cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU-C-144-04: Whole Body and Relative Organ Dose Values From Neutron and Gamma Irradiation of the Liver and Breast in a Voxelized Anthropomorphic Phantom Using Monte Carlo Methods

Purpose: Using Monte Carlo, we estimated the 3-dimensional organ-dose distribution for neutron and gamma irradiation of the male liver, female liver, and female breasts for neutron-and gamma-stimulated imaging. Understanding the dose distribution from these diagnostic scans is essential for assessing radiation risk. Methods: Monte Carlo was performed using the GEANT4 GATE application and a voxelized XCAT human phantom. Male and female XCAT phantoms were voxelized into 256×256×600 voxels (3.125×3.125×3.125mm^3). A monoenergetic rectangular beam of neutrons or gammas with 1.6×10^7 particles was irradiated onto a 2cm thick slice at eight different angles from 0–180°. For the liver, the beam rotated about the axis of the torso. For the breast, the beam rotated around the pendulous breasts. The neutron irradiation utilized a 5MeV neutron beam and the gamma irradiation utilized a 7MeV gamma beam. Dose volume histograms were computed to analyze the absolute and relative doses in each organ. Results: The neutron irradiation of the liver for both the male/female phantoms imparted the highest organ dose to the liver. All other organ doses were below ∼15% of the liver dose, except for the stomach-wall which registered ∼80% and ∼70% respectively for the male and female. The highest dose for gamma irradiation of the liver occurred in the stomach-wall, with a relative liver dose of ∼70% in the male and ∼75% in the female. Most other organ doses were below ∼10% of the stomach dose. For the breast scans, both the neutron and gamma irradiation registered maximum organ doses in the breasts, with all other relative organ doses being well below 2% of the breast dose. Conclusion: Neutron and gamma irradiation of target organs such as the liver and breasts imparts the maximum dose to the primary target organ and a considerably lower dose to proximal organs outside of the beam plane.
Single Port Access Transumbilical Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Using the SILS Port: First Reported Case

The emergence of natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) has brought significantly more attention to the single-incision transumbilical laparoscopic approach (SILS) for minimally in...
Productivity and Water Use of Proso Millet Grown under Three Crop Rotations in the Central Great Plains

Proso millet (L.) is a shallow-rooted, shortseason summer annual that is well adapted to the semiarid conditions of the western Central Great Plains. However, cropping systems for proso millet have not been well established in this region. Three proso millet cultivars were grown under three crop rotations, millet-millet (M-M), winter wheat (L.) -millet (W-M) and fallow-millet (F-M), for five growing seasons (1973–1977) to determine water use and productivity of the second component (proso millet) in each rotation. The research was conducted on a mesic Pachic Argiustoll soil at the Central Great Plains Research Station located near Akron, CO. Precipitation during the noncropped period for the W-M and F-M averaged 26 and 145% more, respectively, than the M-M rotation. The W-M and F-M rotations exhibited 7 and 19% more seasonal crop water use, respectively, than the M-M sequence over the 5-yr period of the study. These differences in water use resulted in the W-M and F-M rotations producing 38 and 75% more total dry matter and 50 and 116% more grain yield, respectively, than the M-M sequence. The three cultivars responded similarly to the three crop rotations. Since grain yields were low and variable for the M-M rotation and the noncropped period was quite long (86 wk) and inefficient in soil water storage for the F-M rotation, the W-M rotation appears to be the most efficient rotation of the three rotations evaluated for producing proso millet in this region.
The fertilization performance in vivo of rabbit spermatozoa capacitated in vitro.

Although mammalian spermatozoa can be capacitated in vitro appropriately for the accomplishment of fertilization in vitro, it has not been established whether such spermatozoa can fertilize immediately in the Fallopian tube nor whether their fertilizing ability is comparable to that of spermatozoa capacitated in vivo. Rabbit spermatozoa treated here in a way reported to capacitate them for fertilization in vitro (20 min in high ionic strength medium (HIS) of 380 mOsm/kg at 37°C) could not penetrate eggs in the Fallopian tube unless allowed a considerable time for further capacitation in the female tract. Thus, while it may initiate the events of capacitation, HIS treatment clearly does not complete the process. Spermatozoa cultured for 12 h under another set of defined conditions (BSA-free medium +20% serum under oil equilibrated with 5% CO2 + 8% O2 at 37°C) did fertilize eggs in 7 of 14 trials, however, when inseminated 12–15 h post-hCG. Therefore capacitation that allows fertilization in vivo soon after insemination can be achieved in at least some spermatozoa, largely and perhaps entirely in the absence of factors from the female tract. Nonetheless, the performance of the 12h in vitro spermatozoa (29% of 131 eggs fertilized: 0.3 perivitelline spermatozoa/egg) compared poorly with that of 10 times fewer uterine spermatozoa in the contralateral oviduct (81% of 43 eggs fertilized: 15 perivitelline spermatozoa/egg). Moreover, in a final series, 12 h in vitro capacitated spermatozoa failed to compete directly for ova if inseminated together with many fewer labeled uterine spermatozoa, even though they fertilized significant numbers when inseminated alone into the contralateral oviduct. Current in vivo and in vitro fertilization systems for the assay of rabbit sperm capacitation are not entirely comparable because the penetrable life of rabbit ova is short in the Fallopian tube but prolonged in culture. Since fully capacitated spermatozoa begin to penetrate eggs almost immediately, assay of the capacitation status of spermatozoa of the rabbit or indeed of other species might best be evaluated within about 3 hours of gamete mixing. Such a limitation on the time allowed for sperm-egg interaction in capacitation assays would minimize the possibility for completion of capacitation by factors present in the fertilization assay system.
Role of shocks in transonic/supersonic compressor rotor flutter

