cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fire, Defoliation, and Competing Species Alter Aristida purpurea Biomass, Tiller, and Axillary Bud Production

Aristida purpurea (purple threeawn) is a competitive native perennial grass with monoculturistic tendencies and poor palatability. We examined effects of fire, defoliation, and interspecific/intraspecific planting for 1) threeawn responses in the presence of threeawn, Bouteloua gracilis ,o rPascopyrum smithii, and 2) B. gracilis and P. smithii response with threeawn. Biomass, aboveground production, tillers, and axillary buds were analyzed following two fire and four clipping treatments applied to three species‐pair combinations in a completely randomized factorial design with nine replications. Fire killed 36% of threeawn. Fire reduced surviving threeawn biomass 61% and reduced production 27%. Threeawn production was greatest when neither plant was clipped and least when competing species were moderately clipped, or when both plants were severely clipped. Tiller counts of burned threeawn were similar among clipping treatments, and less than non-clipped or moderately clipped plants not burned. Fire decreased threeawn axillary buds on average by 25%. Moderately clipped plants had greater production than those from other clipping treatments across species. Average threeawn percentage of pot biomass was greater with B. gracilis (46 6 3% SE) than P. smithii (38 6 3% SE). Fire reduced threeawn from 60 6 3% to 23 6 3% of pot biomass, indicating good potential for rapid reductions in threeawn dominance and restoration of plant diversity with fire.
Aggressive transmissions of short messages over redundant paths

Fault-tolerant computer systems have redundant paths connecting their components. Given these paths, it is possible to use aggressive techniques to reduce the average value and variability of the response time for short, critical messages. One technique is to send a copy of a packet over an alternate path before it is known whether the first copy failed or was delayed. A second technique is to split a single stream of packets over multiple paths. The authors analyze both approaches and show that they can provide significant improvements over conventional, conservative mechanisms. >
Monosynaptic premotor circuit tracing reveals neural substrates for oro-motor coordination

Feeding behaviors require intricately coordinated activation among the muscles of the jaw, tongue, and face, but the neural anatomical substrates underlying such coordination remain unclear. In this study, we investigate whether the premotor circuitry of jaw and tongue motoneurons contain elements for coordination. Using a modified monosynaptic rabies virus-based transsynaptic tracing strategy, we systematically mapped premotor neurons for the jaw-closing masseter muscle and the tongue-protruding genioglossus muscle. The maps revealed that the two groups of premotor neurons are distributed in regions implicated in rhythmogenesis, descending motor control, and sensory feedback. Importantly, we discovered several premotor connection configurations that are ideally suited for coordinating bilaterally symmetric jaw movements, and for enabling co-activation of specific jaw, tongue, and facial muscles. Our findings suggest that shared premotor neurons that form specific multi-target connections with selected motoneurons are a simple and general solution to the problem of orofacial coordination.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.02511.001.
Phase transition in the fine structure constant

Abstract Within the context of mass-varying neutrinos, we construct a cosmological model that has a phase transition in the electromagnetic fine structure constant α at a redshift of 0.5. The model accommodates hints of a time variable α in quasar spectra and the nonobservance of such an effect at very low redshifts. It is consistent with limits from the recombination and primordial nucleosynthesis eras and is free of instabilities.
Dynamic auditory processing, musical experience and language development

Children with language-learning impairments (LLI) form a heterogeneous population with the majority having both spoken and written language deficits as well as sensorimotor deficits, specifically those related to dynamic processing. Research has focused on whether or not sensorimotor deficits, specifically auditory spectrotemporal processing deficits, cause phonological deficit, leading to language and reading impairments. New trends aimed at resolving this question include prospective longitudinal studies of genetically at-risk infants, electrophysiological and neuroimaging studies, and studies aimed at evaluating the effects of auditory training (including musical training) on brain organization for language. Better understanding of the origins of developmental LLI will advance our understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying individual differences in language development and lead to more effective educational and intervention strategies. This review is part of the INMED/TINS special issue Nature and Nurture in Brain Development and Neurological Disorders, based on presentations at the annual INMED/TINS symposium (http://inmednet.com/).
Millisecond response time measurements of high temperature gas sensors

We present a new apparatus for measuring the response times of a gas sensor with millisecond resolution, while also capturing the slower components of the response such as the steady state value. Laser induced fluorescence (LIF) imaging was used to quantify the exchange rate of the sensor's ambient gas. The millisecond response of high temperature (up to 950 K) field effect SiC sensors for detection of hydrogen containing gases was characterized.
Hip arthroscopy: An anatomic study of portal placement and relationship to the extra-articular structures

