cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
p53 protein overexpression in infiltrating ductal carcinoma of female breast and its association with lymph node metastasis.

Abstract Traditionally, prognosis in carcinoma of the breast is evaluated based on size and differentiation of the tumor and status of lymph node metastasis. In addition to these established markers, in this molecular age other parameters such as overexpression of p53, c-erbB-2 and c-myc proteins are increasingly used to assess the prognosis. At present, the prognostic value of the molecular markers, at best, is controversial and conflicting. In this study, we examined 67 infiltrating ductal. carcinomas of female breast with and without lymph node metastasis for p53 protein overexpression by immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue sections to ascertain if p53 positive tumors have greater metastatic potential than p53 negative tumors. In addition, p53 overexpression was also correlated with tumor size, grade, expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors, and age of the patient to clarify the issue of relevance of p53 overexpression in prognostication, p53 overexpression was observed in 39% of tumors and showed strong correlation only with the histological grade of the tumor. The incidence of p53 overexpression in grade 1, grade 2 and grade 3 tumors was 0%, 33% and 58% respectively. Lymph node metastasis was less frequent in tumors that overexpressed p53 protein. Twenty-seven percent of primary tumors with lymph node metastasis showed p53 protein overexpression, in contrast to 44% of tumors without metastasis. No correlation was observed between p53 overexpression and all the other parameters evaluated except progesterone receptor negative status. These results suggest that p53 overexpression is not an independent prognostic indicator and should not be used to predict lymph node metastasis or aggressive behavior of the tumor.
Getting to the big picture: Anti-welfare fertility politics in context

In response to Charles Murrays essay "Keeping Priorities Straight on Welfare Reform" this critique argues that curbing out-of-wedlock births should not be the central goal of welfare policy and that focusing on "illegitimacy" draws attention from the important issue of how public policy can be used to support breadwinning and caregiving activities in US families. Arguing that "illegitimacy" is the greatest social problem of our time ignores the complexity of changes in US social structure. Charges that welfare creates a financial incentive for young women to have out-of-wedlock babies and creates single-mother families have not been confirmed by empirical social science research into time trends in national data interstate comparisons cross-national comparisons or cross-sectional estimates of behavioral models. Because the existence of welfare is not an incentive to create a certain family structure imposing conditions on welfare such as family size maternal age and marital status would be ineffective in achieving other types of family structure. On the other hand public policy can be used to develop a cohesive family policy and to address conditions that undermine the creation of living-wage jobs.
Effects of Freezing on Major Arteries

Thirty experiments were performed in dogs to assess the effects of freezing on carotid and femoral arteries. These vessels withstood freezing and thawing without rupture. Blood within the vessels did not clot and was lysed during thawing. Histological changes of vessel walls consisted of early degeneration followed by a reparative process. Occasional secondary thrombosis occurred close to bifurcation of ligated branches and was related to extent and frequency of freezing and thawing.
Public Policy Implications of Elderly Interstate Migration to Oregon, 1985-1990

Several Oregon counties received a noticeable influx of elderly migrants from other states during the 1980s. Oregon policy regarding taxes, land use, and long-term care is examined for possible influence on migration. Models of elderly migration are examined for insight into how public policy influences migration, and previous research regarding the effects of elderly migration on public policy is reviewed. Data regarding disability and financial vulnerability among elderly by migration status are analyzed for possible influence upon public policy. Change in the population aged 65 and older mirrored state and national patterns for 1980 to 1990 and 1990 to 1999. Interstate elderly arriving in attractive counties reported a low prevalence of disability and financial vulnerability, indicating a low risk of demanding public assistance. Interstate elderly arriving in population centers reported a relatively high prevalence of disability but a low prevalence of financial vulnerability. This may suggest that Oregon's long-term care policy influenced elderly migration.
Doctoral Projects in Progress in Theatre Arts, 2009

This is the fifty-seventh annual report of dissertations in progress in theatre arts in the United States. The entries contained in this report were solicited from those universities offering a doctoral degree in areas related to theatre; the completeness and accuracy of the report depend largely on the immense cooperation of those students and faculty members who were kind enough to submit complete and timely information either by e-mail, regular postal mail, or fax. A future request for information will be mailed in October 2009 for the 2010 edition. Please contact the editor /researcher if an institution is not already receiving the annual call for submissions.
Simultaneous confidence bands for linear regression with heteroscedastic errors

Abstract The Scheffe method may be used to construct simultaneous confidence bands for a regression surface for the whole predictor space. When the bands need only hold for a subset of that space, previous authors have described how the bands can be appropriately narrowed while still maintaining the desired level of confidence. Data with heteroscedastic errors occur often, and unless some transformation is feasible, there is no obvious way to construct bands using the current methods. This article shows how to construct approximate simultaneous confidence bands when the errors are heteroscedastic and symmetric. The method works when the weights are known or unknown and have to be estimated. The region in which the bands must hold can be quite general and will work for any linear unbiased estimate of the regression surface. The method can even be extended to linear estimates with a small amount of bias such as nonparametric kernel regression smoothers.
INBREEDING DEPRESSION IN SCHIEDEA GLOBOSA AND S. SALICARIA (CARYOPHYLLACEAE), SUBDIOECIOUS AND GYNODIOECIOUS HAWAIIAN SPECIES

