cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acupuncture for xerostomia

BACKGROUND In the authors' clinic, patients with xerostomia after radiation therapy for malignancy have been offered acupuncture as potential palliation of their symptoms since November 1999. Preliminary data revealed that many patients achieve relief, even for symptoms refractory to pilocarpine therapy. METHODS Acupuncture technique has been refined since the authors' previous publication. Originally described as a two-step process, a single treatment with eight needles is now used. Three points are treated in each ear, and one in the radial aspect of each index finger. Patients are also provided a sugar-free lozenge in the mouth to further stimulate salivation. Response is measured by the xerostomia inventory (XI). RESULTS Fifty patients have undergone 318 treatments (median, 5; range, 2–15 treatments). Median follow-up since the first treatment is 224 days (range, 9–455 days). Median palliation as described by the XI was 9 points (range, 0–25 points). Response (defined as improvement of 10% or better over baseline XI values) occurred in 35 patients (70%). Twenty-four patients (48%) have received benefit of 10 points or greater on the XI. Duration of effect for 13 patients (26%) has exceeded 3 months. CONCLUSIONS Acupuncture palliates xerostomia for many patients. A regimen of three to four weekly treatments followed by monthly sessions is now recommended, although some patients achieve lasting response without further therapy. Cancer 2002;94:1151–6. © 2002 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.10348
Treatment of Dysphagia with Pyridostigmine Bromide in a Patient with the Pharyngeal-Cervical-Brachial Variant of Guillain-Barré Syndrome

A 24-year-old male developed bulbar palsy, ophthalmoplegia, ptosis, and shoulder weakness bilaterally 2 weeks after he had experienced an upper respiratory infection. The electrodiagnostic study demonstrated axonal polyradiculoneuropathy. The repetitive nerve stimulation study (RNS) showed no significant decrement of the compound muscle action potentials (CMAPs). The videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) showed severe impairment of the pharyngeal phase of swallowing. He was diagnosed as having the pharyngeal-cervical-brachial variant of Guillain-Barre syndrome. The patient's dysphagia was not improved for 3 months. A follow up RNS showed a significant decrement of the CMAPs. Pyridostigmine bromide was tried to improve the dysphagia. The patient showed immediate improvement of his dysphagia on the VFSS after the trial with pyridostigmine bromide. Pyridostigmine bromide was given before each meal for 8 days and he showed continuous improvement of his dysphagia. The follow up VFSS after 3 months showed complete recovery of dysphagia.
CHIRAL ALGEBRA, CONFIGURATION MIXING, MAGNETIC MOMENTS, AND PION PHOTOPRODUCTION.

We develop a model for baryon states as a mixture of representations of the chiral $\mathrm{SU}(3)\ensuremath{\bigotimes}\mathrm{SU}(3)$ algebra generated by the time components of vector and axial-vector currents. Our model predicts a sum rule ${G}_{A}=1+\frac{1}{4}{G}^{*2}$, where ${G}_{A}$ is the axial-vector coupling constant of the nucleon and ${G}^{*}$ is the nucleon-(3,3)-resonance matrix element of the axial current. We show how to derive ${G}^{*}$ from experiment, and using this information get ${G}_{A}=1.25$. Using the electric dipole operator we also obtain that the magnetic moment of the nucleons is pure isovector, as is the photoproduction amplitude of the isospin-\textonehalf{} pion-nucleon resonances from nucleons. A value for the magnetic dipole transition from the nucleon to the (3,3) resonance is found which also agrees with experiment.
The SDSS DR7 galaxy angular power spectrum: volume limits and galaxy morphology

We use a quadratic estimator with KL-compression to calculate the angular power spectrum of a volume-limited Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Data Release 7 (DR7) galaxy sample out to l = 200. We also determine the angular power spectrum of selected subsamples with photometric redshifts z < 0.3 and 0.3 < z < 0.4 to examine the possible evolution of the angular power spectrum, as well as early-type and late-type galaxy subsamples to examine the relative linear bias. In addition, we calculate the angular power spectrum of the SDSS DR7 main galaxy sample in a ~ 53.7 square degree area out to l = 1600 to determine the SDSS DR7 angular power spectrum to high multipoles. We perform a \chi^2 fit to compare the resulting angular power spectra to theoretical nonlinear angular power spectra to extract cosmological parameters and the linear bias. We find the best-fit cosmological parameters of \Omega_m = 0.267 +- 0.038 and \Omega_b = 0.045 +- 0.012. We find an overall linear bias of b = 1.075 +- 0.056, an early-type bias of b_e = 1.727 +- 0.065, and a late-type bias of b_l = 1.256 +- 0.051. Finally, we present evidence of a selective misclassification of late-type galaxies as stars by the SDSS photometric data reduction pipeline in areas of high stellar density (e.g., at low Galactic latitudes).
How many species of host-specific insects feed on a species of tropical tree?

