cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Institutional bias and medicaid use in nursing homes

Abstract When analyzing long term care, researchers and policy-makers alike tend to focus on the process of spenddown, overlooking the more sizable portion of nursing home residents who are already receiving Medicaid upon admission to nursing homes. In this article I use National Nursing Home Survey (1985) data to examine the 36 percent of nursing home residents who are already receiving Medicaid upon admission. I find that whites, men, and married persons are significantly less likely to receive Medicaid than their counterparts. Explanations for the high rate of Medicaid use upon admission include advancing old age, spenddown during previous nursing home stays, spenddown in the community and income differences in the propensity to use nursing homes. Dissatisfied with these hypotheses, I posit an alternative: ultimately, Medicaid's institutional bias provides the soundest explanation. Federal regulations permit states to set Medicaid income tests as low as 75% of the federal poverty line in the community and as high as 225% for nursing home applicants. Thirty states have no income limit whatsoever for nursing home residents.
The Lower Frequencies: On Hearing the Stirrings of Transnational Partisanship

Ten years from now, what will be the dominant terms of public discourse in politics? At a dinner party in March (2005), I offered a spur-of-the-moment prediction: that the U.S. would have troops in Iraq, all told, for twenty years, by which point we (I spoke as a citizen) would have forgotten why we were there in the first place. Until then, we would stay in Iraq, I continued, in order to keep a Shiite Iraq from growing too close to a Shiite Iran. Another guest countered that the language and cultural barriers between Iraq and Iran would trump shared religious doctrine and practice. On one level, my comment was a watered-down Platonicism—an eyebrow raised at democratic fickleness: democrats, to paraphrase Plato, are people who don't stay the course. On another level, however, our exchange made note of the fact that much of world politics these days is about the interaction not between states but between ethnoi and states.Danielle Allen (dsallen@uchicago.edu) is dean of the humanities and professor of political science at the University of Chicago.
A divisibility property for a subgroup of Riordan matrices

We identify a subgroup of Riordan matrices whose entries share the well-known divisibility property displayed by the entries of the Pascal matrix. We also establish a one-to-one correspondence between the matrices of the subgroup and sets of weighted lattice walks.
Estimating high mosquito-producing rice fields using spectral and spatial data

The cultivation of irrigated rice provides ideal larval habitat for a number of anopheline vectors of malaria throughout the world. Anopheles freeborni, a potential vector of human malaria, is associated with the nearly 240,000 hectares of irrigated rice grown annually in Northern and Central California; therefore, this species can serve as a model for the study of rice field anopheline population dynamics. Analysis of field data revealed that rice fields with early season canopy development, that are located near bloodmeal sources (i.e., pastures with livestock) were more likely to produce anopheline larvae than fields with less developed canopies located further from pastures. Remote sensing reflectance measurements of early-season canopy development and geographic information system (GIS) measurements of distanes between rice fields and pastures with livestock were combined to distinguish between high and low mosquito-producing rice fields. Using spectral and distance measures in either a discriminant or Bayesian analysis, the identification of high mosquito-producing fields was made with 85 percent accuracy nearly two months before anopheline larval populations peaked. Since omission errors were also minimized by these approaches, they could provide a new basis for directing abatement techniques for the control of malaria vectors.
30 Gsample/s time-stretch analogue-to-digital converter

High speed analogue-to-digital conversion using a photonic time-stretch preprocessor followed by an electronic digitiser is demonstrated. The preprocessing increases the effective sampling rate and input bandwidth of the digitiser. The system exhibits 30 Gsample/s sampling rate with 26 dB signal-to-noise ratio over a 4 GHz bandwidth.
Metrics of positive ricci curvature with large diameter

Examples are constructed of n-manifolds of positive Ricci curvature with almost maximal diameter, consistent with Myer's theorem, which are not homotopy equivalent to the n-sphere. This implies that the topological rigidity associated to the metric rigidity of Myer's theorem, fails in this case. Similar results hold for the estimate of the first eigenvalue of the Laplace operator.
NIGHTGLOW: An Instrument to Measure the Earth's Nighttime Ultraviolet Glow - Results from the First Engineering Flight

We have designed and built an instrument to measure and monitor the "nightglow" of the Earth's atmosphere in the near ultraviolet (NUV). In this paper we describe the design of this instrument, called NIGHTGLOW. NIGHTGLOW is designed to be flown-from a high altitude research balloon, and circumnavigate the globe. NIGHTGLOW is a NASA, University of Utah, and New Mexico State University project. A test flight took place from Palestine, Texas on July 5, 2000, lasting about 8 hours. The instrument performed well and landed safely in Stiles, Texas with little damage. The resulting measurements of the NUV nightglow are consistent with previous measurements from sounding rockets and balloons. The results will be presented and discussed.
Tetrahedrally symmetric DX-like states of substitutional donors in GaAs and AlxGa1-xAs alloys.

