cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Matrix metalloproteinase-10 promotes tumor progression through regulation of angiogenic and apoptotic pathways in cervical tumors

Cancer invasion and metastasis develops through a series of steps that involve the loss of cell to cell and cell to matrix adhesion, degradation of extracellular matrix and induction of angiogenesis. Different protease systems (e.g., matrix metalloproteinases, MMPs) are involved in these steps. MMP-10, one of the lesser studied MMPs, is limited to epithelial cells and can facilitate tumor cell invasion by targeting collagen, elastin and laminin. Enhanced MMP-10 expression has been linked to poor clinical prognosis in some cancers, however, mechanisms underlying a role for MMP-10 in tumorigenesis and progression remain largely unknown. Here, we report that MMP-10 expression is positively correlated with the invasiveness of human cervical and bladder cancers. Using commercial tissue microarray (TMA) of cervical and bladder tissues, MMP-10 immunohistochemical staining was performed. Furthermore using a panel of human cells (HeLa and UROtsa), in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed in which MMP-10 was overexpressed or silenced and we noted phenotypic and genotypic changes. Experimentally, we showed that MMP-10 can regulate tumor cell migration and invasion, and endothelial cell tube formation, and that MMP-10 effects are associated with a resistance to apoptosis. Further investigation revealed that increasing MMP-10 expression stimulates the expression of HIF-1α and MMP-2 (pro-angiogenic factors) and PAI-1 and CXCR2 (pro-metastatic factors), and accordingly, targeting MMP-10 with siRNA in vivo resulted in diminution of xenograft tumor growth with a concomitant reduction of angiogenesis and a stimulation of apoptosis. Taken together, our findings show that MMP-10 can play a significant role in tumor growth and progression, and that MMP-10 perturbation may represent a rational strategy for cancer treatment.
ANALYSIS OF ANTHOCYANINS AND 3-DEOXYANTHOCYANIDINS BY PLASMA DESORPTION MASS SPECTROMETRY

Abstract A technique for the mass spectrometric analysis of anthocyanins, 3-hydroxyanthocyanidins and 3-deoxyanthoeyanidins in Sorghum bicolor by plasma desorption was developed. Sensitivities to ng levels with minimum sample preparation and analysis were achieved. The technique provides a sensitive means for the measurement of these flavonoid pigments as well as a means to screen for very small quantities of the compounds within plant tissues.
Infanticide among ringtailed lemurs (Lemur catta) at Berenty Reserve, Madagascar.

During an intertroop encounter, an infanticide was observed in a population of ringtailed lemurs (Lemur catta) at Berenty Reserve, Madagascar. The killer was a male that had not been previously observed to mate with any females in the infant's troop. This observation, combined with other observations of infanticidal behavior by males at Berenty Reserve and the Duke University Primate Center, is consistent with the hypothesis that infanticide is a reproductive tactic for some male ringtailed lemurs. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Modeling cuttlefish behavioural chromatophore response

We build a model of cuttlefish chromatophore excitation patterns due to environmental input. Specific inputs generate scripted chromtophore pattern responses on the surface of the skin. More complicated responses are then assembled from these templates as sequences of inputs arrive. We build a simplistic cuttlefish brain using neural architecture modeling tools written in MatLab which allow us to construct the brain model from individual modules using a vector addressing scheme [1] (Figure ​(Figure11). Figure 1 Cuttlefish chromatophore processing Inputs come into the sensory input module and are processed by the cuttlefish brain architecture into signals sent to the output module. The signals activate the individual chromatophores in the usual way giving an essentially binary on/ off pixel response. Different cues in the environment are mapped to known cuttlefish pigmentation overlays on the surface of the skin. Individual simple cues result in coarse patterns of chromotophore activation and upon receiving a sequence of simple cues, more complicated responses are constructed in a hierarchical fashion [1]. The chromatophore visibility is known to be due to a brain signal which when received energizes a ring of muscle which contracts and pushes a dot of ink up to the surface of the skin. Hence, activation signals lead to visible dots and lack of activation signal can be inferred from the loss of the pigment dot. Our model therefore treats each chromatophore as a binary switch which moves from 1 to 0 or vice versa depending on the signal sent to the output module from our cuttlefish brain processing [3,4].
The impact of outsourcing new technologies on integrative capabilities and performance

Outsourcing plays an important role for firms adopting new technologies. Although outsourcing provides access to a new technology, it does not guarantee that a firm can subsequently integrate the technology with existing business processes and leverage it in the marketplace. This distinction, however, has rarely been made in the literature. In the context of business process enhancing technologies, this study builds on the resource-based and knowledge-based views to study the impact of outsourcing on firms' subsequent performance in the market and their integrative capabilities, that is, a firm's capacity to use and assimilate a new technology with its business processes and build upon it. The study argues that greater reliance on outsourcing may reduce a firm's learning by doing, internal investment, and tacit knowledge applications, thereby impeding a firm's integrative capabilities and performance in the market. The study uses survey and archival data on banks' outsourcing strategies for Internet adoption to test for the performance consequences of outsourcing, which are found to be negative. However, the findings also show that outsourcing is less detrimental for firms with experience in prior related technology. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Terpenoid Amines as Insect Juvenile Hormones

