cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Study design in obesity epidemiology research

Abstract Obesity is a condition that arises from multiple factors and results in multiple consequences. A useful model for framing the spectrum of obesity epidemiology research can be found in Kim and Popkin (2006). In this multilevel framework, overweight and obese lie in the middle as the product of many different potential causes and as a cause of many different potential health consequences. Designing research that accurately characterizes the nature of this extremely complex and chronic yet dynamic condition can be a challenging task. This chapter serves as an overview of the major research methods encountered in obesity research and common problems that researchers must be aware of in study design and interpretation.
Impact of hysteroscopy on course of disease in high-risk endometrial carcinoma.

Objective Previous studies have investigated the impact of preoperative hysteroscopy on the staging and survival of predominantly grade 1 endometrial cancers. We sought to evaluate the effect of hysteroscopy on the peritoneal spread of tumor cells and disease course in a large series of patients with high-risk endometrial cancer. Methods Patients who underwent hysterectomy for grade 3 endometrial carcinoma on final surgical pathology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN between January 2009 to June 2016 were included, noting hysteroscopy within 6 months from surgery. Intra-peritoneal disease was defined as any positive cytology OR adnexal invasion OR stage IV. The presence of intra-peritoneal disease OR peritoneal recurrence within 2 years from surgery was defined as peritoneal dissemination. Cox proportional hazards models were fit to evaluate associations between hysteroscopy exposure and progression within 5 years following surgery. Results Among 831 patients, 133 underwent hysteroscopy. There was no difference in age, body mass index, ASA ≥3, or serous histology between patients who did or did not undergo hysteroscopy. Advanced stage disease (III/IV) was less common among patients who underwent hysteroscopy (30.1% vs 43.8%, P=0.003). No difference was observed between those with vs without hysteroscopy in the rate of positive cytology (22.0% vs 29.7%, P=0.09), stage IV (16.5% vs 21.9%, P=0.16), intra-peritoneal disease (28.6% vs 36.1%, P=0.09), or peritoneal dissemination (30.8% vs 39.3%, P=0.06). On stratifying by stage, hysteroscopy did not increase the risk of progression (HR 1.06, 95% CI 0.59 to 1.92 for stage I/II; HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.62 to 1.48 for stage III/IV). Conclusion In this retrospective study of grade 3 endometrial cancer, we did not observe any significant association between pre-operative hysteroscopy and the incidence of positive cytology, peritoneal disease, peritoneal dissemination, or cancer progression.
Subtoxic dose of lithium cobalt oxide nanosheets impacts critical molecular pathways in trout gill epithelial cells

Increasing use of nanoscale lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) particles in nanotechnologies, including catalysis and energy storage, raises concerns over their release into the environment and subsequent biological impact. Here we study the impact of LCO nanosheets on trout gill epithelial cells – model cells for environmental exposures – by global transcriptomics using RNA-Seq. We identify molecular processes impacted by subtoxic and toxic nanoparticle (NP) doses as well as dissolved Li+ and Co2+ ions. We found that the ions, at concentrations released from the toxic NP dose, did not impact cell viability and downregulated the expression of few genes following 24 h exposure, which recovered to normal levels at 48 h. In contrast, the toxic NP dose upregulated the expression of over 1000 genes at each time point, indicating the intact NPs are responsible for perturbing gene expression and toxicity. Importantly, the subtoxic NP dose, despite having no impact on cell viability, upregulated the expression of over 500 genes at 24 h, and 150 genes at 48 h. Clustering analysis showed distinct gene expression profiles induced by the toxic and subtoxic NP doses, and functional enrichment identified pathways with distinct patterns of regulations. The impacted pathways fell into four main functional categories: metabolic and energy related processes, oxygen and hypoxia related processes, membrane binding and internalization processes, and developmental processes. Together, our observations indicate that LCO NP toxicity originates from the intact NP, not the dissolved ions, and even subtoxic NP dose impacts multiple pathways critical to the normal function of the cell.
What Is a Landscape

In this chapter, I expand and clarify my definition of a landscape as this definition has large consequences for understanding and improving the management of landscape for change. The first step in defining a landscape is defining the primary units of consideration: What and who are we including? Do we include all the individuals? Do we include every institution and every culture? What biotic and abiotic components must be included? What role should landscape history play? For role for technology? Only after we define what is included can we consider the size of a landscape and the period of time to consider when managing for landscape change.
Practicality and cost-effectiveness of using MRI compatible EEG system in the critical care setting

