cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How Does the Billy-Goat Produce Milk? Sergei Eisenstein’s Disintegration and Reconstitution of Kabuki Theatre

Sergei Eisenstein’s interpretation of Kabuki theatre has gone fundamentally unquestioned and unchallenged for several decades. But what was exactly in Kabuki theatre—essentially the product of an alien and distant feudal society—that fed and stimulated the intellectual questions of Eisenstein, a twentieth-century Soviet avant-garde theatre and film director? How exactly did Eisenstein find in this centuries-old art form “an unexpected juncture” with the modernity of the sound film, or more precisely, his theory of montage? By a close examination of Eisenstein’s interpretation of Kabuki theatre, this chapter demonstrates that Eisenstein displaced and disintegrated the principles and techniques of Kabuki theatre from its historical and aesthetic contexts and appropriated and reconstituted them into his theoretical discourse. Thus, the “milk” Eisenstein extracted and reformulated from Kabuki theatre was no longer organically Japanese; it was artificially Eisensteinian, as the “goat” had been “transgendered,” “genetically” altered, and historically and aesthetically displaced.
Knowing Is Half the Battle, or Is It? A Randomized Experiment of the Impact of Supplemental Notification Letters on Placement Exam Participation, Preparation, and Performance.

Community college students often are unaware of the stakes involved in their performance on placement exams, used to sort the students into their first math and English courses. In our randomized experiment of approximately 13,000 newly admitted community college students, we test whether informing students, via a supplemental notification letter, about the implications of placement exam scores influences their placement exam participation, preparation, and performance. We also test whether message framing (loss-framed vs. gain-framed) alters the effect of the information on study outcomes. We find that neither type of message has an effect on placement exam preparation or performance. We find limited evidence to suggest that the loss-framed message may have a small effect on the avoidance of placement exams by increasing the likelihood of students’ submitting alternative evidence of academic preparation. Overall, our evidence suggests that students’ prior knowledge about the ramifications of placement exams is not enough to improve performance. Colleges should consider alternative means of assessing college readiness, such as measures of high school achievement, and should provide students who still have to take placement exams with detailed information about test content and study materials before testing.
Emerging Student Learning Networks: Self-Directed Learning in an Eighth-Grade Life Science Classroom

Although self-directed learning environments are common in higher education and online learning environments, they are uncommon in secondary educational settings. This mixed-method action research study, in which the author/researcher was also the teacher, reports on the design and implementation of a self-directed learning environment for eighth-grade life science students. This study investigated the impact of this type of learning environment on the behavior and achievement of students. The findings demonstrated an increase in self-regulatory behaviors, higher performance on a state-mandated final exam, and the development of complex and robust student learning networks. Implications for teaching and learning practices and suggestions for further research are discussed. DOI:10.2458/azu_itet_v6i2_ardito
Love and protest: An interview with Sunil Yapa

Abstract In this interview with Sunil Yapa, author of Your Heart is a Muscle the Size of a Fist (2016), we discuss wide ranging topics including the reasons for writing a novel about the 1999 World Trade Organization (WTO) protests in Seattle, Washington, the influence of Yapa's geography background on the development of the novel, the types of research used to delve into the emotional currents running throughout the days of protest, and the impacts of colonialism on the author's imagination. The subject of the novel is timely in its focus on love, politics, and protest. While the novel centers on the events at the 1999 WTO protests, it offers an interesting and poignant contrast to the current rhetoric in American politics that taps into fear as a means to elicit protest from the rightwing base. Yapa's work in Your Heart endeavors to understand why the 1999 WTO protestors in Seattle stood in solidarity with people and places well beyond the US to envision a more just future, proclaiming that another world is possible.
Silicon Photonic Gas Sensing

We present a photonic chip sensor platform for near-infrared laser absorption spectroscopy, which incorporates an uncooled III-V laser and detector, on-chip methane reference cell, and 30cm-long evanescent field waveguides, integrated on a silicon photonics substrate.
On the Stability of Swarm Consensus Under Noisy Control

Representation of a swarm of independent robotic agents under graph-theoretic constructs allows for more formal analysis of convergence properties. We consider the local and global convergence behavior of an N-member swarm of agents in a modified consensus problem wherein the connectivity of agents is governed by probabilistic functions. The addition of a random walk control ensures e-stability of the swarm consensus. Simulation results are given to show the rate of convergence to consensus and planned experiments are described.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Standardized Entrance/Aptitude Testing in the Era of Foucault's Panopticon: The Bilingual Student and the Minority Student.

