cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biochemical and genetic analysis of dominant-negative mutations affecting a yeast G-protein gamma subunit.

Abstract Heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) consisting of alpha, beta, and gamma subunits mediate signalling between cell surface receptors and intracellular effectors in eukaryotic cells. To define signalling functions of G gamma subunits (STE18 gene product) involved in pheromone response and mating in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we isolated and characterized dominant-negative STE18 alleles. We obtained dominant-negative mutations that disrupt C-terminal sequences required for prenylation of G gamma precursors (CAAX box) and that affect residues in the N-terminal half of Ste18p. Overexpression of mutant G gamma subunits in wild-type cells blocked signal transduction; this effect was suppressed upon overexpression of G beta subunits. Mutant G gamma subunits may therefore sequester G beta subunits into nonproductive G beta gamma dimers. Because mutant G gamma subunits blocked the constitutive signal resulting from disruption of the G alpha subunit gene (GPA1), they are defective in functions required for downstream signalling. Ste18p bearing a C107Y substitution in the CAAX box displayed reduced electrophoretic mobility, consistent with a prenylation defect. G gamma subunits carrying N-terminal substitutions had normal electrophoretic mobilities, suggesting that these proteins were prenylated. G gamma subunits bearing substitutions in their N-terminal region or C-terminal CAAX box (C107Y) supported receptor-G protein coupling in vitro, whereas C-terminal truncations caused partial defects in receptor coupling.
STRESS PERCEPTION AMONG RURAL AND URBAN PERINATAL PATIENTS

Pregnancy can be a source of both physical and emotional stress for the pregnant woman. Stress can greatly impact one's well-being by increasing blood pressure, reducing coping mechanisms, and ultimately threatening one's homeostasis. Anecdotal data indicates that urban and rural areas afford different sociocultural stress. There is a dearth of studies that explore perceptions of stress among pregnant women and no known studies that explore the perception of stress among pregnant women who live in different sociocultural areas of the United States. The purpose of this pilot study was to explore perceptions of stress among rural and urban pregnant women. Findings indicated that rural participants attended prenatal classes more than urban participants and that urban participants perceived greater overall stress than rural participants. The study lends feasibility to future research exploring perinatal stress as influenced by geographical, sociocultural factors.
Efficient replica maintenance for distributed storage systems

This paper considers replication strategies for storage systems that aggregate the disks of many nodes spread over the Internet. Maintaining replication in such systems can be prohibitively expensive, since every transient network or host failure could potentially lead to copying a server's worth of data over the Internet to maintain replication levels. The following insights in designing an efficient replication algorithm emerge from the paper's analysis. First, durability can be provided separately from availability; the former is less expensive to ensure and a more useful goal for many wide-area applications. Second, the focus of a durability algorithm must be to create new copies of data objects faster than permanent disk failures destroy the objects; careful choice of policies for what nodes should hold what data can decrease repair time. Third, increasing the number of replicas of each data object does not help a system tolerate a higher disk failure probability, but does help tolerate bursts of failures. Finally, ensuring that the system makes use of replicas that recover after temporary failure is critical to efficiency. Based on these insights, the paper proposes the Carbonite replication algorithm for keeping data durable at a low cost. A simulation of Carbonite storing 1 TB of data over a 365 day trace of PlanetLab activity shows that Carbonite is able to keep all data durable and uses 44% more network traffic than a hypothetical system that only responds to permanent failures. In comparison, Total Recall and DHash require almost a factor of two more network traffic than this hypothetical system.
Abstract 3353: Docosahexaenoic acid enhances 2-deoxyglucose treatment in breast and lung cancer cells in vitro

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Increased aerobic glycolysis is a common phenotype of cancer cells and is known as the Warburg effect. Recent studies have focused on targeting cellular metabolism to impede cancer cell growth. Previous findings in our laboratory have demonstrated that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6 n-3), a long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), can inhibit cancer cell metabolism and reduce intracellular ATP levels. This study investigated the effects of concurrent treatment with DHA with 2-deoxyglucose (2DG), an inhibitor of glucose metabolism, in multiple cancer cell models in vitro, BT-474 human breast ductal carcinoma, MDA-MB-231 human breast adenocarcinoma, and A549 human lung adenocarcinoma. Dose-dependent decreases in intracellular ATP levels were observed with DHA and 2DG, both alone and in combination. In addition to the significant decreases in ATP levels, large decreases in extracellular lactate concentrations were observed in all three cell lines as well, suggesting that the combination of 2DG and DHA can augment treatment, mimic glucose deprivation and play a role in reducing the Warburg effect. Moreover, oxygen consumption rate (OCR) and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) were significantly reduced with the combination of DHA and 2DG, which suggests that the combination of DHA with other metabolic inhibitors, like 2DG, may sensitize cells to current treatment. Our findings show that combining DHA with 2DG enhances the efficacy of 2DG treatment alone, which may help to reduce the cytotoxic effects by 2DG on normal cells. Other metabolic inhibitors are being employed in combination with DHA to determine the mechanisms behind the DHA-induced sensitizing effects, which will provide additional treatment strategies for oncologists and cancer patients. Citation Format: Michael Mouradian, Irvin V. Ma, Erika D. Vicente, Amy M. Chattin, Ronald S. Pardini. Docosahexaenoic acid enhances 2-deoxyglucose treatment in breast and lung cancer cells in vitro. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3353. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3353
'Subthreshold' mental disorders. A review and synthesis of studies on minor depression and other 'brand names'.