Abstract Background Continuous video-EEG (cvEEG) monitoring is a vastly utilized tool for monitoring critically ill patients in the intensive care unit. Our study investigates the clinical utility and cost-effectiveness of using MRI Compatible EEG electrode system for patients being monitored in the intensive care unit. Methods This retrospective study included 14 critically ill patients who underwent cvEEG between March 2019 to March 2020. They were classified into 2 subgroups: Group 1- ‘MRI-compatible EEG’ (mean age: 56.00 ± 19.99 years; M:F = 2:5; N = 7), Group 2 – ‘Conventional EEG’ (mean age: 49.14 ± 24.76 years; M:F = 4:3; N = 7). The EEG monitoring times as well as cost-effectiveness of cvEEG between the groups were compared using Mann-Whitney Test (p ≤ 0.05). We also compared the MRI quality between the groups using Chi-squared test (p ≤ 0.05). Results The EEG non-monitored time in Group 2 (7.62 ± 6.45 h) was significantly higher than Group 1 (2.71 ± 2.34 h)] (p = 0.025). The average daily cost for cvEEG in Group 1 ($2098.53 ± 493.58) and Group 2 ($2230.58 ± 142.73) was comparable (p = 0.896). The quality of MRI scans between Group 1 (6/7) and 2 (6/7) were also comparable (p = 1.000). Conclusions The monitoring time lost in patients with MRI Compatible EEG electrodes was significantly lower than the patients with Conventional EEG electrodes. The daily cost of monitoring and the quality of MRI scans were comparable between the 2 groups. We conclude that the use of MRI Compatible EEG electrodes is a practical and cost-effective method to improve the quality of monitoring in critically ill patients.
An Approach to Developing EEG-Based Person Authentication System

The need for a new authentication method such as biometrics becomes apparent as the data breaches on password-based authentication increase. However, current biometric forms of authentication become unusable once compromised. Additional limits are realized when an attacker coerces an authorized user into a forced authentication. To resolve both issues, we propose creating an authentication mechanism that depends on the user’s neurophysiological responses to chosen pieces of music (non-lyrical) measured using electroencephalographic (EEG) signals. This research paper provides a guide for creating and presenting a system that incorporates such idea for person classification and authentication. In a group study, the aim is that participant listen to individually selected music and music selected by other participants during an EEG reading. The change in the Alpha and Beta band frequencies across eight electrode EEG sensors serves as the input feature vector for a supervised machine learning algorithm that trains on the user and attacker EEG readings. Ultimately, the goal of the algorithm is to create a user-specific model to uniquely identify the respective user based on the corresponding EEG response to music and grant authentication. Our study lays a solid foundation for creating a promising EEG-based authentication system by solving the drawbacks of current biometric authentication methods.
Creating Effective Classrooms: Curriculum, Pedagogy and Course Materials

This chapter builds on a consideration of learning outcomes by raising a number of issues related to choosing course materials and considering pedagogical activities that help students work toward the chosen learning outcomes.
WHY MAKING MATTERS ONLINE: THE PINTEREST-DIY DATA SET

ABSTRACT The Do-It-Yourself (DIY) community is currently one of the largest creative content communities on Pinterest (Hall et al., 2018), a social networking service (SNS) that encourages users to both share information about creative processes and attempt projects in real life (IRL). Pinterest users share ongoing projects by creating Project “Pins”, which consist of images, videos, and text descriptions of creative content. And yet, while several studies have investigated user behavior in relation to everyday ideation and creativity on the site (Linder et al., 2014, Hu et al., 2018, Mull and Lee, 2014), little is known about the characteristics that lead users to prefer some DIY projects over others. Thus, this paper introduces the Pinterest-DIY data set, which consists of text data mined from 500 DIY project Pins on Pinterest. Using a custom sampling approach, we created a taxonomy of DIY characteristics related to each Pin’s project type, function, materials, and complexity. To measure user preferences on the site, we also conducted a sentiment analysis on user comments for each DIY project Pin. This paper introduces the data set and presents two use cases for the internet research community using both exploratory and confirmatory statistical methods. In our view, the Pinterest-DIY data set will provide further opportunities to examine whether, and to what degree, participation in online DIY communities promotes everyday creativity and increases engagement with physical matter.
London’s West End: Creating the Pleasure District, 1800–1914: By Rohan McWilliam. Pp. xiv + 369 + 19 illustrations. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2020. £30. ISBN 878-0-198-82341-4. Hardback.

In London’s West End, Rohan McWilliam tracks the networks of sophisticated business enterprises that created the West End as a cultural and business zone devoted to pleasure over the course of the ...
Proteins associated with the Arabidopsis thaliana plastid rhomboid-like protein RBL10

Rhomboid-like proteins are intramembrane proteases with a variety of regulatory roles in cells. Though many rhomboid-like proteins are predicted in plants, their detailed molecular mechanisms or cellular functions are not yet known. Of the 13 predicted rhomboids in Arabidopsis thaliana, one, RBL10, affects lipid metabolism in the chloroplast, because in the respective rbl10 mutant the transfer of phosphatidic acid through the inner envelope membrane is disrupted. Here we show that RBL10 is part of a high-molecular-weight complex of 250 kDa or greater in size. Nine likely components of this complex are identified by two independent methods and include Acyl Carrier Protein 4 (ACP4) and Carboxyltransferase Interactor1 (CTI1), which have known roles in chloroplast lipid metabolism. The acp4 mutant has decreased C16:3 fatty acid content of monogalactosyldiacylglycerol, similar to the rbl10 mutant, prompting us to offer a mechanistic model of how an interaction between ACP4 and RBL10 might affect chloroplast lipid assembly. We also demonstrate the presence of a seventh transmembrane domain in RBL10, refining the currently accepted topology of this protein. Taken together, the identity of possible RBL10 complex components as well as insights into RBL10 topology and distribution in the membrane provide a stepping-stone towards a deeper understanding of RBL10 function in Arabidopsis lipid metabolism.
Estrogenic effects of genistein on reproductive tissues of ovariectomized gilts.