Standardized testing is an applauded system of testing due to the uniformity that it offers. The idea is that in standardized testing, because every student is being asked exactly the same question...
Frustration of Purpose As An Excuse for the Non-Performance of Contractual Obligations Impacted by the Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic and by Pandemic-Related Governmental Restrictions: Some Preliminary Thoughts

The coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent activity restrictions that have been imposed by many US state or local governments have disrupted numerous contractual relationships. Many people will seek to delay or even to be excused altogether from performing their contractual obligations. There will surely be extensive litigation regarding the applicability of force majeure clauses or of the common law or statutory impossibility or impracticability defenses to contractual obligations that have been adversely impacted by pandemic-related governmental restrictions. There is therefore likely to develop over the coming few years a complicated, context-dependent and state-specific pandemic-related excuse jurisprudence. However, there are other possible defenses that could be explored as a means for a contract obligor to obtain relief. In particular, I consider in this brief Article the potential applicability of a much less well-known common law excuse defense, the frustration of purpose defense. This defense has only rarely proven successful in the past. However, given the unique circumstances of the coronavirus pandemic and the consequent governmental restrictions this defense may well become more widely embraced by courts. This brief Article was written on the eve of the surely coming wave of litigation, and presents my preliminary speculations on the prospects for this defense.
Engagement with Payers to Promote Improved Coverage and Uptake of Child Healthy Weight Screening, Counseling and Obesity Treatment

PURPOSE: Widespread changes in the health care system including payment reform and new delivery models create opportunity for engaging healthcare payers to improve health and control healthcare costs. For high burden and impact conditions, such as child obesity, with evidence based interventions for prevention and treatment, public health can play a role in accelerating evidence to action. The US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has given a grade B recommendation for child and adolescent obesity: 1) screen all children aged 6-18 years for obesity, and …
Interfacial and Activation Energies of Environmentally Abundant Heterogeneously Nucleated Iron(III) (Hydr)oxide on Quartz.

Poorly crystalline iron­(III) (hydr)­oxide nanoparticles are ubiquitous in environmental systems and play a crucial role in controlling the fate and transport of contaminants. Yet, the thermodynamic and kinetic parameters, e.g., the effective interfacial (α′) and apparent activation (Ea) energies, of iron­(III) (hydr)­oxide nucleation on earth-abundant mineral surfaces have not been determined, which hinders an accurate prediction of iron­(III) (hydr)­oxide formation and its interactions with other toxic or reactive ions. Here, for the first time, we report experimentally obtained α′ and Ea for iron­(III) (hydr)­oxide nucleation on quartz mineral surfaces by employing a flow-through, time-resolved grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering (GISAXS). GISAXS enabled the in situ detection of iron­(III) (hydr)­oxide nucleation rates under different supersaturations (σ, achieved by varying pH 3.3–3.6) and temperatures (12–35 °C). By quantitative analyses based on classical nucleation theory, α′ was obtained to be 34.6 mJ/m2 and Ea was quantified as 32.8 kJ/mol. The fundamental thermodynamic and kinetic parameters obtained here will advance our fundamental understanding of the surface chemistry and nucleation behavior of iron­(III) (hydr)­oxides in subsurface and water treatment systems as well as their effects on the fate and transport of pollutants in natural and engineered water systems. The in situ flow-through GISAXS method can also be adapted to quantify thermodynamic and kinetic parameters at interfaces for many important solid–liquid environmental systems.
A multiple and ensembling approach for calibration and evaluation of genetic coefficients of CERES-Maize to simulate maize phenology and yield in Michigan

Abstract The phenological and growth parameters of CERES-Maize were estimated using data from field variety trials in 2017 and 2018 to simulate hybrid maize (Zea mays L.) grown in Michigan. Multiple calibration methods used include GENCALC (Genotype Coefficient Calculator), GLUE (Generalized Likelihood Uncertainty Estimate), NMCGA (Noisy Monte Carlo Genetic Algorithm) and ensembling approach. Three irrigated sites were used for calibration while six rainfed sites for evaluation. Better results were obtained when using multiple years of data in calibration than using only a single year. Model evaluation also suggests that fixed soil root growth factor (SRGF) used in calibration (irrigated condition) tended to restrict root dynamics under rainfed condition. This resulted in substantial yield mismatch due to poorly modeled yields, although phenology was better predicted. Adjusting SRGF under rainfed condition resulted in better model evaluation for both years. Moreover, weighted averaging of genetic coefficients resulted in better predictions of phenology and yields.
Using chatbots to screen for heritable cancer syndromes in patients undergoing routine colonoscopy.

Background Hereditary colorectal cancer (HCRC) syndromes account for 10% of colorectal cancers but remain underdiagnosed. This feasibility project tested the utility of an artificial intelligence-based chatbot deployed to patients scheduled for colonoscopy to identify HCRC risk factors, educate participants about HCRC and obtain consent to genetic testing as an extension of genetic counselling of appropriate subjects. Genetic counsellor (GC) and genetic counselling assistant (GCA) time spent per subject was also measured. Methods Patients scheduled for colonoscopy at Cleveland Clinic were invited via electronic medical record patient portal or letter prior to colonoscopy with a link to a chatbot administering the Colon Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (CCRAT) to screen for HCRC syndromes. Those with ≥1 positive response to a CCRAT question received chatbot-deployed genetic education and the option to receive genetic testing. An order for a 55-gene pan-cancer panel was placed for those consenting, and the subject had blood drawn on the day of colonoscopy. Results were disclosed by a GC or GCA by telephone. Subject demographics, progression through the chat, responses to CCRAT, personal and family history, genetic test results and communication with the subject were recorded. Descriptive statistics and two-tailed unpaired t-test and Fisher’s exact test were used. Results 506/4254 (11.9%) initiated and 487 (96.2%) completed the chat with the chatbot. 215 (44.1%) answered ‘yes’ to ≥1 CCRAT question and all completed pretest education. 129/181 (71.3%) subjects who consented completed testing, and 12 (9.3%) were found to have a germline pathogenic variant. Per subject, the GC spent a mean of 14.3 (SD 7.3) and the GCA a mean of 19.2 (SD 9.8) minutes. Conclusion The use of a chatbot in this setting was a novel and feasible method, with the potential of increasing genetic screening and testing in individuals at risk of HCRC syndromes.
Does Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement Affect Left Ventricle Systolic Function: A 2 Dimensional Speckle Tracking Study?