An investigation of the influence of shock motion on flutter of rotors and cascades is presented. The present paper illustrates how a perturbation scheme can be used to calculate the nonlinear effects due to thickness, camber, and incidence to second order in a perturbation parameter. An approximate theory is also given, that accounts for the first-order quasisteady effects of shock motion and also allows experimentally determined shock structures and parameters to be used. The unsteady aerodynamic forces resulting from shock movements are shown to have a pronounced effect on the flutter boundaries of cascades representative of large fan rotors. Both stabilizing and destabilizing effects are observed, depending on interblade phase angle and shock structure. At low reduced frequencies, the shock-induced loads can destabilize bending oscillations sufficiently to cause single-degree-of-freedom bending flutter. It is also possible to explain the stabilizing effect of the back pressure on supersonic rotor flutter, as observed experimentally. a c CLV> CMV k k L m M M2 N P
Effects of non-nearest neighbors on the thermodynamic stability of RNA GNRA hairpin tetraloops.

Currently, several models exist to predict the secondary structure of RNA, one of which is free energy minimization using the Nearest Neighbor Model. This model predicts the lowest free energy secondary structure from a primary sequence by summing the free energy contributions of the Watson-Crick nearest neighbor base pair combinations and any non-canonical secondary structure motif. The Nearest Neighbor Model also assumes that the free energy of the secondary structure motif is dependent solely on the identities of the nucleotides within the motif and the motif's nearest neighbors. In order to test the current assumption of the Nearest Neighbor Model that the non-nearest neighbors do not affect the stability of the motif, different stem-loop oligonucleotides were optically melted to experimentally determine their thermodynamic parameters. In each of these oligonucleotides, the hairpin loop sequence and the adjacent base pairs were held constant, while the first or second non-nearest neighbors were varied. The experimental results show that the thermodynamic contributions of the hairpin loop were dependent upon the identity of the first non-nearest neighbor, while the second non-nearest neighbor had a less obvious effect. These results were then used to create an updated model to predict the thermodynamic contributions of a hairpin loop to the overall stability of the stem-loop structure.
Abstract 2188: The ubiquitin-specific protease USP2a targets cyclin A1: A potential role in bladder cancer

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL A deubiquitinating enzyme USP2a has shown oncogenic properties in many cancer types by impairing ubiquitination of FASN, MDM2, MDMX, or Aurora-A. Aberrant expression of USP2a has been linked to progression of human tumors, particularly prostate cancer. However, little is known about USP2a's role or mechanism in bladder cancer. Here we provide evidence that USP2a functions as an oncoprotein in bladder cancer cells. Overexpression of USP2a caused enhanced proliferation, invasion, migration, and resistance to several chemotherapeutic reagents, while USP2a loss resulted in slower proliferation, greater chemosensitivity, and reduced migratory/invasive capability, compared to control cells. USP2a, but not a catalytically inactive mutant, enhanced proliferation in immortalized TRT-HU1 normal human bladder epithelial cells. USP2a bound to cyclin A1 and prevented cyclin A1 ubiquitination, leading to accumulation of cyclin A1 by blocking its degradation. Enforced expression of wild type USP2a, but not an inactive USP2a mutant, resulted in cyclin A1 accumulation and increased cell proliferation. Our finding that USP2a impairs ubiquitination and stabilizes the important cell cycle regulator, cyclin A1, raises the possibility of USP2a silencing as a therapeutic strategy against bladder tumors in combination with chemotherapy. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2188. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2188
Comparison of Static and Dynamic Optical Tomographic Imaging of Rheumatoid Joints

We evaluated the performance of static and dynamic optical tomographic imaging for characterizing rheumatoid joints. We found that information generated by each approach is complementary and that using both modalities together enhances the diagnostic potential.
Inhibition of Nnk-Induced Lung Tumorigenesis by Modulators of Nnk Activation

NNK, a tobacco-specific nitrosamine, is a potent lung carcinogen in A/J mice. One possible mechanism of reducing NNK-induced lung tumorigenesis is decreased delivery of NNK to lung as a result of enhanced hepatic CYP activity. Pretreatment with 13C, a known CYP inducer, results in inhibition of tumor multiplicity, decreased DNA adducts in lung, and increased DNA adducts in liver, due to induction of hepatic activation of NNK. A more preferable means of inhibition of NNK tumorigenesis involves direct inhibition of CYP enzymes responsible for NNK activation in lung. The ary-lalkyl isothiocyanates PEITC, PPITC, PBITC, PPeITC, and PHITC are effective inhibitors of NNK-induced lung tumorigenicity and DNA adduction. PEITC inhibits NNK-induced lung tumors at a dose of μmol/day, but not at doses of 1 or 0.2 μmol/day. PPITC, PBITC, PPeITC, and PHITC are considerably more potent inhibitors than PEITC, resulting in significant reductions in tumor multiplicity at doses of 0.2 μmol/day. For these compounds, there is a...
Aqueous based polymeric dispersion: Plackett–Burman design for screening of formulation variables of Atenolol Gastrointestinal Therapeutic System