BACKGROUND Subthreshold conditions (i.e. not meeting full diagnostic criteria for mental disorders in DSM-IV or ICD-10) are prevalent and associated with significant costs and disability. Observed more in primary care and community populations than in speciality settings, varying conceptualisations have been applied to define these conditions. AIMS To examine definitional issues for subthreshold forms of depression (e.g. minor depression) and to suggest future directions for research and nosology in psychiatry and primary care. METHOD A Medline search was conducted. The relevant articles were reviewed with regard to specific categories of information. RESULTS Studies applied a myriad of names and definitions for subthreshold depression with varying duration, symptom thresholds and exclusions. Prevalence rates also vary depending upon the definitions, settings and populations researched. CONCLUSIONS Future research needs to apply methodological and intellectual rigour and systematically consider a broader clinical and nosological context. In addition, collaboration between psychiatry and primary care on research and clinical issues is needed.
Judging the effectiveness of antihypertensive therapy in an individual patient

The physician's decision as to whether a hypertensive drug has produced satisfactory blood pressure lowering is more difficult than it is usually perceived to be. Variability of blood pressure, regression to the mean and habituation to the taking of blood pressure all conspire to blur the significance of the observed drop. We present algorithms outlining the number of visits before and after the initiation of therapy and the mmHg drop required for determination with acceptable certainty that any response to the hypotensive drug has occurred. Our conclusion is that the variability of blood pressure limits the clinician's ability to confidently conclude that antihypertensive therapy is effective unless the change in blood pressure exceeds a relatively high threshold and/or the number of visits both before and after the initiation of antihypertensive therapy is large. Because regression to the mean will be minimized, fewer visits and/or a lesser blood pressure fall in the treated patient changing or adding medications will be necessary to determine that a real decline has occurred.
Effect of agitation speed on the synthesis of Mucor miehei acid protease

Abstract Different experiments using Mucor miehei CBS 370.65 were carried out to study the effect of agitation speed on the production of the mold acid protease. The experiments were conducted in shake flasks at a fixed substrate concentration of 58 g l−1 of total carbohydrates and at shaker speeds from 80 to 380 rev min−1. Enzyme production was found to be directly proportional to the shaker speeds, with the highest concentration of enzyme of 1,400 Soxhlet Rennet units (SU) ml−1 obtained at 380 rev min−1. The yield of product to substrate at 380 rev min−1 was determined to be 27,081.0 SU g−1 substrate and the productivity of the process was 221 SU g−1 h−1. Enzyme production was partially growth associated, and glucose supported both cell growth and enzyme production. Product formation and cell concentration were directly related to the rate of substrate consumption. The rate of product formation decreased when product started to accumulate, suggesting that the process was affected by feedback repression.
Efficient failure recovery in Wireless Sensor Networks through active, spare designation

In some applications a sensor network is composed of a set of mobile nodes deployed in an area of interest in order to collectively monitor suspicious activities, perform surveillance tasks, etc. Such collaboration needs frequent inter-node interaction and requires strong network connectivity. A sudden node failure may make nodes unreachable causing the network to partition. In addition, the loss of a node may result in a degraded coverage in certain area, and can thus negatively affect the network operation. Traditional recovery approaches pursue node repositioning upon the detection of the failure in order to reestablish connectivity. Unlike these reactive recovery approaches, this paper argues that some pre-failure planning would facilitate and expedite the recovery process. The idea is to find spare nodes inside a network, prior to the failure that can volunteer to replace the failed node. Identification of spare nodes is done based upon coverage overlap and node degree. A spare node is designated based on the contribution of a node to the network coverage and connectivity. When a failure is detected, the most suitable active spare is called to replace the dead node and the network topology is adjusted through a series of cascaded motion. The proposed approach is validated through simulation.
A Flow-Through, Hybrid Magnetic-Field-Gradient, Rotating Wall Device for Magnetic Colloidal Separations

A 2.0 cm internal diameter 1 m long, axially-rotating horizontal glass tube, with four axially located repeating hybrid magnetic units, is used as part of a flow-through, colloidal magnetic affinity separation device. Each magnetic unit consists of an alternating current solenoid surrounding the chamber followed by four azimuthally distributed permanent magnets that rotate with the chamber. Experiments were carried out on a model feed system consisting of a mixture of 1.0 μm diameter biotinylated latex beads (targets) and 9.7 μm diameter nonfunctionalized latex beads (nontargets) at a 1:1 number ratio. Streptavidin labeled magnetic particles (2.8 μm diameter polystyrene—Dynabeads) at a number concentration of ∼3 × 106 beads/mL were used as the separation vehicles. Two feed flow rates of 12 and 35 mL/min were used until a total of 600 mL of sample were processed for each. At the low rate we achieved a capture efficiency of 60 ± 4% and a separation factor of 18.2 ± 1.2 with 95 ± 4% purity. For the higher fl...
Relative Merits Of The 3-5 µm And 8-12 µm Spectral Bands

