cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermal Stratification and Mixing in an Open Water Pool by Submerged Mixtures of Steam and Air

Phenomena associated with jet-plume condensation of steam-air mixtures in a large subcooled pool of water have implications in predicting global system parameters, such as the containment pressure, in light water reactors. A scaled down, reduced pressure suppression pool was designed to study condensation and mixing phenomena using scaled test conditions obtained from RELAP5 code results of a loss of coolant accident in a simplified boiling water reactor. Results from the experiments were compared with the TRACE code predictions which reveal deficiencies in the code to predict the pool thermal stratification as TRACE was not initially developed for predicting such phenomena. A dimensionless boundary map was plotted from several experimental runs of pure steam injection to determine conditions when the pool transits from being a homogeneously mixed volume to being a thermally stratified one. Steam-air mixture injection cases for single horizontal venting indicated that above a pool temperature of 40 °C with air mass flow rates below 0.1 g/s the pool can attain thermal stratification.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Parturition: Its role in the long term retention of maternal behavior in the rat

Abstract The role of parturition in the establishment of the long-term retention of maternal behavior in the rat was investigated. Primigravid rats caesarean sectioned on Day 22 of gestation that responded maternally immediately (
Electron-impurity scattering rates of dilute alloys of Cu as measured by surface-state resonances

A method for studying the electron-impurity scattering rate by magnetic-field-induced surface-state resonances (SSR) in Cu alloys in the presence of overlapping signals is outlined and compared to temperature dependent de Haas---van Alphen techniques. Experiments using the SSR technique in the (110) sample plane in $\mathrm{Cu}\mathrm{Ni}$ alloys are reported. The scattering rate induced by the Ni impurity is found to vary by a factor of 5 over the Fermi surface. The variation follows closely the magnitude of the $d$-wave component of the electron wave functions in Cu as determined from band-structure calculations. It is concluded that the scattering potential introduced by Ni in Cu connects primarily the $d$ states. The relevance of the scattering anisotropy to the existing Hall-effect data is also discussed.
Design alternatives for barrel shifters

Barrel shifters are often utilized by embedded digital signal processors and general-purpose processors to manipulate data. This paper examines design alternatives for barrel shifters that perform the following functions: shift right logical, shift right arithmetic, rotate right, shift left logical, shift left arithmetic, and rotate left. Four different barrel shifter designs are presented and compared in terms of area and delay for a variety of operand sizes. This paper also examines techniques for detecting results that overflow and results of zero in parallel with the shift or rotate operation. Several Java programs are developed to generate structural VHDL models for each of the barrel shifters. Synthesis results show that data-reversal barrel shifters have less area and mask-based data-reversal barrel shifters have less delay than other designs. Mask-based data-reversal barrel shifters are especially attractive when overflow and zero detection is also required, since the detection is performed in parallel with the shift or rotate operation.
Results of en bloc resection for bronchogenic carcinoma with chest wall invasion

Abstract Objective: Lung cancer invading the chest wall without lymph node metastasis has recently been downstaged to stage IIb. To validate this reclassification, we reviewed our experience with en bloc lung and chest wall resection for bronchogenic carcinoma. Methods: From February 1985 to November 1999, 95 en bloc lung and chest wall resections were performed on 94 patients (62 men and 32 women). The median age was 66 years (range, 38-93 years). Pancoast tumors were excluded. Factors that may affect survival were analyzed with univariate analysis, and factors found to be significant univariately were analyzed multivariately to determine whether the significant association remained after adjusting for other significant factors. Results: Presenting symptoms included chest wall pain in 42 patients, cough in 17 patients, and "other" in 16 patients. Twenty patients were asymptomatic. Ninety-two patients were current or former smokers (median pack-years, 50; range, 8-150 pack-years). Seventy-five lobectomies, 12 pneumonectomies, 5 bilobectomies, 2 wedge excisions, and 1 segmentectomy were performed. The number of ribs resected ranged from 1 to 5 (median, 3). Sixty-one patients required chest wall reconstruction (prostheses in 60 and bovine pericardium in 1). Operative morbidity and mortality were 44.2% and 6.3%, respectively. Sixty-five cancers were classified as T3 N0 M0, 16 as T3 N1 M0, and 14 as T3 N2 M0. Squamous cell carcinoma was present in 56 tumors, adenocarcinoma in 25, large cell carcinoma in 11, and "other" in 3. Follow-up was complete in 86 (96.6%) of 89 operative survivors and ranged from 1 month to 15 years (median, 19 months). Overall 5-year actuarial survival was 38.7%. Five-year survival for patients with stage IIb disease (T3 N0 M0) was 44.3% compared with only 26.3% for those with stage IIIa disease (T3 N1 M0 or T3 N2 M0, P =.0082). Women had a better 5-year survival than men (52.9% vs 31.0%, P =.0122). The best 5-year survival was observed in women with stage IIb disease (61.2%). All other variables (age, tumor size, histopathology, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, extent of operation, depth of invasion, and adjuvant therapy) did not significantly affect survival. Conclusions: En bloc resection of lung cancer invading the chest wall is safe but associated with significant morbidity. Long-term survival is stage and sex dependent. The best survival is observed in women who have T3 N0 M0 disease (stage IIb). J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2002;123:670-5
Solubilization and properties of bovine adrenal cortical cytochrome P-450 which cleaves the cholesterol side chain