The soybean phytoestrogen genistein has a range of estrogenic actions demonstrated in various species; however, only limited research has been done to investigate its effects in swine. The objective of this study was to characterize the effects of a graded dose of genistein on estrogen-sensitive uterine and cervical tissues in ovariectomized gilts. Thirty-four postpubertal gilts were ovariectomized and assigned randomly to 1 of 6 treatment groups 15 d postovariectomy. Treatment groups received vehicle, estradiol benzoate (2 mg/ d), or genistein (50, 100, 200, or 400 mg/d) via intramuscular injection at 12-h intervals for 10 d. Following the treatment period, gilts were euthanized, and uterine and cervical tissues were collected and processed for chemical or histological analysis. Uterine and cervical tissue mass, as indicated by wet, dry, and protein weights and total DNA content (expressed per 100 kg of BW), increased as the dosage of genistein increased (P < 0.001 for each regression). Uterine and cervical wet weights were increased by a dosage of 200 mg of genistein/d (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, respectively) but not by 100 mg of genistein/d (P = 0.38 and P = 0.14, respectively) compared with those of control gilts. Height of epithelial cells lining the uterine glands and the lumen of uterus and cervix increased when gilts were treated with estradiol benzoate or 400 mg of genistein/d (P < 0.01). When the gilts were treated with estradiol benzoate or 400 mg ofgenistein/d, immunohistochemical staining demonstrated an increase in the percentage of cells that stained positive for progesterone receptor in the uterine glands and in the cells lining the vaginal cervix (P < 0.05). In gilts treated with 400 mg of genistein/d, the percentage of cells stained positive for proliferating cell nuclear antigen increased in the epithelium of the uterine glands, uterine lumen, and vaginal cervix (P < 0.05). Tissue growth was stimulated by genistein in a dosage-dependent manner, although no dosage of genistein induced a response as great as that of estradiol benzoate. Estrogen-sensitive tissues of the ovariectomized gilt, such as the cervix and uterus, are affected by injection of large dosages of the phytoestrogen genistein. The sensitivity of the uterus of the gilt to estrogenic substances makes it a potential model to examine the impact of environmental endocrine modulators on reproductive tissues.
A hybrid framework for image segmentation using probabilistic integration of heterogeneous constraints

In this paper we present a new framework for image segmentation using probabilistic multinets. We apply this framework to integration of region-based and contour-based segmentation constraints. A graphical model is constructed to represent the relationship of the observed image pixels, the region labels and the underlying object contour. We then formulate the problem of image segmentation as the one of joint region-contour inference and learning in the graphical model. The joint inference problem is solved approximately in a band area around the estimated contour. Parameters of the model are learned on-line. The fully probabilistic nature of the model allows us to study the utility of different inference methods and schedules. Experimental results show that our new hybrid method outperforms methods that use homogeneous constraints.
P16/Ki-67 Immunostaining is Useful in Stratification of Atypical Metaplastic Epithelium of the Cervix.

Cervical metaplastic squamous epithelium exhibiting atypia insufficient for a diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) is usually reported as “atypical squamous metaplasia” (ASM). Stratification impacts treatment since the differential is often between reactive and high grade CIN (CIN II, III). Diagnosis with H&E is associated with low intra/interobserver concurrence. P16/Ki-67 immunostains are helpful to assess cervical biopsies for HPV-associated lesions but staining in metaplastic squamous epithelium has received little attention. This study aims to establish staining characteristics of metaplastic squamous epithelium and determine if p16/Ki-67 is useful in ASM stratification. 80 cervical biopsies containing morphologically normal and dysplastic squamous metaplasia were retrieved to determine the staining characteristics of metaplastic epithelium utilizing p16/Ki-67 immunostains. These included 21 benign squamous metaplasia (BSM) from benign cervices, 15 BSM present adjacent to HPV/CIN lesions, and 44 CIN involving squamous metaplasia. Serial sections with controls were stained for p16 and Ki-67 and in-situ hybridization (ISH) for low-risk (LR) and high-risk (HR) HPV was performed. P16 was recorded as negative, spotty, or band-like. Ki-67 was recorded as positive when present in >50% of lesional nuclei. Results were correlated with H&E diagnosis. 95% of the BSMs, whether from normal cervices or adjacent to HPV/CIN were p16/Ki-67 negative. 81% HG CINs involving squamous metaplasia were p16 band/Ki-67 positive. Low grade CIN (CIN I) involving metaplastic epithelium showed a broad distribution of p16/Ki-67 staining patterns. Based on these criteria, 20 ASM were evaluated. 10% of the ASM cases were p16 band/Ki-67 positive indicating HG CIN. 60% of the ASMs were p16/Ki-67 negative indicating reactive change (all with the exception of one case being HPV negative). The remaining 30% of the ASM cases showed variable positivity for p16 and Ki-67 and could not be stratified into the two categories. Thus p16/Ki-67 staining is helpful in stratification of ASM as reactive or CIN.
Intensity of Offending Following State Prison Release Among Persons Treated for Mental Health Problems While Incarcerated

