cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU‐GG‐T‐79: Voxel‐Based Imaging Analysis for Quantitative Characterization of Post‐Implant Prostate Edema in Permanent Prostate Brachytherapy

Purpose: Edema‐induced tissue and source movements can introduce significant deviations in the dose delivered to individual patients. Nonetheless, prostate edema has remained as one of the most unpredictable factors. This work is to develop and test a voxel‐based imaginganalysis approach for quantitative analysis and characterization of prostate edema for patient‐specific post‐implant dosimetry.Method and Materials: Post‐implant serial CTimaging was used to describe the 3D evolution of prostate edema. The CTimages were acquired at approximately 2‐hours, 1‐, 6‐, 11‐, 15‐, 30‐, and 42‐days after the source implantation. The Bioimage Suite software (www.bioimagesuite.org) was used to register and analyze the serial image datasets. Rigid image registrations were performed initially for each consecutive pairs of seven CT datasets so that the prostate in each image dataset was aligned in a common coordinate system. Deformable image registration was then performed for each pair of the re‐aligned consecutive images. The deformation matrices obtained for the consecutive image pairs were used for quantitative analysis of edema evolution characteristics on a voxel‐by‐voxel basis. Results: An imaginganalysis framework for post‐implant serial CTimages has been implemented. The application of this approach was illustrated using real patient datasets. The accuracy of image registration algorithms was tested using simulated datasets with known rigid‐body displacements and tissue deformations. Initial analysis of the deformation matrices obtained from the patient datasets showed that the implanted radioactive sources moved mostly with tissue with little relative migration during edema resolution and the edema resolution was anisotropic. Conclusions: A voxel‐based image registration and analysis approach has been developed for quantitative characterization of patient‐specific post‐implant edema evolution. The spatial correspondence established by the deformation matrices among the voxels sampled at different edema resolution stages would enable accurate calculation and proper summation of radiation doses delivered to each tumor sub‐volume in post‐implant dosimetry.
The Role of Serenoa repens in the Clinical Management of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Due to Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Abstract Context Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are almost universal in men aged >50 yr. As men become more symptomatic, they frequently want to take either supplements or medications to improve their condition or to prevent it from worsening. Objective To examine and to assess the efficacy and the role of Serenoa repens products in the clinical management of LUTS due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH; BPH/LUTS). Evidence acquisition Review was undertaken of all articles published on phytotherapies in the urologic literature from 1990 to the present. Evidence synthesis Only randomized trials were included in this analysis. Special attention was given to the three major meta-analyses on this topic, and the large randomized comparative and placebo-controlled trials were highlighted. Conclusions Serenoa repens products are a first-line intervention, usually patient initiated, in the management of BPH/LUTS. These products are generally considered very safe and have minimal side effects. The magnitude of their efficacy is still to be determined.
Compiling high-level languages for configurable computers: applying lessons from heterogeneous processing

Configurable systems offer increased performance by providing hardware that matches the computational structure of a problem. This hardware is currently programmed with CAD tools and explicit library calls. To attain widespread acceptance, configurable computing must become transparently accessible from high-level programming languages, but the changeable nature of the target hardware presents a major challenge to traditional compiler technology. A compiler for a configurable computer should optimize the use of functions embedded in hardware and schedule hardware reconfigurations. The hurdles to be overcome in achieving this capability are similar in some ways to those facing compilation for heterogeneous systems. For example, current traditional compilers have neither an interface to accept new primitive operators, nor a mechanism for applying optimizations to new operators. We are building a compiler for heterogeneous computing, called Scale, which replaces the traditional monolithic compiler architecture with a flexible framework. Scale has three main parts: translation director, compilation library, and a persistent store which holds our intermediate representation as well as other data structures. The translation director exploits the framework's flexibility by using architectural information to build a plan to direct each compilation. The translation library serves as a toolkit for use by the translation director. Our compiler intermediate representation, Score, facilities the addition of new IR nodes by distinguishing features used in defining nodes from properties on which transformations depend. In this paper, we present an overview of the scale architecture and its capabilities for dealing with heterogeneity, followed by a discussion of how those capabilities apply to problems in configurable computing. We then address aspects of configurable computing that are likely to require extensions to our approach and propose some extensions.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effect of enzymatic degradation on the mechanical properties of biological scaffold materials

Background Biological scaffolds must support a complex balance of resisting enzymatic degradation while promoting tissue remodeling. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of in vitro enzymatic exposure on the mechanical properties of biological scaffolds. It was hypothesized that exposure to an enzyme solution would result in decreased tensile strength and that crosslinked scaffolds would resist enzymatic degradation more effectively than noncrosslinked scaffolds.
DTPA-bisamide-Based MR Sensor Agents for Peroxidase Imaging

[reaction: see text] The synthesis and some properties of two novel DTPA-bisamides are reported. These derivatives were designed as enzyme-activated contrast agents (CA) for magnetic resonance imaging. Both derivatives bear tyramido or 5-hydroxytryptamido groups that could be oligomerized in situ in the presence of peroxidase/H(2)O(2) pair resulting in a net increase in longitudinal (R1) relaxivity.
A creative and insightful cognitive neuroscience approach for understanding the effects of contemplative training on pleasure and the “gossip of the ego”