Abstract A cytochrome P-450 which cholesterol side-chain claving activity was solubilized from beef adrenal mitochondria with sodium deoxycholate and glycerol and purified by chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex. This preparation interacts spectrally with and performs side-chain cleavage of cholesterol and 20α-hydroxycholesterol but does not react with substrates for IIβ- or 18-hydroxylation. Absolute visible and ESR spectra indicate that this preparation is an equilibrium mixture of high- and low-spin statess of P-450 Fe3+. Cholesterol binding increase the relative proportion of the high-spin form, and 20α-hydroxycholesterol increases the relative proportion of the low-spin form of the cytochrome. Kinetic studies of the enzyme's reducibility show that the rate of reduction of Fe3+ to Fe2+ is related to the proportion of high-spin P-450 present.
Heat shock partially protects rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells from amyloid β peptide toxicity

Abstract Rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells are killed by amyloid β protein (ABP), a component of plaques and other amyloid deposits in Alzheimer's disease. To investigate the possibility of protection from ABP toxicity by induced heat shock proteins (hsps), PC12 cells were heat treated for 60 min at 42°C. The stress response of the PC12 cells was examined at the protein level using hsp72-specific monoclonal antibodies. Hsp72 immunoreactivity was highly induced following heat treatment. The toxic effect of the β 25–35 ABP peptide fragment, the major cytotoxic sequence within ABP, was reduced in heat pretreated PC12 cultures. These data indicate a protective role of hsps in neuronal cells exposed to ABP.
Hidrocéfalo ótico secundario a trombosis del seno lateral en niños: Reporte de un caso clínico y revisión de la literatura

La trombosis del seno lateral es una complicacion potencialmente mortal de la otitis media aguda, aunque infrecuente en la actualidad debido al amplio uso de antibioticos. Sus manifestaciones clinicas son habitualmente fiebre, cefalea y otalgia, agregandose vomitos, edema de papila y compromiso del estado general. El examen diagnostico de eleccion es la resonancia magnetica en fase venosa y el manejo incluye terapia antibiotica endovenosa, miringotomia con instalacion de tubo de ventilacion y mastoidectomia, asociado o no a anticoagulacion. Se reporta el caso de un escolar de 9 anos derivado al Hospital Carlos Van Buren con un hidrocefalo otico secundario a una trombosis del seno lateral, manejado con terapia antibiotica endovenosa, mastoidectomia simple, miringotomia con instalacion de tubos de ventilacion y anticoagulacion, evolucionando favorablemente con regresion de la sintomatologia y recanalizacion del seno en el control imagenologico. Se realiza una revision bibliografica sobre la presentacion clinica, diagnostico y manejo de la trombosis del seno lateral en ninos como complicacion de la otitis media aguda.
Organic-phase biosensors based on the entrapment of enzymes within poly(ester-sulfonic acid) coatings

The utility and advantages of the poly(ester-sulfonic acid) ionomer (Eastman AQ-55D, Eastman Chemical Products) for entrapping enzymes onto electrodes for organic-phase biosensing are described. This type of immobilization scheme relies on the stability of Eastman AQ films in various organic solvents. The resulting organic-phase enzyme elecrodes couple the entrapment of high enzyme loadings with discrimination against anionic interferences, short response times, and a rapid stabilization of the baseline current. The immobilization of the enzymes tyrosinase and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is evaluated in connection with the biosensing of phenolic and peroxide compounds in acetonitrile solutions. Various conditions of this simple preparation route are explored.
Amyloid Deposition in 2 Feline Thymomas

Two cases of feline thymoma with amyloid deposition were encountered between 1982 and 2010. Neoplastic cells were separated by abundant, pale eosinophilic, homogeneous material that was congophilic and birefringent. Ultrastructurally, the neoplastic cells were connected by desmosomes, and the extracellular deposits were composed of nonbranching, hollow-cored fibrils, 8-10 nm in diameter. In the case with sufficient archived tissue for additional sections, the amyloid remained congophilic following potassium permanganate incubation, and the neoplastic cells were immunoreactive for pancytokeratin. The histologic, histochemical, ultrastructural, and immunohistochemical features of both neoplasms are consistent with epithelial-predominant thymoma with the unusual feature of intratumoral amyloid deposition. The affinity of the amyloid for Congo red following potassium permanganate incubation is consistent with non-AA amyloid. The ultrastructural findings were consistent with amyloid production by the neoplastic epithelial cells.
Development and Oviposition Preference of House Flies and Stable Flies (Diptera: Muscidae) in Six Substrates From Florida Equine Facilities.

