cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The use of pentoxifylline (Trental) in diabetic retinopathy

Pentoxifylline represents a new class of medications used to treat peripheral vascular disease. Its mechanism of action is to decrease blood viscosity by increasing red blood cell flexibility and reducing serum fibrinogen levels1. This drug corrects impaired erythrocyte deformability and exerts a beneficial effect on the clinical symptoms of vascular diseases. The expected rheological properties of pentoxifylline mainly affect blood flow in small vessels and capillaries. Available evidence suggests that diabetic haemorrheological changes may be important in the pathogenesis and progression of diabetic microangiopathy2.
Using artwork to understand the experience of mental illness: Mainstream artists and Outsider artists

Objective: Artwork and psychiatric disorders are often linked. Accomplished artists with psychiatric disorders express themselves and their emotional distress through their works, and art therapists use the visual arts to help clients understand their problems and cope with them. There have been a number of psychiatric patients with no previous art training who produced artwork that many consider museum-worthy (Art Brut, or Outsider Art.) For the past two years, I have used artwork in another way: to better understand my clients and their psychiatric disorders. Methods: Presented here are paintings I have made about the mental illness experience of some of my clients, all well known to me through their therapy. It is a form of visual psychodrama, in which I reverse roles with the client through the paintings. My goal has been to experience the stresses felt by my clients so that I can understand them better. Results: The paintings have served as a point of embarkation for therapy sessions, as a means of clarifying a client’s experience, and as a way to show clients that their therapist is attending to what they say. Countertransference undoubtedly plays a role in my choice of clients and their portrayals, but the intent is to help me better understand the clients’ experiences. Included here are images of some of these paintings with a short psychiatric history of the client about whom they were made. Accompanying each one are responses from the clients upon viewing “their” paintings, and a discussion of the client’s psychiatric disorder. Conclusions: Making these paintings has helped me understand better the feelings of isolation, rejection, loss, and alienation that many of my clients experience every day. In turn, they tell me that viewing the paintings is an intense experience for them as well. As an outsider artist, I must leave it to the viewer to determine whether or not these paintings qualify as “art.”
Current understanding of Alzheimer's disease diagnosis and treatment.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia worldwide, with the prevalence continuing to grow in part because of the aging world population. This neurodegenerative disease process is characterized classically by two hallmark pathologies: β-amyloid plaque deposition and neurofibrillary tangles of hyperphosphorylated tau. Diagnosis is based upon clinical presentation fulfilling several criteria as well as fluid and imaging biomarkers. Treatment is currently targeted toward symptomatic therapy, although trials are underway that aim to reduce the production and overall burden of pathology within the brain. Here, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the clinical evaluation and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, with updates regarding clinical trials still in progress.
The Effect of State Antitakeover Laws on Corporate Tax Avoidance

We examine the implications of enhanced managerial control afforded by state anti-takeover laws for tax avoidance and find the strength of anti-takeover statutes in a state is negatively related to tax avoidance of firms incorporated in that state. In testing underlying mechanisms, we find that the empirical results support the price discount concern hypothesis (i.e., managers refrain from tax avoidance activities to prevent potential stock price discounts induced by heightened investor perception of tax-related rent extraction in firms with severe agency problems). By contrast, the results are inconsistent with the quiet life hypothesis (i.e., managers entrenched by state anti-takeover protection enjoy the quiet life by under-investing in tax planning opportunities). Our findings are generally consistent with the takeover market phenomenon that one of managers' concerns lies in their inability to re-contract away the adverse consequences of perceived agency problems arising from state anti-takeover protection.
Must Laws Be Motivated by Public Reason

When courts exercise judicial review, should they invalidate laws that are not motivated by public reason? For proponents of public reason, a standard response might be that laws not motivated by public reason are impermissible under the liberal principle of legitimacy. But this response must confront the permissibility objection, which holds that a law’s motivation is irrelevant to its moral permissibility. Against this objection, this chapter defends a motivational requirement for purposes of judicial review. In some cases, an agent’s motivation can be relevant to the permissibility of the agent’s actions. This chapter also argues that laws with mixed motives, both nonpublic and public, may be permissible, but courts have reason to give such laws careful scrutiny in determining whether they are publicly justified.
Hearing Protection Performance Evaluation of Active Noise Reduction Headsets Under High Intensity Noise Levels