In “Meditation-induced bliss viewed as release from conditioned neural (thought) patterns that block reward signals in the brain pleasure center,” Sharp provides an innovative framework for underst...
Protein analysis of HLA-DR2.3 haplotype

Abstract The human major histocompatibility antigens (HLA-DR, HLA-DQ, and HLA-DP), consisting of α and β chains, show extensive polymorphism. Based on differences of T-cell responses, the serologically defined DR2 specificity has been divided into Dw2, Dw12, and several putative additional “Dw subtype” specificities (AZH, FJO, and MN2, which we shall designate as “DR2.3”, and LD-5a). To investigate the relationships of these specificities. DR and DQ molecules were analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE). The 2D-PAGE patterns of the DR molecules are identical among DR2.3 cells. Three DR β chain polypeptides are expressed on DR2.3 cells. The electrophoretic mobilities of two of these β chains are different from those of β chains from the Dw2 and Dw12 cells. The DR molecules of the LD-5a cells show similar 2D-PAGE patterns with those of DR2.3 cells. The 2D-PAGE patterns of DQ molecules are identical among DR2.3 cells. The electrophoretic mobilities of DQ β chains are different for Dw2, Dw12, LD-5a, and DR2.3 cells. These results indicate that the AZH, FJO, and MN2 cells have identical or very similar DR and DQ molecules and constitute a third, and relatively homogeneous, subgroup (“DR2.3”) of the DR2 specificity. In addition, DR2.3 cells have a unique characteristic in that they express three DR β chains.
A Generalization of Hamilton’s Rule for the Evolution of Microbial Cooperation

Hamilton's rule states that cooperation will evolve if the fitness cost to actors is less than the benefit to recipients multiplied by their genetic relatedness. This rule makes many simplifying assumptions, however, and does not accurately describe social evolution in organisms such as microbes where selection is both strong and nonadditive. We derived a generalization of Hamilton's rule and measured its parameters in Myxococcus xanthus bacteria. Nonadditivity made cooperative sporulation remarkably resistant to exploitation by cheater strains. Selection was driven by higher-order moments of population structure, not relatedness. These results provide an empirically testable cooperation principle applicable to both microbes and multicellular organisms and show how nonlinear interactions among cells insulate bacteria against cheaters.
Structural aspects of the magnetic and melting transitions in bilayer molecular oxygen on graphite

Abstract X-ray diffraction measurements are presented for bilayer oxygen adsorbed on the basal planes of exfoliated graphite. High resolution synchrotron data on the ζ to η and melting transitions suggests a model of two incommensurate-successive layers for the ζ and η phases. Lower resolution diffraction studies of the low temperature ϵ phase confirm the Nielsen-McTague model for the structure. However, our results indicate that the ϵ−ζ transition, which is presumably magnetic in origin, is first rather than second order.
Synthesis of Surface-Anchored DNA−Polymer Bioconjugates Using Reversible Addition−Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization

We report here an approach to grafting DNA−polymer bioconjugates on a planar solid support using reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. In particular, a trithiocarbonate compound as the RAFT chain transfer agent (CTA) is attached to the distal point of a surface-immobilized oligonucleotide. Initiation of RAFT polymerization leads to controlled growth of polymers atop DNA molecules on the surface. Growth kinetics of poly(monomethoxy-capped oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate) atop DNA molecules is investigated by monitoring the change of polymer film thickness as a function of reaction time. The reaction conditions, including the polymerization temperature, the initiator concentration, the CTA surface density, and the selection of monomers, are varied to examine their impacts on the grafting efficiency of DNA−polymer conjugates. Comparing to polymer growth atop small molecules, the experimental results suggest that DNA molecules significantly accelerate polymer growth, whic...
Three-dimensional patterning of porous materials using vapor phase polymerization

The ability to pattern porous materials with functional polymeric coatings is important for the fabrication of next-generation microfluidic platforms, membranes, tissue scaffolds, and optical devices. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that solventless initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) can be used for three-dimensional patterning of porous substrates. The individual fibers of hydrophilic chromatography paper were uniformly coated with a thin layer of hydrophobic photoresponsive poly(o-nitrobenzyl methacrylate) (PoNBMA). X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy and contact angle measurements confirmed that the PoNBMA coating penetrated the entire depth of the paper and scanning electron microscope images confirmed that the porosity and hierarchical structure of the paper were retained during the coating process. The PoNBMA coating was then patterned through the entire depth of the paper by exposure to ultraviolet light followed by rinsing in biologically compatible buffer. We demonstrated the utility of our patterning process by fabricating three-dimensional hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions into the chromatography paper for use as paper-based microfluidic devices. Our patterning process represents an environmentally friendly method to pattern three-dimensional materials since no organic solvents are used during the polymerization process or patterning step.
Controlling the actuation of therapeutic nanomaterials: enabling nanoparticle-mediated drug delivery

