ≤2/38 μg/ml. All oxacillin-resistant S. aureus and all Moraxella catarrhalis were resistant to trimethoprim, although many of the former and all of the latter were susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.
Extrinsic compression of superior vena cava an analysis of 41 patients.

A retrospective analysis was made of 41 patients with extrinsic compression of the superior vena cava who were treated at the University of Illinois Hospital, Mercy Hospital and Columbus Hospital between 1967 and 1977. Small cell carcinoma was the predominant histological variety. The mode of presentation (acute versus subacute) was found to be an important prognostic factor: 47% of patients with acute presentation responded to treatment compared to 79% of patients with subacute onset. Chemotherapy given concomitantly with radiotherapy did not produce better results than radiotherapy alone.
Up-regulation of endothelial cell adhesion molecules characterizes disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus. The Shwartzman phenomenon revisited.

Objective. To test the hypothesis that during exacerbations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), endothelial cells are activated to increase their expression of adhesion molecules. Methods. Endothelial cell expression of E-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) was quantitated immunohistochemically in 20 biopsy specimens from nonlesional, non-sun-exposed skin from 16 SLE patients. Disease activity was evaluated with the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and with measurements of complement components C3a desArg, C3, and C4. Results. The mean expression of all 3 adhesion molecules was significantly elevated in patients with SLE versus healthy controls, as well as in patients with active versus inactive SLE. The mean C3a desArg level was significantly higher in patients with active SLE compared with those with inactive SLE. The SLEDAI scores correlated directly with C3a desArg levels and inversely with C3 and with C4 levels. Evaluation of serial biopsy specimens demonstrated loss of endothelial cell adhesion molecules and reduction of C3a levels with clinical improvement. Conclusion. Our findings demonstrate up-regulation of the surface expression of 3 distinct adhesion molecules, E-selectin, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1, in patients with SLE. The abnormal expression of these endothelial cell adhesion molecules is most marked in patients with active disease characterized by significant elevations of the complement split product C3a desArg. We suggest that in certain SLE patients, excessive complement activation in association with primed endothelial cells induces leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion and leuko-occlusive vasculopathy.
Multifunctional magneto-plasmonic nanotransducers for advanced theranostics: synthesis, modeling and experiment

In this work, nano-transducers with a superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) core have been synthesized by preparation of precursor gold nanoseeds loaded on SPIO-embedded silica to form a gold nanoshell. The goal is for such nanotansducers to be used in theranostics to detect brain tumors by using MRI imaging and then assist in their treatment by using photothermal ablation. The iron oxide core provides for the use of a magnetic-field to guide the particles to the target (tumor) site. The gold nanoshell can be then readily heated using incident light and/or an alternating magneticfield. After synthesis of nano-transducer samples, Transmission Electron Microscopy was employed to analyze the formation of each layer. Then UV spectroscopy experiments were conducted to examine the light absorbance of the synthesized samples. The UV-visible absorption spectra shows a clear surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band around 530 nm, verifying the presence of gold coating nanoshells. Finally photothermal experiments using a high-power laser beam with a wavelength of 527 nm were performed to heat the samples. It was found that the temperature reaches 45° C in 12 minutes.
Mortality among under 5s falls below 10 million for first time

The annual number of deaths of children aged 5 years or younger reached a record low last year, says Unicef, falling for the first time to less than 10 million—to 9.7 million, down from 12.7 million in 1990. “More children are surviving today than ever before. Now we must build on this public health success to push for the achievement of the millennium development goals,” said Unicef's chief, Ann Veneman. But she also said that there is no room for complacency. “The loss of 9.7 million young lives each year is unacceptable. Most of these deaths are preventable—and, as recent progress shows, the solutions are tried and tested,” she added. Of the 9.7 million children who died in 2006, 4.8 million were from …
Circulations Associated with a Mature-to-Decaying Midlatitude Mesoscale Convective System. Part I: Surface Features—Heat Bursts and Mesolow Development