Objective:This study examined a range of demographic, clinical, and criminal history factors as they relate to the intensity of offending for up to two years postrelease.Methods:This study drew on data from 1,438 individuals released from Massachusetts state prisons between 2007 and 2009 who, while incarcerated, received treatment from the prisons’ mental health services and were followed for 24 months postrelease. These data were used to explore predictive factors related to the intensity of criminal justice involvement, defined as number of arrests in the two-year follow-up period.Results:Predictors of subsequent arrests included number of previous incarcerations and black race. Protective factors included older age, supervision by parole, and a drug-related or person-related governing offense on previous arrest. Clinical symptoms were not related to incidence of postrelease arrests.Conclusions:This study identified factors related to criminal history, such as type of charge, that were associated with t...
A role for E2F1 in Ras activation of p21(WAF1/CIP1) transcription.

We recently reported that E2F1 could transactivate the p21 promoter via cis-acting elements between −119 to +16 bp of the p21 gene. Here we show that activated V12-H-Ras can induce the p21 promoter through the same region of the p21 promoter by a p53-independent mechanism in NIH3T3 cells. In contrast, activated Ras was not able to induce the p21 promoter in E2F1−/− fibroblasts, suggesting that E2F1 is required for induction of the p21 promoter by activated Ras. Cotransfection of increasing concentrations of dominant negative E2F1 alone, or with dominant negative DP1 into NIH3T3 cells suppressed induction of the p21 promoter by activated Ras. These data suggest that p53-independent induction of the p21 promoter by activated Ras is mediated at least in part by E2F1.
Abstract CN02-03: Targeted multiplexed DNA sequencing for biomarker discovery and clinical diagnosis.

Massively parallel sequencing technology has catalyzed the discovery of genetic alterations that drive tumor initiation and progression. Efforts to comprehensively characterize the genomes of the most common tumor types have revealed recurrent alterations, many of which may be suppressed by targeted therapies. Moreover, through retrospective analysis of clinically annotated tumor specimens, one can identify genomic biomarkers that correlate with outcomes and therapeutic response. Profiling multiple tumors from individual patients at different sites or time points can reveal factors that influence clonal evolution and the onset of drug resistance. Finally, the prospective analysis of tumors in clinical laboratories can meaningfully influence the routine diagnosis and treatment of cancer patients. This promises to improve treatment decisions and to pre-identify patients eligible for future clinical trials of targeted therapies. Clinical labs have traditionally relied upon low-throughput capillary DNA sequencing and multiplexed base-pair genotyping (e.g. Sequenom). Massively parallel sequencing offers several key advantages over conventional mutation profiling strategies: 1) many more genes can be interrogated simultaneously; 2) entire exons can be sequenced, rather than pre-specified mutational hotspots, enabling complete characterization of tumor suppressor genes where mutations tend to be scattered; 3) structural aberrations such as gene amplification, deletions, and rearrangements can be simultaneously monitored; and 4) mutations at low allelic frequencies in heterogeneous tumors are more readily detected with high sensitivity. For increasingly lower costs, one can interrogate all clinically relevant genes for mutations, copy number alterations, and structural rearrangements in formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tumor tissue. We have developed a multiplexed massively parallel sequencing assay utilizing solution-phase exon capture of >300 cancer associated genes, which we have deployed both retrospectively and prospectively to profile more than 1,000 patients in a research setting. I will describe examples in which our group has identified genomic biomarkers predictive of drug response and resistance in a variety of tumor types. Additionally, I will discuss our progress in adapting this platform for clinical sequencing, compliant with federal and New York state regulations. Finally, I will describe general challenges in the establishment of clinical sequencing workflows involving bioinformatics, scalability, clinical interpretation, reporting, regulatory compliance, reimbursement, and ethics. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):CN02-03. Citation Format: Michael F. Berger. Targeted multiplexed DNA sequencing for biomarker discovery and clinical diagnosis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2013 Oct 19-23; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):Abstract nr CN02-03.
A Plasma Survey Using 38 PfEMP1 Domains Reveals Frequent Recognition of the Plasmodium falciparum Antigen VAR2CSA among Young Tanzanian Children

PfEMP1 proteins comprise a family of variant antigens that appear on the surface of P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes and bind to multiple host receptors. Using a mammalian expression system and BioPlex technology, we developed an array of 24 protein constructs representing 38 PfEMP1 domains for high throughput analyses of receptor binding as well as total and functional antibody responses. We analyzed the reactivity of 561 plasma samples from 378 young Tanzanian children followed up to maximum 192 weeks of life in a longitudinal birth cohort. Surprisingly, reactivity to the DBL5 domain of VAR2CSA, a pregnancy malaria vaccine candidate, was most common, and the prevalence of reactivity was stable throughout early childhood. Reactivity to all other PfEMP1 constructs increased with age. Antibodies to the DBL2βC2(PF11_0521) domain, measured as plasma reactivity or plasma inhibition of ICAM1 binding, predicted reduced risk of hospitalization for severe or moderately severe malaria. These data suggest a role for VAR2CSA in childhood malaria and implicate DBL2βC2(PF11_0521) in protective immunity.
The balance between oligodendrocyte and astrocyte production in major white matter tracts is linearly related to serum total thyroxine.