The implementation of biofunctionalized nanoparticles (NPs) as potential therapeutic materials has seen exponential growth in recent years due to their unique ability to overcome the constraints of current medicine. This has been largely driven by significant advances on a number of basic research fronts including high-quality NP synthesis, bioconjugation, cellular delivery and the controlled release or ‘actuation’ of NP-associated cargos. Cumulatively, these are the key enabling tools for the full realization of NP-mediated drug delivery. In this review, the authors’ focus is on recent developments in methodologies for the controlled actuation of therapeutic NPs. The authors discuss the critical requirements for their integration into biological systems and highlight examples from the recent literature where controlled NP actuation has been successfully demonstrated. The current state of therapeutic NPs in the clinical setting is summarized and the article concludes with a brief perspective of how we can...
Induction of fetal rat enterokinase (enteropeptidase EC. 3.4.21.9) in utero by hydrocortisone and actinomycin D.

Induction of Fetal Rat Enterokinase (Enteropeptidase EC. 3.4.21.9) in Utero by Hydrocortisone and Actinomycin D
Infants recognize similar goals across dissimilar actions involving object manipulation

We investigated infants' ability to recognize the similarity between observed and implied goals when actions differed in surface-level motion details. In two experiments, 10- to 12-month-olds were habituated to an actor manipulating an object and then shown test actions in which the actor contacted the object with a novel hand configuration that implied a goal either similar or dissimilar to the habituation event. Infants in both experiments looked significantly longer at test actions depicting a novel implied goal, suggesting that infants glossed over some surface-level motion details and compared implied goals.
Magneto-optical and structural properties of nanocrystalline MnBi-based films

Abstract In this paper we discuss recent research on MnBi and MnBiX films where X denotes alloying elements whose purpose is to modify the properties of the parent compound in beneficial ways. While MnBi has a large Kerr response, large uniaxial anisotropy and can be grown in thin-film form with its easy axis normal to the film plane, it also has large grain sizes and a high-temperature structural instability near the Curie point, both of which are detrimental to magneto-optic recording applications. We report systematic studies of Al doping which show that it does not enhance the Kerr response nor eliminate the high temperature structural instability. Al does, however, promote small grain sizes which are required for a low noise magneto-optical recording medium. Preliminary results are reported on sputtered samples with a number of other dopants, and some of these have promising properties.
Reserve zone determination based on statistical clustering methods

Due to contingencies, uncertainties, and congestion both the amount and the location of operating reserve (spinning and non-spinning) are essential to ensure system reliability and market efficiency. Today's reserve zone determination methods are mainly based on ad-hoc rules, such as utilities ownership, geographical boundaries, or key transmission lines. Thus, there is a need for more systematic, theoretical ways to determine reserve zones. The mathematical representation of reserves within day-ahead unit commitment models does not account for congestion, which is why reserve zones are important: to ensure the deliverability of reserve. Even with reserve zones, reserves within a zone are assumed to have no deliverability problem, i.e., it is assumed that congestion will not prevent reserve to be delivered where needed within that zone. With the advent of variable renewable resources and other causes of uncertainty (load, electric vehicles), there is a need to improve the determination of reserve zones in order to ensure a reliable system. Statistical clustering techniques are employed to determine the reserve zones based on the power transfer distribution factors (PTDF) and electrical distances (ED).
High-resolution CCD spectra of stars in globular clusters. I - Oxygen in M13

High-resolution (0.3 A) CCD spectra obtained at the 200 in. coude spectrograph have been analyzed for the abundances of O, Sc, Fe, and La in four stars in the globular cluster M13. Fe/H abundance is found to be = -1.6, as found by many other observers of this cluster. For three stars O/Fe abundance is found to be = +0.3 + or - 0.1, which is similar to O/Fe ratios in other globular clusters and metal-poor field stars. For star II-67, no oxygen line is visible at 6300 A and O/Fe abundance is found to be not greater than -0.4 (for a high carbon content) and not greater than -0.7 (for a low carbon content). The latter is more likely to be correct. Two possible explanations of the oxygen deficiency in II-67 are discussed: primordial deficiency, and CNO cycling at or above a temperature of 25,000,000 K.
Accretion disk models for QSOs and active galactic nuclei - The role of magnetic viscosity

The inner regions of standard accretion disk models are known to be thermally unstable, and when scaled to quasar black hole masses, optically thin. Alternative accretion disk models are constructed under the assumption of a purely magnetic viscosity in the limiting cases of equipartition of gas and magnetic pressures and global flux conservation. The inner regions of these models are considerably denser than the standard model and therefore remain optically thick in all regions. The equipartition model is thermally stable throughout, while flux conservation leads to a localized thermal instability at the gas pressure/radiation pressure boundary and marginal stability as the radial distance approaches zero. The outer regions of quasar scaled accretion disks are strongly self-gravitating, leading to a vertical scale height which is smaller than that found in the inner region. Most of the outer region is gravitationally unstable, implying that the outer parts of galactic nuclei accretion disks are populated by dense self-gravitating gas clouds or possibly by stars.
Diagnostic value of telomerase expression in breast fine-needle aspiration biopsies.

Fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of breast is a minimally invasive sampling procedure with a proven value in the initial evaluation of patients with palpable breast lesions. FNAB is a simple, cost-effective, and relatively nontraumatic procedure that has replaced open surgical biopsy in majority of academic institutions across the world. There are, however, inherent limitations in the ability of FNAB to reliably diagnose small percentage of cases that are difficult to diagnose by cytomorphology alone and require excisional biopsy. This shortcoming may be minimized if the morphology can be complemented by a reliable diagnostic adjunct. This retrospective study was designed to assess the added value of telomerase immunostain in interpretation of breast FNABs. Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein enzyme that has been shown to be activated in different malignant tumors, including breast cancer. Immunocytochemical detection of this molecular marker on cytologic smears and cellblocks may be helpful for interpretation of FNAB specimens. In our retrospective study, we found that 56% of the malignant breast cases (28/50) showed positive telomerase immunostaining while only 4% of the negative cases (2/50) stained with telomerase (positive predictive value: 93%, negative predictive value: 69%). Expression of telomerase on highly suspicious breast fine-needle aspirations may upgrade the diagnosis to malignancy. However, a negative telomerase cannot exclude the possibility of carcinoma. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2007;35:653-655. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Relations between Anxiety Sensitivity and Anxiety Control in the Prediction of Anxiety Symptoms among Children and Adolescents

The present study investigated the relations between youth anxiety sensitivity and perceived anxiety control over Internal Reactions and perceived anxiety control over External Threats within the context of a (partially) mediated model in the prediction of anxiety symptoms. Youth sex also was investigated as a moderator of the conceptual model. The sample consisted of 333 children and adolescents (51.4% boys; M = 10.27 years old) referred to a youth anxiety disorders specialty research clinic. Findings showed that high anxiety sensitivity predicted high levels of anxiety symptoms for both boys and girls. Findings also showed that for both boys and girls, high anxiety sensitivity predicted low perceived anxiety control over Internal Reactions, as well as low perceived anxiety control over External Threats. Interestingly, perceived anxiety control over Internal Reactions was a partial mediator of the relation between anxiety sensitivity and anxiety for boys, but not girls. In contrast, perceived anxiety control over External Threats was a partial mediator of the relation between anxiety sensitivity and anxiety for girls, but not boys. The results are discussed within the context of the study's conceptual model as well as potential clinical implications.
A Comparative Organizational Analysis of Prisonization

This research, based upon an analysis of data obtained from separate studies of three institutions for male offenders, treats variations in the impact of confinement as problematic and develops a m...
Follicle regulatory protein: A novel marker for granulosa cell cancer patients

Follicle regulatory protein (FRP) is secreted by the granulosa cell of the ovary and plays a role in modulating follicle development. A dual epitope immunoassay using two murine monoclonal antibodies, isotype IgG1 (raised against porcine FRP), in tandem was developed to measure FRP in serum. The levels of FRP in the serum of women with granulosa cell tumors, normal, menstruating women, and postmenopausal women were determined. The levels of FRP were elevated in the serum of 79% of the women with granulosa cell tumors compared to the normal controls. FRP levels in serial samples from women with granulosa cell tumors generally correlated with the clinical course of the disease. Thus, FRP may provide a useful marker for granulosa cell tumors.
Scaling of postcranial joint size in hominoid primates

The scaling of sixteen articular dimensions in the locomotor skeleton of hominoid primates is examined with special reference to a recently proposed model of geometric similarity. Seven species are included in the analysis (gorillas, common chimpanzees, bonobos, orang-utans, siamang, lar gibbons, and modern humans of European descent); all specimens are adult individuals of known body mass (N=87). No significant sexual dimorphism in the scaling of joint size was observed. Overal results are compatible with the biomechanical model predictions of isometry, and lend additional support to the suggestion that joint stresses are of the same order of magnitude in animals differing vastly in body size and locomotor adaptations. The hindlimb and lumbosacral joints of humans, however, are consistently much larger than expected for their body mass. Full-time bipedality obviously precludes the sharing of weight support and propulsion with the forelimbs, and this fundamental difference is accurately reflected in the relative joint size of humans.
Ischemic preconditioning at a remote site prevents acute kidney injury in patients following cardiac surgery

Acute kidney injury, a common complication of cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Ischemic preconditioning at a remote site mitigates ischemia–reperfusion injury and may prevent acute kidney injury after cardiac surgery, thus providing clinical benefit. To further study this, we enrolled 120 adult patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery for whom cardiopulmonary bypass was anticipated in a randomized, single-blind, and controlled pilot trial. Patients were stratified for the type of surgery and equally assigned to a control group or to receive remote ischemic preconditioning by an automated thigh tourniquet consisting of three 5-min intervals of lower extremity ischemia separated by 5-min intervals of reperfusion. The primary end point was acute kidney injury defined as an elevation of serum creatinine of ≥0.3mg/dl or ≥50% within 48h after surgery. Fifty-nine patients in each group were analyzed on an intention-to-treat basis. Acute kidney injury occurred in 12 remote ischemic preconditioned and 28 control patients, reflecting an absolute risk reduction of 0.27 and a significantly reduced relative risk due to preconditioning of 0.43. Hence, remote ischemic preconditioning prevents acute kidney injury in patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass-assisted cardiac surgery.
XASH1, a Xenopus homolog of achaete-scute: a proneural gene in anterior regions of the vertebrate CNS

