cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Radiobiological aspects of low dose rates in radioimmunotherapy.

Abstract It is assumed that initial dose rates of 10–20 cGy/hour and total doses of 1500–2000 cGy, delivered with effective half-lives of a few days, are reasonable starting points for assessing the radiobiological effects of such low and declining dose rates. Such doses might kill 2 or 3 logs of cells out of the 9 or 10 required for tumor eradication; this is well known. The emphasis in this paper is on the change of effectiveness (per Gy) with change in dose rate. Biological effectiveness, in terms of log cell kill per Gy, will be less than that of higher dose rates because there is more time for repair of sublethal radiation injury. This loss in Relative Effectiveness, RE, is unlikely to exceed 20% in most types of tumor cell, compared with conventional external beam radiation schedules. Therefore, a tumor or metastic deposit that would require 60–70 Gy to sterilize it using conventional radiotherapy with 2 Gy fractions (or traditional radioactive implants at 50 cGy/hr) would require 70–84 Gy at the lower dose rates available from radioimmunotherapy. This is the major dose rate effect and so far we have ignored proliferation. In the dose-rate range of 10–300 cGy/hr in vitro , highly variable depending on type of cell, division might be prevented but not progression through the cell cycle. Additional cell kill is observed because cells accumulate in the radiosensitive G 2 phase; this is the inverse dose-rate effect. However, that range of dose rates comes from in vitro experiments where cells are doubling in number every 0.5 to 1 day. In vivo they double more slowly so it is possible that the unpredictable benefit of G 2 accumulation, or partial synchrony, could occur at lower dose rates than 10 cGy/hr in human tumors. The dose rates necessary to kill cells at exactly the rate they are proliferating (which of course would not alone eradicate tumors or metastases) can be calculated, if values are assumed for intrinsic radiosensitivity and doubling rate of cells. In median ranges, dose rates of 2–3 cGy/hr should just counteract proliferation. Higher dose rates, maintained for a few days, could cause 2 or 3 logs of cell kill which would be observed as partial regression, as has been reported clinically and in animal experiments.
CLOSE LOOK AT CONSTRUCTION ISSUES AND PERFORMANCE OF FOUR FIBER-REINFORCED POLYMER COMPOSITE BRIDGE DECKS

Four different fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) panel systems were installed in a 207 m, five-span, three-lane bridge in an effort to assess the constructability, performance, and applicability of bridges with fiber-reinforced polymer composite decks. This paper examines whether four common deck systems are able to realize many of the anticipated benefits of using FRP composites in lieu of conventional reinforced concrete bridge decks. Particular installation issues, connection details, and specific construction techniques for each deck system are described, along with a discussion of the shortcomings in terms of handling, performance, and serviceability. Other factors such as key design parameters (e.g., impact factor and thermal characteristics) and unexpected responses are used to further quantify the performance of four FRP representative deck systems under identical traffic and environmental constraints.
Factors controlling the formation of oxidized root channels: A review

Although root plaques and associated oxidized root channels are used for wetland identification as field indicators of wetland, hydrology, little information is available concerning their reliability as related to the environmental and biotic factors controlling their formation. Therefore, this review describes and evaluates the current state of knowledge of the factors controlling the formation of iron plaques and recommends research to address information gaps.
Pleuroperitoneal shunt for pneumonectomy cavity malignant effusion

Delayed mediastinal shift toward the remaining lung is an unusual cause of postpneumonectomy dyspnea. We report a patient who developed severe dyspnea when a malignant effusion occurred in the pneumonectomy cavity and caused a contralateral mediastinal shift. Repeated thoracentesis was needed until insertion of a pleuroperitoneal shunt effected palliation.
Kinematics-Based Navigation Functions

In this paper, we introduce a new family of navigation laws which are based on analytic navigation functions derived using the kinematics equations. These navigation laws combine local and global aspects, and can be used for both indoor and outdoor navigation. The robot's kinematics model is represented in polar coordinates. The analytic navigation functions suggested here are functions of the line-of-sight angle between the robot and the goal, and depend on one or more navigation parameters. The navigation parameters allow us to control the navigation law and, thus, the path of the robot. The choice of the navigation function and its parameters is important, and must satisfy some conditions. Different paths are obtained for different navigation functions and different parameters. This property is used to avoid collision with obstacles. Under this formulation, the number of navigation functions allowing the robot to reach a given goal is infinite. An extensive simulation study shows the effectiveness of t...
Radiation-Induced Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma: A Report of Five Cases Including Two Occurring Post Whole Brain Irradiation