High levels of noise within airborne or ground vehicles affect crew communication and prolonged exposure may lead to hearing-related damage if insufficient hearing protection is implemented. These acoustic environments are unique and varied based upon sources that generate tonal noise, broadband noise and impulsive noise. One of the recommended solutions to mitigate the auditory risks of working in high noise intensity levels was to utilise hearing protectors with Active Noise Reduction (ANR) systems. Investigation was required in order to establish if performance degradation should be expected, the goal being to determine if further more comprehensive performance assessments would be required for hearing protectors with ANR. In the present study, the four David Clark headset models e.g. 40600G-15, 40600G-20, 40750G-01 and H10-76XL were tested at various sound pressure levels such as 111 dB, 115 dB, 120 dB, 125 dB and 131 dB. As a result of this evaluation, it was observed that the performance of the four headset systems with ANR ON was repeatable and constant for noise excitation levels below 120dB. However, as is demonstrated by the preliminary evaluation, the insertion loss performance of the four headsets with ANR systems ON, when exposed to unweighted overall sound pressure levels (OSPL) superior to 120dB, significantly degraded with each increasing noise level increment. It is also very important to mention that the passive hearing protection performance of the four headsets (ANR OFF) remained, as expected, consistent (no degradation observed) at all high intensity noise levels considered in this study. It will be shown that the performance of the hearing protectors with ANR electronic systems has to be consistently evaluated at various noise levels in order to accurately assess their expected performance in real life mission environment for personnel exposure to high intensity noise levels above 120dB.
Presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome in a commercially insured population, United States

Purpose To describe epidemiologic features of patients with presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome (POHS) in the United States using insurance claims data and compare POHS patients with and without choroidal neovascularization (CNV). Design Retrospective cohort study. Methods Patients with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification diagnosis codes for histoplasmosis retinitis on an outpatient claim in the 2014 IBM® MarketScan® Commercial Database and the Medicare Supplemental Database who were enrolled for at least 2 years after the POHS code. Main outcome measures Data related to testing, treatment, and direct medical costs. Results Among >50 million total MarketScan enrollees, 6,678 (13 per 100,000) had a POHS diagnosis code. Of those, 2,718 were enrolled for 2 years; 698 (25%) of whom had a CNV code. Eleven of the 13 states with the highest POHS rates bordered the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. CNV patients had significantly more eye care provider visits (mean 8.8 vs. 3.2, p<0.0001), more ophthalmic imaging tests, higher rates of treatment with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections (45% vs. 4%, p<0.0001), and incurred higher mean total yearly costs ($1,251.83 vs. $251.36, p<0.0001) than POHS patients without CNV. Conclusions Although the relationship between Histoplasma and POHS remains controversial, geographic patterns of POHS patient residence were consistent with the traditionally reported range of the fungus. CNV in the context of POHS was associated with additional healthcare use and costs. Further research to understand POHS etiology, risk factors, prevalence, and complications is needed, along with early diagnosis and treatment strategies.
The Impact of Late-Life Disability Spectrum on Depressive Symptoms: A Fixed-Effects Analysis of Panel Data.

Objectives This study examines the impact of a previously validated disability spectrum that accounts for compensatory strategies on depressive symptoms in older adults. Methods This study was a secondary data analysis of 2011 through 2018 surveys from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (N = 7,609). The disability spectrum was categorized using a 5-level hierarchical scheme: fully able, successful accommodation, reduced activity, difficulty, and assistance for 12 mobility, self-care, and household activities. The individual fixed-effects panel model was used to examine the impact of this disability spectrum on depressive symptoms. Results Depressive symptoms rose progressively with each successive category on the disability spectrum in descriptive analyses. In fixed-effects models, moving from "fully able" to "successful accommodation" was not associated with significant changes in depressive symptoms; this result held for all self-care and mobility activities. Moving from "fully able" to "reduced activity" was associated with a significant increase in depressive symptoms for 3 household activities (doing laundry, making hot meals, and shopping for groceries) but not for paying bills/banking or keeping track of medications. Going up 2 or more stages above "fully able" on the disability spectrum was associated with a significant increase in depressive symptoms across all 12 activities. Discussion While limitations in a range of daily activities have harmful effects on mental health, using compensatory strategies that do not erode one's perception of autonomy can help older adults cope with the psychological detriments of late-life disability.
Scott A. Mogull

"Scientific and Medical Communication: A Guide for Effective Practice" serves as a comprehensive resource for readers who want practical information about writing and publishing in two related academic fields. S.A. Mogull combines studies in scientific and medical communication (SMC) and interviews with journal editors, and information from journal websites to create an inclusive view of the process. Mogull's audience is novice scientific and medical researchers, so the tone and information are well suited for undergraduate and introductory graduate research methods courses. More experienced researchers may also find the volume useful as a handbook filled with reminders and checklists that their teams can use to ensure effective communication of their research. Scientific and Medical Communication is an outstanding contribution to research methods pedagogy. Mogull effectively combines scholarly research, recent examples, and personal experience to create a volume that should support the needs of students and instructors alike.
Precision Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation Based on Etiology