The assumptions on the host specificity of beetles that led Terry Erwin to suggest that there may be over 30 million arthropod species were tested for 10 species of trees and their insect associates at a rainforest site in Papua New Guinea. The data included 391 species and 4696 individuals of herbivorous beetles collected during a one year period using hand collecting, beating, branch clipping, intercept flight traps and pyrethrum knockdown. Insect host specificity was assessed by feeding trials in captivity. The data suggest that between 23 and 37 monophagous leaf-feeding species are most likely to be present in this system, whereas Erwin's method yields an estimate of 138 monophagous species. The major factors responsible for the discrepancy between our observations and Erwin's assumptions appears to be (a) the importance of transient species; (b) the insect fauna that is shared among tree species; (c) some generalist wood-eating species may inflate the apparent species richness of leaf-feeding beetles; and (d) the proportion of specialist species varies significantly among tree species. We conclude that studies reporting the proportion of specialist insect herbivores associated with particular tropical tree species will yield only a portion of the information needed to estimate global arthropod species richness, but may be useful for elucidating certain aspects of food-web ecology in tropical rain forests.
Synthesis of dopamine and l-DOPA-α-glycosides by reaction with cyclomaltohexaose catalyzed by cyclomaltodextrin glucanyltransferase

Abstract Dopamine–HCl and l -DOPA-α-glycosides were prepared by reaction with cyclomaltohexaose, catalyzed by Bacillus macerans cyclomaltodextrin glucanyltransferase. The reaction gave maltodextrins attached to dopamine and l -DOPA; the maltodextrins were trimmed by reactions with glucoamylase and β-amylase to produce α-glucosyl- and α-maltosyl-glycosides, respectively. The glucoamylase- or β-amylase-treated dopamine- and l -DOPA-α-glycosides were fractionated and purified by BioGel P-2 gel-filtration column chromatography and preparative descending paper chromatography. Analysis by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and one- and two-dimensional NMR showed that the purified glycosides of dopamine and l -DOPA were glycosylated at the hydroxyl groups of positions 3 and 4 of the catechol ring. The major product was found to be 4-O-α-glycopyranosyl l -DOPA, and it was shown to be more resistant to oxidative tolerance experiments, involving hydrogen peroxide and ferrous ion, than l -DOPA. l -DOPA-α-glycosides are possibly more effective substitutes for l -DOPA in treating Parkinson’s disease in that they are more resistant to oxidation and methylation, which renders l -DOPA ineffective and deleterious.
Regular patchy distribution of cytochrome oxidase staining in primary visual cortex of macaque monkey

In two preliminary studies, normal macaque1 and squirrel monkey2,3 striate cortex cut parallel to the surface and stained for cytochrome oxidase (a mitochondrial enzyme) showed a striking pattern of regularly spaced patches. This was surprising, since until then no physiological or anatomical studies had suggested such a patchy organization. In the present study in the macaque we found that the patches were arranged in rows spaced about 350 µm apart. When one eye was injected with tritiated proline the rows of patches in layers II and III lay in register with the ocular-dominance bands seen autoradiographically in layer IVc. Removing one eye caused the patches in every other row to shrink and blanch. The rows of patches are therefore centred on the ocular dominance columns. Regions labelled by 2-deoxyglucose autoradiography after stimulating one eye with black-and-white stripes in all orientations consisted of rows of patches that lay in register with the cytochrome oxidase patches in every other row. On stimulating monkeys with stripes of a single orientation, the deoxyglucose-labelled regions formed a lattice that included the cytochrome oxidase patches but was more extensive. Thus either the deoxyglucose is not labelling the orientation columns at all, or the orientation columns coalesce in the areas marked by the cytochrome oxidase stain.
La politique de la personne: Genre, nation et citoyenneté en Tchécoslovaquie (1918-1945)

Cet article analyse le genre de la citoyennete et des droits dans la Tchecoslovaquie entre 1918 et 1945. En 1918 la nouvelle Republique democratique a proclame l’egalite, y compris l’egalite entre hommes et femmes. Aux femmes etaient accordes toute une serie de nouveaux droits, le plus important etant le vote ; elles sont devenues, en principe, des citoyennes egales aux citoyens. Neanmoins, il est rapidement devenu evident que cette egalite citoyenne n’etait appliquee que dans le domaine politique ; le genre est reste un facteur important dans la determination des droits civils des femmes. Ainsi, elles etaient « des femmes » d’abord, et leurs droits dependaient des roles consideres comme acceptables pour le sexe feminin. Cela est devenu tres clair en 1939, quand le droit des femmes a la participation politique a ete retire parce que la vie politique est devenue « trop dangereuse » pour les femmes.
The Victoria Accelerogram for the 1980 Mexicali Valley Earthquake

Abstract Most of the remarkable digital strong motion accelerogram from the June 9, 1980 Mexicali Valley earthquake (Mw = 6.4) has been recovered by careful analysis. Peak horizontal accelerations (.98g, .87g) and duration were similar to the values for the recent Superstition Hills earthquake. The vertical accelerogram clipped the 1g instrument several times. The records provide an important example of near fault accelerations from a second earthquake in the deep sediments of the Imperial Mexicali Valley (the other being the records from the 1979 Imperial Valley earthquake). The 1980 accelerograms are important because they were not affected by foundation filtering, as were the records for the Imperial Valley 1940 earthquake, and because they illustrate the damaging near‐source, intermediate frequency velocity pulse associated with passage of the rupture front.
Diverging trajectory patterns of systemic versus vascular inflammation over age in healthy Caucasians and African-Americans.