AFTER the discovery that an epoxide derivative of farnesenate esters (1) showed high juvenile hormone (JH) activity1, we undertook to synthesize related compounds in an effort to find the most potent of this class of materials. The elucidation of the structure of two hormones from Hyalophora cecropia (2 (ref. 2) and 3 (ref. 3)) as homologues of the farnesenate structure, and the observation that products obtained from the addition of hydrogen chloride to farnesenate esters (18) also possessed hormone activity4, led to the inclusion of analogous compounds in our programme. Here we describe results with a series of amide derivatives.
Percutaneous trigeminal rhizotomy in a biplane angiosuite: technical assessment

Background Percutaneous trigeminal rhizotomy (PTR) uses fluoroscopic guidance to cannulate the foramen ovale for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. Objective To describe the use of a high-resolution biplane neuroangiosuite for PTR and retrospectively to assess the performance of this technique. Methods From 1990 through 2010, 67 PTRs were performed in 51 patients at our institution; 47 used the c-arm in the operating room (OR) and 20 used the biplane angiosuite. Hospital charts were reviewed for demographics, symptomatology, operative time, number of cannulation attempts, fluoroscopy time and pain outcome. Two-tailed univariate analyses were performed to compare the OR and angiosuite groups. Results In 20 of 67 PTRs, biplane fluoroscopic guidance in the angiosuite was used. Variations in type of PTR, fluoroscopy technique and follow-up time barred meaningful comparison of these variables between OR and biplane groups. However, the biplane group had significantly fewer mean cannulation attempts (1 vs 2.2, p Conclusions High-resolution biplane neuroangiosuites offer a readily available alternative to ORs for PTR in the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. Use of the biplane fluoroscopy machine was practical, safe and at least as effective as the use of the c-arm. It may also offer the advantages of a reduced number of cannulation attempts.
Biochemical strategy of hepatomas.

An insight into the ordered pattern of enzymatic and biochemical imbalance of cancer cells was made possible, at least in part, by the molecular correlation concept, the concept of key enzymes, and the use of biological model systems. With these approaches the pattern of gene expression in neopiasia can be studied in terms of the activities of key enzymes and their linking with neoplastic transformation and progression. An ordered pattern of biochemical imbalance was recognized in carbohydrate, pentose phosphate, purine, pyrimidine, DNA, and polyamine metabolism and in other biochemical areas. Current work is directed to clarifying the enzymology and metabolic pattern of thymidine metabolism and CTP biosynthesis since these areas are of particular importance in selective chemotherapy and rescue. The activities of key enzymes in thymidine metabolism have been correlated with the growth rates in a spectrum of hepatomas. Increases in the activities of four key enzymes in CTP biosynthesis appear to be specifi...
The nation, Europe and the world: textbooks and curricula in transition

edited by Hanna Schissler and Yasemin Nuhoglu Soysal, New York and Oxford, Berghahn Books, 2005, 258 pp., £15.00, ISBN 1‐57181‐550‐3 In today’s world of increasing globalization, World History text...
Semantic Differential Factor Structure with Concepts and Subjects from Education

This research sought answers to three questions: Are factors discernible as evaluation, potency, and activity evident? Do scales which have been associated with one of these factors continue to register high and relatively pure loadings on that factor? Do adjectives traditionally labeled “positive” maintain this posture with educational concepts? Semantic Differential Scales were administered twice to elementary education majors. The resulting matrixes were factor analyzed and rotated orthogonally. Factor I was evaluation but included two scales often associated with other factors. Factor II seemed to be intellectual rigor, rather than potency. Factor III seemed to be an activity dimension. In about one-half of the cases “feminine” defines the positive end of the masculine-feminine scale. Extrapolating an SD scale’s factorial content or its polarity from various contexts to elementary education seems unwarranted. Factor analysis should be the first step in each SD data analysis.
Learning by Doing in Public Archaeology Training

We expect graduate students to be able to enter the work force and begin making professional contributions upon graduation. Indeed, those who do find employment in their chosen field are often immediately faced with complex challenges, the successful solution of which relies on both their problem solving abilities and the demonstration of basic levels of professional competence. We expect them to perform as if they were already experienced in the field, and hope that the building blocks we have provided them with in their formal education support the range of experiences with which they must deal. However, one problematic and daunting question lurks to haunt the transition from student to professional. How can the traditionally passive experience of a student in a classroom truly serve to prepare them for the active role of practitioner?
The role of patient education in the management of childhood asthma.