Progeny produced by inbreeding were compared to progeny derived from outcrosses for gynodioecious Schiedea salicaria and subdioecious S. globosa to assess fitness consequences of breeding system on parental fecundity (seeds per capsule) and progeny measures of fitness (germination, survival, biomass, and number of flowers). Results from both species indicated that inbreeding depression occurred at all measured stages of the life history. In both species, different females showed different levels ofinbreedingdepression. Multiplicative fitness functions of the ratio of values for selfed and outcrossed progeny in S. salicaria resulted in inbreeding depression values of 0.62-0.94. Within- vs. between-family crosses of S. globosa also resulted in inbreeding depression values as high as 0.49. These values suggest that inbreeding depression may promote the evolution of dioecy within S. globosa and S. salicaria, depending on the levels of natural outcrossing.
Treatment of scrupulous obsessions and compulsions using exposure and response prevention: A case report

Cognitive-behavioral therapy by exposure and response prevention (EX/RP) is an effective treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). However, patients who have religious obsessions and compulsions (scrupulosity) introduce concerns not commonly encountered when treating individuals with other types of OCD symptoms. The present case history describes the successful use of EX/RP for a patient with scrupulosity. Behavioral and cognitive symptoms of OCD responded to treatment and remained improved at 6-month follow-up. Special considerations in presenting the rationale for using exposure-based interventions, and in developing exposure exercises for these types of symptoms, are discussed in detail.
The effect of transition metal impurities on the superconducting transition temperature of the compound Lu2Fe3Si5

Abstract The superconducting transition temperature of the compounds Lu 2 (Fe 1− x T x ) 3 Si 5 (where T = Cr , Mn , Co , Ni , Cu and Ru ) are reported. The fitting of the T c data to Kaiser's theory is presented. Among these transition metals, Mn and Cu behave like magnetic impurities while all others behave like non-magnetic impurities. The covalent bonding between the Fe and its Si neigbors is believed to be related directly to the non-magnetic behavior of these transition metals in the compounds Lu 2 (Fe 1− x T x ) 3 Si 5 .
WE-E-351-04: Image Registration Solves Everything?

Ongoing developments in multimodality and 4D imaging technologies are providing opportunities to improve tumor localization and patient modeling for treatment planning and to reduce setup variations and margins for treatment delivery. Proper use of these technologies can provide greater sparing of dose to normal tissues and permit safer escalation of tumor doses. Imaging techniques are also being developed to help predict response to treatment during therapy when interventions and adaptations are still possible. The explosive growth in imaging technology has been followed by growth of technologies to manage the plethora of data now being generated. One key technology is image registration, which can be thought of as producing the “glue” to allow quantitative integration of anatomic, functional and dosimetric information from different imaging studies. Indeed, most modern imaging workstations, treatment planning systems and even treatment delivery systems now provide tools for image registration and data integration. These tools range in sophistication from simple manual registration involving just a few degrees of freedom (DOF) to fully automated registration techniques which produce deformation fields at the resolution of the image data. Unfortunately, widespread use of these techniques for all but simple situations has been impeded by lack of more realistic models which can accommodate processes other than just deformations such as tissue loss, gain, and sliding. The situation is also complicated by the realization that the optimal number of DOF and other registration parameters vary from tissue to tissue; using too few or too many DOF or inappropriate parameters can cause inaccurate or unphysical results. Fortunately, developments aimed at overcoming these obstacles continue to emerge and will pave the way to broader clinical use of image registration. These developments as well some of the remaining hurdles will be discussed.
Beta cell glutamate receptor antagonists: novel oral antidiabetic drugs?

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreatic beta cells fail to meet the increased insulin requirement in insulin-resistant individuals. A new therapeutic approach targeting glutamate receptors on beta cells improves insulin secretion and preserves beta cell mass.
Solving G.P.A. and Class Rank Problems

G.P.A. and class rank are so firmly entrenched in our educational process that most schools will not be able to do away with them. However, we should not expect the ranking of students in order of their accumulated grades to be a fair ranking, nor should we expect that any attempt to make the system fairer will produce fewer problems than the system it has modified.
Process Monitoring During Micro-Drilling via Acoustic Emission, Ultrasonic Sound, and Spindle Load Sensors

