cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exosomes: A Novel Pathway of Local and Distant Intercellular Communication that Facilitates the Growth and Metastasis of Neoplastic Lesions

Normal and diseased cells release bilayered membrane-bound nanovesicles into interstitial spaces and into bodily fluids. A subgroup of such microvesicles is called exosomes and is described in blood as 30 to 100 nm in diameter and as spherical to cup-shaped nanoparticles with specific surface molecular characteristics (eg, expression of the tetraspanins CD9, CD81, and CD63). Extracellular microvesicles provide local signals (eg, autocrine and paracrine) and distant endocrine signals to cells via the transfer of their contents, which include signal proteins, lipids, miRNAs, and functional mRNAs. Exosomes and related microvesicles also aid cells in exporting less-needed molecules and potentially harmful molecules, including drugs; in the case of neoplasia, the export of chemotherapeutic drugs may facilitate cellular chemoresistance. Cancers have adapted the exosome and related microvesicles as a pathway by which neoplastic cells communicate with each other (autocrine) and with nonneoplastic cells (paracrine and endocrine); via this pathway, cancer suppresses the immune system and establishes a fertile local and distant environment to support neoplastic growth, invasion, and metastases. Because exosomes mirror and bind to the cells from which they arise, they can be used for delivery of drugs, vaccines, and gene therapy, as biomarkers and targets. We review how exosomes and related extracellular microvesicles facilitate the progression and metastases of cancers and describe how these microvesicles may affect clinical care.
Digital Technology and Cultural Policy

This paper reviews how digital technology, and the devices and broadband networks associated with it (the Internet, for short), can be expected to a ect the ways in which books, music, the visual arts, libraries and archived cultural heritage (cultural goods, for short) are produced, distributed and consumed. The paper has four parts. First, I place the growth of the Internet in historical and comparative perspective. I argue that the United States is presently engaged in a regulatory e ort similar in intent to those imposed on earlier communications revolutions. In this context, I outline the ways that the Internet can be expected to change how people produce and consume cultural goods. I distinguish between practices the technology makes possible and practices likely to become established as typical for the majority of people. Second, I discuss some of the new arenas for cultural policy thrown up by the Internet. I argue that, just as it has bound many kinds of cultural content into a single medium, the Internet has tied together a variety of regulatory issues and brought cultural policy into contact with areas of policy-making not normally associated with culture. Third, I focus on the relationship between creativity, consumption and copyright law. Fourth, I describe a number of key conflicts over the Internet's architecture and content. How these are resolved through policy choices will have important consequences for how we consume and experience cultural goods of all kinds in the future.
Therapeutic approaches in the management of locally advanced rectal cancer

Combined-modality therapy, using radiotherapy and chemotherapy with surgery, has been the traditional therapeutic algorithm for locally advanced rectal cancer. Standard of care in the United States has evolved to include neoadjuvant concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy followed by surgical excision and adjuvant chemotherapy. This approach has led to a significant improvement in local recurrences (LR), to the point where distant sites are the more common site of failure. Further improvements in local control have failed to improve overall survival. This article reviews historical trials that shifted the treatment paradigm to the current standard of care, as well as recent research trials, which have sought to incorporate new treatment methodologies, and treatment agents to improve outcomes. Finally this article describes ongoing studies and their potential impact on the future of therapeutic management of locally-advanced rectal cancer.
Censoring Samba: An Aesthetic Justification for the Protection of Speech

Responding to well known challenges to any attempt to justify any principle for the protection of speech, this Article argues that principled protection of speech is justified because speech, all speech, has as one of its elements a participation in the same self-justifying activity that the aesthetic always is. To demonstrate what he means by "the aesthetic", to show the aesthetic aspect of speech, and to explain why this aspect justifies speech's protection, the Author takes his readers into the "polity of samba," an aesthetic cultural community, in Brazil in the sixties, as it defends its samba speech against the censorship of the "polity of common sense." In doing so, he focuses on the role played by the famous Brazilian composer, Chico Buarque, who, he argues, was the primary voice of the polity of samba. (Links to Buarque's most important musical compositions from this time are provided in footnotes.) From this Brazilian samba experience, and from Buarque, the Author argues, we can learn that expressive speech is always grounded in the ongoing possibility of the aesthetic and is always to be found at the boundaries between the polities in which we live our lives. It is this being at the boundary, and thus capturing our fullness, that makes speech special, that is, distinguishable from our other activities, and justifies the special protection that we offer to it. Showing how surprisingly similar conceptions of speech can be found in the early opinions of Judge Hand and Justice Holmes, the Article goes on to explain how such a justification for speech works in the law. It does so, the Author argues, in a manner similar to the way moral intuitions work in moral decision-making: as non-inferentially justified principles, grounded only in our experience, that operate as prima facie, defeasible, thumbs on the scales in judicial decision-making about speech. The Article then concludes with the Author's appeal to law teachers to nurture a non-instrumental, non-political, samba conception of law, one not reducible to force, as against what he sees as the instrumental and political conception of law lying behind the claims of those who reject any principled protection of speech.
CEO Narcissism: Six Recommendations for Research