The structural and electronic properties of Si, Ge, Sn, S, Se, and Te substitutional donors in GaAs are examined via self-consistent pseudopotential calculations. Two distinct negatively charged DX-like deep donor states are found. The first has a broken-bond atomic configuration while the second arises from a symmetric ``breathing-mode'' relaxation around the impurity. The energies of the two configurations are especially close for Sn, Se, and Te donors. Experimental data on DX centers in ${\mathrm{Al}}_{\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$As alloys are analyzed within this model.
Large area pumped limiter experiments in MACROTOR

A large area pumped limiter, similar in principle to designs proposed for prototype reactors, was tested on MACROTOR. Scaling of neutral pressure with plasma density reveals a two-regime feature: a linear regime of low plasma density and a non-linear regime at high plasma density. In the high density regime,P ∝ nm where 2.5 < m < 3.5. The non-linear interactions come into play when the charge exchange mean free path equals the effective scale length of the channel structure. Energy flux propagating down the pump duct was measured as a function of axial position. The energy flux e-folding length is approximately one diameter near the mouth of the duct. The decay is much slower as the axial position into the duct is increased.
Molecular and Genetic Analyses of Collagen Type IV Mutant Mouse Models of Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage Identify Mechanisms for Stroke Prevention

Background—Collagen type IV alpha1 (COL4A1) and alpha2 (COL4A2) form heterotrimers critical for vascular basement membrane stability and function. Patients with COL4A1 or COL4A2 mutations suffer from diverse cerebrovascular diseases, including cerebral microbleeds, porencephaly, and fatal intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). However, the pathogenic mechanisms remain unknown, and there is a lack of effective treatment. Methods and Results—Using Col4a1 and Col4a2 mutant mouse models, we investigated the genetic complexity and cellular mechanisms underlying the disease. We found that Col4a1 mutations cause abnormal vascular development, which triggers small-vessel disease, recurrent hemorrhagic strokes, and age-related macroangiopathy. We showed that allelic heterogeneity, genetic context, and environmental factors such as intense exercise or anticoagulant medication modulated disease severity and contributed to phenotypic heterogeneity. We found that intracellular accumulation of mutant collagen in vascular endo...
Patterns of benthic mega-invertebrate habitat associations in the Pacific Northwest continental shelf waters

As human impacts and demands for ocean space increase (fisheries, aquaculture, marine reserves, renewable energy), identification of marine habitats hosting sensitive biological assemblages has become a priority. Epifaunal invertebrates, especially the structure-forming species, are an increasing conservation concern as many traditional (bottom-contact fishing) and novel (marine renewable energy) ocean uses have the potential to displace or otherwise impact these slow-growing organisms. The differences in mega-invertebrate species assemblages between high-relief rocks and low-relief sediments are well documented and likely hold for most marine environments. In anticipation of potential development of marine renewable energy faculties off Oregon and Washington (USA), a survey of the benthic invertebrate assemblages and habitats was conducted on the continental shelf of the Pacific Northwest, using video footage collected by ROV, to more finely characterize these assemblage–habitat associations. Four main associations were found: pure mud/sand dominated by sea whips and burrowing brittle stars; mixed mud–rock (which may be further divided based on size of mixed-in rocks) characterized by various taxa at small densities; consolidated rocks characterized by high diversity and density of sessile or motile mega-invertebrates; and rubble rocks showing less diversity and density than the consolidated rocks, possibly due to the disturbance generated by movement of the unconsolidated rocks. The results of this study will help classify and map the seafloor in a way that represents benthic habitats reflective of biological species assemblage distributions, rather than solely geological features, and support conservation and management planning.
Models for deploymerizing enzymes: criteria for discrimination of models

Several models for the action of alpha amylase have been proposed to account for the nonrandom distribution of oligosaccharides in the amylase digests of polysaccharides. The preferred-attack model attempts to account for the nonrandom distribution by assuming that the probability for bond cleavage depends upon the position of the bond in the chain. The repetitive, or multiple-attack, model suggests that the nonrandom distribution of oligosaccharides arises because an amylase can form a cage-like complex with a substrate and attack it several times during a single encounter. The multiple-enzyme or dual-site model suggests that the nonrandom yield of oligosaccharides arises from the combined action of exo- and endo-enzymes. The effects of pH, inhibitors, and substrate chain-length on enzyme action have been studied in several laboratories to determine which of the three action-patterns best describes the action of alpha amylase. The influence of these variables on product distributions or enzyme action-patterns are mathematically modeled in the Appendix. The experimental data on porcine-pancreatic alpha amylase are discussed in the light of the derivations.
The effect of the magnitude of response-independent food on conditioned enhancement

Twelve hooded rats were trained to barpress for sucrose reinforcement on a variable-interval 2-min schedule. After response rates had stabilized, a respondent conditioning procedure was superimposed on the operant response baseline. The procedure involved presenting a 2-min light (CS) and following it with the delivery of response-independent food (US) while subjects barpressed for sucrose reinforcement. One group (n = 6) received a high-magnitude US (three food pellets) at the end of the 2-min light CS. A second group (n = 6) received a low-magnitude US (one food pellet) at the end of the 2-min light CS. Results showed that the low US magnitude produced an increase in barpresses during the CS. The high-magnitude US resulted in no significant change in operant baseline responding during the CS.
Transcriptional pathways associated with the slow growth phenotype of transformed Anaplasma marginale