The two most common spectral bands used in the thermal infra red are the 3-5 μm and 8-12 μm bands. For years, substantial controversy has occurred over which of these spectral bands has the greater merit. A qualitative approach to address this question is presented.
Officer UGG, Mr Yuk, Uncle Barf… AD Nausea: Controlling Poison Control, 1950–1985

This historical analysis focuses on the arrival of acute poisoning as a fully institutionalized social problem. Early medical concerns about childhood poisonings, voiced particularly by pediatricians, made dramatic news in the early 1950s. Further promotion of the problem occurred as hundreds of hospitals hurriedly established poison control centers and telephone hotlines. I examine reasons why hospitals rushed into poison control as well as why, despite a high incidence of poisonings and over two million hotline calls annually, hospitals are now abandoning poison control. A highly consolidated, governmentally supported network of poison centers is currently emerging — an anomaly in this age of corporate transformation of the larger health care system.
Localized anodic thinning of GaAs structures

Abstract The self-limiting characteristics of anodic thinning for GaAs FET structures is not realized when applied to selected areas as with patterned wafers. An approach that circumvents this problem is described.
Complexity: Application to human performance modeling and HRA for dynamic environments

Although the argument has been made quite strongly and perhaps convincingly that advanced, highly automated control rooms consisting of advanced digital information and control systems will be simpler to operate and maintain; the case can be made that this potential benefit will only be true to the extent that we successfully control the amount of complexity present for the operating crew. Borrowing from complexity theory and human reliability analysis literature, we review the aspects of complexity that should be considered, discuss the implications, and review the extent to which we find current human reliability analysis (HRA) methods sensitivity to complexity in advanced digital environments. Next, we identify 3 complexity factors related to human performance and propose a rating scale approach that allows the analyst to more clearly allocate complexity levels for HRA purposes. These factor scores are used to form the basis of a composite complexity score (CCS) that can be used to support HRA. Although one method, the Simplified Plant Analysis Risk Model Human Reliability Analysis (SPAR-H), is selected for purposes of mapping the 3 complexity elements, the results are thought to support the qualitative and quantitative portions of most HRA methods
Animating the combustion of deformable materials

We present a physically based model for animating the deformation of objects like paper or cloth under combustion. We approximate the temperature changes in the material using a linear conduction model and apply thermal forces on a spring mass system that causes the material to deform as it burns.
Classification of Particle Multiplets

In the present paper we observe that in considering how particle states transform under $\ensuremath{\Theta}=CPT$ one cannot neglect internal symmetries, since $\ensuremath{\Theta}$ changes the signs of all conserved internal additive quantum numbers; and that, furthermore, if a physical theory admits a parity symmetry $\mathcal{P}$, this symmetry may also, like $\ensuremath{\Theta}$, effect an automorphism on the group of internal symmetries, as does, for example, $\mathrm{CP}$, the correct parity operator in the presence of weak interactions. We find all types of particle multiplets for massive particles that are compatible with local field theory, particle multiplets being defined as the irreducible corepresentations of the group obtained by extending the internal symmetry group by $\mathcal{P}$ and $\ensuremath{\Theta}$. Of the thirteen types that exist, only three occur in the various approximation schemes that are at present used to describe nature. The reason for the nonappearance of the other types is not to be found in the usual postulates of local field theory, because Lagrangian field-theoretical examples of all thirteen types do exist and are given.
Effects of methamphetamine on response rate: a microstructural analysis.

Abstract Key pecking in pigeons was maintained under a multiple random-interval (RI) 1-min, RI 4-min schedule of food presentation. Several doses (0.3–5.6 mg/kg) of methamphetamine were administered, and effects on overall response rates and on the microstructure of responding were characterized. In three of the four pigeons, methamphetamine dose-dependently decreased overall response rate in both components; in the fourth pigeon, intermediate doses increased response rates. Log-survivor analyses did not produce the clear “broken-stick” pattern previously reported with rats [Shull, R.L., Gaynor, S.T., Grimes, J.A., 2001. Response rate viewed as engagement bouts: effects of relative reinforcement and schedule type. J. Exp. Anal. Behav. 75, 247–274]. A fine-grained analysis of inter-response times (IRTs) revealed clear bands of responding around certain IRT durations. Methamphetamine tended to decrease the frequency of IRTs in the shorter bands and increase the frequency of IRTs across all bins greater than 2 s. These results suggest that (a) survivor analyses may not extend to pigeon key pecking, (b) microstructural analyses can reveal order not evident with overall response rate, and (c) a detailed analysis of responding might prove more useful than summary measures in characterizing drug effects on behavior.
The electrolytic oxidation of simple aldehydes and alcohols at platinum electrodes