CEOs, particularly the CEOs of Fortune 100 companies, are among the most powerful individuals on earth. A topic of growing research interest is narcissism among such leaders and its effects. Resear...
Adolescents’ development of gender equity attitudes in India

Gender-equitable attitudes are often constructed during adolescence making this a critical time to alter gender perceptions. However, there is little research on gender attitudes and gender equity ...
Direct oral anticoagulants versus aspirin for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis after orthopedic surgery

Purpose The risks of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and bleeding with direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) and aspirin for thromboprophylaxis after orthopedic surgery were studied. Methods A single center, retrospective study was conducted to examine patients who underwent a major orthopedic surgery from 2011 to 2015. The primary endpoint evaluated was the net clinical outcome of bleeding and thrombosis rates between the DOAC and aspirin groups. Secondary endpoints included bleeding rates, thrombosis rates, transfusion rates, and 90-day readmission rates. The primary endpoint was analyzed using adjusted logistic regression model with propensity score added as an independent variable. Results A total of 420 patients were included in this study. The proportion of patients with composite primary outcome was similar between the groups (12.9% and 13.3%, in the DOAC and aspirin groups, respectively; p > 0.5). VTE events were numerically lower in the DOAC group, but the result was not statistically significant. Readmission due to VTE or bleeding and bleeding events were also similar between the groups. The DOAC group had a higher proportion of blood transfusions of at least 2 units of blood postoperatively compared with the aspirin group (p = 0.04). Conclusion No difference in net clinical outcome was observed in patients who received a DOAC or aspirin for VTE prophylaxis after major orthopedic surgery.
Traumatic cervical spine injury during sexual activity

Sexual activity is unlikely to result in spinal injuries. We present the first case of a cervical fracture-subluxation and spinal cord injury following sexual activity. This 31-year-old female presented to the emergency room with neck pain and quadriparesis, following sexual activity in an extreme position. Imaging revealed a hyperflexion cervical fracture-subluxation injury, requiring reduction by traction, followed by circumferential surgical fixation. At 6 months postoperatively, she reported baseline return of function. This case demonstrates that sex-induced spinal injuries are possible and may require urgent surgical treatment.
A two-stage stochastic programming model for assortment optimisation

This paper presents a two-stage stochastic programming model for retail assortment optimisation. Decisions related to what products to stock and in what quantity are taken in the first stage while decisions related to what products to use to satisfy the primary versus the secondary demand are taken in the second stage. Such a model is very useful for online retailers and catalogue merchants who witness a gap between an order arrival and fulfilment. A case study illustrating the modelling approach and its benefits as compared to other existing assortment optimisation techniques is also presented.
Modeling the Impacts of Weather and Cultural Factors on Rotundone Concentration in Cool-Climate Noiret Wine Grapes.

The sesquiterpenoid rotundone is the compound responsible for the "black pepper" aroma of many plant species, including several economically important wine grape varieties. Since its identification in wine in 2008, there has been an increased interest in understanding how individual climatic or cultural factors affect the accumulation of rotundone in grapes and subsequently the level of wine "pepperiness." However, no study has assessed climatic and viticultural factors together to identify which variables have the strongest influence on rotundone accumulation. Our study aimed to fill this knowledge gap by developing a predictive model that identified factors that explain rotundone concentrations in Noiret (Vitis sp.) grapes at harvest. Over the 2016 and 2017 seasons, we measured 21 viticultural, meso- and microclimatic variables and concentrations of rotundone in Noiret wine grapes at seven vineyards in the northeastern U.S. Vineyard growing degree days (GDD v ) and the amount of solar radiation (cumulative solar exposure; CSEv) accumulated from the beginning of fruit ripening to harvest were the variables best correlated (r = 0.70 and r = 0.74, respectively) with rotundone concentrations. Linear correlations between microclimatic parameters and rotundone concentrations were weaker, but overall rotundone was negatively correlated with low ( 30°C) berry temperatures. Using the 2-year data set we were able to develop a four-variable model which explained more than 80% of the variation in rotundone concentration at harvest. The model included weather [growing degree days during fruit ripening (GDD v )] and plant-related variables (concentrations of phosphorus and calcium in the leaf petiole, and crop load). The model we developed could be used by wine producers to identify sites or cultural practices that favor rotundone accumulation in Noiret grapes after performing a model validation with an additional, external data set. More broadly, the statistical approach used here could be applied to other studies that also seek to assess the effects of multiple factors on a variable of interest under varying environmental conditions.
Molecular Study and Phylogenetic Analysis of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (MERSCoV) in Camel and Human

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (MERSCoV) have been reported in Arabian peninsula and sporadic cases in Europe and Asia. This study was conducted to evaluate the genetic analysis of this virus in human and camel at the first time in Iraq. Two hundred samples were collected from camels and human who suffering from respiratory symptoms, these samples treated with RNA extraction kit then amplification the genetic material by PCR which give 5% positive results. The amplicon then sequenced, registration in gene bank of NCBI for getting accession numbers. The local strains give close relationship with neighbor countries as Saudi Arabia and Jordan strains when using MEGA analysis software.
A grading system for local skin reactions developed for clinical trials of an intradermal and transcutaneous ETEC vaccine.