Five patients who were successfully treated with external radiation therapy for a variety of histologically unrelated tumors subsequently developed malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) within the irradiated field. It is suggested that therapeutic irradiation was a causative factor in the development of these tumors with latent periods ranging between 3 and 17 years. A review of the pertinent literature is presented. It is apparent that postradiation MFH is being recognized with increasing frequency and at an earlier age than when it appears de novo.
Mobility patterns and core technologies in the Middle Paleolithic of the Levant

Mobility is thought to be a significant source of Middle Paleolithic archaeological variability in the East Mediterranean Levant. However, models of Levantine Middle Paleolithic land-use have historically been based on rare and taphonomically sensitive evidence from a limited number of sites. Because lithic artifacts are the most ubiquitous archaeological remains available to the prehistorian, relationships between stone tool technology and mobility patterns can improve tests of hypotheses about prehistoric land-use strategies. This paper examines variation in Middle Paleolithic mobility strategies in the Levant from the perspective of core technology. A model linking expedient core reduction techniques and decreased mobility is adapted from one developed for late prehistoric contexts in the New World. Incorporating core data from numerous Levantine Middle Paleolithic assemblages, this study tests hypotheses about diachronic change, synchronic geographic variation, and possible hominin behavioral differences in mobility strategies.
Constrictive pericarditis: Psychologic aspects of convalescence following pericardectomy

Abstract This study consisted of 8 cases of constrictive pericarditis seen at The Johns Hopkins Hospital between 1943 and 1951. All patients became ill during youth and were treated surgically with extensive decortication of the heart. They were re-evaluated in terms of cardiac function, level of rehabilitation, and personality functioning. Physiologic cure of the cardiovascular disease was attained in all 8. An adequate level of rehabilitation was reached by only 4. The quality of over-all rehabilitation following operation seems to be related to the personality development as reflected in pre-illness pattern of adjustment.
Is web-based supply chain integration right for your company?

IntroductionThe 1980s saw the advent of the personal computer, and the days of "Data Processing" departments solely dictating the timeline of office productivity solutions were gone. The 1990s saw the advent of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software packages, and organizations enthusiastically (even if sometimes slowly and painfully) moved from the silo mentality of departmental and unit-based information systems solutions to enterprise-wide information solutions. Today, companies are increasingly realizing that the progression from departmental to enterprise information systems has a logical next step: inter-organizational or supply chain solutions. While many pioneering companies have linked to their customers and suppliers for years, the improving reliability and security of the Web presents new opportunities for all organizations. Companies are increasingly moving to the Web or considering moving to the Web to conduct business transactions, connecting themselves with suppliers and customers.Much of the recent research on electronic data interchange and information technology (IT) in the supply chain has focused on using the Web to conduct business-to-business (B2B) commerce across the supply chain, thus improving the older electronic data interchange ("EDI") model. The B2B market has grown steadily over the last several years. As an increasing portion of companies migrate to the Web it becomes important for both academics and practitioners to understand the benefits and pitfalls of such a migration. Numerous studies enumerate the benefits of electronic supply chain integration and B2B, and these benefits fall into the following categories: Reduction of process cost, improved operational efficiency, improved customer satisfaction, improved coordination, cooperation, and commitment between EDI partners, and improved overall process performance. However, a study has not been done which compares the process performance benefits of all three possible groups: Companies or processes (hereafter simply "companies") using no electronic supply chain integration (verbal and/or paper orders, invoices, etc.), companies using non-Web-based Supply Chain Integration (traditional EDI, using private or leased lines), and companies using Web-based supply chain integration. A notable exception occurred in a 2002 study, but this study was done on only 18 companies, a very small sample size. Also, many current studies claim that companies are misdiagnosing the advantages of B2B over existing ways of doing business. The absence of a three group comparison, along with a possible misdiagnosis of advantages, calls for further examination.Thus, this research will attempt to determine differences in the performance of companies using no electronic supply chain integration, companies using non-Web-based supply chain integration, and companies using Web-based supply chain integration.
Field experiments of a fast frequency-hopped FSK testbed with diversity combining and packet communication

This paper reports on field measurements of a highly versatile frequency-hopped (FH) frequency shift keyed (FSK) prototype operating in the 900 MHz ISM band and providing 160 kbps indoor wireless data communication. The testbed is used to study the impact of frequency hopping rate, channel spacing, diversity combining, and packet communication on frequency-hopped wireless transmission. Results are presented for 5,850 field trials of the testbed, programmed with different hopping configurations in three typical indoor environments. The measurement results underscore the dramatic potential of a system with fast hopping rates that employs equal gain hop combining with proper interleaving and frequency separation between hopping channels. However, fast hopping rate employed without diversity combining degrades symbol error rate (SER) almost linearly proportional to the hopping rate.
Tamoxifen inhibits Leydig cell steroidogenesis: in vivo and in vitro studies.

