cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Increased frequency of canine distemper virus-specific antibodies in multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a candidate agent in the etiology of multiple sclerosis (MS). Elevated anti-CDV levels were previously found in the sera from MS patients compared with controls. We now investigated whether there was an age-related association with the presence of antibodies specific to CDV-hemagglutinin (H) protein in MS. METHODS Sera from patients with MS, other neurological diseases, and inflammatory and/or autoimmune diseases, and healthy individuals were screened for anti-CDV in an ELISA using linear peptides of the CDV-H protein as antigen. Antibody levels to measles and varicella-zoster virus were measured and served as controls. RESULTS Analysis of the new cohort of MS patients and controls confirmed our initial finding of elevated anti-CDV-H levels in MS patients. An increase in measles but not varicella-zoster virus antibody levels was found in MS patients compared with healthy controls. Data from the new cohort of patients and controls were combined with data from the original study and analyzed with respect to age distribution of anti-CDV IgG. Mean CDV antibody levels were significantly elevated in each decade from 20 to 50 years of age in MS compared with healthy and disease controls. Antibody levels to measles virus were not consistently elevated during this age span. A striking relationship (p < .0001, odds ratio = 5.0) was observed between elevated anti-CDV-H levels and diagnosis of MS. CONCLUSIONS The finding that anti-CDV levels are elevated in MS patients of all ages provides substantial evidence of a strong association between elevated anti-CDV and MS.
Tracking and interpreting long-range chromatin interactions with super-resolution live-cell imaging.

Abstract Mammalian genomes are organized and regulated through long-range chromatin interactions. Structural loops formed by CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) and cohesin fold the genome into domains, while enhancers interact with promoters across vast genomic distances to regulate gene expression. Although genomics and fixed-cell imaging approaches help illuminate many aspects of chromatin interactions, temporal information is usually lost. Here, we discuss how 3D super-resolution live-cell imaging (SRLCI) can resolve open questions on the dynamic formation and dissolution of chromatin interactions. We discuss SRLCI experimental design, implementation strategies, and data interpretation and highlight associated pitfalls. We conclude that, while technically demanding, SRLCI approaches will likely emerge as a critical tool to dynamically probe 3D genome structure and function and to study enhancer–promoter interactions and chromatin looping.
Contraceptive Method Use by Rural-Urban Residence among Women and Men in the United States, 2006 to 2017.

Abstract Purpose Policy and reproductive health practice changes in the past decade have affected use of different contraceptive methods, but no study has assessed contraceptive method use over this time by rural–urban residence in the United States. Methods We used female and male respondent data (2006–2017) from the National Survey of Family Growth (n = 29,133 women and n = 24,364 men) to estimate contraceptive method use by rural–urban residence over time and contraceptive method use by age, marital status, and parity/number of children. Results From 2006–2010 to 2013–2017, among urban women, we found increased use of two or more methods (11% to 14%); increased use of intrauterine devices (5% to 11%), implants (0 to 2%), and withdrawal (5 to 8%); and decreased use of sterilization (28% to 22%) and pills (26% to 22%). Among rural women, we found increased use of intrauterine devices (5% to 9%) and implants (1% to 5%). We found increased withdrawal use for urban men, but otherwise no differences among men across time. In data pooled across all survey periods (2006–2017), contraceptive method use varied by rural–urban residence across age, marital status, and parity/number of children. Conclusions In a nationally representative sample of reproductive age women and men, we found rural–urban differences in contraceptive method use from 2006–2010 to 2013–2017. Describing contraceptive use differences by rural–urban residence is necessary for tailoring reproductive health services to populations appropriately.
Integrated single-cell transcriptomic and epigenetic analyses of cell-state transition and lineage commitment in the embryonic mouse cerebellum

ABSTRACT Recent studies using single-cell RNA-seq have revealed cellular heterogeneity in the developing mammalian cerebellum, yet the regulatory logic underlying this cellular diversity remains to be elucidated. Using integrated single-cell RNA and ATAC analyses, we resolved developmental trajectories of cerebellar progenitors and identified putative trans- and cis- elements that control cell state transition. We reverse-engineered gene regulatory networks (GRNs) of each cerebellar cell type. Through in silico simulations and in vivo experiments, we validated the efficacy of GRN analyses and uncovered the molecular control of a newly identified stem zone, the posterior transitory zone (PTZ), which contains multipotent progenitors for granule neurons, Bergmann glia, and choroid plexus epithelium. Importantly, we showed that perturbing cell fate specification of PTZ progenitors causes posterior cerebellar vermis hypoplasia, the most common cerebellar birth defect in humans. Our study provides a foundation for comprehensive studies of developmental programs of the mammalian cerebellum.
In-session reflective functioning in psychotherapies for borderline personality disorder: The emotion regulatory role of reflective functioning.