Cardiac arrest results from a broad range of etiologies that can be broadly grouped as sudden and asphyxial. Animal studies point to differences in injury pathways invoked in the heart and brain that drive injury and outcome after these different forms of cardiac arrest. Present guidelines largely ignore etiology in their management recommendations. Existing clinical data reveal significant heterogeneity in the utility of presently employed resuscitation and postresuscitation strategies based on etiology. The development of future neuroprotective and cardioprotective therapies should also take etiology into consideration to optimize the chances for successful translation.
Traversing Alam Minangkabau: tradition, identity, and art world making in Indonesia

This paper takes as its focus a specific ethnic group's position within Indonesia's contemporary art world as a means to examine the effect ethnicity has on the production of art worlds whose param...
What E. coli knows about your 1-year-old infant: Antibiotic use, lifestyle, birth mode, and siblings

The infant gut microbiota is shaped by diverse environmental exposures that alter its composition and can enrich antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Li et al. (2021) studied the causes, spread, and dynamics of ARGs and their relationship with asthma-associated microbiota in Danish children.
Federal market information technology in the post flash crash era: roles for supercomputing

This paper describes collaborative work between active traders, regulators, economists, and supercomputing researchers to replicate and extend investigations of the Flash Crash and other market anomalies in a National Laboratory HPC environment. Our work suggests that supercomputing tools and methods will be valuable to market regulators in achieving the goal of market safety, stability, and security.Currently the key mechanism for preventing catastrophic market action are "circuit breakers." We believe a more graduated approach, similar to the "yellow light" approach in motorsports to slow down traffic, might be a better way to achieve the same goal. To enable this objective, we study a number of indicators that could foresee hazards in market conditions and explore options to confirm such predictions. Our tests confirm that Volume Synchronized Probability of Informed Trading (VPIN) and a version of volume Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) for measuring market fragmentation can indeed give strong signals ahead of the Flash Crash event on May 6 2010. This is a preliminary step toward a full-fledged early-warning system for unusual market conditions.
Exploring the impact of workforce turnover on the sustainability of evidence-based programs: A scoping review:

BackgroundEvidence-based programs (EBPs) are used across disciplines to integrate research into practice and improve outcomes at the individual and/or community level. Despite widespread developmen...
Hierarchical prediction of soil water content time series

Abstract Quantifying the spatial and temporal dynamics of soil moisture is an important subject in vadose zone hydrology. A 1282-day field study was conducted to provide a hierarchy of data to assess neural network simulations of field soil water content time series θ(t). Volumetric water content was determined, typically once a week, by neutron thermalization at 20-, 40-, 60-, 80- and 100-cm depths. Soil samples were taken at 60 locations between 14- and 114-cm depths to determine soil properties, water retention, and saturated hydraulic conductivity. Prediction of hydraulic parameters from basic and extended soil properties yielded low correlation coefficients. Water content could be predicted reasonably with neural networks from soil properties or hydraulic parameters (0.880
Quantum Computation and Information

Quantum computation is a fascinating new area that touches upon the foundations of both quantum physics and computer science. Quantum computers can perform certain tasks, such as factoring, exponentially faster than classical computers. This talk will describe the principles underlying the fundamental quantum algorithms.
Synergistic Exacerbation of Mitochondrial and Synaptic Dysfunction and Resultant Learning and Memory Deficit in a Mouse Model of Diabetic Alzheimer’s Disease

Diabetes is considered to be a risk factor in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Although recent evidence indicates that diabetes exaggerates pathologic features of AD, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. To determine whether mitochondrial perturbation is associated with the contribution of diabetes to AD progression, we characterized mouse models of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetes and transgenic AD mouse models with diabetes. Brains from mice with STZ-induced diabetes revealed a significant increase of cyclophilin D (CypD) expression, reduced respiratory function, and decreased hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP); these animals had impaired spatial learning and memory. Hyperglycemia exacerbated the upregulation of CypD, mitochondrial defects, synaptic injury, and cognitive dysfunction in the brains of transgenic AD mice overexpressing amyloid-β as shown by decreased mitochondrial respiratory complex I and IV enzyme activity and greatly decreased mitochondrial respiratory rate. Concomitantly, hippocampal LTP reduction and spatial learning and memory decline, two early pathologic indicators of AD, were enhanced in the brains of diabetic AD mice. Our results suggest that the synergistic interaction between effects of diabetes and AD on mitochondria may be responsible for brain dysfunction that is in common in both diabetes and AD.
A Tutorial on Fuzzy Rule-Based Expert System Frbes Models. 1: Mathematical Foundations

In this article, the general problems of system identification and control system design are formulated and the concept of control or decision surface is described. The article shows that a collection of fuzzy conditional restrictive rules can be used to model complex or ill-defined processes fuzzy systems, and some simple canonical formats for the production rule sets are given. It is shown that a system of fuzzy relational equations could be obtained from a set of IF-THEN production rules. A fuzzy system transfer relation based on a system of fuzzy relational equations is defined. The article also shows how a variety of fuzzy implication relations or Zadeh's extension principle might be used to derive the fuzzy relational equations. Various methods for obtaining the solution of these equations are studied based on a number of composition of relations techniques. Finally, two of the most commonly used solution techniques in fuzzy control applications, that is, Max-Min and Max-Product methods, are described.
Rat lens γ-crystallins: Characterization of the six gene products and their spatial and temporal distribution resulting from differential synthesis