Abstract Using isolated interstitial cells from testes of Sprague-Dawley rats, we have shown previously that tamoxifen inhibits LH and 8-bromo-cyclic AMP stimulated testosterone synthesis in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect of tamoxifen could not be reversed with 17β-estradiol. The present studies indicate that tamoxifen directly inhibits testosterone response to gonadotropin stimulation both in immature and mature hypophysectomized rats. When interstitial cells were incubated with pregnenolone (5×10−7M), testosterone levels in the incubation medium were 27.0 ± 1.9 ng 10 6 cells . Tamoxifen (10−5M) significantly inhibited pregnenolone-induced testosterone formation. Tamoxifen also significantly diminished adenylate cyclase activity whereas the binding of hCG to receptor was not affected. These results indicate that several steps of steroidogenesis are inhibited by tamoxifen.
Interaction of P- and S-Wave Pions with Fixed Nucleons

A method is given of replacing pion scattering parts in a Feynman diagram by experimentally observed quantities. In this paper momenta of nucleons are neglected, although nucleon pair creation is not. It is assumed that only $P$- and $S$-wave pions interact with nucleons. No interaction is assumed between pions. Two examples are given: (1) The anomalous magnetic moment of the proton is rigorously expressed in terms of pion-nucleon scattering amplitudes, or, alternatively, in terms of the renormalized coupling constant and the total cross sections for pions. (2) The internucleon potential is also expressed by means of scattering quantities. In this case the number of virtual pions exchanged between the two nucleons is limited to two, although the number of pions emitted and absorbed by the same nucleon is not limited.
Opportunities and Threats for College Women’s Health: Health Care Reform and Higher Education

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) of 2010 (P.L. 118-148) has already changed college students’ health care options and has a larger impact on women as they outnumber men in college enrollment and require unique services. Through a feminist policy framework, we discuss how the PPACA impacts college women’s health and reproductive rights with a call for higher education to proactively develop policies and standards that focus on the health of women students without limiting access to a range of reproductive health care options.
Effect of Electroconvulsive Shock (ECS) on Extinction of an Approach Response

Aversive effects of ECS were studied by comparing the effect of ECS on the extinction of a well developed approach response under two conditions. Rats pretrained to run a straight alley were given ECS immediately after (5 sec.), or 1 hr. after entering the goal box. No significant differences occurred until the fifth trial when the Immediate ECS group showed significantly longer approach latencies.
Shortage of Peritoneal Dialysis Solution and the Food and Drug Administration’s Response

Although the number of new drug shortages has been lower in recent years than in the past, severe shortages have occurred that have affected large numbers of patients. A new law entitled the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act was enacted in July of 2012, which requires companies to notify the Food and Drug Administration of anticipated shortages. This notification requirement has allowed the Food and Drug Administration to work closely with manufacturers earlier to mitigate and, often, prevent shortages. However, not all shortages are able to be prevented, and the shortage of peritoneal dialysis solution is one that has had a significant effect on patients. The Food and Drug Administration continues to use all available tools to address this shortage with manufacturers, including temporary availability of imported peritoneal dialysis solution from Ireland. Mitigating shortages is a top priority for the Food and Drug Administration, and communication with all stakeholders is essential.
Clonidine and guanfacine IR vs ER: Old drugs with “new” formulations

After a long history of use for hypertension, clonidine and guanfacine have re-emerged on the market as treatment options for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, particularly in patients who are unable to tolerate or need an alternative to stimulant medications as well as those who have residual symptoms despite adequate therapy with stimulants. In recent years, new formulations of long-acting clonidine and guanfacine have come to market. The purpose of this article is to review the pharmacokinetic properties and clinical utility of these new agents while comparing the medications and parent compounds in terms of dosing, adverse effects, and costs of treatment.
Cross-layer modeling for quality of service guarantees over wireless links

