cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 864: Increased rates of radiation pneumonitis in patients receiving stereotactic ablative radiotherapy for central versus peripheral lung tumors

Purpose: Treatment of central lung tumors with stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) has been associated with higher rates of toxicities than patients with peripheral tumors. Here we report our institution9s experience in treating central lung tumor patients with SABR, compared to patients treated for peripheral lung tumors. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed outcomes in 82 patients with a total of 96 primary or metastatic lung tumors treated by SABR. The cohort included 47 central and 49 peripheral tumors and all were treated with 50 Gy in 4-5 fractions. Outcomes and radiation-associated toxicities were compared between the two groups, not including patients in whom central and peripheral tumors were concurrently treated (8 such patients). Dosimetric analysis was performed on patients with central tumors to determine max point dose (MPD) and volumetric max dose (Vmax) to central structures. Results: Median follow-up time was 15 months (range 1 to 59 months). Median overall survival was 34 and 40 months (p=0.75) for patients with central and peripheral tumors, respectively. We observed no hemoptysis and no grade 5 toxicities. Rates of symptomatic toxicity were higher in patients with central tumors (grade 2+, 38% vs. 11%, p=0.0056) but were equivalent for severe toxicity (grade 3+, 5.4% vs. 5.4%, p=0.93). The vast majority of toxicities were due to radiation pneumonitis, incidence of which was significantly greater in patients with central tumors (grade 2+, 30% vs. 2.7%, p=0.0021; grade 3+, 5.4% vs. 0%, p=0.15). Dosimetric analysis of 36 central tumor treatment plans revealed that 23 (64%) exceeded at least one of the dose constraints used in RTOG 0813, most commonly for central airway. Rates of grade 2+ pneumonitis were not significantly different between patients exceeding RTOG 0813 central airway dosing constraints vs. those meeting them (24% vs. 20%, p=0.69), but trended towards significance for grade 3+ radiation pneumonitis, with patients exceeding RTOG 0813 central airway dosing constraints experiencing higher rates (0% vs. 13%, p=0.095). Conclusions: Central lung tumor patients treated with SABR appear to have greater risk for symptomatic radiation pneumonitis than patients with peripheral tumors. Exceeding RTOG 0813 dosimetric constraints for central airway may predispose to higher risk for severe radiation pneumonitis. Citation Format: Aadel A. Chaudhuri, Chad Tang, Nicholas Trakul, Jacob Wynne, Billy Loo, Maximilian Diehn. Increased rates of radiation pneumonitis in patients receiving stereotactic ablative radiotherapy for central versus peripheral lung tumors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 864. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-864
Modeling Head and Hand Orientation during Motion using Quaternions

Some body parts, such as the head and the hand, change their orientation during motion. Orientation can be conveniently and elegantly represented using quaternions. The method has several advantages over Euler angles in that the problem of gimbal lock is avoided and that the orientation is represented by a single mathematical object rather than a collection of angles that can be redefined in various arbitrary ways. The use of quaternions has been popular in animation applications for some time, especially for interpolating motions. We will introduce some new applications involving statistical methods for quaternions that will allow us to present meaningful averages of repeated motions involving orientations and make regression predictions of orientation. For example, we can model how the glancing behavior of the head changes according to the target of the reach and other factors. We will give a brief introduction to the mathematics of quaternions and how they can be used to represent orientations. We will compare it to other methods of representation. Due to the quite different mathematics involved, existing statistical methods cannot be directly applied and even simple concepts such as the average, need to be defined. We will introduce a method to analyze orientation over time via functional regression analysis with the help of quaternion splines. We will demonstrate the utility of these methods for analyzing orientation data. We will show an application to the prediction of head and hand orientation during motion.
Steven Cornelius and Mary Natvig, Music: A Social Experience

The boldest element of Music: A Social Experience is the idea that music is meaningful through its social role. The text offers a topic-driven, semester-long course of study for non-music majors that is inclusive of popular and world musics, as well as Western art music. The accompanying instructor’s manual was writen by the authors, who are leading thinkers on the scholarship of pedagogy, and is of tremendous value. The supplemental online materials, Pearson’s MySearchLab, however, are still evolving.
TRIPS and TRIOS System for TempEval-2: Extracting Temporal Information from Text

Extracting temporal information from raw text is fundamental for deep language understanding, and key to many applications like question answering, information extraction, and document summarization. In this paper, we describe two systems we submitted to the TempEval 2 challenge, for extracting temporal information from raw text. The systems use a combination of deep semantic parsing, Markov Logic Networks and Conditional Random Field classifiers. Our two submitted systems, TRIPS and TRIOS, approached all tasks and outperformed all teams in two tasks. Furthermore, TRIOS mostly had second-best performances in other tasks. TRIOS also outperformed the other teams that attempted all the tasks. Our system is notable in that for tasks C -- F, they operated on raw text while all other systems used tagged events and temporal expressions in the corpus as input.
Serum androstenedione levels during normal and human menopausal gonadotropin-induced human pregnancies