The ability to genetically manipulate bacteria has been fundamentally important for both basic biological discovery and translational research to develop new vaccines and antibiotics. Experimental alteration of the genetic content of prokaryotic pathogens has revealed both expected functional relationships and unexpected phenotypic consequences. Slow growth phenotypes have been reported for multiple transformed bacterial species, including extracellular and intracellular pathogens. Understanding the genes and pathways responsible for the slow growth phenotype provides the opportunity to develop attenuated vaccines as well as bacteriostatic antibiotics. Transformed Anaplasma marginale, a rickettsial pathogen, exhibits slow growth in vitro and in vivo as compared to the parent wild type strain, providing the opportunity to identify the underlying genes and pathways associated with this phenotype. Whole genome transcriptional profiling allowed for identification of specific genes and pathways altered in transformed A. marginale. Genes found immediately upstream and downstream of the insertion site, including a four gene operon encoding key outer membrane proteins, were not differentially transcribed between wild type and transformed A. marginale. This lack of significant difference in transcription of flanking genes and the large size of the insert relative to the genome were consistent with a trans rather than a cis effect. Transcriptional profiling across the complete genome identified the most differentially transcribed genes, including an iron transporter, an RNA cleaving enzyme and several genes involved in translation. In order to confirm the trend seen in translation-related genes, K-means clustering and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) were applied. These algorithms allowed evaluation of the behavior of genes as groups that share transcriptional status or biological function. Clustering and GSEA confirmed the initial observations and found additional pathways altered in transformed A. marginale. Three pathways were significantly altered as compared to the wild type: translation, translation elongation, and purine biosynthesis. Identification of perturbed genes and networks through genome wide transcriptional profiling highlights the relevance of pathways such as nucleotide biosynthesis, translation, and translation elongation in the growth phenotype of obligate intracellular bacteria. These genes and pathways provide specific targets for development of slow growing attenuated vaccines and for bacteriostatic antibiotics.
Mandibular movements and jaw muscles' activity while voluntarily chewing at different rates.

Abstract As a way of learning about the motor control of chewing, we studied how well a subject could voluntarily chew in time with a metronome and defined the changes in the spatial and temporal aspects of the chewing pattern with changes in chewing rate. Timing and extent of mandibular movements were assessed in nine adults from Kinesiograph recordings; timing and level of activity in digastric and both masseter muscles were determined from surface EMGs. Each subject chewed gum in time with a metronome set randomly at 46, 100, 160 beats per minute or at a frequency close to his automatic chewing rate. Cycle-by-cycle analysis showed that subjects varied in their ability to keep pace with the metronome. When chewing at high frequencies, six subjects reduced gape, three did not. Contralateral deflection in opening, when present, was significantly reduced when chewing at high frequencies and this decrease was independent of vertical gape. Durations of opening, closing, and occlusal phases decreased in proportion to the decrease in total cycle duration. Burst duration of digastric activity decreased about 29% compared with a 77% decrease in cycle duration over all chewing rates. At low frequencies onset of digastric activity occurred after onset of opening. At high frequencies digastric onset preceded opening. Burst durations of both masseter muscles decreased in concert with the decrease in cycle duration. Termination of activity in both masseters was synchronous and always occurred 100 ± 20 ms prior to the next opening. Therefore, we conclude that (i) individuals vary in ability and strategy for controlling chewing rate voluntarily and (ii) with increases in chewing rates the shortening of burst duration for the digastrics is significantly less than for the masseters.
Abstract 5047: Synergistic anti-cancer activity of the CDK4/6 inhibitor PD-0332991 in combination with 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy in human colon cancer cells

Background: The cell cycle activator cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) is overexpressed in many cancers and is a promising target for novel anti-cancer therapies. PD-0332991 (Pfizer, Inc) is a highly specific CDK4/6 inhibitor that has proven anti-cancer efficacy in multiple pre-clinical models, and is currently undergoing Phase II clinical testing in humans. PD-0332991 inhibits tumor cell growth by inducing cell cycle arrest. Sequential therapy with PD-0332991 followed by DNA damaging cytotoxic chemotherapy could produce additive or synergistic anti-cancer effects. Our goal was to assess the anti-tumor efficacy of a combination of PD-0332991 and cytotoxic chemotherapy in vitro, and in vivo. We also sought to determine the mechanisms of anti-cancer activity seen with combination therapy. Methods: First, using human colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines, we performed in vitro cell growth assays to determine the effects of a combination of PD-0332991 and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or oxaliplatin. Next, we tested the activity of PD-0332991, oral capecitabine (an oral 5-FU prodrug), or both in mice bearing human CRC xenografts. Finally, we assessed the mechanisms of cell death in vitro and in resected xenograft tumor samples. Results: The combination of PD-0332991 and 5-FU or oxaliplatin exhibited additive/synergistic anti-cancer activity, in vitro. Furthermore, synergistic anti-cancer activity was observed in mice bearing xenografts of HCT 116 human CRC cells upon treatment with a combination of PD-0332991 and capecitabine. Virtually no anti-tumor activity was observed in mice treated with PD-0332991 or capecitabine alone. In assessing the mechanism of anti-tumor activity, in vitro and in resected xenograft samples, no increase in apoptosis was observed, as determined by annexin V and TUNEL staining. Even when cells were synchronized in G1 with PD-0332991 and then released and treated with 5-FU or oxaliplatin, there was no increase in apoptosis. Thus, assessment of alternative mechanisms of cell death, including cell senescence and autophagy are ongoing. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate an additive/synergistic anti-tumor activity with the combination of PD-0332991 and traditional cytotoxic chemotherapy. The mechanisms of anti-tumor activity have yet to be determined, but are not dependent upon apoptosis. Given the synergistic anti-tumor activity, these results suggest that a clinical trial of PD-0332991 and 5-FU-based chemotherapy is warranted. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5047.
Consideration of compression stress bulging and strut degradation in truss modeling of ductile and brittle corbels

