cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transversus abdominis release (TAR): what are the real indications and where is the limit?

Purpose To review literature surrounding transversus abdominis release (TAR) for incisional hernia repair, with the aim of describing key preoperative and technical considerations for this procedure. Methods Existing literature on TAR was reviewed and synthesized with the clinical experience and approach to TAR from a high-volume hernia center. Results Recommendations regarding patient selection, optimization and technique for TAR are presented. Conclusions While published outcomes of TAR from expert centers are favorable, potentially devastating complications may result when TAR is performed incorrectly or in suboptimal clinical situations. Appropriate patient selection, optimization, and surgeon expertise are necessary if TAR is to be performed.
Hybrid Gaussian–discrete-variable representation for describing molecular double-ionization events

A hybrid method that combines Gaussian basis functions typically used in bound-state molecular electronic structure calculations with a grid-based discrete-variable representation with finite elements suitable for a general electronic continuum representation is used to fully describe the double ionization of molecular ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ by a single photoabsorption. This work expands the hybrid method, previously applied to single-ionization events, to double photoionization. Constructing the full two-electron operator encoding the electron correlation necessary to doubly ionize the target via the action of a single photon requires all classes of mixed integrals between combinations of the different basis-function types. Comparison of the present results with benchmark theoretical calculations and experimental results shows excellent agreement for both molecular ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ and its united-atom limit, atomic helium; the triply differential cross sections that relate the angular distribution and energy sharing of all of the particles in the frame of the molecule are compared. The two-electron results computed using this hybrid basis hint at application of this general descriptive scheme beyond this simplest molecular target towards describing double ionization in more complicated and experimentally relevant molecules.
In Memoriam: Christopher Dickey, August 31, 1951–July 16, 2020

“They sang, they danced, they praised their god—and they slaughtered everyone in sight.” Nearly a quarter of a century later, I still recall how perfectly Chris Dickey summed up an emerging trend i...
Assessing the compatibility of primary human hepatocyte culture within porous silk sponges

Donor organ shortages have prompted the development of alternative implantable human liver tissues for patients suffering from end-stage liver failure. Purified silk proteins provide desirable features for generating implantable tissues, including sustainable sourcing from insects/arachnids, biocompatibility, tunable mechanical properties and degradation rates, and low immunogenicity upon implantation. While different cell types were previously cultured for weeks within silk-based scaffolds, it remains unclear whether such scaffolds can be used to culture primary human hepatocytes (PHH) isolated from livers. Therefore, here we assessed the compatibility of PHH culture within porous silk scaffolds that enable diffusion of oxygen/nutrients through the pores. We found that incorporation of type I collagen during the fabrication and/or autoclaving of porous silk scaffolds, as opposed to simple adsorption of collagen onto pre-fabricated silk scaffolds, was necessary to enable robust PHH attachment/function. Scaffolds with small pores (73 ± 25 μm) promoted larger PHH spheroids and consequently higher PHH functions than large pores (235 ± 84 μm) for at least 1 month in culture. Further incorporation of supportive fibroblasts into scaffolds enhanced PHH functions up to 5-fold relative to scaffolds with PHHs alone and 2D co-cultures on plastic. Lastly, encapsulating PHHs within protein hydrogels while housed in the silk scaffold led to higher functions than protein hydrogel-only or silk-only controls. In conclusion, porous silk scaffolds containing extracellular matrix proteins can be used for the culture of PHHs ± supportive non-parenchymal cells, which can be further built on in the future to create optimized silk-based liver tissue surrogates for cell-based therapy.
Update on workforce diversity in vascular surgery.

Abstract Objective Creating a diverse workforce is paramount to the success of the surgical field. A diverse workforce allows us to meet the health needs of an increasingly diverse population and to bring new ideas to spur technical innovation. The purpose of this study was to assess trends in workforce diversity within vascular surgery (VS) and general surgery (GS) as compared with orthopedic surgery (OS)—a specialty that instituted a formal diversity initiative over a decade ago. Methods Data on the trainee pool for VS (fellowships and integrated residencies), GS, and OS were obtained from the U.S. Graduate Medical Education reports for 1999 through 2017. Medical student demographic data were obtained from the Association of American Medical Colleges U.S. medical school enrollment reports. The representation of surgical trainee populations (female, Hispanic, and black) was normalized by their representation in medical school. We also performed the χ2 test to compare proportions of residents over dichotomized time periods (1999-2005 and 2013-2017) as well as a more sensitive trend of proportions test. Results The proportion of female trainees increased significantly between the time periods for the three surgical disciplines examined (P Conclusions Although there were significant increases in the number of women and Hispanic trainees in these three surgical disciplines, only Hispanic trainees enter the surgical field at a rate higher than their proportion in medical school. The lack of an increase in black trainees across all specialties was particularly discouraging. Women and black trainees were under-represented in all specialties as compared with their representation in medical school. The data presented suggest potential problems with recruitment at multiple levels of the pipeline. Particular attention should be paid to increasing the pool of minority medical school graduates who are both interested in and competitive for surgical specialties.
Abstract PS4-43: Prediction of breast ductal carcinoma in situ recurrence using histomics analysis of stromal features from hematoxylin and eosin stain-based images