Abstract Background Trials assessing the safety of novel vaccine candidates are essential in the evaluation and development of candidate vaccines. Immunogenicity and dose-sparing features of vaccination approaches which target skin and associated tissues have garnered increased interest; for enteric vaccines, cutaneous vaccination has been of particular interest. Cutaneous vaccine site reactions are among the most common and visible vaccine related adverse events (AEs) when skin routes are used. Regulatory guidelines governing classification of severity focus on functional impact but are insufficient to characterize a spectrum of skin reaction and allow for comparisons of routes, doses and products with similar local cutaneous AEs. Objectives Our group developed a grading scale to evaluate and compare cutaneous vaccine site reactions ahead of early-phase clinical trials of intradermal (ID) and transcutaneous immunization (TCI) with enterotoxigenic E.coli (ETEC) vaccine candidates (adhesin-based vaccine co-administered with LTR192G). We reviewed existing methods for characterizing the appearance and severity of local vaccine site reactions following TCI and ID vaccination and devised a standardized vaccine site appearance grading scale (VSAGS) for use in the clinical development of novel ETEC vaccine candidates which focused on pathophysiologic manifestation of skin findings. Results Available data from published reports revealed erythematous papules and pruritus were the most common local AEs associated with TCI. Frequency of reactions varied notably across studies as did TCI vaccination methodologies and products. ID vaccination commonly results in erythema and induration at the vaccine site as well as pigmentation changes. There was no published methodology to characterize the spectrum of dermatologic findings. Conclusion ID and TCI vaccination are associated with a largely predictable range of cutaneous AEs. A grading scale focused on the appearance of cutaneous changes was useful in comparing cutaneous AEs. A standardized grading scale will facilitate documentation and comparison of cutaneous AEs.
Residential mobility and the geography of low-income households:

In contrast to the traditional image of suburban communities as stable and secure enclaves surrounding a more volatile urban core, scholars have noted considerable increases in suburban poverty ove...
Barriers to colorectal cancer screening for people with spinal cord injuries and/or disorders: A qualitative study.

Abstract Background Limited research has shown people with spinal cord injuries and/or disorders (SCID) are less likely to be up to date with colorectal cancer (CRC) screening and therefore more likely to be diagnosed with advanced stage CRC compared to people without SCID. Objective The aims of this study were to assess knowledge about CRC, CRC screening, and self-reported barriers to CRC screening for people with SCID. Methods Interviews with 30 individuals with SCID were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide, audio recorded, and transcribed. Coding was performed using a hybrid approach of inductive and deductive analysis. Thematic analysis was used to identify, review, and modify themes and sub-themes. Results Themes identified included barriers to CRC screening, such as socioeconomic, health system, transportation, psychological, and environmental or accessibility barriers. While most respondents were able to describe one CRC screening method (usually colonoscopy), knowledge of other screening modalities was limited. Low CRC literacy and misinformation about CRC screening appeared to increase respondent association between CRC screening and colonoscopy. While most respondents associated CRC screening with colonoscopy, almost half reported the colonoscopy preparation was the most substantial barrier to screening. Conclusions In addition to addressing identified barriers such as accessibility and transportation, communication, and prevention interventions should be specifically targeted to ensure all people with SCID are informed about appropriate and various modalities and the benefits of screening. Specific, evidence-based guidelines on the use of stool specimens first with follow up direct visualization, if needed, should be developed for this population.
A multiple therapy hypothesis for treatment of COVID-19 patients.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has killed more than one million people as of October 1, 2020. Consequently, a search is on for a treatment that can bring the pandemic to an end. However, treatments (vaccine, antiviral, plasma) that are directed at specific viral proteins (RNA polymerase, spike proteins) may not work well against all strains of the virus. Therefore, it is hypothesized that a therapy based on multiple treatments is needed for COVID-19 patients and to bring the pandemic to an end. Here, it is proposed that a combination of cool air therapy (CAT) and purified air technology (PAT) in an oxygen species cool air respirator (OSCAR) could be used to reduce viral (SARS-CoV-2) load and severity of illness in COVID-19 patients through the individual dose-response relationship. In addition, the proposed therapy (CAT + PAT in OSCAR), which works by a more general physical and chemical mechanism, should work well with other treatments (vaccine, antiviral, plasma) that target specific viral proteins (RNA polymerase, spike proteins) to provide a safe and effective multiple therapy approach for ending the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2.
The Making of Strangers: Reflections on the Ethiopian Constitution