Objective Age and inflammation are risk factors for cardiovascular disease but the impact of inflammation on cardiovascular risk across the lifespan is not understood. We investigated whether an inflammatory burden is modulated by age in healthy subjects.
Heterodyne frequency measurements of COF2, CD3F,13CD3F, and C2H5I lasers

Heterodyne frequency measurements are reported for twenty optically pumped laser lines from various molecules including COF2, CD3F,13CD3F, and C2H5I.
Civil certification of see-through displays

New aircraft are being developed incorporating head—up displays (HUD5 ) to serve as primary flight references (PFRs) in all phases of flight. HUDs have been used in military airplanes as weapon displays and as primary flight references. They have been approved in some civil aircraft as part—time displays for approach and landing or as supplementary displays. The HUD offers several advantages over conventional instruments: Reduced pilot workload; Increased flight precision; Direct visualization of trajectory; and Less eyes—inside—the—cockpit. At the same time, these advan— tages can sometimes create problems (I. e • , There is no free lunch) . Two instances are clutter and rapid display motion In spite of these difficulties, the use of a HUD can be an overall unproveinent in flight instrumentation, provided that attention is paid to the problem areas. A design guide is available)HUDs have been certificated on civil aircraft since the early 1970s. They have usually been restricted to specific flight phases (approach and landing). All have supplemented head down instruments, not replaced them. A Flight Dynamics HUD is being developed for the Lockheed C-130J for use as the primary flight reference (a stand-alone PFR). There is interest in the airline community for enhanced vision systems (EVS) or synthetic vision systems (SVS). As envisioned by proponents, EVS/SVS would use a raster-capable HUD which would show electronic imagery from some kind of sensor. Both millimeter wave radar and FLIR have been proposed. The operational scenario would use the electronic image in place of direct view of the runway environment. The pilot would base descent below instrument minimums on the view of the sensor image of the runway. A certification project is underway for an enhanced vision system to be installed on B—747 airplanes. Helicopter operators would like to use night vision technology, based on image intensifier night-vision goggles or on infrared head—mounted displays (HMD5). Such displays have been suggested to aid emergency medical service flights to accident sites. Several helicopter ambulance operators have requested operational approval for night—vision goggles.
Transport of proteins across membranes — a paradigm in transition

6. Membrane protein transport independent of protein synthesis 348 6.1. Protein transporting pores 348 6.2. Non-porous transporters 352 6.3. Protein passage across the lipid bilayer in the absence of specific membrane adaptations: limitations of the solubility construct. 352
Abstract 2148: Novel therapy of liver metastases of cancer using Abraxane loaded into Multi-Stage Nanovector.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Purpose; To investigate whether the Abraxane loaded within Multi-Stage Nanovector (MSV) system (MSV-ABX) is more effective in therapy of liver metastases of breast and colorectal cancer as compared to Abraxane (ABX). Experimental Design; MTT assay was performed to evaluate sensitivity of 4T1, murine breast cancer cells and CT26, murine colon cancer cells to ABX or MSV-ABX in vitro. Experimental liver metastases were produced by intra-splenic injection of 4T1 or CT26 cells in Balb/C mice. The mice bearing liver metastases were treated with intravenous injection of (1) control (PBS), (2) ABX or (3) MSV-ABX. Then the mice were sacrificed and liver weight was measured to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy. To evaluate the biological the effects of therapeutics, we performed histological and immunohistochemical analysis of the tumor specimens. Apoptosis of 4T1 and CT26 tumor cells were evaluated by TUNEL staining, and proliferation of the tumor cells were stained using antibody to Ki67. Tumor diameter was measured in H&E stained sections. Results; There was no significant difference in the sensitivity of 4T1 and CT26 cancer cells to ABX and MSV-ABX, in vitro. All the mice injected with 4T1 or CT26 cells developed multiple liver metastases. The liver weight was significantly lower in the mice treated with MSV-ABX as compared to those in the other groups. The tumor diameters in the liver were significantly smaller in the mice treated with MSV-ABX as compared to those in the other two groups. Immunofluorescent analysis revealed that MSV-ABX inhibited proliferation and increased apoptosis of 4T1 and CT26 tumor cells in the liver significantly more than ABX. Conclusions; These studies demonstrate that MSV-ABX is more effective than ABX in therapy of the liver metastasis of breast and colorectal cancer in our mouse models. These data can be translated into the clinic for planning novel clinical trials using MSV-ABX. Citation Format: Tomonori Tanei, Mauro Ferrari, Biana Godin, Kenji Yokoi. Novel therapy of liver metastases of cancer using Abraxane loaded into Multi-Stage Nanovector. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2148. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-2148
Collective-shell-vibration superconductivity : a high-Tc theory

A hypothetical transition-metal superconductor having a narrow {ital d} band and a sublattice of filled-shell negative ions is studied. The transverse collective vibrations of the last-filled negative-ion shells (e.g., {ital L} shells for O{sup 2{minus}} or {ital M} shells for S{sup 2{minus}}) are invoked to mediate an interaction between the Bloch states of a nearly localized {ital d} band. The coupling constant {lambda}{sub {ital c}} that determines the critical temperature is surprisingly large. {Tc}{similar to}{ital w} exp({minus}1/({lambda}{sub {ital c}}{minus}{mu})), where {ital w} is the {ital d}-band width and {mu} is the unreduced Coulomb parameter (i.e., not {mu}{sup *}). The explicit expression for {lambda}{sub {ital c}} provides guidelines for selection of potential superconducting compounds.
Environmentally conditioned, year-round volitional spawning of cobia (Rachycentron canadum) in broodstock maturation systems