Careful monitoring of conditions during micro-drilling is important for insuring production of consistent high-quality holes. In this study, acoustic emission, ultrasonic sound, and electric spindle load were used to monitor micro-drilling performed using a micro-scale machine tool (mMT). Experiments were conducted where 0.508 mm diameter holes were drilled in polyetheretherketone (PEEK) polymer and 316 stainless steel. It was found that spindle load significantly increased when tool gumming occurred during drilling of PEEK. Increased spindle load when cutting 316 stainless steel was found to correspond to increased incidences of tool breakage, and a large reduction in spindle load was present during additional drilling operations following a breakage event. It was found that elevated acoustic emission levels were always present during drilling and that a lack of sufficient acoustic emission generation during retraction of a tool indicated tool breakage. The ultrasonic sound spectra were found to change in a manner that is a function of depth of cut and hence a function of depth of cut dependent tool dynamics.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Heat capacity of untwinned YBa2Cu3O7-x in magnetic fields: Dimensional cross-over near Tc

Abstract The heat capacity of an untwinned single crystal of YBa2Cu3O7-x has been measured over a temperature range near Tc and in applied fields to 7 T. The sharp zero-field transition is significantly broadened by the field, but shifted to only slightly lower temperatures. The results are analyzed in the context of a cross-over from three dimensions to one dimensions, caused by the existence of the flux lattice. The data are consistent with finite-size analysis of the cross over, with a length scale that varies as B - 1 2 and a logarithmic divergence of the infinite-length-scale heat capacity.
Impossibility of successful classification when useful features are rare and weak.

We study a two-class classification problem with a large number of features, out of which many are useless and only a few are useful, but we do not know which ones they are. The number of features is large compared with the number of training observations. Calibrating the model with 4 key parameters—the number of features, the size of the training sample, the fraction, and strength of useful features—we identify a region in parameter space where no trained classifier can reliably separate the two classes on fresh data. The complement of this region—where successful classification is possible—is also briefly discussed.
Immunocytochemical localization of opsin in rod photoreceptors during periods of rapid disc assembly

Transport of opsin from photoreceptor inner to outer segments has been assumed to occur via the connecting cilium, the only permanent structural connection between these two regions. However, in prior work, little or no immunoreactive opsin has been detected in the cilium, despite the high rate of transport of this protein. This suggests that immune epitopes are masked during passage through the cilium or that opsin is transported via an extra-ciliary route. In this study, we stained the photoreceptors of Xenopus laevis with well-characterized monoclonal antibodies directed at the N-terminal, C-terminal, and 5-6 loop regions of bovine opsin. This was done on isolated retinas incubated in vitro under conditions that support rapid disc assembly, to insure that opsin transport to forming discs was occurring at the time of fixation. Five MAbs that gave robust staining of Xenopus rod inner segment/rod outer segment preparations with the light microscope were utilized for electron microscopic studies on LR White embedded or cryo-ultrathin sections. Four of these stained outer segment discs and inner segment vesicles and plasma membrane. However, no significant staining of the connecting cilium was found. Furthermore, freeze-fractured mouse photoreceptors prepared by the 'fracture-label' technique showed extensive labelling of membrane compartments but lacked staining of the connecting cilium. Isolated retinas incubated under conditions that support robust rod disc synthesis contained many finger-like and vesicular projections of the apical inner segment plasma membrane and inner segment vesicles extending into them. Rod outer segment nascent discs usually made close contact with the inner segment. Both the vesicular profiles associated with the inner segment plasma membrane and the basal discs extending to the inner segment were heavily stained with all four anti-opsin antibodies. This suggests an alternate route for bulk transport of opsin to newly forming discs that involves direct transfer from apical inner segment plasma membrane to nascent discs.
Sidetrack and Recompletion Risks in Oil Fields. I. Recompletion Decisions Based on Estimated Net Present Value

This paper develops a procedure for assessing quantitatively the economic risk associated with deciding whether to undertake a recompletion job for an undeveloped oil-bearing horizon in a producing oil field. Decisions to proceed, or not, with the recompletion depend upon the estimated probability of a successful recompletion and on the estimated probability one will kill the producing horizon in the process. Also of concern are the estimates of total residual production for the producing horizon, the estimates of potentially recoverable reserves in the untapped horizon, together with associated recompletion costs, production costs per barrel, and selling price of product. Because one does not know ahead of performing the recompletion what the chances are of success and kill, then expected values and their uncertainties (as measured by the volatility of the expected value), together with cumulative probabilities of the recompletion worth exceeding the worth without recompletion, and also the expected wort...
The Abstract Expressionists and Les Automatistes: A shared multi-fractal depth?