Abstract The electrolytic oxidation of methyl, ethyl, and isopropyl alcohol, formaldehyde and formic acid in the potential region between 0.3 V (S.C.E) and oxygen evolution has been studied using cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry, potential-decay and controlled potential techniques. The reaction is first order with respect to the organic compound and first order with respect to the area of the electrode. It is concluded that the electrode is first oxidized to PtOH and then to Pt(OH) 2 . These compounds in turn chemically oxidize the organic compounds.
Darcy's Law and Unsaturated Flow

It is common in hydrogeology and soils literature to treat the equation of motion for moisture movement in an unsaturated soil to be effectively the same as Darcy's Law. How credible is this perception? There are two ways to approach this question. One is to examine the way experimental data are
Numerical calculations of coastal flow with turbulent dynamics

A two-dimensional numerical model of coastal flow, in which the eddy fluxes are computed by a second-order turbulence model, has been developed. The behaviour of the inertial oscillations due to an impulsive start is in excellent agreement with the analytical solution of Kunduet al. (Deep-Sea Research, 30, 1059–1082, 1983). Much of the inertial energy gain in the deep ocean is due to the downward leakage from the coast-surface corner and is accompanied by an upward phase propagation. The low-frequency upwelling solutions develop gravitationally unstable regions in the surface layer, even in the presence of realistic surface heating. But the thickness of the surface layer without surface cooling is never very large, so the analytical models driven by a sink at the coast-surface corner give realistic subsurface solutions. The upwelling solutions generate flow reversal across a strong thermocline, but no ‘closed’ double cells. Frictional turning, as suggested by several workers, is responsible for the flow reversal. These open double cell persist in the presence of surface heating but not in the presence of an alongshore pressure gradient, pγ = τγ(maximum depth). The imposition of pγ creates a poleward undercurrent on a flat shelf but not on a sloping shelf. The alongshore jet moves offshore due to the nonlinear advection of the thermocline, so that the width of the jet is larger than the Rossby radius. An approximate expression has been derived for predicting the offshore frontal location; the numerical calculation is in fair agreement with it.
Nonlinear Fréchet Derivative and its De Wolf Approximation

University of California, Santa Cruz (Wavelet Transform on Propagation and Imaging for seismic exploration Research Consortium); Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Earth Resources Laboratory
Surface Plasmon Resonance Permits in Situ Measurement of Protein Adsorption on Self-Assembled Monolayers of Alkanethiolates on Gold

This paper demonstrates that surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy can be used to measure the nonspecific adsorption of proteins to self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of alkanethiolates on gold in situ and in real time. Mixed SAMs comprising hexa(ethylene glycol) and methyl groups that have values of XMe 0.5 : the amount of adsorbed protein correlated with XMe. The initial rate for adsorption of fibrinogen to a methyl-terminated SAM (XMe = 1.0) followed first-order kinetics. The combination of SAMs and SPR described here is particularly well suited for investigations of the interactions of proteins with structurally well-defined organic surfaces.
Wear of diamond wheels in creep-feed grinding of ceramic materials I. Mechanisms

Abstract The main objective of this paper is to study and quantify the wheel wear mechanisms in creep-feed grinding of ceramic materials with diamond wheels. A resin-bonded diamond wheel was selected for this study. Nine different states of wheel working surface were generated by grinding specified volumes of a selected silicon nitride material. It is found that: (1) the roughness of wheel profile decreased quickly and stayed about the same after approximately 30 cm 3 volume of material removal; (2) diamond grits experienced attritious wear, grit fracture, and grit dislodgment; (3) the wheel wear mechanism was dominated by grit dislodgment in the first 2 cm 3 volume of material removal and by attritious wear thereafter; (4) grit density per unit area can be expressed as an exponential decay function of cumulative volume removal. The percentage of each wear mechanism was obtained by tracing grits in the same area after 2.1, 4.2, 7.4, and 10.6 cm 3 volume of material removal using the lead-tape imprint technique.
Tests for geophysical microwave cooker

There is a plan, based on engineering results obtained almost 20 years ago by the Raytheon Corporation, to test an underground microwave technique for in situ petroleum extraction from oil shale. It is estimated now that the petroleum reserves in the Green River shale formation and other geologically similar formations in the western U.S. could exceed 1012 barrels, but a practical method of oil recovery from the shale has not yet been found. In a consortium effort between Raytheon and Texaco, a geophysical analog of the household microwave cooker will be field tested this year as a method of underground retorting. The underground microwave heating technique is a process with a number of advantages, both economically and from the standpoint of concerns for the environment. Other methods of recovering oil from shale that involve mining and surface processing are costly and produce immense amounts of tailings or waste after the oil is extracted (in addition to the increase in volume from grinding the mineral oil shale to a powder, the mineral content undergoes a 15% volume increase due to chemical changes from the recovery process). The microwave heating method, if it works, will be cost effective and have minimal effect on the environment.
Thermally reversible band bending for Bi/GaAs(110): Photoemission and inverse-photoemission investigations.