Year-round control of the spawning cycle of cobia (Rachycentron canadum) has been established by using water temperature manipulation. To compare the effectiveness of using this method to induce volitional spawning in cobia, two 80 m3 recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) were used. Temperatures in one of the maturation tanks (‘Mat 1’) were maintained between 27 and 29°C for 12 months of the 15.5-month study period. Temperatures in the second maturation tank (‘Mat 2’) were allowed to fluctuate naturally throughout the year and ranged from 20 to 32°C. A total of 101 spawning events occurred in the tanks between the spring of 2008 and the summer of 2009 (3 April 2008 to 17 June 2009). Of the 38 total spawning events in Mat 1, 17 of them (44.7% of all Mat 1 spawning events) occurred during the off-season (fall and winter). The egg viability rates did not differ significantly (P > 0.05) between on- and off-season spawns in Mat 1. Conversely, cobia broodstock exposed to natural water temperatures (no environmental manipulation) in Mat 2 followed the natural pattern of warm water (>26°C) dependence, limiting egg production to spring and summer seasons. This method of water temperature manipulation allows for effective control of the cobia reproductive cycle without compromising egg viability.
On the pricing of contingent claims under constraints

We discuss the problem of pricing contingent claims, such as European call options, based on the fundamental principle of "absence of arbitrage" and in the presence of constraints on portfolio choice, for example, incomplete markets and markets with short-selling constraints. Under such constraints, we show that there exists an arbitrage-free interval which contains the celebrated Black-Scholes price (corresponding to the unconstrained case); no price in the interior of this interval permits arbitrage, but every price outside the interval does. In the case of convex constraints, the endpoints of this interval are characterized in terms of auxiliary stochastic control problems, in the manner of Cvitanic and Karatzas. These characterizations lead to explicit computations, or bounds, in several interesting cases. Furthermore, a unique fair price $\hat{p}$ is selected inside this interval, based on utility maximization and "marginal rate of substitution" principles. Again, characterizations are provided for $\hat{p}$, and these lead to very explicit computations. All these results are also extended to treat the problem of pricing contingent claims in the presence of a higher interest rate for borrowing. In the special case of a European call option in a market with constant coefficients, the endpoints of the arbitrage-free interval are the Black-Scholes prices corresponding to the two different interest rates, and the fair price coincides with that of Barron and Jensen.
A Critical View of Static Stretching and Its Relevance in Physical Education.

Stretching before activity has been a customary part of most physical education classes (PE), with static stretching typically the preferred method due to its ease of implementation. Historical and implicit support for its continued use is due in part to the sit-and-reach test and flexibility as one of the components of health-related fitness. This paper examined the use of static stretching in K–12 PE settings by reviewing the effect of flexibility on its related benefits. The results suggested that (a) static stretching has not been shown to reduce injury risk or muscle soreness; (b)some stretching protocols have demonstrated reduced strength and performance; (c) low back pain is not correlated to trunk flexibility; (d) cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness, and body composition have been identified to correlate with future health-related benefits, and flexibility has not. Static stretching reduces activity time in PE and provides little useful health benefits besides flexibility. Physical educators should use dynamic stretching instead.
Relationship Between Quality Characteristics of Barley Grain and Digestibility in Feedlot Steers

Two hundred forty-nine samples of barley grain representing varieties from 13 growing locations were obtained to evaluate variability in nutritive value and to characterize the relationship between chemical composition and digestibility. Ranges for barley NDF, ADF, starch, bulk density (BD), and in vitro total digestibility (IVTD) were 11.8 to 25.6%, 2.2 to 8.8%, 48.2 to 72.5%, 569 to 784 g/L (44 to 61 lb/bu), and 66.7 to 85.1%, respectively. In vitro total digestibility was most closely related to NDF (r = −0.69, P < 0.001); this relationship improved when correlation was determined by variety (r = −0.81; P < 0.001) and location (r = −0.93, P < 0.001). Thirty-two steers were then adapted to a diet consisting of 80% dry-rolled barley (DM basis) from 1 of 8 divergent sources. Steers were assigned randomly to the 8 dietary treatments and in vivo digestibility was measured during 3 experiments replicated over time. Digestibility of DM, OM, and starch were not different between barley sources. Using least squares means for laboratory measures of the 8 sources of barley, NDF was negatively correlated with starch (r = −0.83, P < 0.05) and IVTD (r = −0.87; P < 0.05). Starch was positively correlated with BD and IVTD (r = 0.71 and 0.83, respectively; P < 0.05), and BD was positively correlated with IVTD (r = 0.83; P < 0.05). None of the laboratory variables measured in this study was an adequate predictor of barley digestibility from the digestive tract of feedlot steers.
Permutation Diffusion Maps (PDM) with Application to the Image Association Problem in Computer Vision