Abstract This study examines surface features associated with a mature-to-dissipating midlatitude mesoscale convective system that occurred on 23–24 June 1985 during the Oklahoma-Kansas Preliminary Regional Experiment for STORM-Central. The primary data sources include a 400 × 500 km surface mesonetwork on a 50 km grid, rawinsonde observations from 12 supplementary sites in Kansas and Oklahoma and radar measurements from conventional as well as dual-Doppler networks. The mesoscale convective system under investigation developed in an environment with weak vertical shear and had a lifetime of 9–12 h. It consisted in its mature stage of a southward-moving arc-shaped line of deep convective cells with a trailing stratiform precipitation region to the north. Thirty-three percent of the surface rain in the portion of the mesonetwork experiencing storm passage was from the stratiform region. An intense mesoscale downdraft developed beneath the stratiform cloud with a strong mesohigh at the surface. A wake low w...
Stable perturbations of nonsymmetric matrices

Abstract A complex matrix is said to be stable if all its eigenvalues have negative real part. Let J be a Jordan block with zeros on the diagonal and ones on the superdiagonal, and consider analytic matrix perturbations of the form A ( e ) = J + eB + O ( e 2 ), where e is real and positive. A necessary condition on B for the stability of A (e) on an interval (0, e 0 ), and a sufficient condition on B for the existence of such a family A (e), is (i) Re tr B ⩽ 0; (ii) the sum of the elements on the first subdiagonal of B has nonpositive real part and zero imaginary part; (iii) the sum of the elements on each of the other subdiagonals of B is zero. This result is extended to matrices with any number of nonderogatory eigenvalues on the imaginary axis, and to a stability definition based on the spectral radius. A generalized necessary condition, though not a sufficient condition, applies to arbitrary Jordan structures. The proof of our results uses two important techniques: the Puiseux-Newton diagram and the Arnold normal form. In the non-deragatory case our main results were obtained by Levantovskii in 1980 using a different proof. Practical implications are discussed.
Hepatitis C disease progression: From 5 years to 50 years

Hepatitis C is the most common cause of end-stage liver disease and is the leading indication for liver transplantation in the United States. Current treatment options have led to moderate success in viral eradication, but treatment options are limited by adverse effects, cost, and lower success rates in some difficult-to-treat groups. Studies of the natural history of chronic hepatitis C viral infection have yielded some risk factors that are likely to accelerate disease progression, such as advanced age, male gender, alcohol consumption, and HIV coinfection. Patients at significant risk for disease progression should be considered for staging liver biopsies, close monitoring, and possible treatment.
The Privatization of the Internet's Backbone Network

Scholars have neglected the privatization of the Internet's backbone network, despite the obvious significance of the U.S. government turning control of a powerful new communication technology over to the private sector. This article analyzes the transition from a government-sponsored backbone network to multiple commercially owned backbone networks. The authors also analyze the implications of the privatization on the Internet's governance, competition, and performance. This research was supported by National Science Foundation Grants ITR-0081426 and IIS-0429217. Opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
Technology and Social Structure in a Japanese Automobile Factory

The present research investigates the ways in which the Japanese-factory social structure mitigates the alienating effects of auto-assembly technology. The Japanese employee enjoys dual work roles; as an assembler and as a member of the company community. Because these roles are insulatedfrom one another, his negative reaction to the immediate job fails to contaminate his relationship with the enterprise, which he experiences primarily as a member of its community.
A Novel Immunophilin Ligand: Distinct Branching Effects on Dopaminergic Neurons in Culture and Neurotrophic Actions after Oral Administration in an Animal Model of Parkinson's Disease

Abstract Protection or regeneration of the dopaminergic (DA) system would be of significant therapeutic value for Parkinson's disease. Immunophilin ligands, such as FK506, can produce neurotrophic effects in vitro and in vivo, but their immunosuppressive effects make them unsuitable for neurological application. This study demonstrates that a novel, nonimmunosuppressive immunophilin ligand (V-10,367) increased the number of neurites extended by tyrosine hydroxylase positive (TH+) DA neurons in embryonic day 14 primary DA neuronal cultures. In contrast, the immunosuppressive immunophilin ligand FK506 increased the length of TH+ neurites. After oral administration in MPTP-treated mice, V-10,367 completely protected against MPTP-induced loss of striatal TH+ axonal density, while FK506 did not. These experiments demonstrate that nonimmunosuppressive immunophilin ligands specifically increase neurite branching in primary DA neuronal cultures and possess neurotrophic actions in vivo with potential application to neurodegenerative disease.