House flies, Musca domestica L., and stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), (Diptera: Muscidae), common pests on equine facilities, were studied in the laboratory to determine the success and duration of larval development and oviposition preferences on six substrates commonly found on equine facilities. Substrates tested were hay soiled with urine and manure, fresh horse manure, pine shaving bedding soiled with urine and manure ( 72 h in a manure pile), builders sand bedding soiled with urine and manure aged 3 d, and soil from an overgrazed pasture mixed with urine and manure of variable age. House fly larvae failed to develop into adults in hay, soil, and sand substrates. Stable flies preferred to oviposit on substrates with plant material and not on fresh manure. However, when eggs were added to the substrates, pupariation was maximal in fresh manure and the fresh pine shaving substrate. Stable flies developed in all six equine substrates, but development was less successful on the substrates with soil. In choice tests, fresh manure and the fresh pine shaving substrates were the most attractive for house fly oviposition. These substrates also yielded the greatest number of house fly puparia from artificially added eggs. An understanding of oviposition preferences and differential larval development of house flies and stable flies on these substrates may help develop options for reducing pest populations by effectively managing equine waste and selecting appropriate bedding materials.
Neural regulation of hypoxia-inducible factors and redox state drives the pathogenesis of hypertension in a rodent model of sleep apnea

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of the most common causes of hypertension in western societies. OSA causes chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) in specialized O2-sensing glomus cells of the caro...
Latent Layout Analysis for Discovering Objects in Images

Latent Layout Analysis (LLA) is a novel unsupervised learning technique to discover objects in unseen images using a set of un-annotated training images. LLA defines a generative model that associates latent aspects to local appearances. The dependency between aspects and position is captured by a spatial sensitive aspect model. This dependency distinguishes LLA from Probabilistic Latent Semantic Analysis (PLSA). The latent aspects together with the latent layout constitute a compact scene representation. We demonstrate that the proposed LLA significantly outperforms Probabilistic Latent Semantic Analysis in two tasks: object discovery (detection) and object localization.
IFN-γ/STAT1 acts as a proinflammatory signal in T cell-mediated hepatitis via induction of multiple chemokines and adhesion molecules: a critical role of IRF-1

We have previously shown that IFN-γ/STAT1 plays an essential role in concanavalin A (ConA)-induced T cell hepatitis via activation of apoptotic signaling pathways. Here we demonstrate that IFN-γ/ST...
Stability analysis of expert control systems

An expert system is a computer program that is designed to emulate a human's skills in a specific problem domain. If it is designed to emulate the expertise of a human in performing control activities, it is called an "expert controller". An expert control system (ECS) utilizes an expert controller to interpret plant outputs and reference inputs, to reason about alternative control strategies, and to generate inputs to the plant to improve the performance of the closed-loop system. While expert controllers are frequently being utilized to perform complex control functions, most often it is the case that no formal analysis of the dynamics is conducted since mathematical analysis of such systems is often considered to be beyond the scope of conventional control theory. In this paper we show how to represent the "rule-based" expert controller (including the inference engine and knowledge-base) and ECS with a mathematical model. Then we show that it is possible to characterize and formally analyze reachability and stability properties for the expert controller and ECS. We illustrate the results by showing how to perform modeling, analysis, and design of an ECS for a part balancing problem in flexible manufacturing systems. >
Pyramidal horn gain calculation with improved accuracy

Gain correction factors are presented for improved accuracy directivity calculation of pyramidal and sectoral horns. Direct calculation of the gain reduction factors is presented with no path length error approximation. The corrected gain reduction factors are compared with previously published approximate expressions. The new improved accuracy gain calculation gives results equal to the previous approximate calculations for large apertures (A or B>50 lambda ) or small peak aperture phase error (S or T >
Formation of urothelial and hepatic DNA adducts from the carcinogen 2-naphthylamine

The carcinogen, 2-naphthylamine (2-NA), induces tumor formation in the urinary bladder but not the liver of several species, including humans and dogs. Since its proximate carcinogenic metabolite, N-hydroxy-2-NA, was known to react directly with DNA in vitro to give specific carcinogen-base adducts, we investigated the in vivo formation and persistence of (2-NA)-DNA adducts in the bladder and liver and attempted to determine whether or not these lesions correlated with tissue susceptibility. Male beagle dogs were administered [3H]2-NA and sacrificed after 2 or 7 days. The DNA was isolated from the liver and urothelium and hydrolyzed enzymatically. The (2-NA)-deoxyribonucleoside adducts, which were quantitated by high pressure liquid chromatographic analysis, were the same as those found in vitro, namely 1-(deoxyguanosin-N2-yl)-2-NA, 1-(deoxyadenosin-N6-yl)-2-NA, and an imidazole ring-opened derivative of N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-2-NA. The major difference detected between target and non-target tissues was in the total level of binding to DNA, which was 4-fold higher in the urothelium at 2 days and 8-fold higher at 7 days after 2-NA dosing. Analysis of specific adducts suggested that this difference may be due to the relative persistence of the C-8-guanine adduct in the urothelium as compared to the liver. Similar experiments with the non-carcinogen, 1-naphthylamine, failed to reveal binding in urothelial DNA and indicated a 20-fold lower binding level in hepatic DNA. Evidence for binding of 2-NA to glycogen is also presented and problems associated with measuring total radioactivity in glycogen-contaminated DNA fractions are discussed. The data obtained in this study, through from a necessarily limited number of animals, are consistent with the hypothesis that the formation and persistence of DNA-carcinogen adducts may be important in the initiation of the neoplastic process.
Textbook of Gastroenterology

