cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Slower saccadic reading in Parkinson's disease

Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease (PD) is characterized by degeneration of dopaminergic and other neurons, leading to motor and non-motor deficits. Abnormal eye movements in PD, including fixations, saccades, and convergence, are well described. However, saccadic reading, which requires serial and alternating saccades and fixations, is not well studied, despite its obvious impact on the quality of life. In this study, we assessed saccadic reading using variations of the King-Devick (KD) test, a rapid single digit number naming test, as a way to assess the ability to make serial left-to-right ocular motor movements necessary for reading. We recruited 42 treated PD patients and 80 age-matched controls and compared their reading times with a variety of measures, including age, duration of disease, Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), the National Eye Institute 25-Item Visual Functioning Questionnaire 25 (VFQ-25), and Montreal Cognitive assessment (MoCA) test. The subjects performed 4 trials of reading 120 single digit numbers aloud as fast as possible without making errors. In each trial, they read 3 pages (KD1, KD2, and KD3), and each page contained 40 numbers per page in 8 lines with 5 numbers/line. We found that PD patients read about 20% slower than controls on all tests (KD1, 2, and 3 tests) (p < 0.02), and both groups read irregularly spaced numbers slower than regularly spaced numbers. Having lines between numbers to guide reading (KD1 tests) did not impact reading time in both PD and controls, but increased visual crowding as a result of decreased spacing between numbers (KD3 tests) was associated with significantly slower reading times in both PD and control groups. Our study revealed that saccadic reading is slower in PD, but controls and PD patients are both impacted by visuospatial planning challenges posed by increased visual crowding and irregularity of number spacing. Reading time did not correlate with UPDRS or MoCA scores in PD patients but significantly correlated with age, duration of disease, and VFQ-25 scores. The presence of convergence insufficiency did not significantly correlate with reading time in PD patients, although on average there was slower reading time in those with convergence insufficiency by 8 s (p = 0.2613). We propose that a simple reading task using 120 single-digit numbers can be used as a screening tool in the clinical setting to assess functional ocular motor difficulties in Parkinson's disease that can have a profound impact on quality of life.
NV-TCAM: Alternative designs with NVM devices

Abstract TCAM (ternary content addressable memory) is a special memory type that can compare input search data with stored data, and return location (sometime, the associated content) of matched data. TCAM is widely used in microprocessor designs as well as communication chip, e.g., IP-routing. Following technology advances of emerging nonvolatile memories (eNVM), applying eNVM to TCAM designs becomes attractive to achieve high density and low standby power. In this paper, we examined the applications of three promising eNVM technologies, i.e., magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ), memristor, and ferroelectric memory field effect transistor (FeFET), in the design of nonvolatile TCAM cells. All these technologies can achieve close-to-zero standby power though each of them has very different pros and cons.
Submucosal Gland Myoepithelial Cells Are Reserve Stem Cells That Can Regenerate Mouse Tracheal Epithelium.

Summary The mouse trachea is thought to contain two distinct stem cell compartments that contribute to airway repair—basal cells in the surface airway epithelium (SAE) and an unknown submucosal gland (SMG) cell type. Whether a lineage relationship exists between these two stem cell compartments remains unclear. Using lineage tracing of glandular myoepithelial cells (MECs), we demonstrate that MECs can give rise to seven cell types of the SAE and SMGs following severe airway injury. MECs progressively adopted a basal cell phenotype on the SAE and established lasting progenitors capable of further regeneration following reinjury. MECs activate Wnt-regulated transcription factors (Lef-1/TCF7) following injury and Lef-1 induction in cultured MECs promoted transition to a basal cell phenotype. Surprisingly, dose-dependent MEC conditional activation of Lef-1 in vivo promoted self-limited airway regeneration in the absence of injury. Thus, modulating the Lef-1 transcriptional program in MEC-derived progenitors may have regenerative medicine applications for lung diseases.
Potential Utility of Plant Test Systems for Environmental Monitoring: An Overview

Research over the past decade has shown a significant proportion of genetic diseases in man to be caused by natural and man-made chemical mutagens. Human cancer is one of the diseases for which direct associations with certain environmental factors have been established (such as the association between cigarette smoking and lung carcinoma). The recently published “Atlas of Cancer Mortality” (Mason et al., 1975) provides further evidence for the association between human cancer and environmental factors. In this study, certain specific types of cancer appear to be associated with certain industrial activities. Chemical mutagens are also believed to contribute to birth defects, behavioral abnormalities, and aging. It has been suggested that environmental chemicals play a role in causing atherosclerosis (Benditt, 1973) and, most damaging of all, in deteriorating the human gene pool.
Structural dynamics of calmodulin-ryanodine receptor interactions: electron paramagnetic resonance using stereospecific spin labels