Background: In patients with right ventricle (RV) to pulmonary artery (PA) conduit, pulmonary regurgitation, and stenosis lead to RV dilatation and dysfunction. Transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (tPVR) is an alternative to surgical replacement of PV in patients with significant RV dilatation, with studies showing an improvement of RV volume and function after the procedure. However, data are lacking on the effect of tPVR on the left ventricle (LV) systolic function. Our …
Pepsin Promotes Activation of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor and Downstream Oncogenic Pathways, at Slightly Acidic and Neutral pH, in Exposed Hypopharyngeal Cells

Pepsin refluxate is considered a risk factor for laryngopharyngeal carcinogenesis. Non-acidic pepsin was previously linked to an inflammatory and tumorigenic effect on laryngopharyngeal cells in vitro. Yet there is no clear evidence of the pepsin-effect on a specific oncogenic pathway and the importance of pH in this process. We hypothesized that less acidic pepsin triggers the activation of a specific oncogenic factor and related-signalling pathway. To explore the pepsin-effect in vitro, we performed intermittent exposure of 15 min, once per day, for a 5-day period, of human hypopharyngeal primary cells (HCs) to pepsin (1 mg/mL), at a weakly acidic pH of 5.0, a slightly acidic pH of 6.0, and a neutral pH of 7.0. We have documented that the extracellular environment at pH 6.0, and particularly pH 7.0, vs. pH 5.0, promotes the pepsin-effect on HCs, causing increased internalized pepsin and cell viability, a pronounced activation of EGFR accompanied by NF-κB and STAT3 activation, and a significant upregulation of EGFR, AKT1, mTOR, IL1β, TNF-α, RELA(p65), BCL-2, IL6 and STAT3. We herein provide new evidence of the pepsin-effect on oncogenic EGFR activation and its related-signaling pathway at neutral and slightly acidic pH in HCs, opening a window to further explore the prevention and therapeutic approach of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease.
Long-term follow-up of anal cytology and HPV genotyping among women with lower genital tract neoplasia

Objectives: Determine the risk of abnormal anal cytology among women with a history of cervical, vulvar or vaginal high-grade dysplasia or cancer (high-risk cohort) 5 years following initial anal dysplasia screening. Determine the persistence, progression, or regression of anal dysplasia or cancer in this high-risk group over a 5 year period. Methods: This is a 5-year follow up of an IRB approved prospective cohort study that compared the rate of abnormal anal cytology between a high-risk cohort and control group. The high-risk cohort was identified as women with a history of cervical, vulvar or vaginal high-grade dysplasia or cancer. The charts of the patients in the high-risk cohort were reviewed to determine the prevalence of anal dysplasia or cancer as well as the rate of persistence, progression, or regression based on screening results in the primary study. Results: The 190 patients in the high-risk cohort were reviewed 5 years after initial data collection. In our prior study, 22% of the control cohort (women without a history of cervical, vulvar, or vaginal dysplasia or cancer) had abnormal anal cytology compared to 41% of the high-risk cohort. High-risk HPV was detected in the anal canal of 1.2% of the control group compared to 20.8% of the high-risk group. No anal dysplasia was detected in the control group while 13.4% in the high-risk group had anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN), including eight women (4.3%) with AIN 2+ or anal cancer. A total of 5 years after initial anal Pap smear, only 17 women (9%) of the high-risk cohort had repeat anal Pap smear performed. Of these, all 17 patients had abnormal anal cytology at initial anal Pap smear. A total of 3 patients had multiple repeat anal Pap smears in the follow up period. A total of 9 of these women (53%) had persistence of anal dysplasia after 5 years. One patient (6%) had progression from AIN 1 to AIN 3 over the 5 year period. Seven patients (41%) had regression of AIN to normal cytology. Conclusions: While women with a history of HPV-related genital neoplasias are at risk for anal dysplasia and cancers, the role of screening in this population remains unclear. Anal cytology screening among HIV-positive individuals has become more common, but the appropriate frequency of screening remains unknown. While follow up was rare in this cohort, the data from this long-term follow up reveals that women with lower genital tract dysplasia or carcinoma are at increased risk for anal dysplasia or carcinoma. Routine anal Pap screening should be considered in this high-risk population. Future studies aim to contact these women to collect repeat anal cytology for a better understanding on the long-term risk of anal dysplasia with lower gynecologic tract dysplasia or malignancies.
Alemtuzumab-Induced Intraparenchymal Hemorrhage and Multifocal Dissecting Pseudoaneurysms-A Case Report (4878)