Textbook of gastroenterology , Textbook of gastroenterology , کتابخانه مرکزی دانشگاه علوم پزشکی تهران
Immunogenicity, Antigenicity, and Endothelial Viability of Aortic Valves Preserved at 4°C in a Nutrient Medium

In patients undergoing aortic valve replacement, allograft valves stored at 4 degrees C in a nutrient medium have been associated with excellent immediate and long-term results. The effects of this method of prolonged storage on the antigenic, immunological and cellular characteristics of these grafts are incompletely understood. This study was designed to study these phenomena in rat aortic valves subjected to antibiotic sterilization and stored for up to 3 weeks in RPMI containing 10% fetal calf serum. Selected valves from Brown Norway rats were implanted heterotopically into the abdominal aorta of Lewis rats. Other valves were studied prior to transplantation. Antigenicity was determined by immunocytochemical staining using monoclonal mouse antibodies directed at Class I and Class II rat antigens. Immunogenicity was determined by duration of second-set skin graft survival following heterotopic aortic valve implant. Endothelial cell viability was determined by flow cytometric analysis of endothelial cells harvested from aortic valve allografts by collagenase digestion. Only fresh valves and valves stored for 1 day were positive for Class I antigens; no valves were positive for Class II antigens. Duration of skin graft survival was prolonged with greater duration of storage, but grafts remained immunogenic after 21 days of storage. Endothelial cell viability declined from 95% in the fresh valves to 64% after 21 days of storage. With prolonged duration of allograft valve storage at 4 degrees C, there is an attenuation of antigenicity, immunogenicity, and endothelial cell viability. Loss of endothelial cells may contribute to the changes in immunological responses to the valve allografts. The expression of antigens on the endothelial surface is not a reliable predictor of immunological response.
Commentary: The Year in Basic Science: Update of Estrogen Plus Progestin Therapy for Menopausal Hormone Replacement Implicating Stem Cells in the Increased Breast Cancer Risk

This transcript is based on my The Year in Basic Science lecture at ENDO 2008. I reviewed current data surrounding hormone replacement therapy and the relationship between systemic estrogen plus progestin (E+P) treatment and increased breast cancer risk, and I explored the hypothesis that women who develop breast cancer while on E+P had occult, undiagnosed disease before they started therapy. Beginning with recent hormone replacement therapy data focusing on E+P and its association with breast cancer to set the stage, the lecture then reviewed our newly published data that progestins expand breast cancer stem cells. Finally, the issues of occult or undiagnosed breast cancer in presumably healthy women, and of tumor dormancy in breast cancer survivors, were brought to bear on the discussion. Taken together, these apparently disparate themes allowed me to suggest the idea that systemic progestins have the ability to reawaken cancers that were presumed to be either nonexistent or cured. To avoid this potentially devastating outcome while retaining the benefits of E+P, I advocated the use of local P delivery methods, rather than the currently popular systemic routes.
Book reviews - Introduction to communication systems

Before 1960, there were few modern texts to consider for senior course in communication systems. Since that time, an evolutionary process has been taking place with the publication of a number of books. At present it appears that the area has reached a degree of maturity, since the topics covered are largely the same in each new book published, The differences among the new books have been mostly pedagogical. Stremler?s book is no exception. The introductory chapter is mostly devoted to a brief classification of signals and systems. Only approximately one-third of the chapter, which describes the classical modem-channel model of a communication system, is a true introduction to the topic of the book as given by the title.
Direct interaction of pericentrin with cytoplasmic dynein light intermediate chain contributes to mitotic spindle organization.

Pericentrin is a conserved protein of the centrosome involved in microtubule organization. To better understand pericentrin function, we overexpressed the protein in somatic cells and assayed for changes in the composition and function of mitotic spindles and spindle poles. Spindles in pericentrin-overexpressing cells were disorganized and mispositioned, and chromosomes were misaligned and missegregated during cell division, giving rise to aneuploid cells. We unexpectedly found that levels of the molecular motor cytoplasmic dynein were dramatically reduced at spindle poles. Cytoplasmic dynein was diminished at kinetochores also, and the dynein-mediated organization of the Golgi complex was disrupted. Dynein coimmunoprecipitated with overexpressed pericentrin, suggesting that the motor was sequestered in the cytoplasm and was prevented from associating with its cellular targets. Immunoprecipitation of endogenous pericentrin also pulled down cytoplasmic dynein in untransfected cells. To define the basis for this interaction, pericentrin was coexpressed with cytoplasmic dynein heavy (DHCs), intermediate (DICs), and light intermediate (LICs) chains, and the dynamitin and p150Glued subunits of dynactin. Only the LICs coimmunoprecipitated with pericentrin. These results provide the first physiological role for LIC, and they suggest that a pericentrin–dynein interaction in vivo contributes to the assembly, organization, and function of centrosomes and mitotic spindles.
Digital control of two phase interleaved PFC and motor drive using MCU with CLA