We propose a cross-layer approach to investigate the impact of physical-layer infrastructure on data-link-layer quality-of-service (QoS) performance over wireless links in mobile networks. At the physical layer, we take multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) diversity schemes as well as adaptive-modulation-and-coding (AMC) techniques into account. At the data-link layer, our focus is on how this physical-layer infrastructure influences the real-time multimedia delay-bound QoS performance. To achieve this goal, we first model the physical-layer service process as a finite-state Markov chain (FSMC). Based on this FSMC model, we then characterize the QoS performance at data-link-layer using the effective capacity approach, which turns out to be critically important for the statistical QoS guarantees over wireless links in mobile networks. We also investigate the impact of physical-layer power control and channel-state information (CSI) feedback delay on the QoS performance. The numerical results obtained demonstrate that our proposed cross-layer model can efficiently characterize the interactions between the physical-layer infrastructure and data-link-layer QoS performance.
Plk1 Inhibition Enhances the Efficacy of Androgen Signaling Blockade in Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is thought to be driven by oxidative stress, lipid metabolism, androgen receptor (AR) signaling and activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, but it is uncertain how they may become coordinated during progression to castration-resistant disease which remains incurable. The mitotic kinase polo-like kinase 1 (Plk1) is elevated in PCa where its expression is linked to tumor grade. Notably, Plk1 signaling and lipid metabolism were identified recently as two of the top five most upregulated pathways in a mouse xenograft model of human PCa. Herein, we show that oxidative stress activates both the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and AR signaling in a Plk1-dependent manner in prostate cells. Inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway prevented oxidative stress-induced activation of AR signaling. Plk1 modulation also affected cholesterol ester accumulation in PCa via the SREBP pathway. Lastly, Plk1 inhibition enhanced cellular responses to androgen signaling inhibitors (ASI) and overcame ASI resistance in both cultured PCa cells and patient-derived tumor xenografts. Given that activation of AR signaling and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is sufficient to elevate SREBP-dependent expression of key lipid biosynthesis enzymes in castration-resistant PCa, our findings argued that Plk1 activation was responsible for coordinating and driving these processes to promote and sustain the development of this advanced stage of disease. Overall, our results offer a strong mechanistic rationale to evaluate Plk1 inhibitors in combination drug trials to enhance the efficacy of androgen signaling inhibitors in castration-resistant prostate cancer.
Distinct intracellular calcium profiles following influx through N- versus L-type calcium channels: role of Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release.

Selective activation of neuronal functions by Ca2+ is determined by the kinetic profile of the intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) signal in addition to its amplitude. Concurrent electrophysiology and ...
Hierarchical models for ROC curve summary measures: Design and analysis of multi‐reader, multi‐modality studies of medical tests

Comparative studies of the accuracy of diagnostic tests often involve designs according to which each study participant is examined by two or more of the tests and the diagnostic examinations are interpreted by several readers. Tests are then compared on the basis of a summary index, such as the (full or partial) area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, averaged over the population of readers. The design and analysis of such studies naturally need to take into account the correlated nature of the diagnostic test results and interpretations. In this paper, we describe the use of hierarchical modelling for ROC summary measures derived from multi-reader, multi-modality studies. The models allow the variance of the estimates to depend on the actual value of the index and account for the correlation in the data both explicitly via parameters and implicitly via the hierarchical structure. After showing how the hierarchical models can be employed in the analysis of data from multi-reader, multi-modality studies, we discuss the design of such studies using the simulation-based, Bayesian design approach of Wang and Gelfand (Stat. Sci. 2002; 17(2):193-208). The methodology is illustrated via the analysis of data from a study conducted to evaluate a computer-aided diagnosis tool for screen film mammography and via the development of design considerations for a multi-reader study comparing display modes for digital mammography. The hierarchical model methodology described in this paper is also applicable to the meta-analysis of ROC studies.
Finite Element Subvolume Technique for Structural-Borne Interior Noise Prediction

Finite element structural and acoustic representations of a vibrating structure and enclosed acoustic volume are used in a study of structural-bo rne interior noise. The direct finite element nodal representations of the equations of motion result in a large system of unsymmetric equations. In this paper, an acoustic subvolume analysis technique is presented which reduces the degrees of freedom of the interior volume to modal form prior to the coupled system dynamic analysis. Analytical predictions are compared to results from an experimental program to verify the analysis procedures. From these comparisons, the acoustic subvolume technique is shown to be a reliable method to reduce the computational requirements for finite element acoustic analysis.
Redox states of plastids and mitochondria differentially regulate intercellular transport via plasmodesmata