Abstract Because patient behavior plays a major role in the prevention or precipitation of acute asthma attacks, patient education is an important adjunct to its medical management. A number of self-management education programs for patients with asthma recently have been developed and made available for widespread use. Many are aimed at children over the age of 6 years and their parents. They are designed for use with several types of patients in a variety of settings. Evidence of program effectiveness is of uneven quality, but what is available suggests that a number of the programs can be of significant value in reducing asthma morbidity. Self-management education programs for parents of preschool-age children and for adults with asthma are much less numerous and well developed than those for school-age children. Particular attention is given to the process by which the air power and air wise programs for children were developed, since this systematic development process is generalizable to patient education programs for other age groups and health problems.
Prioritizing Circuit Breaker and Protective Relay Maintenance Using an Arc Flash Hazard Assessment

In difficult economic times, companies sometimes delay the performance of maintenance on electrical power distribution equipment to save costs. If this happens, some circuit breakers or protective relays will miss their scheduled maintenance and testing. This can create a significant safety risk, if those protective devices are used to manage arc flash hazards. This paper describes a study method to determine which circuit breakers and protective relays in a system are the most critical, so they can be prioritized for continued proper maintenance.
Phenolic acids in black raspberry and in the gastrointestinal tract of pigs following ingestion of black raspberry

Black raspberries (BRB) contain high levels of polyphenols and have been demonstrated to be chemopreventive. In order to investigate the underlying mechanism and study the metabolism of anthocyanins, pigs were fed freeze-dried BRB powder or purified diet (control) and three segments of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract (small intestine, cecum, and colon; 4 h after feeding) were collected for analysis of phenolic acids. Protocatechuic acid was the major phenolic acid (8.35 mg/100 g, dry weight (DW)) in BRB, followed by p-coumaric acid (1.63 mg/100 g, DW), caffeic acid (1.34 mg/100 g, DW), ferulic acid (0.24 mg/100 g, DW), and 3-hydroxybenzoic acid (0.20 mg/100 g, DW). Recoveries of these five phenolic acids in the whole GI tract were 199.9 +/- 54.0%, 7.0 +/- 3.0%, 37.0 +/- 9.7%, 56.6 +/- 31.3%, and 916.8 +/- 642.3% (mean +/- SEM, n = 5), respectively, and quantities in contents of the GI tract ranged from 0.13 +/- 0.05 micromol (p-coumaric acid) to 23.47 +/- 6.09 micromol (protocatechuic acid) (mean +/- SEM, n = 5). Six other phenolic acids were detected primarily in the cecum and/or colon which were not in BRB, with total contents in the GI tract ranging from 0.18 +/- 0.18 micromol (homovanillic acid) to 8.49 +/- 4.31 micromol (homoprotocatechuic acid). Total phenolic acids in the GI tract were 49.32 +/- 16.37 micromol (mean +/- SEM, n = 5). Phenolic acids measured in the GI tract accounted for only 6.31% of the degraded anthocyanins.
Absolute lymphocyte count recovery after induction chemotherapy predicts superior survival in acute myelogenous leukemia.

Absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) recovery postautologous stem cell transplantation is an independent predictor for survival in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). The role of ALC recovery after induction chemotherapy (IC) in AML is unknown. We hypothesize that ALC recovery after IC has a direct impact on survival. We have now evaluated the impact of ALC recovery after IC on overall survival (OS) and leukemia-free survival (LFS) in 103 consecutive, newly diagnosed AML patients treated with standard IC and consolidation chemotherapy (CC) from 1998 to 2002. ALC recovery was studied at days 15 (ALC-15), 21 (ALC-21), 28 (ALC-28) after IC and before the first CC (ALC-CC). Superior OS and LFS at each time point were observed with an ALC-15, ALC-21, ALC-28, and ALC-CC > or = 500 cells/microl. Patients with an ALC > or = 500 cells/microl at all time points vs those who did not have superior OS and LFS (not reached vs 13 months, P or = 500 cells/microl at all time points to be an independent prognostic factor for survival. Our data suggest a critical role of lymphocyte (immune) recovery on survival after IC in AML.
On Inferences of the "Fourth Class".

This article explores a type of inference which, instead of resting on logical, semantical, or institutional rules, rests upon rules asserted to be constitutive of the act of communicating. The logical and pragmatic status of these “fourth class” inferences is explored and their implications for the concept of “serious speech” are suggested.
Retinol, supplemental vitamin A and bone status

Studies of hypervitaminosis A in animals and anecdotal reports of accidental vitamin A poisoning in humans suggest impairment of bone remodeling and increased numbers of fractures. Because of the widespread use of high-dose vitamin A supplements which may produce subclinical hypervitaminosis associated with decreased bone mass and increased risk of fracture, we studied the relationship between current vitamin A supplement use, serum retinol levels, radial bone mass and fracture history in a geographically-defined population of 246 postmenopausal women, 55-80 years of age. More than 36% of this population used a vitamin A supplement with 8% of these consuming an amount in excess of 2000 retinol equivalents (RE)/day. Serum retinol was measured using high-pressure liquid chromatography and radial bone mass was measured using single photon absorptiometry. After controlling for age, current estrogen replacement, and current thiazide antihypertensive use, we observed no statistically significant relationship between vitamin A supplement use or serum retinol with radial bone mass or fractures.
Five-component model of schizophrenia: Assessing the factorial invariance of the positive and negative syndrome scale