A constitution is an expression of a political community’s desire to establish a mode of politics for collective life. The normative underpinning of a well-designed and well-structured constitutional order is, therefore, an integrative process of association. Constitutions are meant to forge and develop a political community that enables members to see each other as co-participants in a common project. The Ethiopian Constitution seems to have adopted a model of dissociation rather than one of integrative association. Rather than bringing people together, the Constitution has set them apart. Through close examination of various provisions of the Constitution—from the preamble to the amendment process—the essay shows that the Constitution has managed to fragment a people into “peoples”, a nation into “nations” and in the process transformed neighbors into strangers who often see one another as mortal threats rather than as co-participants in a common project. In the guise of decentralizing power, the Constitution has in fact fundamentalized difference. Such environment will not lend itself either to democratic governance or even minimal peace, the very things that the politics of recognition that the Constitution champions is meant to usher.
Panel Discussion Report: Tribology Issues and Opportunities in MEMS

A panel discussion and open forum was held among approximately 100 members of the tribology and MEMS communities to discuss issues and opportunities for research collaboration among these groups. The discussions by the panel members and the workshop participants are hereby summarized The panel members were: Craig Friedrich, Moderator - Michigan Technological University Steve Danyluk, Georgia Institute of Technology Long-Sheng Fan, IBM Almaden Research Center Michael Gardos, Hughes Aircraft Frank Michel, IMM-Mainz
Bounded Articulation: An Analysis of CPPCC Proposals, 2008–12

This study sheds new light on China’s authoritarian resilience by exploring the proposals of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a political institution once deemed a mere decoration. Though the CPPCC is tacitly silent on politically incendiary issues, an analysis of 648 delegate-submitted ti’an (proposals) to the National Committee of the CPPCC between 2008 and 2012 reveals that delegates use the conference to effectively articulate their interests, practicing what I define as “bounded articulation.” In addition to theme of content, proposals differ in policy orientation, responsiveness, and professionalism, which are associated with both institutional and biographical factors, especially mode of initiation, suggesting that deliberative politics embedded in jointly-submitted proposals may alter delegates’ political behaviors.
Automatic Subpixel Detection: Anomaly Detection

One type of automatic target detection, unsupervised subpixel detection has been considered in Chapter 5. This chapter considers another type of automatic target detection, anomaly detection. Unlike the unsupervised subpixel detection, which requires generating a posteriori target information, anomaly detection does not need any target information at all. The purpose of anomaly detection is to locate and search for targets which are generally unknown, but relatively small with low probabilities of occurrence in an image scene. These anomalous targets cannot be identified by prior knowledge. Two approaches are considered in this chapter, the RX algorithm developed by (1990) and the low probability detection (LPD) proposed in (1993), both of which implement a same form as does CEM described in Chapter 4. The only difference is the matched target signature used in their filter design. The matched target signature used in CEM is the desired target signature d, whereas RXD and LPD use the sample pixel vector r and the unity vector 1 as their respective matched signatures. Like CEM, anomaly detection can be also implemented in real time.
A revision of Chuniophoenix (Arecaceae)

A revision of the Asian palm genus Chuniophoenix is given based on study of 22 herbarium specimens of wild origin from A, BH, FIPI, HN, IBSC, K, LE, MO, NY, and P. Three species are recognized, including a new one, Chuniophoenix suoitienensis .
Noncytotoxic, antitumor polysaccharides.

Publisher Summary This chapter provides an overview of the available information on host-mediated, antitumor action of noncytotoxic polysaccharides extracted from different botanical sources. Serratia marcescens polysaccharide has been reported to be active against a number of tumors, such as Sarcoma 180, Ehrlich carcinoma, Guerin carcinoma, Sarcoma M-1, and Walker carcinosarcoma. Navashin and coworkers later found that animals develop resistance to this polysaccharide, and that continued administration is without effect. However, if the polysaccharide is given periodically, an increase in activity and a diminution in toxicity are observed. Polysaccharide complexes from Escherichia co1i , Staphylococcus aureus , Streptococcus , Klebsiella , Pseudomonas , Acetobacter xylinum , Proteus vulgaris , and others are reported to be active against solid tumors. Moreover, crude, fungal extracts from a number of fungi are active against experimental tumors, and—in some cases—they showed definite palliative action on some non-operable, human tumors. The polysaccharides so far examined, although strongly active in suppressing transplanted tumors, do not seem eligible for clinical trial in human cancer therapy. Therefore, to search for new polysaccharides more strongly antitumor-active stands as a challenge for further studies on antitumor polysaccharides.
The Internet of Tomorrow