Abstract 17-Hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) and androstenedione (A) were measured frequently during the first trimester of five human pregnancies. Two were normally conceived and three were HMG induced. Of the HMG induced, two showed signs of hyperstimulation and one did not. 17-OHP and A patterns were very similar in the HMG-induced pregnancies from about days 25 to 60, after which the 17-OHP levels continued to drop. The A remained fairly constant after that time. In the normally conceived pregnancies the 17-OHP showed its characteristic rise and fall from about days 25 to 60, but A remained relatively constant throughout this period of time. The pattern of A in normal pregnancies is in marked contrast to that observed in HMG-induced pregnancies. Results from HMG-induced pregnancies may not, therefore, be always applicable to normal ones.
Absorption characteristics of falling film LiBr (lithium bromide) solution over a finned structure

In this study, an absorber design suitable for the plate-and-frame absorber configuration is introduced. The design utilizes a fin structure installed on a vertical flat plate to produce a uniform solution film and minimize its thickness and to continuously interrupt the boundary layer. Using numerical models supported by experiments employing dye visualization, the suitable fin spacing and size and surface wettability are determined. The solution flow thickness is measured using the laser confocal displacement measurement technique. The new surface structure is tested in an experimental absorption system. A significantly high absorption rate (6 × 10−3 kg/m2s at a pressure potential of 700 Pa) is achieved in comparison with the conventional absorption systems. The effect of absorber water vapor pressure, solution flow rate, solution inlet concentration, cooling water inlet temperature and solution inlet temperature on the absorption rate is investigated. The proposed design provides a potential framework for development of highly compact absorption refrigeration systems.
Defective proliferative responses in B lymphocytes and thymocytes that lack neurofibromin.

Abstract Nf1 −/− fetal liver cells were used to reconstitute B and T cells in Rag-1 −/− mice. Lymphocyte development was largely unimpaired in the absence of neurofibromin. However antigen-receptor induced proliferation was defective in neurofibromin deficient peripheral B cells and CD4 + single positive thymocytes. In contrast to its role as a negative regulator of proliferation in many other cell types, neurofibromin may be a positive regulator of lymphocyte proliferation. Peripheral B cells exhibited circumscribed defects in anti-IgM induced protein tyrosine phosphorylation, which may contribute to the unexpected proliferative defect seen in these cells.
A new mild and specific ketalisation method. The reactions of amide-acetals I

The ethylene-acetal of dimethylformamide (I) reacts specifically with steroidal 3-ketones to give the 3-ethylene ketal in the presence of other saturated or unsaturated keto functions.
Unusually stable palladium(IV) complexes: detailed mechanistic investigation of C-O bond-forming reductive elimination.

This communication describes the synthesis of a family of unusually stable palladium(IV) complexes containing two chelating 2-phenylpyridine ligands and two benzoates. These complexes undergo clean C−O bond-forming reductive elimination upon heating, and the mechanism of this catalytically relevant process has been studied in detail. Solvent effects, crossover experiments, Eyring plots (which show ΔS⧧ of −1.4 ± 1.9 and 4.2 ± 1.4 in CDCl3 and DMSO, respectively), and Hammett analysis (which shows ρ = −1.36 ± 0.04 upon substitution of the para-benzoate substituent) all suggest that reductive elimination does not proceed via initial dissociation of a benzoate ligand. Instead, an unusual mechanism involving pre-equilibrium dissociation of the N-arm of the phenylpyridine ligand is proposed.
Effect of seminal plasma and egg yolk on motion characteristics of cooled stallion spermatozoa

Abstract This study on extended, cooled spermatozoa was designed to determine 1) the concentration of seminal plasma required for the preservation of sperm motility, 2) whether the addition of egg yolk to a milk based semen extender improved the maintenance of sperm motility, and 3) whether there was a beneficial interaction of seminal plasma and egg yolk in the maintenance of sperm motility. For all experiments, semen was centrifuged for the removal or reduction of seminal plasma and spermatozoa were resuspended in a nonfat, dried skim milk - glucose extender. In Experiment 1, removal of all seminal plasma from spermatozoa and suspension in the extender resulted in a significant (P
Calcium Spiking in Plant Root Hairs Responding to Rhizobium Nodulation Signals

Abstract Rhizobium lipochitooligosaccharide signal molecules stimulate multiple responses in legume host plants, including changes in host gene expression, cell growth, and mitoses leading to root nodule development. The basis for signal transduction in the plant is not known. We examined cytoplasmic free calcium in host root hairs using calcium-sensitive reporter dyes. Image analysis of injected dyes revealed localized periodic spikes in cytoplasmic calcium levels that ensued after a characteristic lag following signal application. Structural features of the signal molecules required to cause nodulation responses in alfalfa are also essential for stimulating calcium spiking. A nonnodulating alfalfa mutant is defective in calcium spiking, consistent with the possibility that this mutant is blocked in an early stage of nodulation signal perception.
Image-guided intensity-modulated radiation therapy for gallbladder carcinoma