Abstract Bilayered osmotically controlled Gastrointestinal Therapeutic System of atenolol has been obtained by using cellulose acetate pseudolatex prepared by polymer emulsification method. Various factors such as orifice size, coating thickness, amount and nature of polymeric excipients, and amount of osmotic agent influence the drug release from GITS. Therefore, in the present study a 7-factor, 12-run Plackett–Burman screening design was employed to evaluate the formulation variables for atenolol GITS coated with CA pseudolatex. The variables studied were orifice size, %coating weight gain, amounts of sodium chloride, Polyox® N80 and 303, and Carbopol® 934P and 974P on drug release. The screening design has revealed that orifice size, %coating weight gain and amount of Carbopol® 934P have prominent influence on in-vitro atenolol release. The response variable was cumulative percent atenolol released (Y) in 24 h with constraints on percent release at 2, 6, 12 and 18 h. The polynomial equation obtained was Y24=149.82−0.13X1−0.34X2+0.06X3−0.13X4−0.23X5−76.25X6−2.46X7. The results indicated that the drug release under constrained conditions was influenced by the factors with decreasing order of importance as %coating weight gain>Carbopol® 934P>Polyox® N80>Carbopol® 974P>Polyox® 303>amount of sodium chloride>orifice size.
On white etching band formation in rolling bearings

Abstract The problem of white etching band (WEB) formation in races of rolling bearings experiencing rolling contact fatigue is addressed in this paper. Neither the remarkable directionality of WEBs, nor the observed rate of their growth has been satisfactorily explained up to date. The previous attempts to explain the observed WEB orientation are critically reviewed. A new physical concept of WEB formation is introduced. It is suggested that diffusional outflow of dissolved carbon from WEBs, primarily caused by cyclic stress induced release of carbon segregated in the form of dislocation atmospheres, plays a fundamental role in WEB formation. Based on this concept, a dramatic improvement in the prediction of WEB formation rate is achieved (as compared to the previous analyses). The suggested physical concept leads to a new criterion of WEB orientation, involving maximization of the amplitude of variation of the deviatoric normal stress acting across the WEB, and taking into consideration the sequence of alternating stress extrema in a contact stress cycle. Peculiarities of the second of the two experimentally observed families of WEBs are discussed, and the new criterion is modified accordingly. The new WEB orientation criterion provides for the first time a consistent explanation of all basic features of the observed WEB directionality.
Dihydrostreptomycin accumulation in E. coli.

DIHYDROSTREPTOMYCIN is an antibiotic composed of streptidine, dihydrostreptose and N-methyl-L-glucosamine joined by two glycosidic bonds. It differs from streptomycin only in that the aldehyde group on the middle residue (streptose) is reduced. Both compounds have similar biological actions1,2 but their accumulation by bacterial cells has been little studied. Passive diffusion is often assumed to be responsible, although Mitchell thought it improbable that a molecule such as streptomycin passes through a lipid layer3. Anand et al. proposed a mechanism in two phases4. First, a small amount of antibiotic would enter by passive diffusion regardless of an intact lipid layer and affect protein synthesis so as to cause deterioration of membrane integrity. Then more rapid accumulation would follow by passive diffusion through the disrupted lipid barrier. Alternatively, Hurwitz et al. showed streptomycin accumulation to be sensitive to chloramphenicol during initial exposure and insensitive after several minutes of exposure. They suggested facilitated diffusion, with entry of the antibiotic depending on a streptomycin-induced protein5.
The preparation of Ta2Cl6(PhN)2(Me2S)2 by reaction of Ta2Cl6(Me2S)3 with PhNNPh: crystal structure of the product

Abstract The d0-d0 ditantalum complex, (PhN)(Me2S)Cl2Ta(μ-Cl)2 TaCl2(Me2S)(PhN), has been prepared from the reaction of Ta2Cl6(Me2S)3 and azobenzene in a benzene-toluene solution. Single-crystal X-ray data show that the dinuclear compound adopts a distorted edge-sharing bioctahedral structure with a Ta-Ta′ distance of 4.096(1) A. Other crystallographic data are: monoclinic space group C2/c, a = 20.621(4) A, b = 7.653(2) A, c = 16.812(5) A, β = 96.66(2)°, V = 2635(2) A3, Z = 4. The principal structural dimensions are as follows: TaNPh distance of 1.747(8) A; TaSMe2 distance of 2.627(3) A; TaCl distances of 2.344(3) and 2.316(3) A for TaCl(2), and TaCl(3)t, and 2.751(3) and 2.454(2) A for TaCl(1)b and TaCl(1)′b, respectively. The title compound is isostructural with the previously reported niobium complex, Nb2Cl6(PhN)2(Me2S)2.
Regulation of alpha-1 acid glycoprotein synthesis by porcine hepatocytes in monolayer culture

Alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP, orosomucoid, ORM-1) is a highly glycosylated mammalian acute-phase protein, which is synthesized primarily in the liver and represents the major serum protein in newborn pigs. Recent data have suggested that the pig is unique in that AGP is a negative acute-phase protein in this species, and its circulating concentration appears to be associated with growth rate. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the regulation of AGP synthesis in hepatocytes prepared from suckling piglets and to provide a framework to compare its regulation with that of haptoglobin (HP), a positive acute-phase protein. Hepatocytes were isolated from preweaned piglets and maintained in serum-free monolayer culture for up to 72 h. The influences of hormones, cytokines, and redox modifiers on the expression and secretion of AGP and HP were determined by relative polymerase chain reaction and by measuring the concentration of each protein secreted into culture medium. The messenger RNA abundance and/or secretion of AGP protein was enhanced by interleukin (IL)-17a, IL-1, and resveratrol and inhibited by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF), oncostatin M, and thyroid hormone (P < 0.05). HP expression and synthesis were upregulated by oncostatin M, IL-6, and dexamethasone and downregulated by TNF (P < 0.01). The overall messenger RNA expression at 24 h was in agreement with the secreted protein patterns confirming that control of these proteins in hepatocytes is largely transcriptional. Moreover, these data support the consideration that AGP is a negative acute-phase reactant and appears to be regulated by cytokines (with the exception of TNF) and hormones primarily in a manner opposite to that of the positive acute-phase protein, HP.
Existence of almost periodic solutions to some stochastic differential equations

The article introduces and studies the concept of p-mean almost periodicity for stochastic processes. Our abstract results are, subsequently, applied to studying the existence of square-mean almost periodic solutions to some semilinear stochastic equations.
MEPROBAMATE POISONING TREATED BY PERITONEAL DIALYSIS.

Summary A 2-year-old boy who accidentally ingested several drugs was successfully treated with peritoneal dialysis. Meprobamate was found to be dialyzable; and a peritoneal clearance, with a dialyzing volume of 500 ml., averaged 3.5 ml. per minute. Peritoneal dialysis appears to be a potentially useful technique in the treatment of meprobamate intoxication.
The Effect of Creep on Human Lumbar Intervertebral Disk Impact Mechanics

The intervertebral disk (IVD) is a highly hydrated tissue, with interstitial fluid making up 80% of the wet weight of the nucleus pulposus (NP), and 70% of the annulus fibrosus (AF). It has often been modeled as a biphasic material, consisting of both a solid and fluid phase. The inherent porosity and osmotic potential of the disk causes an efflux of fluid while under constant load, which leads to a continuous displacement phenomenon known as creep. IVD compressive stiffness increases and NP pressure decreases as a result of creep displacement. Though the effects of creep on disk mechanics have been studied extensively, it has been limited to nonimpact loading conditions. The goal of this study is to better understand the influence of creep and fluid loss on IVD impact mechanics. Twenty-four human lumbar disk samples were divided into six groups according to the length of time they underwent creep (tcreep = 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 h) under a constant compressive load of 400 N. At the end of tcreep, each disk was subjected to a sequence of impact loads of varying durations (timp = 80, 160, 320, 400, 600, 800, 1000 ms). Energy dissipation (ΔE), stiffness in the toe (ktoe) and linear (klin) regions, and neutral zone (NZ) were measured. Analyzing correlations with tcreep, there was a positive correlation with ΔE and NZ, along with a negative correlation with ktoe. There was no strong correlation between tcreep and klin. The data suggest that the IVD mechanical response to impact loading conditions is altered by fluid content and may result in a disk that exhibits less clinical stability and transfers more load to the AF. This could have implications for risk of diskogenic pain as a function of time of day or tissue hydration.
Centripetal transport of cytoplasm, actin, and the cell surface in lamellipodia of fibroblasts

Wound healing in Swiss 3T3 cultures was investigated with video-enhanced contrast (VEC) microscopy. The formation of protrusions at the leading edge of cells along wound was investigated in detail during the spreading stage, which usually lasted from 1 to 4 hr postwounding. Lamellipodia exhibited a continuous rearward, or centripetal, transport of a variety of cellular constituents at rates of approximately 0.26 microns/sec from the leading edge. The lamellipodia were also the sites of lateral migration as well as extension and retraction of actin microspikes. Actin fibers oriented transversely to the direction of movement were also observed to transport centripetally at similar rates. These fibers may in part give rise to large actin fibers forming at the interface between the base of the lamellipodia and the lamellae. Beads 0.5 microns in diameter attached to the dorsal surfaces of lamellipodia also transported centripetally at rates of approximately 0.21 microns/sec. Thus there is an apparent correlation between transport of a variety of structures within lamellipodia and with surface movements of lamellipodia.
Sculpting the contours of arts-based educational research within a discourse community

Within the field of education, arts-based research is emerging as an inquiry tradition that reaches beyond disciplinary boundaries—creating innovative junctures among art, education, and research. Individuals with diverse talents and interests are being drawn to this newly coalescing discourse community and, in turn, are engendering rich and multifocal conversations not only about specific examples of arts-based research but also about the broader meanings of this approach to educational inquiry. These meanings, the authors contend, represent different positions within the field, and as the positions are articulated and debated, the contours of the discourse begin to take form. For this reason, the authors call on members of the arts-based discourse community to offer logics-of-justification for their work and thereby contribute to an evolving culture of inquiry grounded in aesthetic rather than scientific ways of knowing.
The Effect of Processing on Cotton Fiber Properties