The paper presents a newly introduced modification of the strut-and-tie model that takes into account compression stress bulging of the strut with proper attention to its degradation as tensile strains increase. The method is capable of discriminating between brittle and ductile modes of failure, thus eliminating the gross underestimation of capacity often observed in applying the truss model to brittle corbels. The proposed method provides improved corbel-capacity prediction in comparison to the provision of three design codes.
INCIDENCE OF GASTRIC ULCER IN ALBINO RATS FED DIETS DEFICIENT IN VITAMIN B (B1)

73 per cent of a group of albino rats whose diet was deficient in vitamin B have been found to have ulcerations of the gastric mucosa. A control group was found to be free from gastric lesions. Of 74 observed lesions eight were chronic, indurated ulcers resembling chronic peptic ulcer in man. The chronicity of the ulcers seems to be related to the duration rather than the degree of the deficiency. The lesions were generally located along the lesser curvature of the stomach, as is true in man. The size of the lesions in rat and man are comparable if adjustment is made for differences in the sizes of the organs.
Lewis base catalysis of bromo- and iodolactonization, and cycloetherification

Lewis base catalyzed bromo- and iodolactonization reactions have been developed and the effects of catalyst structure on rate and cyclization selectivity have been systematically explored. The effects of substrate structure on halolactonization reactions and the interaction of those effects with the effects of catalyst structure have been investigated, leading to synthetically useful improvements in cyclization selectivity. The knowledge acquired was applied to the development of Lewis base catalyzed bromo- and iodocycloetherification reactions. The ability of some of the surveyed catalysts to influence the cyclization selectivity of halolactonization reactions demonstrates their presence in the transition structure of the product-determining cyclization step. This observation implies that chiral derivatives of these catalysts have the potential to provide enantioenriched products regardless of the rates or mechanisms of halonium ion racemization.
Dendritic cells pulsed with apoptotic squamous cell carcinoma have anti-tumor effects when combined with interleukin-2.

Objectives Dendritic cells, the most potent of the antigen-presenting cells, have been widely studied as a promising tool for antitumor immunotherapies. However, little has been determined about the efficacy of dendritic cell–based therapy for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) because there are no known SCC-specific antigens. Recent reports indicate that dendritic cells can acquire antigens in the form of apoptotic cells and induce cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses. The aim of this study was to test the feasibility of adoptive dendritic cell immunotherapy against SCC by using apoptotic tumor cells as a source of tumor antigens. Study Design A poorly immunogenic SCC line KLN 205 was used to make subcutaneous tumors on the flank of DBA2/J syngeneic mice. Bone marrow–derived dendritic cells were pulsed with ultraviolet B–irradiated (apoptotic) KLN 205 cells in vitro and transferred to the opposite flank subcutaneously. Some of the animals received simultaneous intraperitoneal injections of low-dose interleukin-2. Results When combined with interleukin-2, adoptive transfers of dendritic cells that were pulsed with apoptotic SCC significantly suppressed the tumor growth (P <.001) without notable side effects. Splenic T cells of treated mice produced greater amounts of interferon-γ when restimulated with the relevant tumor (P <.001) as compared with control groups, indicative of an effective T-cell–mediated systemic immune response. Conclusion Adoptive transfer of dendritic cells pulsed with apoptotic tumor cells as a source of tumor antigens, can elicit effective antitumor responses in the poorly immunogenic SCC model when combined with interleukin-2.
Glyoxysomal acyl-CoA synthetase and oxidase from germinating elm, rape and maize seed

Abstract The activities of acyl-CoA synthetase (EC 6.2.1.3; 3) and acyl-CoA oxidase (EC 1.3.99.3; 4) in the glyoxysomes from germinating elm, maize and rape see
Structural analysis of leuconostoc dextrans containing 3-O-α-d-glucosylated α-d-glucosyl residues in both linear-chain and branch-point positions, or only in branch-point positions, by methylation and by 13C-N.M.R. spectroscopy