Abstract Purpose Clinical and technical parameter analysis of patients treated with ultrasound-based image-guided tomotherapeutic IMRT for gallbladder cancer. Methods and materials Between 8/2001 and 5/2005, 10 patients with primary tumors of the gallbladder were treated by image-guided IMRT to median doses of 59Gy. To analyze normal tissue radiation exposure reduction using this novel approach, a virtual plan comparison between actually delivered IMRT plans and re-computed plans with identical inverse planning parameters but more conventional PTV safety margins was conducted. Results Average CTV was 379cm 3 , with a mean initial PTV of 834cm 3 . In 9/10 patients, a boost was delivered to a mean CTV boost of 171cm 3 and average PTV boost of 241cm 3 . One patient reported RTOG grade 3 acute toxicity. All other patients exhibited Grade 2 or lower acute toxicity. Preliminary median overall survival was 16.7 months (range 3.2–34.9 months), with 5/10 patients alive at analysis. Virtual plan comparison revealed significant organ-at-risk sparing by the enabled PTV margin reduction. Conclusion Ultrasound-based image-guided IMRT is a feasible mechanism of delivering conformal radiation doses to tumors of the gallbladder with acceptable toxicity. Early outcome data with this novel radiation planning and delivery technique are encouraging and comparable to previously reported literature.
Protein phosphorylation in snail cardiocytes stimulated with molluscan peptide SCPb.

Abstract Reich, G., K. E. Doble and M. J. Greenberg. Protein phosphorylation in snail cardiocytes stimulated with molluscan peptide SCPb. Peptides 18(9) 1311–1314, 1997.—Dissociated muscle cells prepared from hearts of the pulmonate snail Helix aspersa were used to study signal transduction induced by molluscan cardioactive peptides. The effects of SCPb on the cAMP levels of whole hearts and the cell preparation were compared. The cells responded to SCPb with a dose-dependent increase in cAMP that had the same structure-activity relations as seen in the intact tissue. SCPb increased the phosphorylation of a 53 kDa protein in a dose dependent manner; threshold was 10 −9 M. The SCPb-induced phosphorylation was mimicked by forskolin and 8-CPT-cAMP. FMRFamide stimulation had no effect on the phosphorylation of this protein.
Contemporary practice of coronary revascularization in U.S. hospitals and hospitals participating in the bypass angioplasty revascularization investigation (BARI)

Objectives. To assess generalizability of the Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation (BARI), we conducted a separate study comparing revascularization in U.S. and BARI hospitals. Background. The BARI trial is a multicenter investigation comparing initial revascularization with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty and coronary bypass graft surgery in patients with symptomatic multivessel coronary disease. Methods. All revascularization procedures during 5 consecutive workdays were surveyed at 75 U.S. hospitals offering coronary angioplasty and bypass surgery and at all BARI hospitals. Data collected were demographics, extent of disease and type of current and previous revascularization. Results. At both U.S. and BARI hospitals, 57% of all revascularization procedures were coronary angioplasty and 43% were bypass surgery. The U.S. hospitals had m ore patients with single-vessel disease, acute myocardial infarction and primary procedures. Other characteristics were similar. The majority of revascularization procedures were angioplasty for single-vessel disease (U.S. 32% vs. BARI 25%) and bypass surgery for triple-vessel disease (U.S. 31% vs. BARI 31%). Overall, the choice between bypass surgery and angioplasty was similar in BARI and U.S. hospitals (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.0, p = 0.914). However, older patients were more likely and younger patients less likely to undergo bypass surgery in BARI versus U.S. hospitals (older patients: adjusted OR 1.6, p = 0.031; younger patients: adjusted OR 0.6, p = 0.028). The BARI protocol would have excluded 65% of all candidates for revascularization, for whom indications already exist for angioplasty or bypass surgery, and another 23%, for whom angioplasty would be contraindicated for individual lesions. Conclusions. Patients undergoing coronary revascularization in BARI and U.S. hospitals were generally similar, as was the choice between types of revascularization. Results from the BARI trial apply to ∼300 (12%) candidates for coronary revascularization/workday.
A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY OF SELECTED STUDENT CHARACTERISTICS: TWENTY YEARS OF GERONTOLOGICAL EDUCATION

The Center for Studies in Aging at the University of North Texas was among the first to offer graduate training in aging. The primary objective was to develop and implement a curriculum in long‐term care administration. In the years since its establishment in 1967, the center has adapted its course offerings to meet the needs and career goals of a variety of students. Results of a 20‐year alumni survey are presented. The selected characteristics are instructive and suggest new directions for future recruitment efforts.
Interstitial associations of cells lining air spaces in human pulmonary fibrosis