In order to ascertain the effect of several processing steps on cotton uber mechanical properties, six cottons in one-bale quantities were manufactured under identical conditions into a standard construction sheeting Samples were removed at several processing stations including the original bale, the yarns, the scoured fabrics, the bleached and mercerized fabrics as well as resin-finished fabrics. The mechanical properties of fibers taken from these stages were determined and the effect of each processing step was examined. It was noted that cotton fiber properties are altered by processing and that the magnitude of the changegs in these properties is not constant for all cottons. In many cases the changes in fiber properties are functions of the original other properties. It was also shown that the changes in fiber properties are reflected in the changes of the fabric characteristics, thus indicating the validity of the premise that fiber properties influence the bahavior of cotton fabrics.
A Digital Gigapixel Large-Format Tile-Scan Camera

Although the resolution of single-lens reflex (SLR) and medium-format digital cameras has increased in recent years, applications for cultural-heritage preservation and computational photography require even higher resolutions. Addressing this issue, a large-format cameras' large image planes can achieve very high resolution without compromising pixel size and thus can provide high-quality, high-resolution images.This digital large-format tile scan camera can acquire high-quality, high-resolution images of static scenes. It employs unique calibration techniques and a simple algorithm for focal-stack processing of very large images with significant magnification variations. The camera automatically collects overlapping focal stacks and processes them into a high-resolution, extended-depth-of-field image.
A polymer lab-on-a-chip for magnetic immunoassay with on-chip sampling and detection capabilities

This paper presents a new polymer lab-on-a-chip for magnetic bead-based immunoassay with fully on-chip sampling and detection capabilities, which provides a smart platform of magnetic immunoassay-based lab-on-a-chip for point-of-care testing (POCT) toward biochemical hazardous agent detection, food inspection or clinical diagnostics. In this new approach, the polymer lab-on-a-chip for magnetic bead-based immunoassay consists of a magnetic bead-based separator, an interdigitated array (IDA) micro electrode, and a microfluidic system, which are fully incorporated into a lab-on-a-chip on cyclic olefin copolymer (COC). Since the polymer lab-on-a-chip was realized using low cost, high throughput polymer microfabrication techniques such as micro injection molding and hot embossing method, a disposable polymer lab-on-a-chip for the magnetic bead-based immunoassay can be successfully realized in a disposable platform. With this newly developed polymer lab-on-a-chip, an enzyme-labelled electrochemical immunoassay (ECIA) was performed using magnetic beads as the mobile solid support, and the final enzyme product produced from the ECIA was measured using chronoamperometry. A sampling and detection of as low as 16.4 ng mL−1 of mouse IgG has been successfully performed in 35 min for the entire procedure.
Dementia: Diagnosis and Evaluation

Objective To describe an approach to the diagnosis of dementia based on effective assessment methods. Design We reviewed the literature and summarized the available diagnostic and prognostic studies of dementia that may be useful to the primary-care physician. Results Although controversy exists about certain aspects of the diagnostic workup, exclusion of potentially reversible causes of dementia is essential. Laboratory studies (for example, for detection of underlying metabolic abnormalities) and nenroimaging of the brain may be useful. The pattern of onset and the temporal course of the disease may suggest a cause and help direct the investigation. Functional losses can substantially impair the patient's ability to live independently. Conclusion Dementia can be mistakenly considered as part of the normal aging process, and diagnosis necessitates a thorough, although not exhaustive, approach. Early identification of dementing illnesses improves the outcome for reversible disease and may also enhance the management of incurable dementias.
Vitamin D and Its Role in Cancer and Immunity: A Prescription for Sunlight

Vitamin D has been recognized for more than a century as essential for the normal development and mineralization of a healthy skeleton. More extensive roles for vitamin D were suggested by the discovery of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in tissues that are not involved in calcium and phosphate metabolism. VDR has been discovered in most tissues and cells in the body and is able to elicit a wide variety of biologic responses. These observations have been the impetus for a reevaluation of the physiologic and pharmacologic actions of vitamin D. Here, we review the role of vitamin D in regulation of the immune system and its possible role in the prevention and treatment of cancer and immune-mediated diseases.
Margin-like quantities and generalized approximate cross validation for support vector machines

We examine support vector machines (SVM) from the point of view of solutions to variational problems in a reproducing kernel Hilbert space. We discuss the generalized comparative Kullback-Leibler distance as a target for choosing tuning parameters in SVMs, and we propose that the generalized approximate cross validation estimate of them is a reasonable proxy for this target. We indicate an interesting relationship between the generalized approximate cross validation and the SVM margin.
Political Modernities: Disentangling Two Underlying Dimensions of Institutional Differentiation