We have isolated, purified and characterized six individual gamma-crystallin polypeptides present in the rat lens. Comparison of their amino acid compositions with the known structure of the six gamma-crystallin genes permits a one-to-one correspondence to be made between each protein synthesized and the encoding gene. This demonstrates that each of the six genes is actually expressed in vivo. Two classes of three gamma-crystallins each, which we have designated classes gamma ABC and gamma DEF, are known to exist, on the basis of internal sequence homology. We have measured the temperature-dependent phase-separation characteristics of solutions of the six purified gamma-crystallins, and find that the three members of the gamma DEF class (gamma 2-2, gamma 3-1 and gamma 4-1) are all cryo-proteins with relatively high phase-separation temperatures, whereas the three gamma ABC crystallins (gamma 1-1, gamma 1-2 and gamma 2-1) do not show phase separation above -7 degrees C. We have measured the spatial distribution in rat lens of each of the alpha-, beta- and gamma-crystallins as a function of age from 1 to 420 days, using size-exclusion and ion-exchange high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Our findings in the cortical layer permit us to establish the differential synthesis of each of the crystallins during lens development. Particular attention has been devoted to the spatial and temporal distribution of the six individual gamma-crystallins. Up to birth, synthesis of the three components of the gamma DEF class predominates, and in particular that of gamma 2-2. In subsequent development the three components of the gamma ABC class assume a greater proportion of monomeric crystallins synthesized, while beta s-crystallin synthesis predominates in late development. Our analysis of different layers within single lenses provides novel information on spatial gradients of the water-soluble and water-insoluble protein fractions as a function of age. We consider the consequences of these findings for lens transparency and opacity in both rat and mouse lens. We show that the high concentrations of gamma DEF-crystallins appear to be responsible for the opacity known to occur in young rat lenses. We conclude from these observations that close control of the differential synthesis of gamma-crystallins plays an important role in maintaining lens transparency during development.
Establishment of hepatitis E virus infection-permissive and -non-permissive human hepatoma PLC/PRF/5 subclones

PLC/PRF/5 cells show limited permissiveness, meaning that almost all subclones are permissive; however, some subclones do not exhibit permissiveness for hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection. In this study, the single-cell cloning of PLC/PRF/5 was performed and heterogeneous subclones characterized. Notably, the efficiency of intracellular virus replication did not correlate with the permissiveness for HEV infection. However, as well as binding permissive subclones, virus-like particles bound non-permissive subclones on various levels, suggesting that these subclones have some deficiencies in the attachment and entry steps of infection. Our data would be useful for investigating the HEV life cycle.
Knowledge discovery: comprehensibility of the results

Knowledge discovery in databases (KDD) and machine learning researchers recognize that comprehensibility is an important condition for the use, and therefore usefulness, of knowledge discovery methods. An investigation of the comprehensibility of the discovered patterns may benefit IS research as well. This paper identifies some of the issues that such inquiry may face. Related findings and conclusions of four case studies focusing on applications of decision tree induction methods, are described. A discussion based on these studies suggests, among the rest, that the problem of comprehensibility is complicated by a complex context due to a diversity of problem domain attributes, user and task characteristics, algorithmic methods, and concurrency of user goals. Solutions to problems of discovered patterns that are not easy to interpret and validate may involve integration of available information technologies, and utilization of multiple information types and sources. An investigation of comprehensibility issues may benefit from the adoption of multiple definitions in relation to this concept.
The influence of gang presence on victimization in one middle school environment

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand and describe the unique differences of both bullies and victims, through the eyes and stories of the participants, from this middle school. METHOD: Thompson Middle School enrolls approximately 440 students to date with 85% of the student population reported as African American, 8% White, and 9% Latino. The surrounding community has more than 20 gangs with 2,000 known gang members. Case study research, with data collected from 10 student interviews and unstructured observations from researcher field notes, was used to capture experiences from one middle school. Analysis was performed using a modified van Kaam approach for each transcript. RESULTS: Themes that emerged included: (a) powerlessness of teachers and administrators; (b), students feeling unsafe before, during, and after school; (c) pressure of conformity to join gang life to avoid danger; and (d) students feeling trapped in an unsafe environment. CONCLUSION: Although the similar characteristics of bullying that are discussed in the current literature were identified, we found three important distinctions between a middle school with gang presence and schools without. These include: (a) the incidents of victimization are more violent in nature toward both students and teachers; (b) fear permeates the school environment possibly paralyzing prevention efforts; and (c) the social structure of gangs convolutes what is known about peer influence on bullying and victimization incidents due to deeply rooted history of gang presence, a hierarchy of power, and fear from bystanders.
Development of the Implantable Glucose Sensor: What Are the Prospects and Why Is It Taking So Long?