Results of synchrotron-radiation photoemission, inverse-photoemission, and low-energy electron diffraction studies of the Bi/GaAs(110) interface over the temperature range 20 to 300 K are presented. At 300 K, the first Bi monolayer grows in zigzag chains along the [11\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}0] direction to form an ordered (1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1) overlayer. This overlayer is semiconducting with a gap of 0.7 eV. Continued deposition results in Bi island growth atop the initial monolayer (ML) and conversion from semiconducting to semimetallic character. Bi deposition at 50 K results in layer-by-layer growth with no long-range order. Temperature- and coverage-dependent studies of band bending show symmetric behavior for n- and p-type GaAs(110) with matched bulk dopant concentrations. For 300-K deposition, the Fermi level ${\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{F}}$ moves rapidly toward final positions 0.74 and 0.98 eV below the conduction-band minimum for n- and p-type GaAs doped at ${10}^{17}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$. For 50-K deposition, the bands remain nearly flat to coverages of 1--2 ML where ${\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{F}}$ moves rapidly toward midgap. Significantly, both techniques also show that Fermi-level movement is thermally reversible, such that the position of ${\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{F}}$ in the surface band gap depends on temperature. A small part of the ${\mathit{E}}_{\mathit{F}}$ movement is due to nonequilibrium processes involving the creation of electron-hole pairs by the incident photon or electron beam followed by the transport of the minority carriers to the surface region by the electric field in the depletion region. This surface voltage is most important at low temperature, and studies which vary the incident photon flux by over 3 orders of magnitude establish that the photovoltage has a small (\ensuremath{\le}100 meV), but non-negligible, effect on the band bending measured under ``normal'' experimental conditions. Hence, equilibrium processes control coupling of substrate and adsorbate-induced states in the GaAs band gap through the semiconductor depletion region and they determine the temperature-dependent interface band bending.
High-performance animation of GOES weather images

Geostationary orbit provides a wonderful viewpoint for collecting movies of meteorological processes. Because GOES- 8 images are large and frequent, high-performance workstations and user-friendly software are required to review the current pools of GOES weather imagery at full resolution. During the post-launch checkouts, the GOES-8 and GOES-9 satellites were exercised in rapid-scan imaging modes that challenge most display systems. At NASA-GSFC, the Interactive Imaging Spread Sheet (IISS) software/hardware was used to roan and zoom through gigabytes of GOES image data collected in 1994-95. We use the IISS to examine exciting meteorological features within the hurricanes of 1995 and during typical episodes of severe weather that occur somewhere over the United States every day. The IISS demonstration shows how weather forecaster could make good use of the full resolution and depth of GOES-8 imagery, adapting to the meteorological even as it develops, especially when synchronized with corresponding weather radar.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effect of a dominant negative ras on myocardial hypertrophy by using adenoviral-mediated gene transfer

Abstract Background. The small guanosine triphosphate-binding protein ras regulates a signal transduction cascade linking cell surface receptors to mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Because the molecular signaling mechanisms underlying cardiac hypertrophy remain unclear, the current study examined the regulatory role of ras in both the biochemical and morphologic aspects of hypertrophy. Methods. Adenoviral-mediated gene transfer was used to express a dominant negative mutant of ras (rasN17) at high efficiency in primary neonatal ventricular myocytes. Beta-galactosidase staining and Western blot analysis confirmed successful transfection and expression of the rasN17 gene product. MAPK activity was measured by an in vitro kinase assay resulting in radioactive phosphorus labeled product. Morphologic hypertrophy was assessed by fluorescdn-conjugated phalloidin. Results. Compared with uninfected or control adenoviral-infected cells, myocytes infected with rasN17 demonstrated attenuated basal MAPK activity. In contrast, rasN17 expression did not affect endothelin 1-induced MAPK activation. Morphologic studies showed that although rasN17 produced a phenotypic difference in the basal state, the ability of cardiac myocytes to morphologically respond to endothelin 1 stimulation, as manifested by sarcomeric reorganization, remained unaltered by the expression of the rasN17 gene product. Conclusions. Endothelin 1-stimulated MAPK activation and endothelin 1-induced morphologic hypertrophy are ras-independent processes.
Nonoccupational Risk Factors for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relation between selected nonoccupational risk factors and surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome. DESIGN: Case-control study using an administrative database. PARTICIPANTS: Enrollees of New Jersey Medicine or Medicaid programs during 1989 to 1991. MEASUREMENTS: The outcome of interest was open or endoscopic carpal tunnel release. We examined the relation between carpal tunnel release and diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease, inflammatory arthritis, hemodialysis, pregnancy, use of corticosteroids, and hormone replacement therapy. MAIN RESULTS: In multivariate models, inflammatory arthritis was strongly associated with carpal tunnel release (odds ratio [OR] 2.9; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.2, 3.8). However, corticosteroid use also appeared to be associated with a greater likelihood of undergoing carpal tunnel release, even in the absence of inflammatory arthritis (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.2, 2.1). Diabetes had a weak but significant association with carpal tunnel release (OR 1.4; 95% CI 1.2, 1.8), as did hypothyroidism (OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.1, 2.8), although patients with hyperthyroidism did not have any change in risk. Women who underwent carpal tunnel release were almost twice as likely to be users of estrogen replacement therapy as controls (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.0, 3.2). CONCLUSIONS: Although inflammatory arthritis is the most important nonoccupational risk factor for carpal tunnel release, these data substantiate the increase in risk associated with diabetes and untreated hypothyroidism. Further investigation in detailed clinical studies will be necessary to confirm whether changes in corticosteroid use and hormone replacement therapy offer additional means of risk reduction for this common condition.
Decreased plasma myeloperoxidase associated with probiotic therapy in autistic children.