The pro-neural achaete-scute complex (ASC) of Drosophila encodes four homologous proteins, each containing a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) domain, characteristic of a large family of transcription factors. We have isolated XASH1 , a Xenopus homolog of achaete-scute . The XASH1 protein is very similar to the ASC proteins of Drosophila and the rat homolog, MASH1 XASH1 is expressed in the embryonic anterior central nervous system in a dynamic sequence, first in the midbrain, then in the forebrain, and then in the eye and hindbrain. In the larva, XASH1 expression correlates with regions of continued neurogenesis in the CNS, revealing the pattern of rhombomeres in the hindbrain, and other proliferative zones in the eye and midbrain. As a heterodimer with the bHLH protein E12, XASH1 binds specifically to an enhancer sequence derived from the promoter of the proneural achaete gene of Drosophila . This binding is inhibited by the extramacrochaete protein, a negative regulator of ASC gene function and neurogenesis in Drosophila . The combined evidence described in this paper strongly suggests that XASH1 plays a role in Xenopus neurogenesis similar to that played by the ASC genes in Drosophila .
Supporting Decisions in Real-Time Enterprises: Autonomic Supply Chain Systems

Supporting decisions in real time has been the subject of a number of research efforts. This paper reviews the technology and architecture necessary to create an autonomic supply chain for a real-time enterprise for supply chain systems. The technologies weaved together include knowledge-based event managers, intelligent agents, radio frequency identification, database and system integration, and enterprise resource planning systems.
Assessing Signaling Properties of Ectodermal Epithelia During Craniofacial Development

The accessibility of avian embryos has helped experimental embryologists understand the fates of cells during development and the role of tissue interactions that regulate patterning and morphogenesis of vertebrates (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4). Here, we illustrate a method that exploits this accessibility to test the signaling and patterning properties of ectodermal tissues during facial development. In these experiments, we create quail-chick 5 or mouse-chick 6 chimeras by transplanting the surface cephalic ectoderm that covers the upper jaw from quail or mouse onto either the same region or an ectopic region of chick embryos. The use of quail as donor tissue for transplantation into chicks was developed to take advantage of a nucleolar marker present in quail but not chick cells, thus allowing investigators to distinguish host and donor tissues 7. Similarly, a repetitive element is present in the mouse genome and is expressed ubiquitously, which allows us to distinguish host and donor tissues in mouse-chick chimeras 8. The use of mouse ectoderm as donor tissue will greatly extend our understanding of these tissue interactions, because this will allow us to test the signaling properties of ectoderm derived from various mutant embryos.
Natural selection among Eurasians at genomic regions associated with HIV-1 control

HIV susceptibility and pathogenicity exhibit both interindividual and intergroup variability. The etiology of intergroup variability is still poorly understood, and could be partly linked to genetic differences among racial/ethnic groups. These genetic differences may be traceable to different regimes of natural selection in the 60,000 years since the human radiation out of Africa. Here, we examine population differentiation and haplotype patterns at several loci identified through genome-wide association studies on HIV-1 control, as determined by viral-load setpoint, in European and African-American populations. We use genome-wide data from the Human Genome Diversity Project, consisting of 53 world-wide populations, to compare measures of FST and relative extended haplotype homozygosity (REHH) at these candidate loci to the rest of the respective chromosome. We find that the Europe-Middle East and Europe-South Asia pairwise FST in the most strongly associated region are elevated compared to most pairwise comparisons with the sub-Saharan African group, which exhibit very low FST. We also find genetic signatures of recent positive selection (higher REHH) at these associated regions among all groups except for sub-Saharan Africans and Native Americans. This pattern is consistent with one in which genetic differentiation, possibly due to diversifying/positive selection, occurred at these loci among Eurasians. These findings are concordant with those from earlier studies suggesting recent evolutionary change at immunity-related genomic regions among Europeans, and shed light on the potential genetic and evolutionary origin of population differences in HIV-1 control.
Ionizing Radiation Stimulates Existing Signal Transduction Pathways Involving the Activation of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and Erbb-3, and Changes of Intracellular Calcium in A431 Human Squamous Carcinoma Cells