Consistently matching keypoints across images, and the related problem of finding clusters of nearby images, are critical components of various tasks in Computer Vision, including Structure from Motion (SfM). Unfortunately, occlusion and large repetitive structures tend to mislead most currently used matching algorithms, leading to characteristic pathologies in the final output. In this paper we introduce a new method, Permutations Diffusion Maps (PDM), to solve the matching problem, as well as a related new affinity measure, derived using ideas from harmonic analysis on the symmetric group. We show that just by using it as a preprocessing step to existing SfM pipelines, PDM can greatly improve reconstruction quality on difficult datasets.
DNA Replication Error-Induced Extinction of Diploid Yeast

Genetic defects in DNA polymerase accuracy, proofreading, or mismatch repair (MMR) induce mutator phenotypes that accelerate adaptation of microbes and tumor cells. Certain combinations of mutator alleles synergistically increase mutation rates to levels that drive extinction of haploid cells. The maximum tolerated mutation rate of diploid cells is unknown. Here, we define the threshold for replication error-induced extinction (EEX) of diploid Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Double-mutant pol3 alleles that carry mutations for defective DNA polymerase-δ proofreading (pol3-01) and accuracy (pol3-L612M or pol3-L612G) induce strong mutator phenotypes in heterozygous diploids (POL3/pol3-01,L612M or POL3/pol3-01,L612G). Both pol3-01,L612M and pol3-01,L612G alleles are lethal in the homozygous state; cells with pol3-01,L612M divide up to 10 times before arresting at random stages in the cell cycle. Antimutator eex mutations in the pol3 alleles suppress this lethality (pol3-01,L612M,eex or pol3-01,L612G,eex). MMR defects synergize with pol3-01,L612M,eex and pol3-01,L612G,eex alleles, increasing mutation rates and impairing growth. Conversely, inactivation of the Dun1 S-phase checkpoint kinase suppresses strong pol3-01,L612M,eex and pol3-01,L612G,eex mutator phenotypes as well as the lethal pol3-01,L612M phenotype. Our results reveal that the lethal error threshold in diploids is 10 times higher than in haploids and likely determined by homozygous inactivation of essential genes. Pronounced loss of fitness occurs at mutation rates well below the lethal threshold, suggesting that mutator-driven cancers may be susceptible to drugs that exacerbate replication errors.
Some potential economic benefits of eliminating mortality attributed to schistosomiasis in Zanzibar.

Previous studies of the economic impact of schistosomiasis have attempted to measure the costs of treating the disease and the reduction in the productivity of labor due to morbidity from the dis- ease. Where control of schistosomiasis commands few funds or where infection impairs the productivity of labor in ways that are difficult to measure, these approaches may overlook a major economic benefit of eliminating the disease: the increase in productivity due to the extension of working life. Based on published, but inadequate, epidemiological, demographic, and economic data, this study esti- mates the potential economic benefits to males in Zanzibar in 1960 of eliminating mortality due to urinary schistosomiasis for the remainder of their lives. The per capita benefit was of the same order of magnitude as the prr capita expenditures on health of the Government of Zanzibar in 1960. According to the data in conjunction with substantial assumptions, the elimination of mortality due to schistosomiasis would have increased the expectation of life at birth of Zanzibar males in 1960 by approx. 1.8 yr, and would have extended the life of the average male in Zanzibar in 1960 by 2.3 yr. The procedures of estimation are described in enough detail so that they may be applied to other places and times. An important pur- pose of the paper is to stimulate the collection of data better than those available, so that the results of using the estimation procedures may be more credible.
Prioritized resource allocation for stressed networks

Overloads that occur during times of network stress result in blocked access to all users, independent of importance. These overloads can occur because of degraded resource availability or abnormally high demand. Public broadband networks must dynamically recognize some multimedia connections as having greater importance than others and allocate resources accordingly. A new approach to connection admission control is proposed that uses an upper limit policy to optimize the admission of connections based on the weighted sum of blocking across traffic classes. This results in a simple algorithm suitable for multimedia and packet networks. This work is also the first to demonstrate that the use of an upper limit policy is superior to traditional approaches of adding extra capacity or partitioning capacity, both in terms of the amount of resources required and sensitivity to load variations. An upper limit policy can also be deployed much faster when a large overload occurs from a disaster event.
Ezrin Mediates Tethering of the γ-Aminobutyric Acid Transporter GAT1 to Actin Filaments Via a C-Terminal PDZ-Interacting Domain

A high density of neurotransmitter transporters on axons and presynaptic boutons is required for the efficient clearance of neurotransmitters from the synapse. Therefore, regulators of transporter trafficking (insertion, retrieval, and confinement) can play an important role in maintaining the transporter density necessary for effective function. We determined the interactions that confine GAT1 at the membrane by investigating the lateral mobility of GAT1-yellow fluorescent protein-8 (YFP8) expressed in neuroblastoma 2a cells. Through fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, we found that a significant fraction (~50%) of membrane-localized GAT1 is immobile on the time scale investigated (~150 s). The mobility of the transporter can be increased by depolymerizing actin or by interrupting the GAT1 postsynaptic density 95/Discs large/zona occludens 1 (PDZ)-interacting domain. Microtubule depolymerization, in contrast, does not affect GAT1 membrane mobility. We also identified ezrin as a major GAT1 adaptor to actin. Forster resonance energy transfer suggests that GAT1-YFP8 and cyan fluorescent (CFP) tagged ezrin (ezrin-CFP) exist within a complex that has a Forster resonance energy transfer efficiency of 19% ± 2%. This interaction can be diminished by disrupting the actin cytoskeleton. In addition, the disruption of actin results in a >3-fold increase in γ-aminobutyric acid uptake, apparently via a mechanism distinct from the PDZ-interacting protein. Our data reveal that actin confines GAT1 to the plasma membrane via ezrin, and this interaction is mediated through the PDZ-interacting domain of GAT1.
Flowing cerebrospinal fluid in normal and hydrocephalic states: appearance on MR images.