Aim: To assess plasma myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels in autistic children and to test the hypothesis that there is an association between decreased MPO concentration and probiotic therapy. Subjects and methods: Plasma from 49 autistic children (39 males; mean age 11.4 years) (17 with diagnosed gastrointestinal (GI) disease – chronic diarrhea and/or constipation (10 of these GI patients were taking probiotics) and 26 receiving probiotic therapy) and 36 neurotypical controls (29 males; mean age 10.2 years; controls were not assessed for GI disease) were tested for MPO plasma concentration using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISAs). Plasma concentration of MPO in autistic individuals was compared to plasma concentration of copper and zinc. Results: We found that individuals with autism, receiving no therapy, did not have significantly lower plasma MPO levels when compared to controls. In the autistic group, MPO levels were significantly lower in individuals taking probiotic therapy. In addition, plasma copper levels were significantly lower in autistic individuals taking probiotics compared to those not taking probiotics, but plasma zinc levels were not different in the probiotic group. Discussion: These results suggest a relationship between low MPO levels found in a group of autistic individuals and probiotic therapy. By possibly changing gut bacterial flora and thereby changing absorption properties in the gut, probiotic therapy was also associated with lower copper levels.
Low-level image analysis tasks on fine-grained tree-structured SIMD machines

Abstract This paper examines the applicability of fine-grained tree-structured SIMD machines, which are amenable to highly efficient VLSI implementation, to several low-level image understanding tasks. Algorithms are presented for histogramming, thresholding, image correlation, connected component labeling, and computing Euler number. A particular massively parallel machine called NON-VON is used for purposes of explication and performance evaluation. Only NON-VON tree-structured communication capabilities and its SIMD mode of execution are considered in this paper. Novel algorithmic techniques are described, such as vertical pipelining, subproblem partitioning, associative matching, and data duplication, that effectively exploit the massive parallelism available in fine-grained SIMD tree machines while avoiding communication bottlenecks. Simulation results are presented and compared with results obtained or forecast for other highly parallel machines. The relative advantages and limitations of the class of machines under consideration are outlined; except for some types of image correlation, the fine-grained SIMD tree is exceptionally fast.
Leveraging the IT competence of non-IS workers: social exchange and the good corporate citizen

Organizational IT competence is fundamental to achieving strategic value through technology investments. Importantly, as business users continually gain experience with enterprise systems and a new generation of tech-savvy workers enters the labour force, IT competence is increasingly distributed beyond the IS department. Despite its strategic potential however, IT competence residing within the functional areas of the firm is essentially untapped until it is volunteered by functional area knowledge workers. Addressing the changing landscape of IT competence across the enterprise, the current study examines factors that drive business professionals to volunteer their IT competences to the firm. This research introduces the concept of IT competence volunteering, which is conceptualized as a form of organizational citizenship behaviour that is not explicitly contracted by the firm and may not be directly rewarded. Guided by social exchange theory, a multi-foci model is introduced that positions IT competence as well as workplace exchange relationships as antecedents of IT competence volunteering intention. Overall, the study's results empirically demonstrate the important impacts that user-IS department exchange and perceived organizational support have on the business professional's intention to volunteer his/her IT competence to the firm.
Maximum Standardized Uptake Values on Positron Emission Tomography of Esophageal Cancer Predicts Stage, Tumor Biology, and Survival

Background The stage of esophageal cancer is currently determined by the anatomic TNM classification system as opposed to information about tumor biology. Methods A retrospective review was made of a prospective electronic database. Patients had esophageal cancer, dedicated positron emission tomography (PET) using F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET) and maximum standardized uptake value (maxSUV) measured. Biopsies were obtained from suspicious nodal and systemic locations, and when indicated, resection with complete lymphadenectomy was performed. Results There were 89 patients (53 men). The median maxSUV for patients with high grade dysplasia, stage I, IIa, IIb, III, and IVa esophageal cancer was 1.7, 2.9, 8.9, 7.7, 9.5, and 12, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed patients with a high maxSUV were more likely to have poorly differentiated tumors (risk ratio 1.89, p = 0.032) and advanced stage (risk ratio 2.6, p 2 = 0.85) than the current TNM staging system for survival (r 2 = 0.68). Receiving operator characteristics curve demonstrated a maxSUV of 6.6 to be the optimal cut-off point. The 4-year survival of patients with a maxSUV of 6.6 or less was 89%, whereas it was only 31% for those patients with values greater than 6.6 ( p Conclusions The maxSUV of an esophageal cancer on dedicated FDG-PET scan is an independent predictor of stage, tumor characteristics, and survival. It predicts survival better than the current TNM staging system. This information may help guide treatment strategies.
ERRATUM: “COAGULATION CALCULATIONS OF ICY PLANET FORMATION AT 15-150 AU: A CORRELATION BETWEEN THE MAXIMUM RADIUS AND THE SLOPE OF THE SIZE DISTRIBUTION FOR TRANS-NEPTUNIAN OBJECTS” (2012, AJ, 143, 63)