Objective: N/A Background: Alemtuzumab, approved for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), carries life-threatening adverse events including stroke and cervicocephalic arterial dissections. Here we report a case of a patient who developed an intraparenchymal hemorrhage (IPH) related to multiple intracranial pseudoaneurysms and cervical arterial dissection immediately following alemtuzumab infusion. Design/Methods: N/A Results: A 27-year-old woman with a history of RRMS presented with a headache immediately following infusion of alemtuzumab. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed a right-sided basal ganglia hemorrhage and hydrocephalus. Computed tomography angiogram of the head and neck demonstrated multi-vessel dilatations resembling pseudoaneurysms involving the carotid and the vertebrobasilar system. Central nervous system (CNS) vasculitis was suspected and the patient was started on steroids. Extensive rheumatologic workup was unremarkable. Repeat imaging demonstrated persistent dilatation of the intracerebral large vessels and dissection of the vertebral and carotid arteries. The patient was diagnosed with alemtuzumab-induced arterial dissection and subsequent IPH. Alemtuzumab and steroids were discontinued with complete resolution of symptoms. Conclusions: Alemtuzumab is a monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of RRMS. Due to its long-term efficacy, repeated infusions are not warranted. The clinical benefit of this agent is limited by its frequent side effects. In 2018, the FDA investigated 13 cases of stroke and cervical arterial dissections associated with the use of alemtuzumab. In 12 of the 13 cases, the event occurred within 24 hours of infusion completion, prompting the release of a black box warning. Cerebrovascular complications following the use of alemtuzumab are rare, and alternative etiologies such as primary angitis of the CNS are typically considered. IPH and multifocal dissecting pseudoaneurysms are rare complications associated with the use of alemtuzumab. We advise clinicians to be aware of this potentially life-threatening condition in patients with RRMS treated with this agent. Disclosure: Dr. Chu has nothing to disclose. Abinayaa Ravichandran has nothing to disclose. Dr. Clauser has received personal compensation in the range of $5,000-$9,999 for serving as a Consultant for Bigoen . The institution of Dr. Clauser has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving as a Consultant for Genzyme. Dr. Clauser has received personal compensation in the range of $10,000-$49,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Genentech . Dr. Clauser has received personal compensation in the range of $50,000-$99,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Genzyme. Dr. Clauser has received personal compensation in the range of $50,000-$99,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Biogen. Dr. Clauser has received personal compensation in the range of $50,000-$99,999 for serving on a Speakers Bureau for Novartid. Dr. Yacoub has nothing to disclose.
Infinite Linear Programs

We consider infinite linear programs, that is, linear programs with an infinite number of variables and constraints. The analysis of infinite linear programs is quite challenging due to the fact that many of the fundamental properties of finite-dimensional linear programming fall apart in infinite-dimensional spaces. We discuss the challenges in extending such fundamental concepts as basic feasible solutions and duality theory to infinite linear programs and the methods used to overcome these challenges. We survey the two main classes of infinite linear programs, countable infinite linear programs and continuous linear programs, and discuss the motivating applications of them. Keywords: countable infinite linear program; continuous linear program; finite-dimensional truncation; finite-dimensional discretization; continuous-time network flow problem
Genetic mapping of genes concerned with glutamyl polypeptide production by Bacillus licheniformis and a study of their relationship to the development of competence for transformation.

By transduction with SP-15, we have mapped some of the genetic sites involved in glutamyl polypeptide (Pep) production by Bacillus licheniformis 9945A. Eleven peptide mutations were assigned to group 1 which lies between the gly-42 and his-6 markers. Three other mutations were assigned to group 2 which lies between the ade-2 and str-1 sites. A series of 28 additional Pep− mutants did not belong to either group 1 or 2; the chromosomal location of those peptide mutations is unknown. All three mutants of group 2 were highly transformable, but only two of group 1 transformed well under the conditions employed. Knowing the chromosomal markers that were linked to peptide mutations made it possible to investigate the effect peptide mutations might have on the development of competence for transformation. Nontransformable organisms were rendered transformable upon the introduction, by transduction, of Pep− mutations from transformable strains. These results supported the conclusion that the ability of cells to develop competence for transformation when grown under appropriate conditions was related to the physiological effects of particular peptide mutations.
Role of brain stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 in metabolism, obesity, and glucose homeostasis (605.2)

The high prevalence of obesity, coupled with its potential to develop into serious health issues including type II diabetes, insulin resistance and coronary artery disease, reveals it is a significant health problem. To investigate how excess adipose tissue manifests into these health issues, we have observed the effects of a disruption in stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), which is involved in the synthesis of endogenous monounsaturated fatty acids from saturated fatty acids. We have previously demonstrated that whole-body deficiency of SCD1 in mice protects from high-fat diet-induced obesity, hepatic steatosis and insulin resistance. However, the tissue-specific contribution of SCD1 to these phenotypes remains to be fully elucidated. In the current study, we investigated the role of brain SCD1 in mediating the metabolic consequences of a high-fat diet (HFD). We fed nestin-cre+;SCD1 flox/flox brain-specific SCD1 knockout (BKO) mice a HFD for 18 weeks. We observed that both male and female BKO mice weighed...
Identification, characterization and utilization of tumor cell selectin ligands in the design of colon cancer diagnostics