OBJECTIVE It remains a challenge to predict individual risk for recurrence after primary treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). While DCIS is contained within the duct, prior studies have pointed to the importance of stromal collagen in cancer progression. Using hematoxylin and eosin (HE inverse variance (AUC: 0.64, p-value: 0.046) feature based on grey-level cooccurrences matrix (GLCM) and complexity (AUC 0.65, p-value: 0.025) feature based on neighborhood grey tone difference matrix (NGTDM). CONCLUSION Textural stromal features extracted from HE 2020 Dec 8-11; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PS4-43.
Evaluation of the Axillary Surgery Performed in Clinically Node-Positive Breast Cancer Patients Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy.

Background The American College of Surgeons Oncology Group Z1071 trial in 2013 demonstrated the fesability of sentinel lymph node biopsy in clinically node-positive patients following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The goal of this study was to determine the continued impact of this study on our practice pattern. Materials and methods This is a retrospective review of institutional changes in the management of axillary nodal disease following the publication of Z1071. Patients with clinically node-positive disease that completed neoadjuvant chemotherapy between 2014 and 2020 were included. The Cocoran-Armitage trend test was used to analyze change in categorical variables over time, and the Spearman's rank coefficient was used to analyze two-ranked variables. Results A cohort of 102 patients were included in the study and demonstrated that the number of sentinel lymph node biopsies to evaluate axillary disease increased over time. Additionally, the number of biopsies of suspicious nodes, and the use of marker clips on the biopsied nodes increased over time. Conclusion Our institution has continued to incorporate the result from Z1071 in our practice patterns.
Context matters: Cortical rhythms in infants across baseline and play.

Abstract This study uses electroencephalography (EEG) to examine infants’ cortical activity during baseline while they watched a dynamic audiovisual display and while engaged in play with an object and parent. Fifty-five 6- to 12-month-old infants participated in both baseline and play with their mother. We hypothesized that the baseline task recruits relatively more exogenous attention due to the dynamic audiovisual task, while the play task recruits relatively more endogenous attention when exploring the toy. We expected higher frontal theta and alpha power during play, reflecting higher endogenous control of attention compared to the baseline task. We expected the faster rhythms, beta and gamma, to have higher power during baseline at frontal locations, reflecting the salient attention-grabbing (exogenous) attributes of the baseline task in comparison to play. We also examined changes in parietal power between contexts. Our results were consistent with the expectations. Theta (3–6 Hz) and alpha (6–9 Hz) power were higher at frontal sites (Fp1/Fp2) during play relative to baseline. Beta (9–30 Hz) and gamma (30–50 Hz) power were higher at frontal (Fp1/Fp2) and frontal medial sites (F3/F4) during baseline relative to play. Alpha power was higher during baseline at frontal medial sites (F3/F4) relative to play. Beta and gamma power was higher during play at parietal sites (P3/P4). The results are discussed in terms of the potential role of different cortical rhythms over the scalp as they respond to relative endogenous and exogenous attentional demands.
A Long-Term Follow-Up of Dental and Craniofacial Disturbances after Cancer Therapy in a Pediatric Rhabdomyosarcoma Patient: Case Report

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma in children and adolescents. A boy aged seven years and five months was diagnosed with stage three group III embryonal parameningeal RMS with intracranial extension. He received chemotherapy for 23 weeks in combination with localized radiotherapy during the inductive phase of nine weeks (a total tumor dose of 5040 cGy). Three months later, he was referred to the department of pediatric dentistry for radiation-induced caries, the treatment of which was later terminated because of severe trismus and radiation-induced oropharyngeal mucositis. Three years later, the patient returned for the fitting of a prosthesis because of mastication problems. The dental treatments performed included: extraction, banding, composite resin restorations, root canal fillings, and stainless steel crown fabrication. An interim denture was fitted due to the poor retention of the fixed prosthesis. As the patient grew older, they developed facial asymmetry as a result of the prominent atrophy of their right cheek. By the age of 32, they had lost multiple teeth and exhibited severe facial deformity. Therefore, it is essential not only to involve a multidisciplinary medical team before, during, and after cancer therapy, but also to initiate long-term follow-ups given the potential effects of late sequelae after chemoradiation in multiple developmental areas.
The two-warehouse material location selection problem

Abstract Companies often require additional warehouse space due to increased demand and often the option of building a warehouse is not feasible due to a high investment cost. As a result excess inventory that cannot be stored in owned warehouses is transferred to third-party warehouses for which the company pays rent, as well as incurs labor and transportation costs for storing items and moving items back to the production site. In this situation, the company ends up with two warehouses – owned and rented. This research introduces the material location selection problem that allocates materials to these two warehouses while minimizing the total storage and transportation costs. Four material location models/policies, each with different decision restrictions, are proposed to solve the problem from different material handling perspectives. The four models are analyzed and contrasted with each other based on data derived from a real industrial scenario. The case results show a cost savings opportunity between 20–40% due to reassigning materials between the rented and owned warehouses.
Richard Wright and Albert Camus: The Literature of Revolt