Abstract The purpose of this study is to accurately describe the relationship of the major neurovascular structures to standard portals used in hip arthroscopy Placement of three standard arthroscopic portals was simulated in eight fresh paired cadaveric hip specimens by placing Steinmann pins into the joint under fluoroscopic control. The specimens were then dissected and the relationship of the portals to the following structures was recorded: lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, femoral nerve, ascending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery, superior gluteal nerve, and sciatic nerve. The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve had divided into three or more branches at the level of the anterior portal. The anterior portal averaged only 0.3 cm from one of these branches. The average minimum distance from the anterior portal to the femoral nerve was 3.2 cm. The ascending branch of the lateral circumflex femoral artery averaged 3.7 cm from the anterior portal. A terminal branch of this vessel was present in three specimens 0.3 cm from the portal. The superior gluteal nerve averaged 4.4 cm superior to the anterolateral and posterolateral portals. The sciatic nerve averaged 2.9 cm from the posterolateral portal. From this study, these portal placements appear to be safe. Proper positioning depends on careful attention to the topographical anatomy about the hip. Avoidance of the important structures depends on proper positioning and proper technique in portal placement.
Invasive Staging of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: A Review of the Current Evidence

Study objectives: To determine the test performance characteristics of transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA), transthoracic needle aspiration (TTNA), endoscopic ultrasound-guided needle aspiration (EUS-NA), and mediastinoscopy in staging non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Design, setting, and participants: Systematic search of MEDLINE, HealthStar, and Cochrane Library databases to July 2001 and print bibliographies. Included were studies comparing staging results of TBNA, TTNA, EUS-NA, or mediastinoscopy against either tissue histologic confirmation or long-term clinical follow-up (> 1 year). Patients included were those with NSCLC or small cell lung cancer. Measurement and results: For patients with lung cancer, the pooled sensitivity for TBNA was 0.76, the pooled specificity was 0.96, and the negative predictive value (NPV) was 0.71. For TTNA, the pooled sensitivity was 0.91, with an NPV of 0.78. EUS-NA had a pooled sensitivity of 0.88, a pooled specificity of 0.91, and an NPV of 0.77. For standard cervical mediastinoscopy, the pooled sensitivity was 0.81, with an NPV of 0.91. The addition of either extended cervical mediastinoscopy or anterior mediastinotomy to standard cervical mediastinoscopy appeared to improve the sensitivity of any of the procedures alone. Conclusions: Invasive clinical staging of NSCLC can be performed effectively by TBNA, TTNA, EUS-NA, or mediastinoscopy. Selection of the appropriate study is dependent on the degree of suspicion for metastatic disease, the patient’s comorbid illnesses, and the availability and performance characteristics of procedural options. (CHEST 2003; 123:157S–166S)
High-brightness pump sources using 2D VCSEL arrays

Many applications require laser pump sources with high output power (tens to hundreds of Watts) in the smallest spot, with the smallest divergence. Such high-brightness pump sources typically use edge-emitting semiconductor lasers. However, it is also possible to use high-power two-dimensional vertical-cavity surfaceemitting laser (VCSEL) arrays for this purpose. Using a single 976nm 2D VCSEL array chip in an external cavity configuration, combined with a matching micro-lens array, we have demonstrated more than 30W output power from a 50μm/0.22NA fiber, corresponding to a brightness of 10MW/cm2.sr. This represents a substantial reduction in module complexity compared to edge-emitter based modules with similar brightness. These novel high-brightness pump sources exhibit some well-known intrinsic VCSEL performance features such as wavelength stability and narrow spectrum. Power and brightness can be scaled up using polarization and spectral combining.
Investigating female mate choice for mechanical sounds in the male Greater Sage-Grouse

ABSTRACT Although birds are generally known for their vocally produced songs and calls, some species have evolved alternate means of acoustic communication that do not require the syrinx. While many of these mechanical sounds are used in a courtship context, the importance of among- and within-individual variation in these sounds is almost entirely unknown. We investigated feather-produced sounds in male Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), which congregate on leks during the spring breeding season and perform elaborate displays to attract females. Despite decades of research on the vocal components of the display, the frequency-modulated and mechanically generated “swish” sounds remain poorly studied. We used 2 years of acoustic data to evaluate the relationship between the time and frequency characteristics of the swish display and male mating success. Although characteristics of the swish sounds showed individual-specific patterns of variation, neither univariate nor multivariate analyses r...
Lignite Occurrence in Relation to Depositional Facies, Eocene Wilcox Group, Sabine Uplift Area, East Texas--Regional and Local Comparative Studies: ABSTRACT

Lignite occurrence was related to sandbody geometry in two subsurface studies: a 12-county regional study and a local study of the Trawick gas field area, north-central Nacogdoches County. For both studies, the Wilcox Group was informally divided into lower progradational (deltaic) and upper aggradational (fluvial) units. The local study utilized closely spaced data to investigate a more detailed Wilcox stratigraphy. The most continuous lignite-bearing zone lies at the transition between lower and upper Wilcox strata. Mapping of lignite occurrence in both studies shows this zone to be coincident with distributary channels indicative of delta-plain settings. Lignites and laterally equivalent muds rest on platforms of sandy sediments. Initiation of peat accumulation in interdistributary basins, with upward and subsequent lateral development as blanket peat, is inferred from the local study. Thickest and most laterally extensive seams occur in Shelby and Panola Counties on the flanks of major delta lobes. Thick upper Wilcox lignites (> 5 ft, 1.5 m) occur regionally between major fluvial channel sand belts and cap 30 to 40-ft (9 to 12-m) upward-coarsening sequences (crevasse splays?). These lignites are surface-mined in Panola and Harrison Counties at Martin Lake and Darco. Westward, in northern Cherokee County, our drilling shows thick lignites (up to 11 ft, 3.4 m) have limited lateral extent in channel sand belt areas. Similarly, the local study lies within a major sand belt; small interchannel basins limit lateral continuity of lignites. End_of_Article - Last_Page 448------------
Experimental Photoimmunotherapy of Hepatic Metastases of Colorectal Cancer with a 17.1A Chlorine6 Immunoconjugate