The efficiency of secondary tumor establishment is controlled by the ability of tumor cells to withstand a barrage of mechanical and immunological stresses during their passage through the circulatory system. Accumulating evidence sug- gests that the selectin-dependent interactions of circulating tumor cells with host cells promote their survival and extravasation from the vasculature, therefore representing a critical checkpoint for colonization of distant organs. These observations have motivated the identification and biochemical characterization of functional selectin ligands such as CD44 variant isoforms, car- cinoembryonic antigen and podocalyxin-like protein, present on the surface of metastatic colon carcinoma cells. Understanding the molecular underpinnings of selectin-ligand interactions involved in heterotypic tumor cell-host cell adhesion events may provide guidelines for developing novel cancer diagnostics. Recent advancements in diagnostic device fabrication and design integrated with novel biomarkers exploiting the tissue specific biochemistry of malignant versus normal tissue-expressed se- lectin ligands may hold promise in providing effective alternatives to current cancer diagnostic technologies.
Limb Salvage for Osteosarcoma

Five issues need to be addressed when considering limb salvage instead of amputation for osteosarcoma of the extremities. Is there any decrease in survival with limb salvage when compared to amputation? What are the differences in the immediate morbidity between the two surgical procedures? What is the durability of the reconstructions and the delayed morbidity of each type of limb salvage surgical procedure? How does the salvaged limb function when compared to amputation at the homologous anatomic site? Lastly, are there any psychosocial benefits for patients who have limb salvage instead of amputation? I will only address the impact of limb salvage on the incidence and consequences of local recurrence, the length of the disease-free interval, and the rate of long-term survival for patients who have osteosarcoma of the extremities.
Semantic interpretation of nominalizations

A computational approach to the semantic interpretation of nominalizations is described. Interpretation of nominalizations involves three tasks: deciding whether the nominalization is being used in a verbal or non-verbal sense; disambiguating the nominalized verb when a verbal sense is used; and determining the fillers of the thematic roles of the verbal concept or predicate of the nominalization. A verbal sense can be recognized by the presence of modifiers that represent the arguments of the verbal concept. It is these same modifiers which provide the semantic clues to disambiguate the nominalized verb. In the absence of explicit modifiers, heuristics are used to discriminate between verbal and nonverbal senses. A correspondence between verbs and their nominalizations is exploited so that only a small amount of additional knowledge is needed to handle the nominal form. These methods are tested in the domain of encyclopedic texts and the results are shown.
Continuity and change: the Indian administrative service 30 years ago and today

Continuity trumps change: in essential respects the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) remains as it was 30 years ago. Thirty years hence the IAS should continue much as it is, albeit with gradually waning influence. Pressures from below and above will increasingly constrict the zone of discretion enjoyed by IAS officials. But in the foreseeable future the basic structure of the IAS will remain substantially unchanged.
Evaluation of 14(R,S)‐[18F]fluoro‐6‐thia‐heptadecanoic acid (FTHA) as a positron emission tomography fatty acid tracer of beta‐oxidation in the heart

The radiolabeled long‐chain fatty acid analog, 14(R,S)‐[18F]fluoro‐6‐thia‐heptadecanoic acid (FTHA), was designed (DeGrado, 1991) to undergo metabolic trapping subsequent to its commitment to the beta‐oxidation (β‐ox) pathway. FTHA was evaluated under various conditions in two animal models for heart research: isolated perfused working rat heart and open‐chest extracorporeally perfused swine heart. FTHA was infused into working rat hearts. Linear radioactivity accumulation was measured by external coincidence detection; the slope was used to determine an estimate for the rate of β‐ox and was compared to the rate determined from the standard tracer, 3H‐palmitate (3H‐PA). Experiments were conducted under conditions of low and high workload, fed and fasted states, suppression of β‐ox, and various perfusate concentrations of palmitate and glucose. Swine LAD artery was cannulated and perfused from the femoral artery through a perfusion pump. FTHA and 3H‐PA were simultaneously infused during three 15 min segments of hyperemia, control, and β‐ox suppression. Blood samples were collected and assayed for 3H2O and 18F concentrations. Results indicate that FTHA uptake is specifically sensitive to β‐ox, sensitive to changes in energy demand, independent of flow, and can accurately determine in vivorates of β‐ox in the normal clinical range of fatty acid concentrations. At concentrations higher than this range, FTHA showed a decreased sensitivity to β‐ox, indicating the required use of a correction factor in the clinic.
Transthoracic versus Transhiatal Esophagectomy: What Difference Does It Make?