OBJECTIVE The capacity for understanding mental states (reflective functioning; RF) is considered essential for self-growth, social learning, and emotion regulation. Impaired RF is thought to play a central role in borderline personality disorder (BPD). We examined whether asking patients to consider mental states in-session has a down-regulatory effect on emotional arousal in treatments for BPD. METHOD Early-, middle- and late-phase videotaped sessions from a randomized-controlled trial of transference-focused psychotherapy (TFP; n = 30), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT; n = 29), and supportive psychodynamic therapy (SPT; n = 29) were segmented to therapist and patient talk-turns. Therapist talk-turns were rated as asking patients to consider mental state (bids for RF) or not. Patient talk-turns were rated for RF and acoustically encoded for arousal. RESULTS Bids were twice as common in TFP compared to DBT and SPT. Across treatments, therapist bids for RF predicted better RF, which, in turn, predicted lower emotional arousal. CONCLUSIONS Asking patients to consider mental states has a down-regulatory effect on patients' arousal in psychotherapies for BPD. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).
THIN ALUMINUM SHEAR WEBS

The behavior of thin-web girders in shear, when loaded in excess of the buckling value, is studied. The equations and simplified design charts presented take into account the effect of flexural rigidity of the flanges on the strength of the web, stiffeners, and fasteners. The study is directed primarily to aluminum webs, although in theory the concepts should be applicable to webs of other materials. In the development of the ultimate strength equation, it is assumed that the stress distribution in the web is the sum of a component of pure shear equal to the shear buckling value plus two components of tension stresses, one oriented at an angle of 45°, the other oriented at an angle calculated as though the flanges were completely flexible. The relative magnitude of the two tension components depends on flange flexibility. Ultimate failure is assumed to occur when the combined stress state causes yielding of the web. The study also considers the effect of web buckles on the appearance of the girder. The calculated results are compared with experimental data for thin-web aluminum girders.
The Charitable Activities of Confraternities

Drawing upon the notion of the vita activa and rejecting the contemplative tradition of the cloister, confraternities organized the pursuit of salvation through the practise of good works. Pre-eminent among the good works were those of mercy, and it is my contention in this chapter that in observing merciful works as devotional exercises, confraternities created one of the first ‘institutions’ of social welfare in western history. To understand how private gestures of charity, today only a minor and ephemeral part of the welfare process, could have formed the core of traditional poor relief requires that we enter the spiritual consciousness of the past. We must in the first analysis recognize the powerful stimulus provided by the Christian faith to charitable giving.
Antidumping Laws as Protectionist Trade Barriers: The Case for Repeal

Antidumping laws were designed to protect domestic industry from foreign competition. They protect producers at the expense of consumers, which results in higher prices, lower quality products, less consumer choice and a general lowering of the standard of living for the vast majority of people. Antidumping laws also destroy more jobs than they create. Part I of this article provides an introduction and overview. Part II reviews the theory and practice of antidumping law in the United States. It looks at the economic and legal background of the area, the administration of the antidumping laws, and computational problems involved in arriving at an antidumping decision. It also provides examples of antidumping investigations in the areas of autos, steel, textiles, agricultural products, and televisions and discusses the harmful effects of antidumping policy. It also explores the predatory pricing argument as applied to antidumping. Part III discusses some philosophical issues relating to antidumping law and policy. It views the antidumping laws as a club that can be used to batter the competition at the expense of consumers and questions the ethics of using government for this purpose. It also points out the silliness of antidumping policy, since it in effect protects consumers from low prices, and develops a rights-based argument against antidumping laws. Part IV concludes that antidumping laws are harmful, serve no useful purpose and should be repealed, the sooner the better.
Solvent effects on the kinetics of simple electrochemical reactions

Abstract The electroreduction kinetics of Co(en) 3 3+ (en-ethylenediamine), Co(NH 3 ) 6 3+ , and Co(NH 3 ) 5 F 2+ have been investigated atmercury electrodes in aqueous solution and six nonaqueous solvents in order to explore the influence of the solvent upon the electrode kinetics of such simple one-electron outer-sphere reactions where the composition of the reactant's coordination sphere remains fixed. Substantial variations in the experimental rate parameters were observed as the solvent was altered; these reflect the influence of the outer-shell solvent upon the reorganization barrier to electron transfer. A simple phenomenological treatment of solvent effects upon the electrode kinetics of such simple redox reactions is given. It is pointed out that double-layer corrected rate constants k corr can be evaluated at the same Galvani potential in different solvents with useful accuracy; these quantities can provide particular insight into the chemical influence of the solvent. The utility of separating such solvent effects into “intrinsic” and “thermodynamic” contributions is noted. The substantial decreases in k corr , seen when substituting several non-aqueous solvents for water, were traced to increases in the outer-shell component of the intrinsic free-energy barrier (Δ G i # ) os . In contrast, small decreases in (Δ G i # ) os are predicted by the dielectric continuum model under these circumstances. These discrepancies between theory and experiment are ascribed to contributions to (Δ G i # ) os from extensive short-range reorientation of solvent molecules. Variations in the efficiency of electron tunneling within the transition state may also provide a contribution to the observed solvent effects.
Rescue systems for dsRNA viruses of higher organisms.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the reverse genetic systems currently available for the two members of the families Reoviridae and Birnaviridae––infectious bursal disease virus and reovirus––and the adaptation of these systems to the other double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) viruses. The chapter discusses various reovirus reverse genetics system. dsRNA is the unique genomic material of two families of viruses infecting vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants. The genetic material is dsRNA and is divided into two or more segments of dsRNA. The family Reoviridae, with members infecting mammals, insects, plants, and fishes, all contain 10, 11, or 12 segments of dsRNA. The family Birnaviridae, with members infecting fowl, fish, birds, and insects, all contain two segments of dsRNA. The segmented nature of the genome of these viruses allows the reassortment of genome segments during mixed infections. The limitation of these techniques is that genetic analysis has been restricted to genetic markers with phenotypes that can be easily identified in the progeny of mixed infections. The chapter presents the localization of assortment and encapsidation signals and describes the establishment of reverse genetic system for dsRNA viruses. It concludes with the application of the reverse genetics of all dsRNA viruses.
Introduction: Andeans Articulating Colonial Worlds