A five-component model of schizophrenia has been presented by Kay and Sevy based upon an analysis of the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Kay and Sevy found factorial validity for negative and positive syndromes, and they identified excitement, depressive, and cognitive components as well. They suggested that subtypes and syndromes can be mapped along dimensions presented in their model. The present study compares the five-component solution for a new sample of 146 subjects to a reanalysis of the Kay and Sevy data. Despite divergent demographic characteristics, the two samples produce similar dimensions. Correlations of component loadings and subject scores as well as confirmatory factor analysis are presented. Discussion focuses on points of agreement and important differences in the symptoms assigned to each component. How the dimensions relate to rationally derived models of positive and negative syndromes is reviewed, and implications for subtyping and other methods of examining the heterogeneity of schizophrenia are considered.
Understanding resistance to β-lactams and β-lactamase inhibitors in the SHV β-lactamase: Lessons from the mutagenesis of Ser-130

Bacterial resistance to beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor combinations by single amino acid mutations in class A beta-lactamases threatens our most potent clinical antibiotics. In TEM-1 and SHV-1, the common class A beta-lactamases, alterations at Ser-130 confer resistance to inactivation by the beta-lactamase inhibitors, clavulanic acid, and tazobactam. By using site-saturation mutagenesis, we sought to determine the amino acid substitutions at Ser-130 in SHV-1 beta-lactamase that result in resistance to these inhibitors. Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed that ampicillin and ampicillin/clavulanic acid resistance was observed only for the S130G beta-lactamase expressed in Escherichia coli. Kinetic analysis of the S130G beta-lactamase demonstrated a significant elevation in apparent Km and a reduction in kcat/Km for ampicillin. Marked increases in the dissociation constant for the preacylation complex, KI, of clavulanic acid (SHV-1, 0.14 microm; S130G, 46.5 microm) and tazobactam (SHV-1, 0.07 microm; S130G, 4.2 microm) were observed. In contrast, the k(inact)s of S130G and SHV-1 differed by only 17% for clavulanic acid and 40% for tazobactam. Progressive inactivation studies showed that the inhibitor to enzyme ratios required to inactivate SHV-1 and S130G were similar. Our observations demonstrate that enzymatic activity is preserved despite amino acid substitutions that significantly alter the apparent affinity of the active site for beta-lactams and beta-lactamase inhibitors. These results underscore the mechanistic versatility of class A beta-lactamases and have implications for the design of novel beta-lactamase inhibitors.
Kenneth Burke: The agro‐Bohemian “Marxoid”

Rejecting the belief widely held in the United States that democracy requires capitalism, Kenneth Burke has feared that capitalism often promotes an enslaving consumerism, thus endangering basic democratic values. The word “communism” had a personal meaning for Burke in that he associated it with the family of terms: communication, communicant, community, and communion. Although he stopped using the word “communism” after the middle of the 1930s, samples of his published and unpublished writing from the 1930s through the 1980s demonstrate that he never abandoned certain convictions related to his meaning for the word, convictions that also are evident in his lifestyle. Bringing to Marxist theory his particular combination of ideas from Veblen, Freud, and Aristotle, among others, KB may be characterized by his own self‐descriptions, agro‐Bohemian and “Marxoid.”
Constraints on the form factors for K ---> pi l nu and implications for |V(us)|

Rigorous bounds are established for the expansion coefficients governing the shape of semileptonic K {yields} {pi} form factors. The constraints enforced by experimental data from {tau} {yields} K{pi}{nu} eliminate uncertainties associated with model parameterizations in the determination of |V{sub us}|. The results support the validity of a powerful expansion that can be applied to other semileptonic transitions.
Method to Achieve High Frame Rates in a Scanning Fiber Endoscope

A new and miniature imaging device is being developed to allow flexible endoscopy in regions of the body that are difficult to reach. The scanning fiber endoscope employs a single scanning optical fiber to illuminate a target area, while backscattered light is detected one pixel at a time to build a complete image. During each imaging cycle the fiber is driven outward in a spiral pattern from its resting state at the image center to the outer fringe of the image. At this point, the fiber is quickly driven back to its initial position before acquiring a subsequent frame. This work shortens the time between successive images to achieve higher overall frame rates by applying a carefully timed input, which counteracts the tip motion of the scanning fiber, quickly forcing the scanning fiber to the image center. This input is called motion braking and is a square wave function dependent upon the damped natural frequency of the scanning fiber and the instantaneous tip displacement and velocity. Imaging efficiency of the scanning fiber endoscope was increased from 75―89% with this implementation.
Current Excitement With D2 Dopamine Receptor Gene Alleles in Substance Abuse