The development of an implantable glucose sensor for use in diabetes was first suggested in the 1960s (1–3). The sensor would provide an alternative to the present discrete methods of glucose determination that are based on intermittent blood sampling. Continuous glucose sensing would be particularly important in the detection and management of hypoglycemia. It would also allow early detection of hyperglycemia and provide a basis for insulin administration at more appropriate dosages and timing or for automatic insulin delivery from a pump. An implantable glucose sensor could also be used in parallel with other existing or potential forms of insulin replacement, such as transplantation or hybrid islet devices.
Perturbation of Membrane Structure by Oxysterols

Cholesterol is essential to the regulation and function of cell membranes, and cells expend large amounts of energy to control membrane cholesterol levels. The oxysterols, oxidation products of cholesterol, are enzymatically produced molecules that play a major role in regulating cholesterol homeostasis. Recent experimental work has shown that 25-hydroxycholesterol can affect cholesterol homeostasis through non-enantioselective mechanisms. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we have shown that cholesterol and 25-hydroxycholesterol alter membrane properties in very different ways, and that these effects are rooted in their orientations within the membrane. Newer simulations of bilayers containing both cholesterol and 25-hydroxycholesterol in the same membrane have shown that the presence of 25-hydroxycholesterol alters the position and orientation of cholesterol, increasing its solvent accessibility. Our work suggests that cholesterol and membrane perturbation by oxysterols may play a role in the oxysterol regulation of cholesterol homeostasis.
The Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Cell-Specific Element Is Required for Normal Puberty and Estrous Cyclicity

Appropriate tissue-specific gene expression of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is critical for pubertal development and maintenance of reproductive competence. In these studies, a common element in the mouse GnRH (mGnRH) promoter, between −2806 and −2078 bp, is shown to mediate differential regulation of hypothalamic and ovarian mGnRH expression. To further characterize this region, we generated a knock-out mouse (GREKO−/−) with a deletion of the mGnRH promoter fragment between −2806 and −2078 bp. GnRH mRNA expression in the brain of GREKO−/− was less than the expression in wild-type mice; however, immunohistochemical analysis revealed no difference between the numbers of GnRH neurons among groups. GnRH mRNA expression in the ovary was fivefold higher in GREKO−/−. The immunohistochemical staining for GnRH in the ovary increased in surface epithelial and granulosa cells and also in the corpora lutea of GREKO−/− mice. The reproductive phenotype revealed that the mean day of vaginal opening was delayed, and additionally, there was a significant decrease in the length of proestrus and diestrus-metestrus phases of the estrous cycle, resulting in a shortened estrous cycle in GREKO−/− mice. This work supports the hypothesis that the region of the GnRH promoter contained between −2806 and −2078 bp acts as a cell-specific enhancer in the GnRH neuron and as a repressor in the ovary. Deletion of this region in vivo implicates the GnRH promoter in mediating pubertal development and periodic reproductive cycling, and forms the foundation to define the nuclear proteins important for puberty and estrous cycling in mammals.
The ballet of morphogenesis: Unveiling the hidden choreographers

Several recent papers reveal new insights into the mechanisms by which cells turn their perceptions about fate into action, focusing on the role of Wnt signal transduction in cell polarization and migration.
Cutaneous Localization in Congenitally Blind Versus Seeing Children and Adults

*Recommended by Albert P. Weiss and received for publication by Carl Murchison of the Editorial Board, August 29, 1929.
Partial Breast Irradiation: Is This a Viable Option?

In the treatment of early invasive and in situ breast carcinomas, lumpectomy followed by whole breast radiation are generally accepted as standard of care in breast conservation. Long-term data from early breast conservation trials has shown that most local failures occur in close proximity to the tumor bed. This has been observed in both radiated and unradiated breasts treated with breast conservation techniques, suggesting that occult multifocal disease is less ominous than once believed. Improvements in breast imaging and radiation treatment planning and delivery allow the experienced radiation oncologist to deliver high doses of radiation to the region of the tumor bed alone in less than 2 weeks. Preliminary data suggests that this abbreviated course of radiation offers cosmetic and disease control outcomes equal to that of traditional whole breast radiation in selected populations. This article reviews current techniques, outcomes of clinical trials, and novel techniques in partial breast radiation for early and locally recurrent breast carcinomas.
Variable Grating Mode Liquid Crystal Device For Optical Processing

In the variable grating mode (VGM) operation of a liquid crystal device, a phase grating is formed whose period depends upon the voltage placed across the cell. Typical spatial frequency variation is from 100 to 600 cycles/mm. By adding a photoconductive layer to the cell, the grating period can be optically controlled. Thus each input intensity level in an optical signal will generate a local grating structure at a different spatial frequency. If the VGM device is placed in the input plane of a coherent optical processor, each point in the Fourier transform domain will correspond to a different grating frequency, and thus to a different input signal level. By varying the attenuation at each point in the Fourier plane, any desired transformation of input intensity to output intensity can be achieved. In particular, level slicing can be achieved by placing a slit in the filter plane so that only a narrow range of spatial frequencies is transmitted and thus a narrow range of input intensities is passed. Several experimental VGM real-time devices have been constructed and the results of a level slicing experiment are presented. This device has the potential to perform a wide variety of real-time, parallel, optical processes.© (1980) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Synthesis of octadecynoic acids and [1-14C] labeled isomers of octadecenoic acids.