Abstract It had been established by methylation-structural analysis that dextran fraction S from Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-1355 has two types of α- d -glucopyranosyl residues that are linked through O-3, i.e. , 35% of the residues carry a (1→3)-bond, and ∼10% carry a (1→6)-bond in addition to a (1→3)-bond. Two similarly constituted dextrans have now been identified by methylation-structural analysis, namely, the S-type fractions from L. mesenteroides strains NRRL B-1498 and B-1501. The S-type fractions from L. mesenteroides strains B-1355, B-1498, and B-1501 are structurally differentiated from the α- d -glucans (characteristically insoluble) of certain cariogenic Streptococci which also contain both 3- O - and 3,6-di- O -substituted α- d -glucopyranosyl residues. 13 C-N.m.r. spectra have been recorded at 90° for both the S- and L-type fractions of strains B-1355, b-1498, and B-1501. The L-type fractions have a low degree of branching through 3,6-di- O -substituted α d -glucopyranosyl residues, but no 3-mono- O -substituted residues. (Dextran fraction S of Streptococcus 5000 g.l.c. instrument equipped with hydrogen-flame detectors. On-column injection of glass columns (2 mm i.d. x 1.23 m) was employed for all such chromatography. The 13 C-n.m.r. conditions and methods for preparation of dextran samples have been described(su4). In general, a Varian XL-100-15 spectrometer equipped with a Nicolet TT-100 system was employed in the Fourier-transform mode. Chemical shifts are expressed in p.p.m. relative to external tetramethylsilane, but were actually calculated by reference to the lock signal.
Modeling time-to-tumor data: analysis of the ED01 study.

Abstract The ED01 study is an experiment conducted by the National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR) of the FDA in which over 24,000 mice were exposed to the known carcinogen 2-acetylaminofluorene. The details of the experiment and analysis of the results by NCTR are documented in Staffa and Mehlman (1979). The analysis by the ED01 task force of the Society of Toxicology is in disagreement with NCTR on several issues, and is reported in Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 1:26–128. The results given in this paper are from a separate analysis aimed at adequately and parsimoniously representing the functional relationship of dose and time to the carcinogenic response. A very general nonparametric approach is applied to the data on sacrificed animals, which eliminates any complications due to a change in protocol and a voids the difficulties in combining sacrifice and non-sacrifice data. It is shown that for either liver neoplasms or bladder neoplasms as the toxicological endpoint, any model which has a factorable hazard function (one that can be factored into the product of a function of dose exclusively and a function of time exclusively) is too simplistic to accurately describe the response over the entire experimental range of dose and time. The lack of fit of the liver neoplasm data to a time-dose product model is due to data at the highest time (month 33). If these data are excluded then a factorable hazard function fits the data well, with the function of dose following a J-shaped curve and the function of time being either a simple power of time or a polynomial in time. For a power of time, the resultant probability distribution is Weibull over time with dose affecting the scale parameter, and this result is consistent with the empirical equation of Druckrey (1967). Both of the functional forms described fit the data significantly better than the previously suggested Hartley-Sielken model which utilized polynomials in both dose and time. The lack of fit of bladder neoplasms to a model with a factorable hazard function is not due to just the data at month 33 or the data at months 24 and 33 combined. Unfortunately, from the viewpoint of model fitting, the response of bladder neoplasms is fairly insensitive to changes in time and dose, except at the high extremes. This leaves only a small number of observations which are actually very useful in model validation and comparison, which means that one could only hope to discriminate between gross differences of fit. An exception to this would be where a simple model with very few parameters fits the data well, but this does not seem to be the case with the bladder tumor data.
Hormonal content of commercial fish diets and of young coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) fed these diets

Abstract Hormonal content of several varieties of commercial fish diets was determined by radioimmunoassay: Biomoist starter #2, Abernathy 1 8 - inch pellets, and a casein-based diet contained ng/g feed quantities of testosterone, 11-ketotestosterone, androstenedione, progesterone, 17α-hydroxy-20β-dihydroprogesterone, 17β-estradiol, and thyroxine. Biomoist starter #2 contained the largest quantities of steroids, followed by Abernathy and then the casein-based diet. Oregon Moist Pellets ( 3 32 and 1 8 - inch ) also contained ng/g feed quantities of thyroxine. From first exogenous feeding, coho salmon ( Oncorhynchus kisutch ) were placed on either the “high” steroid diet (Biomoist) or the “low” steroid diet (casein-based). Although concentrations of sex steroids were significantly higher in fish fed the Biomoist diet than in those fed the casein-based diet, we saw no effect of diet on sex ratios of the fish or on histology of the developing gonads. Sex steroids appeared not to be present in quantities sufficient to affect sexual differentiation.
Bone marrow involvement in breast cancer. Effect on response and tolerance to combination chemotherapy