Photoimmunotherapy (using a monoclonal antibody-targeted photosensitizer and red light) may be a strategy to overcome the limitations inherent in photodynamic therapy of liver tumors. The aims of this study were (a) to test the efficacy of selective treatment of hepatic metastases of colorectal cancer in an orthotopic murine xenograft using the murine monoclonal antibody 17.1A conjugated to the photosensitizer chlorin(e6), and (b) to compare the tumor response after the same light dose was delivered at two different fluence rates. Based on previous biodistribution studies that had shown that the photoimmunoconjugate with a polyanionic charge had both a higher absolute tumor chlorin(e6) content and a greater tumor:normal liver ratio than those obtained with a photoimmunoconjugate bearing a polycationic charge, mice were treated 3 h after i.v. injection of the polyanionic 17.1A chlorin(e6) conjugate or unconjugated photosensitizer. Red light was delivered into the liver tumor by an interstitial fiber, and tumor response end points were total tumor weight in the short term and survival in the long term. There was a highly significant reduction (<20% of controls; P = 0.0035) in the weight of the tumors in the mice treated with photoimmunotherapy, and the median survival increased from 62.5 to 102 days (P = 0.015). Photodynamic therapy with free chlorin(e6) produced a smaller decrease in tumor weight and a smaller extension of survival, neither of which were statistically significant. A comparison of photoimmunotherapy with 10 J of light delivered at 30 or 300 mW showed that the higher fluence rate prolonged survival significantly more than the lower fluence rate. This may have been because the high fluence rate gave a contribution of laser-induced hyperthermia to the photodamage. Correlation studies showed that the amount of normal liver remaining at necropsy correlated best with survival. Photoimmunotherapy shows efficacy in destroying liver tumors, and future studies should maximize selectivity to minimize the destruction of normal liver.
What are We Developing? A Case Study of a College Mathematics Program

Over one-third of all college mathematics enrollments are in courses considered to be developmental. While such courses have been the subject of a large body of research, one question that seems not to have been studied empirically is the alignment of the content of developmental and college level mathematics courses. This paper gives the results of such a study, conducted at a medium sized public liberal arts university. While the content of the developmental mathematics courses was used subsequently in the Precalculus course, most of the content of the Intermediate Algebra course was not used in other college level mathematics courses. It is hoped that the results of this paper will serve as a catalyst for other institutions to examine carefully and define the mission of both their developmental and college level mathematics courses.
A diabatic representation including both valence nonadiabatic interactions and spin-orbit effects for reaction dynamics.

A diabatic representation is convenient in the study of electronically nonadiabatic chemical reactions because the diabatic energies and couplings are smooth functions of the nuclear coordinates and the couplings are scalar quantities. A method called the fourfold way was devised in our group to generate diabatic representations for spin-free electronic states. One drawback of diabatic states computed from the spin-free Hamiltonian, called a valence diabatic representation, for systems in which spin−orbit coupling cannot be ignored is that the couplings between the states are not zero in asymptotic regions, leading to difficulties in the calculation of reaction probabilities and other properties by semiclassical dynamics methods. Here we report an extension of the fourfold way to construct diabatic representations suitable for spin-coupled systems. In this article we formulate the method for the case of even-electron systems that yield pairs of fragments with doublet spin multiplicity. For this type of sy...
Oxygen consumption during leaf nitrate assimilation in a C3 and C4 plant: the role of mitochondrial respiration

Measurements of net fluxes of CO2 and O2 from leaves and chlorophyll a fluorescence were used to determine the role of mitochondrial respiration during nitrate (NO3–) assimilation in both a C3 (wheat) and a C4 (maize) plant. Changes in the assimilatory quotient (net CO2 consumed over net O2 evolved) when the nitrogen source was shifted from NO3– to NH4+ (ΔAQ) provided a measure of shoot NO3– assimilation. According to this measure, elevated CO2 inhibited NO3– assimilation in wheat but not maize. Net O2 exchange under ambient CO2 concentrations increased in wheat plants receiving NO3– instead of NH4+, but gross O2 evolution from the photosynthetic apparatus (JO2) was insensitive to nitrogen source. Therefore, O2 consumption within wheat photosynthetic tissue (ΔΟ2), the difference between JO2 and net O2 exchange, decreased during NO3– assimilation. In maize, NO3– assimilation was insensitive to changes in intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci); nonetheless, ΔΟ2 at low Ci values was significantly higher in NO3–-fed than in NH4+-fed plants. Changes in O2 consumption during NO3– assimilation may involve one or more of the following processes: (a) Mehler ascorbate peroxidase (MAP) reactions; (b) photorespiration; or (c) mitochondrial respiration. The data presented here indicates that in wheat, the last process, mitochondrial respiration, is decreased during NO3– assimilation. In maize, NO3– assimilation appears to stimulate mitochondrial respiration when photosynthetic rates are limiting.
Performance of a Thin-Window Silicon Drift Detector X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer

Several sets of hexagonal Silicon Drift Detector (SDD) arrays were produced by Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) and by the commercial vendor, KETEK. These detector arrays were tested at BNL. Each array consists of 14 independent SDD detectors (pixels) and two additional test pixels located at two corners of the array. The side of the detector upon which the X-ray radiation is incident (window side) has a thin junction covering the entire active area. The opposite side (device side) contains a drift-field electrode structure in the form of a hexagonal spiral and an electron collecting anode. There are four guard rings surrounding the 14-pixel array area on each side of the detector. Within each array, seven pixels have aluminum field plates - interrupted spirals that stabilize the electric potential under the Si- SiO2 interface, while the other seven do not. Three bias voltages are applied to control the drift field in the silicon volume; one is applied to a rectifying contact surrounding the central anode (one for each pixel), one is applied to the detector entrance window (common to the full array), and a third bias is applied to a contact on the outer portion of the spiral, common to all pixels in the array. Some arrays were recently tested in NSLS beam line U3C at BNL. For this work, we installed the complete assemblies in the vacuum and cooled them to -27degC. During this beam run, we collected spectra for energies ranging between 350 and 900 eV in several pixels, some with field plates and others without. The detailed testing results of several arrays are reported here.
Computer Analysis of Qualitative Data: A Comparison of Three Packages

This article describes and compares three computer programs designed to assist in the analysis of narrative text. Ethnograph, GATOR, and Martin were compared in the context of a qualitative study of women and their husbands following mastectomy in order to (a) describe the fit between research purpose and program capabilities and (b) explore the influence, if any, of particular program features on research methods or analysis. The comparison suggests that methodological assistance provided by the programs involves differences in approach sufficient to make prior consideration of the fit between program capabilities and research purposes, methods, and style an important research decision. Descriptions of the programs and their application provide guidelines for comparison of these and other computer programs.
Detailed ultrasonographic mapping of the pelvis in clinically normal horses and ponies.

OBJECTIVE To map the equine pelvis using ultrasonography, validated by use of computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and measurements of frozen cadaver slices. ANIMALS 6 ponies and 6 horses. PROCEDURE Ultrasonographic examination of the pelvis was performed on 6 clinically normal ponies. Measurements were obtained for imaged structures. Computed tomography, MRI, and measurements of frozen sections were performed after death and used to verify measurements. Linear regression determined the degree of correlation between measurements obtained ultrasonographically and the other modalities. Six clinically normal horses were then examined by use of ultrasonography. For each structure measured mean, SD, and range were calculated. RESULTS Data obtained from ponies revealed high correlations between ultrasonographic findings and those of CT, MRI, and frozen section measurements (r2 = 0.97, r2 = 0.99, and r2 = 0.99, respectively). Differences between structures measured on each side of the pelvis were not significant. Variation in size of structures was not associated with weight of horses. A correlation was not found between weight of horses and ponies and size of structure. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Ultrasonography can be used to accurately measure and evaluate the musculoskeletal structures of the pelvis of horses. The use of CT, MRI, and measurements of frozen sections provided a means of validating the ultrasonographic measurements. Reference range values determined in our study can be used to evaluate horses with suspected pelvic disease.
COMPUTATIONAL METHOD AND DESIGN OF A PACKED BED DIFFUSION TOWER FOR THE DESALINATION OF SEAWATER

In a recent study, Klausner et al. [1] have described a diffusion driven process for desalinating seawater at low temperatures. The main advantage of the diffusion driven desalination (DDD) process is that low thermodynamic availability waste heat may be used to drive the process. When low pressure condensing steam from a 100 MW power plant supplies the heat to drive the DDD process, a fresh water production rate of 20 million gallons per day is feasible. This paper describes the computational procedure used to size the diffusion tower for a specified throughput.
Preoperative endocrine therapy for older women with breast cancer: renewed interest in an old idea.

Background: Tamoxifen as sole therapy (primary tamoxifen therapy) was investigated in the 1970s and 1980s as an alternative to surgery for older patients with breast cancer. While the majority of primary breast tumors responded to tamoxifen, long-term local disease control was poor. The use of primary tamoxifen therapy is therefore restricted to frail, elderly, and infirm patients who cannot tolerate surgery. In contrast, short-term preoperative endocrine therapy to downstage estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) tumors is under increasing scrutiny as a nontoxic neoadjuvant approach for older women. Methods: The literature on primary tamoxifen therapy and preoperative endocrine therapy was reviewed to construct an opinion piece on the feasibility and safety of preoperative endocrine therapy. Results: A review of nine phase II trials and a meta-analysis of two randomized trials suggest that the initial response rates to preoperative endocrine therapy will exceed 50% to 60% for patients with ER+ disease. A short delay in surgery to administer 3 to 4 months of preoperative endocrine therapy is unlikely to compromise long-term outcomes. Conclusions: Preoperative endocrine therapy is a logical approach for older patients with ER+ disease as a well-tolerated means to increase the rate of breast-conserving surgery. Several clinical trials comparing tamoxifen with selective aromatase inhibitors in the preoperative setting have been conducted, and the results are expected soon. These studies will determine if a large multicenter national trial of preoperative endocrine therapy should be conducted.
Brutalised bodies and emasculated politics