Previous studies demonstrated that ionizing radiation activates the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), as measured by Tyr autophosphorylation, and induces transient increases in cytosolic free [Ca2+], [Ca2+]f. The mechanistic linkage between these events has been investigated in A431 squamous carcinoma cells with the EGFR Tyr kinase inhibitor, AG1478. EGFR autophosphorylation induced by radiation at doses of 0.5-5 Gy or EGF concentrations of 1-10 ng/ml is inhibited by >75% at 100 nM AG1478. Activation of EGFR enhances IP3 production as a result of phospholipase C (PLC) activation. At the doses used, radiation stimulates Tyr phosphorylation of both, PLCgamma and erbB-3, and also mediates the association between erbB-3 and PLCgamma not previously described. The increased erbB-3 Tyr phosphorylation is to a significant extent due to transactivation by EGFR as >70% of radiation- and EGF-induced erbB-3 Tyr phosphorylation is inhibited by AG 1478. The radiation-induced changes in [Ca2+]f are dependent upon EGFR, erbB-3 and PLCgamma activation since radiation stimulated IP3 formation and Ca2+ oscillations are inhibited by AG1478, the PLCgamma inhibitor U73122 or neutralizing antibody against an extracellular epitope of erbB-3. These results demonstrate that radiation induces qualitatively and quantitatively similar responses to EGF in stimulation of the plasma membrane-associated receptor Tyr kinases and immediate downstream effectors, such as PLCgamma and Ca2+.
Redox behavior of aromatic tridentate imine ligand complexes of manganese and chromium

Abstract The voltammetric behavior of bis complexes of 2, 6-bis(2-pyridyl)pyridine (terpyridine) and 2, 6-bis(2-pyridyl)-4-phenylpyridine (terosine) with manganese(II) and chromium(III) have been studied in acetonitrile using D.C. and A.C. polarography and cyclic voltammetry. The bis complexes of chromium(III) each undergo four one-electron reductions to the +2, +1, 0 and −1 formal oxidation states, respectively. The divalent manganese complexes each are reduced in two steps to the +1 and zero formal oxidation states and also each exhibit a one-electron oxidation to Mn(L) 2 3+ . Spectroscopic and magnetic data are also given.
Compound availability measures

An availability measure is the probability that a two-state system modeled by an alternating renewal process is available at one or more points or intervals. The concept of availability measures is extended to formulae for the joint prediction of availability and numbers of breakdowns (or repairs) of the system during a fixed interval.
Magnetic field effects on calcium efflux and insulin secretion in isolated rabbit islets of Langerhans.

Rabbit islets of Langerhans were exposed at 37 °C for 18 h to a low-frequency-pulsed magnetic field, generated in paired Helmholtz coils. Exposed islets showed a reduction of 26.1 ± 4.3% in 45Ca2+ content (P < .004). a reduction of 25.1 ± 6.3% in 45Ca2+ efflux (P < .006), and a reduction of 35.0 ± 8.7% (P < .002) in insulin released during glucose stimulation when compared with appropriate controls.
Plasma levels and analgesia following deltoid and gluteal injections of methadone and morphine.

The objective was to determine whether deltoid as compared to gluteal injection of morphine and methadone produce differential plasma levels and analgesic effects. Thirty-two postoperative cancer patients received deltoid and gluteal injections of morphine, 8 and 16 mg, within a double-blind, twin crossover design. Forty-four patients received deltoid or gluteal methadone, 10 mg. Deltoid morphine resulted in peak plasma levels 1.8 times (P less than 0.05) those observed following gluteal morphine. Deltoid methadone resulted in peak levels 2.5 times (P less than 0.005) those following gluteal injection. Deltoid morphine resulted in an area under the drug level-time (0 to 4 hours) curve 1.4 times (N.S.) the area observed following gluteal injection. Deltoid methadone resulted in an area under the drug level-time (0 to 4 hours) curve 2.2 times (P less 0.001) the area observed following gluteal injection. Deltoid methadone, but not morphine, provided greater (1.7-fold, P less than 0.05) pain relief than gluteal injection. If more rapid and enhanced analgesia is indicated, then the deltoid site may be preferable over the gluteal site for standard doses of methadone and other lipid soluble analgesics. In addition, the relative potency of compounds of widely differing lipid solubility may depend upon the site of intramuscular injection.
High-resolution structure of an extended A-tract: [d(CGCAAATTTGCG)]2.

The crystal structure of [d(CGCAAATTTGCG)]2 has been determined to 1.5 A resolution, representing the first high-resolution structure of this DNA fragment. The ion interactions are novel. A spermin...
The Price Is Right...or is it? Demographic and category effects on consumer price knowledge

For over a quarter of a century, the television game show The Price Is Right has been testing American consumers’ knowledge of prices for a wide array of products. The settings of this highly popular game show allow for a broad examination of the extent of price knowledge consumers possess across product categories. Much of our current perspective on consumer price knowledge has been limited by a restricted choice of product categories studied, and a lack of significant respondent incentives for providing accurate price responses. Using data from hundreds of contestants, highly motivated to provide accurate price estimates, this paper studies the impact of product‐ and consumer‐related factors on consumer price knowledge across 29 product categories.
Phase transition on Mo(100) and W(100) surfaces

Low-energy-electron-diffraction studies of carefully cleaned and annealed surfaces of molybdenum (100) and tungsten (100) show that a phase transition can be induced by lowering the temperature below 300 K. The periodicity of the "reconstructed" surface is believed to be due to the formation of a displacement wave with a wavelength which is $2a$ ($a$ is the lattice parameter) for W(100) and $\ensuremath{\sim}2.2a$ for Mo(100). The phase transition is reversible and seemingly second order. It appears possible that displacements of this type also occur in chemisorption on these surfaces.
Community structure of near-surface zooplankton in the northern California Current in relation to oceanographic conditions