The early Fiction of Richard Wright, comprised of short stories written in the thirties and culminating in Native Son (1940), is primarily an expression of personal outrage and frustration. Although Wright's literary heritage has been traced to the American Naturalists, recent readings of his works suggest that Wright was not as confined by that tradition as has generally been believed. Working within the framework of social protest, Wright probed other more metaphysical issues, which were later to become of even greater importance to him. In dramatizing the plight of each of his heroes, from Big Boy in "Big Boy Leaves Home," to Bigger Thomas in Native Son, Wright explored the motivating forces behind their actions. As their personal dramas unfolded, he developed such themes as the possibility of freedom, man's isolation and alienation, the inherent irrationality of modern American society, and the nature and form of personal rebellion within that society.
Passage through mitosis is required for oncoretroviruses but not for the human immunodeficiency virus.

Abstract The human immunodeficiency virus productively infects and integrates into cells that have been arrested in the cell cycle with either gamma irradiation or aphidicolin. Integration by oncoretroviruses such as the murine leukemia virus (MuLV), on the other hand, depends on cell proliferation. Although the entire cell cycle is not necessary for MuLV infection, it is essential that the infected cells pass through mitosis. The long terminal repeat circle junction, a marker for nuclear entry, is first observed in MuLV-infected cells immediately after mitosis. These results suggest that mitosis is necessary for nuclear entry of MuLV, but not human immunodeficiency virus, unintegrated proviral DNA.
Understanding the role of antioxidant therapy for intermittent claudication; good, bad, or both?

peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a global health issue, affecting 202 million people worldwide ([12][1], [18][2]). The most common symptom of PAD is intermittent claudication. Although claudication patients have a limited progression to chronic limb ischemia, PAD is associated with increased
Immune thrombocytopenia and alopecia areata: Spontaneous occurrence and resolution in the same patient

Alopecia areata (AA) and immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) are autoimmune conditions occasionally encountered by pediatricians, but their simultaneous occurrence is rare. We describe here a 7-year-old female who acutely developed both AA and ITP. Within 3 months both conditions resolved spontaneously, suggesting a pathophysiologic relationship.
Effects of Glyphosate on Metabolism of Phenolic Compounds

Amounts of extractable phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL; E.C. 4.3.1.5) activity increased in the axes of 3–day-old, dark-grown soybean seedlings [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] shortly after the seedlings were transferred to glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)-glycine] solutions. The stimulation of PAL activity in herbicide-treated tissue (as compared to control tissue) was detectable as early as 12 h after treatment, whereas growth inhibition (length, fresh weight and dry weight) was not significantly affected until 24 h on a fresh-weight basis and at 48 h on a dry-weight basis. PAL activity increased with time (12–72 h) in herbicide-treated axes when expressed as activity per gram fresh weight, specific activity, and on a per axis basis. PAL activity stimulation correlated positively with glyphosate concentration from 10–4 to 10–3M. PAL activity in control tissues remained nearly constant over the sampling period (12–72 h). Total alcohol-soluble hydroxyphenolic compound levels in treated axes were not significantly different from the control at any sampling period. The total soluble amino acid pool showed a general decrease with time in glyphosate-treated tissues. The phenylalanine pool was lowered with treatment time and the ammonia concentration (per g fr. wt. basis) was increased after treatment. No significant differences were noted in the concentration of soluble protein of glyphosate-treated tissue when compared to controls. Visual effects (stunting, lack of secondary root formation, and necrotic areas) of glyphosate were more obvious in the root than in the hypocotyl. Analysis of various chemical constituents substantiated that other glyphosate effects were more clearly demonstrable in the root than in the hypocotyl or in the intact axis. On a per root basis glyphosate markedly increased PAL activity while reducing free phenylalanine, free tyrosine, soluble hydroxyphenolics, total free amino acids and ammonia content. The effect of glyphosate in the root was greatest on phenylalanine content, reducing it five-fold. The results indicate that glyphosate could exert its effect through either induction of PAL activity and/or inhibition of aromatic amino acid synthesis.
A Methodology for Large-Scale Ocean Wave Power Time-Series Generation

Ocean wave power is characterized by high power density, and wave forecasts can predict incident wave energy days in advance. These qualities make ocean wave power a promising renewable energy source. In the near future, utility-scale wave energy conversion arrays will likely be installed. However, little is currently known on the impact of large wave energy conversion (WEC) facilities on utility operation and planning. In this paper, a methodology is developed for generating WEC array power time series that can be used for wave power utility integration purposes. Sample results show that the methodology produces first-order approximations of WEC array outputs and demonstrate that significant smoothing of the total wave power output from an array can be expected.
Informatics and the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program: automated processes could replace manual record review.