Power Factor Correction (PFC) is used in power systems operating from single phase AC to correct for the non linearity of the rectifier. Use of PFC in motor drives is increasing because of increased regulation from the power utility side. However, integration of PFC and field oriented control of motor on a single controller remains challenging from a processor bandwidth point of view while keeping system costs down. The integration also brings challenges like better control of PFC output voltage under dynamic load and line condition while maintaining high input power factor. In this paper design of a motor control and PFC development hardware platform using a low cost microcontroller (MCU) is presented. Software and system integration challenges are illustrated and improvements to PFC algorithm using non linear control technique and anti windup integral controller are shown. It is further shown how the use of small footprint Control Law Accelerator (CLA) processor enables offloading control of PFC algorithm from the main core thus freeing up bandwidth to enable higher switching frequency operation of the power stage.
Impact of bowel preparation on surveillance colonoscopy interval.

AbstractBackground/Aims. Atpresent there are no guidelines for colonoscopy surveillance interval in subjects with unsatisfactory bowel preparation. Study was designed to compare outcomes of repeat colonoscopy at different surveillance intervals in patients with unsatisfactory preparation on index exam. Methods. Ten thousand nine hundred and eight colonoscopies were done during the study period. Patients with index colonoscopy exam complete up to cecum but suboptimal bowel prep were included. Results.Two hundred and ninety-seven patients met the inclusion criteria. The interval for repeat colonoscopy was <1 year in 38.5%, 1–2 years in 33.3%, 2–3 years in 16.7%, and 3–5 years in 11.5% subjects. Adenoma detection rate (ADR) was 24%, high-risk adenoma detection rate (HR-ADR) was 8.4%, and colorectal cancer detection rate was 1.7%. The HR-ADR based on surveillance intervals <1 year, 1–2 years, 2–3 years, and 3–5 years was 8%, 7.9%, 2%, and 19.4%, respectively. The HR-ADR was significantly higher at surveillanc...
When sexism is persuasive: agreement with hostile and benevolent sexism as a function of source gender

Expressions of prejudice are considered more severe when consistent with prototypical features. Two studies examine how speaker gender interacts with the type of sexism expressed (hostile vs. benevolent) to influence participants’ agreement with sexism. Participants (N = 806) evaluated a male or female target whose opinions reflected hostile or benevolent sexism toward women (Study 1) or men (Study 2). Participants were more likely to agree with benevolent sexist statements expressed by speakers praising their out-groups and were more likely to agree with hostile sexist statements expressed by speakers denigrating their in-groups. Mediation analyses suggested that participants’ agreement increased as their perceptions of the speaker as prejudiced decreased. These findings are discussed in the context of the justification of sexism.
A Pilot Study to Assess Feasibility, Acceptability, and Effectiveness of a Remotely-Delivered Intervention to Address Weight Regain after Bariatric Surgery

preparation program. Methods: We examined the retrospective attrition rate data among patients entering the preoperative program during two three month time frames (July-Sept and Oct-Dec).We compared that to data collected after integrating Dedicated Psychological Support (DPS) during a three month time frame (Jan-March). The aim of the examination was to assess if DPS had any impact on attrition. Results: Overall, a patient was about 3 times more likely to remain in the preoperative program with DPS involvement than without. The integration of DPS services resulted in an average percent decrease in attrition rates of 39%.Post-info session and postprogram start attrition rates were (31%, 25%) and (41%, 10%) for 2014–July-Sept and Oct-Dec, respectively. After DPS involvement, attrition rates at both time points decreased to 25% and 3%, respectively. Conclusions: There are many variables that can impact patient’s reasons for dropping out of a bariatric surgery preoperative program.However, by implementing general DPS into a bariatric surgery preoperative preparation program the rate of attrition can be decreased.Further study identifying unique variables that can be targeted by DPS, both pre and post surgery, should be undertaken.
Does sensory expansion benefit asexual species? An olfactory discrimination test in Amazon mollies

Why are asexual vertebrates so rare? One seldom explored avenue to understanding the evolutionary persistence of extant asexual species is their sensory ecology—how they perceive and respond to the environment. Asexual species formed by hybridization have been hypothesized to have an expanded sensory repertoire because they carry 1 allele from each of their parental species, including alleles that impact sensory function. The ability to detect odorants in the environment is a likely candidate for this expansion but has never been explored in this context. Here, we explore the olfactory abilities of the asexual Amazon molly, a gynogenetic fish formed by hybridization 100000 years ago. We test whether Amazon mollies can use only olfactory cues to detect conspecifics, detect heterospecific males, and discriminate between males infected with a common parasite. We further explore whether a female’s size, a proxy for age, explains any variation in her behavior. We find strong evidence that Amazon mollies use olfactory cues to detect conspecifics but surprisingly may avoid heterospecific males based on olfactory cues alone. We find no evidence that females use chemical cues to discriminate between infected and noninfected males. We also find that smaller Amazon mollies are more likely to use chemical cues. This study highlights the potential importance of sensory systems in asexual vertebrates.
Targeting of free fatty acid receptor 1 in EOC: A novel strategy to restrict the adipocyte-EOC dependence