Statistical analysis of abstract paintings is becoming an increasingly important tool for understanding the creative process of visual artists. We present a multifractal analysis of 'poured' paintings from the Abstract Expressionism and Les Automatistes movements. The box-counting dimension (D"0) is measured for the analyzed paintings, as is the associated multifractal depth @DD=D"0-D"~, where D"~ is the asymptotic dimension. We investigate the role of depth by plotting a 'phase space' diagram that examines the relationship between D"0 and D"~. We show that, although the D"0 and D"~ values vary between individual paintings, the collection of paintings exhibit a similar depth, suggesting a shared visual characteristic for this genre. We discuss the visual implications of this result.
Square wave voltammetry on platinum microdisk electrodes using synchronous demodulation

Abstract Microdisk electrodes afford several useful features when employed for square wave voltammetry using the original potential waveform of Barker. First, the charging current can be virtually eliminated from the current signal by a simple electronic switch with minimal effect on the faradaic response. Second, the current generated by a simple square wave may be demodulated by a lock-in amplifier to provide high sensitivity voltammetric analyses. The linearity of the average ac current with the square root of the modulation frequency and concentration was predicted theoretically and verified experimentally. A detection limit of 2×10−7M was obtained for ferrocene in acetonitrile. Finally, the rapid charging current decay permits the use of high modulation frequencies and fast voltammetric scans.
Identification of Arrestin-3-specific Residues Necessary for JNK3 Kinase Activation

Arrestins bind active phosphorylated G protein-coupled receptors, blocking G protein activation and channeling the signaling to G protein-independent pathways. Free arrestin-3 and receptor-bound arrestin-3 scaffold the ASK1-MKK4-JNK3 module, promoting JNK3 phosphorylation, whereas highly homologous arrestin-2 does not. Here, we used arrestin-2/3 chimeras and mutants to identify key residues of arrestin-3 responsible for its ability to facilitate JNK3 activation. Our data demonstrate that both arrestin domains are involved in JNK3 activation, with the C-terminal domain being more important than the N-terminal domain. We found that Val-343 is the key contributor to this function, whereas Leu-278, Ser-280, His-350, Asp-351, His-352, and Ile-353 play supporting roles. We also show that the arrestin-3-specific difference in the arrangement of the β-strands in the C-terminal domain that underlies its lower selectivity for active phosphoreceptors does not play an appreciable role in its ability to enhance JNK3 activation. Importantly, the strength of the binding of ASK1 or JNK3, as revealed by the efficiency of co-immunoprecipitation, does not correlate with the ability of arrestin proteins to promote ASK1-dependent JNK3 phosphorylation. Thus, multiple residues on the non-receptor-binding side of arrestin-3 are crucial for JNK3 activation, and this function and the receptor-binding characteristics of arrestin can be manipulated independently by targeted mutagenesis.
Hierarchical application aware error detection and recovery

Proposed is a four-tired approach to develop and integrate detection and recovery support at different levels of the system hierarchy. The proposed mechanisms exploit support provided by (i) embedded hardware, (ii) operating system, (iii) compiler, and (iv) application.
Effects of Self-Monitoring and Prospect of Future Interaction on Self-Disclosure Reciprocity During the Acquaintance Process

ABSTRACT High and low self-monitors, who either anticipated or did not anticipate further interaction with a same-sex confederate, alternated with that person in disclosing personal information on three very private topics The confederate spoke first on each topic, presenting either highly intimate or nonintimate information in response to all three issues Content analyses of subjects' disclosures revealed that both high and low self-monitors reciprocated the intimacy and (to a lesser extent) the emotionality of a partner with whom future interaction was not anticipated, but that only the high self-monitors reciprocated the partner's self-disclosures when future interaction with that person was anticipated Supplementary measures suggested that the anticipation of future interaction increased the agentic concerns of all participants, thereby inducing high self-monitors to become even more attentive to situational cues when deciding how or what to disclose, while prompting low self-monitors to rely even less on situational cues and more on personal thoughts and feelings as the basis for their self-presentations Taken together, the results indicate that the prospect of future interaction is an important situational moderator of the self-disclosing tendencies of both high and low self-monitors, and they provide little if any support for recent “instrumental hedonism” interpretations of self-monitoring activities
Survey of Screening Procedures for Project-Level Conformity Analyses

The transportation conformity rule establishes project-level analysis requirements that apply in carbon monoxide (CO) nonattainment and maintenance areas. These include a requirement for quantitative CO hotspot modeling at all locations affected by a proposed project operating or expected to operate at a Level of Service D or worse. Transportation agencies, aware of declining ambient CO levels and lower idle emission factors in MOBILE6, are concerned that this is no longer an efficient use of their limited resources. A summary is provided of project-level screening procedures developed and adopted by transportation agencies throughout the nation, several innovative practices are highlighted, and recommendations for developing refined screening protocols are offered.
Radiation effects in 129I129Xe dating of Bjurböle chondrules by neutron irradiation

Abstract By irradiating a sample of Bjurbole chondrules in a “hard” neutron flux, 126Xe is produced from 127I via the (n, 2nβ) reaction and 128Xe is produced from 127I via the (n, γβ) reaction. Stepwise heating of the irradiated sample shows that the IXe record depends on which xenon isotope, 126Xe or 128Xe, is chosen as the iodine monitor. The pile-produced 126Xe is preferentially released over pile-produced 128Xe by the low extraction temperatures. This behavior shows radiation effects may play a major role in generating the low-temperature correlation of pile-produced 128Xe with radiogenic 129Xe, which has been previously attributed to the IXe record of slow cooling.
Factors Influencing Properties of San/Pmma Blends