The relative controversy that has been stimulated by proponents of transhiatal esophagectomy (THE) for esophageal carcinoma has generated a rash of reports from both "sides" arguing the merits of one method of esophagectomy over the other. The THE surgeons point to the average reported hospital mortality of up to 30% (1-41, the well-known postoperative complications of respiratory insufficiency and mediastinitis following an anastomotic leak, the 40 to 60% incidence of reflux esophagitis, and the inability to demonstrate any better survival after standard transthoracic esophagectomy with an intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomosis as the leading arguments against this latter approach. The transthoracic, thoracoabdominal, Ivor Lewis proponents counter that THE is an unsafe, blind dissection fraught with as many, if not more, perioperative complications, and further is an inappropriate cancer operation, since by precluding a meticulous mediastinal lymph node dissection it denies the patient accurate tumor staging and the chance for potential cure. Further, findings from a number of recent excellent series indicate that transthoracic esophagectomy can be achieved with quite acceptably low operative mortality [5-71. Both viewpoints are well-illustrated in the two reports in this issue of The Annuls: "Transhiatal Esophagectomy for Carcinoma of the Esophagus: Experience with 26 Patients" by Hankins and his associates from the University of Maryland (p 123) and "Ivor Lewis Esophagogastrectomy for Carcinoma of the Esophagus: Early and Late Functional Results" by King and associates from the Mayo Clinic Most recent reports on THE describe results in 20 to 30 patients [8-141, and like the article by Hankins and associates, represent the authors' initial phase of the "learning curve" of this technique. The reported incidence of perioperative complications (recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, tracheal laceration, splenectomy, azygos vein tear) declines as further experience is gained with the operation. For example, in more than 200 THE procedures for intrathoracic esophageal carcinoma, our incidence of splenectomy has been less than 1%. The 20% incidence of splenectomy reported by Hankins is unacceptably high. The incidence of transient recurrent laryngeal nerve paresis has decreased from 30% in our first hundred patients to 3% in our second hundred, primarily the result of avoiding placement of cervical retractors against the tracheoesophageal groove during construction of the esophagogastric anastomosis. Intraoperative blood loss, however, has continued to aver(P
Interference phenomena due to a double bend in a quantum wire

Narrow channel devices were fabricated using a split‐gate high electron mobility transistor structure in which electrons are forced through a double‐bend discontinuity. The low‐temperature conductance shows a number of peaks in the lowest quantized conductance plateau which correspond qualitatively to resonance effects that are predicted for the geometrical discontinuities of the double bend.
The significance of hemorrhagic or pigment spots as observed by gastroscopy

1. Hemorrhagic or pigment spots in the gastric mucosa can be produced by aspiration of the stomach. 2. They may occur in healthy individuals. 3. Their relationship to peptic ulcer is questionable. 4. They probably have no clinical significance. 5. The factor of trauma should be carefully considered in the interpretation of gastroscopic findings.
Reply to victor and purpura

Victor and Purpura1xVictor, J. and Purpura, K. Trends Neurosci. 1999; 22: 543Abstract | Full Text | Full Text PDF | PubMedSee all References draw attention to an alternative information-theoretic data-processing method, which is complementary to those mentioned in our article2xBuracas, G.T. and Albright, T.D. Trends Neurosci. 1999; 22: 303–309Abstract | Full Text | Full Text PDF | PubMed | Scopus (51)See all References. The metric-space method introduced by these authors (see, for example, Ref. 3xVictor, J.D. and Purpura, K. J. Neurophysiol. 1996; 76: 1310–1326PubMedSee all ReferencesRef. 3) is based on the concept that the direct and reconstruction methods of calculating mutual information in spike trains hinge on the assumption that these responses essentially ‘live’ in a multidimensional vector space. This assumption demands large amounts of data for estimating information content of spike trains. The metric-space method does not use such an assumption, and, as pointed out by Victor and Purpura, is less costly with respect to the amount of data required. Furthermore, despite their abstract appearance, the metric-space measures are in fact motivated by known biophysical properties of synaptic integration (such as coincidence detection, and paired-pulse facilitation or depression). These measures have been instrumental in addressing such pending problems as the role of time in neural coding3xVictor, J.D. and Purpura, K. J. Neurophysiol. 1996; 76: 1310–1326PubMedSee all References.A natural extension of these metric measures would be the inclusion of further biophysical details of cortical neurons: the ultimate goal of the stimulus discriminability analyses is to understand neuronal representations as they are seen by the brain. Alternatively, one might proceed with further rejection of assumptions. For example, neuronal biophysics does not always support the assumption, used by both conventional and metric-space approaches, that displacement of a spike in time is time-symmetrical (for example, synaptic plasticity appears to be temporally anti-symmetrical). It would be interesting to see how conclusions about neuronal encoding of various parameters of visual stimuli3xVictor, J.D. and Purpura, K. J. Neurophysiol. 1996; 76: 1310–1326PubMedSee all References will change as one proceeds with relaxing further tacit assumptions. We hope that the increasingly wider acceptance of these measures will eventually permit cross-species and cross-system comparisons of neural codes.
Hepatic adenoma: MR characteristics and correlation with pathologic findings