Is there a D2 dopamine receptor (DRD2) alAÂ­ele that predisposes to substance abuse? Following the report by Blum and colleagues1 of an association between the AlalAÂ­ele of the DRD2 gene and alcoholism, a number of laboratories have attempted to replicate and extend studies of this association in substance abusing and control populations.2"6 On September 19 and 20, 1991, the National Institute on Drug Abuse held a conference in Baltimore, Md, entitled "D2 Receptor AlAÂ­eles in Substance Abuse: Have We Identified a Relevant Gene?" Workers from laboratories involved in this exciting research area were invited to present their methods and data, assess current knowledge, and discuss future directions. We summarize the findings, interpretations, and recommendations for improving the heuristic potential of future studies on the role of DRD2 gene variants in substanceabuse. GENETIC CONTRIBUTIONS TO INTERINDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES IN SUBSTANCE ABUSE VULNERABILITY Individuals differ in their susceptibility to substance abuse. These interindividual differences in vulnerability to alcohol and drugs appear to arise from both genetic and environmental sources. Adoption studies indicate increased frequency of alcoholism and drug abuse among
Blind men and the APS

In this issue of Blood , Comellas-Kirkerup and colleagues describe the course of 55 patients with laboratory criteria of the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) who displayed concurrent thrombocytopenia and/or autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA).[1][1] None of these individuals had serologic or clinical
Change in Drawdown Caused by Enlarging a Well in a Dolomite Aquifer

Step-drawdown tests of a well in a dolomite aquifer in north-central Ohio, before and after it was enlarged from 10 to 12 inches (250 to 300 millimetres) in diameter, indicate changes in the well-loss constant, the exponent for turbulent flow, and the formation loss factor. The calculated difference in drawdown resulting from enlarging the well is of little practical importance at rates of 300 to 500 gallons per minute (19 to 31 litres per second), the range of rates at which the well is expected to be pumped, but for higher rates the decrease in drawdown and consequent reduction in power costs could be significant. For a pumping rate of 1,500 gallons per minute (95 litres per second), the decrease in drawdown would be 20.4 feet (6.2 metres).
Properties of Germanium Doped with Iron. I. Electrical Conductivity

Measurements of the temperature dependence of electrical resistivity in $p$- and $n$-type iron-doped germanium crystals indicate that Fe introduces impurity levels in Ge at 0.34\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02 ev from the valence band and 0.27\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02 ev from the conduction band. Such samples show very high resistivity at 77\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. At this temperature, $n$-type samples also show high photosensitivity and slow photoresponse, presumably because of hole traps.
‘Kat Mai Ploi’ – bite and don't let go: motherhood and pursuits of justice in Thailand

This article examines the long-term struggles of two Thai mothers to define and attain their visions of justice: one to recover land flooded by a state dam project and the other to defy a municipal order to demolish her house for a vehicle turn-around. In particular, it studies how tropes and institutions of motherhood and human rights articulate with, and provide social and political resources to one another as these two women fight to lay claim to traditions of rights specific to Thai society.
Distribution, movement, and microhabitat use of the introduced predatory snail Euglandina rosea in Hawaii: implications for management

The purposeful introduction of the land snail Euglandina rosea, which feeds exclusively on snails and slugs, has been implicated as a major factor in the decline of diverse Pacific island land snail faunas. We report on the distribution, movement patterns, and microhabitat preferences of E. rosea in a gulch in the Waianae Mountains, Oahu, Hawaii, because such data will help focus management actions at a local scale to protect native snail populations in areas where E. rosea is established. The Waianae Mountains harbor many endangered or threatened snails, most currently found in isolated habitat patches near the ridges. Conversely, most living individuals (28/29) and shells (46/56) of E. rosea were collected within the gulch, which supported higher densities of other native and non-native snails, and was cooler and more moist than the ridges. Thirteen individuals of E. rosea were tracked (eight directly using a bobbin and thread method, and five indirectly by mark–recapture); most (10/13) moved on average <2.5 m per week (range 0.1–25.21 m), and all stayed within the gulch. Members of E. rosea preferred leaf litter over open, fern/shrub, or wood microhabitats. There were large differences in the population density of E. rosea over small spatial scales, indicating that there may be places where native snail populations could persist even in areas where populations of E. rosea are established. Identifying areas with differing population densities of E. rosea is critical for not only understanding why some native snail species may be more vulnerable to extinction, but also to locate areas where predation pressure is low and conservation efforts will be most likely to succeed.
The identification of a (CGG)6AGG insertion within the CGG repeat of the FMR1 gene in Asians.

We have evaluated the structure of the CGG repeat within the FMR1 gene of an Asian population and found the most common size of the repeat to be 29 and 30 with a minor population of 36 repeats. We have isolated and sequenced DNA containing the 36 repeats and found the basis sequence to be (CGG)9AGG(CGG)9AGG(CGG)6AGG(CGG)9; with a (CGG)6)AGG insertion, designated as 9A9A6A9. Of 144 Asian chromosomes, 11 (8%) had sequences with this insertion. Six different variations of the basic sequence were observed in the population: 9A9A6A2A9, 9A9A6A11, 9A9A16, 9A9A15, 8A9A6A6A9, and 11A6A6A9. All but one of the chromosomes with the insertion had the haplotype of DXS548/ FRAXAC1: 194/D suggesting that the sequences with the 6A insertion arose from a single ancestral allele. We have not observed the insertion in the FMR1 gene of Caucasians or Native Americans. The (CGG)6AGG insertion may be unique to Asians.
Medicare Constrains Social Workers' and Nurses' Home Care for Clients with Alzheimer's Disease