Forty-three patients with metastatic breast cancer who had not received prior chemotherapy were divided into two groups on the basis of whether or not a bone marrow examination revealed tumor. Both groups were treated with combination chemotherapy regimens and were analyzed with regard to response and toxicity parameters. The positive marrow group had a response rate similar to that of the negative marrow group (67% vs 71%), and a slightly shorter median time to progressive disease (240 vs 258 days) and median duration of remission (213 vs 243 days). The positive marrow group had higher requirements for hematologic support and tended to have more infectious complications. The data suggest that metastatic breast cancer patients with a bone marrow examination revealing tumor, although requiring more supportive care, may be treated as effectively with combination chemotherapy as those patients in whom the marrow examination does not reveal tumor.
Theory of Circular Dichroism of Nanomaterials Comprising Chiral Molecules and Nanocrystals: Plasmon Enhancement, Dipole Interactions, and Dielectric Effects

Our calculations show that a nonchiral nanocrystal is able to dramatically change the circular dichroism (CD) of a chiral molecule when the nanocrystal and molecule form a complex and couple via dipole and multipole Coulomb interactions. Plasmon resonances of metal nanocrystals in the nanocrystal−molecule complex result in both the resonant enhancement of CD signals of molecules and the appearance of new spectral structures. Two mechanisms, in which a nanocrystal can influence the CD effect, have been identified. The first mechanism is the plasmon-induced change in the electromagnetic field inside the chiral molecule. The second is the optical absorption of the nanocrystal−molecule complex due to the chiral currents inside the metal nanocrystal induced by the dipole of the chiral molecule. The first mechanism creates a change in the angle between the effective electric and magnetic dipoles of the molecule. This mechanism can lead to symmetry breaking and to a plasmon-induced CD signal of the nonchiral mol...
A new multielectrode array for the simultaneous recording of field potentials and unit activity

A simple method is described for manufacturing a durable multielectrode array with up to 16 contact points for use in intracranial recordings of field potentials and multiple unit activity.
Primary thromboprophylaxis in patients with solid cancers

I read with interest the recent meta-analysis by Phan et al. [1] on primary prophylaxis against venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with solid cancers. It is a welcome addition to the literature. However, I have several concerns about the accuracy of the data and the interpretation of the results. First, there was inaccuracy of the data analyzed that could potentially render the results of the study invalid.
Resolving Border Disputes in Midlevel Vision

Two papers in this issue of Neuron specify the coding of border ownership, the basis of figure-ground segmentation, in early extrastriate visual cortex (area V2). Recording from a population of neurons, Qiu and von der Heydt show that border ownership assignments based on 2D images show the same bias when tested with stereopsis. Zhaoping shows that a neural model of V2 can make appropriate border assignments based on 2D images.
Near-Absent Levels of Segregational Variation Suggest Limited Opportunities for the Introduction of Genetic Variation via Homeologous Chromosome Pairing in Synthetic Neoallotetraploid Mimulus

Genetic variation is the fundamental medium of evolution. In allopolyploids, which are the product of hybridization and whole genome duplication, if homologous chromosomes always pair, then all descendants of a single diploid F1 hybrid lineage will be genetically identical. Contrarily, genetic variation among initially isogenic lineages is augmented when homeologous chromosomes pair; this added variation may contribute to phenotypic evolution. Mimulus sookensis is a naturally occurring, small-flowered allotetraploid derived from the large-flowered Mimulus guttatus and small-flowered Mimulus nasutus. Because diploid F1 hybrids between M. guttatus and M. nasutus have large flowers, phenotypic evolution post-polyploidization is implied in M. sookensis. Here, we present genetic and phenotypic analyses of synthetic neoallotetraploid Mimulus derived from a cross between M. guttatus and M. nasutus. Genetic marker data from S2 and BC1N progeny suggest that chromosomes regularly pair with their homologous counterpart. By measuring the phenotype of synthetic neoallotetraploids, we demonstrate that polyploidization per se does not induce the small flowers of M. sookensis. Moreover, phenotypic measurements of synthetic allotetraploid F2s and S4 families suggest that rare homeologous recombination events have a negligible phenotypic effect in the first few generations. In total, the results are consistent with either exceedingly rare homeologous pairing and recombination or spontaneous fragment loss. The low levels of fragment loss and phenotypic variation in neoallotetraploids suggest that homeologous recombination after polyploidization is not a major mechanism of phenotypic evolution in M. sookensis. Rather, it may be that spontaneous mutations or epigenetic changes after allopolyploidization have driven phenotypic evolution in M. sookensis.
Assessment of physicochemical properties, dissolution kinetics and storage stability of a novel strawberry confection designed for delivery of chemopreventive agents

Abstract Oral diseases are a common health concern within the United States, and have been associated with increased risk of certain chronic disease and reduced overall quality of life. A unique starch-based confection containing freeze-dried strawberries was developed for sustained, targeted phytochemical release to the oral mucosa for use in future chemoprevention trials. Sensory evaluation was used to optimize the confectionery formulation for this investigation. Physicochemical properties, scanning electron microscopy and dissolution studies revealed the effects of 14-day storage on phytochemical release from the amorphous semisolid matrix. Upon storage, moisture content decreased 4% and water was more tightly bound. Rheological testing revealed Newtonian-like response to shear below 10 s−1 and pseudoplastic behavior at higher shear. Changes in the food structure were observed with scanning electron microscopy. Total phenolics released in phosphate buffer (47.2 ± 2.7 mg GAE/L) or simulated saliva (66.7 ± 1.2 mg GAE/L) after 10 h from fresh confections was significantly (p = 0.001) greater compared to stored confections in phosphate buffer (39.0 ± 2.9 mg GAE/L) and simulated saliva (56.4 ± 1.0 mg GAE/L). Strawberry confections may be a novel strategy for localized delivery and sustained release of strawberry bioactive compounds.
Green Rust Formation from the Bioreduction of γ –FeOOH (Lepidocrocite): Comparison of Several Shewanella Species