Whether they be the painted walls and highly ‘dressed’ altars of Andean churches, or the collective knotted strings and litigation proceedings housed in locked chests in local Indian municipal councils, artifacts conjure up cultural interstices instrumental for discerning the “fine grain” of Spanish colonialism in the Andes. After the early years of the Spanish presence, the Andes became a mosaic of multifarious articulations of indigenous, European, and African ways of thinking, living, and weaving a social order that continued to change over time and across the geographical space of the viceroyalty of Peru.
Asynchronous group key exchange with failures

Group key exchange protocols allow a group of servers communicating over an asynchronous network of point-to-point links to establish a common key, such that an adversary which fully controls the network links (but not the group members) cannot learn the key. Currently known group key exchange protocols rely on the assumption that all group members participate in the protocol and if a single server crashes, then no server may terminate the protocol. In this paper, we propose the first purely asynchronous group key exchange protocol that tolerates a minority of servers to crash. Our solution uses a constant number of rounds, which makes it suitable for use in practice. Furthermore, we also investigate how to provide forward secrecy with respect to an adversary that may break into some servers and observe their internal state. We show that any group key exchange protocol among n servers that tolerates tc > 0 servers to crash can only provide forward secrecy if the adversary breaks into less than n - 2tc servers, and propose a group key exchange protocol that achieves this bound.
Linguistic diversity on the internet

The deployment of Arabic, Chinese, and Cyrillic top-level domain names is explored in this research by analyzing technical and policy documents of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), as well as newspaper articles in the respective language regions. The tension between English uniformity at the root level of the Internet's domain names system, and language diversity in the global Internet community, has resulted in various technological solutions surrounding Arabic, Chinese, and Cyrillic language domain names. These standards and technological solutions ensure the security and stability of the Internet; however, they do not comprehensively address the linguistic diversity needs of the Internet. ICANN has been transforming into an international policy organization, yet its linguistic diversity policies appear disconnected from the diversity policies of the United Nations, and remain technically oriented. Linguistic diversity in relation to IDNs at this stage mostly focus on the language representation of major languages that are spoken in powerful nation-states, who use the rhetoric of national pride, local business branding, and inclusion of non-English speakers. This situation surfaces the tension between nation-states and the new international governing institution ICANN. I analyze the initiation processes of international domain names (IDNs).Arabic, Chinese, and Cyrillic IDNs are still limited by the English uniformity of DNS.The tension between ICANN and nation-states has been highlighted.Nation-states have taken control over local-language country-code IDNs.ICANN's linguistic diversity policy should evolve beyond technological solutions.
Sharing Wonder in Nature

With this collection of essays on adventures with children in the natural world, the editors seek to help restore nature's place in young people's lives.
Making new foods fun for kids.

The “Food Friends: Making New Foods Fun For Kids” program is a uniquely creative and effective method for educators to address nutrition and eating habits with preschool children. To date, over 50 preschool and Head Start classrooms have used the program. It continually undergoes refinement based on feedback from teachers, children, and nutrition educators. In addition, a parent component is currently under development. Anyone interested in more information about the program is encouraged to contact the authors or visit the Colorado Nutrition Network's Web site at www.cahs.colostate.edu/fshn/nep .
American Heart Association–Bugher Foundation Centers for Molecular Biology in the Cardiovascular System

Background The American Heart Association (AHA) and the Henrietta B. and Frederick H. Bugher Foundation in 1985 entered into a partnership to establish a group of Centers for Molecular Biology in the Cardiovascular System. The goal was to recruit and train young scientists with medical training to apply molecular and cellular biology knowledge and techniques to cardiovascular problems. Methods and Results Six Centers have been awarded (three in 1986 and three in 1991), and a total of 110 trainees have been involved as of June 30, 1994. Of these trainees, 77 were recruited and trained by the 1986 Centers. As of June 1994, 88% of these trainees remained in academic medicine and 54% progressed to higher academic ranks; 79% published papers in science and 66% in molecular biology; and 36% obtained extramural funding for their work. On this basis, the 1986 trainees appear to be well on their way to becoming successful academic cardiologists. Conclusions The AHA–Bugher Foundation Center program has produced a c...
Etiopathogenesis, clinical manifestations, and management of canine silica urolithiasis