The unsatiable demand for more bandwidth threatens to lead to the Internet9s collapse. In his Perspective, Joiner explains that new optical technologies are the key to resolving both today9s "last-mile" bottleneck and future intrasystem bottlenecks. At the core of the new technology lies the vertical cavity surface emitting laser.
T. H. Huxley's critique of Henry George: an expanded perspective

. In 1890 Thomas Henry Huxley launched an extremely harsh attack against Henry George. The basis for the attack has until now remained unclear. The opening in 1959 of Charles Darwin's research journals, has led derivatively to reconsideration of Huxley's position as an advocate of evolutionary biology and proponent of science and scientists in Britain, and thereby offers new perspective on the roots of the Huxley-George controversy. The reasons for the conflict are to be found in Huxley's attempt to attract British workers to acceptance of evolutionary science, and to market scientists to employers as defenders of order and progress, who should be supported by the public and the public purse. The challenge George made was to appeal for social reform and fairer treatment for workers through more traditional, non-science based appeals. Thus, George accepted the concept of natural order and religion as valid. The heart of the science Huxley propounded had a Malthusian beat, but George, perhaps unknowingly, turned the primary argument of evolutionary science—Malthusian dynamics—against Huxley. George was not only a threat to Huxley personally but also to the enormous efforts Huxley had invested in attempting to professionalize science through the vehicle of having British workers accept the cosmic kaleidoscope and concepts of biological man. George, holding the older human self-image was triumphant in appealing to British workers since his message.
Comparison tests for the spectra of dependent multivariate time series

Statistical test procedures are proposed to compare the spectra of multivariate time series. We are mostly concerned with the general case of dependent series. The study was motivated by physical oceanography problems for which daily satellite measurements of drifter positions are readily available. Within the mathematical models used for the velocity field at the surface of the ocean, the Lagrangian velocities (time series of the velocities of the drifters along their trajectories) are realizations of stationary stochastic processes having the same one-dimensional marginal distributions. The theory leads to the conjecture that they also should have the same spectra. The tools presented in this paper were intended to test this hypothesis on real data and on data obtained from numerical simulations of transport properties in a two dimensional incompressible Gaussian velocity field.
Semliki Forest Virus-Specific RNAs Synthesized In Vitro by Enzyme from Infected BHK Cells

Abstract When Semliki Forest virus (SFV)-infected BHK cells were disrupted 4 h after infection, 75 to 90% of the total virus-specific RNA synthesizing enzyme was found in the large particle fraction, along with 75 to 90% of the in vivo-synthesized double-stranded RNAs. The RNA products of this enzyme-template complex in an in vitro system were double-stranded RNAs sedimenting predominantly at 18S, and single-stranded RNAs sedimenting at 42S, 26S, and 22S. The various virus-specific SFV RNAs synthesized in vitro were associated with different sized structures, and thus each was separable by differential centrifugation. Kinetic and pulse-chase experiments showed that the double-stranded RNAs were the precursors to the single-stranded RNAs. There were several double-stranded RNAs identified both in the in vitro product and also in extracts from infected cells. The major replicative form had a molecular weight of 4.4 × 106.
Chloric Acid and Chlorates

Sodium chlorate is the primary raw material for the manufacture of chlorine dioxide, a bleaching agent in the pulp and paper industry. Chlorine dioxide substitutes for chlorine in pulp bleaching, most ore of the sodium chlorate produced is used in the bleaching process. Sodium chlorate is prepared electrolytically. The modern technology described minimizes sodium chloride and sodium dichromate impurities. Chlorates are powerful oxidizers, and they are also used in perchloric salt and uranium production. They are strong irritants. Chloric acid technologies have been developed which allow the generation of chlorine dioxide directly from the acid, without the formation of sodium salts in the generator. Keywords: Chloric acid; sodium chlorate Potassium Chlorate Chlorates Bleaching agent; pulp; paper; Roch palt; chlorine dioxide
The Ability of Children With Language Impairment to Dissemble Emotions in Hypothetical Scenarios and Natural Situations.

Purpose This study examined the ability of children with language impairment (LI) to dissemble (hide) emotional reactions when socially appropriate to do so. Method Twenty-two children with LI and their typically developing peers (7;1–10;11 [years;months]) participated in two tasks. First, participants were presented with hypothetical scenarios in which the main character was exposed to situations that would require dissembling an emotional reaction for social purposes (e.g., receiving a disappointing gift from a grandparent). In the second task, children were presented with four naturally occurring opportunities to dissemble emotion (e.g., receiving a disappointing reward for taking part in the study). Results Although the ability to dissemble emotion was still emerging in children in both groups, typically developing children judged that dissemblance was appropriate significantly more often than did children with LI in the hypothetical scenarios. In naturalistic scenarios, there was little difference be...
Evaluating Wind Fields from a Diagnostic Model Over Complex Terrain in the Phoenix Region and Implications to Dispersion Calculations for Regional Emergency Response