Geometric and positional isomers of [1-14C] octadecenoic acids have been synthesized by modifications of published procedures. Positional isomers of octadecynoic acids also have been synthesized to obtain the geometric and positional isomers of the unlabeled octadecenoic acid analogs. The syntheses were accomplished by coupling a haloalkyl compound with a substituted acetylene using n-butyl lithium in hexamethylphosphoramide. The coupled product, either a 17-or 18-carbon acetylenic alcohol, could be semihydrogenated and chain extended to afford a carboxy labeled derivative, could be partially hydrogenated and chain extended to afford a carboxyl labeledcis-ortrans-octadecenoic acid in the former case. In the latter case, octadecynoic,cis-octadecenoic ortrans-octadecenoic acids could be obtained by the appropriate reactions. The methods used in this study enabled the synthesis of14C-labeled fatty acids in generally higher yields and by simpler reactions than were previously possible.
SU-FF-T-281: Leakage Radiation of Elekta Synergy-S LINAC Machine

Purpose: To evaluate leakage radiation through treatment head of Elekta Synergy‐S linear accelerator, which has a new “beam modulator” MLC design. Method and Materials: As part of the acceptance test of a newly installed Elekta Synergy‐S, Kodak XV films were used to encompass the entire treatment head to locate potential radiation hot spots. After evaluating film results, an ion chamber (with appropriate buildup caps) was used to measure the leakage radiation for 6MV and 15MV x‐ray beams with MLC leaves fully closed. The chamber was placed in a plane perpendicular to the beam axis and which contained the machine isocenter, at distances ranging from 13–100 cm away from the machine isocenter in three directions (inline, crossline and diagonal). A 4.5 cm lead block placed on the blocking tray was used to evaluate the scattered radiation contribution from closed MLC leaves to ion chamber measurements at selected locations near the secondary collimator edges. Results: Leakage radiation was greater than 0.1% of the dose at isocenter for the original beam modulatortreatment head design. A Beam Modulator Head Shielding Kit was installed and measurements repeated. Leakage radiation was only slightly reduced. A second version of Beam Modulator Head Shielding Kit was installed, and subsequent measurements showed that head leakage radiation was finally reduced below 0.1%. Contributions to ion chamber readings from scattered radiation generated from closed MLC leaves can be as high as 60% at close proximity to the secondary collimator edge. Conclusions: Thorough measurement of head leakage is necessary during acceptance testing of a LINAC machine, especially for new type machines such as the Synergy‐S, to ensure patient and staff safety. It is recommended leakage radiation measurements be made by blocking the scattered radiation contribution from the closed MLC leaves.
IgM-rheumatoid factor and responses to second-line drugs in rheumatoid arthritis

We have examined the relationship between IgM-rheumatoid factor (RF) and responses to second-line drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Patients with active RA who were beginning treatment with gold, methotrexate or both were studied. Clinical responses were assessed with ESR, joint count, grip strength and activities of daily living questionnaire scores. Production of IgM-RF by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in vitro and plasma levels of IgM-RF were measured by ELISA. Overall, 31 of 44 patients completing more than 6 months treatment improved including 10 treated with gold, 12 with MTX and 9 with both. Production of IgM-RF by peripheral blood mononuclear cells was decreased by 59% in patients who improved on treatment, but increased 2-fold in the unimproved group. Plasma levels of IgM-RF were decreased from 121 to 66 micrograms/ml in the improved group after 6 months of treatment, with similar decreases seen for each of the three treatments. In contrast, plasma IgM-RF levels in the unimproved group did not decrease until 1 year of treatment was completed. Nine patients converted to seronegativity, and all but one of these were in the improved group. The results suggest that IgM-RF is correlated with responses to second-line drug in RA patients.
Discovery of new GPCR biology: one receptor structure at a time.