Abstract Objectives Adipocyte derived free fatty acids (FFA) promote epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) by acting as a fuel source to support the energy requirement of the cancer cells. FFA may also exert biological effects through signaling pathways. Recently, a family of FFA activated G-protein coupled receptors (FFAR/GPCRs) was identified. Our objective was to investigate the role of FFAR/GPCRs in EOC and assess their potential as therapeutic targets. Methods The mRNA (RT-PCR) expression of FFAR/GPCR family members (FFAR1/GPR40; FFAR2/GPR43, FFAR3/GPR41, FFAR4/GPR120 and GPR84) was examined in: (1) a syngeneic mouse model of EOC fed high energy diet (60% fat) or regular diet (30% fat), (2) EOC cell lines exposed to free fatty acids and (3) specimens from 13 histologically normal ovaries and 28 high grade ovarian serous carcinomas. The GPR 40 antagonist, GW1100, was used to inhibit FFAR1/GPR40 and cell survival was assayed by MTT in various cell lines. Results High Grade Serous carcinoma specimens expressed significantly increased GPR40 compared to normal ovaries ( p =0.0020). Higher expression was noted in advanced stage disease. ID8 ovarian tumors from mice fed with high fat diet also showed higher GPR40 expression. Exposing EOC cells to FFAs, increased GPR40 expression. Treatment of EOC cell lines with GW100 resulted in growth inhibition and was associated with an alteration in their energy metabolism. Conclusion FFA-induced cancer cell growth may be partly mediated through FFAR1/GPR40. Targeting of FFAR1/GPR40 may be an attractive treatment strategy in EOC, and possibly offers a targeted treatment for a subset of EOC patients.
X-Ray Lithography Mask Metrology: Use of Transmitted Electrons in an SEM for Linewidth Measurement.

1Certain commercial equipment, instruments, or materials are identified in this paper to specify adequately the experimental procedure. Such identification does not imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor does it imply that the materials or equipment identified are necessarily the best available for the purpose.
REITs: Hedging and Diversification Possibilities

Executive Summary. Linkages between real estate investment trusts (REITs) and other assets are empirically analyzed. Using methodologies that account for idiosyncrasies in the data, evidence of lin...
Clinical significance of preoperative CT examination for esophageal carcinoma

Objective To study the clinical significance of preoperative examination for esophageal carcinoma. Methods 107 patients with esophageal carcinoma were given CT examination two weeks before operation. All the patients were allocated to three groups (Group A, B and C) according to the changes of triangular fat space (triangular space surrounded by esophagus, aorta and vertebral body), esophageal tumor, and the low-density area within aorta which existing or disappeared , ≥3 CT layers. Besides, they were divided into another three groups (Group a, b and c ) according to the indexes of esophageal neoplasm were adhesion to the trachea, bronchus or not, and the trachea had pachynsis or not: Group a of 76 cases had no adhesion, Group b of 20 cases had localized adhesion; Group c of 11 cases had localized pachynsis. The excision rate and the intraoperative exploration condition were comparatively analyzed between the groups. Results The excision rates in Group A, B and C were 100% (55/55), 91.6% (22/23), and 68.9% (20/29), respectively, and the separation rates were 100% (55/55), 91.6% (22/23) and 6.89% (2/29), respectively. The separation rates in Group a, b and c were 100% (76/76), 95% (19/20) and 18.2% (2/11), respectively. Conclusions The excision rate for carcinoma of esophagus could be increased by preoperative CT examination and the comprehensive judgment by the indexes of triangular space, existence or disappeared length of the low density area (lines), with or without adhesion of trachea or bronchi, and the localized pachynsis.
Reirradiation of Prostate Cancer Local Failures After Previous Curative Radiation Therapy: Long-Term Outcome and Tolerance

Purpose To evaluate the safety, feasibility, side-effect profile, and proof of concept of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) with or without a brachytherapy (BT) boost for salvage of exclusive local failure after primary EBRT for prostate cancer. Methods and Materials Fourteen patients with presumed exclusive local recurrence after primary EBRT with or without BT were considered eligible for reirradiation. The median normalized total dose in 2-Gy fractions (NTD 2Gy , α/β ratio = 1.5 Gy) was 74 Gy (range, 66-98.4 Gy) at first irradiation. Median time between the first irradiation and the reirradiation was 6.1 years (range, 4.7-10.2 years). Results Between 2003 and 2008 salvage treatment was delivered with a median NTD 2Gy of 85.1 Gy (range, 70-93.4) to the prostate with EBRT with (n=10) or without (n=4) BT. Androgen deprivation was given to 12 patients (median time of 12 months). No grade ≥3 toxicity was observed during and within 6 weeks after RT. After a median follow-up of 94 months (range, 48-172 months) after salvage RT, 5-year grade ≥3 genitourinary and gastrointestinal toxicity-free survival figures were 77.9% ± 11.3% and 57.1% ± 13.2%, respectively. Four patients presented with combined grade 4 genitourinary/gastrointestinal toxicity. The 5-year biochemical relapse-free, local relapse-free, distant metastasis-free, and cancer-specific survival rates were 35.7% ± 12.8%, 50.0% ± 13.4%, 85.7% ± 9.4%, and 100%, respectively. Conclusion Salvage whole-gland reirradiation for patients with a suspicion of exclusive local recurrence after initial RT may be associated with a high rate of severe radiation-induced side effects and poor long-term biochemical and local control.
Rehabilitation of the Elderly Patient With Arthritis