Thyroid hormone (TH) may control the ratio of oligodendrocytes to astrocytes in white matter by acting on a common precursor of these two cell types. If so, then TH should produce an equal but opposite effect on the density of these two cells types across all TH levels. To test this, we induced graded TH insufficiency by treating pregnant rats with increasing doses of propylthiouracil. Propylthiouracil induced a dose-dependent decrease in serum T4 in postnatal d 15 pups, a dose-dependent decrease in the density of MAG-positive oligodendrocytes, and an equal increase in the density of glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive astrocytes in both the corpus callosum and anterior commissure. Linear regression analyses demonstrated a strong correlation between glial densities and serum T4; this correlation was positive for astrocytes and negative for oligodendrocytes. Surprisingly, oligodendrocyte density in the corpus callosum was more sensitive to changes in TH than in the anterior commissure, as indicated by...
Response to Intervention: Following Three Reading Recovery Children on Their Individual Paths to Becoming Literate

Research Findings: In the United States a shift has occurred in how children are identified for long-term special education services. Since 2004, U.S. funding for special education services has included a provision for early intervention services, focusing on the importance of providing supplemental instructional opportunities to students who are not successful in learning from the core classroom instruction. Commonly referred to as response to intervention, this model involves educators monitoring how well students respond to intervention instruction, with referral for special education services for those who make little progress. Practice or Policy: In this article, we propose that intervention instruction should be responsive to the learner as well as focus on how well the learner responds to the intervention. Given that contextual circumstances, including instructional experiences, impact the child's literacy achievement, providing intervention instruction that is contingent upon each child's literacy...
Robust network traffic estimation via sparsity and low rank

Accurate estimation of origin-to-destination (OD) traffic flows provides valuable input for network management tasks. However, lack of flow-level observations as well as intentional and unintentional anomalies pose major challenges toward achieving this goal. Leveraging the low intrinsic-dimensionality of OD flows and the sparse nature of anomalies, this paper proposes a convex program with nuclear-norm and l1-norm regularization terms to estimate the nominal and anomalous traffic components, using a small subset of (possibly anomalous) flow counts in addition to link counts. Analysis and simulations confirm that the said estimator can exactly recover sufficiently low-dimensional nominal traffic and sparse enough anomalies when the routing matrix is column-incoherent, and an adequate amount of flow counts are randomly sampled. The results offer valuable insights about the measurement types and network scenaria giving rise to accurate traffic estimation. Tests with real Internet data corroborate the effectiveness of the novel estimator.
Clycosaminoclycan-synthesizing activity of an isolated Golgi preparation from cultured mast cells

Summary A Golgi fraction has been prepared from a population of cultured neoplastic mast cells previously shown to manufacture the glycosaminoglycan chondroitin 4-sulfate. This Golgi fraction was identified by electron microscopy and was also shown to have high galactosyl transferase activity, in common with Golgi fractions from liver and other tissues. When incubated with appropriate sugar nucleotide precursors together with oligosaccharide acceptors, the mast cell Golgi fraction demonstrated a significant enrichment in chondroitin--synthesizing activity over the homogenate and other membrane fractions. A similar incubation with endogenous acceptors gave a somewhat lower enrichment, demonstrating a probable rate-limiting effect of these acceptors. Products of both reactions were identified by chondroitinase ABC digestion. These results now give direct evidence indicating that the Golgi apparatus is the primary site for chondroitin biosynthesis in this cell type.
Turnover of Brain Messenger RNA

RECENT advances in molecular biology have indicated the importance of messenger RNAs which enable the nucleotide sequence of a specific DNA region to be translated into a specific protein. In mammalian brain, as in liver, such RNA templates can be operationally defined by the presence of RNA strands which help to bind ribosomes into large functional aggregates, polysomes, and by their ability to direct the incorporation of amino-acids into proteins (refs. 1 and 2, and Appel, S. H., Scott, S., and Davis, W., in preparation). The fact that environmental stimuli can alter neuronal RNA raises the question of whether brain template RNAs are sufficiently stable to persist as permanent records of environmental changes.
Multiple Extractions of Hormone Receptors from Mixed Human Breast Tumors

AbstractMultiple extractions of hormone receptors from mixed human breast tumors revealed a considerable amount of ER and PgR activity remaining in the second and third cytosol fractions extracted by the same tris buffer system (TEDG, pH 7.4, containing 10 mM tris, 7.5 wM EDTA, 2.0 mM dithiothreitol, and 10% glycerol). The incomplete and inefficient extraction of tumors with tris buffer system after only one homogenization and centrifugation is a serious concern in efforts to achieve accurate determinations of receptor concentrations which permit the accurate prediction of hormone responsiveness of breast cancers.
Radiation force in nonlinear, focused beams

The effect of cumulative nonlinear distortions in a focused ultrasonic wave on the dissipative radiation force (RF) is analyzed using a simplified analytical model separating the stages of geometrical focusing and the subsequent diffraction in the focal area. It is shown that in the absence of shocks, nonlinear steepening can significantly amplify the RF as compared with a harmonic wave. Two different types of dissipation, one corresponding to a classical viscous fluid and another typical of many biological tissues, are considered.
Comments on Cushing's essay