Background The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) provides reliable, risk-adjusted outcomes data using standardized definitions and end points. Collection of the data is time consuming, and the surgical clinical nurse reviewers (SCNRs) can sample only a subset of all surgical cases. We sought to test the feasibility of using an informatics tool to automatically identify postoperative complications stored as free-text documents in our electronic medical record. Study Design We used a locally developed electronic medical record search engine (EMERSE) to build sets of terminology that could accurately identify postoperative complications of both myocardial infarction (MI) and pulmonary embolism (PE) as defined by the ACS-NSQIP. All complications had been previously identified by our SCNRs and these were considered the gold standard. We used 5,894 cases from 2001 to 2004 from our institution's ACS-NSQIP dataset for building the terminology and 4,898 cases from 2005 to 2006 for validation. False-positive cases were then further reviewed manually. Results We achieved sensitivities of 100.0% and 92.8% for identifying postoperative myocardial infarction and pulmonary embolism, respectively, with somewhat lower specificities of 93.0% and 95.9%, respectively. These results compared favorably with results from the SCNRs, especially because our manual review uncovered cases previously missed. Conclusions Informatics has the potential to improve the efficiency and accuracy of chart abstraction by SCNRs for the ACS-NSQIP. Using such tools may eventually allow all cases at an institution to be reviewed rather than a small subset.
The prediction of tunnel diode voltage-current characteristics

Abstract This paper presents a simplified method of predicting the shape and magnitude of tunnel diode voltage-current characteristics when the substrate material and doping concentrations are specified. The method consists of first describing the tunnel diode V-I characteristics by an algebraic equation, the variables of which are then expressed as functions of the impurity densities. Previous theory is used to express the current variables, however the peak voltage expression is obtained by using Fermi-Dirac statistics and aligning the maximum of the density of electronic states with that of hole states. This leads to a verification and extension of Kane's predictions relating the peak voltage to the doping degeneracies. A comparison of the theory with the actual measured characteristic yields excellent agreement.
Laughter and Ironic Humor in the Fiction of Milan Kundera

(1984). Laughter and Ironic Humor in the Fiction of Milan Kundera. Critique: Studies in Contemporary Fiction: Vol. 25, No. 2, pp. 67-76.
Paramagnetic Zinc(II) Complexes of a Bis(catechol): Dependence of Product Spin State on Tautomerization of the Bis(catechol) Ligand.

We report the preparation and characterization of zinc(II) hydrotris(3-cumenyl-5-methylpyrazolyl)borate (LZn) complexes, (LZn)21‘-H and (LZn)21, of a bis(catechol) ligand. The formation of (LZn)21‘-H, an S = 1/2 complex, rather than (LZn)21, an S = 1 complex, is observed due to tautomerization of a reaction intermediate. The biradical complex, (LZn)21, can be prepared from (LZn)21‘-H by oxidation, a conversion that is accompanied by a blue-green to red-purple color change and an increase in spin from 1/2 to 1. The frozen solution EPR spectrum of the biradical complex (LZn)21 exhibits zero-field splitting and a Δms = 2 transition characteristic of a triplet state. The temperature dependence of the EPR signal intensity is consistent with high-spin coupling of the unpaired electrons of the ligand.
Pressure-induced structural transformations in lanthanide titanates: La2TiO5 and Nd2TiO5

Abstract The structure of orthorhombic rare earth titanates of La 2 TiO 5 and Nd 2 TiO 5 , where Ti cations are in five-fold coordination with oxygen, has been studied at high pressures by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman scattering measurements, and quantum mechanical calculations. Both XRD and Raman results indicated two pressure-induced phase transitions during the process. An orthorhombic super cell ( a × b ×2 c ) formed at a pressure between 6 and 10 GPa, and then transformed to a hexagonal high-pressure phase accompanied by partial decomposition. The hexagonal high-pressure phase is quenchable. Detailed structural analysis indicated that the five-coordinated TiO 5 polyhedra remain during the formation of super cell, but the orthorhombic-to-hexagonal phase transition at high pressures is a reconstructive process, and the five-fold Ti–O coordination increased to more than 6. This phase transition sequence was verified by quantum mechanical calculations.
A highly selective rearrangement of a housane-derived cation radical: an electrochemically mediated transformation.