The versatility of polymeric blends is reflected in the range of usable end properties that can be achieved through alterations in the composition and/or effective control of the morphologies of the mixtures. Solvent cast and melt mixed blends of SAN and PMMA have been studied to understand the Influence of PMMA tacticity and the acrylonitrile content of the SAN copolymer on their phase behavior. The results show a shifting of the cloud point curves and the miscibility windows for the blends of SAN with different stereo-regular PMMAs. This is interpreted as being due to specific interactions between the acrylonitrile and methacrylate groups. The ‘goodness’ of mixing in the melt mixed blends were determined by FTIR ATR spectroscopy. The effects of the processing conditions on the mixing characteristics and subsequent improvement in mechanical properties are discussed. The limits of mixing that can be achieved using standard mixing procedures and their role in affecting the end use properties such as the flexural strength will also be discussed.
Polymorphisms in the repeat long regions of oncogenic and attenuated pathotypes of Marek’s disease virus 1

The nucleotide sequences of the terminal repeat long (TRL) and internal repeat long regions (IRL) in the genomes of 13 strains of Marek’s disease virus type 1 (MDV-1) were determined and represent the largest collection of sequencing data from a contiguous region (12.8 kb) in the serotype 1 genomes. The collection of strains used in this study has been well characterized with respect to their virulence and contains members of each pathotype (4 attenuated, 1 mildly virulent, 3 virulent, 2 very virulent and 3 very virulent plus). It has previously been reported that two loci (meq and RLORF4) in the RL regions are likely to encode virulence factors based on comparative genomic studies involving vaccine and virulent strains. Additional studies using knockout mutants have provided stronger evidence that indeed RLORF4 and meq or the overlapping genes 23 kD and RLORF6 are involved in virulence. In this report, we provide evidence that additional open reading frames (ORFs) in the RL regions differ significantly between the extremes of the pathotypes (attenuated vs. nonattenuated). A deletion of 10 base pairs has been identified in RLORF12 from two attenuated strains CVI988 BP-5, p48 and RM-1, p40; and the lower virulence strain JM/102W. A deletion of 40 bp was also identified in RLORF4 of the attenuated strain R2/23, passage 106. A 177 bp insertion within the meq loci has been identified in most of the attenuated strains examined. Interestingly, R2/23 did not contain this insertion but instead truncated proteins are predicted for the three overlapping ORFs (meq, 23 kD and RLORF6) due to a frameshift mutation. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which loosely partition between attenuated and nonattenuated strains, have been identified in the ORFs encoding RLORF12, RLORF8, meq, 23 kD, RLORF6, RLORF4, RLORF3 and ICP0 and three previously unidentified short ORFs: MHLS, MLHG and MPSG. Although no single nucleotide polymorphism in the RL regions could predict virulence, their overall contribution to virulence can now be examined in defined mutants containing additional insertions or deletions in ORFs, suspected of encoding virulence factors, identified by this research.
Coherent bremsstrahlung used for digital subtraction angiography

ABSTRACT Digital subtraction angiography (DSA), also known as Dichromography, using synchrotron radiation beams has been developed at Stanford University (R. Hofstadter) and was subsequently taken over at the Brookhaven Synchrotron and later at Hamburg (HASYLAB) [see, e.g., W.R. Dix, Physik in unserer Zeit. 30 (1999) 160]. The imaging of coronary arteries is carried out with an iodine-based contrast agent which need not be injected into the heart. The radiation must be monochromatized and is applied above and below the K-edge of iodine (33.16 keV), with a subsequent digital subtraction of the two images. Monochromatization of the synchrotron radiation causes a loss of intensity of 10 -3 . We propose instead the use of coherent bremsstrahlung [see, e.g., A.W. Saenz and H. Uberall, Phys. Rev. B25 (1982) 448] which is inherently monochromatic, furnishing a flux of 10 12 photon/sec. This requires a 10-20 MeV electron linac which can be obtained by many larger hospitals, eliminating the scheduling problems present at synchrotrons. The large, broad incoherent bremsstrahlung background underlying the monochromatic spike would lead to inadmissible overexposure of the patient. This problem can be solved with the use of Kumakhovs capillary optics [see e.g., S.B.Dabagov, Physics-Uspekhi 46 (2003) 1053]: the low-energy spiked radiation can be deflected towards the patient, while the higher energy incoherent background continues forward, avoiding the patient who is placed several meters from the source. 1. INTRODUCTION Angiography (imaging of coronary arteries) using synchrotron radiation has been carried out at the Stanford and later the Brookhaven Synchrotrons and the Hamburg Synchrotron (HASYLAB). Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) with a contrast agent based on iodine is used above and below the K-edge (33.16 keV) employing a monochromatized synchrotron beam of intensity reduced by 10
Race, residence, and leisure style: some policy implications.