Recent studies suggest that intercellular transport via plasmodesmata (PD) is regulated by cellular redox state. Until now, this relationship has been unclear, as increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been associated with both increased and decreased intercellular transport via PD. Here, we show that silencing two genes that both increase transport via PD, INCREASED SIZE EXCLUSION LIMIT1 (ISE1) and ISE2, alters organelle redox state. Using redox-sensitive green fluorescent proteins targeted to the mitochondria or plastids, we show that, relative to wild-type leaves, plastids are more reduced in both ISE1- and ISE2-silenced leaves, whereas mitochondria are more oxidized in ISE1-silenced leaves. We further show that PD transport is positively regulated by ROS production in mitochondria following treatment with salicylhydroxamic acid but negatively regulated by an oxidative shift in both chloroplasts and mitochondria following treatment with paraquat. Thus, oxidative shifts in the mitochondrial redox state positively regulate intercellular transport in leaves, but oxidative shifts in the plastid redox state counteract this effect and negatively regulate intercellular transport. This proposed model reconciles previous contradictory evidence relating ROS production to PD transport and supports accumulating evidence that mitochondria and plastids are crucial regulators of PD function.
Attraction of ambrosia and bark beetles to coast live oaks infected by Phytophthora ramorum

Sudden oak death, caused by Phytophthora ramorum (Werres, de Cock & Man in’t Veld), has killed thousands of oaks (Quercus spp.) in coastal California forests since the mid-1990s. Bark and ambrosia beetles that normally colonize dead or severely weakened trees selectively tunnel into the bleeding cankers that are the first visible symptoms to appear on infected coast live oaks, Q. agrifolia (Nee). The role of these beetles is of interest because once beetles attacked infected trees, median survival was found to decline, from seven to less than three years (McPherson and others 2005). Beetle attacks consistently precede the emergence of sporophores of Hypoxylon thouarsianum (Leveille) Lloyd, a decay fungus that structurally weakens infected trees. The dense clusters of ambrosia beetle tunnels can extend greater than 15 cm into the sapwood, impairing water conduction and potentially introducing opportunistic organisms. This research has three principal goals: 1. Quantify beetle responses to P. ramorum-infected coast live oaks; 2. Identify the factors that influence beetle attacks on these trees; 3. Evaluate the short and long term effects of beetles on colonized trees. This study was conducted in protected land of the Marin County Open Space District. In July 2002, we mechanically inoculated 80 mature coast live oaks with P. ramorum and wounded another 40 without inoculation as controls for beetle responses to wounds. To prevent beetle attacks on trees, we sprayed half of each group to a height of 2.5 m with permethrin, an insecticide with relatively low toxicity to non-target organisms. Insecticide was applied following inoculation, then twice per year, in February and August, prior to the principal beetle flights. Sticky traps were hung on the insecticide-treated trees to monitor insect landing and beetles were collected from these traps periodically through 2003. Eighty percent of inoculated trees developed bleeding symptoms. Within 18 months after inoculation, trees exhibited the sequence of symptom progression observed in natural forest infections: bleeding, bleeding plus beetle attacks; and bleeding plus beetle attacks plus emergence of H. thouarsianum sporophores. Canker size, defined by bleeding surface area, had a mean value of 0.19 m 2 (standard error = 0.03), with a range from 0.008 m 2 to 1.13 m 2
Evaluating sex chromosome content of sorted human sperm samples with use of dual-color fluorescence in situ hybridization

Abstract OBJECTIVE: Although most methods for selecting the sex of offspring by sorting spermatozoa are ineffective at shifting the ratio of Y- to X-containing cells, some commercial sources continue to offer such services. Our objective was to evaluate commercially "sorted" samples with use of dual-color fluorescence in situ hybridization and to identify variations in assessment by comparing motile and total sperm populations, donors, observers, and fluorescence in situ hybridization probes. STUDY DESIGN: Cryopreserved sperm from seven anonymous donors were processed as for insemination. Sperm cells from each total sample or motile subfraction were prepared for fluorescence in situ hybridization by incubation with disulfide-reducing agents to expand sperm nuclei. Two sets of X and Y chromosome–specific, fluorophore-labeled deoxyribonucleic acid probes were used. At least 400 nuclei from each preparation were classified independently by three blinded observers. Hybridization efficiency, aneuploidy, and sex chromosome content were evaluated in subsets of five unsorted, five female-oriented, and five male-oriented samples. Total and motile subfractions were compared with eight samples. Fluorescence in situ hybridization probes were compared in five paired unsorted samples. RESULTS: No differences were detected between washed samples and paired motile subfractions. No differences in hybridization and aneuploidy were detected between groups of sorted samples. The Y/X ratio was significantly different between the sorted groups. However, male-oriented samples had a lower Y/X ratio than female-oriented samples did. Observer and probe choice accounted for small but significant variations that did not alter conclusions about the Y/X ratio for sorted samples. CONCLUSION: In a series of 10 sorted samples from one commercial source, dual-color fluorescence in situ hybridization demonstrated a small but significant shift in the sex chromosome ratios among samples. However, this shift was opposite to that expected by the orientation of the sorted samples. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1997;176:1172-80.)
Expression of alternatively spliced transcripts for a myostatin-like protein in the blackback land crab, Gecarcinus lateralis