We analyzed how near-surface zooplankton are distributed in the northern California Current, not only in space and time but also with reference to species assemblages, habitat characteristics, and environmental factors. The community structure, spatial distribution patterns, and environmental associations of near-surface zooplankton from June and August 2000 GLOBEC cruises were examined. Crab megalopae, hyperiid amphipods, euphausiids, and chaetognaths dominated the near-surface zooplankton community during both cruises. A geostatistical approach was used to determine that near-surface zooplankton concentrations differed spatially and quantitatively between June and August. Near-surface zooplankton concentration was spatially patchy during June, with the highest levels occurring nearshore in various locations throughout the study region. In August, zooplankton concentration was more uniformly distributed; however, higher concentrations were observed north of Cape Blanco. During June, zooplankton species richness was spatially patchy, whereas in August, species richness was more uniformly distributed throughout the study area. Highest values were observed during June in localized areas along the coast, with lowest values observed further offshore near the shelf break at 200 m. During August, species richness was highest nearshore south of Cape Blanco; yet in the north, higher values extended across the shelf and further offshore. To explore patterns in community structure, we applied cluster analysis, indicator species analysis, and nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMS) ordination to both data sets. Cluster analyses differentiated taxa by inshore and offshore location in the first division and by latitude in the second division. Results from NMS confirmed the cross-shelf zonation of near-surface zooplankton, with sea-surface temperature the most consistent environmental parameter explaining the distributions. An offshore assemblage of zooplankton was entrained in an eddy and transported onto the shelf in August.
Blunt laryngeal trauma associated with shoulder harness use

A case of blunt laryngeal trauma secondary to use of a shoulder harness is presented. The patient, restrained with a lap and shoulder belt, was the occupant of an automobile involved in a rear-end collision. She presented with left anterior neck pain and two hours later developed hoarseness and hemoptysis. A laryngeal laceration, identified by laryngoscopy, was surgically repaired after tracheostomy. The patient had an uncomplicated hospital course and uneventful recovery.
The ferromagnetic to paramagnetic phase transition of Fe studied by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

Valence band x-ray photoelectron spectra from Fe(100) have been measured as a function of temperature to above the Curie temperature, Tc. The room temperature data can be reconciled with the theoretical one-particle density of states (DOS). At T = 1.034Tc, the data do not resemble the paramgnetic DOS of Fe as calculated in the disordered-local-moment limit.
Incidence and relevance of secondary chromosome abnormalities in childhood TEL / AML1 + acute lymphoblastic leukemia: an interphase FISH analysis

The aim of the present study was to determine the frequency and clinical relevance of the most common secondary karyotype abnormalities in TEL/AML1+ B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) as assessed with fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses. Screening of 372 patients who were enrolled in two consecutive Austrian childhood ALL multicenter trials identified 94 (25%) TEL/AML1+ cases. TEL deletions, trisomy 21 and an additional der(21)t(12;21) were detected in 52 (55%), 13 (14%) and 14 (15%) TEL/AML1+ patients, respectively. The 12p aberrations (P=0.001) and near tetraploidy (P=0.045) were more common in TEL/AML1+ patients, whereas the incidence of diploidy, pseudodiploidy, hypodiploidy, low hyperdiploidy, near triploidy, del(6q), chromosome 9 and 11q23 abnormalities was similar among TEL/AML1+ and TEL/AML1- patients. None of the TEL/AML1+ patients had a high hyperdiploid karyotype. Univariate analysis indicated that among TEL/AML1+ patients those with a deletion of the nontranslocated TEL allele had a worse prognosis than those without this abnormality (P=0.034). We concluded that the type and incidence of the most common secondary aberrations in TEL/AML1+ ALL can be conveniently identified with little additional effort during interphase screening with appropriate TEL and AML1 FISH probes. We also provided preliminary evidence that the deletion of the nontranslocated TEL allele may adversely influence the clinical course of TEL/AML1+ ALL.
1,25-(OH)2-Vitamin D3 Suppresses the Bone-Related Runx2/Cbfa1 Gene Promoter

The steroid hormone 1,25-(OH)2-vitamin D3 (VD3) regulates osteoblast differentiation by either activating or repressing transcription of numerous bone phenotypic genes. We addressed whether VD3 also influences osteogenesis by controlling activity of the runt-related transcription factor Runx2/Cbfa1, a key regulator of bone formation in vivo. Our data showed that expression of Runx2 was downregulated by VD3 within 24 h in MC3T3 and ROS 17/2.8, but not in ROS 24.1 cells, which lack a functional vitamin D receptor (VDR). Transient transfection assays showed that the initial 0.6 kb of the bone-related rat and mouse Runx2 promoters both exhibited a 50% reduction of promoter activity in response to VD3 in osteoblastic cells. Furthermore, VD3 inhibited Runx2 transcription in ROS 24.1 cells only upon forced expression of the VDR. Gel mobility shift assays with antibodies and oligonucleotide competition experiments demonstrated that proximal promoter sequences (-92 to -16) contain a functional VD3-responsive element (VDRE) that binds a VDR/retinoid X receptor heterodimer. Mutation of this VDRE completely abolished responsiveness of the Runx2 promoter to VD3 treatment. Together these studies establish that Runx2 expression is regulated by VD3. This VD3-mediated suppression of Runx2 activity provides regulatory coupling between tissue-specific and steroid hormone-dependent control of genes during bone formation.
The morbidity associated with fifty maxillary fractures treated by closed reduction