This article recommends that we recover two old contrasts from the history of social thought in order to facilitate the recently renewed discussion of multiple variants of European political modernity. Recovering them greatly aids in clarifying the different “modernizing” paths that the European-system polities took during the state-consolidation and nation-building periods of the “long nineteenth century.” Specifically, the basic polity forms delineated in this article capture strikingly well the distinctive “institutional logics” and political cultures of the Anglo, Nordic, Germanic, and French orbits, legacies enduring through the 1960s and beyond. Clarifying these polity forms also helps in isolating underlying institutional changes occurring in the contemporary (post-World War II) period (current institutional convergence, for example).
On the Tyranny of Hypothesis Testing in the Social Sciences

Gerd Gigerenzer, professor of psychology at the University of Salzburg (Austria), is coeditor, with L. Kruger, L.J. Daston, and M. Heidelberger, of The Probabilistic Revolution, Vol. 1: Ideas in History. •Zeno Swijtink is assistant professor f history and philosophy of science at Indiana University Bloomington. •Theodore Porter is associate professor of history at the University of Virginia (Charlottesville) and author of The Rise of Statistical Thinking. •Lorraine Daston is professor of the history of science at the University of Gottingen (Germany) and author of Classical Probability in the Enlightenment. •John Beatty is associate professor of the history of science and technology at the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis). •Lorenz Kruger is professor of philosophy at the University of Gottingen (Germany). •Geoffrey R. Loftus, professor of psychology at the University of Washington (Seattle), is coauthor, with E.F. Loftus of Essence of Statistics (2nd ed.).
The Effect of Ankle Braces on the Prevention of Dynamic Forced Ankle Inversion

Background: Athletes often employ prophylactic braces to reduce the risk of ankle injuries.Hypothesis: Ankle braces do not significantly decrease the risk of forced inversion on a standardized one-footed jump landing.Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.Methods: Fourteen healthy men with a mean age of 25.1 years were tested. Three braces, two semirigid (Aircast and Bledsoe) and one lace-up (Swede-O), were fitted to each subject. Forced dynamic ankle inversion of 24° was to be resisted as the subjects landed on one foot with a force of two body weights on a stimulus presented randomly in 5 of 15 jump trial blocks onto a hard, level force plate. Subjects first completed 1 no-brace block of 5 trials to establish baseline performance, then 3 randomly ordered 15-trial blocks testing performance with each of the braces, and then finally a no-brace 5-trial block.Results: The average no-brace success rate was 24%, which demonstrated the challenging nature of the task. All three braces increased the success r...
Methods for crosstalk measurement and reduction in dense WDM systems

We propose a scheme for the monitoring and reduction of crosstalk arising from the limited stop-band rejection of optical bandpass filters in dense WDM systems. The optical carrier at each wavelength is modulated with a subcarrier tone unique to that wavelength. The level of crosstalk from a given channel can be determined by measuring the power of the corresponding tone. Crosstalk from other channels can be cancelled in a linear fashion by weighting and summing the photocurrents of the desired channel and several adjacent interfering channels. Alternatively, in nonlinear crosstalk cancellation, decisions are made on the interfering signals, and these decision are weighted and summed with the photocurrent of the desired channel. For example, assuming an optical filter having a Gaussian passband, the channel density can be increased from 20 to 30%, depending on the number of adjacent channels detected. The signal-to-interference ratio can be increased by 10-20 dB and the system can achieve a BER<10/sup -9/ under conditions where, without interference cancellation, the signal-to-interference ratio would be less then 10 dB.
Neural Models for Part-Whole Hierarchies

We present a connectionist method for representing images that explicitly addresses their hierarchical nature. It blends data from neuroscience about whole-object viewpoint sensitive cells in inferotemporal cortex and attentional basis-field modulation in V4 with ideas about hierarchical descriptions based on microfeatures. The resulting model makes critical use of bottom-up and top-down pathways for analysis and synthesis. We illustrate the model with a simple example of representing information about faces.
Predicting habitat to optimize sampling of Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax)

Zwolinski, J. P., Emmett, R. L., and Demer, D. A. 2011. Predicting habitat to optimize sampling of Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax). – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 867–879.More than 40 years after the collapse of the fishery for Pacific sardine, a renewed fishery has emerged off the west coasts of the United States and Canada. The daily egg production method (DEPM) and acoustic-trawl surveys are performed annually and, to minimize the uncertainties in the estimates, sampling effort needs to be allocated optimally. Here, based on a 12-year dataset including the presence/absence of sardine eggs and concomitant remotely sensed oceanographic variables, a probabilistic generalized additive model is developed to predict spatio-temporal distributions of habitat for the northern stock of Pacific sardine in the California Current. Significant relationships are identified between eggs and sea surface temperature, chlorophyll a concentration, and the gradient of sea surface altitude. The model accurately predicts the habitat and seasonal migration pattern of sardine, irrespective of spawning condition. The predictions of potential habitat are validated extensively by fishery landings and net-sample data from the northeast Pacific. The predicted habitat can be used to optimize the time and location of the DEPM, acoustic-trawl, and aerial surveys of sardine. The method developed and illustrated may be applicable too to studies of other stocks of sardine and other epipelagic fish in other eastern boundary, upwelling regions.
Laryngeal oncocytic cystadenomas masquerading as laryngoceles