The signal intensity of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the cerebral aqueduct and lateral ventricles on magnetic resonance (MR) images was evaluated in 16 healthy individuals and in 32 patients with various forms of hydrocephalus (20 with chronic normal pressure hydrocephalus [NPH], seven with acute communicating hydrocephalus, and five with hydrocephalus ex vacuo [atrophy]). The low signal intensity frequently observed in the cerebral aqueduct is believed to reflect the pulsatile motion of CSF, which is related to the cardiac cycle. While this "aqueductal flow void phenomenon" can be observed in healthy individuals, it is most pronounced in patients with chronic, communicating NPH; is less evident in patients with acute, communicating hydrocephalus; and is least evident in patients with atrophy. Ventricular compliance is known to be essentially normal in atrophy; mildly decreased in acute, communicating hydrocephalus; and severely decreased in NPH. The degree of aqueductal signal loss is believed to ref...
In the Absence of RidA, Endogenous 2-Aminoacrylate Inactivates Alanine Racemases by Modifying the Pyridoxal 5′-Phosphate Cofactor

Members of the RidA (YjgF/YER057c/UK114) protein family are broadly conserved across the domains of life. In vitro, these proteins deaminate 3- or 4-carbon enamines that are generated as mechanistic intermediates of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (PLP)-dependent serine/threonine dehydratases. The three-carbon enamine 2-aminoacrylate can inactivate some enzymes by forming a covalent adduct via a mechanism that has been well characterized in vitro. The biochemical activity of RidA suggested that the phenotypes of ridA mutant strains were caused by the accumulation of reactive enamine metabolites. The data herein show that in ridA mutant strains of Salmonella enterica, a stable 2-aminoacrylate (2-AA)/PLP adduct forms on the biosynthetic alanine racemase, Alr, indicating the presence of 2-aminoacrylate in vivo. This study confirms the deleterious effect of 2-aminoacrylate generated by metabolic enzymes and emphasizes the need for RidA to quench this reactive metabolite.
Control analysis, mitochondrial bioenergetics and programmed cell death: the Krogh principle in practice

for half a century, comparative physiology has been profoundly influenced by the Nobel laureate August Krogh's dictum ([4][1]) that “for a large number of problems, there will be some animal of choice with which it can be most conveniently studied.” As one who did research on insect respiration
D-region mobility spectrometer

D-region mobility and constituents abundance spectrometer device based on continuum concepts
Cytogenetics in acute leukemia

Cytogenetic analyses in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have revealed a great number of non-random chromosome abnormalities. In many instances, molecular studies of these abnormalities identified specific genes implicated in the process of leukemogenesis. The more common chromosome aberrations have been associated with specific laboratory and clinical characteristics, and are now being used as diagnostic and prognostic markers guiding the clinician in selecting the most effective therapies. Specific chromosome aberrations and their molecular counterparts have been included in the World Health Organization classification of hematologic malignancies, and together with morphology, immunophenotype and clinical features are used to define distinct disease entities. However, the prognostic importance of less frequent recurrent aberrations in AML and ALL, both primary and secondary, is still to be determined. This review summarizes current views on clinical relevance of major cytogenetic findings in adult AML and ALL.
Percutaneous ethanol ablation in managing predominantly cystic thyroid nodules: An eastern India perspective.

Aims: Percutaneous aspiration and ethanol injection (PEI) is effective in managing predominantly cystic (>50% cystic) thyroid nodules with efficacy ranging from 38-85%. We aimed to evaluate efficacy, safety, and factors determining outcomes of PEI in managing simple cystic (purely cystic) vs. complex cystic (having both cystic and solid components) thyroid nodules. Materials and Methods: Predominantly cystic thyroid nodules, without any ultrasonography and/or fine needle aspiration, evidence of malignancy were aspirated ultrasonography guided. Sterile 100% ethanol (50-100% volume aspirated) was injected and reviewed monthly for 3 months and thereafter 3 monthly. Responders were defined as ≥ 50% reduction in nodule volume. Results: Sixty-five patients out of 152 considered underwent PEI. Sixty patients [simple cystic (42) and complex cystic (18)] with mean follow-up of 12.3 ± 2.88 months were analyzed. Response rate of PEI was 78.33% [simple cystic (92.86%) and complex cystic (44.44%) nodules; P < 0.001]. Also, 31.67% patients achieved remission at 1 st month. And, 46.67% patients achieved remission between 1-6-months follow-up. Kaplan Meier analysis showed significantly improved outcomes in patients with simple cystic nodules (P < 0.001). Cox-regression revealed type of nodule (simple cystic vs. complex cystic) to be predictive of outcome (P = 0.034). Complex cystic nodules were 67.6% less likely to go into remission, compared to simple cystic nodules. Baseline nodule size, aspirate, or volume of ethanol injected did not predict outcome. Conclusions: PEI is safe and should be treatment of choice for simple cystic thyroid nodules. PEI for complex cystic thyroid nodules are associated with lower response, increased recurrence, and need for repeated PEI.
X-ray Spectrographic Determination of Nickel and Molybdenum in Sintered Titanium Carbide Cermets