Professor Cushing's essay, 'Models and Methodologies in Current Theoretical High-Energy Physics' ([3]), is an important addition to the growing literature on the history and philosophy of physics, especially because very little has been written regarding the philosophical prob lems encountered in this area of science. Cushing's account consists primarily of a summary of the history of the development of quantum field theory and S-matrix theory; at the end of the summary is a brief discussion of Lakatos' and Kuhn's schemes for assessing the relative value of these two scientific research programs. The chief merits of the Cushing study are its comprehensiveness and its succinct and insightful presentation of many key assumptions historically underlying the two research programs. (In Section 2 of his study, for example, Cushing discusses the presuppositions in Bohr's solution (1913) to, and Haas' work (1910) on, the quantification problem for the hydrogen atom.) The most interesting part of the essay is the last section (7); here Cushing considers a number of important methodological and epistemological issues as they apply to high-energy physics. Although there are numerous points worth discussing in this excellent article, I will confine my remarks to comments on three claims made by Cushing which bear on philosophical, as opposed to historical, issues. What I will call claim (1) is probably one of the essay's most important conclusions. It appears in Section 7, near the end of the discussion. Here Cushing says that "QFT [quantum field theory] must also be judged more progressive than SMT [S-matrix theory" (p. 75). Another important assertion, what I will call claim (2), is found in Section 3, and repeated later, where Cushing says: "Competing research programs are required only when one program must be abandoned for another (crisis) since scientists must have an alternative if they are to switch" (p. 43). What I will call claim (3) is found in Note 62, where Cushing states: "Shrader Frechette has not established a Kuhnian case for the iminent break down of the 'normal' field theory paradigm in which the basic fields
Soluble guanylate cyclase and neuronal nitric oxide synthase colocalize in rat nucleus tractus solitarii

Nitric oxide has been implicated in transmission of cardiovascular signals in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS). Pharmacological studies suggest that activation of neurons by nitric oxide in the NTS may involve soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC). However, anatomical data supporting this suggestion have not been available. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that neurons and fibers containing neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) lie in close proximity to those containing sGC and the two enzymes colocalize in some neurons and fibers in the NTS. We perfused six rats and obtained brain stem sections for double immunofluorescent staining utilizing antibodies selective for sGC and for nNOS combined with confocal microscopy. The distribution and staining intensity of nNOS-immunoreactivity (IR) was similar to our earlier reports. IR of sGC was present in cell bodies, proximal dendrites and fibers of many brain stem regions. Strong sGC-IR was noted in the hypoglossal, dorsal motor nucleus of vagus and gracilis nuclei. The NTS exhibited moderate sGC-IR. Superimposed images showed that many NTS neurons contained both nNOS-IR and sGC-IR. The percentage of sGC-IR positive cells that were also nNOS-IR positive differed among NTS subnuclei. Similarly, the percentage of nNOS-IR positive cells that were also sGC positive differed among NTS subnuclei. Fibers stained for both nNOS-IR and sGC-IR were also present in NTS subnuclei. In addition, we identified fibers that were stained for nNOS-IR or sGC-IR alone and often found such singly labeled fibers apposed to each other. These data support our hypothesis and provide anatomical support for the suggestion that nitroxidergic activation of the NTS involves sGC.
Biogas reforming for syngas production: The effect of methyl chloride

Abstract Biogas is a mixture of primarily methane and carbon dioxide produced from the anaerobic microbial digestion of biomass. A 4% Rh/Al 2 O 3 catalyst was investigated for its ability to reform biogas in the presence of a chloride impurity, specifically CH 3 Cl that is often found in biogas systems. The conditions tested included temperatures between 350 °C and 700 °C with CH 3 Cl concentrations between 0 and 200 ppm at atmospheric pressure and 1050 h −1 WHSV. It was determined that in the dry reforming reaction CH 3 Cl reacts with the alumina support to produce surface chloride which increases the surface acidity and reversibly poisons the reverse water–gas shift reaction. For example, with the addition of 50 ppm CH 3 Cl the H 2 /CO ratio increased by 40% at 350 °C and by 2% at 700 °C. All changes were reversible upon removal of CH 3 Cl from the feed. Furthermore, less surface chloride was observed using XPS at 700 °C compared to 400 °C, and the effect on selectivity decreased with CH 3 Cl concentrations less than 50 ppm. Therefore the degree of chloride poisoning is directly proportional to CH 3 Cl concentration and inversely proportional to temperature.
A pilot study of mifepristone and misoprostol administered at the same time for abortion up to 49 days gestation.