An ultrastructural study of the cells that line air spaces in human pulmonary fibrosis is reported. Intimate associations between these cells and cellular elements in the interstitium were consistently found in biopsies from 25 cases. Cytoplasmic extensions of cuboidal pneumocytes protruded through discontinuities in the subjacent basement membrane. Attenuated cells having structural properties of fibroblasts were situated on connective tissue that formed the walls of numerous air spaces. In this situation, a basement membrane was not demonstrable. These heretofore undescribed features suggest a dynamic interaction between certain mesenchymal and epithelial elements in the fibrotic lung.
Proteomic assessment of the acute phase of dystrophin deficiency in mdx mice

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is caused by the absence of a functional dystrophin protein and is modeled by the mdx mouse. The mdx mouse suffers an early necrotic bout in the hind limb muscles lasting from approximately 4 to 7 weeks. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the extent to which dystrophin deficiency changed the proteome very early in the disease process. In order to accomplish this, proteins from gastrocnemius from 6-week-old C57 (n = 6) and mdx (n = 6) mice were labeled with fluorescent dye and subjected to two-dimensional differential in-gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE). Resulting differentially expressed spots were excised and protein identity determined via MALDI-TOF followed by database searching using MASCOT. Proteins of the immediate energy system and glycolysis were generally down-regulated in mdx mice compared to C57 mice. Conversely, expression of proteins involved in the Kreb’s cycle and electron transport chain were increased in dystrophin-deficient muscle compared to control. Expression of cytoskeletal components, including tubulins, vimentin, and collagen, were increased in mdx mice compared to C57 mice. Importantly, these changes are occurring at only 6 weeks of age and are caused by acute dystrophin deficiency rather than more chronic injury. These data may provide insight regarding early pathologic changes occurring in dystrophin-deficient skeletal muscle.
North American Passion Plays: “The Greatest Story Ever Told” in the New Millenium

North American outdoor passion plays are not marginal theatrical sites; focusing critical attention on these faith-based dramas is particularly urgent in the context of the rise of religiosity in U.S. politics. The amateur evangelical shows offer troubling representations of Jews, racial exclusivity, and implicit assumptions of authenticity; yet, as community theatre endeavors, they hold forth possibilities for innovative iconography.
Observations of elevated particle number concentration events at a rural site in New England

[1] Particle number (PN) concentrations collected over a 4-year period at the Thompson Farm atmospheric observatory in New Hampshire in conjunction with the Atmospheric Investigation, Regional, Modeling, Analysis and Prediction (AIRMAP) program are reported here. One hundred and ninety-five elevated PN events, occurring on approximately 7.5% of sampled days, were identified on the basis of PN concentration statistics. Events were segregated into five event types defined according to auxiliary measurements and event duration. A distinct seasonality is observed, with PN concentrations peaking in the winter and PN event observation most frequent in the spring. Long-lived PN events associated with clean, northwesterly flow and PN events associated with primary pollutant plumes were observed most frequently, each making up 33% of all identified events. PN events characterized by air masses enriched in sulfur dioxide and originating southeast of Thompson Farm contributed 20% of the total PN events. All PN events are well correlated with solar intensity, with estimated particle diameters during events well below 100 nm. No relationship between PN concentrations and temperature or precipitation could be identified on either seasonal or daily timescales. PN events described here are unique and exclusive of other aerosol mass loading events previously identified at Thompson Farm.
Tetrahedral and octahedral coordination for cobalt(II) complexes of N-isopropyl-2-pyrrolidinone

Abstract Complexes of the formulas [Co(NIPP)4](ClO4)2 and [Co(NIPP)6](ClO4)2 have been synthesized and isolated (NIPP = N-isopropyl-2-pyrrolidinone). IR spectra and conductance data are presented as proof that perchlorate coordination in [Co(NIPP)4](ClO4)2 does not occur. Vibrational spectra indicate that coordination occurs through the NIPP carbonyl oxygen for both complexes. Spectral parameters obtained from the electronic spectra and magnetic moments indicate tetrahedral and octahedral coordination for [Co(NIPP)4](ClO4)2 and [Co(NIPP)6](ClO4)2, respectively. The powder X-ray diffraction data appear to support the assignments of these two geometries. The crystal-field prediction that Δ(Td)/Δ(Oh) = 0.44 is in reasonably good agreement with the experimental results.
Genie Pro: robust image classification using shape, texture, and spectral information

We present Genie Pro, a new software tool for image analysis produced by the ISIS (Intelligent Search in Images and Signals) group at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Like the earlier GENIE tool produced by the same group, Genie Pro is a general purpose adaptive tool that derives automatic pixel classification algorithms for satellite/aerial imagery, from training input provided by a human expert. Genie Pro is a complete rewrite of our earlier work that incorporates many new ideas and concepts. In particular, the new software integrates spectral information; and spatial cues such as texture, local morphology and large-scale shape information; in a much more sophisticated way. In addition, attention has been paid to how the human expert interacts with the software: Genie Pro facilitates highly efficient training through an interactive and iterative “training dialog”. Finally, the new software runs on both Linux and Windows platforms, increasing its versatility. We give detailed descriptions of the new techniques and ideas in Genie Pro, and summarize the results of a recent evaluation of the software.
Tunable hyaluronic acid hydrogels to alter and understand left ventricular remodeling