The purpose of this study was to describe the MR appearance of hepatic adenomas and correlate the MR imaging features with pathologic findings.MR examinations were performed in 14 patients with 66 hepatic adenomas. The diagnosis of hepatic adenoma was proved pathologically in nine patients (22 lesions). In five other patients (44 lesions), who had type I glycogen storage disease and were known to be at risk for hepatic adenomas, the diagnosis was established by repeated sonographic examinations that showed stability, reduction, or resolution of hepatic tumors. T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo MR images obtained at 1.5 T were retrospectively reviewed for the signal intensity of the lesions relative to liver, the signal pattern, the presence of a capsule, and the presence of hemorrhage. Histopathologic specimens (22 lesions) were reviewed for fat content (graded 0-3), the presence of a capsule, and the presence of hemorrhage.On T1-weighted images, 51 (77%) of 66 lesions were hyperintense, 11 (17%) were hypoint...
Corepressors of agonist-bound nuclear receptors

Nuclear receptors (NRs) rely on coregulator proteins to modulate transcription of target genes. NR coregulators can be broadly subdivided into coactivators which potentiate transcription and corepressors which silence gene expression. The prevailing view of coregulator action holds that in the absence of agonist the receptor interacts with a corepressor via the corepressor nuclear receptor (CoRNR, “corner”) box motifs within the corepressor. Upon agonist binding, a conformational change in the receptor causes the shedding of corepressor and the binding of a coactivator which interacts with the receptor via NR boxes within the coregulator. This view was challenged with the discovery of RIP140 which acts as a NR corepressor in the presence of agonist and utilizes NR boxes. Since then a number of other corepressors of agonist-bound NRs have been discovered. Among them are LCoR, PRAME, REA, MTA1, NSD1, and COPR1 Although they exhibit a great diversity of structure, mechanism of repression and pathophysiological function, these corepressors frequently have one or more NR boxes and often recruit histone deacetylases to exert their repressive effects. This review highlights these more recently discovered corepressors and addresses their potential functions in transcription regulation, disease pharmacologic responses and xenobiotic metabolism.
Discovery of Nonradial Pulsations in PQ Andromedae

We have detected pulsations in time‐series photometry of the WZ Sge dwarf nova PQ Andromedae. The strongest peak in the power spectrum occurs at a period of 10.5 minutes. Similar periods have been observed in other WZ Sge systems and are attributed to ZZ Ceti–type nonradial pulsations. There is no indication in the photometry of an approximately 1.7 hr orbital period, as reported in previous spectroscopic observations.
‘It means there is doubt in the house’: perceptions and experiences of HIV testing in rural Malawi

Research on HIV testing decision-making overlooks a complex array of interpersonal factors that go beyond HIV risk and extend into the realms of intimacy, love and marriage. The current study draws upon two sets of qualitative data, semi-structured interviews and focus-group discussions, to investigate how romantic relationships shape HIV testing perceptions and experiences in rural Malawi. It invokes the classical works of symbolic interactionism to frame how people create meaning around the act of HIV testing that fits with their everyday lives. Pre-marital HIV testing was considered an acceptable method to confirm a partner's trustworthiness and commitment to the relationship. However, during marriage, a spontaneous discussion of HIV testing signified a breach of fidelity or that a partner could not be trusted. This belief was transposed such that an HIV test could also be used to confirm a person's moral character in the face of infidelity accusations and gossip. Thus, HIV testing during marriage was labelled as an unusual event, one reserved for special or problematic circumstances, rather than for regular screening of disease. A discussion of how these findings can inform HIV testing programmes and policy in sub-Saharan Africa is provided.
Use of molecular modeling, docking, and 3D-QSAR studies for the determination of the binding mode of benzofuran-3-yl-(indol-3-yl)maleimides as GSK-3β inhibitors

Molecular modeling and docking studies along with three-dimensional quantitative structure relationships (3D-QSAR) studies have been used to determine the correct binding mode of glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK-3beta) inhibitors. The approaches of comparative molecular field analysis (CoMFA) and comparative molecular similarity index analysis (CoMSIA) are used for the 3D-QSAR of 51 substituted benzofuran-3-yl-(indol-3-yl)maleimides as GSK-3beta inhibitors. Two binding modes of the inhibitors to the binding site of GSK-3beta are investigated. The binding mode 1 yielded better 3D-QSAR correlations using both CoMFA and CoMSIA methodologies. The three-component CoMFA model from the steric and electrostatic fields for the experimentally determined pIC(50) values has the following statistics: R(2)(cv) = 0.386 nd SE(cv) = 0.854 for the cross-validation, and R(2) = 0.811 and SE = 0.474 for the fitted correlation. F (3,47) = 67.034, and probability of R(2) = 0 (3,47) = 0.000. The binding mode suggested by the results of this study is consistent with the preliminary results of X-ray crystal structures of inhibitor-bound GSK-3beta. The 3D-QSAR models were used for the estimation of the inhibitory potency of two additional compounds.
How to satisfy referral for endocrine venous sampling: TIPS and tricks with quality improvement guidelines