Silica uroliths were first recognized in dogs in the mid 1970s. Currently available data suggest that dietary factors may play a role in their pathogenesis. Diagnosis is facilitated by their typical jackstone appearance but must be verified by quantitative analysis. Surgery is the only feasible method of treatment.
Audience and exclusion at the margins of imperial history

Abstract This paper identifies several master narratives that govern discussions of religion in modern history, including celebratory, balance-sheet, and Saidian approaches to imperial history, secularization theory, and the male, clerical, celebratory history of missionaries. Except for missionary history, these master narratives marginalize the religious point of view, and with it individuals and audiences who share a variety of religious opinions. The celebratory history of missions ignores or evades the anti-imperialist critique of Western religious expansion, and conceals the predominantly female character of the missionary movement. The paper concludes with the author's attempt to develop a point of view for a study of Western missionary work in Punjab, one that takes the anti-imperialist critique into account without dismissing the religious convictions of missionary men and women, and South Asian Christians.
Genetic-based scheduling to solve the parcel hub scheduling problem

The parcel hub scheduling problem (PHSP) is scheduling problem that is common in the parcel delivery industry. The PHSP consists of scheduling a set of inbound trailers containing a batch of heterogeneous parcels to a set of unload docks with the objective of minimizing the time span of the transfer operation. The transfer operation involves unloading the inbound trailers and sorting and loading the parcels onto outbound trailers. The unload schedule can have a significant impact on the amount of time required to complete the transfer operation. In this paper, a mathematical model is proposed to solve small-size problems and a genetic algorithm is presented to solve the large-size problems with minimum computational time compared to other competing approaches.
Comparison of SPIVS to PDPA measurements in a nonreacting spray

Streaked particle imaging velocimetry and sizing (SPIVS), an image based system for planar instantaneous measurement of two-component droplet velocity and size is demonstrated in the spray of a simplex atomizer. The SPIVS technique upgrades traditional double light pulse particle imaging techniques by overlaying particle streakings on the particle image pairs. The advantages of this system are the enhanced reliability of the droplet pairing process, the identification of the time sequence between images of a droplet image pair, and the ability to measure the size of individual droplets from the recorded scattered light energy. Measurements of droplet size and velocity in the solid cone spray of a simplex atomizer were conducted with both SPIVS and phase Doppler particle analyzer (PDPA) techniques. The results generated by these two systems are presented and discussed.
Vanishing residue characterization of the sine-Gordon hierarchy

The sine(hyperbolic)-Gordon hierarchy is shown to be the extension of the modified Korteweg-de Vries (MKdV) hierarchy in the integrodifferential algebra extending the standard differential algebra by means of one antiderivative. The characterization by vanishing residues of the MKdV hierarchy yields the same characterization of the sine(hyperbolic)-Gordon hierarchy in the integrodifferential algebra.
Nothing but the truth. Are the media as bad at communicating science as scientists fear

Many scientists blame the media for sensationalising scientific findings, but new research suggests that things can go awry at all levels, from the scientific report to the press officer to the journalist.
Risk and Safety Program Performance Evaluation and Business Process Modeling

There is increasing need for agencies to coordinate their interdependent risk assessment, risk management, and risk communication activities in compliance with risk program guidelines. In particular, there is a challenge to measure risk program compliance and maturity to guidelines such as the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memorandum “Updated Principles for Risk Analysis” among others. This paper demonstrates a systemic approach to evaluate large-scale risk program maturity with utilization of business process modeling and self-assessment methods. This approach will be helpful to agencies implementing risk guidelines such as those of the OMB, the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Defense, and others. This paper will be of interest to risk managers, agencies, and risk and safety analysts engaged in the conception, implementation, and evaluation of risk and safety programs.
The "Joint-Elevation" Calcaneus Fracture A Rare Variant of the Intra-Articular Calcaneus Fracture-Dislocation

Calcaneus fractures are the most commonly fractured tarsal bone with approximately 75% being intra-articular in nature. Bohler's angle has been found to be reliable and prognostic, and it has been used as a proxy for joint depression and articular involvement. It often guides the need for advanced imaging and/ or operative intervention. We describe a rare variant of intra-articular calcaneus fracture-dislocation that results in elevation of a portion of the posterior facet above the posterior talus and a seemingly normal or increased Bohler's angle, which we call the "joint-elevation" calcaneus fracture. Orthopaedic surgeons should be aware of this previously undescribed variant in order to avoid inappropriate treatment or misdiagnosis.
Temperature Change on the Antarctic Peninsula Linked to the Tropical Pacific