Heart disease causes about 15% of deaths in the United States; about two thirds of these cases are due to coronary artery disease [1]. Post myocardial infarction (MI), left ventricular (LV) remodeling ensues and leads to geometric changes that result in dilation and thinning of the myocardial wall. This increases stress in the infarct and healthy tissue and ultimately results in heart failure. Injectable bulking agents have recently emerged as a promising therapy to address these maladaptive changes. As suggested by the Law of Laplace, thickening of the myocardium should decrease stress on the heart and potentially attenuate the negative effects of LV remodeling [2].Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Effects of Lightning in the Upper Atmosphere: AGU Chapman Conference on Effects of Thunderstorms and Lightning in the Upper Atmosphere; University Park, Pennsylvania, 10–14 May 2009

The serendipitous observation in 1989 of electrical discharge in the high atmosphere induced by thundercloud lightning launched a new field of geophysical investigation. From this single unexpected observation sprang a vigorous and fertile new research field that simultaneously encompasses geophysical disciplines that are normally pursued independently, such as meteorology and lightning, plasma and gas discharge physics, atmospheric chemistry, ionospheric physics, and energetic particle physics. Transient electrical discharge in the upper atmosphere spans the full range of altitudes between the tropopause and the ionosphere and takes a variety of forms that carry the whimsical names red sprites, blue jets, gigantic jets, elves (emissions of light and very low frequency perturbations from electromagnetic pulse sources), and sprite halos, collectively known as transient luminous events (TLEs). To date, TLEs have been observed from ground and airborne or space borne platforms above thunderstorm systems worldwide, and radio observations made concomitantly with optical observations have shown that they are produced by the transient far fields of thundercloud lightning. TLEs appear to be large-scale (tens of kilometers in dimension), upper atmospheric versions of conventional gas discharge akin to weakly ionized, collision-dominated systems found in laboratory discharge devices (millimeter-centimeter dimensions), with characteristic energies of a few electron volts. The dominant physical processes have been identified as described by the familiar kinetic theory of the photochemistry of the upper atmosphere, but with electric field—driven electron impact ionization playing the role of photolysis or energetic precipitating particle—induced ionization.
Interactive Generation of Object Models with a Manipulator

Manipulator programs in a high-level language consist of manipulation procedures and object model declarations. As higher level languages are developed, the procedures will shrink while the declarations will grow. This trend makes it desirable to develop means for automating the generation of these declarations. A system is proposed which would permit users to specify certain object models interactively, using the manipulator itself as a measuring tool in three dimensions. A preliminary version of the system has been tested.
Protein Binding of Coumarin Anticoagulants in Disease States

Excessive hypoprothrombinaemia accompanying the use of coumarin oral anticoagulants may be associated with changes in coumarin disposition which, in turn, can arise from changes in coumarin plasma protein binding. Coumarins bind extensively to human serum albumin with primary binding affinity constants of approximately 105 L/mole. The nature of coumarin-albumin binding is chiefly hydrophobic although hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions are also involved. Differences in analytical techniques and conditions have given rise to varied values for numbers of binding sites, binding affinity constants, and extent of albumin, serum, or plasma binding. However, the extent of coumarin binding appears to hold relatively constant over expected therapeutic concentration ranges. The plasma binding of warfarin is characterised by marked interindividual differences.
Low-temperature growth morphology of singular and vicinal Ge(001)

Scanning tunneling microscopy is used to study the nonequilibrium surface morphology of singular and vicinal Ge(001) grown by molecular-beam epitaxy. Growth on substrates with $\ensuremath{\approx}0.1\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ miscut produces patterns of nearly symmetrical growth mounds over a wide range of growth temperature, $60lTl230\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\mathrm{C}$ and film thickness, $0.5lhl1000\mathrm{nm}.$ The characteristic slope or aspect ratio of the growth mounds increases with film thickness. Analysis of the onset of mound formation gives an estimate of the Ehrlich-Schwoebel length; ${l}_{\mathrm{ES}}$ is approximately equal to the surface lattice constant and independent of temperature. This small value for ${l}_{\mathrm{ES}}$ implies either a weak repulsive barrier $(\ensuremath{\Delta}{E}_{d}\ensuremath{\sim}{k}_{B}T)$ at descending steps or a step-adatom attraction $(\ensuremath{\Delta}{E}_{a}g{k}_{B}T)$ at ascending steps. Buffer layers grown at $T=365\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\mathrm{C}$ on vicinal substrates (9\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} miscut towards [110]) show (115) facets. Low-temperature growth on vicinal surfaces (6\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and 9\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} miscuts at $T=155$ and 230 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C) produces highly anisotropic growth ridges oriented along the miscut direction with larger roughness amplitude and smaller in-plane length scales than mounds produced by the same growth conditions on singular substrates. At 230 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C, the slopes of the growth ridges are stabilized by the (105) surface.
Transcriptional control of an essential ribozyme in Drosophila reveals an ancient evolutionary divide in animals.