The manufacture of titanium carbide cutting tools requires a rapid analytical method for process control analysis. These cutting tools are essentially titanium carbide particles cemented with metallic nickel and molybdenum by liquid-phase sintering. The quality of the cutting tools is maintained by controlling the nickel and molybdenum content within a narrow range, at approximately 12 per cent. Since conventional chemical methods require about eight hours for a nickel and molybdenum analysis, this investigation was initiated to determine the feasibility of using x-ray spectrography for rapid process control analysis.
Narration and the Face of Anxiety in Henry James’ “the Beast in the Jungle”

In his fascinating essay on James’ stories, Tzvetan Todorov says, “The secret of the Jamesian narrative is the existence of an essential secret, of an unnamed, of an absent and overpowering force. The Jamesian movement is double and apparently contradictory ...: on the one hand, he deploys all his forces to attain the hidden essence, to unveil the secret object; on the other hand, he endlessly distances the object, protects it until the end of the story, if not beyond .... The essential is absent, and absence is essential”.2 I would reformulate Todorov’s narratological statement in philosophical terms. The unnamed is a hole in the metaphysics of substance that is experienced by the Jamesian subject as a lack. This is Jamesian bewilderment, a term he explains in the Preface to The Princess Casamassima: “... if we were never bewildered there would never be a story to tell about us. We should partake of the superior nature of the all-knowing immortals whose annals are dreadfully dull so long as flurried humans are not, for the positive relief of the bored Olympians, mixed up with them”.3 In “The Beast in the Jungle”, we find a character who tries to write himself out of bewilderment, out of the human lack, to abstract himself from time, otherness and subjectivity.
Regeneration of 11-cis-Retinal in Visual Systems with Monostable and Bistable Visual Pigments

In this chapter, the biochemistry of visual pigment regeneration in vertebrates is discussed and comparisons are made with regeneration in selected invertebrate systems. There are clear differences in the mechanisms of regeneration of 11-cis-retinoid between retinas that rely on rhabdomeric and ciliary visual pigments. Those pigments that employ c-opsins rely on a dark, enzymatically catalyzed isomerization process. Those that employ r-opsins rely on photoreversibility of a stable meta state of the visual pigment and an independent photoisomerase. Outside the vertebrate retina, no dark isomerase has been characterized except for isomerooxygenase (NinaB), which is involved in de novo generation of chromophore from carotenoids and xanthophylls in Drosophila. Similarities in reaction types and the use of chaperones in both ciliary and rhabdomeric visual systems are largely dictated by the chemical properties of the retinoid chromophore. The toxicity of retinal and its potential for oxidation and generation of other signaling molecules (retinoic acids in vertebrates) require that chaperones bind and sequester the retinoid and that dehydrogenases are available to reduce it to the less toxic retinol. The limited solubility of retinoids requires chaperones to bind and protect the retinoids during transit between cellular and extracellular compartments. Finally, the energy requirement for 11-cis-retinoid production from all-trans-precursors requires that the reaction take place at the oxidation level of retinol, where a cleavable, energy-yielding bond can be generated and coupled with isomerization or via photoisomerization where the energy of light can be harnessed.
Contributions of medicinal chemistry to medicine from 1935.

This review surveys briefly some of the contributions of medicinal chemistry to medicine of the past 30 years and identifies some new problems. This period was ushered in dramatically with the discovery of chemotherapeutic sulfonamides. Succeeding years witnessed a veritable revolution in medical practice largely stemming from drug discoveries to which medicinal chemists made major contributions. This also represents the productive period of many individuals who are now reaching the concluding years of their active careers in this type of research.
Financial Implications in the Care of Complex Congenital Heart Disease

The care of the child with complex congenital heart disease is not only medically challenging but is also very expensive. For example, Stage I repair of HLHS, complicated by ventricular dysfunction requiring a short run of ECMO, will easily cost over $150,000. Patients such as those with complex congenital heart disease where problems are specialized and the disease process is chronic, represent 10% of the US population and yet they consume over two thirds of health care resources. While quality should matter, it is not surprising that cost then is the driving factor by employers and payors.
Monetary Politics: The President and the Federal Reserve

With the rise of the managed economy after World War II, the presidency emerged as the foremost institution of macroeconomic policy. No others involved in macroeconomic policy are equally important in identifying problems and defining courses of action. One prominent study of the presidency argues that the concerns of macroeconomic policy have been second only to foreign policy for modern presidents. Consequently, various issues of monetary politics arise clearly with respect to the president and his advisors, especially the question of what the objectives of policy should be. In short, presidents seem to be particularly likely to be the real, as opposed to the statutory, superiors of the Federal Reserve. There are two primary reasons for presidential concern with monetary policy. First, although presidents have no legal authority with respect to monetary policy, they are charged under the Employment Act of 1946 and other legislation with general responsibility for macroeconomic management. Since monetary and fiscal policy are functionally interdependent, presidents have a continuing motivation to assure that monetary policy is consistent with fiscal policy. If presidential duties include stabilizing the economy, then presidents will want to influence all of the powerful instruments of macroeconomic policy. Second, presidents are interested in monetary policy because of the link between macroeconomic performance and electoral success. It seems reasonably clear that the popularity and electoral success of contemporary presidents are affected by the state of the economy.
Current approaches to chemotherapy