The Medicare home health prospective payment system (PPS) has existed for 13 years, yielding significant profits to providers. However, studies indicate many unresolved questions about whether PPS improves patient quality of care, is cost-effective, and reduces patient levels of unmet need. In addition, PPS has undermined the provision of social work home health services. The article presents the views of 29 home health care nurses regarding the impact ofPPS on their care decisions for people with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers. The nurses identify Alzheimer's disease symptom management and psychosocial needs as phantoms, omnipresent below the surface but not attended to by home care clinicians. The interviews support the greater involvement of social workers to more adequately address the psychosocial needs of Medicare home health patients. The article contends that the current failure to simultaneously address the cost, needs, and quality-of-life issues of people with Alzheimer's disease who are cared for at home is analogous to the end-of-life care situation before passage of the Medicare Hospice Benefit. A collaborative demonstration project--social work and nursing--is proposed to determine how PPS might better address quality of life and costs of home-based people with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers.
Inhibition of methyl chloride toxicity in male F-344 rats by the anti-inflammatory agent BW755C.

Abstract This study examined the effectiveness of the cyclooxygenase/lipoxygenase inhibitor 3-amino-1-[m-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-2-pyrazoline (BW755C) in preventing the toxicity induced in male F-344 rats by methyl chloride (MeCl). BW755C (10 mg/kg ip, 1 hr pre and postexposure) prevented both lethality ( 0 6 vs 8 12 in controls) and epididymal granuloma formation ( 0 6 vs 4 4 in controls) in rats exposed to 7500 ppm MeCl 6 hr/day for 2 days. Additional rats (n = 5 per group) were exposed to 5000 ppm MeCl 6 hr/day for 5 days, with and without BW755C treatment as described above. The rats were killed on Day 5 and tissues processed for light microscopic examination. MeCl-exposed rats showed hepatocellular cloudy swelling, degeneration of renal proximal convoluted tubules, vacuolar degeneration in the adrenal cortex, necrosis of the internal granular layer of the cerebellum, and degenerative changes in the testis and epididymis, including formation of epididymal sperm granulomas. With the exception of the adrenal, tissues examined in rats of the MeCl BW 755 C treatment group showed virtually no histologic evidence of lesions. BW755C did not significantly alter metabolism of [14C]MeCl to 14CO2 or 14C in urine, nor did it affect the distribution to various organs of radioactivity derived from [14C]MeCl. Therefore, BW755C protection against MeCl toxicity did not appear to result from altered MeCl metabolism or disposition. Instead, the protection was apparently related to the pharmacologic activity of BW755C as an inhibitor of leukotriene and prostaglandin synthesis.
Advanced placement in computer science: A summer workshop

A discussion of an in-service course designed to give high school teachers the background needed to teach an Advanced Placement course in Computer Science is presented. The discussion outlines the decisions made regarding equipment and other facilities, support personnel, and textbooks. Course outlines are presented, along with an evaluation of the course.
Dietary cocoa ameliorates obesity-related inflammation in high fat-fed mice

Purpose To investigate the effect of cocoa powder supplementation on obesity-related inflammation in high fat (HF)-fed obese mice.
Differential effects of cytochalasin B and caffeine on control of DNA synthesis in normal and transformed cells.

Evidence is presented which suggests the existence of at least two growth control points in cultured mammalian cells. These controls are in “parallel” rather than in “series.” It is suggested that in normal and some transformed cells the controls are coupled while in SV40 transformed cells and tumor cells they are uncoupled. One control is revealed by cytochalasin B (CB) treatment since in normal and some kinds of transformed cells, CB treatment results in the accumulation or the arrest of cells in G1. In this case, the control is normal or coupled. In DNA tumor virus transformed cells and many cultured tumor cells (excluding human glioblastomas) CB does not arrest cells although it prevents cytoplasmic division. Such cells continue DNA synthesis and nuclear division and become highly multinucleated. The effects of CB are not concentration dependent. Here the control is defective or uncoupled. Another control is revealed by caffeine treatment. Again, normal and some types of transformed cells are accumulated in G1 following caffeine treatment, while SV40 transformed cells and tumor cells continue DNA synthesis unabated. The effects of caffeine in arresting cells are concentration dependent. Similarly the control point revealed by caffeine is coupled in normal cells and altered or uncoupled in some SV40 transformed and tumor cells. Although CB and caffeine do not inhibit DNA synthesis in tumor and SV40 transformed cells when administered separately, they cause G1 accumulation when administered in combination. This observation can be explained by the possibility that some transformed cells can utilize alternate or parallel mechanisms to progress through G1 when one mechanism is blocked (CB or caffeine). When both are blocked the cells become arrested in G1. The human glioblastomas are unique among the cultured human tumors thus far examined since they are partially arrested by CB. However they are like other human tumors in that caffeine does not significantly affect DNA synthesis.
Method and computer program for controlling the family-wise alpha rate in gene association studies involving multiple phenotypes