To utilize housane-derived cation radicals as intermediates for the synthesis of the bicyclo (n.3.0) framework of natural products, a highly regioselective [1,2] shift of carbon to either a radical or an electron-deficient site is required. Herein we describe how this has been accomplished, provide a set of guidelines to assess housane oxidizability prior to its synthesis, and describe a synthesis of housane 18 that capitalizes upon the facility of [1,5] hydrogen shifts in substituted cyclopentadienes. The catalytic electrochemically mediated oxidation of 18 leads to a cation radical that engages in a rearrangement leading to the (4.3.0) adduct 23. The appearance of a catalytic current in the cyclic voltammogram of a solution containing the tris(aryl)amine and housane 18 is an excellent indicator that the amminium cation radical 14•+ is able to oxidize the housane and return the mediator to the original redox couple. DFT calculations show electron density on both the aryl and strained σ framework in the H...
Surgical applications of femtosecond lasers

Femtosecond laser ablation permits non-invasive surgeries in the bulk of a sample with submicrometer resolution. We briefly review the history of optical surgery techniques and the experimental background of femtosecond laser ablation. Next, we present several clinical applications, including dental surgery and eye surgery. We then summarize research applications, encompassing cell and tissue studies, research on C. elegans, and studies in zebrafish. We conclude by discussing future trends of femtosecond laser systems and some possible application directions.
Molecular dynamics calculations for HCl in a matrix of solid Ar

We present the results of molecular dynamics calculations on HCl molecules, matrix-isolated in solid fcc argon, using the recently proposed M2 potential of Hutson and Howard. The power spectrum of the centre of mass velocity autocorrelation function of the HCl molecules is in good agreement with the experimental far infrared spectrum. Although there is considerable rotational motion of the HCl molecules, the Cl-H bond vector shows a preference for the crystallographic ⟨111⟩ direction rather than the ⟨110⟩ direction suggested by the dimer structure.
Design and Analysis of a Hybrid Parallel Platform That Incorporates Tensegrity

A new hybrid parallel platform device that is based on tensegrity is introduced in this paper. A tensegrity structure is one that is comprised of members that are either in tension (ties) or compression (struts). The device studied in this paper replaces the ‘upper’ and ‘lower’ set of ties of a 3-strut tensesgrity system with rigid bodies. Further, the three struts are replaced by three leg connectors whose lengths can be changed via prismatic actuators. The three remaining ties are replaced by the series combination of a spring and a non-compliant tie where the length of the non-compliant tie can be controlled. An analysis is presented that shows how the connector leg lengths and non-compliant tie lengths can be determined so as to position and orient the upper platform at a desired pose and at a desired total potential energy level. It is the control of the potential energy in the system that makes this new hybrid parallel-platform unique.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Insects and Institutions: Managing Emergent Hazards in the U.S. Southwest

Abstract A range of institutional systems exist to manage and mitigate environmental problems, yet the quickly changing, ecologically surprising, and spatially complex qualities of ecological problems create new challenges for institutional learning. The rapid and nearly uncontrolled recent outbreak of West Nile Virus in the U.S. Southwest, and the associated risk of other mosquito-borne diseases, typifies these sorts of challenges. How are management authorities adapting to the changing conditions presented by mosquito-borne diseases? What bureaucratic structures condition and limit their responses? Using archival research and interviews, this paper analyzes the recent track record of mosquito management in southern Arizona, specifically examining county health programs and municipal water authorities in Pima County and Tucson. Results suggest that bureaucracies develop fundamentally different practices. While health officials collect data and manage problems based largely on citizen complaints, water ma...
Drying of Single Drops of Foamed and Nonfoamed Sodium Caseinate Solutions

Abstract The effects of dissolved and dispersed gases on the drying of single, macrodrops of sodium caseinate containing 15% w/w solids were investigated. Moisture and temperatures of 1- and 2-mg drops were measured during drying at 100 and 200C in desiccated air. Foaming markedly increased the rate of drying for drops of equal mass and volume when compared to nonfoamed drops. Drops foamed with insoluble gases dried as fast as those foamed with soluble gases. Dissolved gases at equilibrium with pressures of less than 1atm in unfoamed drops improved the rate of drying at 200C but had no effect at 100C. The improved quality of foam spray-dried products is explained by the kinetics of thermal degradation.
Cholinergic receptor loss in brains of aging mice

Abstract The number of synaptic cholinergic receptors in brains of mice decreases with aging after 18 months. Alterations in body weight, starvation, and circadian variations could not account for these changes. The decrease in receptors was not associated with significant changes in receptor affinity and brain protein and DNA and RNA content. The determination of postsynaptic cholinergic receptor density is a quantitative chemical correlate of aging of the rodent brain. Whether or not the declining receptor density is a cause of the age-related decline of learning behavior can be resolved by observing the effects of manipulations of receptor density on learning in animals.
Modeling small-molecule release from PLG microspheres: effects of polymer degradation and nonuniform drug distribution.