AbstractSignificant summer warming over the eastern Antarctic Peninsula in the last 50 years has been attributed to a strengthening of the circumpolar westerlies, widely believed to be anthropogenic in origin. On the western side of the peninsula, significant warming has occurred mainly in austral winter and has been attributed to the reduction of sea ice. The authors show that austral fall is the only season in which spatially extensive warming has occurred on the Antarctic Peninsula. This is accompanied by a significant reduction of sea ice cover off the west coast. In winter and spring, warming is mainly observed on the west side of the peninsula. The most important large-scale forcing of the significant widespread warming trend in fall is the extratropical Rossby wave train associated with tropical Pacific sea surface temperature anomalies. Winter and spring warming on the western peninsula reflects the persistence of sea ice anomalies arising from the tropically forced atmospheric circulation changes...
Water Cherenkov technology in gamma-ray astrophysics

Abstract Traditional extensive air shower (EAS) arrays consisted of a sparse array of plastic scintillation counters dispersed over a large area. Typically 1–2% of the enclosed detector area was sensitive to the passage of electromagnetic particles. The resulting telescopes had energy thresholds above 100 TeV and did not detect any astrophysical sources of gamma rays. The advent of water Cherenkov technology allowed for the construction of an EAS array that was fully active over 100% of the enclosed area. This lead to the dramatic reduction of the energy threshold of such instruments (near 1 TeV) and the subsequent detection of sources of gamma rays. The Milagro detector in the Jemez Mountains of northern New Mexico was the first such instrument built. Milagro discovered the Galactic diffuse emission at 10 TeV and at least 3 new sources of TeV gamma rays. These observations have established the role of all-sky instruments in the Tera-Volt energy band. These instruments are uniquely sensitive to transient phenomena, such as gamma-ray bursts and flaring active galaxies. A next generation water Cherenkov detector, HAWC (for High Altitude Water Cherenkov) has now been proposed. In this paper I will discuss the water Cherenkov technique and its use in gamma-ray astrophysics. I will touch upon the physics observations that an instrument such as HAWC can enable and elaborate on the technological advances needed to support further work in this area.
Pre-Shaped Open Loop Drive of Electrothermal Micromirror by Continuous and Pulse Width Modulated Waveforms

Open loop drive is simple but it often leads to large nonlinearity. Closed loop drive can compensate nonlinearity but it increases system complexity and cost. This paper reports open loop drive methods that minimize nonlinearity by using special input waveforms. A procedure for open loop control of electrothermal micro-electro-mechanical systems is established and demonstrated by using a thermal bimorph based 1-D electrothermal micromirror. Constant linear velocity scan profile is achieved over 90% of the full scan range. Constant angular velocity scan of an electrothermal micromirror is achieved by continuous wave actuation over a ±4.5° range. A pulse width modulated (PWM) waveform that is equivalent to the continuous waveform is derived and experimentally verified. PWM based open loop control can significantly reduce hardware cost and size in case of micromirror array actuation.
Optical Sciences Center/College of Optical Sciences: 50 years of excellence

Aden B. Meinel established the University of Arizona Optical Sciences Center, now known as the College of Optical Sciences, in 1964 to fulfill a national need for more highly trained engineers and physicists in the optical sciences. Throughout its 50-year history, OSC has grown and evolved in response to industrial demand. It now includes a worldclass faculty and an international student body, and its academic programs offer more than 100 graduate and undergraduate courses, an ABET-accredited undergraduate optical sciences and engineering degree program, and outstanding M.S. and Ph.D. graduate programs with extensive distance learning options. Its graduates are in great demand and are employed by national and international governments, businesses and universities. This paper will describe the formation of OSC and its 50 years of excellence.
Host Range of an Illinois Population of the Stem Nematode (Ditylenchus Dipsaci) Isolated From Onion

A population of the stem nematode, Ditylenchus dipsaci, found on onion in southern Cook County, Illinois, U.S.A., was the "onion race" based on the reaction of nine differential hosts. Twenty crop plants and 25 weed species distributed in nineteen families were tested in the greenhouse as possible hosts of the stem nematode of onion. The crop plants soybean, snap bean, and pea were rated as excellent hosts; tomato as a good host; and spinach, cabbage, celery, carrot, parsnip, potato, and parsley as fair hosts. Weed hosts included: Saponaria officinalis, Brassica nigra, Hibiscus trionum, Polygonum persicaria, P. pennsylvanicum, Rumex crispus, Solanum carolinense, S. nigrum, and Pastinaca sativa. Eight Allium species were screened for reaction to this population, and only leek (A. porrum) showed any degree of resistance. Eight new hosts of D. dipsaci and six new hosts of the "onion race" were found.
CT fluoroscopy shielding: decreases in scattered radiation for the patient and operator.