(2000). Brutalised bodies and emasculated politics. Third Text: Vol. 14, No. 53, pp. 31-41.
Fear of Freedom

The Supreme Court, in a highly-anticipated decision, has recently held that the FAA's statutory grounds for vacatur of awards may not be supplemented by contract. So the illicit character of contractual provisions purporting to expand judicial review of arbitral awards is firmly established. However, even to phrase the issue in Hall Street in terms of extended judicial review is already tendentious: For it is not even necessary to characterize in that way an agreement to subject arbitral conclusions of law to a court's second look; alternative characterizations are available which make the contractual arrangement attempted by the parties in that case quite unproblematical. In addition, the familiar, century-old assertion to the effect that expanded review would be a perversion of the goals of arbitration - contrary to its ethos, given that finality is its indispensable characteristic - although trotted out once again in Justice Souter's opinion for the Court - seems perfectly beside the point. What is truly appalling about Hall Street, however, is not so much the unfortunate result, but rather the grotesque deficiencies in craftsmanship, in rhetoric, in argument. Most of the Court's opinion dwells on the textual features of the FAA that are supposedly at odds with enforcement of the contractual provision: This forces us to confront directly the question of how one ought to go about reading a statute - and how not to. As to that question, the Hall Street opinion must represent a new low in context-free, policy-free, abstract, non-functional decision-making. Finally, I consider briefly three questions that the holding seems to pose for the future: (a) What remains of manifest disregard and other supposedly non statutory grounds for the vacatur of awards? (b) What ways out are there in future cases? What, for example, are we to make of Justice Souter's suggestion that the Court's holding need not exclude more searching review based on authority outside the statute - for example, enforcement under state statutory or common law? (c) No matter how unsatisfactory the opinion, what factors might explain this decision? In particular, how can one account for the fact that the largest providers of arbitration services should have lined up so strongly on the defendant's side in Hall Street? Surely this is paradoxical, as one would have thought that the arbitration establishment is made up precisely of those least likely to remain fettered to the historically contingent, modal form of the arbitration process - most likely by contrast to have internalized all the vaunted advantages of tailoring the arbitration mechanism to individual needs.
Suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and occupations among employed adults aged 18-64years in the United States.

Abstract Objective Approximately 70% of all US suicides are among working-age adults. This study was to determine whether and how 12-month suicidal ideation and suicide attempt were associated with specific occupations among currently employed adults aged 18–64 in the U.S. Methods Data were from 184,300 currently employed adults who participated in the 2008–2013 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). NSDUH provides nationally representative data on suicidal ideation and suicide attempt. Descriptive analyses and multivariable logistic regressions were conducted. Results Among currently employed adults aged 18–64 in the U.S., 3.5% had suicidal ideation in the past 12 months (3.1% had suicidal ideation only, and 0.4% had suicidal ideation and attempted suicide). Compared with adults in farming, fishing, and forestry occupations (model adjusted prevalence (MAP) = 1.6%), adults in the following occupations were 3.0–3.6 times more likely to have suicidal ideation in the past year (model adjusted relative risks (MARRs) = 3.0–3.6): lawyers, judges, and legal support workers (MAP = 4.8%), social scientists and related workers (MAP = 5.4%), and media and communication workers (MAP = 5.8%). Conclusions Among employed adults aged 18–64 in the U.S., the 12-month prevalence of suicidal ideation varies by occupations. Adults in occupations that are at elevated risk for suicidal ideation may warrant focused suicide prevention.
Zum Verhalten des Kalium und Calcium im Blutserum bei Epilepsie

Die Durchfuhrung von 522 Kalium und 489 Calciumbestimmungen im Blut von 128 Epileptikern ergab hinsichtlich des Calcium vor, wahrend und nach dem Krampfanfall in der Regel keine Veranderungen, mitunter eine masige Erhohung.
My approach to monomorphic spindle cell proliferations

Although a wide spectrum of entities characterised by a monomorphic spindle cell proliferation has been described, there are few general discussions of how monomorphic benign and malignant processes are distinguished histologically. We will discuss a general approach to evaluating these lesions that focuses on contrasting low power architecture, subtle cytologic differences, associated vascular patterns, and the ‘allowable’ clinical/pathologic spectrum. Much of the discussion is based on the spectrum of reactive myofibroblastic proliferations and their distinction from prototypical monomorphic neoplasms such as monophasic synovial sarcoma and low grade myxofibrosarcoma.
The Role of Photon Energy and Semiconductor Substrate in the Plasmon-Mediated Photooxidation of Citrate by Silver Nanoparticles