Abstract The relationships between race, residence, and leisure style are examined to ascertain if leisure differences are a consequence of subcultural diversity (ethnicity) or differential allocation of recreational resources (marginality). Findings obtained from a sample of urban blacks and whites indicate that ethnicity is a factor that should be considered in the planning and placement of public recreation programs. However, for blacks living in predominantly white residential settings, as opposed to an ethnic community, ethnicity does not appear to be an issue. Expectations of leisure needs are higher for this group, perhaps illustrating anticipatory socialization or compensation for limited informal leisure involvement. It is suggested that both the theoretical and policy implications of the marginality and ethnicity perspectives be re‐examined.
Automated aorta segmentation in low-dose chest CT images

Abnormalities of aortic surface and aortic diameter can be related to cardiovascular disease and aortic aneurysm. Computer-based aortic segmentation and measurement may aid physicians in related disease diagnosis. This paper presents a fully automated algorithm for aorta segmentation in low-dose non-contrast CT images. The original non-contrast CT scan images as well as their pre-computed anatomy label maps are used to locate the aorta and identify its surface. First a seed point is located inside the aortic lumen. Then, a cylindrical model is progressively fitted to the 3D image space to track the aorta centerline. Finally, the aortic surface is located based on image intensity information. This algorithm has been trained and tested on 359 low-dose non-contrast CT images from VIA-ELCAP and LIDC public image databases. Twenty images were used for training to obtain the optimal set of parameters, while the remaining images were used for testing. The segmentation result has been evaluated both qualitatively and quantitatively. Sixty representative testing images were used to establish a partial ground truth by manual marking on several axial image slices. Compared to ground truth marking, the segmentation result had a mean Dice Similarity Coefficient of 0.933 (maximum 0.963 and minimum 0.907). The average boundary distance between manual segmentation and automatic segmentation was 1.39 mm with a maximum of 1.79 mm and a minimum of 0.83 mm. Both qualitative and quantitative evaluations have shown that the presented algorithm is able to accurately segment the aorta in low-dose non-contrast CT images.
Improved indicators for assessing the reliability of detection and quantification by kinetic PCR.

Because of their low detection limits, PCR and the adapted kinetic (real-time quantitative) PCR have been used extensively for the detection and quantification of nucleic acids (1)(2)(3). However, at the detection limits of an assay, mathematical models (4)(5)(6) and experimental evidence (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12) have shown that nucleic acids are detected inconsistently and quantified imprecisely. With this potential unreliability, it is essential that indicators be used to identify the concentration at which analysis is occurring to ensure the accuracy of results. Conventional PCR indicators, however, currently provide only an indirect assessment of the concentration at which analysis occurs. The total nucleic acid content of a sample, commonly used to define the adequacy of sample loading, does not precisely reflect specific gene concentrations. Reference (control or housekeeping) genes, qualitative detection of which is often used to validate assay and sample integrity, are often present at concentrations different from those of the target genes of interest (13). In kinetic PCR, the inclusion of fluorescent probes allows the monitoring of reaction kinetics, which enables the measurement of a crossing point (CP), or cycle threshold, at a partial cycle number at which fluorescence becomes detectable above background signal (14). CP values are linearly proportional to gene copy number in an inverse logarithmic relationship (14)(15), and this correlation is central to algorithms for determining gene quantity (16)(17). In this study, we hypothesized that CP values might be more accurate indicators of the reliability of an analysis than conventional indicators because of their direct relationship with gene concentration. The results of this study provide experimental evidence to support this hypothesis; we also describe models for use of CP values as indicators for assessing the reliability of …
New defensins from hard and soft ticks: Similarities, differences, and phylogenetic analyses

Despite the importance of ticks as vectors of disease very little is known about their immune system. Antimicrobial peptides, including defensins (phylogenetically ancient antibacterial peptides) are major components of innate immunity in ticks that have been shown to provide protection against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoan parasites. With the aim of studying the evolution of the genes involved in tick defense, we identified the preprodefensin genes from four Ornithodoros tick species (O. papillipes: isoforms A, B, and D; O. tartakovskyi and O. puertoricensis: isoforms A and B; O. rostratus: isoform A) and from two Dermacentor tick species (D. reticulatus and D. marginatus: one isoform) not previously described. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that Ornithodoros defensin isoforms (A, B, C, and D) form 4 separate clades, while hard tick defensins are divided into several branches based on particular tick species.
TITRATABLE ACIDITY OF TOMATO JUICE AS AFFECTED BY BREAK PROCEDURE

There is less titratable acidity in tomato juice that has been processed by a “hot-break” procedure to inactivate pectolytic enzymes than in juice of tomatoes from the same lot of fruit that has been extracted cold. These differences in titratable acidity can be attributed to the activity of the pectolytic enzymes in the "cold-break" juice which produce acidic breakdown products from the pectins.
Mechanical dislocations and physical processes of anisotropic bodies