PURPOSE High-radiation exposure occurs during computed tomographic (CT) fluoroscopy. Patient and operator doses during thoracic and abdominal interventional procedures were studied in the present experiment, and a novel shielding device to reduce exposure to the patient and operator was evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS With a 16-slice CT scanner in CT fluoroscopy mode (120 kVp, 30 mA), surface dosimetry was performed on adult and pediatric phantoms. The shielding was composed of tungsten antimony in the form of a lightweight polymer sheet. Doses to the patient were measured with and without shielding for thoracic and abdominal procedures. Doses to the operator were recorded with and without phantom, gantry, and table shielding in place. Double-layer lead-free gloves were used by the operator during the procedures. RESULTS Tungsten antimony shielding adjacent to the scan plane resulted in a maximum dose reduction of 92.3% to the patient. Maximum 85.6%, 93.3%, and 85.1% dose reductions were observed for the operator's torso, gonads, and hands, respectively. The use of double-layer lead-free gloves resulted in a maximum radiation dose reduction of 97%. CONCLUSIONS Methods to reduce exposure during CT fluoroscopy are effective and should be searched for. Significant reduction in radiation doses to the patient and operator can be accomplished with tungsten antimony shielding.
Constipation in Adults: Diagnosis and Management

Symptoms of constipation occur at all ages, with the greatest prevalence in individuals older than 60 years of age. It is estimated that 35 million individuals suffer from constipation in the USA, but only a small number will ever be diagnosed. Patients identify constipation symptoms differently than physicians. Whereas a patient may define their constipation by symptoms of bloating, distension, feeling of incomplete evacuation, abdominal discomfort, hard stools, and excessive straining, physicians often interpret prolonged timing between movements as the most essential criteria. An evaluation of constipation begins with a focused history of a person’s bowel habit, medications, diet, physical activity, and an anorectal examination. In the absence of alarm signs, diagnostic testing for constipation is not routinely recommended in the initial evaluation. First-line management includes lifestyle changes of increased physical activity, high-fiber diets, adequate fluid intake, and bowel management techniques such as a straight back sitting position, using known triggers to stimulate bowel contractions, and a foot stool to elevate knees above bottom during toileting. When refractory to initial management, patients should have anorectal manometry to assess outlet function; additional testing may be required. Biofeedback is an effective treatment option for dyssynergic defecation. A range of traditional and new pharmacologic therapies are available to remedy constipation, from stool softeners to agents that increase intestinal transit. Managing the primary and secondary causes of constipation, incorporating effective bowel management techniques, along with the judicious use of laxatives can reduce constipation symptoms and improve quality of life.
The presence of actin in nuclei: a critical appraisal.

Abstract To assess the significance of actin associations with nuclei, we have examined Amoeba proteus nuclei for the presence of labeled actin under a variety of circumstances without (in most instances) isolating nuclei or breaking up cytoplasms prior to the extraction of proteins. We first established that: the 42,000 dalton proteins (presumed to be actin) present in cytoplasm and non-isolated nuclei are identical electrophoretically; the putative actin of amebas has the same size and almost the same isoelectric point as rat muscle actin; and the peptide "fingerprints" of putative ameba actin and rat actin are very similar after tryptic digestion. We therefore concluded that the 42,000 dalton protein of ameba is actin. We determined that: the concentrations of actin in the cytoplasm and nucleus of amebas are the same; actin is readily lost from nuclei that are released from lysed cells; shortly after a 35 S-labeled nucleus is transplanted into unlabeled cytoplasm, or an unlabeled nucleus is transplanted into 35 S-labeled cytoplasm, the concentration of 35 S-actin in nucleus and cytoplasm is the same; and when cells containing 35 S-actin are subjected to long chase periods on unlabeled food, the concentrations of 35 S-actin in nucleus and cytoplasm fall in parallel. These observations taken together suggest that actin is not tightly associated with nuclei. Rather, actin may associate with nuclei for the trivial reason that the nuclear envelope is no barrier to free movement of that protein between the two compartments. We conclude that the mere presence of actin in nuclei is insufficient grounds for assuming that it has any role in nuclear functions, such as, for example, chromosome condensation.
Low level amplification of c-sis and c-myc in a spontaneous osteosarcoma model

Abstract Canine and human osteosarcoma are very similar clinically, radiologically and pathologically. DNA extracted from canine osteosarcomas (n = 9) and normal canine control tissues (n = 17) was examined for amplification of the c-sis, c-myc, N-myc and c-H-ras protooncogenes. Statistically significant amplification of the c-sis and c-myc protooncogenes was evident in the tumor tissues as compared to the normal control tissues (P
Beam spread and the Heisenberg uncertainty principle

Abstract Modern highly directive radiating structures approach the ultimate minimum beam spread angle and maximum Rayleigh range predicted by the Heisenberg uncertainty principle.
A simple and sensitive competitive protein-binding assay for cyclic GMP.