Abstract Three complete cDNAs for the first myostatin-like gene identified in a crustacean species were cloned from the land crab, Gecarcinus lateralis. Sequence analysis demonstrates a high degree of conservation with myostatin orthologs from vertebrates. The furin cleavage site is identical to that of human myostatin, and all nine cysteines critical to the structure/function of mature myostatin peptides are conserved. Message levels for transcripts encoding the complete crustacean preproprotein were highest in skeletal muscle and heart. Lower levels of expression were observed in nervous tissue, gill, gonad, and hepatopancreas. This expansive distribution is similar to that observed for teleost myostatin, vertebrate GDF-11, and amphioxus GDF8/11, and indicates a potentially broad functional repertoire for the land crab ortholog. In addition to one cDNA encoding a complete preproprotein, two cDNAs encoding C-terminal truncated proteins lacking a mature peptide domain were identified. Expression of these truncated splice variants was restricted to skeletal muscle and heart. Myostatin is a potent negative regulator of muscle mass in mammals, and strong expression of this TGF-β factor in skeletal muscle during intermolt indicates that a myostatin-like gene product could regulate muscle mass in crustaceans when growth is physically restricted by a calcified exoskeleton.
Induced transparency and absorption in coupled microresonators

We review the conditions for the occurrence of coherence phenomena in passive coupled optical microresonators. We derive the effective steady-state response and determine conditions for induced transparency and absorption in these systems.
The molecular landscape of diffuse glioma and prospects for biomarker development.

Introduction: High-throughput molecular profiling is transforming long-standing conceptions of diffuse gliomas, the most common primary brain tumors. Indeed, comprehensive genomic, transcriptomic and epigenomic analyses have not only provided striking mechanistic insights into the pathogenesis of diffuse gliomas but also greatly enriched the pool of potential biomarkers for prognostic and predictive patient stratification. Areas covered: This article summarizes significant recent developments in the molecular characterization of diffuse gliomas, focusing on implications for biomarker development and application. In doing so, we will also address relevant high-throughput molecular profiling technologies and both the opportunities and challenges implicit in their widespread incorporation into disease management workflows. Expert opinion: Although the number of validated biomarkers guiding diffuse glioma management is currently quite small, rapidly progressing molecular annotation continues to provide a stea...
Homonuclear broad-band-decoupled chemical shift imaging by singular value decomposition with optimization

The conventional viewpoint of localized NMR spectroscopy is to acquire spectral information through time-domain data, while leaving spatial information to phase encoding by incremental magnetic field gradients. A second viewpoint, much less frequently used, places the emphasis on the acquisition of spatially well-resolved images by conventional means, leaving the chemical shift segregation through phase encoding in the incremental t/sub 1/ period (in a 2-DNMR parlance). The feasibility and practicality of the second viewpoint are demonstrated by implementation of a modified version of the SLIM technique, which was originally designed for the first viewpoint, using simulated and real phantom data with optimization of the t/sub 1/-encoding parameters. >
Family and School Spillover in Adolescents’ Daily Lives

This study examined spillover between daily family stressors and school problems among 589 ninth-grade students (mean age = 14.9 years) from Mexican, Chinese, and European backgrounds. Spillover was examined using a daily diary methodology in which adolescents reported on their school and family experiences each day for 2 weeks. Analyses using hierarchical linear modeling revealed reciprocal spillover effects between adolescents’ daily functioning in the family and school domains that spanned several days. Longitudinal analyses indicated that spillover between family stressors and school problems also occurs across the high school years, from 9th to 12th grade, and that both are predictive of poorer academic performance in 12th grade. These findings have practical implications for adolescents’ academic achievement trajectories and general well-being.
End of Life Care during the Holidays

a Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA b Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Case Western Reserve University School of Dental Medicine, 2124 Cornell Rd, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA c Honorary Curator, American Society of Anesthesiologists, Wood Library-Museum of Anesthesiology, 1061 American Lane, Schaumburg, IL 60173-4973, USA
Fluctuations in basal levels and effects of altered nutrition on plasma somatostatin