Learning Objectives The experience of endocrine venous sampling in a regional referral hospital is discussed, including the patient selection, its technical details, pitfalls and effectiveness in achieving tumor localization for patient management. This knowledge could help increase consistent and reliable results, especially for less experienced operators. In this educational exhibit, we cover pancreatic, parathyroid and adrenal venous sampling. Background Venous sampling plays a specific role in the diagnosis of endocrine disorders. Despite recent advances in morphologic imaging, venous sampling remains a sensitive physiological investigation for functional localization of hormonal hypersecretion. Venous sampling requires technical expertise and reliable laboratory support, and should be selectively applied to address individual clinical problems in coordination with other imaging modalities. A review of the literature revealed an information gap regarding consistent clinical guidelines or standards for performing venous sampling as well as interpreting results. Clinical Findings/Procedure Details After a multidisciplinary discussion, a review of the literature, and receiving expert advice, an institutional protocol for obtaining venous blood samples was developed. The protocol specifies guidelines for consistent and evidence-based venous sampling. Depending on the venous anatomy, sampling may achieve regional localization or lateralization of the endocrine tumor. Adrenal venous sampling serves to lateralize functioning tumor, and to differentiate it from hyperplasia. Intra-arterial calcium stimulation with venous sampling for insulin gradients helps confirm and preoperatively localize the insulinomas within the pancreas. Similarly parathyroid venous sampling helps confirm and lateralize the adenomas. Systemic venous sampling identifies the site of ectopic hormonal secretion. Conclusion and/or Teaching Points We highlight the successful role of endocrine venous sampling in the diagnostic algorithms used at our institution as evidence based reliable practice guidelines. Use of our protocol has improved patient care and helped standardize the practice of obtaining venous samples with more effective reporting and communication with the treating endocrinologist.
Analysis of Myosin Motor Domain Interactions with its Chaperone UNC-45 at the Single Molecule Level

Myosins are actin-based motor proteins that convert chemical energy from ATP hydrolysis into mechanical work. Movement of myosin heads along actin filaments is a result of structurally complex conformational changes in the myosin motor domain induced by ATP binding and hydrolysis. UNC-45, a member of the UCS family of proteins, acts as a chaperone for myosin and is essential for proper folding and assembly of myosin into muscle thick filaments in vivo. The molecular mechanism of the myosin-UNC-45 interaction in the promoting proper folding of the myosin head domain is not known. We have devised a novel approach to elucidate the interaction of the UNC-45 chaperone with the myosin motor domain utilizing single molecule atomic force microscopy (AFM). By chemically coupling a titin I27 polyprotein to the motor domain of myosin we synthesized a chimera protein that possesses the property of a “molecular reporter”. Our new construct provides a specific attachment point and the well-characterized mechanical fingerprint of the titin octamer in the AFM measurements. Refolding experiments of the chimeric S1-I27 molecules showed that the myosin motor domain interfered with the refolding of otherwise robust I27 modules, presumably by recruiting them into a misfolded state. The presence of UNC-45 restored the folding of the titin I27 domains. We identify the canonical UCS domain of UNC-45 as the essential component of chaperone like activity. This approach enables the study the myosin-UNC-45 interactions at a single molecule level and their consequences for motor domain folding and misfolding in mechanistic detail.
Malignant odontogenic tumors: a 22-year experience.

Objectives/Hypothesis: Malignant odontogenic tumors are exceedingly rare and arise from odontogenic epithelial residues and odontogenic cysts in the jaw bones. Odontogenic malignancies have various origins. Some develop directly from the remnants of odontogenic epithelium left after completion of dental development; others may result from malignant transformation of a benign odontogenic cyst or ameloblastoma. These lesions are usually locally aggressive with radical surgery being the primary mode of treatment. Because of their rarity, much of the existing information about malignant odontogenic tumors with regard to their origin, clinicopathological features, biological behavior, and therapeutics is derived from case reports or small series. The study represents one of the largest series of malignant odontogenic tumors compiled in a single institution. Study Design: Retrospective 22-year review from an Academic Medical Center. Methods: Twenty cases of reported malignant odontogenic tumors were diagnosed in the authors' institution between 1981 and 2002. All pathological slides were reviewed to reconfirm diagnosis. Malignancy was confirmed based on the following criteria: histological findings of infiltrative growth, atypical cytological features, and focal necrosis or clear evidence of distant metastatic spread. Patient age, race, sex, treatment and outcome were recorded on chart review. Results: Of the twenty reported cases, only nine were actually found to be malignant tumors on re-evaluation. These consisted of four cases of malignant ameloblastomas, two cases of ameloblastic carcinoma, one case of malignant Pindborg tumor (calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor), one case of odontogenic ghost cell carcinoma, and one case of squamous cell carcinoma arising in an odontogenic keratocyst. The racial demographics were six Caucasian patients, one African American patient, and two Asian patients; seven men and two women represented the gender distribution. Tumors of six cases were located in the mandible, and of three cases, in the maxilla. All cases were treated with radical surgical excision. Two patients died of their disease, three patients were alive and free of disease, and four patients were lost to follow-up. Conclusion: Malignant odontogenic tumors are rare. They require a multidisciplinary team to determine proper treatment. Long-term surveillance is mandatory and is accomplished by routine physical examinations, along with serial radiographic imaging.