We have used electron paramagnetic resonance, with rigid and stereospecific spin labels, to resolve structural states in calmodulin (CaM), as affected by binding of Ca and a CaM-binding peptide (RyRp) derived from the ryanodine receptor (RyR), the Ca channel that triggers muscle contraction. CaM mutants containing a pair of cysteines in the N-lobe and/or C-lobe were engineered and labeled with a stereospecifically bound bifunctional spin label (BSL). RyRp was synthesized with and without TOAC (a stereospecifically attached spin-labeled amino acid) substituted for a single amino acid near the N-terminus. Intramolecular DEER distance measurements of doubly-labeled BSL-CaM revealed that CaM exists in dynamic equilibrium among multiple states, consistent with open, closed, and compact structural models. Addition of RyRp shifted the equilibrium partially toward the compact state in the absence of Ca, and completely toward the compact state in the presence of Ca, supporting a conformational selection model. Inter-protein distance measurements show that Ca stabilizes the compact state primarily by inducing ordered binding of the CaM N-lobe to RyRp, while only slightly affecting the C-lobe. The results provide insight into the structural mechanism of CaM-mediated RyR regulation, while demonstrating the power of using two types of rigidly and stereospecifically bound spin labels.
Whatever Happened to the Salvage Convention 1989

Self-executing treaties like the Salvage Convention 1989 automatically become "the supreme law of the land" in the United States under the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.They require no legislation to make them operative but they have the same force and effect as an Article I legislative enactment.The fact that no implementing legislation is needed often leads to the paradoxical result that a self-executing treaty is more easily forgotten, perhaps for the simple reason that such treaties do not always appear in the U.S. Code and so are not always easy to find. That may explain the curious fate of the Salvage Convention 1989, which does not appear anywhere in the U.S. Code. There can be no doubt, however, that when the provisions of a treaty prescribe a rule by which private rights may be determined, as the Salvage Convention 1989 does, a court must resort to the treaty for rules of decision, just as it would to a statute. A court may only refer to the law that would govern in the absence of the treaty - in the present context, general maritime law - when the treaty leaves an issue unresolved. In short, it is not acceptable for courts to continue to apply the general maritime law of salvage simply because it is broadly equivalent to the Salvage Convention 1989. Even when the general maritime law and the Salvage Convention 1989 would produce identical results, courts should apply the Salvage Convention 1989 and not the general maritime law. When the general maritime law and the Salvage Convention 1989 would (or even might) produce different results, which may occur quite often, there is no justification for applying the general maritime law.
How to get the most out of your trainees in robotic thoracic surgery—“the coachability languages”

We are honored to have been invited to write this piece entitled, "How to get the most out of your trainees in robotic thoracic surgery". Perhaps a better question is "How can we optimally coach and inspire each resident and/or fellow to maximize their value and potential as people, physicians and surgeons during the span of their career?". As surgeons, we must recognize some of the subtle differences in alignment between ourselves and our trainees, appreciate the value of the trainee within our profession, understand that there is variability to the coaching style that each trainee best responds to, and acknowledge that the success of the people we train-which may be our only true legacy-depends on how we engage and inspire them.
Injectable biomaterials for delivery of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist: Toward improving its therapeutic effect

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) is a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory cytokine that inhibits IL-1 activity and has been proposed to treat a wide variety of systemic and local inflammatory pathologies for multiple decades. However, the short half-life and high concentration required to inhibit IL-1 activity has limited its use in clinical applications. Many strategies have been developed with the goal of improving the therapeutic efficacy of IL-1Ra for a variety of pathologies, including fusing IL-1Ra to protein/peptide/polymer partners, releasing IL-1Ra from injectable polymer or mineral particles, and release of IL-1Ra from injectable coacervates and gels. This literature review examines injectable biomaterials engineered to improve IL-1Ra delivery, both locally and systemically, to increase its efficacy and ease of use in clinic. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) is a therapeutic protein with the potential to treat numerous inflammatory conditions and diseases. However, its short biological half-life and high therapeutic concentration may limit its utility in all but a few clinical scenarios. In this review, we present the biomaterial based delivery strategies which have been explored to deliver IL-1Ra to improve its efficacy and applicability to treat inflammation.
Glycemic control and survival of patients with coexisting diabetes mellitus and gastric or esophageal cancer

Aim: To examine effects of diabetes mellitus (DM) on survival in gastric or esophageal (GE) cancer and the cancers’ effects on glycemic control. Materials & methods: Patients with GE cancer with an...
2206. Patterns of Care and Outcomes in Elderly Patients Hospitalized with Community-acquired Pneumonia in the United States

Background Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly. Few studies compare the elderly (>65) and very elderly (≥85 years). We aimed to describe characteristics and patterns of care for very elderly patients hospitalized with CAP.
NAD-linked mechanisms of gene de-repression and a novel role for CtBP in persistent adenovirus infection of lymphocytes