This paper compares the wind field from a diagnostic model (CALMET) over complex terrain in the Phoenix region in the USA with observations that are gridded by a state-of-the-art Four-Dimensional Data Assimilation (FDDA) system. The wind difference between the CALMET and FDDA wind fields is larger at night than in the day. The magnitude of the wind difference can be smaller than 5% of the mean wind speed at low levels in areas with dense observational stations, while it can be larger than 80% in areas without observational stations or at high altitudes. The vector-mean wind direction difference over the domain is 15 deg on the surface level and 25 deg between 10 and 1500 m. To evaluate the effects of the wind difference on dispersion calculations, dispersion of a hypothetical passive tracer released from surface point sources is simulated by the second-order closure integrated puff (SCIPUFF) model driven by the CALMET and FDDA wind fields, respectively. Differences in the two simulated tracer concentration fields increase with time due to accumulation of effects of the wind differences both near the surface and at higher altitudes. Even for the release in the area with the densest distribution of surface stations, themore » relative difference in the peak surface concentration from CALMET-SCIPUFF and from FDDA-SCIPUFF is less than 10% only within 0.5 hr after the release in the afternoon, and increases to 70% at 1.5 hr; this is because of large differences in wind above the surface. For the release in the area with few stations, the difference can be larger than 100% or even larger after 1.5 hr from the release. To improve dispersion simulations driven by the CALMET wind in the region, observations at upper-air stations are needed and the current surface observation network needs to be reorganized or more stations are needed to account for the influence of terrain.« less
New unipolar electrogram criteria to identify irreversibility of nonischemic left ventricular cardiomyopathy.

Objectives This study sought to assess the value of left ventricular (LV) endocardial unipolar electroanatomical mapping (EAM) in identifying irreversibility of LV systolic dysfunction in patients with left ventricular nonischemic cardiomyopathy (LVCM). Background Identifying irreversibility of LVCM would be helpful but cannot be reliably accomplished by bipolar EAM or cardiac magnetic resonance identification of macroscopic scar. Methods Detailed endocardial LV EAM was performed in 3 groups: 1) 24 patients with irreversible LVCM (I-LVCM) but with no or minimal macroscopic scar ( Results Unipolar amplitude differed in the 3 groups: median of 7.6 (interquartile range [IQR]: 5.5 to 9.7) mV in I-LVCM group, 13.2 (IQR: 10.4 to 16.2) mV in R-LVCM group, and 16.3 (IQR: 13.6 to 19.8) mV in structurally normal hearts group (p Conclusions Detailed unipolar voltage mapping can identify irreversible myocardial dysfunction consistent with fibrosis, even in the absence of bipolar EAM or cardiac magnetic resonance abnormalities, and may serve as valuable prognostic tool in patients presenting with LVCM to facilitate clinical decision making.
Amino acid and neuropeptide neurotransmitters in Huntington's disease cerebellum.

Abstract Several neuropathologic studies have suggested that there may be pathologic involvement of the cerebellum in Huntington's disease (HD). To investigate this further, we measured concentrations of neurotransmitter amino acids and the neuropeptides, somatostatin, neuropeptide Y and substance P, in HD cerebellar cortex and dentate nucleus. Twenty-seven pathologically confirmed cases of HD were compared with 20 controls. There were no significant changes in concentrations of glutamate, alanine, ethanolamine, taurine or GABA in cerebellar cortex and dentate nucleus. Aspartate concentrations were significantly increased by 21% in HD cerebellar cortex. In the dentate nucleus, there were small significant increases of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity and substance P-like immunoreactivity. The meaning of the neurotransmitter changes found is unclear: however, the lack of change in GABA and glutamate concentrations argues against a substantial loss of intrinsic cerebellar neurons.
The uterine progestational response in cats: ultrastructural changes during chronic administration of progesterone to estradiol-primed and nonprimed animals.