Green rusts are mixed ferrous/ferric hydroxides that typically form under weakly acidic to alkaline conditions in suboxic environments. The recent identification of green rusts as products of the reduction of Fe(III) oxides and oxyhydroxides by Shewanella putrefaciens, a dissimilatory iron-reducing bacterium (DIRB), suggests that green rusts may play a role in the redox cycling of Fe in many aquatic and terrestrial environments. We examined the potential for green rust formation resulting from the bioreduction of lepidocrocite(γ -FeOOH) by a series of Shewanella species (S. alga BrY, S. amazonensis SB2B, S. baltica OS155, S. denitrificans OS217T, S. loihica PV-4, S. oneidensis MR-1, S. putrefaciens ATCC 8071, S. putrefaciens CN32, S. saccharophilia, and Shewanella sp. ANA-3). All Shewanella species, with the exception of S. denitrificans OS217T, were able to couple the oxidation of formate to the reduction of Fe(III) in lepidocrocite; however there were significant differences among species with respect t...
Another Moral Standard

Do we have a standing moral obligation to prevent ourselves from acting immorally in the future? Suppose that we do. How could such an obligation be met? It would not be enough simply to resolve never to act immorally again. We know that such resolutions, however sincere, are, like New Year's resolutions, not always kept. Resolutions to act morally fail to be carried out for another reason-some of us are not sure which actions are moral and which are not. Our resolution always to act morally suffers from our uncertainty about morality itself. Thus weakness of will and moral ignorance are two ways in which moral resolve may fail to be effective as a method of preventing future immoral action. The question remains: What can we presently do that will guarantee no future immoral actions by us? Most of us know that no matter how sincere our present intentions to act morally, we shall sometimes fail to live up to them. Whatever our moral ideal, occasionally we give in to anti-moral influences. Egoists surrender to sympathetic feelings and altruists endure fits of selfish behaviour. Others break promises, tell lies, or refuse to share their good fortune with others. Over any considerable period of time most of us will surely violate moral requirements. Furthermore, we know this to be true after all, we are 'only human'. Therefore, the only alternative that we presently have to acting immorally in the future is to prevent ourselves from acting in the future at all. It should be pointed out that the claim being made is not the claim that we must act immorally at some point in the future or that we are not always free to act morally. The point is simply that, in general, it is reasonable to expect that we will, on some future occasions, freely (choose to) act immorally. This expectation is reasonable regardless of the moral point of view employed. Although in each situation which arises, acting morally in that situation is always an option available to us, our present options, given that immoral actions would be committed by us in the future, are (I) our acting immorally in the future and (z) our not acting in the future at all. Thus, if the answer to the original question is 'Yes', it appears that most of us may have a present moral obligation to bring it about that we shall take no future actions. It will not be enough simply to become physically passive, for, in doing so, we may fail to comply with duties of beneficence, self-interest, etc. What must be done is to terminate altogether our respective roles as morally responsible agents. Furthermore, this must be done soon, before any immoral action is inadvertently committed. In order to avoid being rationally obligated to accept this drastic consequence, we must give a negative answer to the original question. However, as will be shown below, answering the question in this way has important ethical implications.
TRAUMATIC RUPTURE OF HORSESHOE KIDNEY WITH PARTIAL URETERAL DUPLICATION ASSOCIATED WITH SUPERNUMERARY KIDNEY

The first reported case of traumatic rupture of a horseshoe kidney with partial ureteral duplication and an associated supernumerary kidney is presented. A review of the incidence, hypothesis of embryogenesis, associated anomalous development, and acute surgical management of this unique renal anomaly is provided.
Viscosity of Soy Protein Plastics Determined by Screw-Driven Capillary Rheometry