Rapid oscillations in basal plasma levels of insulin, C-peptide, glucagon, and glucose in rhesus monkeys have been reported previously. We now report large minute-to-minute fluctuations in plasma somatostatinlike immunoreactivity (SLI) in undisturbed, chair-adapted, and chronically cannulated male rhesus monkeys. Plasma samples were drawn from eight monkeys at 1- to 2-min intervals for 30-40 min following an overnight fast. Large fluctuations in SLI levels with periods of 4.4-9.4 min/cycle and possibly secondary periods of 14-18 min/cycle with average amplitudes of +/- 23% relative to the respective mean SLI levels were observed both within a single experiment and across monkeys under basal conditions. No consistent relationship was found between SLI fluctuations and that of insulin or glucagon. When portal and central blood samples were drawn precisely simultaneously no consistent portal-central gradient was found. Patterns of fluctuations in central and portal SLI levels were not correlated. Overfeeding significantly increased insulin levels but did not alter SLI levels. After 5 days of food deprivation basal SLI levels were unchanged. These data indicate the need to exercise care in the interpretation of single samples in the measurement of plasma SLI levels. Somatostatin secreted into the blood under basal, unstimulated conditions appears to be unrelated to nutritional balance.
Chronology and Use of Guatemalan Maiolica: Ceramics as Reducción in the Izalcos Region of El Salvador

Maiolica (tin-enameled earthenware) was a staple of daily life for serving food and drink, as well as other household purposes, in Spain and Spanish America throughout the colonial period. Examining choices in ceramic styles is one way to examine the colonial policies of reduccion, which were to instill a regular, commonplace Christian order in everyday life. The Rio Ceniza Valley of western El Salvador, the heartland of the Nahua-speaking Pipil polity known as the Izalcos, was a center of Spanish colonial commerce in Guatemala. This research presents a typology and chronology of Guatemalan maiolica, the stylistic similarities of its maiolica types to trends in Europe, and frequencies in rural vs. urban use, based on an ample collection of 16th- to 19th-century Guatemalan maiolica from extensive survey and excavations. The relative importance of maiolica vs. maiolica attributes on indigenous-made pottery gives a view into daily life under extreme conditions of colonialism and the process of reduccion.
Your Mission, Should You Choose To Accept It…

A former Geisinger Health Plan CEO takes the helm of the new Innovation Center in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services—wielding many of the federal government’s tools for transforming the...
0330 A Study of Radiographic Abnormalities in Minnesota Taconite Workers

Objectives A limited number of studies have been conducted in the taconite industry, typically without detailed exe posure information. We assessed occupational exposure to elongate mineral particles (EMP) in association with chest x-ray findings in a cross-sectional screening of 1188 current and former taconite workers. Method Exposure was determined by a combination of some 1300 onsite measures taken by researchers and historical measures taken by mining companies. The NIOSH 7400 measurement method (PCM) was used to count EMP. Twenty-eight similarly exposed groupings (SEG) were developed and contained all jobs. Each SEG had multiple EMP measures as an anchoring point for historical exposure estimates. Work histories were standardised, mapped to SEGs and used to estimate exposures for each worker in each SEG. Chest x-rays were obtained using ILO methods, with two independent radiologists. Prevalence odds ratios were estimated by logistic regression for work duration and cumulative EMP exposure, adjusting for age, gender, BMI and occupations with high potential for asbestos. Results Pleural findings occurred in 16.8% by consensus. Abnormalities were associated with duration of employment in the taconite industry for those working 21 years or more (OR=1.59, 95% CI=1.06–2.40). Pleural abnormalities were also associted with cumulative exposure to EMP for those cumulatively exposed to 1.16 EMP/cc-years or more (OR=1.93, 95% CI=1.32–2.83). Associations between parenchymal abnormalities and exposure were not observed. Conclusions This study suggests that pleural abnormalities are related to duration of employment and to EMP exposure in taconite miners. Due to the measurement method, the specific type of EMP could not be described further.
Abstract 1263: Induction of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-activated gene-1 (Nag-1) by NSAIDs: role of p75NTR

Epidemiologic studies have shown that patients with long term consumption of certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) exhibit a reduced incidence of prostate cancer. Treatment of prostrate cancer cell lines with NSAIDs leads to caspase mediated apoptosis. Previously, our laboratory has demonstrated that R-flurbiprofen and Ibuprofen induce the expression of the pro-apoptotic protein p75NTR in PC-3, DU-145 and LNCaP prostate cancer cell lines, with a subsequent decrease in cell survival. The p75NTR is a member of the Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor superfamily of death receptors. It acts as a tumor suppressor in the normal prostate. The expression of p75NTR is lost as prostate cancer progresses and is minimal in established metastatic prostate cancer cell lines such as PC-3, DU-145, and LNCaP. The observed increase in p75NTR protein due to R-flurbiprofen and Ibuprofen treatment occurs as a result of activation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Here we show that the upregulation of p75NTR following treatment with NSAIDs corresponds to a concomitant upregulation of the NSAID activated gene-1 (Nag-1) protein, a pro-apoptotic member of the TGF beta family, in PC-3 cells. Nag-1 has been linked to decreased cell proliferation in many studies, and has been shown to play a pro-apoptotic role in breast, colorectal, gastric and prostate cancer cells. Nag-1 is also known by the names GDF −15, MIC-1, PDF, PLAB and PTGFB. This study also shows that Nag-1 protein induction following NSAID treatment is mediated by the p38 MAPK pathway, and is downstream of the p75NTR induction. This is the first report of a relationship between p75NTR and Nag-1. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1263.
Abstract 2837: Assay development for the discovery of semaphorin 3B-inducing agents from natural product sources