The development of a progestational response in the glandular epithelium of the cat uterus was studied using electron microscopy and special glycogen staining techniques. In ovariectomized and adrenalectomized animals, the epithelial cells were low cuboidal and lacked an active secretory apparatus. Estradiol treatment induced hypertrophy and the formation of secretory cells which contained numerous profiles of RER, an enlarged Golgi apparatus and apical electron-opaque secretory granules. The chronic administration of progesterone to estradiol-primed animals resulted in antagonism of estradiol-induced cytodifferentiation and the development of a progestational response in the glandular epithelium. After 1 day of estradiol plus progesterone treatment fewer secretory granules were observed, the RER was constricted, and the Golgi apparatus appeared less active; after 2 days, very few secretory granules were observed. Coincident with this antiestrogenic action, progesterone induced additional hypertrophy and the differentiation of cytoplasmic organelles associated with glycogen synthesis. Glycogen deposition occurred between days 2 and 4 of estradiol-plus-progesterone treatment. Numerous polyribosomes and circular profiles of membrane appeared to be associated with glycogen deposition. These membranes frequently had glycogen around their perimeter, and sometimes they were found embedded in large glycogen deposits. With continued progesterone treatment, glycogen processing occurred. The RER became extremely dilated, and a few halo granules were observed. Both the dilated RER and the halo granules appeared to be surrounding glycogen, and glycogen was frequently found bound by membrane as well as within the electron-lucent portion of the halo granule. As glycogen processing continued, the glycogen deposits began to disappear, and some cells appeared to die. The remainder differentiated into shorter residual cells which, after 10–14 days, contained numerous halo granules and constricted RER. The chronic administration of progesterone to nonprimed ovariectomized and adrenalectomized animals resulted in a cytodifferentiation sequence similar to that in the estradiol-primed animals, except that the response was delayed and was not as uniform between cells from the same animal. Thus, within each epithelial cell of the endometrial glands of the cat, the principal responses induced by progesterone in both estradiol-primed and nonprimed animals were the synthesis, deposition, and eventual disappearance of glycogen.
Light scatter from high reflectors deposited by reactive DC magnetron sputtering

Scatter from optical thin film coatings is a significant problem for high power laser optics. Theoretical aspects of the problem have ben well explored for scattering due to surface roughness. Over the past twenty years the surface roughness of optics has been significantly reduced. Improvements in optical surface fabrication and film deposition techniques have progressed to the point that even for complex coatings, surfaces of less than 1nm rms roughness are routinely achievable. As the surface roughness of optics decreases, bulk scatter, rather than topographic scatter, may be the major scatter source in these smooth surfaces. Atomic force microscopy can profile the surface of a coating with atomic resolution. By comparing the power spectral density (PSD) derived from the surface profile with the PSD derived from angle resolved scatter measurements, some conclusions can be reached on this question. Data from analysis of dual wavelength high reflectors deposited by reactive DC magnetron sputtered Nb2O3/SiO2 and ZrO2/SiO2 structures will be presented, allowing analysis of results for these film materials.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Rhythms and synchronization patterns in gene expression in the Aedes aegypti mosquito

Aedes aegypti is arguably the most studied of all mosquito species in the laboratory and is the primary vector of both Dengue and Yellow Fever flaviviruses in the field. A large number of transcriptional studies have been made in the species and these usually report transcript quantities observed at a certain age or stage of development. However, circadian oscillation is an important characteristic of gene expression in many animals and plants, modulating both their physiology and behavior. Circadian gene expression in mosquito species has been previously reported but for only a few genes directly involved in the function of the molecular clock. Herein we analyze the transcription profiles of 21,494 messenger RNAs using an Ae. aegypti Agilent® microarray. Transcripts were quantified in adult female heads at 24 hours and then again at 72 hours and eight subsequent time points spaced four hours apart. We document circadian rhythms in multiple molecular pathways essential for growth, development, immune response, detoxification/pesticide resistance. Circadian rhythms were also noted in ribosomal protein genes used for normalization in reverse transcribed PCR (RT-PCR) to determine transcript abundance. We report pervasive oscillations and intricate synchronization patterns relevant to all known biological pathways. These results argue strongly that transcriptional analyses either need to be made over time periods rather than confining analyses to a single time point or development stage or exceptional care needs to be made to synchronize all mosquitoes to be analyzed and compared among treatment groups.
Reflective THz and MR imaging of burn wounds: a potential clinical validation of THz contrast mechanisms

Terahertz (THz) imaging is an expanding area of research in the field of medical imaging due to its high sensitivity to changes in tissue water content. Previously reported in vivo rat studies demonstrate that spatially resolved hydration mapping with THz illumination can be used to rapidly and accurately detect fluid shifts following induction of burns and provide highly resolved spatial and temporal characterization of edematous tissue. THz imagery of partial and full thickness burn wounds acquired by our group correlate well with burn severity and suggest that hydration gradients are responsible for the observed contrast. This research aims to confirm the dominant contrast mechanism of THz burn imaging using a clinically accepted diagnostic method that relies on tissue water content for contrast generation to support the translation of this technology to clinical application. The hydration contrast sensing capabilities of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), specifically T2 relaxation times and proton density values N(H), are well established and provide measures of mobile water content, lending MRI as a suitable method to validate hydration states of skin burns. This paper presents correlational studies performed with MR imaging of ex vivo porcine skin that confirm tissue hydration as the principal sensing mechanism in THz burn imaging. Insights from this preliminary research will be used to lay the groundwork for future, parallel MRI and THz imaging of in vivo rat models to further substantiate the clinical efficacy of reflective THz imaging in burn wound care.
On the condensation points of the lagrange spectrum

For a positive integerN, L(N) denotes the set of Lagrange values of all sequences (a k:k=0, ±1, ±2,…) of positive integers with lim sup k ak=N. It is shown that for anyN≥3L(N) has infinitely many condensation points. Such points can be realized as Markov values of symmetric doubly periodic sequences whose period consists of a semi-symmetric tuple.
Plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor are increased in patients with metastatic prostate cancer.