Multiple significance testing involving multiple phenotypes is not uncommon in the context of gene association studies but has remained largely unaddressed. If no adjustment is made for the multiple tests conducted, the type I error probability will exceed the nominal (per test) alpha level. Nevertheless, many investigators do not implement such adjustments. This may, in part, be because most available methods for adjusting the alpha rate either: 1) do not take the correlation structure among the variables into account and, therefore, tend to be overly stringent; or 2) do not allow statements to be made about specific variables but only about multivariate composites of variables. In this paper we develop a simulation-based method and computer program that holds the actual alpha rate to the nominal alpha rate but takes the correlation structure into account. We show that this method is more powerful than several common alternative approaches and that this power advantage increases as the number of variables and their intercorrelations increase. The method appears robust to marked non-normality and variance heterogeneity even with unequal numbers of subjects in each group. The fact that gene association studies with biallelic loci will have (at most) three groups (i.e., AA, Aa, aa) implies by the closure principle that, after detection of a significant result for a specific variable, pairwise comparisons for that variable can be conducted without further adjustment of the alpha level.
The phrenic nerve: Its terminal divisions and supply to the crura of the diaphragm

A study of the crura of the diaphragm and their innervation from the phrenic nerve was made in 22 fresh specimens and four embalmed specimens. The arrangement of the musculature was found to be essentially the same as that described by Low in 1907. The portions of the crural musculature passing to the right and left of the esophagus did not decussate anterior to the esophagus as these fibers insert into the central tendon. The right and left phrenic nerves divided into three to five divisions at the pericardiodiaphragmatic angle. Most commonly, these divisions are: anterior, posterior and lateral. If there are more than three divisions involved, there is usually a medial division present and/or a subdivision of one of the other divisions. It is the posterior division or its posteromedial branch which contributes to the innervation of the crura. None of the other divisions contributes to the innervation of the crura. Secondary branches of either the posterior division or the posteromedial branch do not cross to the contralateral side.
Modeling Graywater in Residences: Using Shower Effluent in the Toilet Reservoir

Abstract Use of municipal water in residences can be decreased substantially by allowing “graywater” effluent from showering and other activities to fill the toilet reservoir. This paper considers a system developed in Germany for treatment and storage of shower wastewater for use in flushing the toilet. Based on literature data for distributions of shower duration and water flow rate, the volume of municipal water saved using the German system has been estimated for several usage scenarios. Results show significant savings of water that depend on the size of the treatment and storage tanks used in the graywater system as well as the number of toilet flushes per day. For example, a scenario with four residents each flushing nine times per day with 80 liter treatment and storage tanks shows a 50% chance that the savings in municipal water use for the toilet will exceed 73%. Because the timing of showers and toilet flushes is assumed to follow a uniform distribution throughout the day, the calculated tank s...
Optimal waveform design for MIMO relaying

Non-regenerative MIMO relaying between a source and a destination is studied in this paper. Optimal weighting matrix operating on baseband signals (waveforms) at the relay is found that maximizes the capacity between the source and the destination. Relay channels with or without direct link between the source and the destination are considered. The optimal relay exploits the knowledge of the channel matrix between the source and the relay and the channel matrix between the relay and the destination. The optimal weighting matrix can be considered as a matched filter along the singular vectors of the channel matrices. Such a non-regenerative relay can be deployed in mobile ad hoc networks as well as in cellular networks.
Local Unions and the Restructuring of Work within the Multinational Company: Internal Solidarity and Local Context

This article focuses on the influence of a multinational corporation (MNC) on the reorganization of work and labor relations in two Canadian plants. The MNC used coercive comparisons and created a ...
Identification of factors predictive of hospital readmissions for patients with heart failure.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate whether severity of cardiac illness, cognitive functioning, and functional health of older adults with heart failure (HF) and psychosocial factors related to caregiving are predictive of hospital readmissions for those with HF. DESIGN: A prospective, descriptive, predictive design was used. SETTING: The study took place in 2 community hospitals in northeastern Ohio. SAMPLE: Originally 156 patient-caregiver dyads were interviewed within 7 to 10 days of hospital discharge, but only 128 dyads completed the study. Subjects had HF and their mean age was 77.3 years. Their caregivers were mostly women with a mean age of 64.8 years. RESULTS: Fourty-four percent of the patients were readmitted to the hospital within 3 months. Among patients, severity of illness was moderate, blood pressure was within normal limits, functional and cognitive status were high. For patients, the interaction of severity of cardiac illness and functional status predicted risk of hospital readmission. Among caregivers, depressive symptoms and perceived stress were low; informal social support and caregiving appraisal were high. The interaction of caregiver stress and depression were significant predictors of risk of hospital readmission. CONCLUSION: Nurses should consistently assess changes in patients’ cardiac symptoms in addition to their ability to provide self-care. Since patients with HF are at high risk for readmission, further study is needed to determine whether interventions designed to increase spousal support would decrease hospital readmissions. (Heart Lung® 2003;32:88-99.)
FPGA implementation of graph cut based image thresholding