Adenovirus (AdV) infection is ubiquitous in the human population and causes acute infection in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. In addition to lytic infections in epithelial cells, AdV can persist in a latent form in mucosal lymphocytes, and nearly 80% of children contain viral DNA in the lymphocytes of their tonsils and adenoids. Reactivation of latent AdV is thought to be the source of deadly viremia in pediatric transplant patients. Adenovirus latency and reactivation in lymphocytes is not well studied, though immune cell activation has been reported to promote productive infection from latency. Lymphocyte activation induces global changes in cellular gene expression along with robust changes in metabolic state. The ratio of free cytosolic NAD+/NADH can impact gene expression via modulation of transcriptional repressor complexes. The NAD-dependent transcriptional co-repressor C-terminal Binding Protein (CtBP) was discovered 25 years ago due to its high affinity binding to AdV E1A proteins, however, the role of this interaction in the viral life cycle remains unclear. The dynamics of persistently- and lytically-infected cells are evaluated. RT-qPCR is used to evaluate AdV gene expression following lymphocyte activation, treatment with nicotinamide, or disruption of CtBP-E1A binding. PMA and ionomycin stimulation shifts the NAD+/NADH ratio in lymphocytic cell lines and upregulates viral gene expression. Direct modulation of NAD+/NADH by nicotinamide treatment also upregulates early and late viral transcripts in persistently-infected cells. We found differential expression of the NAD-dependent CtBP protein homologs between lymphocytes and epithelial cells, and inhibition of CtBP complexes upregulates AdV E1A expression in T lymphocyte cell lines but not in lytically-infected epithelial cells. Our data provide novel insight into factors that can regulate AdV infections in activated human lymphocytes and reveal that modulation of cellular NAD+/NADH can de-repress adenovirus gene expression in persistently-infected lymphocytes. In contrast, disrupting the NAD-dependent CtBP repressor complex interaction with PxDLS-containing binding partners paradoxically alters AdV gene expression. Our findings also indicate that CtBP activities on viral gene expression may be distinct from those occurring upon metabolic alterations in cellular NAD+/NADH ratios or those occurring after lymphocyte activation.
Characterizing Monotone Games

We expect to find necessary and sufficient conditions on the player's payoff functions that guarantee that a game that is not a GSH can be transformed into a GSH.
Woody Plant Evolution: Exceptional Lianas Reveal Rules of Woody Growth

Sometimes the exceptions prove the rule, and lianas show some of the most exceptional stem anatomical variation in plants. New research describes the evolution and development of liana stem anatomical variants, and reveals new rules of woody growth.
Thermodynamic limits for simultaneous energy harvesting from the hot sun and cold outer space

The sun and outer space are two of the most important fundamental thermodynamic resources for renewable energy harvesting. A significant amount of work has focused on understanding the fundamental limit of energy harvesting from the sun. More recently, there have been several theoretical analyses of the fundamental limit of energy harvesting from outer space. However, far less is understood about the fundamental limits of simultaneous energy harvesting from both the sun and outer space. Here, we consider and introduce various schemes that are capable of simultaneous energy harvesting and elucidate the fundamental thermodynamic limits of these schemes. We show that the theoretical limits can far exceed the previously established limit associated with utilizing only one thermodynamic resource. Our results highlight the significant potential of simultaneous energy harvesting and indicate new fundamental opportunities for improving the efficiency of energy harvesting systems.
Learning to Segment Vessels from Poorly Illuminated Fundus Images

Segmentation of retinal vessels is important for determining various disease conditions, but deep learning approaches have been limited by the unavailability of large, publicly available, and annotated datasets. The paper addresses this problem and analyses the performance of U-Net architecture on DRIVE and RIM-ONE datasets. A different approach for data augmentation using vignetting masks is presented to create more annotated fundus data. Unlike most prior efforts that attempt transforming poor images to match the images in a training set, our approach takes better quality images (which have good expert labels) and transforms them to resemble poor quality target images. We apply substantial vignetting masks to the DRIVE dataset and then train a U-net on the resulting lower quality images (using the corresponding expert label data). We quantitatively show that our approach leads to better generalized networks, and we show qualitative performance improvements in RIM-ONE images (which lack expert labels).
Outcome evaluation on health education about iodine deficiency disorders in Congjiang County, Gulzbou Province in 2007

Objective To evaluate the effect of health education in controlling the iodine deficiency diserders(IDD) in order to provide reference data for the further prevention and control. Methods Each village of 3 towns in Congjiang County was selected in 2007, where the health education lasting for 10 months had been implemented in the school students of 3-6 grade and the villagers. The school students of 3-6 grade and 30 housewives in the villagers were investigated for their IDD control knowledge, the salt consuming conditions as well as the sales of both rough and fine salt at a salt retail site in each village before and after the health education was implemented. Results The awareness rate of the knowledge of IDD control in the students and housewives was 91.4% (581/636) and 78.3% (282/360), respectively after intervention, which significantly increased (χ2= 532.044, 326.117, both P < 0.01) compared with the rate of 28.2% (184/652) and 11.4% (41/360) before intervention. The proportion of consuming fine salt was 91.8%(146/159) and 95.6%(86/90), significantly inereased(χ2= 236.623, 135.350, both P < 0.01) compared with 6.1%(10/163) and 7.8% (7/90) found before intervention. The selling proportion of fine salt at the salt retail site in the village was 60.0%(900/1500), significantly increased(χ2= 824.176, P < 0.01) compared with 10.0%(150/1500) before intervention. Conclusions Health education and promotion is solid foundation for effectively controlling IDD, through which the students and villagers are actively and voluntarily involved in the program and hence have formed good living and hygiene habits, thus expected effect has been obtained. Key words: Iodine; Deficiency diseases; Salts; Health education
Peri-implant disease education and diagnosis in the pre-doctoral curriculum

Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess how pre-doctoral periodontal programs in the United States of America are educating their dental students regarding the management of peri-implant diseases and secondarily, to determine if a current standard of teaching exists. Methods and materials Electronic surveys were distributed to pre-doctoral program directors across 57 dental schools in the United States via a secure online survey system. The survey consisted of 19 questions pertaining to curriculum structure involving didactic and clinical management of peri-implant diseases. Results A total of 25 program directors (44%) responded, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results indicated a lack of standardization of pre-doctoral didactic and clinical curriculum among dental schools. Conclusions Data pooled from 25 pre-doctoral periodontal programs in the United States show that there is currently no standardization in the dental school curriculum related to the didactic and clinical management of peri-implant diseases. The development of standardized content is recommended to assist program directors in assessing and enhancing educational experiences for dental students on the management of peri-implant diseases.
Do demand characteristics contribute to minimal ingroup preferences

Abstract “Minimal group” paradigms investigate social preferences arising from mere group membership. We asked whether demand characteristics contribute to children’s apparent minimal group bias in a preregistered experiment (N = 160). In a group condition, we attempted to replicate findings of bias following assignment to minimal groups. A second closely matched no-group condition retained potential demand characteristics while removing group assignment. Parallel bias in the no-group condition would suggest that demand characteristics contribute to findings of apparent ingroup bias. Three main findings emerged. First, in the group condition, ingroup preference emerged in one of three bias measures only. Second, this preference emerged even though participants evaluated ingroup/outgroup photos varying in race/ethnicity between trials. Third, the measure that yielded ingroup preferences in the group condition produced no parallel bias in the no-group condition, consistent with the view that mere membership in a group, not experimental demand, leads to minimal ingroup preferences.
Research on the Impact of University Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education on University Students’ Entrepreneurship Willingness Based on Virtual Reality Technology

The increasing competition in today’s market is becoming more and more intense, and the rapid process of developing a knowledge-based economy is making a start-up extremely effective for the future building of the nation. As an innovative economy, it strongly promotes social and economic development and it is more conducive and beneficial to building an innovative country. Therefore, it is of practical significance to study the impact of university innovation and entrepreneurship education (UIAEE) based on virtual reality (VR) technology on college students’ entrepreneurial willingness. In the process of researching the impact of UIAEE based on VR on college students’ entrepreneurial willingness, the present study collects and consults a large number of documents to obtain knowledge that is helpful for research. This research work is based on the premise of UIAEE based on VR, researching its influence on the entrepreneurial willingness of students who have received this education. It is guided by the theory of planned behavior and takes 400 students from our school as the research object. Testing the results of the impact of innovation and entrepreneurship education (IAEE) on college students’ entrepreneurial willingness was carried out through the establishment of models. The research results show that the impact of UIAEE based on VR activities on college students’ entrepreneurial willingness is answered in the affirmative. It can be better to sort out the relationship through the results, and the results are basically consistent with the assumptions of the theoretical model.
Measuring the Significance of Image Relations

PERCEPTUAL ORGANIZATION can be viewed as a process that assigns a degree of significance to each potential grouping of image features. Our goal in this chapter will be to take a unified view of the many grouping phenomena by examining the underlying principles for measuring the significance of each grouping. As was described in Chapter 1, perceptual groupings are useful to the extent that they are unlikely to have arisen by accident of viewpoint or position, and therefore are likely to reflect meaningful structure of the scene. Our basic argument will be that certain image relations are carriers of statistical information indicating that they are non-accidental in origin, and that this degree of non-accidentalness forms the basis for assigning degrees of significance. Note that there are an infinite number of different types of relations that could be considered (e.g., “all pairs of straight line segments at N degrees relative orientation,” for any given N), and a combinatorial number of sets of elements to consider in any given image. Only a small subset of these possible relations are likely to be of any significance or are worth the effort required for detection.
Handbook of Plant Growth pH as the Master Variable

H+-ATPases in the plasma membrane - physiology and molecular biology H+-ATPase and H+-PPase in the vacuolar membrane - physiology and molecular biology the cytoplasmic pH stat confocal pH topography in plant cells - shifts of proton distribution involved in plant signalling pH as a signal and regulator of membrane transport the role of the apoplastic pH on cell wall extension and cell enlargement mechanisms and physiological roles of proton movements in plant thylakoid membranes dynamics of H+ fluxes in mitochondrial membrane H+ fluxes in nitrogen assimilation by plants.
Analytical Stress Analysis Solution for a Simplified Model of a Reactor Fuel Element