Abstract Objectives. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a cytokine that plays an important role in tumor angiogenesis. VEGF is overexpressed in many human cancers, including prostate cancer, but circulating levels of VEGF in patients with prostate cancer have not been reported. In this study, we analyzed plasma concentrations of VEGF in a cohort of patients with prostate cancer and compared them with a normal population. Methods. Twenty-six healthy, cancer-free individuals and 80 patients with prostate cancer (54 patients with localized prostate cancer and 26 patients with metastatic prostate cancer [bone or lymph node positive]) were analyzed in this study. Blood was drawn in the same fashion from all individuals and deposited in tubes containing ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid as anticoagulant. Plasma was extracted and VEGF concentrations were determined using a quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassay technique. Results. Median plasma VEGF was 28.5 pg/mL (interquartile range 19.3 to 57.0) in patients with metastases; 7.0 pg/mL (interquartile range 0 to 26.5) in patients with localized disease, and 0 pg/mL (interquartile range 0 to 24) in controls. These differences were statistically significant (P Conclusions. Our study indicates that patients with metastatic prostate cancer have higher plasma VEGF levels than patients with localized disease or healthy controls. A larger prospective study is needed to confirm the predictive utility of VEGF.
A Systematic Review of Barriers to Medication Adherence in the Elderly: Looking Beyond Cost and Regimen Complexity

Abstract Background Medication nonadherence is a common problem among the elderly. Objective To conduct a systematic review of the published literature describing potential nonfinancial barriers to medication adherence among the elderly. Methods The PubMed and PsychINFO databases were searched for articles published in English between January 1998 and January 2010 that (1) described “predictors,” “facilitators,” or “determinants” of medication adherence or that (2) examined the “relationship” between a specific barrier and adherence for elderly patients (ie, ≥65 years of age) in the United States. A manual search of the reference lists of identified articles and the authors' files and recent review articles was conducted. The search included articles that (1) reviewed specific barriers to medication adherence and did not solely describe nonmodifiable predictors of adherence (eg, demographics, marital status), (2) were not interventions designed to address adherence, (3) defined adherence or compliance and specified its method of measurement, and (4) involved US participants only. Nonsystematic reviews were excluded, as were studies that focused specifically on people who were homeless or substance abusers, or patients with psychotic disorders, tuberculosis, or HIV infection, because of the unique circumstances that surround medication adherence for each of these populations. Results Nine studies met inclusion criteria for this review. Four studies used pharmacy records or claims data to assess adherence, 2 studies used pill count or electronic monitoring, and 3 studies used other methods to assess adherence. Substantial heterogeneity existed among the populations studied as well as among the measures of adherence, barriers addressed, and significant findings. Some potential barriers (ie, factors associated with nonadherence) were identified from the studies, including patient-related factors such as disease-related knowledge, health literacy, and cognitive function; drug-related factors such as adverse effects and polypharmacy; and other factors including the patient-provider relationship and various logistical barriers to obtaining medications. None of the reviewed studies examined primary nonadherence or nonpersistence. Conclusion Medication nonadherence in the elderly is not well described in the literature, despite being a major cause of morbidity, and thus it is difficult to draw a systematic conclusion on potential barriers based on the current literature. Future research should focus on standardizing medication adherence measurements among the elderly to gain a better understanding of this important issue.
Robot Hands and the Mechanics of Manipulation

Robot Hands and the Mechanics of Manipulation explores several aspects of the basic mechanics of grasping, pushing, and in general, manipulating objects. It makes a significant contribution to the understanding of the motion of objects in the presence of friction, and to the development of fine position and force controlled articulated hands capable of doing useful work. In the book's first section, kinematic and force analysis is applied to the problem of designing and controlling articulated hands for manipulation. The analysis of the interface between fingertip and grasped object then becomes the basis for the specification of acceptable hand kinematics. A practical result of this work has been the development of the Stanford/JPL robot hand - a tendon-actuated, 9 degree-of-freedom hand which is being used at various laboratories around the country to study the associated control and programming problems aimed at improving robot dexterity. Chapters in the second section study the characteristics of object motion in the presence of friction. Systematic exploration of the mechanics of pushing leads to a model of how an object moves under the combined influence of the manipulator and the forces of sliding friction. The results of these analyses are then used to demonstrate verification and automatic planning of some simple manipulator operations. Matthew T. Mason is Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Carnegie-Mellon University, and coeditor of Robot Motion (MIT Press 1983). J. Kenneth Salisbury, Jr. is a Research Scientist at MIT's Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, and president of Salisbury Robotics, Inc. Robot Hands and the Mechanics of Manipulation is 14th in theArtificial Intelligence Series, edited by Patrick Henry Winston and Michael Brady.