Multimodality therapy for malignant gliomas — cytoreductive surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy — has been under investigation by cooperative groups and individual institutions for the past 20 years. Data from the Brain Tumor Study Group (BTSG — now the Brain Tumor Cooperative Group) trials, show that the survival of such patients may be substantially improved by multimodality therapy. Jelsma and Bucy had reported that malignant gliomas were rapidly fatal with 50% mortality within 6 months and 90% mortality within one-and-a-half years (1). This grim picture has now improved to the point that such patients have a median survival of about a year and 25–30% live 18 months or longer (2). Nevertheless, it has become increasing difficult to improve on these results for reasons only now being demonstrated in several new laboratory observations. In this presentation we shall (a) review the BTSG data, (b) present some of the laboratory data bearing on the chemosensitivity of individual glioma cells, (c) present some of the results of experiments on the entry of chemotherapeutic agents into experimental animal brain tumors, and (d) show how such laboratory findings have influenced new clinical protocols.
Physics of Deep Levels

The physics of deep levels is reviewed, with emphasis on the qualitative physics that has been elucidated as a result of the ideas of Lannoo, Lenglart, Hjalmarson, Vogl, Wolford, Hsu, Sankey, Allen, and others.
NATURAL CELL-MEDIATED RESISTANCE IN CRYPTOCOCCOSIS

Publisher Summary This chapter examines natural cell-mediated resistance in cryptococcosis. In a study described in the chapter, BALB/c nude (nu/nu) and heterozygote (nu/+) mice were injected i.p. with 104 viable Cryptococcus neoformans (C. neoformans) cells seven days prior to collecting spleens, livers, lungs, and brains for determinations of the numbers of cyptococci colony forming units (CFU) per organ. Nude mice had fewer cryptococci in their tissues than did the heterozygotes. Because this difference appeared early after infection and because the lower CFU counts were in animals that could not mount a protective acquired immune response to C. neoformans, innate or natural mechanisms had to be functioning. The data presented in the chapter in conjunction with the data from in vitro experiments strongly suggest a role for natural killer (NK) cells or a subset of lymphocytes with similar characteristics and coexisting with NK cells in first line host resistance against C. neoformans. More work is required to determine the relative importance of the roles of these various natural cellular resistance mechanisms in cryptococcosis.
Recent Documentation of the Tropical Bed Bug (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) in Florida Since the Common Bed Bug Resurgence

Summary This is the first report of the tropical bed bug in Florida in over 6 decades. The tropical bed bug had previously been documented in Florida in the 1930s and 1940s.
Elevated heart rate variability in physically active young and older adult women

1. Low heart rate variability is associated with an increased risk of cardiac sudden death, coronary heart disease and all-cause mortality. We have previously shown that physically active postmenopausal women demonstrate higher levels of heart rate variability and cardiac baroreflex sensitivity compared to their sedentary peers. The purpose of the present prospective study was to test the hypothesis that heart rate variability and cardiac baroreflex sensitivity would be reduced with age in sedentary but not physically active women. To accomplish this, we measured heart rate variability (both time and frequency domain) and spontaneous cardiac baroreflex sensitivity (SBRS, sequence method) in the sitting posture in 23 sedentary women [11 premenopausal and 12 postmenopausal (age, 28 ± 1 and 61 ± 2 years; V o 2 max, 35.3 ± 1.4 and 21.7 ± 1.5 ml · min −1 · kg −1 respectively] and in 22 physically active women [12 premenopausal and 10 postmenopausal (age, 31 ± 1 and 59 ± 2 years; V o 2 max, 52.5 ± 1.4 and 39.7 ± 1.8 ml · min −1 · kg −1 )]. 2. The S.D. of the R—R interval (time domain) was reduced ( P 2 /Hz), total power of heart rate variability and SBRS (11 ± 2 versus 7 ± 2 and 19 ± 3 versus 13 ± 2 ms/mmHg) also demonstrated similar age-related reductions in sedentary and physically active women, respectively (all P P 3. The results of the present study suggest that heart rate variability and cardiac baroreflex sensitivity decline similarly with age in healthy sedentary and physically active women. However, physically active women demonstrate higher levels of heart rate variability and cardiac baroreflex sensitivity compared with their sedentary peers, regardless of age.
High Resolution Photovoltaic Subretinal Prosthesis for Restoration of Sight

In photovoltaic subretinal prostheses, each pixel converts light into electric current to stimulate the nearby inner retinal neurons. Visual information is projected onto the implant by video goggles using pulsed near-infrared (~880 nm) light. This design avoids the use of bulky electronics and trans-scleral wiring, thereby greatly reducing the surgical complexity. Optical activation of the photovoltaic pixels allows scaling the implants to thousands of electrodes, and multiple modules can be tiled under the retina to expand the visual field.
Argumentation in Science Teaching

Argumentation, including scientific argumentation, is a process of discussion and debate designed to uncover “as much information and understanding from the situation under discussion as possible.”