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL The family of semaphorins has been found to regulate cell adhesion and cell motility, the immune response, angiogenesis, and tumor progression. The semaphorins are emerging as regulators of key processes of tumor progression. Semaphorin 3B, in particular, has been found to inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis. Since there is yet no screening assay available to be used in drug discovery for this crucial target, the present study focuses on the development of a new absorbance-based bioassay to search for new semaphorin 3B inducers from natural sources. Among the parameters considered include the type of cancer cell line, the time of incubation, the type of lysis buffer, secondary effects that affect absorbance levels, and ways to minimize false positives. Vitamin D and actinomycin are being used as controls in this assay. Vitamin D acts as a positive control since it is a semaphorin 3B inducer. Comparison of the levels of induction of the active substances to that of the positive control provides an indication about the level of potential a hit will have if being developed as a drug. Actinomycin inhibits transcription by binding to DNA at the transcription initiation level. When using actinomycin in this assay, its effect is considered to be proportional to that of semaphorin 3B inhibitors. Hence, actinomycin serves as a negative control to discriminate inducers from inhibitors of semaphorin 3B. The use of both controls, therefore, offers the opportunity to discover selective and highly potent semaphorin 3B inducers of natural origin. The assay has been standardized in a 96-well plate format to optimize sensitivity, selectivity, accuracy, robustness, and cost effectiveness. A library of natural product compounds isolated from higher plants, filamentous fungi, and cyanobacteria is currently being screened using this new bioassay. A total of 50 samples have been tested already with two samples exhibiting low induction levels. The most active substances will be further tested using a series of immunoblot secondary assays to validate the potential hits. Additionally, the screening assay presented could be modified to discover new small molecules or drug-like scaffolds as inhibitors or inducers of other semaphorins. Thus, an assay to identify compounds that selectively and potently affect this pathway may lead to new ways of understanding the cell signaling mechanism of these agents, which could be beneficial for the discovery of new natural product leads for cancer treatment. Program project grant P01-CA125066-S1 funded by the National Cancer Institute, NIH. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2837. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2837
Pressure-Head Testing

The determination of pressure heads in ground-water systems by means of short-term tests incorporated with soil and rock sampling programs can be a practical and valuable method of exploration. Test procedures must be developed by careful pre-test planning to assure the use of the best procedures with resources available. All tests can be classified by one or a combination of three fundamental access-hole conditions—open hole, cased hole or packers used in cased or open holes. In all conditions, stabilized pressure heads should be established by starting from lower initial pressures in the access holes.
Graph Imbedding Problems

(1975). Graph Imbedding Problems. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 82, No. 8, pp. 835-837.
Multiple cutaneous and hepatic hemangiomas in infants.

Objectives The objectives of the study were to determine the rate of hepatic hemangiomas in infants with cutaneous infantile hemangiomas that were screened by abdominal ultrasound; identify morphological subtypes and number of cutaneous infantile hemangiomas that are likely to suggest the presence of hepatic hemangiomas; and identify clinical history, physical findings, or laboratory abnormalities that may predict hepatic involvement. Methods A retrospective study was conducted between 2000 and 2007 on 37 infants with cutaneous hemangiomas who underwent abdominal ultrasound for hepatic hemangiomas. Infants were classified into subgroups based upon the morphology of their cutaneous hemangioma(s). Data collected included clinical history, physical examination findings, sonographic findings, laboratory results, treatment(s) rendered, and clinical outcome. Results Eight of 37 infants (22%) had hepatic hemangiomas. Infants with miliary (30-100 pinpoint/small cutaneous hemangiomas), six or more small cutaneous hemangiomas, and one large with one or more small cutaneous hemangiomas were more likely to have concurrent hepatic hemangiomas. No other clinical findings were associated with hepatic involvement. Conclusions Similar to other studies, our study found clinically asymptomatic hepatic hemangiomas in 22% of infants with multiple cutaneous infantile hemangiomas. No clinical findings studied were predictive of hepatic involvement.