The plasmon-mediated photooxidation of citrate ions adsorbed on silver (Ag) nanoparticle–semiconductor electrodes is studied in a photoelectrochemical cell. Consistent with previous reports, a negative photovoltage and an anodic photocurrent arise from citrate photooxidation under weak visible light illumination. We measure the wavelength dependence of this reaction for three different types of Ag nanoparticles and find that both the photovoltage and photocurrent increase with photon energy over the visible spectral range. The electrode photoresponse does not closely track the localized surface plasmon resonance of the Ag nanoparticles. We also explore the role of the semiconductor substrate in this reaction, and we find a similar electrode photoresponse for several different substrates. The strong dependence of reaction rate on photon energy is consistent with a hot-carrier photochemical process where photoexcited hot holes generated in the Ag nanoparticles are responsible for the oxidation of adsorbed c...
Interaction between bisquaternary ammonium ligands and acetylcholinesterase: complex formation studied by fluorescence quenching.

Complex formation between the purified acetylcholinesterase described in the preceding communication and a series of bisquaternany inhibitors containing a benzoquinone group between two quaternary ammonium moieties maximally positioned 14 A apart was investigated by fluorescence quenching. The benzoquinone group absorbs maximally at 340 nm, providing optimal spectral overlap with the donor tryptophanyl residues in the protein. For the series of bisquaternary ligands, the complexes exhibit 44-49% of the fluorescence of the free enzyme and the dissociation constants vary from 2.8 x 10-8 to 1.2 x 10-5 M, depending on the substituents around the quaternary ammonium group. Uniform quenching of tryptophanyl fluorescence in each of the four binding sites on the tetrameric acetylcholinesterase molecule is observed, which indicates that the interbinding site distance exceeds 40-50 A. Back-titration with a nonquenching inhibitor, decamethonium, effects a return of the fluorescence to that of the free enzyme and permits a calculation of the affinity of a competing ligand. The catalytically participating serine in acetylcholinesterase has been esterified, forming the methanesulfonyl-, ethanesulfonyl-, propanesulfonyl-, diethoxyphosphoryl-, and diisopropoxyphosphoryl-enzymes. The affinity of three bisquaternary ligands possessing different bulk around the ammonium groups has been determined for the modified and catalytically inactive enzymes. These findings have provided a more detailed description of the topographical relationship between the sites of inhibitor binding and the active site. The specificity of binding for the bisquaternary ligand resides largely in the anionic subsite within the active site. In the modified enzymes the sulfone and phosphoryl oxygens can be expected to hydrogen bond in the oxyanion hole of the esteratic site, providing a discrete orientation for the alkoxy groups connected to the phosphorus and two possible orientations for the alkyl group adjoining the sulfonyl moiety. Binding affinity measurements enable a prediction of the favored orientation of the alkyl group with respect to the active center.
Preparation and preservation of aortic valve grafts with special attention to problem areas.

Summary and conclusions Freeze-drying as a remedy for prolonged storage of homologous aortic valves was abandoned in this laboratory because of the appearance of gross cracks in the grafts and the lengthy time necessary for reconstitution of the graft for surgery. Because of problems involved in valve procurement and the need for avoiding wastage, another method, namely that of freezing to −80° C. has been explored, and the effects of freezing with different concentrations of glycerol in lactated Ringer's solution (LRS), and techniques of preparation, that is, trimming and sizing, on injury have been evaluated histologically in the calf and pig valves. Trimming had a negligible effect on valves, although sizing by Mandarin measurement caused general loss of endothelium over the ventricular leaflet surface, particularly at the level of the annulus. Separation or disruption of the elastic lamellae of the leaflet developed after Mandarin measurement. The use of any obturator type of valve sizer should be avoided. In general, there was less separation of loose connective tissue and shrinkage of surrounding cells with the use of 20 to 30 per cent glycerol. The portion of all specimens responding most dramatically to shrinkage was the myocardium. Because these findings in the calf and pig valves appear to be somewhat accentuated over those observed in human valves, it is recommended that if such heterologous valves are contemplated for clinical use they be stored in glycerol at −80° C. by semi-rapid freezing. The authors wish to thank Mr. Murray P. Sands and Mrs. Marian C. Hunner and the Surgical Chemistry Laboratory for their valuable assistance.
Lipid microbubbles as a vehicle for targeted drug delivery using focused ultrasound-induced blood–brain barrier opening:

Focused ultrasound in conjunction with lipid microbubbles has fully demonstrated its ability to induce non-invasive, transient, and reversible blood-brain barrier opening. This study was aimed at testing the feasibility of our lipid-coated microbubbles as a vector for targeted drug delivery in the treatment of central nervous system diseases. These microbubbles were labeled with the fluorophore 5-dodecanoylaminfluorescein. Focused ultrasound targeted mouse brains in vivo in the presence of these microbubbles for trans-blood-brain barrier delivery of 5-dodecanoylaminfluorescein. This new approach, compared to previously studies of our group, where fluorescently labeled dextrans and microbubbles were co-administered, represents an appreciable improvement in safety outcome and targeted drug delivery. This novel technique allows the delivery of 5-dodecanoylaminfluorescein at the region of interest unlike the alternative of systemic exposure. 5-dodecanoylaminfluorescein delivery was assessed by ex vivo fluorescence imaging and by in vivo transcranial passive cavitation detection. Stable and inertial cavitation doses were quantified. The cavitation dose thresholds for estimating, a priori, successful targeted drug delivery were, for the first time, identified with inertial cavitation were concluded to be necessary for successful delivery. The findings presented herein indicate the feasibility and safety of the proposed microbubble-based targeted drug delivery and that, if successful, can be predicted by cavitation detection in vivo.
Radical Prostatectomy in Stage a Prostatic Adenocarcinoma

AbstractA total of 76 patients (18 with stage A1 and 58 with stage A2 cancer) underwent radical perineal prostatectomy. No perioperative deaths occurred and no patient suffered rectal injury or was incontinent postoperatively. Five patients (3 with stage Al and 2 with stage A2 disease) had negative surgical specimens, while 6 (4 with stage Al and 2 with stage A2 cancer) had a single microscopic focus in the radical prostatectomy specimen. Outcome was assessed by first evidence of disease recurrence as a function of the Gleason sum and the local anatomical extent of disease. Of 41 patients 4 (9.7 per cent) with organ-confined disease failed at 2.5, 2.6, 4.3 and 11.9 years. None of 11 patients with specimen-confined disease failed, and 6 of 24 (25 per cent) with positive margins failed at 0.9, 1.2, 2.1, 3.1, 3.2 and 8.0 years. Radiation after an operation for margin-positive disease did not seem to alter the incidence of failure. The distribution frequency of the Gleason sum was noted to shift to a higher t...
Multi-transmitter clutter modeling for passive STAP

In passive radar, the receiver is limited to commercial waveforms from various emitters of opportunity. In addition, the geometry in three dimensional space between the receiver and various transmitters creates many performance considerations when applying space time adaptive processing (STAP). This paper presents the difference in signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) performance for different geometries using a simulated Long-Term Evolution (LTE) waveform. Overall, the out-of-plane angle and relative grazing angles greatly influence the clutter power in angle Doppler space.
Brief paper: Uniqueness of rest points for optimal control models in economics

Optimal control solutions for dynamic multi-sector economic models in general may exhibit multiple rest points having different stability properties, and under such circumstances the qualitative behavior of the system depends crucially upon initial conditions. Both necessary and sufficient conditions for a unique rest point solution are presented, and a class of 'regular economies' is defined for which this uniqueness property prevails.
TH-E-202-00: PET for Radiation Therapy

PET/CT is a very important imaging tool in the management of oncology patients. PET/CT has been applied for treatment planning and response evaluation in radiation therapy. This educational session will discuss: 1.Pitfalls and remedies in PET/CT imaging for RT planning 2.The use of hypoxia PET imaging for radiotherapy 3.PET for tumor response evaluation The first presentation will address the issue of mis-registration between the CT and PET images in the thorax and the abdomen. We will discuss the challenges of respiratory gating and introduce an average CT technique to improve the registration for dose calculation and image-guidance in radiation therapy. The second presentation will discuss the use of hypoxia PET Imaging for radiation therapy. We will discuss various hypoxia radiotracers, the choice of clinical acquisition protocol (in particular a single late static acquisition versus a dynamic acquisition), and the compartmental modeling with different transfer rate constants explained. We will demonstrate applications of hypoxia imaging for dose escalation/de-escalation in clinical trials. The last presentation will discuss the use of PET/CT for tumor response evaluation. We will discuss anatomic response assessment vs. metabolic response assessment, visual evaluation and semi-quantitative evaluation, and limitations of current PET/CT assessment. We will summarize clinical trials using PET response in guiding adaptive radiotherapy. Finally, we will summarize recent advancements in PET/CT radiomics and non-FDG PET tracers for response assessment. Learning Objectives: 1.Identify the causes of mis-registration of CT and PET images in PET/CT, and review the strategies to remedy the issue. 2.Understand the basics of PET imaging of tumor hypoxia (radiotracers, how PET measures the hypoxia selective uptake, imaging protocols, applications in chemo-radiation therapy). 3.Understand the basics of dynamic PET imaging, compartmental modeling and parametric images. 4.Understand the basics of using FDG PET/CT for tumor response evaluation. 5.Learn about recent advancement in PET/CT radiomics and non-FDG PET tracers for response assessment. This work was supported in part by the National Cancer Institute Grants R01CA172638.; W. Lu, This work was supported in part by the National Cancer Institute Grants R01CA172638.
Epigenetics of pain management

Abstract Although currently available therapeutics provide moderate relief from acute pain, therapeutic agents used for treating chronic pain are typically limited by adverse side effects, including tolerance, addiction, and constipation. Thus, there is a significant medical need for novel therapies devoid of serious adverse effects for the treatment of chronic pain. Histone deacetylase inhibitors and other epigenetic drugs, such as histone acetlytransferases inhibitors, have been shown to have a role in managing pain perception. This chapter will briefly review spinal and central pain pathways mediating nociception. We will discuss the animal models, which have enhanced our understanding of how epigenetic processes may play a role in the pathophysiological mechanisms of chronic pain. We will also review the basic molecular epigenetic mechanisms of pain processing, and throughout the chapter the authors have attempted to critically evaluate the latest research from both experimental animal models and human studies to highlight the role of epigenetic drugs in managing both acute and chronic pain. However, it is pertinent to note that the role of epigenetics in pain perception is a field in its infancy, and thus limited data is to hand of the exact molecular mechanisms that mediate pain perception.
Mechanism of Error-Free Bypass of the Environmental Carcinogen N-(2'-Deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-3-aminobenzanthrone Adduct by Human DNA Polymerase η.