Abstract A simple and sensitive competitive protein-binding assay for cyclic GMP (cGMP) has been developed, using a specific cGMP-binding protein isolated from rat lungs. The contamination of cAMP-binding protein was partially removed by fractionated precipitation with ammonium sulfate. The most active binding was observed when cGMP-binding protein was extracted with phosphate buffer (50 mM) containing 2-mercaptoethanol. Magnesium (40 mM) and zinc (4 and 40 mM) ions enhanced the binding of cGMP to the protein. The amount of protein which bound to cGMP decreased when the protein was extracted with buffer but without 2-mercaptoethanol. The binding constant of this protein was 5.5–16.3 × 10−9 M. The sensitivity of the assay was 0.2 picomole of cGMP. Other nucleotides exerted little or no interference.
Spanwise structures in transitional flow around circular cylinders

An experimental investigation of the flow around a smooth circular cylinder at the beginning of the critical transition, where the drag coefficient starts to decrease, was carried out. The measurements disclosed the presence of spanwise structures occurring symmetrically on both sides of the cylinder, associated with large amplitude, low frequency flow components. Mean pressure maps and spanwise cross correlations of pressures and velocities are presented.
Determining motion parameters for scenes with translation and rotation (abstract only)

A study of methods that determine the rotation parameters of a camera moving through synthetic and real scenes is conducted. Algorithms that combine ideas of Jain and Prazdny are developed to find translational and rotational parameters. An argument is made for using hypothesized motion parameters rather than relaxation labelling to find correspondence.
NMR Spinning Sideband and Spin Echoes. Imaging of Couette Flow

Abstract The sidebands generated by a cylindrical sample spinning in a linear gradient under Hahn spin-echo conditions are examined experimentally and theoretically. Explicit expressions are developed for the phase and intensity of the magnetization as a function of time. When the signals are sampled stroboscopically with the echo time matched to multiples of the rotation period, a standard spinning-sideband pattern is observed. Intermediate pulse delays result in a decrease in sideband intensity and nonlinear phase distortions across the pattern. The stroboscopic sampling technique is applied to Couette shear flow to selectively detect slices from the fluid on the basis of angular velocity. The imaged annular slices may then be analyzed spectroscopically.
Emerging drugs for head and neck cancer

Head and neck cancer is a challenging disease. The treatment is quite complex and significant toxicity is seen with the combination of chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery. The present standard of care is chemoradiotherapy for most sites in the head and neck area for patients with locally advanced, unresectable disease and in patients treated for organ preservation. The recent approval of cetuximab, an EGF receptor inhibitor, for head and neck cancer in combination with radiotherapy represent an opportunity to improve the outcome for these patients, and the inclusion of this antibody within the chemoradiotherapy approaches will be studied in Phase III trials. In addition, a significant shift is occurring with the inclusion of more aggressive chemotherapy upfront, prior to chemoradiotherapy. This approach, known as sequential chemoradiotherapy, is the basis of many recently completed Phase III trials. Docetaxel, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil appears to be the most effective induction chemotherapy regimen and is the new induction 'standard' that is being used by many cancer centres and intergroups going forward. It is also a new platform that will be used to add new targeted agents to induction chemotherapy.
The Xenopus localized messenger RNA An3 may encode an ATP-dependent RNA helicase.

THE maternal messenger RNA An3 was originally identified localized to the animal hemisphere of Xenopus luevis oocytes, eggs and early embryos1,2Xenopus embryos depend on mRNA and protein present in the egg before fertilization (maternal molecules) to provide the information needed for early development. Localization of maternal mRNA gives cells derived from different regions of the egg distinctive capacities for protein synthesis. We show here that An3 mRNA encodes a protein with 74% identity to a protein encoded by the testes-specific mRNA PLlO found in mouse3, which is proposed to have RNA helicase activity. Because the gene encoding An3 mRNA is reactivated after gastrulation and remains active throughout embryogenesis1,2, we have examined its distribution in embryonic and adult tissues. Unlike PLlO mRNA, which is primarily restricted to the testes, An3 mRNA is broadly dis-tributed in later development.
Bioethanol Potentials and Life-Cycle Assessments of Biofuel Feedstocks

A wide range of bioenergy crops has been proposed as feedstocks that can serve as renewable and ecologically sound substitutes to fossil fuels. In the United States, corn grain (Zea mays) ethanol is the primary biofuel, with over 49 billion liters produced in 2010. Along with the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 mandate, concerns about competition for food, land availability, nutrient and water requirements, energy balances, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have prompted researchers to investigate other potential feedstocks. These include second-generation lignocellulosic feedstock and third-generation biodiesel from microalgae and cyanobacteria. However, each feedstock option has associated benefits and consequences for its use. One technique used to evaluate the energy efficiency of bioenergy production systems is the life-cycle assessment (LCA), where system inputs and outputs are computed in terms of either C or energy equivalents to assess the net gains in energy or C offsets. Th...
Characterization of a thermophilic P-type Ag+/Cu+-ATPase from the extremophile Archaeoglobus fulgidus.