We correct errors in our comparisons of model results with observations and fix typographical errors in mathematical expressions for the accretion time. Reanalyzing the observations leads to new values for the target slope of the cumulative size distribution for large objects as a function of the slope of the power-law relation between albedo and radius. Despite these changes, the analysis still strongly prefers models where trans-Neptunian objects grow from an initial population of small (1-10 km) planetesimals.
The immune response and immunopathology in infection with Schistosoma mansoni: a key role of major egg antigen Sm‐p40

The immune response and related granulomatous inflammation in infection with Schistosoma mansoni are ultimately dependent on SEA-sensitized CD4+ Th cells and comprise multiple pathways variously involving the activation and recruitment of different cell populations and the production of different inflammatory cytokines, all under the influence of regulatory genetic factors. The spontaneous down-regulation of granuloma formation (immunomodulation), in turn, is a well-known phenomenon, but the full extent of its precipitating factors is still uncertain. This review describes a pathway leading to immunomodulation that features at its centre the down-regulatory cytokine IL-10. This mechanism is attractive because it offers a cogent correlation between findings in the laboratory and those displayed by patients affected with the disease. The Sm-p40 antigen, a major component of schistosome eggs, elicits a strong CD4+ Th cell response in H-2k mice that correlates with intense granuloma formation; in contrast, its immunogenicity is relatively minor during infection of other mouse strains that develop smaller granulomas. Of great interest is that the Sm-p40 antigen only elicits a Th-1 type cytokine response, a phenotype that remains constant even as the overall response to SEA shifts to a Th-2 type. The Sm-p40 molecule has a dominant epitope that is the target of CD4+ Th cells from infected H-2k mice; indeed, a minimal peptide that bears the epitope binds to I-Ak. The importance of pursuing a systematic elucidation of the major egg antigens, resides in the exciting possibility of specifically desensitizing the CD4+ Th cells that mediate granuloma formation, which may achieve meaningful prevention or amelioration of clinical disease.
Zenith-angle distribution of atmospheric muons above 1 TeV

Abstract The flux of atmospheric muons as a function of momentum and zenith angle is measured for p > 0.3 TeV and 60° θ
An additional spirocyclization for duocarmycin SA.

A unique alternative to the p-spirocyclization for activation of compounds containing the duocarmycin SA alkylation subunit was established involving indole NH deprotonation and subsequent cyclopropane formation. The structural characterization of an alternative spirocyclization product, and the establishment of its relative reactivity, intrinsic reaction regioselectivity, biological activity, and DNA alkylation properties (selectivity, rate, and efficiency) including the isolation, characterization, and quantitation of its adenine N3 adduct, are disclosed.
Resuscitation of severe chest trauma with four different hemoglobin-based oxygen-carrying solutions.

Background: The purpose of this study was to test whether polynitroxylation (PN) improved the therapeutic profile of hemoglobin-based oxygen-carrying compounds (HBOCs) that were unpolymerized (aaHb) or 70% polymerized (polyHb) in a clinically relevant model that combines pulmonary injury and reperfusion. To our knowledge, four different HBOC formulations have never been compared in the same trauma model. Methods: Anesthetized, ventilated swine (n = 45) received a unilateral lung contusion + 25% hemorrhage. After 60 minutes, 250 mL of either PNaaHb (n = 5), aaHb (n = 10), PNpolyHb (n = 6), polyHb (n = 5), or normal saline (NaCl, n = 10) was administered for 20 minutes, followed by standard crystalloid resuscitation for 30 minutes, and supplemental crystalloid as required for 6 hours to maintain heart rate 70 mm Hg. Results: Nine of 45 deaths occurred before resuscitation. Survival time was 395 minutes with NaCl versus 303 minutes with aaHb (p = 0.03) or 238 minutes with PNaaHb (p = 0.04). With both polymerized HBOCs, survival was 480 minutes (polyHb vs. ααHb, p = 0.005; PNpolyHb vs. PNaaHb, p = 0.006). All HBOCs were pressors (all p < 0.05) and all reduced the supplemental fluid required to maintain systemic hemodynamics during resuscitation (all p < 0.05). By 90 minutes postresuscitation, cardiac index was 112% of baseline with NaCl (p < 0.02), but was 78% with aaHb (p = not significant), 63% with PNaaHb (p < 0.01), 79% with PNpolyHb (p < 0.01), and 67% with polyHb (p < 0.02). Relative to NaCl, no HBOC altered trauma-induced neutrophilia, thrombocytopenia, or the trauma-induced increases in bronchoalveolar lavage protein or bronchoalveolar lavage neutrophils. Conclusion: After resuscitation from chest trauma, we observed the following: (1) all HBOCs reduced fluid requirements and increased right and left ventricular afterload versus NaCl, which further compromised an already marginal cardiac performance; (2) mortality was less with polyHbs relative to aaHb, but the pressor action was unchanged; (3) the pressor action was less with polynitroxylated compounds relative to the unmodified HBOC, but this chemical modification had no effect on mortality; and (4) the pressor action of HBOCs must be attenuated by strategies other than polymerization or polynitroxylation for these compounds to be safe, effective resuscitants in humans.
Toward a sutureless vasovasostomy: use of biomaterials and surgical sealants in a rodent vasovasostomy model.