Abstract Hypothesis Simultaneous administration of mifepristone and misoprostol for medical abortion in women up to 49 days gestation will result in complete abortion in 90% of women within 24 h of treatment. Materials and Methods Forty women with pregnancies up to 49 days gestation inserted 800 μg vaginal misoprostol in our office immediately after taking mifepristone 200 mg orally. Follow-up visits, which included vaginal ultrasonography, occurred 24±1 h and 2 weeks after treatment. If a gestational sac was still present at the first follow-up visit, the misoprostol dose was repeated. Suction abortion was performed for a viable gestation at the second follow-up visit, presence of a nonviable gestation within 5 weeks of treatment and when clinically indicated. Results Expulsion occurred in 36/40 (90%, 95% CI 80–99) and 39/40 (98%, 95% CI 93–100) women by the first and second follow-up visits, respectively. One woman who had initially expelled the gestational sac after a single dose of misoprostol later required a suction curettage for an incomplete abortion. Conclusion Simultaneous administration of mifepristone and vaginal misoprostol is a promising regimen for medical abortion up to 49 days gestation.
Slenderness, Completions, and Duality for Primary Abelian Groups

Abstract If A is a fixed abelian group with endomorphism ring E , then for any group G , let G * = Hom( G , A ) and for any E -module M , let M * = Hom E ( M , A ). The evaluation map σ G : G → G ** is defined in the usual way and G is A -reflexive if σ G is an isomorphism. This is strongly related to the question of whether A is slender as an E -module, and we discuss the p -groups for which this holds. In some important cases, G ** can be viewed as the completion of G in a linear topology. It is known that if A = ⊕, n Z p n , and G is a p -group of non-measurable cardinality, then G ** can be identified with the completion of G in the ⊕ c -topology, and we provide a generalization of this result. We also show that for any group N of non-measurable cardinality there is a group G such that G **/σ G ( G ) ≅ N .
Molecular weight and degree of acetylation of high-intensity ultrasonicated chitosan

Abstract The influence of high-intensity ultrasonication on the molecular weight and degree of acetylation of chitosan was investigated. High-molecular weight shrimp chitosan was purified by alkaline precipitation and dialysis from aqueous solution. A 1% (w/v) chitosan in 1% (v/v) aqueous acetic acid was sonicated for 0, 0.5, 1, 5, 15, and 30 min at 25 °C at power levels of 16.5, 28.0 and 35.2 W cm−2. Degree of acetylation was determined by high-pressure liquid chromatography with photodiode array at 210 nm, monitoring acetyl groups released after complete hydrolysis and deacetylation of samples. Average molecular weight of ultrasonicated chitosan was determined by measurements of intrinsic viscosity of samples. The degree of acetylation of purified chitosan was 21.5%. Results indicated that neither power level nor sonication time altered the degree of deacetylation of chitosan molecules. Intrinsic viscosity of samples decreased exponentially with increasing sonication time. Rates of intrinsic viscosity decrease increased linearly with ultrasonic intensity. Results were analyzed in terms of molecular weight decreases. The Schmid polymer degradation model was used to analyze the molecular weight decay as a function of sonication time. A first order relationship for the dependence of the reaction rate on the ultrasonic intensity was suggested. Results of this study indicate that high-intensity ultrasonication can be utilized to reduce molecular weight of chitosan while maintaining the degree of acetylation.
Statistical procedures for relating dichotomous responses to maturation and EEG measurements

Abstract A statistical approach is given to the problem of determining whether the ability to walk unaided at the time of the one year examination is related to neonatal photic latency measurements. In the majority of groups established on the basis of conceptional ages, it was observed that neonates having long photic latencies contributed proportionately fewer free walking individuals at the one year examination, whereas the fast reactors at birth also exhibited a higher percentage of early walkers. The significance of this relationship is demonstrated. The statistical procedures given here apply equally well to other electrophysiological measurements as well as to other dichotomous responses for which the assumptions outlined here are satisfied.
Prediction of pressure drop in two‐phase single‐component fluid flow

In the design of piping systems for liquefied gases there are two areas in which the engineer is handicapped by the lack of adequate information. These are steady-state, two-phase, single-component fluid flow and transient fluid flow of the type which occurs during the cooldown of transfer systems. The objective of the investigation described here is to provide some of the information required for the solution of problems in the first area.
Multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock method and many-body perturbation theory: A unified approach.

The multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock theory and many-body perturbation theory are combined in a calculation of the correlation energy of the ground state of the neutral beryllium atom. For this purpose the two-component Be multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock wave function is treated as a reference state and perturbation theory is used to systematically improve upon the accuracy of this function. The correlation energy of each pair of occupied orbitals is determined by solving numerically a coupled set of two-particle inhomogeneous equations. A detailed comparison is made with other beryllium calculations.
"All of those things we don't eat": a culture-centered approach to dietary health meanings for Asian Indians living in the United States

This article applies a culture-centered approach to analyze the dietary health meanings for Asian Indians living in the United States. The data were collected as part of a health promotion program evaluation designed to help Asian Indians reduce their risk of chronic disease. Community members who used two aspects of the program participated in two focus groups to learn about their health care experiences and to engage them in dialogue about how culture impacts their overall health. Using constructionist grounded theory, we demonstrate that one aspect of culture, the discourses around routine dietary choice, is an important, but underrecognized, aspect of culture that influences community members' experiences with health care. We theorize community members' dietary health meanings operate discursively through a dialectic tension between homogeneity and heterogeneity, situated amid culture, structure, and agency. Participants enacted discursive homogeneity when they affirmed dietary health meanings around ...
Synthesis and oxidation of d6 tungsten pincer complexes: a complete series of tungsten(II) hydridocarbonyl and halocarbonyl pincer complexes