Abstract The thermophilic, sulfur metabolizingArchaeoglobus fulgidus contains two genes,AF0473 and AF0152, encoding for PIB-type heavy metal transport ATPases. In this study, we describe the cloning, heterologous expression, purification, and functional characterization of one of these ATPases, CopA (NCB accession number AAB90763), encoded by AF0473. CopA is active at high temperatures (75 °C; E a = 103 kJ/mol) and inactive at 37 °C. It is activated by Ag+(ATPase V max = 14.82 μmol/mg/h) and to a lesser extent by Cu+ (ATPase V max = 3.66 μmol/mg/h). However, Cu+ interacts with the enzyme with higher apparent affinity (ATPase stimulation, Ag+ K = 29.4 μm; Cu+ K = 2.1 μm). This activation by Ag+ or Cu+ is dependent on the presence of millimolar amounts of cysteine. In the presence of ATP, these metals drive the formation of an acid-stable phosphoenzyme with apparent affinities similar to those observed in the ATPase activity determinations (Ag+, K = 23.0 μm; Cu+, K = 3.9 μm). However, comparable levels of phosphoenzyme are reached in the presence of both cations (Ag+, 1.40 nmol/mg; Cu+, 1.08 nmol/mg). The stimulation of phosphorylation by the cations suggests that CopA drives the outward movement of the metal. CopA presents additional functional characteristics similar to other P-type ATPases. ATP interacts with the enzyme with two apparent affinities (ATPase K m = 0.25 mm; phosphorylation K m = 4.81 μm), and the presence of vanadate leads to enzyme inactivation (IC50= 24 μm). This is the first Ag+/Cu+-ATPase expressed and purified in a functional form. Thus, it provides a model for structure-functional studies of these transporters. Moreover, its characterization will also contribute to an understanding of thermophilic ion transporters.
Condensation on a spray of water drops: A cell model study—I. Flow description

Abstract A unit cylinder cell model with a body-fitted coordinate system is employed to analyze the hydrodynamics and heat transfer associated with steam condensation on a spray of equal sized water droplets. The droplets are assumed to be moving in the intermediate Reynolds number regime, Re g = O(100). The distance between neighboring droplet centers is allowed to be arbitrary in the plane of motion, but the droplets are assumed to be uniformly spaced in the plane perpendicular to the direction of motion. Furthermore, once a particular configuration of the droplets is set, the subsequent spacings between the droplet centers in that configuration are taken to remain constant during the entire condensation process. The formulation entails a simultaneous numerical solution of the quasi-steady elliptic partial differential equations that describe the flow field in both the dispersed and continuous phases in each cell. In part 1 of this study, the results for the velocity, surface pressure and drag are presented. In part II of this study, the results for the condensation induced velocities, surface shear stress, the Nusselt number and the Sherwood number are provided. In both parts of the study, the interactions between neighboring drops have been examined.
Finding ALK-positive lung cancer: what are we really looking for?

The anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) is a transmembrane tyrosine kinase encoded on chromosome 2.1 It was first described as one of the fusion partners within a reciprocal translocation (t(2;5)(p23;q35)) occurring in anaplastic large cell lymphoma.2,3 Activation of ALK through chromosomal rearrangements (inversions or translocations) that fuse various 5 partners with the 3 kinase domain of ALK have since been described in several other malignancies, including non-small cell lung cancer.1,4 In lung cancer, the most common 5 fusion partner for ALK is EML4, but two other fusion partners, KIF5B and TFG, have also been reported.5–7 Interest in this chromosomal arrangement in lung cancer has been piqued by clinical trials of crizotinib (PF-02341066), a dual MET/ALK inhibitor that has shown astonishing clinical activity in patients with ALK rearrangements proven by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using the Vysis ALK break-apart probe set.8 Registration studies comparing crizotinib to standard chemotherapy in this population are ongoing, and Pfizer has also announced plans to file with the Food and Drug Administration for accelerated approval based on the initial phase I results. A major limitation, both in implementing these ongoing trials and in getting access to the drug, if it were to be licensed for a molecularly defined indication, is the small proportion of lung cancer patients who have ALK rearrangements. A recent meta-analysis has indicated that only 4% of lung cancers have ALK rearrangements.4 How to best identify this 4% and which ALK testing method should be employed are rapidly becoming crucial issues in the optimal management of patients with lung cancer. FISH is the current gold standard used as an entry criterion for all the crizotinib trials to date. The break-apart format of the FISH probe allows detection of rearrangements involving the tyrosine kinase domain of ALK independent of the fusion partner or specific breakpoint. The cut point for determination of a positive result has been set for the lung cancer trials at more than 15% of tumor cells positive for split red and green signals (separated by more than two signal diameters) or single red (3 ) signals.8,9 Yet, FISH requires specialized laboratory techniques, expert interpretation, and may also be viewed as a relatively expensive screening assay. A potential alternative to FISH screening is immunohistochemistry (IHC). The ALK protein is expressed at very low levels in most normal tissues, and its presence in a tumor specimen could be sufficiently abnormal as to indicate an oncogenic role in those cells.1 Unlike techniques such as reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, which are fusion partner specific, IHC, similar to the break-apart FISH assay, should detect ALK independent of the fusion partner within any rearrangement. However, as the 5 fusion partner also contains the promoter for the fusion gene, absolute levels of protein (and the cellular location of the signal) could still vary depending on the 5 partner. Two studies