Abstract Modeling release of small molecules from degradable microspheres is important to the design of controlled-release drug delivery systems. Release of small molecules from poly( d , l -lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) particles is often controlled by diffusion of the drug through the polymer and by polymer degradation. In this study, a model is developed to independently determine the contributions of each of these factors by fitting the release of piroxicam from monodisperse 50-μm microspheres made with PLG of different initial molecular weights. The dependence of the drug diffusivity on polymer molecular weight was determined from in vitro release of piroxicam from monodisperse 10-μm PLG microspheres, and the polymer degradation rate was experimentally measured using gel permeation chromatography. The model also incorporates the effect of nonuniform drug distribution within the microspheres, which is obtained from confocal fluorescence microscopy. The model results agree well with experiments despite using only one fit parameter.
Primary structure and genomic organization of the histidine-rich protein of the malaria parasite Plasmodium lophurae

The nucleotide sequence of a complete genomic clone for the histidine-rich protein of Plasmodium lophurae has been determined. The deduced amino acid sequence of the mature protein shows numerous tandemly repeated units preceded by a signal and a pro peptide. The gene is interrupted by an intron with a separate exon coding for the signal peptide. The signal peptide-encoding exon detects multiple cross-hybridizing sequences in the parasite genome.
Exsolution Lamellae in Minerals from Ultrahigh-Pressure Rocks

Exsolution microstructures have recently been identified in ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) ultramafic and eclogitic minerals from several orogenic belts, including the Western Gneiss Region, Norway; Alpe...
Direct measurements of oceanic crustal density at the Northern Juan de Fuca Ridge

Density and porosity of oceanic crust are critically important to understanding the circulation of hydrothermal fluid at mid-ocean ridges. To determine these parameters directly, we completed a fixed, on-bottom gravity survey on the Endeavour Segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge, which is a well studied spreading center that is both hydrothermally and tectonically active. A Bell-Aerospace gravity meter mounted within the submersible ALVIN was used to make gravity measurements from the floor of the axial valley to the summit of the west axial ridge. Analysis of these data gave a density of 2240±50 kg/m 3 for the upper 130 m of crust. Comparison of the outcrop density with that of recovered rock samples resulted in a calculated porosity of 38±4%. Forward modeling of the seafloor gravity data indicated that both the valley floor and bounding walls have unusually low density crust that is flanked by higher density crust.
α1-Adrenoceptor activation: A comparison of 4-(Anilinomethyl)imidazoles and 4-(Phenoxymethyl)imidazoles to related 2-imidazolines

Abstract Literature reports suggest that disruption of an interhelical salt bridge is critical for α 1 -adrenoceptor activation, and the basic amine found in adrenergic receptor ligands is responsible for the disruption. Novel 4-(anilinomethyl)imidazoles and 4-(phenoxymethyl)imidazoles are agonists of the cloned human α 1 -adrenoceptors in vitro, and potent, selective α 1A -adrenoceptor agonists have been identified in this series. These imidazoles demonstrate similar potencies and α 1 -subtype selectivities as the corresponding 2-substituted imidazolines. The extremely close SAR suggests that, in spite of the large difference in basicity, these imidazoles and imidazolines may establish the same interactions to activate α 1 -adrenoceptors.
Region-based wavelet image compression

Transform-based image coders exploit the information packing ability of some mathematical transforms in order to reduce the number of significant transform coefficients needed to accurately represent an image. Large coefficients are often associated with those regions where an image changes a lot, such as the boundaries between objects with differing visual characteristics. One way to reduce the number of significant transform coefficients is to segment an image into regions of similarity and then apply the transform to each region separately. We propose a novel image compression technique which first segments an image into arbitrary regions and then applies a region-adapted wavelet transform to each region.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Extended conjugate-gradient methods with restarts

Three variants of the classical conjugate-gradient method are presented. Two of these variants are based upon a nonlinear function of a quadratic form. A restarting procedure due to Powell, and based upon some earlier work of Beale, is discussed and incorporated into two of the variants. Results of applying the four algorithms to a set of benchmark problems are included, and some tentative conclusions about the relative merits of the four schemes are presented.
Two linked genes for outer membrane proteins are absent in four non-disease strains of Haemophilus somnus.

Summary Linked genes encoding two outer membrane proteins (p76 and a family of proteins, p120) of the bovine pathogen, Haemophilus somnus, were investigated. The p120 group was previously shown to have immunoglobulin-binding activity and to react with polyclonal antiserum specific for a 270 kDa antigen (p270) which also had immunoglobulin Fc-binding activity. By Western blotting we showed that the p76 antigen also reacted with this antiserum. The p270, p120, and p76 antigens were undetectable in four serum-sensitive isolates from asymptomatic carriers but were present in the two serum-resistant virulent strains tested. Genes for p120 and p76 were subcloned on non-overlapping pUC plasmids from a cosmid (pHS1) originally cloned from a serum-resistant strain. In Escheriehia coli, plasmid pHS138 expressed p76, while the p120 antigens were produced by pHS140. Southern blots of DNA from the above six strains of H. somnus using probes derived from pHS1 subclones showed that a 13.4kb sequence was missing from the four serum-sensitive strains, but not the two serum-resistant strains. This segment included most of the insert in pHS138 and all of the pHS140 insert. The data indicate that p76 and the p120 proteins are absent from serum-sensitive strains because the coding sequences are missing, raising the possibility of insertion of these genes into the chromosome of both serum-resistant strains, or deletion from the four serum-sensitive strains.
Modeling and simulation of an artificial muscle and its application to biomimetic robot posture control