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of proteins in the human genome. Within the last year, we have witnessed a relative explosion in the amount of structural information available for the GPCR family with two new structures of opsin in the presence and absence of transducin peptide, four new structures of β-adrenergic receptors, and a recent structure of the human adenosine A 2A receptor. The new biological insight being gained, such as the highly divergent extracellular loops and areas of structural convergence within the transmembrane helices, allows us to chart a course for further investigation into this important class of membrane proteins.
β-endorphin. Synthesis and biological activity of analogs with disulfide bridges

Two analogs of human beta-endorphin (beta-EP) which contain cystine bridges, [Cys15-Cys26,Phe27,Gly31]-beta-EP (I) and [Cys16-Cys26,Phe27,Gly31]-beta-EP (II), were synthesized by the solid-phase method. Peptides I and II were shown to contain 2-2.5 times the opiate receptor binding activity of beta-endorphin. We also synthesized two analogs with reduced alkylated cysteine residues and these peptides, [Arg9,19,24,28,29 Cys(Cam)11,26,Phe27,Gly31] and [Arg9,19,24,28,29,Cys-(Cam)12,26,Phe27,Gly31], were shown to have approximately the same opiate receptor activity as beta-endorphin.
Acute HIV-1 infection: a call to action.

Diagnosis of acute HIV-1 infection is infrequently considered and rarely made, but an estimated 50 000 persons in the United States are newly infected each year. This commentary discusses the diagn...
Induction of Peripheral Tolerance by Intrathymic Inoculation of Soluble Alloantigens: Evidence for the Role of Host Antigen-Presenting Cells and Suppresser Cell Mechanism

Intrathymic (IT) inoculation of soluble alloantigens (Ag) obtained from 3 M KCl extracts of resting T-cells induces donor-specific tolerance to cardiac allografts and islet allografts. This study examined the cellular basis of induction of transplantation tolerance by IT injection of soluble Ag. Our results show that while IT inoculation of 2 mg soluble donor Ag on Day -7 relative to Lewis islet transplantation induced specific unresponsiveness to islet allografts (> 200 days) in naive diabetic recipients, IT inoculation of 2 mg soluble Ag on the same day as islet transplantation did not prolong islet allograft survival in the same Lewis-to-WF rat combination. To define the role of donor APCs in intrathymic tolerance, we showed that IT injection of an admixture of 1 x 10(4) donor DC and 2 mg soluble Ag caused acute islet graft rejection. In contrast, addition of 1 x 10(4) recipient-type DC to the IT inoculum did not prevent long-term graft survival. This finding suggests that while the presence of donor APCs in the inoculum does not appear necessary for IT-alloantigen to induce peripheral tolerance, presentation of the soluble Ag in the thymus is dependent on host APCs. This conclusion is supported by our in vitro MLR experiments which showed that in vivo WF-Ag-primed Lewis T-cells proliferated specifically to WF-soluble Ag and that the response was enhanced 14-fold by the addition of responder-type DC. Addition of anti-Lewis MHC class II mAb specifically blocked the alloresponse, thus suggesting that in vivo Ag-primed T-cells are capable of recognizing and proliferating in response to allopeptides presented by responder APCs. We also showed that adoptive transfer of syngeneic naive T-cells into unresponsive recipients failed to break tolerance to long-term surviving islet allografts. This finding suggests that tolerance in this model is not due to a lack of T help. On the other hand, the adoptive transfer of spleen cells, but not sera, from the unresponsive WF recipients bearing long-term (> 120 days) functioning Lewis islets resulted in prolonged survival of donor-type but not third-party islet allografts in secondary syngeneic hosts. Our data suggest that the tolerogenic effect of IT inoculation of soluble Ag is dependent on the indirect pathway of Ag presentation and clonal deletion of alloreactive T-cells in the thymus, while suppressor/regulatory mechanism may be involved in the maintenance of peripheral tolerance.
PPAR-γ Activation Inhibits Angiogenesis by Blocking ELR+CXC Chemokine Production in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) results in inhibition of tumor growth in various types of cancers, but the mechanism(s) by which PPAR-gamma induces growth arrest has not been completely defined. In a recent study, we demonstrate that treatment of A549 (human non small cell lung cancer cell line) tumor-bearing SCID mice with PPAR-gamma ligands troglitazone (Tro) and pioglitazone significantly inhibits primary tumor growth. In this study, immunohistochemical analysis of Tro-treated and Pio-treated tumors with factor VIII antibody revealed a significant reduction in blood vessel density compared to tumors in control animals, suggesting inhibition of angiogenesis. Further analysis showed that treatment of A549 cells in vitro with Tro or transient transfection of A549 cells with constitutively active PPAR-gamma (VP16-PPAR-gamma) construct blocked the production of the angiogenic ELR+CXC chemokines IL-8 (CXCL8), ENA-78 (CXCL5), and Gro-alpha (CXCL1). Similarly, an inhibitor of NF-kappa B activation (PDTC) also blocked CXCL8, CXCL5, and CXCL1 production, consistent with their NF-kappa B-dependent regulation. Conditioned media from A549 cells induce human microvascular endothelial cell (HMVEC) chemotaxis. However, conditioned media from Tro-treated A549 cells induced significantly less HMVEC chemotaxis compared to untreated A549 cells. Furthermore, PPAR-gamma activation inhibited NF-kappa B transcriptional activity, as assessed by TransAM reporter gene assay. Collectively, our data suggest that PPAR-gamma ligands can inhibit tumor-associated angiogenesis by blocking the production of ELR+CXC chemokines, which is mediated through antagonizing NF-kappaB activation. These antiangiogenic effects likely contribute to the inhibition of primary tumor growth by PPAR-gamma ligands.
Role of androgens in mediating hypertension and renal injury.