Ribonuclease P (RNase P) is an essential enzyme required for 5′-maturation of tRNA. While an RNA-free, protein-based form of RNase P exists in eukaryotes, the ribonucleoprotein (RNP) form is found in all domains of life. The catalytic component of the RNP is an RNA known as RNase P RNA (RPR). Eukaryotic RPR genes are typically transcribed by RNA polymerase III (pol III). Here we showed that the RPR gene in Drosophila, which is annotated in the intron of a pol II-transcribed protein-coding gene, lacks signals for transcription by pol III. Using reporter gene constructs that include the RPR-coding intron from Drosophila, we found that the intron contains all the sequences necessary for production of mature RPR but is dependent on the promoter of the recipient gene for expression. We also demonstrated that the intron-coded RPR copurifies with RNase P and is required for its activity. Analysis of RPR genes in various animal genomes revealed a striking divide in the animal kingdom that separates insects and crustaceans into a single group in which RPR genes lack signals for independent transcription and are embedded in different protein-coding genes. Our findings provide evidence for a genetic event that occurred approximately 500 million years ago in the arthropod lineage, which switched the control of the transcription of RPR from pol III to pol II.
Drug synergy of tenofovir and nanoparticle-based antiretrovirals for HIV prophylaxis.

Background The use of drug combinations has revolutionized the treatment of HIV but there is no equivalent combination product that exists for prevention, particularly for topical HIV prevention. Strategies to combine chemically incompatible agents may facilitate the discovery of unique drug-drug activities, particularly unexplored combination drug synergy. We fabricated two types of nanoparticles, each loaded with a single antiretroviral (ARV) that acts on a specific step of the viral replication cycle. Here we show unique combination drug activities mediated by our polymeric delivery systems when combined with free tenofovir (TFV).
The good, the bad and the lonely

In game theory, 'loners' who choose not to participate in fact promote cooperation between players. The dynamics of the game show phase transitions and complex phenomena reminiscent of statistical physics.
Anisotropic thermodynamic and transport properties of single-crystalline Ba 1 − x K x Fe 2 As 2 ( x = 0 and 0.45)

Single crystals of ${\text{BaFe}}_{2}{\text{As}}_{2}$ and ${\text{Ba}}_{0.55}{\text{K}}_{0.45}{\text{Fe}}_{2}{\text{As}}_{2}$ have been grown out of excess Sn with 1% or less incorporation of solvent. The crystals are exceptionally micaceous, are easily exfoliated, and can have dimensions as large as $3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}0.2\text{ }{\text{mm}}^{3}$. The ${\text{BaFe}}_{2}{\text{As}}_{2}$ single crystals manifest a structural phase transition from a high-temperature tetragonal phase to a low-temperature orthorhombic phase near 85 K and do not show any sign of superconductivity down to 1.8 K. This transition can be detected in the electrical resistivity, Hall resistivity, specific heat, and the anisotropic magnetic susceptibility. In the ${\text{Ba}}_{0.55}{\text{K}}_{0.45}{\text{Fe}}_{2}{\text{As}}_{2}$ single crystals this transition is suppressed and instead superconductivity occurs with a transition temperature near 30 K. Whereas the superconducting transition is easily detected in resistivity and magnetization measurements, the change in specific heat near ${T}_{c}$ is small, but resolvable, giving $\ensuremath{\Delta}{C}_{p}/\ensuremath{\gamma}{T}_{c}\ensuremath{\approx}1$. The application of a 140 kOe magnetic field suppresses ${T}_{c}$ by only $\ensuremath{\sim}4\text{ }\text{K}$ when applied along the $c$ axis and by $\ensuremath{\sim}2\text{ }\text{K}$ when applied perpendicular to the $c$ axis. The ratio of the anisotropic upper critical fields, $\ensuremath{\gamma}={H}_{c2}^{\ensuremath{\perp}c}/{H}_{c2}^{\ensuremath{\parallel}c}$, varies between 2.5 and 3.5 for temperatures down to $\ensuremath{\sim}2\text{ }\text{K}$ below ${T}_{c}$.
Efficient Static Analysis and Design of Flexible Risers

An improved cable element for static analysis is presented based on the equations of an elastic catenary. The element includes an algorithm for adaptive discretisation when fluid drag forces are present. Hence, a single element can be used to model many marine cables, regardless of length. The element is applied to flexible riser analysis and preliminary design, which is automated by solving a nonlinear programming problem. Results demonstrate that a practical automated design method can be developed following the procedure presented here.
Automatic information extraction from the web: case study with recipes

We implemented a system that automatically extract information from web pages and store them in a database system for easy processing. Our system only requires to user to provide the underlying database structure to work. In addition, our system also make use of existing information we extracted to improve accuracy. We use the recipe domain to illustrate our work, and initial experiment results (of 70% accuracy) provide encouraging signs that this method will be effective on other domains.
Intergenerational recruiting: the impact of sales job candidate perception of interviewer age