Abstract The shape memory effect exhibited by Nitinol wire can be utilized to construct an artificial muscle. The muscle is activated by an electric current, which produces heat and initiates a phase transformation. The Nitinol artificial muscle stress–strain–power relationship was determined by experiments, and a mathematical model was developed. The artificial muscle model was utilized for the posture control of a biomimetic underwater robot. The optimal activation patterns for height, pitch, and roll postures were determined. Simulation results for the height postures are in agreement with the experiments. The separation between the center of gravity and the centroid of the robot has a stabilizing effect on pitch and roll postures.
In search of a treatment for radiation-induced optic neuropathy

Radiation-induced optic neuropathy (RON) is an iatrogenic complication that causes severe, irreversible vision loss in one or both eyes within the months to years following radiation therapy. Posterior RON is a rare but devastating toxicity of radiation applied to the visual pathways to treat paranasal sinus and skull base tumors. Anterior RON is an unavoidable consequence of proton beam irradiation or ophthalmic plaque treatment of orbital, choroidal, or retinal tumors. Various treatments aimed at stabilizing and ideally reversing vision loss have been investigated but only in small cases series. Systemic corticosteroids and anticoagulants, which are moderately effective when used for cerebral radiation necrosis, have shown no signs of benefit for RON. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy may promote short-term, partial recovery of vision in select patients, especially at partial pressures of at least 2.4 atm and when administered early after symptom onset. Reversal of visual deficits through treatment with systemic bevacizumab has been reported, but until controlled studies are performed, the side effect profile of stroke and myocardial infarction should limit its use in a population with predisposing cardiovascular risk factors. Intravitreal bevacizumab has shown promising results in patients with anterior RON, but repeated, long-term injections are required for sustained effect. As no intervention has been clearly shown to halt or reverse vision loss, larger prospective studies are needed to validate observed benefits for any of the treatments that have been described.
Evaluation of Encapsulated IPMC Sensor Based on Thick Parylene Coating

Ionic polymer-metal composites (IPMCs) have intrinsic sensing and actuation capabilities. However, IPMCs require ionic hydration to operate. As the most commonly used solvent, water content contained in the polymer changes with the humidity level of the ambient environment, which affects the sensing behavior of an IPMC in air. Motivated by the need to ensure consistent sensing performance of IPMCs under different ambient environments, in this paper we propose thick (up to 10 micrometers) parylene C coating for IPMC sensors, develop effective coating processes, and evaluate the stability of the encapsulated sensors in air. During the process of parylene coating, water molecules would evaporate inside the deposition chamber, resulting in the encapsulated IPMCs’ losing sensing capability. To address this challenge and control the hydration level of an encapsulated IPMC, the proposed fabrication process comprises major steps of parylene deposition, water absorption, and SU-8 seal. The influence of hydration level controlled by the water absorption step is studied to improve the sensitivity of the IPMC sensor. The water impermeability of the proposed encapsulation technique is tested in different media. Experiments have also been conducted to evaluate the performance of the encapsulated IPMC sensor. The sensing consistency and the lifetime of an encapsulated sensor in air are studied in an environment with changing humidity, along with the comparison with an uncoated IPMC sensor. Experimental results show that the proposed thick parylene coating can effectively maintain the water content inside the IPMC and reduce the interference due to the ambient humidity change, which allows IPMC sensors to be used in many practical applications.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Pyrrolizidine alkaloid chemosystematics in Amsinckia

Abstract The distribution and quantitation of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) within the genus Amsinckia , Boraginaceae, was established by GC-mass spectrometric techniques. Twenty-eight PAs were structurally characterized from 55 samples representing 12 of the 14 known species. GC-mass spectrometric information, including R I , values, is provided for these compounds as well as for 14 structurally related PAs. The chemosystematic significance of these results suggest that PAs can be used to distinguish sectional differences that are accompanied by chromosomal rearrangements, but not specific differences. The sectional placement of A. grandiflora is clarified supporting a proposed reinstatement of section Vernicosae , sens. str. , and reducing the number of species belonging to section Tessellatae , sens. str. , to three.
A function of yeast mRNA cap methyltransferase, Abd1, in transcription by RNA polymerase II.

Capping enzymes bind the phosphorylated pol II CTD permitting cotranscriptional capping of nascent pre-mRNAs. We asked whether these interactions influence pol II function using ChIP in ts mutants of yeast capping enzymes. Pol II occupancy at the 5′ ends of PGK1 , ENO2 , GAL1 , and GAL10 was reduced by inactivation of the methyltransferase, Abd1, but not the guanylyltransferase, Ceg1, suggesting that Abd1 contributes to stable promoter binding. At other genes, Abd1 inactivation increased the 5′:3′ ratio of pol II density in the promoter-proximal region and caused Ser5 hyperphosphorylation of the pol II CTD. These results suggest an additional role for Abd1 in the promoter clearance and/or promoter-proximal elongation steps of transcription. The transcriptional functions of Abd1 are independent of methyltransferase activity. Manipulation of transcription by Abd1 may enhance cotranscriptional capping and also act as a checkpoint to ensure that a nascent transcript has a cap before it can be completed.
“Convenient to the Piety of Our Signoria and to the Honor of the Lord God”: Gender and Institutional Honor on the Early Modern Dalmatian Frontier