The environmental pollutant 3-nitrobenzanthrone produces bulky aminobenzanthrone (ABA) DNA adducts with both guanine and adenine nucleobases. A major product occurs at the C8 position of guanine (C8-dG-ABA). These adducts present a strong block to replicative polymerases but, remarkably, can be bypassed in a largely error-free manner by the human Y-family polymerase(hPol ). Here we report the crystal structure of a ternary Pol*DNA*dCTP complex between a C8-dG-ABA containing template: primer duplex and hPol . The complex was captured at the insertion stage and provides crucial insight into the mechanism of error-free bypass of this bulky lesion. Specifically, bypass involves accommodation of the ABA moiety inside a hydrophobic cleft to the side of the enzyme active site and formation of an intra-nucleotide H-bond between phosphate and ABA amino moiety, allowing the adducted guanine to form a standard Watson-Crick pair with the incoming dCTP.
Exploration of azithromycin on secondary prevention of asthma

Objective To discuss the effect of azithromycin on the airway inflammation in children at high risk for asthma by detecting the serum concentration change of eosinophil cationic protein(ECP), intedeukin-8(IL-8) and nitrogen oxide(NO), and also to explore the effect of azithromycin on secondary prevention of asthma. Methods Two hundred and twenty three cases of primary asthmatic attack with atopy (eczema, family asthmatic history) were collected and divided into four groups(group A, B,C,D) after asthmatic symptoms relief, group A was taken orally with azithromycin(5mg/kg Biw), group B was inhaled budesonide(0.5mg Bid), group C was taken orally with singulair (4mg qN),and group D was only given with symptomatic treatment. The vein blood was sampled on the first day in hospital, before and after medication respectively when treatment of three months was completed. Serum concentration of ECP and IL-8 was obtained by ELISA methods, and NO was measured by nitric acid enzyme reduction method. Clinic service and telephone follow-up was taken for one year. Results After three monthes intervention, there was significant difference in the serum concentration of ECP, IL-8 and NO at group A, B, C compared with group D( P 0.05), but decrease of ECP and NO in group C was significant difference compared with group A( P<0.01). The serum concentration of IL-8 in each group was obviously decreased especially in group A, and difference was obvious between group A and group B,C( P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the cases of asthma recurrence within three months and asthmatic recurrence within one year between group A and group B, group C and group D respectively. Conchlsions (1)The medication of azithromycin might result to decrease the serum concentration of ECP and NO, especially for IL-8 in children at high risk for asthma. (2)The effects of azithromycin on change of ECP and NO in children at high risk for asthma were similar to budesonide, but different with montelukast, while the inhabitant effects of IL-8 were different with inhaled steroid hormone and leukotriene receptor obviously. (3)There was some valid contribution of azithromycin actting on the secondary prevention of asthma in our investigation. Key words: Azithromyein; Asthma; Prevention; Eosinophil cationic protein; Interleukin-8; Nitrogen oxide
Study on durability of Pt supported on graphitized carbon under simulated start-up/shut-down conditions for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells

Abstract The primary issue for the commercialization of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is the carbon corrosion of support under start-up/shut-down conditions. In this study, we employ the nanostructured graphitized carbon induced by heat-treatment. The degree of graphitization starts to increase between 900 and 1300 °C as evidenced by the change of specific surface area, interlayer spacing, and I D / I G value. Pt nanoparticles are deposited on fresh carbon black (Pt/CB) and carbon heat-treated at 1700 °C (Pt/HCB17) with similar particle size and distribution. Electrochemical characterization demonstrates that the Pt/HCB17 shows higher activity than the Pt/CB due to the inefficient microporous structure of amorphous carbon for the oxygen reduction reaction. An accelerating potential cycle between 1.0 and 1.5 V for the carbon corrosion is applied to examine durability at a single cell under the practical start-up/shut-down conditions. The Pt/HCB17 catalyst shows remarkable durability after 3000 potential cycles. The Pt/HCB17 catalyst exhibits a peak power density gain of 3%, while the Pt/CB catalyst shows 65% loss of the initial peak power density. As well, electrochemical surface area and mass activity of Pt/HCB17 catalyst are even more stable than those of the Pt/CB catalyst. Consequently, the high degree of graphitization is essential for the durability of fuel cells in practical start-up/shut-down conditions due to enhancing the strong interaction of Pt and π-bonds in graphitized carbon.