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine the effects from perceptions of age disadvantageness when job candidates are interviewing with recruiters from different age groups. More specifically, the authors examine the issues of intergenerational recruiting through the lens of social identity theory (SIT) and relational demography. Using these theoretical underpinnings, problems that result from dissatisfaction with between group inequities in the recruiting process are explored. Design/methodology/approach – Using these theoretical underpinnings, problems that result from dissatisfaction with between group inequities in the recruiting process are explored. Results from a survey of 176 undergraduate students actively pursuing sales positions provide evidence that candidate perceptions are influenced by age of the interviewer. Findings – The results support that sales job candidates do indeed feel disadvantaged when interviewed by older recruiters. Compared to interviewers from a more similar age ...
High-Risk Drinking Among Female College Drinkers at Two Reporting Intervals: Comparing Spring Break to the 30 Days Prior

Alcohol use has increased among college women in the past decade, and although event-specific high-risk drinking is common among college students, few studies have focused on Spring Break-specific high-risk drinking and other risk behaviors among female college drinkers. As such, we compared substance use (e.g., alcohol and marijuana use) and engagement in other risk behaviors (e.g., riding with an impaired driver) in the 30 days prior (T1) and during Spring Break (T2) in a sample of 86 female college drinkers (mean age = 19.9, SD = 1.3, 18–23 years). Participants were recruited on a public beach during their Spring Break vacation and were administered a survey that included the TWEAK, a brief screener to identify alcohol use disorder (AUD) risk. Initial results indicated that heavy alcohol use, riding with an alcohol-impaired driver, and marijuana use were high during T1 and increased significantly during T2. The TWEAK results indicated that 78% of respondents were at high AUD risk, yet only 25% felt the need to reduce their alcohol consumption. OLS regression results indicated significant relationships between changes in engagement in risk behaviors at T2 as compared to T1 across a number of sample characteristics and TWEAK indicators (e.g., age at first drink; age at first sex). Implications for prevention programming targeting female college drinkers are discussed.
Alignment Tolerance As A Figure Of Merit For Optical Design

Real world optical systems have optical components which are not perfectly aligned. The alignment errors degrade image quality.1,2 The effects of expected alignment errors must be analyzed for each potential optical design to objectively evaluate its anticipated "as built" performance. The value of using optical alignment tolerancing as a figure of merit in the optical design phase of a catadioptric lens is demonstrated. The result is a high performance optical system which can be sized for hand held airborne reconnaissance or long range spaceborne reconnaissance. The effects of sizing on alignment tolerance are presented.© (1984) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Cholesterol homeostasis in rats fed a purified diet

Abstract The rate of whole body cholesterol synthesis was measured in male Sprague-Dawley rats fed either a standard chow, cereal-based diet or a semi-synthetic purified diet consisting of casein, sucrose and lard. The purified diet significantly decreased daily fecal excretion of neutral and acidic sterols, the specific activity of hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase, the bile acid pool size, and total daily cholesterol synthesis in the rat, while increasing plasma cholesterol concentrations and the total body content of cholesterol. The increased body content of cholesterol occurred primarily in muscle and connective tissue and not in the liver. The data demonstrate the importance of quantitating the net tissue accumulation of cholesterol for accurate measurement of daily sterol synthesis in growing animals when sterol balance measurements are used. Tissue accumulation accounted for 7% of total daily cholesterol synthesis in rats fed the cereal diet, and 20% of daily synthesis in animals fed the purified diet.
Designing behavioural and social science to impact practice and policy in HIV prevention and care

Heterosexual transmission of HIV is rising in the US but male-to-male sex and IV drug use still are the major modes of HIV transmission. In developing countries heterosexual transmission has always been responsible for the majority of HIV cases. The new HIV infection rate in the US is increasing quickly among youth ethnic minorities and the urban poor. 90% of new HIV infection cases are in developing countries. If current trends continue the new HIV infection rate will stabilize in developed countries. Research must focus on studying the unique aspects of the HIV epidemic among the populations now at most risk of HIV understanding the determinants of high risk behaviors and adverse consequences of HIV infection in these groups assessing strategies for reducing their exposure to HIV and helping people and societies in managing the effects of HIV infection. Research and model programs should identify the best ways to make sure that behavioral and social science interacts closely with HIV prevention and care services e.g. US President Clintons HIV Prevention Community Planning Councils. The Center for AIDS Prevention Studies at the University of California San Francisco has conducted research worldwide examining determinants of HIV risk for women cultural determinants of high-risk behavior among Latinos and structural and environmental determinants of risk. There have been trials of innovative interventions among young gay men (the interplay between basic science and these interventions) pre-sexually active adolescents heterosexuals in central Africa (HIV prevention) and commercial sex workers in Bombay India. One particular innovative intervention is coping effectiveness training. Ethical issues facing HIV behavioral science services and policies revolve around HIV testing assisted suicide and euthanasia and HIV prophylactic vaccine trials. Most obstacles to effective HIV prevention and care are in policy so policy-relevant research is needed. Such areas to study include syringe exchanges HIV prevention as a good investment and repeat negative testers.
Effects of insulin and phospholipase A on glucose transport across the plasma membrane of free adipose cells.