Abstract Objective To describe an experience with laryngeal oncocytic cystadenomas and review the published literature regarding this uncommon diagnosis. Methods and results A clinical review of patients presenting with cystic laryngeal masses in an urban academic medical center between January and December 2013 was performed. Three patients, two female and one male, with a mean age of 68 years, were diagnosed with oncocytic cystadenomata of the larynx. Major presenting symptoms included dysphonia, globus, and ipsilateral otalgia. Endoscopic examinations revealed a cystic structure arising from varied subsites of the larynx: laryngeal ventricle, aryepiglottic fold, and pre-epiglottic space. Cross-sectional radiographic imaging was obtained in each case. The patients were treated with transoral (CO 2 ) laser microsurgery (TLM). In all three cases, pathological analysis revealed oncocytic cystadenoma with clear margins. Conclusions Oncocytic cystadenoma is a rare entity of the larynx predominantly affecting elderly patients. Clinical presentation and imaging may suggest the diagnosis of an internal laryngocele. Complete excision is both diagnostic and therapeutic, and typically can be achieved using TLM. When clear margins are obtained, no adjuvant therapy is indicated. Although laryngoceles and malignancies are more commonly encountered, oncocytic cystadenomas should remain in the differential of cystic laryngeal masses.
3D Integration Technology

The emerging three-dimensional (3D) chip architectures, with their intrinsic capability of reducing the wire length, is one of the promising solutions to mitigate the interconnect problem in modern microprocessor designs. To leverage the benefits of fast latency, high bandwidth, and heterogeneous integration capability that are offered by 3D technology, new design methodologies should be developed targeting the unique feature of 3D integration. In this chapter, various approaches to model 3D electrical behavior, handle 3D thermal reliability problems, and design future 3D microprocessors are surveyed.
Cathepsin K inhibition renders equine bone marrow nucleated cells hypo-responsive to LPS and unmethylated CpG stimulation in vitro

Cathepsin K (CatK) is an important enzyme regulating bone degradation and has been shown to contribute to the immune response. We have studied two inflammatory models in equine bone marrow nucleated cells (BMNCs); the LPS and the unmethylated CpG stimulation with the following objectives to: 1.determine whether CatK inhibition will alter the cytokine secretion by stimulated BMNCs; specifically IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, and 2.determine the changes in BMNCs surface markers' expression and MHC II molecule under CatK inhibition. Cathepsin K inhibition promoted BMNCs viability and reduced cell apoptosis. Moreover, CatK inhibition significantly decreased cytokine secretion of either naive or stimulated BMNCs, and altered their MHC II molecule expression. In conclusion, CatK inhibition in horses did affect BMNCs other than mature osteoclasts rendering them hypo-responsive to both TLR4- and TLR9-induced inflammation, predicting a proteolytic activity for CatK within the MyD88 pathway and/or the following proteolytic events required for the cytokines secretion.
Acute respiratory effects in workers exposed to low levels of toluene diisocyanate (TDI).

(1968). Acute Respiratory Effects in Workers Exposed to Low Levels of Toluene Diisocyanate (TDI) Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal: Vol. 16, No. 5, pp. 642-647.
Extension of tabled 0L-systems and languages

This paper introduces a new family of languages which originated from a study of some mathematical models for the development of biological organisms. Various properties of this family are established and in particular it is proved that it forms a full abstract family of languages. It is compared with some other families of languages which have already been studied and which either originated from the study of models for biological development or belong to the now standard Chomsky hierarchy. A characterization theorem for context-free languages is also established.
Immunological effects of azithromycin on asthmatic children

Objective To explore the immunological effects of azithromycin on asthmatic children.Methods Totally 80 capillary bronchitis,80 asthma and 80 asthmatic bronchitis children were selected.Every group was randomly divided into intervened group and control group.The patients in the intervened group were administered orally azithromycin 10 mg/kg once daily and common treatment,for 4 periods of treatment,and those in the control group accepted common treatment.The level of T lymphocytes subsets,IL-8,IL-6 and TNF-α before and after treatment were measured and compared.Results Compared with the data before treatment in the intervened groups,the levels of IL-8,IL-6,TNF-α,CD4+ T cell,NK and total T cells decreased and the level of CD8+ T cell increased after treatment.However,the levels of T cell subsets and cytokines had no significant differences between the data before and after treatment in the control group.Conclusion Azithromycin may improve the immunity for the children with asthmatic diseases.
40 HEREDITARY THROMBOPHILIAS MEDIATING ARTERIAL THROMBOTIC EVENTS.

In 10 normolipidemic patients with 1 or more myocardial infarctions (MI) 35 in men and > 40 mg/dL in women, and triglycerides (TG) 150%) was present in 4 of 7 (57%) cases vs 0/36 controls ( p = .0003). Of 14 hyperlipidemic patients having an arterial event 150%) vs 0/36 controls ( p = .004), 2 of 11 (18%) had high factor XI (> 150%) vs 0/61 controls ( p = .022), and 5 of 13 (38%) had hypofibrinolytic high PAI-Fx (> 21.1 U/mL) vs 4/61 (7%) controls ( p = .007). In both normo- and hyperlipidemic patients sustaining an arterial thrombotic event before age 45, and especially before age 35, we speculate that heritable thrombophilias (factors VIII, XI, factor V Leiden) or hypofibrinolysis (PAI-Fx) may contribute to endothelial damage or altered hemostatic equilibrium and thus promote arterial thrombotic events. In patients with thrombophilia and/or hypofibrinolysis-mediated arterial thrombotic events before age 45, we speculate that thromboprophylaxis might have value in secondary prevention of subsequent arterial thrombotic events.
Culture condition of Schizorhyllum for cellulase