Reaction of the neutral PHNP ligand [HN(SiMe2CH2PPh2)2] with tungsten hexacarbonyl resulted in coordination of PHNP through both phosphorus donor atoms to form the tungsten complex [W(PHNP)(CO)4] (1). Reaction of PHNP with tris(acetonitrile)tricarbonyl tungsten gave both facial and meridional tridentate isomers [W(PHNP)(CO)3] (2-fac and 3-mer). These three d6 tungsten complexes could be interconverted under appropriate conditions. The thermodynamically favored isomer 3 was protonated to form seven-coordinate [W(PHNP)(CO)3H][BF4] (4). A related series of cationic tungsten(II) halide complexes was synthesized, [W(PHNP)(CO)3X]+ (6, X = I; 7, X = Br; 8, X = Cl; 9, X = F), by various routes. All of the tungsten(II) complexes underwent deprotonation at the amine site of the PHNP ligand when triethylamine was added, resulting in neutral seven-coordinate complexes. Variable temperature 1H, 31P{1H}, and 13C{1H} NMR spectroscopy showed fluxional behavior for all the seven-coordinate complexes reported here. Analysis of IR and NMR spectroscopic data showed trends through the series of coordinated halides. Crystal structures of tetracarbonyl 1, meridional tricarbonyl 3, and cationic hydride 4 were determined to confirm the coordination mode of the PHNP ligand.
Age-dependent effects of testosterone in experimental stroke

Although male sex is a well-recognized risk factor for stroke, the role of androgens in cerebral ischemia remains unclear. Therefore, we evaluated effects of testosterone on infarct size in both young adult and middle-aged rats (Wistar, 3-month versus 14-month old) and mice (C57/BL6, 3-month versus 12-month old) subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion. In young adult groups, castrates displayed less ischemic damage as compared with intact males and castrates with testosterone replacement (Cortex: 24% in castrates versus 42% in intact versus 40% with testosterone; Striatum: 45% versus 73% versus 70%) at 22 h reperfusion. Surprisingly, supplementing testosterone in middle-aged rats to the physiologic levels ordinarily seen in young males reduced infarction (Cortex: 2% with testosterone versus 31%; Striatum: 38% with testosterone versus 68%). Testosterone effects on infarct size were blocked by the androgen receptor (AR) antagonist flutamide and further confirmed in young versus middle-aged mice. Baseline cerebral aromatase mRNA levels and activity were not different between young and middle-aged rats. Aromatase activity increased in ischemic tissue, but only in young males. Lastly, stroke damage was not different in aging aromatase knockout mice versus wild-type controls. Our findings indicate that testosterone's effects in experimental stroke are age dependent, mediated via AR, but not cerebral aromatase.
Roughening of growing surfaces: Kinetic models and continuum theories

Abstract The use of scaling concepts in understanding growth by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) is increasingly important these days. Here we present a critical discussion on the advantages and disadvantages of kinetic theories and continuum models, two main methods frequently used to study the roughening and scaling of surfaces grown by MBE. Finally, some open problems faced by these approaches are also discussed.
Utilization of surgical procedures for pelvic organ prolapse: a population-based study in Olmsted County, Minnesota, 1965–2002

To describe trends in the utilization of surgical procedures for pelvic organ prolapse among women in Olmsted County, MN, we retrospectively identified all county residents undergoing pelvic organ prolapse repair from January 1, 1965 through December 31, 2002. From 1965 to 2002, 3,813 women had pelvic organ prolapse surgeries: 3,126 had hysterectomy combined with pelvic floor repair (PFR) procedures and 687 had PFR alone. The age-adjusted utilization of hysterectomy plus PFR and of PFR alone decreased by 62% (P < 0.001) and 32% (P = 0.02), respectively. In both groups, utilization decreased in all age groups over time except in women aged 80 years and older undergoing hysterectomy plus PFR and women aged 70 years and older undergoing PFR only. The most common indication for PFR was uterovaginal prolapse. Among women in the community, the rate of utilization and age distribution of pelvic organ prolapse surgery changed substantially between 1965 and 2002.
MEDICAL MANAGEMENT OF CROHN'S DISEASE IN ADOLESCENCE

Untreated Crohn's disease in adolescence is a debilitating, progressive disease that often manifests itself in failure of growth and development. We have attempted to modify this course by continuous medical supression of disease activity. Sixteen consecutive adolescent patients were treated for a mean duration of 3.5 years. Fourteen received long term prednisone therapy for maintenance of disease supression. All 16 have been asymptomatic or have had only mild symptoms which did not interfere with regular activities. Only one subject was rehospitalized. He underwent colectomy. Alternate day prednisone therapy has been attained in 11 patients; ten are growing and developing at a normal rate. In total, 13 of 16 have achieved pubertal development appropriate for age. The eight patients with distal ileal disease have had a consistently excellent response to therapy. There have been no major adverse effects from drug therapy. It is concluded that an effort to continuously suppress disease activity in adolescents with Crohn's disease is warranted. The use of alternate day prednisone therapy will allow for both control of disease activity and normal adolescent growth. The best results can be expected in those patients with primarily ileal disease.