Evidence is presented that d-glucose enters the basement membrane-free, isolated rat adipose cell by a facilitated transport mechanism which was stimulated to similar degrees by low concentrations of insulin and Naja naja snake venom. The available evidence permits the provisional conclusion that the snake venom factor responsible for the effects on glucose transport is phospholipase A (phosphatide acylhydrolase, EC 3.1.1.4). Evidence is also presented that insulin and phospholipase A stimulated the same rate-limiting step in the overall process of glucose entry into adipose cells. Relatively high concentrations of Naja venom phospholipase A drastically inhibited glucose utilization by free adipose cells, and cells so treated were insensitive to insulin. The effects on glucose utilization of both low and high concentrations of the phospholipase were modified by exogenous phosphatidyl serine and choline. Evidence was obtained for and against the suggestion that the effects of phospholipase A on facilitated transport of glucose may be due to hydrolysis of plasma membrane phospholipids. Phospholipase A stimulated facilitated transport; stimulations due to the enzyme were partially reversed by venom antiserum, and such cells remained sensitive to insulin ; stimulations due to insulin were partially reversed by anti-insulin serum, and such cells remained sensitive to phospholipase A ; and, semiquantitative Chromatographic analysis of adipose cell phospholipids revealed no obvious increase in the amount of lysophosphatidyl choline following incubation of cells with low concentrations of phospholipase A. On the other hand, low concentrations of exogenous lysophosphatidyl choline and ethanolamine stimulated, and higher concentrations inhibited, glucose utilization by adipose cells; calcium ions were required for the effects of phospholipase A on adipose cells ; and kinetic analysis of the stimulatory effects of phospholipase A on glucose transport suggested preliminary enzymatic catalytic activity. Insulin, itself, was devoid of phospholipase A-like activity with phospholipid substrates. However, the stimulation of glucose transport by one preparation of highly active, glucagon-free insulin exhibited kinetics resembling those seen with phospholipase A.
Polarization rejection of scattered incident laser light in resonance fluorescence flame atomic detection

Abstract In the detection of trace atomic species by resonance fluorescence, scattering of the incident light may cause a significant interference. Fluorescence detection of flame atomized sodium in the presence of intense scattering resulting from the combustion of aluminium in an air-acetylene flame was investigated. A linearly polarized cw dye laser was used as the excitation source. Due to the high polarization of the scattered light, insertion of a polarizer in the detection optics allowed effective rejection of this interference. Improvements in the signal-to-noise and background ratios of 460 and 200, respectively were observed upon introduction of the polarizer. Further improvement was observed employing harmonic saturated spectroscopy.
Temporal Characteristics of the Straddle Effect (Buffy Contrast Adaptation) and Modeling with On-Off Neurons

* Columbia University, Department of Psychology, New York, NY ** Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Dominick Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Bronx, NY Norma Graham*, S. Sabina Wolfson* & Carlyn A. Patterson** To print on 4 pages: On “General” page set “CustomScale” to “26” and on “Setup” page set “Tiling” to “Tile Imageable Areas” * VSS 2012 Board size: 4 feet x 8 feet (122 cm x 244 cm) -48 inches x 96 inches * Poster printer can do 42 inches by whatever * It looks like last time I made the poster 42 x 80 and then left some white space on sides and bottom, this was based on what we learned prior years (any taller and it doesn’t fit on board well, we found 84 wide to be hard to work with because stuff was so far away) * I have a note that says “ print poster over network from ai on my laptop” -I think I would go to the poster room and do this usually
Elementary neuronal dysfunctions in schizophrenia

This paper describes an elementary deficit in sensory processing in people with schizophrenia. If paired sounds are presented to normal subjects, the response to the first sound, as measured by the P50 wave of the auditory-evoked potential, is much greater than the response to the second sound. The diminished response to the second sound is an example of a sensory gating mechanism that enables people to regulate their vigilance so that they can either detect all sounds in the environment or ignore most of them, in favor of narrowing the focus of their concentration. In schizophrenia, this mechanism is usually deficient; patients are in a state of hypervigilance and have diminished abilities to focus their attention. The deficiency appears to be genetically determined and to involve the brainstem control of sensory input to the hippocampus. Such sensory gating deficits may underlie more complex psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions. Further studies of their neurobiology could lead to increased understanding of the pathophysiology of schizophrenia.
An Exploratory Factor Analysis of the Brief COPE with a Sample of Kenyan Caregivers

Given the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Kenya, more Kenyans now find themselves in the role of informal caregiver for a family member or multiple family members living with HIV/AIDS. However, there exists little research on how these individuals cope. The present study explores coping responses among caregivers for family members living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya. An exploratory factor analysis of the Brief COPE yielded five factors, with strong loadings on Emotional Support and Instrumental Support. Implications for using the Brief COPE in research and clinical practice among Kenyans are discussed.