It is estimated that 49% of those over the age of 65 have arthritis of various etiologies. Rehabilitation of an elderly patient with arthritis requires a comprenensive mumoiscipnnary approacn. Kest, exercise, heat, cold, drugs, injection, surgery, and complementary medicine all have important roles. For most elderly patients with arthritis, the prognosis is excellent and joint function can be preserved or improved such that they can participate in most normal activities of daily living.
Mitogenic signaling of thrombin in mesangial cells: role of tyrosine phosphorylation

Thrombin elicits multiple biological effects on a variety of cells. We have previously shown that thrombin is a potent mitogen for human glomerular mesangial cells. This mitogenic effect of thrombin is associated with activation of phospholipase C (PLC) and induction of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) gene expression. The thrombin receptor, which belongs to the guanine nucleotide binding protein (G protein)-coupled receptor family, has recently been shown to induce rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins. In the present study, we investigated the role of protein-tyrosine phosphorylation in mediating the cellular responses elicited by thrombin in human glomerular mesangial cells. Amino acid labeling followed by immunoprecipitation with phosphotyrosine antibodies demonstrate that thrombin stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation of a set of cellular proteins. Treatment of mesangial cells with thrombin followed by immunoblotting with phosphotyrosine antibodies showed three major bands of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins approximately 130, 70, and 44-42 kDa. Phosphorylation of these proteins was inhibited by two tyrosine kinase inhibitors, herbimycin A and genistein. Both compounds inhibited DNA synthesis and PDGF B-chain gene expression but had no effect on inositol phosphates production or increases in cytosolic calcium in response to thrombin. These data demonstrate that protein-tyrosine phosphorylation is not required for thrombin-induced PLC activation with inositol phosphate formation and subsequent intracellular calcium release, but it is an absolute requirement for thrombin-induced DNA synthesis and PDGF B-chain gene expression.
Mechanistic stratification in electroactive biofilms of Geobacter sulfurreducens mediated by pilus nanowires

Electricity generation by Geobacter sulfurreducens biofilms grown on electrodes involves matrix-associated electron carriers, such as c-type cytochromes. Yet, the contribution of the biofilm's conductive pili remains uncertain, largely because pili-defective mutants also have cytochrome defects. Here we report that a pili-deficient mutant carrying an inactivating mutation in the pilus assembly motor PilB has no measurable defects in cytochrome expression, yet forms anode biofilms with reduced electroactivity and is unable to grow beyond a threshold distance (∼10 μm) from the underlying electrode. The defects are similar to those of a Tyr3 mutant, which produces poorly conductive pili. The results support a model in which the conductive pili permeate the biofilms to wire the cells to the conductive biofilm matrix and the underlying electrode, operating coordinately with cytochromes until the biofilm reaches a threshold thickness that limits the efficiency of the cytochrome pathway but not the functioning of the conductive pili network.
Hemophilia A and B: Diagnosis and Management

Hemophilia A and B are X-linked recessive disorders caused by deficiency of coagulation Factors VIII and IX, respectively. Hemophilia A occurs in 1 of 5032 live male births in the USA (Soucie et al. 1998), while hemophilia B is one-fifth as common. FIX is a serine protease, and FVIII is its cofactor in the activation of Factor X in the intrinsic pathway of the coagulation cascade. Deficiency of FVIII and FIX are clinically very similar. The diagnosis of hemophilia is suspected when bleeding symptoms develop or there is a positive family history in maternal male relatives. Diagnosis is confirmed by a prolonged aPTT and low levels of Factor VIII (FVIII) or Factor IX (FIX) activity measurement. The frequency of bleeding symptoms correlates well with measurement of factor activity. Patients with severe hemophilia (FVIII or FIX activity 0.05 IU/ml, >5 % of normal) typically have bleeding only with trauma or surgery. The musculoskeletal system is the most common site of bleeding among hemophilia patients and is the major source of disease-related morbidity in patients who are inadequately treated. Intracranial hemorrhage occurs in up to 14 % of hemophilia patients (Eyster) and is associated with 18 % mortality (Nuss). Other common bleeding sites in hemophilia patients include gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts.
Subarachnoid Metastatic Tumors and MRI

Subarachnoid metastatic disease was evaluated in 17 children with primary intracranial neoplasms at the Departments of Neurology and Radiology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, PA.
CHANGE IN AORTOMITRAL ANNULAR ANGLE AND ANTERIOR MITRAL VALVE LEAFLET LENGTH AFTER TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT: IMPLICATIONS FOR TRANSCATHETER MITRAL VALVE REPLACEMENT?