Abstract The necessary and sufficient conditions which must be satisfied by a physical process (e.g., the diffusion of heat through a body) in order that its mechanical effects can be represented by mechanical dislocations are derived for anisotropic media. It has been found that the only kind of physical processes which can be represented by mechanical dislocations are those which are steady-state processes with respect to time, Further, it has been found that in order for a steady-state physical process to be represented by mechanical dislocations in an anisotropic body, certain relationships between the coefficients which govern the physical process must be satisfied. Several examples of materials and processes for which the required relationships are satisfied have been presented.
Calculation of the shape factor from a small rectangular plane to a triangular surface perpendicular to the rectangular plane without a common edge

In developing an analytical model of radiative heat transfer inside attics, the necessity of calculating the shape factor from a small rectangle to a triangular plane may arise. This paper describes a methodology of calculation for such a shape factor from simple relations using shape-factor algebra. The shape factor is calculated using a mirror image of the triangular surface, in such a way that the small rectangular plane is positioned symmetrical between the two triangular surfaces. Numerical results are presented in graphical form.
Hyperacute T waves revisited.

pathophysiological mechanisms. Myocardial metabolism, more easily evaluated than nervous system in living patients, requires careful study with particular attention to amino acids and carbohydrates. These studies will require the skills uniquely available to cardiologists. Hopefully, this treatise will stimulate sufficient curiosity to focus those talents on the most deadly manifestation of FD, the heart disease.
Phase II Trial of Interleukin-2 and Interferon-ce in Patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma: Clinical Results and Immunologic Correlates of Response

A phase II trial was conducted in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, to assess the clinical efficacy and immunoregulatory effects of continuous-infusion recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) (9.0 x 10(6) IU/m2/day on days 1-5, 8-12, 15-19, and 22-26) and subcutaneously administered recombinant human interferon-alpha 2b (rHuIFN alpha 2b) (10.0 x 10(6) U/m2/day TIW). Thirty-six patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma, performance status of 0-1, and measurable disease who had not received prior rIL-2, rHuIFN alpha 2b, or chemotherapy were treated. Patients with CNS metastases, active infections, history of another malignancy within 3 years, and those requiring corticosteroids were ineligible. Cycles of rIL-2 and rHuIFN alpha 2b were administered in the outpatient department every 6-8 weeks in stable or responding patients until patient tolerance or a complete response were reached. Doses were modified for grade III or IV toxicity. Ancillary studies included three-color immunocytometric analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes, repetitive tumor biopsies for immunohistologic analysis of infiltrating cells and proliferative responses of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, and preliminary studies of changes in peripheral blood T-lymphocyte signal transduction molecules [T-cell receptor (TCR)-zeta, p56ick, p59fyn]. Thirty-six eligible patients were treated, with 6 of 36 patients (17%, 95% confidence interval 6-33%) responding (3 complete response, 3 partial response). In two of the partial responders, and in an additional three patients with either minimal tumor regression (one patient) or stable disease (two patients), surgical removal of residual disease was undertaken. The median survival of all patients was 14 months. The toxicity of this regimen was severe, but outpatient administration was possible in most instances. Immunoregulatory effects on T-cell subsets included increases in various CD3+ CD25+/- HLADr+/- subsets unrelated to response. Tumor biopsies before and/or during therapy were obtained in 17 patients, and no consistent alterations in the degree of T-lymphocyte or macrophage infiltrates could be detected. In a subset of patients, tumor infiltrating lymphocyte proliferative responses and levels of peripheral blood T-cell signal transduction molecules (TCR-zeta, p56lck, p59fyn) were investigated. Abnormalities were found in selected patients, which improved during rIL-2/rHuIFN alpha 2b therapy. This cytokine combination produces tumor regression in selected patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma. Surrogate immunologic markers associated with response were not identified; however, preliminary studies demonstrate investigation of immune defects and their reversal with cytokine therapy is possible.
Calculation of various diffuser flows with inlet swirl and inlet distortion effects

A method of predicting the properties of various turbulent flows in planar, conical, and annular diffusers with inlet swirl and inlet distortion effects has been developed and appraised. The numerical scheme is based on the fully conservative control volume representation of governing conservation equations. The method is capable of carrying out the calculation when the flowfield contains stalled or recirculation flow regions. Three different discretization schemes are compared to analyze the numerical diffusion. An algebraic Reynolds stress model is used to represent the large streamline curvature. The appraisal is achieved by comparing predicted results with various experimental data. The results show that the numerical scheme with the utilized turbulence closure model predicts various diffuser flows with the effects of inlet swirl and inlet distortion within measurement accuracy and is able to provide various guiding information for many engineering applications.
Improved gap-filling capability of fluorine-doped PECVD silicon oxide thin films