Soy protein plastics are a renewable, biodegradable alternative to fossil fuel-based plastic resins. Processing of soy protein plastics using conventional methods (injection molding, extrusion) has met with some success. Viscosities of processable formulations that contain soy protein along with the necessary additives, such as glycerol and cornstarch, have not been reported, but are necessary for extrusion modeling and the design of extrusion dies. Resins consisting of soy protein isolate-cornstarch ratios of 4:1, 3:2, and 2:3 were plasticized with glycerol and soy oil, compounded in a twin screw extruder and adjusted to 10% moisture. The effects on viscosity of added sodium sulfite, a titanate coupling agent and recycling were evaluated using a screw-driven capillary rheometer at shear rates of 100–800/s. The viscosities fit a power-law model and were found to be shear thinning with power-law indices, n, of 0.18–0.46 and consistency indices, m, of 1.1 × 104–1.0 × 105. Power-law indices decreased and consistency indices increased with increasing soy protein-to-cornstarch ratio and in the absence of sodium sulfite. Addition of the titanate coupling agent resulted in increased power-law index and decreased consistency index. Viscosities at a shear rate of 400/s decreased with recycling, except for the 4:1 soy protein isolate to cornstarch formulation, which displayed evidence of wall slip. Power-law indices were unaffected by recycling. Viscosities in the tested shear rate range were comparable to polystyrene and low-density polyethylene indicating soy protein plastics are potential drop-in replacements for commodity resins on conventional plastics processing equipment.
Abstract C55: Involvement of oxidative stress in the antitumor effect of mTOR inhibitors in mantle cell lymphoma

Existing treatments for mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) are non‐curative, demonstrating a need for a refined treatment approach. MCLs are aggressive lymphomas, usually characterized by over‐expression of cyclin D1. Recent clinical trials have shown promising results with the use of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors. While cyclin D1 can be regulated through the mTOR pathway, treatment with mTOR inhibitors often inhibit MCL growth without altering cyclin D1. Thus, the anti‐tumor activity of mTOR inhibitors is likely mediated through other key targets. One potential target is C/EBPβ‐LIP, a transcription factor regulated through the mTOR pathway. One target of C/EBPβ gene regulation is manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), an antioxidant defense enzyme with tumor suppressor activity in some cell types. MnSOD catalyzes the dismutation of superoxide to hydrogen peroxide. Thus, it removes one form of reactive oxygen species (ROS) while generating another. Previous studies in our laboratory have shown that C/EBPβ‐LIP levels decrease with mTOR inhibitor treatment in proportion to increasing MnSOD levels. We hypothesize that the anti‐tumor effect of mTOR inhibitors in MCL is mediated by the increase in MnSOD protein expression and accumulation of ROS, specifically hydrogen peroxide. Here we investigated the effect of rapamycin on MnSOD and the levels of ROS in two human MCL‐derived cell lines. High MnSOD levels correlated with increased sensitivity of cells treated with rapamycin. To investigate the biological effects of increased MnSOD expression, we measured overall ROS levels (DCFH) and the rate of hydrogen peroxide efflux with the fluorescent probe Amplex Red, which is indicative of changes to hydrogen peroxide levels in the cells. These results showed that both overall ROS and hydrogen peroxide levels increased in parallel with MnSOD expression. These increases in hydrogen peroxide were not due to decreased levels of catalase or glutathione peroxidase. Treatment with the general ROS scavenger, N‐acetyl cysteine, reduced overall ROS, cellular levels of hydrogen peroxide, and the growth inhibitory effect of rapamycin. These findings indicate that rapamycin‐induced cytostatic effect is characterized by generation of ROS, specifically hydrogen peroxide. This is likely due to the increased levels of MnSOD. By understanding the key signaling molecules in the anti‐proliferative effects of rapamycin, we may be able to identify additional predictive markers to improve the therapeutic value of mTOR inhibitors, or study drug combinations that will enhance the effect of ROS‐induced cytotoxicity. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(23 Suppl):C55.
Annual variation in white-tailed deer damage in commercial nurseries

Abstract White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) can cause substantial damage in commercial plant nurseries by browsing plants during the winter. Variation in the severity of deer browsing was studied at eight commercial nurseries in Connecticut for 5–8 years to examine if deer damage could be predicted from historic levels at the same nursery. We found that deer damage could be predicted with some accuracy when 2 or more years of data were available for that nursery. We also assessed several independent variables including local deer densities, the availability of native browse, or winter weather conditions to determine if any correlated with annual changes in deer damage at each nursery. If so, measurement of that variable could be used to predict years when heavy levels of deer damage could be expected, allowing preventative steps to be taken. However, yearly levels of deer browsing at individual nurseries were not associated with any of these variables. There was a similar region-wide pattern in annual deer damage that was not associated with yearly snowfall levels or winter degree days.
Scyphidia Tholiformis, a Peritrichous Protozoan Found on the Gills and External Surfaces of Micropterus Dolomieu and Micropterus Salmoides

Abstract Scyphidia tholiformis is an urn-shaped peritrichous protozoan measuring about 59 microns in length and 35 microns in width. It possesses a double row of cilia about one-third of the distance from the anterior end of the body and has a large scopula which is variable in shape and provides a large surface for attachment. The macronucleus is long and band-like, and makes a semicircle beneath the peristome from which it extends into the lower part of the body. The small, ovoid micronucleus is located near the middle of the body. The organism is found on the external body surfaces and the gills of large-mouth and smallmouth black bass. Its relationship to its host is probably that of an ecto-commensal, but there is further evidence that these organisms may indirectly cause mortality among bass. The organism is interesting because of the manner in which it becomes dome-shaped when it leaves its host, causing it to resemble Trichodina. In this form, locomotion is accomplished by means of the central cil...