Background: Patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) often have concomitant severe mitral regurgitation. A portion of these patients are not anatomical candidates for a mitraclip procedure. Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) is a promising alternative, but has a
Evaluation of thermal desorption analysis on a portable GC–MS system

The HAPSITE-ER-TD (Hazardous Air Pollutants on Site Extended Range HAPSITE-ER) portable gas chromatograph–mass spectrometer (GC–MS) combines the sensitivity of a thermal desorption (TD) GC–MS with ...
Moody’s Sovereign Ratings: 1918–1939 and 1986–2006 Compared

This chapter analyzes the determinants of sovereign ratings in two different periods. It specifically focuses on ratings issued by Moody’s during the interwar years and today (1986–2006), two periods characterized by intense sovereign rating activity. The key finding is that although the regulatory framework and the rating industry are clearly different in the two periods – as the previous chapters showed – the determinants of Moody’s sovereign ratings have remained the same.
Storing fuzzy description logic ontology knowledge bases in fuzzy relational databases

In the context of the Semantic Web, fuzzy extensions to OWL (the W3C standard ontology language) and Description Logics (DLs, the logical foundation of OWL) have been extensively investigated, and there are many real fuzzy DL ontology knowledge bases. Therefore, how to store fuzzy DL ontology knowledge bases has become an important issue. In this paper, we propose an approach and implement a tool for storing fuzzy DL ontology knowledge bases in fuzzy relational databases. Our chosen formalism is a fuzzy extension of the very expressive DL SHOIN(D), which is the main logical foundation of the standard ontology language OWL, so that our storage approach can store not only fuzzy DL-knowledge bases but also fuzzy ontology knowledge bases. Firstly, we give a formal definition of fuzzy DL-knowledge bases. In the definition, we consider the constructors of both fuzzy SHOIN(D) DL and fuzzy OWL ontology and add some common fuzzy datatypes (e.g., trapezoidal values, interval values, approximate values, and labels) into the knowledge bases. On this basis, we propose an approach which can store fuzzy DL-knowledge bases in fuzzy relational databases, and provide an example to well explain the approach. The correctness and quality of the storage approach are proved and analyzed. Furthermore, following the proposed approach, we implemented a prototype tool, which can automatically store fuzzy DL-knowledge bases. Finally, we make a discussion about the query problem and make a comparison with the existing works.
Endocrine Disruption of Vasopressin Systems and Related Behaviors.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are chemicals that interfere with the organizational or activational effects of hormones. Although the vast majority of the EDC literature focuses on steroid hormone signaling related impacts, growing evidence from a myriad of species reveals that the nonapeptide hormones vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) may also be EDC targets. EDCs shown to alter pathways and behaviors coordinated by AVP and/or OT include the plastics component bisphenol a (BPA), the soy phytoestrogen genistein (GEN), and various flame retardants. Many effects are sex specific and likely involve action at nuclear estrogen receptors. Effects include the elimination or reversal of well-characterized sexually dimorphic aspects of the AVP system, including innervation of the lateral septum and other brain regions critical for social and other non-reproductive behaviors. Disruption of magnocellular AVP function has also been reported in rats, suggesting possible effects on hemodynamics and cardiovascular function.
Surface amplitude ratios and nucleated wetting near a critical end point

We examine two recently discovered phenomena which occur at the liquid/vapor surface of a critical binary liquid mixture; namely, (i) the universality of the critical adsorption amplitude ratio and (ii) the observation of the nucleation of wetting droplets after a temperature quench from the one phase into the two phase region. The recent theoretical work of Fisher and Upton on the universality of the surface tension amplitude ratio suggests that the ratio of the critical adsorption amplitude above and below Tc should also be universal. This is indeed found to be the case for five critical liquid mixtures where the modified critical adsorption amplitude ratio has an experimental value of RMA = 1.18±0.13. This result agrees reasonable well with the RG calculations of Diehl and Smock. In the two-phase region, for sufficiently small reduced temperatures t, the critical liquid mixture hexadecane + acetone has an acetone-rich wetting layer at the liquid/vapor surface at equilibrium. We examine the time development of this wetting layer after a temperature quench from the one phase into the two phase region. The liquid/vapor surface initially drops into a metastable surface state which is well described by critical adsorption. The lifetime,τ0, of this metastable state is many hours and depends upon the reduced temperature, t. At the nucleation time τ0 acetone-rich droplets nucleate and grow at the liquid/vapor surface; good agreement is found for τ0 between theory and experiment for t≥8×10−5. An essential ingredient of the theory is the inclusion of a line tension term in the free energy of the nucleated droplet. At large times τ the droplets coalesce into a metastable wetting film which eventually undergoes a hydrodynamic instability to an equilibrium wetting film.