An exact closed-form solution for the stresses and strains in an idealized nuclear reactor fuel pin under operational conditions is presented. The fuel is considered as a single region, either solid or annular, which may or may not interact with the surrounding cladding, depending on initial fuel- cladding gap and subsequent reactor operating parameters. Temperature-dependent thermal conductivity and irradiation swelling and temperature-independent creep in both fuel and cladding are allowed. 18 references. (auth)
13 – Dynamic Analysis of Bars, Shafts, and Strings

Publisher Summary The chapter discusses the displacement and internal force of three types of uniformly distributed systems—elastic bars in longitudinal deformation, circular shafts in torsional deformation, and taut strings with lateral deflection. The chapter presents a toolbox that provides several MATLAB functions for determining the exact static response of second-order distributed systems subjected to external loads and boundary disturbances. The solution procedure takes three steps—setting up system parameters and boundary conditions by one of the functions setbar, setshaft, and setstring; determining the system response by functions force2os and bd2os; and plotting computed response by function plot2os. When a second-order system is subjected to both external loads and boundary disturbances, the total static response of the system is obtained by the principle of superposition—y = force2os (Load_Spec) + bd2os (BD_Spec); plot2os (y). The chapter discusses toolbox, based on the distributed transfer function method (DTFM), which is an exact analytical modeling and solution method for many distributed systems including bars, shafts, strings, and beams.
Intracellular processing of the gp160 HIV-1 envelope precursor. Endoproteolytic cleavage occurs in a cis or medial compartment of the Golgi complex

The intracellular processing of the gp160 HIV-1 envelope precursor was characterized in acutely infected CD4+ T cells. Our data show that gp160 undergoes endoproteolytic cleavage by a nonacid dependent protease(s) in the rough endoplasmic reticulum-Golgi complex, within cis or medial cisternae, and is not transported to the cell surface. Two-dimensional electrophoretic pulse-chase analysis indicates that it takes greater than 2 h for gp160 to be transported from the rough endoplasmic reticulum to the site of action of sialyltransferases in the trans Golgi. Evidence is presented that gp160 is subject to mannose trimming in the Golgi complex, which is inhibited by 1-deoxymannojirimycin (a specific Golgi alpha-mannosidase I inhibitor). Preliminary data also suggest that gp120 is post-translationally modified by sialylated O-linked oligosaccharides.
Multiuser Collaborative Exploration of Immersive Photorealistic Virtual Environments in Public Spaces

We have developed and deployed a multimedia museum installation that enables one or several users to interact with and collaboratively explore a 3D virtual environment while simultaneously providing an engaging and educational, theater-like experience for a larger crowd of passive viewers. This interactive theater experience consists of a large, immersive projection display, a touch screen display for gross navigation and three wireless, motion-sensing, hand-held controllers which allow multiple users to collaboratively explore a photorealistic virtual environment of Atlanta, Georgia and learn about Atlanta's history and the philanthropic legacy of many of Atlanta's prominent citizens.
Combining the detection and correction of speech repairs

Previous approaches to detecting and correcting speech repairs have for the most part separated these two problems. We present a statistical model of speech repairs that uses information about the possible correction to help decide whether a speech repair actually occurred. By better modeling the interactions between detection and correction, we are able to improve our detection results.
Drug metabolism by rat and human hepatic microsomes in response to interaction with H2-receptor antagonists

Cimetidine has been reported to decrease plasma clearance of drugs in humans and animals. This reduction in hepatic drug metabolism could be due to cimetidine's intrinsic H2-receptor blocking activity. Alternatively, the imidazole ring structure of cimetidine could explain these observations because imidazole derivatives have been reported to be potent inhibitors of hepatic microsomal drug metabolism. Rat and human hepatic microsomal drug metabolism in the presence of cimetidine and ranitidine, a nonimidazole H2-receptor antagonist, have been studied. High binding affinity of cimetidine for cytochrome P 450(Ks = 31 micro M) was seen, while no evidence for ranitidine binding to cytochrome P450- was observed. Cimetidine inhibited meperidine and pentobarbital metabolism by both rat and human hepatic microsomes while ranitidine did not affect these two cytochrome P450-medicated biotransformation reactions. Conjugation of morphine, a reaction not mediated by cytochrome P450, was unaffected by either cimetidine or ranitidine. The imidazole structure of cimetidine rather than its H2-receptor blocking activity is primarily responsible for cimetidine-induced inhibition of hepatic drug metabolism.
Physical Performance Test and Karnofsky Performance Status are unable to identify elderly cancer patients requiring a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment

Abstract Background Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is a multidimensional and interdisciplinary diagnostic process for medical and functional status (FS) used in elderly patients to evaluate health status. The Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) and Physical Performance Test (PPT) have been used as a measure of FS in older patients to screen heath status. Objective We designed this study to assess and compare the value of KPS and PPT as pre-screening tools for vulnerable elderly cancer patients using the CGA as a gold standard. Methods This is a prospective interventional study including cancer patients aged more than 70 years. Direct assessments were realized using a questionnaire composed of KPS, PPT and CGA, constructed by the authors after a review of the literature. Results One hundred patients were included (median age 76 years–extremes 70–89). KPS and PPT were found to be positively correlated (Pearson correlation coefficient r = 0.680, P value P P value > 0.05 on pair-wise comparison). Conclusion Neither KPS nor PPT were found to be good pre-screening tools for vulnerable elderly cancer patients in the outpatient setting. The CGA remains the preferred method for assessing alterations in geriatric domains.
Cardiac allograft vasculopathy: current knowledge and future direction