1. Men are generally at greater risk for cardiovascular disease than are women, particularly with regard to enhanced progression of hypertension and loss of renal function. Despite these gender differences in the progression of hypertension and renal disease in humans and animals, the mechanisms responsible are unknown. 2. Castration in males has been shown to slow the progression of hypertension and ameliorate the loss in renal function. When serum testosterone was measured in the developing male spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR), the peak serum testosterone level at 12 weeks coincided with the time when differences in systolic blood pressure could be measured between intact male SHR and females or castrated male SHR. Ovariectomy does not affect blood pressure in female SHR but testosterone treatment of ovariectomized females for 5 weeks results in exacerbation of hypertension almost to the level found in intact male SHR. These data strongly suggest a role for androgens in mediating the gender differences in hypertension. 3. The mechanisms by which androgens could increase blood pressure are not known. We have recently shown that, at comparable renal perfusion pressures, there is a hypertensive shift in the pressure–natriuresis relationship in male SHR compared with females or castrated male SHR. Testosterone treatment of ovariectomized female SHR also causes a rightward shift in the pressure–natriuresis relationship. 4. We hypothesize that androgens increase arterial pressure by causing a hypertensive shift in the pressure–natriuresis relationship, either by having a direct effect to increase proximal tubular reabsorption or by activation of the renin–angiotensin system. We also hypothesize that the enhanced proximal tubular reabsorption leads to a tubuloglomerular feedback-mediated afferent vasodilation, which, in combination with the increase in arterial pressure, results in glomerular hypertension and renal injury.
Fast sine/cosine transform for periodic functions with reflection symmetry

Abstract A modified fast cosine transform (FCT) algorithm is presented featuring the following three properties: (1) the entire calculation is performed using arrays half the size of what would be required using a common fast Fourier transform (FFT); (2) the result of the FCT is identical to that which would be obtained using an FFT and an array double the size; (3) the FCT is its own inverse. The algorithm requires a minor modification to the FCT algorithm in Numerical Recipes by W.H. Press et al., which satisfies only the first of the above three properties. An extension of fast sine/cosine transform algorithms to the case of complex data is included. Programs written in Fortran 77 for both real and complex versions are provided.
Interpretation of fractures and stress anisotropy in Marcellus Shale using multicomponent seismic data

AbstractUsing a data set from the Marcellus Shale, we evaluated the advantages of multicomponent seismic data for fracture and anisotropy studies over conventional P-wave data. Using traveltime and amplitude analysis on pre- and poststack seismic data, we concluded that PS-waves can provide more accurate information about the location, orientation, and intensity of natural fractures and stress anisotropy than P-waves. Our analysis indicated that regional stress was the main cause of velocity anisotropy. Amplitude variation with offset and azimuth appeared to be more useful for fracture studies, whereas traveltime variations (especially PS-waves) provided a better indication of regional stress orientations. Principal directions for amplitudes and traveltimes of PP- and PS-waves were different. Misalignment of PP- and PS-waves principal directions suggested that the simplest, most realistic anisotropy model for the fractured Marcellus is monoclinic symmetry.
Integrating Information From Thermal And Visual Images For Scene Analysis

A new approach has been developed for computer perception of scenes. The approach is based on the integration of information extracted from thermal images and visual images, which provides new information not available by processing either image alone. The thermal behavior of scene objects has been studied in terms of surface heat fluxes. The thermal image is used to measure surface temperature and the visual image provides surface absorptivity and relative orientation. These parameters used together provide estimates of surface heat fluxes. Features based on these estimates are shown to be more meaningful and specific in distinguishing scene components.
Spinal Cord Metastasis of a Non-neurofibromatosis Type-1 Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor: An Unusual Manifestation of a Rare Tumor

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors are rare spindle-cell sarcomas derived from Schwann cells or pluripotent cells of the neural crest. They arise from the spinal roots, peripheral nerves, brachial and lumbosacral plexi, cranial nerves and terminal nerve fibers within soft tissue, intestine, lung and bone. These tumors recur either locally, or metastasize distally. Most of these tumors occur in association with neurofibromatosis type 1. Spinal cord metastasis from malignant nerve sheath tumors associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 is very rare. We describe a rare case of near-total spinal cord metastasis in a patient with malignant nerve sheath tumor in the absence of neurofibromatosis, and highlight the microscopic findings and natural history of this disease process.