A strain called Schizorhyllum commune ATCC38548 was cultivated in submerged state to produce cellulases.The effects of different factors,such as fermentation time,carbon sources,mass concentration of carbon sources and inoculation volumes,were investigated by single-factor experiments.Initrosalicylic acid colorimetric method(DNS) was used to measure the activities of carboxymethyl cellulase(CMC),filter paperlyase(FPA) and crystallite cellulase(AVI).The results showed that production summits of 3 enzymes was inconsistent,but the total activities of cellulase had a maximum value after 6 days fermentation.Filter paper was a good carbon source due to its inductivity for cellulase,and 20g/L of mass concentration and 5mL of inoculation volume brought the best output of cellulase.All these 3 enzymes had different activities in different culture conditions.
Retrograde Ejaculation Due to Heterotopic Erectile Tissue

We report a case of retrograde ejaculation due to an unusual prostatic urethral mass. The resected tissue was histologically indistinguishable from corpus spongiosum, and due to its location it was diagnosed as heterotopic erectile tissue. The embryological origin of this lesion is discussed.
Electron-Phonon Coupling in CdSe/CdS Core/Shell Quantum Dots.

Resonance Raman spectra and excitation profiles have been measured and semiquantitatively modeled for core/shell quantum dots consisting of 2.7 nm diameter zincblende CdSe cores and thin (0.5 nm) or thick (1.6 nm) CdS shells. The Raman spectra show previously reported trends of increased peak frequency for both the CdSe and the CdS longitudinal optical (LO) phonons with increasing shell thickness. We also find a strong dependence of the peak CdS frequency on excitation energy and a large discrepancy between the experimental frequency of the CdSe + CdS combination band and the sum of the corresponding fundamental frequencies. This suggests that the dominant transitions at high excitation energies are localized on either the CdSe core or the CdS shell and thereby cannot enhance combination band transitions between core and shell. The CdS to CdSe Raman intensity ratios at high excitation energies further support this picture. The electron–phonon coupling for the CdSe LO phonon in the lowest excitonic transit...
Myeloid Lineage-Associated Mutations Are Detected in Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm

Abstract 5123 Background/Purpose: Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is a rare but highly aggressive hematologic malignancy that frequently presents with skin, lymph node, and leukemic disease. Since BPDCN can evolve into acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AMML) with other cases associated with monocytosis, a close relationship of BPDCN to the myelomonocytic lineage is suspected. Here we investigate the frequency of myeloid-associated DNA mutations in BPDCN using a targeted exon sequencing panel. Methods: Nine cases of BPDCN (5 skin, 1 lymph node, 3 bone marrow clot sections) were studied. All showed blastic cytomorphology; characteristic expression of CD56 and CD123; CD4 and/or TCL1 expression; and absence of definitive lymphoid, myeloid, and monocytic marker expression. AMML recurrence at 18 months, seen in 1 patient, was also assessed. Genomic DNA was extracted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections and subjected to a 161-amplicon PCR-based DNA sequencing assay that includes the commonly mutated areas of KRAS , NRAS , IDH1 , IDH2 , TET2 , EZH2 , JAK2 , and ASXL1 . Limited multiplex PCR and product harvesting was performed on an Access Array chip (Fluidigm). Ion adaptors were added and DNA sequencing was performed on a PGM sequencer using the 316 chip with 200 base-pair sequencing chemistry (Life Technologies). Sensitivity of mutation detection varied between 5–10%. Sequencing data were analyzed by SeqNext software (JSI MedSystems). Detected mutations were confirmed using conventional Sanger sequencing, with an approximate sensitivity of 15%, or pyrosequencing (5%). Results: Mutations in one or more of the tested genes were found in 6 of 9 patients, with unconfirmed mutations in 2 additional cases due to low-level mutations in samples with poor quality DNA. One patient with a typical BPDCN showed an IDH2 mutation (R140Q) with recurrence as AMML showing this mutation as well as a double mutation in KRAS (G12R, Q61R). Other mutations identified included 3 in ASXL1 including W608C, NRAS G12D, EZH2 C-terminal truncation, and 2 TET2 indels. Conclusions: The presence of myeloid-associated mutations particularly in IDH2 , TET2 and ASXL1 in cases of BPDCN is support for a relationship to the myelomonocytic lineage. The presence of shared and new mutations in the AMML recurrence in 1 patient with BPDCN further indicates a pathogenetic relationship between the two entities. Disclosures: Wang: Quest Diagnostics: Employment. Windham: Quest Diagnostics: Employment. Billouin-Frazier: Quest Diagnostics: Employment. Jones: Quest Diagnostics: Employment.
Strength and Weakness in Computable Structure Theory

We survey the current results about degrees of categoricity and the degrees that are low for isomorphism as well as the proof techniques used in the constructions of elements of each of these classes. We conclude with an analysis of these classes, what we may deduce about them given the sorts of proof techniques used in each case, and a discussion of future lines of inquiry.