Colvin-Adams M, Agnihotri A. Cardiac allograft vasculopathy: current knowledge and future direction. Clin Transplant 2011: 25: 175–184. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Abstract: Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV) is a unique form of coronary artery disease affecting heart transplant recipients. Although prognosis of heart transplant recipients has improved over time, CAV remains a significant cause of mortality beyond the first year of cardiac transplantation. Many traditional and non-traditional risk factors for the development of CAV have been described. Traditional risk factors include dyslipidemia, diabetes and hypertension. Non-traditional risk factors include cytomegalovirus infection, HLA mismatch, antibody-mediated rejection, and mode of donor brain death. There is a complex interplay between immunological and non-immunological factors ultimately leading to endothelial injury and exaggerated repair response. Pathologically, CAV manifests as fibroelastic proliferation of intima and luminal stenosis. Early diagnosis is paramount as heart transplant recipients are frequently asymptomatic owing to cardiac denervation related to the transplant surgery. Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) offers many advantages over conventional angiography and is an excellent predictor of prognosis in heart transplant recipients. Many non-invasive diagnostic tests including dobutamine stress echocardiography, CT angiography, and MRI are available; though, none has replaced angiography. This review discusses the risk factors, pathogenesis, and diagnosis of CAV and highlights some current concepts and recent developments in this field.
Application of FT-i.r. spectroscopy to the determination of COOH groups in coal

Abstract FT-i.r. studies of acid-demineralized and cation-loaded lignites demonstrate that exchange methods presently being used to determine carboxylic acid groups in coal produce systematic errors. An i.r. method based on intensity measurements of the 1710 cm −1 carboxylic acid C = 0 stretching mode is reported.
Sulfonic Acid Functionalized SBA-15 Silica as a Methylaluminoxane-Free Cocatalyst/Support for Ethylene Polymerization

Silica-tethered fluorinated sulfonic acids in combination with trimethylaluminum activate metallocenes for the polymerization of ethylene. Various control experiments indicate that the in situ formation of known cocatalysts such as methylaluminoxane is not likely. It is proposed that the interaction between the alkylaluminum and the supported sulfonic acid creates a site that can activate the zirconocene precatalyst to form the polymerization catalyst. This is a new combined support/activator for single-site olefin polymerization.
D-Xylose fermentation to ethanol by Schizosaccharomyces pombe cloned with xylose isomerase gene

Schizosaccharomycespombe cloned with the xylose isomerase gene from E. coli is able to grow on YNB and YMP broths containing xylose as the sole carbon source. This yeast can ferment D-xylose to ethanol directly; however, the ethanol production rate and the yield were dependent on the nitrogen source. With the YMP broth as a nitrogen source, the final ethanol concentration can reach 3.7% (w/v), and the ethanol yield was 80% of the theoretical value based on the amount of xylose that was metabolized. The ethanol production is slow, and the xylitol production is still very active; apparently, the limiting step is the isomerization of xylose to xylulose.
Ordered Perovskites Containing Pentavalent Bismuth: Ba(Bi0.75M0.25)O3 and Ba(Bi0.67M0.33)O3

Abstract New Bi5+-containing perovskites of the types Ba(Bi5+0.75M1+0.25)O3 (M = Li or Na) and Ba(Bi5+0.67M2+0.33)O3 (M = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Cd, or Cu) have been synthesized under high oxygen pressure by using thermal decomposition of peroxides of Ba, Li, Na, or Sr in sealed platinum capsules. The compounds have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, chemical analysis, and infrared spectroscopy. X-ray diffraction studies showed that all the compounds have cubic perovskite-related structures. Superlattice reflections due to the ordering of Bi5+ and M cations can be seen for all the compounds, except for BaBi0.66Cu0.33O3. The powder X-ray diffraction patterns of Ba(Bi0.67M0.33)O3 phases were indexed in the space group Fm3m [(NH4)3FeF6 type], indicating a 1:1 ordering between 1 2 Bi5+ and 1 3 M + 1 6 Bi5+), while the superlattice reflections seen in the X-ray data for Ba(Bi0.75Na0.25)O3 and Ba(Bi0.75Li0.25)O3 were indexed in the space group Im3m, indicating a 1:3 long-range order of M1+ and Bi5+ ions at the B site of the AB O3 perovskite structure. Such an ordering requires the structure to contain linear 180° Bi-O-Bi bonds along the a, b , and c axes, which is not a common feature among the perovskite family of compounds. All the compounds, except Ba(Bi0.67Cu0.33)O3, are electrical insulators with relatively high dielectric constants. The high electrical conductivity in the copper compound has been attributed to the presence of Bi in mixed valence states.
Generalized Analytic Expressions for the b Matrix of Twice-Refocused Spin Echo Pulse Sequence