Thresholding is an important process in many image processing applications. Recently, a bi-level image thresholding method based on graph cut was proposed. The method provided thresholding results which were superior to those obtained with previous techniques. Moreover, the technique was computationally less complex compared to other graph cut-based image thresholding approaches. However, the execution time requirements may still be significant, especially if it is of interest to perform real-time thresholding of a large number of images, such as in the case of high-resolution video sequences. In this paper, we propose a method based on the previously proposed graph cut thresholding method, which is nevertheless appropriate for hardware (FPGA) real-time implementations. A subset of the proposed modifications are also appropriate for a general software implementation. Considering only this subset, the C implementation of the modified method is approximately 2.2 times faster than the original method, as it was presented in the original graph cut-based thresholding paper. Furthermore, the FPGA-based implementation is designed to be 70–100 times faster than the software implementation, depending on the image used.
Tree Diversity, Landscape Diversity, and Economics of Maple-Birch Forests: Implications of Markovian Models

Markov decision process (MDP) models were effective in analyzing forest management policies. Even the simplest standard results gave useful insights into forest ecology, such as how landscape diversity is shaped by natural catastrophes, and how forests mature through successional phases. The methods were also useful to predict the effects of different management policies on ecological and economic criteria. Optimization augmented the usefulness of the approach, suggesting that income from Wisconsin's maple-birch forests could be increased without ruining their diversity of landscape, tree size, and tree species. It showed that maximizing species diversity, defined by the distribution of trees in shade-tolerance classes, would require some harvest. Instead, maximum tree size diversity occurred in unmanaged forests, but this gave a less diverse landscape and no income. The MDP method allowed for the design of compromise policies that would maximize income while keeping diversity above specified limits. The opportunity cost of increasing tree size diversity was found to be much higher than for species diversity. Comparing the maximum timber income owners could have got with what they actually cut suggested that the amenity value of forests was four times that of timber. Advantages of the methods reside in the ability to model complex ecosystem processes with simple probability matrices, and in the rich MDP theory and algorithms. Limitations include the difficulty of defining a space set large enough for accurate discretization, but small enough for practical application.
A yeast‐based rapid prototype platform for gene control elements in mammalian cells

Programming genetic circuits in mammalian cells requires flexible, tunable, and user-tailored gene-con- trol systems. However, most existing control systems are either mechanistically specific for microbial organisms or must be laboriously re-engineered to function in mammali- an cells. Here, we demonstrate a ribozyme-based device platform that can be directly transported from yeast to mammalian cells in a ''plug-and-play'' manner. Ribozyme switches previously prototyped in yeast are shown to regu- late gene expression in a predictable, ligand-responsive manner in human HEK 293, HeLa, and U2OS cell lines without any change to device sequence nor further optimi- zation. The ribozyme-based devices, which exhibit activa- tion ratios comparable to the best RNA-based regulatory devices demonstrated in mammalian cells to-date, retain their prescribed functions (ON or OFF switch), tunability of regulatory stringency, and responsiveness to different small- molecule inputs in mammalian hosts. Furthermore, we observe strong correlations of device performance between yeast and all mammalian cell lines tested (R 2 ¼ 0.63-0.97). Our unique device architecture can therefore act as a rapid prototyping platform (RPP) based on a yeast chassis, providing a well-developed and genetically tractable system that supports rapid and high-throughput screens for generating gene-controllers with a broad range of functions in mammalian cells. This platform will accelerate develop- ment of mammalian gene-controllers for diverse applica- tions, including cell-based therapeutics and cell-fate reprogramming. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2012;xxx: xxx-xxx.
Atrial fibrillation: The Chinese experience

The recent article from mainland China on atrial fibrillation [1] is extremely important for three reasons: First, it was sponsored by the Cardiovascular Society of the Chinese Medical Association. Therefore the data are all centrally managed and the conclusions are representative of entire China which has a total population of over 1.3 billion, one fifth of the world population, with diverse racial, ethnic and genetic characteristics [2]. Second, atrial fibrillation is indeed a global disease with the same etiologic pattern in China as the rest of the world [3]. Third, from the therapeutic standpoint, China performed 2580 catheter ablation procedures between January 1996 and April 2005 [4], with the results comparable with the rest of the world [5]. Radiofrequency catheter ablation has been widely employed in China for the treatment of various cardiac tachyarrhythmias, as was recently reported in a series of 14,599 patients among 42 Chinese military hospitals with a success rate of 97% [6]. By the way, the author’s name of the article from China was unfortunately misspelled in the journal, not only on the title page and atop each page in the running head but also in the
Multiple metabolic risk factors and mammographic breast density.

Purpose We examined whether obesity and a history of diabetes, hypertension, and elevated cholesterol, individually and in combination, are associated with breast density, a strong risk factor for breast cancer.