Fifty patients with maxillary fractures treated by closed reduction over an 85 month period at a Level I trauma center were reviewed. Thirty patients (60%) experienced forty-one midfacial complications. The most frequent problems were infraorbital nerve paresthesia (12), enophthalmus (5), septal deviation (3), and altered vision (3). No relationship could be established between complications and age, sex, cause of injury, or the method of suspension used. Most complications were related to concomitant injury or the concurrent management of fractures of other facial bones. Only eight problems (16%) were directly attributed to the closed reduction of maxillary fractures. Patients treated by closed reduction and maxillomandibular fixation without suspension experienced no surgical complications.
Toxicokinetics and effects of fibrous and nonfibrous particles.

Chronic inhalation of fibrous and nonfibrous particles by rats at high concentrations results in lung tumor formation if the particles are poorly soluble in the lung. Even rather benign nonfibrous particles such as TiO 2 produce this result. One significant change during a chronic inhalation exposure of poorly soluble particles of low cytotoxicity (PSP) is an impairment of normal clearance mechanisms in the alveolar region of the lung in rats, resulting in a continued buildup to high lung burdens accompanied by chronic alveolar inflammation, fibrosis, and mutational events. Since these are obviously high-dose effects, questions about their extrapolation to humans exposed to much lower concentrations have been raised. Results of key studies reported for chronic inhalation of PSP in rats indicate that mechanisms of PSP-induced lung tumors at high doses do not operate at low dose levels. Furthermore, the existence of two thresholds can be postulated: One is a dosimetric threshold for the endpoint alveolar ma...
The sandia ion beam — A high heat flux testing facility*

The Sandia Ion Beam Test System is used to conduct high heat flux tests of full scale components for fusion experiments. Heat fluxes of more than 4 kW/cm2 have been achieved with a hydrogen ion beam. The ion beam 22 cm grid set provides an adjustable width Gaussian heat flux profile which can be focused to a full width at half maximum of 13 cm. Diagnostics include an imaging radiometer, two-color pyrometers, thermocouples, strain gauges, water calorimetry, as well as surface and metallographic analysis systems. A versatile sample cooling loop provides up to 32 l/s of water at pressures up to 6.9 MPa and temperatures up to 280 °C. The pH and oxygen content of the sample cooling water can also be controlled. A large target chamber allows targets of 1 m2 and can be separately vented for target exchange without reconditioning the ion beam grid set. An RF induction ion source allows precise beam power and perveance control for different target testing requirements. Computer control is employed through a CAMAC serial highway with a menu driven operator interface. High heat flux tests have been conducted for JET, DIII-D, and CIT. Results from these tests will be shown as examples of current high heat flux testing activities.
Offset error reduction using gate-bulk-driven error correction amplifier for low-voltage sub-bandgap reference

Presented is a gain-boosted gate-bulk-driven error correction amplifier with reduced offset errors for low-voltage sub-bandgap reference designs. The method can be applied to sub-bandgap circuits with BJT diodes, subthreshold MOSFETs or Schottky barrier diodes. Detailed analysis and circuit implementation are presented. Low voltage operation has been verified over - 55 to 125 °C. Simulation and measurement results demonstrate the minimised offset error and improved supply sensitivity, which indicates the effectiveness of the proposed gain boosting mechanism.
Cloud observations with a polarimetric 33 GHz and 95 GHz radar

The University of Massachusetts' Microwave Remote Sensing Laboratory (MIRSL) has developed a unique high spatial resolution multiparameter radar under sponsorship from the Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program. The Cloud Profiling Radar System (CPRS) uses a single one-meter diameter dielectric lens antenna to make collocated polarimetric and Doppler measurements at both 33 GHz and 95 GHz. The polarization of each transmitted pulse at either frequency can be selected on a pulse-to-pulse basis. The radar and supporting hardware are mounted on a truck that serves as a mobile laboratory. The truck-based platform permits CPRS to operate in remote locations and also serves as an economical means of transporting the system. This paper describes the CPRS hardware and presents preliminary vertically pointing observations of mixed-phase stratus clouds obtained in the summer of 1993 during the first field test of the system. Measurements show Mie scattering in the ice region, melting layer and rain region of the clouds observed. To illustrate CPRS potential for particle sizing, models of differential reflectivity and differential mean Doppler velocity are used to estimate median volume diameter,D 0, from dual-wavelength reflectivity and Doppler measurments of rain.