ABSTRACT Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) technique has been used to help understand the human brain white matter Þberstructures in vivo . Currently used standard diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DTI) tractography based on thesecond order diffusion tensor model has limitations in its ability to resolve complex Þber tracts. The generalized diffusiontensor (GDT) imaging technique has been proposed to overcome these limitations associated with the standard secondorder tensor model. Based on the GDT model, a generalized partial differential equation (PDE) governing the anisotropicdiffusion process can be derived. For the purpose of solving the PDE and computing the generalized diffusion tensor, wederive a generalized analytic expression for the high order b matrix in the case of twice-refocused spin echo (TRSE) pulsesequence which is used in the DWI data acquisition. The TRSE pulse sequence is considered because of its ability to nullthe eddy current effect generated during the scanning. The b matrix was computed by integrating the transverse precessingmagnetizationbetweentheexcitationtimeandtheechotime(TE).Inourexperiments,weshowsomecomputationalresultsofthegeneralized b matrixbasedonthenewanalyticexpression. Inaddition,comparisonsbetweenthegeneralized b matrixcomputed using our formula and the second order b matrix given by the MRI machine are presented. The characteristicsof the fomula and the data are discussed at last.Keywords: Diffusion tensor imaging; Generalized diffusion tensor; b Matrix; Twice-refocused spin echo
On the possibility of attaining environmental and trade objectives simultaneously

With the greening of political debate around the world, large nations — precluded from using trade instruments explicitly — have become aware of the fact that they can manipulate their domestic tax structure to attain environmental and trade objectives simultaneously. In this note we show how such nations can attain these two targets with one instrument. Specifically, we show how to construct dual purpose taxes. We then focus on the empirical determinants of these taxes.
External Na+ is not required for Ca2+ mobilization in platelets stimulated with rattlesnake lectin or α-thrombin

Abstract The effects of extracellular sodium on platelet aggregation and calcium mobilization in platelets stimulated with either rattlesnake ( Crotalus atrox ) lectin (RSL) or α-thrombin were compared. The absence of extracellular sodium had no effect on platelet aggregation or calcium mobilization in response to all levels of RSL tested. In contrast platelet aggregation was sodium-dependent in response to ≤.2 units/ml α-thrombin. Surprisingly, calcium mobilization occurred in platelets treated with a threshold level of α-thrombin in the absence of external sodium. Thus sodium-dependent platelet aggregation in response to a low dose of thrombin apparently is not the result of sodium-dependent calcium mobilization.
REGULATION OF NUR77 GENE EXPRESSION BY PROSTANOIDS IN CEMENTOBLASTIC CELLS

Objective The inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 (IL-1) decreases mineralization by immortalized mouse-derived cementoblastic cells (OC-CM cells), while various prostanoids, including fluprostenol (flup) increase it. Subtraction hybridization conducted on flup- minus IL-1-treated OC-CM cells revealed that one of the primary response genes preferentially induced by flup is the transcription factor Nur77. The objective of this study was to examine the signal transduction cascades regulating prostanoid induction of Nur77 gene expression in OC-CM cells.
A comparison of chemically induced reversion patterns of salmonella typhimurium and saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants, using in vitro plate tests

Abstract Reversion patterns of Salmonella typhimurium and Saccharomyces cerevisiae auxotrophic mutants were compared using plate tests. Both organisms exhibited similar responses to alkylating agents and ICR-compounds, indicating similar specificities for reversion of base-pair substitution and frameshift mutants.
Synthesis of thia-ellipticine, 5,11-dimethylbenzothieno[2,3-g]isoquinoline†

1,4-Dimethyldibenzothiophene (VII) was synthesized and was converted with butyl dichloromethyl ether to the 2-aldehyde (VIII). The structure was confirmed by an independent synthesis of the 2-ester (XI) derived from it. The 2-aldehyde (VIII) with aminoacetaldehyde diethylacetal formed the Schiff′s base (IX), and Pomeranz-Fritsch cyclization with 105% superphosphoric acid then formed thia-ellipticine (II), an isostere of the antitumor alkaloid, ellipticine.
Electrophoresis of Water-insoluble Chloroplast Proteins in a Phenol, Acetic Acid, Urea Solvent

Two methods for the separation by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of chloroplast proteins which are completely insoluble in aqueous solution are compared. One method uses phenol, acetic acid and water, 2:1:1, w/v/v, in 3 M urea (PAW/U) as the sample solvent with gels which contain 5 M urea and 35 per cent acetic acid. The other method involves the use of PAW/U as the sample solvent as well as the running solvent within the gel. The latter method has provided better band resolution and more consistent, repeatable results.
Intermanual Transfer of Compensation for Displaced Vision

While wearing displacing prisms, each S viewed one hand as he reached for and touched a target in the mid-saggital plane. After exposure, significant compensation was measured with the contralateral hand.
Size analysis of single fullerene molecules by electron microscopy