Abstract Fluorine-doped plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) SiO2 thin film was investigated for improvement in gap-filling capability as an inter-metal dielectric. Both C2F6 and triethoxyfluorosilicate (TEFS) were evaluated as fluorine (F) dopants. Both kinds of F-doped films provided significantly better gap-filling capability than undoped films. This was attributed to the good bottom-step coverage and preferential sidewall etching due to the presence of F. However, there was a markedly different relationship between gap-filling capability and F concentration for the two dopant precursors. Finally, it was shown that either C2F6 or TEFS doping can extend the gap-filling capability of SiO2 down to 0.35 μm metal spacing with an aspect ratio of 2.0:1.
Estrogen rapid action via protein complex formation involving ERα and Src

This review provides insight into biomolecular knowledge regarding the non-genomic actions of estrogen in hormone-dependent breast cancer, particularly its role in the rapid stimulation of pathways that transmit signals to increase cell division or decrease programmed cell death. Until recently, attention to estrogenic effects focused primarily on events in the nucleus, where most estrogen receptors (ERα and β) reside. However, a fraction of ERα associated with the cell membrane also participates in rapid estrogen-induced cell membrane-mediated events via formation of a protein complex with many signaling molecules, leading to activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase and Akt signaling pathways. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these relationships, with the aim of abrogating specific steps, should lead to more targeted strategies to treat hormone-dependent breast cancer.
Magnetic field processing of polymers. I. Hydroxypropyl cellulose

Hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) of degree of substitution three and average molecular weight of 100,000 was processed in a magnetic field of 1.2T. Films of HPC were cast from water, methanol, ethyl methyl ketone, and 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane solutions in a magnetic field using static and dynamic casting techniques. The processed films were evaluated for tensile strength, elastic modulus, microhardness, and molecular chain alignment by wide angle x-ray diffraction and polarized infrared. The best alignment and hence the greatest improvement in properties was obtained using a combined magnetic field and flow alignment procedure. These samples showed no increase in the elastic modulus, a 106% increase in the tensile strength, a 21% increase in the microhardness, and were dichroic. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.1
Mapping drug-target interaction networks

Molecular polypharmacological studies have gained more and more attention as they are important in predicting drug off-target properties and potential toxicity/side effect. The explosive growth of biomedical data provides us an opportunity to develop novel strategies to conduct such studies by analyzing molecular interaction networks. In this paper, we present an integrated web application that is implemented based on more than 5,000 drugs and 56,000 biological macromolecule structures. With efficient search of drug information (biological targets, pharmacology, side effect, etc.) and chemical similarity, molecular maps can be constructed to demonstrate the relationships among multiple drugs and receptors. In addition, receptor information can also be employed to map the interaction network. The 3D structures of available drug-receptor complexes can be visualized via our web server, and the query results will be used to identify similar structures for any given drugs as well as their cross interactions with other biological targets. Our implementation provides an efficient way to evaluate the safety and polypharmacological properties of chemical compounds.
Transforming Growth Factor β1 release by human adipose tissue is enhanced in obesity

The present studies examined the effect of obesity in humans on the release of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) by human adipose tissue. The regulation of TGF-beta1 release by adipose tissue as well as the question of whether its release is due to the adipocytes or the nonfat cells in adipose tissue was also examined. There was a statistically significant (r=0.50) correlation between the body mass index of the fat donors and the subsequent release of TGF-beta1 release by subcutaneous adipose tissue. There was also a positive correlation between total TGF-beta1 release by adipose tissue explants and body fat content (r=0.69). The question of whether tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and/or interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) regulate the release of TGF-beta1 was investigated by incubation of adipose tissue explants with a soluble human TNF-alpha receptor (etanercept) and a neutralizing antihuman IL-1 beta antibody. The release of TGF-beta1 over 48 hours by adipose tissue explants was significantly enhanced in the presence of both the inhibitor of TNF-alpha and of IL-1 beta. It is of interest, in view of the elevated circulating insulin in blood of morbidly obese women, that the release of TGF-beta1 by adipose tissue was enhanced in the presence of insulin. The question of whether the release of TGF-beta1 by human adipose tissue explants was primarily due to adipocytes, as is the case for leptin, or the nonfat cells present in human adipose tissue, as is the case for IL-8 and prostaglandin E(2), was examined. The release of TGF-beta1 was primarily by the nonfat cells of human adipose tissue because release by adipocytes was less than 10% of that by the nonfat cells of adipose tissue.
Measurement of the photorefractive grating phase shift in a polymer by an ac phase-modulation technique

The complex coupling constant of a photorefractive polymer was measured as a function of an applied electric field by use of a modified ac phase modulation technique. We determined that both a photorefractive index grating and a nonphotorefractive absorption grating were present. The electric field dependencies of the amplitude and the phase of the photorefractive gain coefficient were accurately described by standard photorefractive theory. The accuracy of the photorefractive phase shift as measured by this phase-modulation technique was ±1° near phase shifts of 90° and ±3° near phase shifts of 45°.