ABSTRACT Purpose: With 500,000 to 800,000 vasectomies performed annually and a reversal rate of 3% to 8% vasectomy reversal has become a commonly performed procedure. Two-layer microsurgical vasovasostomy remains the gold standard for surgical reconstruction of the vas. However, this procedure is technically demanding and time-consuming. We determined the ability of biomaterials and surgical sealants to decrease the number of sutures used, enhance anastomosis watertightness and decrease operative time. Materials and Methods: Adult male Wistar rats underwent vasectomy 2 weeks prior to vasovasostomy. Standard 2-layer microsurgical repair was performed in control animals. Experimental groups underwent 3-suture mucosal approximation and then completion of the anastomosis with a biomaterial membrane and/or synthetic sealant. The rats were sacrificed 9 weeks after vasovasostomy. Anastomotic patency was assessed functionally by the presence of motile sperm in the vas distal to the testes and anastomosis, and mechanically by methylene blue vasogram. The presence and size of sperm granulomas were also recorded. Results: Microsurgical vasovasostomy required significantly less time when biomaterial (42.7 minutes) or sealant (40 minutes) was used compared to the standard sutured group (102.5 minutes, each p Conclusions: Using a biomaterial wrap during vasovasostomy resulted in significantly decreased operative time and fewer sperm granulomas than in the control group. Sealants were not effective. Biomaterial wrap may support vasovasostomy and by decreasing leakage improve the outcome.
Peroxisomal very long chain fatty acid beta-oxidation activity is determined by the level of adrenodeukodystrophy protein (ALDP) expression.

Impaired peroxisomal beta-oxidation of saturated very long chain fatty acids (VLCFA, >/=C22:0) results in increased VLCFA levels in the tissues and body fluids of patients with disorders of peroxisomal biogenesis (i.e., Zellweger syndrome and neonatal adrenoleukodystrophy) and single peroxisomal protein defects (i.e., X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) and acyl-CoA oxidase deficiency). We show that SV40T transformation also results in impaired peroxisomal beta-oxidation and VLCFA accumulation despite the presence of abundant peroxisomes. To explore the mechanism responsible for this observation, we have examined expression of key components of peroxisomal VLCFA beta-oxidation. We found that expression of both acyl-CoA oxidase, the rate limiting enzyme of peroxisomal VLCFA beta-oxidation and the adrenoleukodystrophy protein (ALDP), the defective gene product in X-ALD, are reduced after SV40T transformation. Surprisingly, ALDP overexpression by itself restores peroxisomal VLCFA beta-oxidation in SV40T-transformed control and X-ALD cells. These results demonstrate that ALDP is a fundamental component in VLCFA peroxisomal beta-oxidation and may serve as a "gatekeeper" for VLCFA homeostasis.
Aspects of the ecology of an introduced anole: Anolis cristatellus in the Dominican Republic

Anolis cristatellus, a medium-large brown anole native to Puerto Rico, its satellite islands and the Virgin Islands group, has been introduced at La Romana on the south coast of the Dominican Republic. The time and circumstances of introduction are unknown, but it is thought to have occurred before 1920 in the port area southeast of the town. The species has become well established and phenomenally abundant, occupying an area of about 12 km 2 and 13 km long. However, it is closely confined to the town of La Romana and adjacent altered areas with parks, gardens and evergreen trees, more mesic in aspect than adjacent relatively natural areas that are characterized by exposed limestone surfaces and chaparral-like formation of thorny shrubs and low, gnarled trees. The introduced A. cristatellus is closely associated with at least three species of native anoles. Anolis distichus is abundant both in the area invaded by A. cristatellus and in the relatively undisturbed habitat where cristatellus is absent. The two species often occur together on the same tree, and their height preferences coincide. Their food habits are similar, but with difference in average size of prey. Ants are a major food source for both. The smaller A. distichus may avoid predation by A. cristatellus through its greater agility. Anolis chlorocyanus is similar in size to A. cristatellus, but where the two co-occur, it is almost confined to trees with smooth and slippery trunks that are avoided by cristatellus; A. cybotes, a large, aggressive, predatory species, similar in habitat preference to A. cristatellus was found only outside the cristatellus area or on its edges. It seems that A. cristatellus is limiting to cybotes perhaps by preying on its hatchlings and outproducing it with shorter generation time and more frequent egg production.