Conversion was a common phenomenon in the early modern Mediterranean, and in most instances, individual apostasies from Islam or Christianity warranted minimal response. The conversion of women, however, and particularly women of status, elicited a more significant reaction. Both Ottoman and Venetian ruling elites attributed particular significance to female spiritual peril, partly because of cultural assumptions about women’s weakness and lack of spiritual fortitude, but also because of the sexual peril that was assumed to accompany conversion. As a result, rulers responded to such threats institutionally in a much more determined fashion, in order to defend the woman’s virtue and the honor of her family, but also to preserve the reputation of the state and the honor of its male rulers. A close reading of a case from the Veneto-Ottoman frontier in Dalmatia demonstrates that just as the protection of wives and daughters was an essential measure of the honor of a family’s men, so too, the honor of the state, its institutions, and its rulers was uniquely bound to the defense of the faith and virtue of its female subjects.
Abstract 3283: Developmental and metabolic deregulation in 14-3-3zeta knockout mouse

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC 14-3-3s are a family of proteins conserved throughout eukaryotics. By binding to specific phosphorylated serine/threonine containing motifs in the target proteins, 14-3-3s modulates their molecular structure, stability, subcellular localization and/or enzymatic activity. Our lab recently found that 14-3-3ζ (zeta) is overexpressed in ∼45% breast cancers and 14-3-3ζ overexpression predicts poor patient survival. Additionally, 14-3-3ζ prevents anoikis by suppressing p53 and promotes epithelial mesenchymal transition by activating TGB-β signaling pathway, which plays important roles during tumor formation and progression. These led us to we hypothesizing that 14-3-3ζ plays important role in breast cancer. In our initial attempt to systematically study the role of 14-3-3ζ in breast cancer in vivo, we have recently generated 14-3-3ζ conventional knockout mouse by Gene Trap. We obtained the ES cell line RRR334 (which has no functional 14-3-3ζ based on the 5’ RACE data of the Baygenomics) from the Mutant Mouse Regional Resource Center. We confirmed silencing of 14-3-3ζ in the clone by RT-PCR. The integration site of the Gene Trap vector was located about 5kb downstream of exon 3 inside the intron 3 and PCR genotyping primers were designed accordingly. The ES cells were injected into C57Bl/6 albino mouse blastocysts. Chimera mice with high ES cell contributions based on their fur color were mated with C57Bl/6 albino mice to determine germ line transmission. When we mated the founder 14-3-3ζ heterozygous (+/−) male with 14-3-3ζ +/− female, only ∼ 5% of the offspring's were 14-3-3ζ homozygous (−/−) mice, indicating 14-3-3ζ −/− mice are embryonic lethal. This lethality hinders our study of the role of 14-3-3ζ in tumorigenesis and progression. To overcome this, we outbred to CD-1 mouse strain and the resulting mice are viable and fertile. Interestingly, the 14-3-3ζ knockout mice are smaller than their littermates. This growth retardation did not seem to be mediated by deregulated growth hormone level. The 14-3-3ζ null mice also had lower blood glucose level and their livers and brain had a reduced glucose uptake. Our preliminary studies indicated that HIF1-α, a well known oncogene and a master regulator of metabolism (e.g., glycolysis), is downregulated in 14-3-3ζ null mice. We are currently further characterizing the phenotypes of 14-3-3ζ knockout mouse and also studying the molecular mechanism of how loss of 14-3-3ζ leads to growth retardation and how 14-3-3ζ regulates glucose metabolism. We are also studying whether loss of 14-3-3ζ has any impact on tumor formation and metastasis. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3283.
Adding insult to injury: Childhood and adolescent risk factors for psychosis predict lower fractional anisotropy in the superior longitudinal fasciculus in healthy adults

Although epidemiological studies provide strong support for demographic and environmental risk factors in psychotic disorders, few data examine how these risk factors relate to the putative aberrant neurodevelopment associated with illness. The present study examined how the accumulation of risk factors including low IQ, low parental socioeconomic status (SES), history of adolescent cannabis use and childhood trauma, and high levels of subclinical psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) contributed to aberrant neurodevelopmental outcomes in 112 otherwise healthy adults recruited from the community. Participants were studied with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and voxel-wise statistical analysis of fractional anisotropy (FA) using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) was used to examine the relation between cumulative risk (CR) for psychosis and white matter (WM) integrity across the whole brain. Analyses revealed that higher CR was significantly associated with lower FA in a cluster in the left superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF). These results suggest that risk factors previously associated with psychotic disorders are associated with WM integrity even in otherwise healthy adults and may provide insight into how previously identified risk factors contribute to the structural brain abnormalities associated with psychotic illness. Prospective longitudinal studies examining the effect of risk factors on the developmental trajectory of brain WM are warranted.