Individual fullerene molecules were observed and sized using high resolution transmission electron microscopy. Fullerene C60 molecules were tethered by chemical bonding to carbon black particles to facilitate HRTEM imaging and sizing of known fullerenes. HRTEM analysis of soot samples from a fullerene-forming flame revealed the presence of a range of fullerenes from C36 to C176 and larger fullerene-like structures. The observation of fullerenes smaller than C60 is noteworthy in that such structures necessarily contain adjacent pentagons and hence are strained and expected to have interesting reactivity that may be useful in certain applications. HRTEM can be used to detect and size fullerenes in samples containing fullerenes but not in sufficient quantity, or not sufficiently removable, to be detectable by chemical analysis.
MOCAP in the classroom: now & tomorrow

From Robert Abel's "Sexy Robot" of 20 years ago to Tom Hank's tour-de-force multi-role performance in the computer animated feature Polar Express, motion capture and motion tracking have made important changes to how computer animation is planned and carried out for film and game production. The frontier of the analysis, understanding and quantification of human (and even animal) motion promises many new exciting innovations. This presentation will address the use of motion capture technology by educational institutions and the necessary changes to curricula. Models for adoption/integration will be presented by showcasing animation projects completed by undergraduates at Quinnipiac University and team projects completed by graduate students at Parsons School of Design. Finally a look ahead will examine future developments.
Dietary protein levels alter rat behavior

Abstract The performance of rats in a battery of behavioral test systems following long-term, dietary protein manipulation was evaluated. Groups of rats were pair-fed with isocaloric diet containing low (8%), normal (20%) and high (50%) casein for 20 weeks. The high-casein group was more responsive compared to the normal- and low-casein groups in sensorimotor function, negative geotaxis, and spontaneous locomotor activity. In addition, the high-casein fed rats exhibited reduced aversion as measured by the elevated plus-maze test of anxiety, and hyperalgesia as shown by the tail-flick reaction time. Results from the animals which were fed the low-casein diet were not different from those fed the normal-casein diet in all of the behavioral tests employed except the tail-flick, in which the low-casein group exhibited hypoalgesia. These data suggest that consumption of a long-term, high-protein diet leads to hyperactivity, hyper-responsiveness, and anxiolysis in rats. Only the results of the tail-flick test were compatible with protein: carbohydrate ratio effect on behavior.
Prevention of Post-operative Leak Following Laparoscopic Heller Myotomy

Laparoscopic Heller myotomy is the preferred treatment for achalasia. Post-operative leaks cause significant morbidity and impair functional outcome. This study assesses the efficacy of intra-operative leak testing on post-operative leak rate. A retrospective analysis of 106 consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic Heller myotomy by a single surgeon between November 2001 and August 2006 was undertaken. Intra-operative leak testing was performed in all patients. Variables associated with intra-operative mucosotomy were assessed by univariate analysis and logistic regression modeling. Intra-operative mucosotomy occurred in 25% of patients. All mucosotomies were repaired primarily and tested with methylene-blue-stained saline. Dor fundoplication was performed in 74% of the patients. There were no post-operative leaks and patients were started on diet day of surgery. Mean LOS was 1.4(±0.7) days. Logistic regression modeling demonstrated that prior myotomy was associated with a statistically significant increase in the rate of mucosotomy (p = 0.033), while previous botox injection (p = 0.193), pneumatic dilation (p = 0.599) or concomitant hiatal hernia (p = 0.874) were not significantly associated with mucosotomy. Laparoscopic Heller myotomy for the treatment of achalasia is a safe procedure. Intra-operative leak testing minimizes the risk of post-operative leaks and expedites post-operative management. Prior endoscopic treatment does not impair operative results.
DEVELOPMENTAL ROLES FOR CHROMATIN AND CHROMOSOMAL STRUCTURE

Chromosomal architecture is emerging as a key controlling influence in the developmental regulation of gene expression. Recent genetic experiments using Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, and the mouse have provided clear evidence for the functional differentiation of chromosomal structures during development. Chromosomes are visualized as highly specialized entities, within which the activity of particular domains is largely determined by defined structural proteins. At a more local level, the mechanisms regulating gene transcription during early embryogenesis in Xenopus and the mouse have been found to be dependent on the biochemical composition of individual nucleosomes. Thus, variation in the type and modification of chromosomal and chromatin structural proteins provides a dominant means of controlling the transcriptional activity of individual genes, individual chromosomal domains, and of entire chromosomes.
First- and second-order polarization mode dispersion generated by a two-stage emulator

A two-stage polarization mode dispersion (PMD) emulator design consisting of two variable delay lines separated by a rotatable half-wave linear retarder is analyzed and shown to generate an adjustable amount of first- and second-order PMD without any higher orders. This two-stage PMD emulator configuration provides a simple easy-to-breadboard solution for second-order PMD emulators. When compared with PMD emulators based on birefringent crystals, this two-stage emulator is simpler to calibrate.